The Resting Warrior

I have to admit writing this post I have been having to face some issues, and yet I have heard the Holy Spirit speak the word rest to me. If my heart can be at rest, my body will have peace. Proverbs 14:30. And my heart literally soaks in His peace from John 14:27, it is different from the world’s, it has to be.

You will have trials and tribulation in the world, but Jesus overcame for us, and left us His peace, we used to sing an old hymn, ” Come Unto  Me. ” one of the lines was in the Holy Spirit, He will give you rest. I wish I had understood that at seventeen, even twenty four. At any age, it took me too long to get it.

Why? Because, I already had heard the jabs about a writing career, I never had a ” real ” career. People thought I didn’t work, they were not praying for people much I suppose, whether you volunteer or stay at home and parent, you are important to God and His rest is important to you.

So here I am in another mess, stuff starting to pile up on my soul, spiritual warfare, and the Lord says rest. ” Be still and know that I am God. ” Psalm 46:10 And though thoughts will run try to rampant, and the enemy is bent on my destruction, it is he who is destroyed by the anointing of the precious Holy Spirit.

I have to rest, to keep my spirit calm in His Spirit, no matter how it looks, what others say, what the enemy will lie about. I am still here, my blog is still here. everything may not be exactly perfect but He is and that makes the difference, He can change anything. I had to fight for this one, and I had to rest for it.

Part of us wants to go to battle, start quoting Scripture and railing against the devil and all hell spews out, we want to gear up in our armor of God and wave the shield of faith, and we should stand, or kneel but in the already blood bought victory of the Lamb of God. It is finished. He will give us rest.

Did you know that people who have never been in battle can have PTSD symptoms? The battles of the soul or specifically the mind are just as powerful, people struggle far too much as believers, He gives us grace and peace. And He will call you beloved and ask you to rest.

In the old days, people would say shell shocked, the devil is all about shock value. It is such a shame that some have become so desensitized to death and destruction, they expect it, live in it, are resigned to it. And I have to expect Jesus to show up to calm me if the storm rages, to lift me up if my eyes are ever off Him.

So many things cause trauma and drama, loss, illness, depression and grief. Maybe, you never rested your head on your shield and cried for Him to save you, not that you aren’t saved, but from your Goliath, or even yourself and your worries. I can relate. Too often I waved His banner of love high and flaming arrows were hurled in many ways from injury to insult. Getting back up to fight after I had left it with Him just appeared to defeat me. So, I rested, and He solves the problem and defeats the enemy I could not even hope to alone, even waving a shield of faith.

Post traumatic stress disorder, yes, I get it. I know people who have not recovered from things. I have a few things lurking about my armor, I thought it was cracked but the more I learn about Jesus I know His Spirit is the kabodi or shield around us, the kavod or glory that weighs us down with His presence and makes heavier footprints, if we allow Him to fight for us, so rest and let Him, be still and He will do battle. It is a victory already won on a cross, by a loving Lord and He rules and reigns over sons and daughters of faith, not just foot soldiers or even grace warriors.

I heard stories of frostbite about a great grandfather in the Civil War, their shoes wore out in five years. The children Israel wandered and would not rest and angered God who withdrew rest, their shoes did not wear out. God restored rest with Jesus coming to redeem us, Hebrews 4 explains it.  Our feet are shod with the gospel of peace, and are beautiful as we live and walk with Him. Good News, His peace will never wear out, so rest.

I think it is a good thing to be a prayer warrior, on fire for Jesus, but it is better to be a resting warrior than a weary one. I hope you hear Him speak His rest to you, I know He is calling it to me.

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Winter Warrior Series / Stop Fighting The Battle You Have Already Won!

Are you still fighting a battle? You can stop. Jesus already fought your battle and won. You have a victory because He hung on the cross. I used to sing Victory In Jesus, and went on for years fighting instead of resting and waiting for His timing. His timing is perfect, He is never too late or too early, but sometimes He is last minute.

