Something Not To Do – Worry

Another something for June, I recently read on a another blog that worry meant to choke, and thought, ” No wonder, Jesus said not to! ” I knew how much I did it and only with His help could overcome it. Though it does try to get in your heart and head. It reminded me of the sower, and how Jesus plants it or sows it in us and the enemy steals it, and  from those happy to receive, and chokes it from the ones who do, some of us, the good ground.

The enemy comes immediately for the Word, through persecution, affliction, wanting to do other things than pursue Jesus, deception over money, the cares of everyday life. work, school, dishes and laundry, loads of it. And when we don’t understand it, keeping the seeds/ words well watered with the Spirit, we are not enjoying His peace, and His rest.

So, let’s look at worry. I am a ” wordy “, you know. Writers like everyone else might think they know what a word means and yet there are many layers, and sometimes we tend to take things at face value, when there is much more beneath the surface, a treasure trove of language. Worry is defined as: to torment oneself or others with  disturbing thoughts. To feel or express undue cares or anxiety. To manifest disquietude or pain; to be fretful; to chafe. It is all this and more. To harass or beset with importunity, to vex; to annoy, to torment; to tease, to trouble, to plague. To harass with labor; to fatigue.

Remember the phrase from the word, grievously vexed, worry opens demonic doors, ask Jesus to help you close them, and stay in the Word. No wonder there is so much depression because there is so much oppression. Believers are worth many sparrows, from Matthew 6, we are not to worry about  what we will eat, drink or wear. Why help the enemy by being our own?

But this one is the clincher on why we should not fear, or worry. I read it meant to choke, but it is more, to seize, especially by the throat, with the teeth and shake or mangle, as one animal does another.  To harass by pursuit and barking; to attack repeatedly; also, to tear or mangle with the teeth. I know we have all seen our dogs shake a toy, different breeds are more aggressive but it is an instinct, though domesticated, it is in the nature to hunt or kill, there was no kibble way back when, and that is what worry is.

In the Greek, merimna, anxiety, care, even distract.  Ochleo, to disturb or trouble. And my favorite, hupopiazo, proonounced, hoop – o- pee-ad’ -zo, sound Italian, but it’s Greek to me. It means to strike you under the eye. To bruise, worry or exhaust. Melo – general worry or care, defer, to take care and promermimnao – to be anxious before hand, in other words worrying or fearing what will never happen.

The Hebrew, amal, trouble, labor, toil. back to Matthew 6, the lilies aren’t worried. Grievance, iniquity, labor, mischief, misery, painful, perverseness, sorrow,. A wearing ( down ) effort, producing worry.

Atsab, to hurt, grieve or pain.  A primitive root; properly, to carve, in effect to fabricate or fashion, which implies lying to me, and we know where that comes from. To worry, pain or anger — displease, grieve, hurt, make, be sorry, vex.

Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’,’ What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’  Jesus in Matthew 6:31 https://biblehub.com/esv/matthew/6.htm

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Matthew 6 includes a lot of study and there are other verses on anxiety and fear, Jesus understands it and warns against, it is natural to be concerned but excessive work and worry, exhaustion of the body and mind leads to depression and oppression.

Worry is like being pursued by a pack of howling dogs and wolves, and if they get you down, they will be tearing at your throat, just like sheep though we have The Good Shepherd. His rod is firm, it is His Word and His staff protects and comforts us, so why worry?  I know we have to be aware of it, but with Him we overcome.

As always, I tell people to take medications if they need them, but keep their faith and it is my prayer for Him to move on minds and hearts and push back the darkness that is the devil’s realm and let us embrace the darkness that is good in the Spirit’s realm and receive His peace John 14:27, and sleep the sleep of the beloved every night, Psalm 127:2

Something not to do – worry. it really does make you sick.

rickfanwilsen / pixabay

Something To Hide

I love a good mystery, a puzzle, something you have to give thought to. While no one wants everything known, their hurts and heartaches and worse, though some put it out on the internet, God knows.

