Give Him The Strongholds

I saw a manor house being restored in England, it dated back to medieval times. While exploring theories about the Knights Templar, they excavated what was thought to a tunnel, it encircled the house, it was originally the moat.

You see what a mighty God we serve, He is our rock and fortress alright, we can live in safety in the secret place of the Most High. Though we may not own a manor house or mansion, we are His temple if His Spirit abides in us as believers. We are fortified by walls of protective angels, yet, free to come and go as we please. But not everything is wisdom is it?

You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than He is?

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. 2 Corinthians 10:21-24 New Living

Paul was warning the Jews about receiving Christ and taking Communion, then turning back into old ways. History, Jewish and otherwise is full of examples. While we are free in Him, not everything is expedient, beneficial or wise. We can give the devil a place, even a toe hold, then foot hold or even stronghold. But we can give them to God to destroy if need be, but it is better to avoid them.

The moat could represent the water of the Spirit, both cleansing and pure. He encircles the home of our heart with love, joy and peace. Our rest is in Him. He guards like and every present century, the watchman of our wall. He should be our stronghold, so enemies cannot plunder our hearts and souls.

They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God is my rock of refuge. He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them Psalm 94:21-24

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

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

What exactly is a stronghold? It can be anything that separates us from His will. But the walls are still in ruins aren’t they? Did you know there is nothing remaining of Nineveh, many an empire has crumbled beneath the ignorance worshiping false gods. the disobedience of rulers who opposed God, just like those, He can tear down those walls as President Reagan said to Mikhail Gorbachev about the Berlin Wall.

We all have those imaginations to cast down, down we? The doubts, sometimes, outrageous fears and phobias. But Jesus is our rock, He is our stronghold and even if we are barely hanging on, He is holding us in the palm of His hand.

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6

We truly have to watch what we think about and say, so we do not get into the imaginings of the flesh. Like sickness for instance, do you start thinking death? Even when I was close in the hospital, I was thinking, ” You’re going home! ” I just had too. It can be easy to take the thoughts the enemy would destroy us with, if not instantly, over time.

How do you take thoughts? By thinking them continuously, by not replacing them with the renewed mind of Christ, and by saying them. What is going to be your profession of confession, faith or fear, which is not the opposite of courage but of His love. I am not petty or picayune, I don’t like lot of teaching that didn’t work for me, but it is important to be rooted and grounded in His love.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a Spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:6,7

I capitalized that S in Spirit, because our spirit will tend to fear, though He gives our spirit the ability not to fear, it is because of, and only because of the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit that is our teacher and gives us the power no to fear but to have a sound mind. He will recall the Word to us and for us, and He will break through walls of stone for us, breaking strongholds forever.

ufimptsev / Pixabay

Is Time Really Running Out?

I wrote a lot of posts about time two years ago in March, one was called Is Time Running Out? But is it? Is it really running out? Are we at the end of the church age? It is not just a tired old cliché among Christians. I remember thinking when I was a girl that the Rapture of the church would be here soon and I would probably not even grow up. It was in a time there was popular prophetic book out.

When I was older, I studied prophecy. A lot of it. I realized that God has a clock, and I have had to let Him do it His way and in His time, I just don’t have His wisdom, only a fraction of it. We are now into the month of Tishrei, the Jewish New Year 5783, can you believe that? Most Christians are not even aware of the significance of His calendar. We are on the Gregorian one, and of course, our New Year is in January.

God is said to decide the New Year for people during the forty days of Teshuvah, the time of reflection and repentance. It may not be a requirement for believers to study Hebraic roots or even to celebrate the feast days, but there is a lot we have to learn from history.

While no one knows the day or hour of His return, my childlike faith and hope in has not diminished but my wisdom has increased, enough to know that only God, Himself, will declare the fullness of time, when the last sinner will be saved, when the Holy Spirit will remove the church to meet Him in the air.