If you ever see old movies before the computer generated crowds, extras were dressed one way and charged up a hill, and then changed clothes and run down the hill. So, in a sense, instead of fighting an enemy, they were actually, fighting each other, that happens to us a lot right? Chaos and confusion are twin enemies when we serve the God of peace.

Exodus 14:14, says He will fight for us, we only need to be still. That would appear contradictory to the warrior women some want us to be. It does not mean however that we are not warriors. We have our shield of faith and our armor of God which is in His Spirit. at least, in my opinion. None of use are capable warriors on our own. But He gives us powerful weapons, including His name, armor and peace, We will look at being a warrior in depth the next few days.

We know how to wield the Word like the two edged sword it is. We know how worship, to cover our homes and family with the powerful blood of the Lamb. So why fight the same old battles? I get tired of them, and I know you do too. How many mountains are in your way? How many giants? One is too many, but not with Jesus.

Like the nightly struggle to get a child quieted and to bed, it becomes routine to fight the same old things, even a different approach to the same problem. It can be ongoing, but it is time to take a stand. Stand up for Jesus, be still and thank Him for the victory He won.

Being still is not inactive, it is proactive. You are giving Him the chance to fix things you can’t. And if He can’t who can? I was so young singing Victory In Jesus, I wish I had known, it was finished. It was over, and because He died for me and rose again and literally took my place, and I had won.

Yet, many times, the defeated foe and enemy of my soul challenged that but now I have learned how to rest in His love, enjoy the Prince of Peace for who He is and how much He loves me, and thank Him for His amazing grace in my life, His favor and every other blessing that is mine.

I was battling something or someone everyday of my life. Some people are battling disease, divorce, out of control children, finances, bosses, you name it. Life was not meant to be such an up a hill battle when He carried the cross up a hill called Calvary. He gave us the victory, so stop fighting the battle you’ve already won, because He did.

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Thankful Thanksgiving Thursday

I am writing this post early as I do a lot of posts. I have a lot to be thankful for this Thursday. Sure, I can enjoy a great dinner and I have even had friends in Australia join me even though they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. I have one in South Africa as well this year, and wherever you are, have dinner and be thankful.

I am thankful that I have had family overcome major illnesses, life threatening ones. And I am adding this not another attack of cancer thwarted, just some treatment. I am thankful for Hi healing power.

I am thankful to have seen grief, depression and fear take a backseat in my family. The mental attacks and spiritual warfare have been high but He is greater.

I am thankful that He has supplied needs, and they are from His glorious riches. even if it is not all of what He has planned, we are still blessed with a place to live and food and He is our help and our shield.

I am thankful that though I may not see all my relatives, I know they are touched by the Lord this season.

I am so thankful for this blog, you may not know that adaughtersgiftoflove was truly from the Lord, and were it not for Him, it would not be here, even a few weeks ago, I had to be in deep prayer about it. My own health was under attack and just keeping it going has been such a blessing. Finances are not even my major concern, I trust Him with everything I have becasue He gave it anyway.

I am thankful to see so many changes for the better.

I am so thankful for healing and health.

I am thankful for the Holy Spirit, who has carried me through.

I am thankful to have seen babies healed, many people, in fact, and others fighting I pray they can rest and heal. Let Him fight for you.

I am so thankful to Jesus for His great sacrifice and the love He has shed abroad in hearts byt the Holy Spirit.

I could go on boasting about what Jesus has done but that would take a long time. Like forever? I don’t even know what all He has saved me from really.

This most thankful heart of mine has been given grace. And what I am most thankful for is His rest, I have entered it and it is a peaceful place to be.

God bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

Yulia Shabilay / pexels

Why I’m Glad God Waited

When I was younger, I wanted my prayers answered and they were, not for frivolous things, in fact, sometimes, I didn’t pray for enough, just a modest type of prayer.  Some results I did not see, I questioned my faith. If I started to question God, I knew better. Seriously, who is greater, if He can’t help who can? And He is willing and able, often we just aren’t listening or He has a better plan.