The blood of Jesus covers us and He could but chooses not to remember sins, they are in the sea of forgetfulness, people aren’t that way but He knows hearts better that we, sometimes we can be deceived even in trying to help others. We want to look at what God says about hiding things, they do come out, you know, thankfully, we are hidden in Him. 

For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes. Jeremiah 16:17

For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will lift me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:7

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. Psalm 40:10

Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Psalm 51:9 ( God did have to look away from Jesus on the cross to save us. )

In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. Proverbs 31:20

Truly, you are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior. Isaiah 45:15 NLT says He works in mysterious ways.

Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or His ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you
so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:1,2

So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. John 10:26 ( Jesus had been called the devil, He knew we could be accused also. )

Paul’s grace to preach…..and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things. Ephesians 3:9

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 

Many people hid in the Bible, the wicked, the lepers, and even David from Saul, people sought refuge in rocks and caves, but no one or nothing is hidden from Him, He will bless who He knows is repentant and allow the wicked to come to ruin.

Jesus is our bread of life, and I believe is even the hidden manna, in a sense, in Revelation 2:17, given to those who have victory, possibly even the communion with Him or daily Communion or some spiritual sustenance. And Psalm 91 is a great example of our hiding place in Him. There is no place to run or hide from God and unbelievers will find that out. So, if you don’t know Jesus, let His lift you from the depths of iniquity and despair, and hide you in Him.

Tracey Hocking / Unsplash

Something To Prove

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1Thessalonians 5:21 KJV

Many people feel they have something to prove, to others or even God. Whether it is how good they are or that they are worthy. Only Jesus gifts us with His righteousness and makes us worthy. Some of my readers may know I write short stories, I just finished one and added a line that says it all, ” I was trying so hard to prove I was good enough, I wasn’t letting God prove how good He is . “

It resonated from a fictional female pilot, from my heart. Why did I think I had to prove that I could write? God was just using it. So what are you trying to prove? To yourself, others? Comparison steals joy, and blame and shame don’t work.

Jesus is not condemning you under grace, He does not want you to abuse it. We should not be ashamed of the gospel, or  shame people into something. The Spirit convicts, but if God can’t love you into doing it, you just might not ever understand Him.

Are there other verses about proving or shame? Yes, indeed.

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Ephesians 5:10, 11 and 12 says it is shameful to speak of these things.

While this is KJV and I usually use ESV, there are several versions on Bible Hub, and I make use of the word studies and try to find the best example. Prove, as a verb will translate as test, so it is discerning, approving, the Greek word is dokimazo. 

God will test you, not tempt you and you are not to tempt or test God.

Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and He, Himself tempts no one. James 1:13

The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted and He answered the enemy with the Word, as we should, the Holy Spirit teaches us and is the Spirit of Truth and Comforter as promised, He will confirm things to us, whether prophetic words, dream or visions, a word of wisdom. He is our connection to God and gifts gifts as He sees fit, even help you to ” try ” a spirit when necessary, we all have to grow in grace.

Search me, oh God, and know my heart, and prove me and know my steps. Psalm 123:29

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Matthew 3:8

Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? John 8:46

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. John 15:7-9

Paul prays for love to abound…..so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Phillipians 1:10

But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. James 1:22 Amplified

And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 1 Peter 3:13 NASB

People wonder sometimes why they are allowed trials and troubles, we live in a fallen world, God is not out to get you if you love Him, He will allow you to grow your faith in test but He is always there and won’t allow you to be tempted above what you are able to bear, that verse is often misquoted as letting you bear more than able, 1 Corinthians 2:10, so study.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling/ dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

We don’t have to prove ourselves except as God says, and He has proven Himself by His love and will do so if we allow Him to.

Snaps/ Pixabay

Something To Prune

Do you like to garden? I do and yet I don’t, it is just so hot here in Georgia, I can’t fit everything into early morning or late and night. I was forever watering my flowers but now I only have a few roses and azaleas, the so called knock outs that are sturdier.