If people have an ” I want it now! ” mentality, they will be disappointed in God. Oh, He may answer some requests instantly, but mostly, I have found Him to be patient. He is just smarter than we are and that is why I am glad He made me wait. He did answer the prayers, and what I thought was stolen by the enemy, I was taught that he would have to return, but I believe now that God is more the restorer. We may cast out the devil but it is just by His power, we can nsever defeat him in our own power and are not all wise enough to know everything.

I know you can put the devil out of your thoughts, actions, and even other people but do they keep him out? People are at all levels of faith and when he return and makes them worse before, that is not good. So sometimes, it is just better to teach people and let them decide. I prayed for people a lot, I wanted their eyes opened to God’s love and what I knew about Him, and even I didn’t know how much love that was, so I am glad He waited, that was an act of love.

I went through a whole range of emotions and they are so wild and out of control at times, believe me, I have seen some people, it takes His fruit of the Spirit, to be my self control. I used to think it was me, that I couldn’t handle things, that was a lie from hell. I was doing well, doing the right things, with the right heart, and not seeing His answers, but He had a reason, and it was a good one.

Though I hate waiting, because I was always told to wait, by ministers, I waited but when God showed me reasons I had never thought of I was glad I did. People will often think they need something in the natural, and maybe they do, but shopping won’t heal a broken heart.

Any old relationship is not better than what He would give you, the wrong crowd or friends, people who would lead you astray, some of them even believers. With things like, ” Study more, pray more or just get over it. ” No way! ” Maybe, you should fast, seek counseling, change careers. ” Believe me, I hated beauty college and I never wanted to process insurance claims, I knew what my heart was calling me to do. People don’t have the answers, He does.

You may think you need healing and it may be in fact, that you need deliverance from something or even spiritual warfare. You might think you need more money, and maybe you do, but what about His rest or His peace or His love? Quiet time with the Lord, learning about His love. He knows what He is doing, so much better than I do.

He night surprise you with the right answers and the right time. But He can be a last minute God. There are stories, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego were put in a fiery furnace, Daniel in a lion’s den, Jesus was resurrected, and He resurrected Lazarus at the last possible moment, he had been dead four days, as opposed to Jairus daughter, a few minutes and the widow’s son a day. Paul and Silas were in prison, Peter was released the night before trial and perhaps execution. There is a pattern and a precedence.

God has His reason, whether it is for you to grow and learn, or just your protection from harm, for a greater wave of grace or healing to go forth, He knows, wait in Him. He makes it beautiful in His time. He answered my prayers and I know those of others and our prayers have no doubt crossed in heaven, but I am glad He waited, Hhe does it all the right way. It is He, the Alpha and Omega, the only one worthy, the Great I AM, He is worth waiting for, and He knows best. His plan is better than any dream of mine.

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Lift Jesus Higher

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

When Jesus said this of course He meant being crucified. The term lifted up has a double meaning to actually lift up or move out of the way. The Jews really wanted Him out of the way. They didn’t want Him to be their king and didn’t accept Him as Messiah. He was a peaceful and yet radical threat.

The phrase is used about the brass serpent in the wilderness as well. It represents Jesus even then, and while we don’t see Him as the serpent, He took the punishment from the devil to save us, it is the only way are righteous and our hope for healing. And really everything. even that was to become more of an idol.

And He was also lifted up when He ascended after Pentecost.  This time, the phrase is literal, He even told the disciples, it was better or Him to go. so He could send the Holy Spirit. So in that sense of the word, He did get out of the way, to make way for His Spirit to come.

And the Spirit covers the world, He convicts you of sin and you are saved if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, died and rose again. He is not condemning you. He remembers sin no more and sees you as a new creation in Christ. 2 Thessalonians 5:17. You are imparted with a measure of His Spirit, but He will baptize you in the Spirit as well, study that gift before asking, it is powerful.

While we have learned the meaning of the phrase and the point of view, we also want to lift Him up for the world to see. I hope I do that through this blog and even in my life. Let’s look at a few more verses with ” lift up “.

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:4

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. Psalm 116:13

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Psalm 121:1

The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Psalm 145:13

The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace. Numbers 6:26

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard (  banner ) against him.  Isaiah 59:19

And I like the World English translation of Psalm 3:3, But you, Yahweh, (God ) are a shield ( the Hebrew word is kabodi ) around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. He is a shield of glory around you as a believer. And there are many other Psalms as well with ” lift up “.

Many are about the lifting of hands as an evening sacrifice. We do that at church, should we not a home.  He was our sacrifice. Let’s lift Him up, never again in crucifixion but in always in praise. And in regard to end times, before He comes to reign. When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28

Beside that on the Bible Hub page is comparable verses. One caught my eye the woman bent over with a spirit of infirmity bound by the enemy eighteen years. Luke 13:11, we just weren’t made to be looking down all the time.

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Ignorance Isn’t Bliss

While this phrase has floated about for a long time, it is from a British poet Thomas Gray in the 1700’s. It was also used of Dr. Wm. Bliss who attended President Garfield and appears to have botched it. Shot by an assassin, he lived in anguished eighty days as the doctor poked and prodded making a larger wound pattern, even summoning Thomas Edison to test out a his new metal detector, an X ray machine would have been better. He even billed the White House, $25,000, over $650,000 by today’s standards, they offered him six grand and he refused. While he may have had some successes, this was not his better moment, and the poor president, ignorance was bliss.

It isn’t wise to ask someone if they are pregnant when they are not, when they’re getting married or tellinging them what they should and shouldn’t do. That is your opinion, Jesus wants you to pray for people and love them, not offer advice and what not but to guide them in faith.

It gets thrown about a lot in reference to things that you are better off not knowing, and truthfully, there are some. I think that is the reason God doesn’t reveal a lot of things to us. We are not Him and can’t deal with what He does. Imagine hearing all those prayers and problems, everyday and night, all day and night.

He hears the complaints, the whining, the doubts and unbelief. He hears the railing and the fact that people don’t believe in Him. Why did He take their loved one? Why do bad things happen to people? And still, He is love, He is slow to anger, plentiful in mercy and grace.

What He does not want us to be ignorant of is spiritual gifts and the enemy devices, let’s read.

Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. ” Matthew 22:29

Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all men everywhere to repent. Acts 17:29,30

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, to mute idols you were led, as being carried away. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking in the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed,” and no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord,” if not in the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of workings, but the same God is working all things in everyone.

Now to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit, for the common profiting. For truly, to one is given a word of wisdom by the Spirit, and to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, and to a different one faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another working of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another distinguishing of spirits, and to a different one various kinds of tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. Now one and the same the Spirit works all these things, apportioning individually to each as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 1 Corinthians 14:38

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake, in order that satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware ( ignorant ) of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:10,11

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 1 Peter 1:14

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:23

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:7,8

But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6,7

Don’t forget the submission to God. Walk in His love, ignorance isn’t bliss. His grace is.

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When You’ve Missed It!

Do you ever feel like you just missed it? I heard Romans 3:23 so much I never even read 24, about His grace. It took a lot of study and prayer for me to get my life on track, and sometimes it felt like a train wreck with spiritual warfare, but it wasn’t, He was always in control, I was always protected and loved.

Even if I didn’t think, so feel, like it was being told what a mess I was, the comparisons, the counterfeit or yes, there is deception being sown into your life, even unintentionally, by those with good intentions, but they may be paving your road to hell even if you are saved and not going there.

I had a post featured and Mary called it a simple, not to miss post. I think that is great and yet people miss it. I miss things, you do, we all do. The enemy enjoys distractions, so he can worm his way in to destroy what God would have us learn, if he could. Or at the least steal it.

We don’t want to perish for lack of knowledge, spiritual knowledge and wisdom.  We want to listen and hear or read each word. Hang on to it or hold fast to that profession. We are not wrestling flesh and blood and we are not going to be resisting Christ in our lives.

I know people who miss things because they simply don’t want to hear it or learn, others who are overwhelmed and overworked and some who just hurry through something. I am a lot better at reading people and the Holy Spirit, at discernment, using wisdom, knowing when to keep quiet or speak up.