I admit I used to go down the drive and ” deadhead ” the dried ones, then it just got easier to let them fall off and become mulch. Excessive heat is not good when you are recovering your health, but the beauty of His creation is and good for you see, so what about pruning?

The roses get cut back, I just read that sometimes, like I said, you lop off the dried roses, others you can cut off dead stems or just shorter, and others back to the roots. I think that is the point of the posts.  Are we getting pruned by God, being taken to our roots?

The roots of our faith and also the roots of the problems. Many times people think they  are in need of healing, when it is actually deliverance they could use, still a form of healing, people are many times tormented or in Bible terms, vexed, and these can be thoughts, worries or fears, and even demonic. The Holy Spirit can show you how to pray, pray for you.

If things like bitterness or unforgiveness, take root, they can cause illness, both mental and physical, we all know how difficult it can be to control anxieties, which is why we must cast our cares on Jesus. If you need medication, don’t stop taking it but lean into Jesus for deliverance and healing. Faith, grace, healing are all ongoing processes.

I am one of those people who wants to fix problems, I was overdoing for some who didn’t want my help, unless it was on their terms and not the truth that something wasn’t the right thing to do. I had to stop, knowing there was already an enemy ready to wear out saints, why help Him? I thought if had done better, maybe I could have been a better influence on some, that was far from true, in fact, I was doing a lot more right than I thought and was under spiritual attack.

I thought I had to make up for things I had not done, but His grace is a gift. You can’t work for a gift, the Spirit gives them when He sees you are ready for them. And I recently read that I had to give up that  notion that I could be like others, there but for the grace of God go I. I had that discussion in an online group and my eyes opened to the fact, that just because I had pain medicine for migraines and back pain did not me a potential abuser, it was never me or my will to be like that, nor God’s. People have free wills, and they choose and life or death everyday.

So, is God pruning you? I think He may be working on me some this hot summer. He is making me lie down in green pastures and restoring my soul, so He can lead me beside the still waters. Psalm 23 and He is covering me His feathers as I hide in the shadow of the Most High, and live in the secret place of His love and protection, Psalm 91.

It is time to look at the fruit we have born and what we will bear in Him. He will prune what He sees fit and give us rest, so we can get into all the fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22, love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. There is no law against that. I like to say, it starts with love, His love, and even if it looks like life is out of control, we are in control, if we let Him be. We can’t always prune ourselves or take control the way we should but He can. I want to allow Him to.

I have to admit my pruning is about gentleness, I am being taken back to it as I have had to be firm with so many who are demanding, disrespectful and just not receptive. I can walk away, looking back is not good, even Jesus warns of it, so look forward not backward, we are not going that way. What is He doing in your life? Do you see His hand in something that you have been struggling to break free of? Here is a parable and a poem for you. And if you like this post, look for Let’s Get Pruning, just type it or any topic into my search box in the sidebar.

https://biblehub.com/esv/john/15.htm

https://writersnroses.home.blog/2021/06/01/gentle-jesus/

Something Powerful

I had planned to use something peaceful and go to powerful, but it is alright for joy to be in the center of it, Jesus is the peace, the joy and the power. He is our all in all and our everything really, so much more than a month of studies.

Have you ever lifted weights? I have. Back in the day, did aerobics, in spite of scoliosis because I knew He would heal me sometime. That road has been something I have stood on His Word for. Eventually, I could not keep up the pace I exercised at began to exercise my faith a lot more. I sort of over did that too, and had to find the right pace.

I have to tell you I know I focused too much on the outside when He was look at the in side through eyes of love, through His Holy Spirit in me, through the sacrifice Jesus made for me. I was becoming His masterpiece, Ephesians 2:10, and He wanted me to to have His peace. John 14:27

We all think we know things we really don’t. We may think we need one thing and really, it is another. I did need healing, but I needed His love and peace more. I was seeing what I wanted my life to be, but too often what others saw instead, when faith just didn’t bring immediate results, but it did, He had a better time, when a fellow blogger, who jogged wrote that the Spirit stopped her from overdoing when she was only carrying a few pounds of baby weight after having children, she heard Him say, that He controlled her health.