The gospel is simple, we make it complex. I knew by a comment I got that someone had missed the point of a post on more than one occasion, but that’s okay, it happens to us all. We just need to be aware of it, and not keep condemn ourselves over the things we should have done or could have done.

Remember, we are talking about grace and thanksgiving this month, and there is grace for every need in your life, just hold to it is simple, stop the sins but realize that you will make mistakes and you will miss things, you will miss things God wanted you to hear, but He will tell you again and His Spirit will remind you of what you learn.

When you’ve missed it, there is grace, you will hear it again, you can always listen again or read again, study again, there is grace and extended grace, He won’t let people keep trampling on it or insulting His Spirit, but  grace there for those of us love Him and follow Him and He loves us, even if we’ve missed it.

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Bread Upon The Water

 

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Ecclesiastes 11:1

I often wondered about that verse. Is it like sowing and reaping? Yes, or the worldly version of what goes around comes around. God loves cheerful givers and it may not always have to be money. It can even be your time. Spending time with someone, you may see the results later on.

You can share the bread of life with people, Jesus. He was always on the water and even calmed storms and walked on it. While tossing your seed or bread on the edges of the Nile or actually in the river, the story has many variations but we know how rice grows.

We get the impression too of, perhaps saving for a rainy day, investing, diversifying. Have more that one prospect. All sage advice. But even the best laid plans of men go awry. don’t they. I had my life planned or so I thought. I’m sure you did too. God has good plans, Jeremiah 29:11, they are better, but do we always follow them, no.

We can always look to Proverbs and even Ecclesiastes for wisdom. It is good advice to sow and you will reap the rewards later on. Maybe, at a time when you need them the most. We have been talking about blessings and if we sow generously and joyfully we will reap a harvest.

And as I said it does not always have to be money though financial blessings are good and what this is about, even doing more in the evenings. But let me add that Jesus took the curse off ” toiling ” in the Garden of Gethsemane, and though we work, it does not have to be as hard as eeking out a living or even paycheck to paycheck, or even something you don’t enjoy.

You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Luke 12:32

Remember, He wants to bless you. But seek wisdom, ask as James says to and don’t go amiss, so your bread will return.

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Double Portions

I have a lady who sends me requests to pray for her adult children and she always thanks me and tells me to be blessed with double portions, it never fails. Let’s look at what the Bible actually says about double portions.

Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit. 2 Kings 2:9, Elisha asks for Elijah’s anointing. He had to see him leave to get it and he did.

But to Hannah He gave a double portion because He loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 1 Samuel 1:5 God gave her Samuel.

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. Zechariah 9:12 Hope is the key.

Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. Revelation 18:6, the harlot that has caused trouble during the tribulation.

And I like the passage of Isaiah 61. read the whole chapter, Jesus quotes it later about Himself. It is in reference to Jubilee years. This verse 7.

Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
they shall have everlasting joy.

Job also prayed for his friends and received double.  We all like to have our cake and eat it too. These verses show that we may have lost things, through our own mistakes, no fault of our own, or because we have lost hope. Like Job, we must pray for others, even those who have wronged us, and I know that is hard, and keep hope alive in us, and that is Jesus now, He has made a better covenant than the Old Testament had.

Remember, it can work both ways, as in Revelation, when you do wrong it can come back double. People like to say, ” What goes around, comes around. ” And that is true to some extent. Like a carousel, we sometimes go a round and around. It is more like reaping what you sow.

And the Lord decides this, He may allow things because we are not doing what we should or calling out to Him. He never employs the enemy but will use every opportunity in our lives to help us grow in grace and thanksgiving. What to we want double portions of besides dinner and the trimmings? I just made some homemade mashed potatoes, myself. And I had seconds.

I hear people say not to ask for patience, because you get trouble. But guess what, I never really asked for patience and I had it anyway. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is our teacher. He gives gifts as He sees fit. Remember, Cain and Abel. Abel did well and God was pleased, but Cain didn’t give his best offering, and then was angry at God, even enough to kill his brother. But God asked him if he did well would he not be accepted also.