No matter what we do, He is in control. So there is no reason to overdo, anything, ever. I lifted small weights and wore ankle ones, I was strong but never as much as when the Holy Spirit worked, and though I was doing things, I am often resting and let Him deal with the problems I can’t. In fact, when I am weak, He is strong for me.

So what about the power of the Holy Spirit, we have recently celebrated Pentecost, so let’s look at the Word, and see about His dunamis power. It is the Greek word, that we get the word dynamite from, I pray the Spirit explodes, with love heal and peace for us, as we walk in His favor and rest.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority ( power ) in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ” Matthew 8:18

And Jesus, perceiving in Himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments? ” Mark 5:38

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum. Romans 5:19

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power. Ephesians 1:19

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Ephesians 6:10

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. ( sound mind ) 2 Timothy 1:7

Never underestimate the power of prayer or of the Spirit, He was with Jesus to heal and we are to follow in His footsteps, indeed, it does take His power to overcome the world and the adversary, and He will give us His Spirit and power to do just that, He is there to help you discern and lifts the weight of the world off us as we cast our cares on Him, 2 Peter 5:17

It took power, to heal the sick, deliver the possessed and cleanse lepers, and to avoid His accusers and so much more, Jesus bore more for us than we could imagine, His Spirit is not something powerful but someone powerful, as the third person of the Trinity.

PourquoiPas / Pixabay

Something Joyful

 

What gives us joy? I know there’s a list going through your head right now. I can think of a lot of things but I have come to believe that some of the natural things we consider joy is more happiness. And that can be fleeting, it can come and go. real joy is Jesus.

Why do I say that? Because much like Jesus says He left us His peace as gift, not like the world’s in John 14:27, He also has a lot to say about joy, His joy, also unlike the natural or the world’s idea of it.

I used to sing about joy as a child, and I loved Jesus and His joy flowed over me, but it was not something I had learned to walk in, and even as adult, I did not realize that joy could be stolen, by the enemy, circumstances, even other people,  including believers. Have you ever even considered that is like having Jesus taken away from you? I’m not going to let that happen.

I have seen people singing and not exuding His joy, and I, myself, had to depend on He, Himself, so many times as I had to learn to count it all joy. Pain isn’t joyful, healing is and He paid dearly for it and I knew it, so I counted everything I overcame as joy. I still do, I have to or lose joy.

Now, some translations will interchange joy and happy as in Psalms, and that is fine. What we are talking about is more of the joy unspeakable and full of glory, the deep abiding joy in the presence of the Spirit as we walk in Him. So, let’s look at joy, read about joy, memorize joy and let Him restore stolen joy.

…yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Habbakuk 3:18

You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. Psalm 4:7

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:12

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! Mary – Luke 1:46,47

If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:10-12

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Count  ( consider ) it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. James 1:2

Though you have not seen Him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory…..1 Peter 1:8

So James tells us that counting it joy will start to work patience, joy is a fruit that will grow as we do in grace. And I have to tell you there are so many more verses, why not look up a few for your own study?

And I want you to notice what Nehemiah says before explaining the joy of the Lord being our, we are not to grieve. Every day the Lord makes should bring joy into our lives in some way. Many fail to read or quote the first part, and I used to pray Psalm 51 myself, asking Him to restore the joy of my salvation, but it says His salvation, not mine. Shouldn’t it be the same thing you may ask? It is in a way but we can never save ourselves, He saves us from much more than hell.