I pray we all enjoy our double portions not only at Thanksgiving but in other ways as Jesus restores our souls this holiday season, I would love for him to come quickly but souls need to be saved. Please pray for them so He can come soon, until then, The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. Psalm 16:5, and Jesus is our joy and delight.

Dare we ask double portions of His Spirit?

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Where Do I Begin?

I believe most people start at the beginning, which would be Genesis, But you know what? Like a lot of readers, people will jump to the back of the book. Yay! God wins! But they don’t get Revelation.

I had someone ask me about joining a Bible Study Group. So I put up a Pinterest board with topics that are good studies. A lot of people use certain methods, so people go through certain books, much like the Torah portion are read certain days in Judaism, Luke Chapter 2 is always a Christmas reading. But do we read about the light of the word at Hanukkah?

Do we do word studies? Venture into Greek of Hebrew? It can be daunting or like going to school. I have to watch about intimidating some people. I taught Thursday Morning Bible Study a while. But blogging gets the Word out a whole let more, and to more people. As a student of the Bible for forty plus years, I am wise enough to know I don’t know everything. I never intend to come across that way, if anything, I try to simplify it, God may have layers and be complex but love should be easily comprehended.

So when would I begin? And I wish I had let the Holy Spirit teach me sooner. John, yes the book of John. he even called himself the disciple Jesus loved because he got it. And he lived to write Revelation, Jesus trusted John to get that out. Now, keep in mind that Jesus loved the disciples and it was John stating that about himself, but it is a good idea to know how much you are loved.

The book of John is filled with loving verse, and the prayers of Christ. It even recounts that He called Judas, friend, as He was betrayed. That is love. So if you are a new believer or an oldie but goodie, read John. We all start at John 3:16, but read 17 as well, He is not condemning, correcting, chastising, but not condemning. It ties with Romans 8:1.

Sometimes, people will read a verse and not get the context. Romans 3:23, it was preached into my soul how short of His glory I had fallen, we all do, but read 24, and see His grace.

Don’t let people tell you it is not true or contradicts itself. I can be studied line upon line, and precept upon precept. And it is true, it was recorded by the Spirit, it is a record of history. But the truth is He doesn’t expect you to pluck out an eye rather than sin, He explains grace and the fact you are not a slave to sin or the old eye for an eye, that is Old Testament.

And yes, Judas hanged himself, and yes, his insides would have been ripped had he fallen from a branch. It is not wo accounts. People will always pick and choose Scripture, and argue about it, I can’t. I had to study for myself.

Sure, it appears complicated, how do you grow in grace and keep childlike faith? Just take your time, keep journals, study what applies to you, faith, finances, healing. I recommend sowing healing words into your spirit, they have literally saved lives when illness came. Don’t stress over it.

It is not a contest or competition, some people will receive what you learn and others won’t care, don’t worry about that. I want Jesus to be your joy. Some people read through the whole Bible once a year, I don’t. I stay with what I need at the time. If you are sick, don’t read through the begats or lineages.

I really hopes this helps, if you don’t know Jesus, He is in the Book of John, and will come into your heart if yous ask, and I believe it is a good idea to be baptized with His Spirit and receive the gift of tongues, it is powerful, but even if you are not read up on that or ready, His love and Spirit are there when the time is right. He sent the Spirit to teach and guide, receiving His love is the most important decision you will have to make.

Just don’t over concern yourself with having to study or read chapters, Psalms or Proverbs are always good, even a verse or tow, as long as you understand it. Choose some easy things to memorize. I still know the sixty six book i learned s a child, because I sung them, but can I still quote whole passages I memorized? No, not really. But He will remind you. Great teacher! I once studied Revelation, my head was spinning. Oh, it was equivalent to a college course alright even if I don’t have the degree.  His coming is closer but His love is the main thing to know now.

The Spirit is powerful but gentle, and patient, just like Jesus if he were here to teach you, and you will enjoy studying with people who are joyous and Spirit filled, and He will help you rightly divide His truths.

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