It is much the same as Psalm 91 ends with a promise of long life and being shown His salvation. Our own ideas and interpretations are nowhere near as high or perfect, His way is. Look at what Jesus says…

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. John 16:22

He rose from the dead and they saw Him, He sent the Spirit, He is our joy if we remain in His love. we may not actually see Him, but we should be in His presence. I hope that helps you with your joy, Jesus and salvation are something joyful.

Karina Mirzoyeva / Pixabay

Something Peaceful

Believe me, nothing is better than His peace. John 14:27 and it is a gift. He has dealt with me about peace for a long time now, years. It is a quiet confidence in Him that no matter what is going around you, His peace is in you and you must rely on it and receive it.

I was taken back to Jesus telling His disciples as He sent them out to speak peace to the house that received them, and if so, the peace remained on the house and if not to shake the dust from their feet and move on. I never applied that to people but it in true of us as we are His temple with the Spirit in us, so we need to speak peace, much like the Hebrew greeting, But more than hello or goodbye or even peace, but ” how  is your peace? “.

How often do we read ” Peace be unto you. “? There is a reason for speaking peace, I know He has had me to both speak it and shout it in prayer. Peace is powerful. His gospel is good news and peace, a pure peace from the Prince of Peace, Himself. He wore a crown of thorns for me to wear His crown of peace, can you even fathom that kind of love?

So let’s look at the word and not only read, but write, study, meditate on and memorize some peace verses.

Peace I leave to you as a gift of mind and heart, my peace I give you, not as the world gives you, Give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

And even more.

I will bring health and healing and reveal an abundance of peace and truth. Jeremiah 33:6

The LORD gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:11

I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Psalm 85:8

Great peace have they that love you and nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:162

He will keep us in perfect peace who mind is stayed on Him. Isaiah 26:3.

Peace, to him who is far off, peace to him who is near, says the Lord. I create the fruit of the lips and I will heal him. ” Isaiah 57:19

He will be our peace. Micah 5:5

…..He guides our feet in the path of peace. from Luke 1:77-79

He, Himself is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. Ephesians 2:17

Let the peace of Christ rule your in hearts, since as members of one body your are called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach admonish one another in all wisdom. Colossians 3:15, 16

Beautiful feet carry the gospel of peace. Romans 10:15

Peacemakers who sow in peace will raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18

Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon 3

I hope this brings you peace today.

Something Good

 

I have to admit I hesitated about this photograph, but then it occurred to me that the splatter of the fruit is good, like His goodness and grace spraying over us, as we taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8

I read an old book many years ago, I don’t recall the title, it had been out of print and a Spanish copy found, reprinted a while. The woman, whose testimony it was, had been in the hospital in another country, very ill and not expected to live, she was in and out of consciousness for weeks before she finally recovered.

She described a lot of glimpses of heaven, people she knew, places and even a dog. She also described the fruit that she was eating and how the juice splashed and went onto her white dress and then just vanished. Now, I always encourage people to use wisdom when reading or hearing accounts of near death experiences, you have to discern.

Some can be false, urban legend, or just plain lies. Rarely, does anyone admit being on their way to hell, and God does give everyone every chance to accept the love and sacrifice of Jesus, and no doubt many glimpses even eternal life and death, but not everyone will believe. I pray we know the Spirit of Truth and never allow ourselves to be deceived by false practices.

I felt no reason to doubt the woman, she told many stories and all believable, they lined up with heaven, she said the cities she saw had no hospitals, there was no fear. Nice place to visit and wonderful place to live forever, and still the people were enjoying many activities. So you see, God really is good all the time, we cannot imagine what we have been spared from. Everything He created He declare good from fruit to day and night, a deceived woman and a willing man, listened to a fallen angel and that changed everything, but Jesus was sent to die to save us. He came willingly out of love, He was called the second Adam for a reason, He didn’t listen and experienced all we would and understands all we go through.

Yet, even He calls His Father, the one who is good, but we know He and the Father were one, and the same with the Spirit. And He wants us to be intimate and one with Him, so we can experience the goodness of God in full. Yes, He has to keep His covenant and allows things to happen, everyone has a free will, He will not force people to believe or love, but has made the provision of healing and protection. Let’s look at the Word.

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way. Psalm 25:8

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge ( trusts ) in Him! Psalm 34:8

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. Psalm 73:1

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Psalm 86:5

For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations. Psalm 100:5

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. Psalm 103:8

The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made. Psalm 145:9

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11

Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. Mark 10:18

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:11

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. John 10:14

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

And I know there are many more, while we are called to do good works, it is grace not works that saves us, God decides them and we must allow a good God to direct our path. I hope this has helped you see His goodness, through every situation, He makes us a way.

ractapopulous / pixabay

Something Bold

We had something old and now something bold. I never really considered myself bold and that is one reason people could walk all over me, that has changed. Just because you are a believer, a woman, or nice does not mean you have to be a doormat. God hates abuse.

Being bold doesn’t mean you are abrasive or abusive, but confident in God that you are in the right. It doesn’t mean screaming or shouting. The Holy Spirit gives you boldness. He gives you the words to say and sometimes they may surprise you. Wow? Was that me?

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness… Acts 4:29

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31

But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God. Romans 15:15

…in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. Ephesians 3:12

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel… Ephesians 6:19

But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 1 Thessalonians 2:2

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 ( go boldly )

Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you. Philemon 1:8

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 2 Corinthians 2:12

The Greek word for bold is parrhesia, par-rhay-see’-ah and amets in Hebrew, strong, stout. bold. Many of these verses are from Paul’s writings and most are declarative of the Spirit giving them boldness, Paul was educated but the fisherman were not, He is not a respecter of persons. For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:11

As for the Spirit, we are under a new covenant, the Spirit ministers, For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said. Luke 12:12 CSB, so we are not to shrink back, knowing what we believe, what Jesus did, we can ask, we are go before the throne, respectfully, but asking for something boldly.

Something Beautiful

 

I wrote this June post early, I just want to express the Lord’s beauty in my life. In spite of many attempts to have my life be a wreck, I have seen it come into a beauty all it’s own like my favorite poem by Lord Byron, She Walks In Beauty, ( Like the night, the next line. ) I have always seen His beauty in the night, in the moon and stars, the peace that comes with His rest, the sleep of the beloved.

I could always dream my dreams, plan my life. Often troubled by the way things had turned out or not went like I planned, His plans are better, His ways and thoughts higher. That is what happened to me as a child, a young woman, and more mature one. I learned those words and ways, sometimes in leaps and bounds and others little by little. I was like most other women who felt alone and flawed, a failure because of a lot of wrong teaching, erroneous discernment and just that He chose to make it beautiful in His time.

He was giving me beauty for ashes all along, with every poem I wrote and every song I sang. Whether a few people heard or read did not matter, He multiplied His love to me like the stars. And while the hot and bothersome southern days could drain me, the beauty of His stars surrounded me and I was not alone even if I was a lot times, I had Him and He never abandoned or forsook me, He saw beauty in me that I could not see. He gave me the heart of love I have and the soul of dreamer and poet.

At first, I had failed to enter His rest  but now that I have I know stress and anxiety were never His plan, they are for good and not harm, Jesus will be firm and instruct you but is never demanding and overbearing. I have learned His love and how to share it, even if it through a lot of prayer. And a lot of rest.

My title is not only including Lord Byron, but the song, Something Beautiful, He did understand all my confusion, and stripped it away by faith, hope and love. He made something beautiful of my life, and I am in awe because of a powerful image He has placed in my heart, the forever love, He offers, He never makes mistakes, and He is the one to correct ours, so let Him make something beautiful of your life and here are a few beautiful verses.

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. Psalm 48:2

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. Psalm 50:2

To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory. Psalm 61:3

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth! Psalm 96:9

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Isaiah 52:7

Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. Mark 14:6  Jesus about Mary of Bethany anointing Him. 

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15