The shofar sounds on Rosh Hashanah, the head of the year, it hasn’t happened yet, it wasn’t this Jewish New Year or is it? There are still more celebrations and holidays to come on both calendars. Jesus hints toward celebrations and fulfilled the law and prophets at the crucifixion in the spring, Passover. Was He suggesting a return in the fall? Though I cannot set any date, it would be nice to see the ” light of the world ” show up at Hanukkah.

I do believe the event known to believers as the Rapture or catching away is a lot closer, more imminent than ever as the words of the Lord are played out, there are a lot of false prophets, doctrines, and people are living anyway they want to and unrepentant. Sometimes, they even call it grace. He even speaks of false miracles, in the time of the Antichrist, there will be such miracles as God allows delusion to overtake the unbelievers, don’t let that stop you from believing now. He is still performing miracles.

I know many people are taken back by the spiritual gifts but don’t be. We are not to be afraid Jesus warns us against it. And while the prophetic word of Matthew 24, https://biblehub.com/nlt/matthew/24.htm, has taken place in part with a ruler called Antiochas Epiphanes, who claimed to be Zeus and persecuted the Jews, we know there is a coming ruler that will profess to be God, known as the Antichrist, he will deny Christ as the Son of God and His sacrifice.

While there will be the wars and signs, the Jews will attempt to return to being Orthodox and it will be stopped. There is so much that is yet to take place and it is my belief that true believers will not be here. Jesus describes this as one being taken and the other left. That does not mean that half the population will be saved, it is just a metaphor for what occurs at the Rapture, in relationship to where people are.

I would advise reading the chapter, discerning the times and seasons. Watch and pray as a believer, for He will separate the wheat from the tares when He comes, His angels are coming. Especially, if time is really running out.

Rodoplpho Zonardo / Pexels / Canva

Walking In Wisdom

Okay, walking in the middle of the road might not be too wise but the idea was to illustrate the straight and narrow path that Jesus spoke of in the parables. So, how do walk in wisdom? It is not just automatic, even after salvation or as we age.

Though I truly believe that we are all created with an innate and intimate knowledge of the love of God and the ability to know right from wrong, somehow, it doesn’t work that way. If angels really do seal the lips of babies who arrive from heaven, which is a cute story, entering the world that was given over to sin and just life appears to diminish the capacity of many people to walk in wisdom, and some, simply rebel and refuse to.

It just dawned on me, remembering a story I read. A woman overheard her five year old daughter asking her baby sister about heaven saying, ” I can’t remember what it was like. ” What knowledge and wisdom Jesus must have possessed even before  He could speak, a little child led them, and taught sages by the time He was twelve. It is never, never, never too early to teach children about Him. I have personally heard children speak His name at six months, amid the garbled attempts to talk.

That is the intent of Proverbs to teach wisdom, and to instruct on the ways to walk in wisdom, Solomon asks to pay attention to His words, how much more so to the words of Christ. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Many were amazed in Matthew 13:54

Wisdom comes with faith and experience, it is wisdom to seek the guidance of someone skilled in dividing the Word, a mature Christian who can advise and not judge or condemn, I just had an opportunity to speak with a young woman, and I could give the same advice to older ones. ” You don’t have to live your mother’s life. ” Even young people can see the mistake of their parents as they mature, having grown up in the foster care system or living with relatives. At least some can. It is as if others are destined to repeat them, but they do not have to. Let’s choose to walk in wisdom, it is not too late to change your mind and leg God change your heart.

I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. Proverbs 4:11

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20

When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. Proverbs 31:26

If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. James 1:5  Contemporary English Translation

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise. Ephesians 5:15

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders ( unbelievers ), making the best use of the time. Colossians 4:5

Wise people walk the road that leads upward to life, not the road that leads downward to death. Proverbs 15:24 Good News

And Jesus is the Good News, and we can walk in wisdom.

Pexels / Canva

Are You Hiding From God?

A lot of people who are not saved may think they can hide from God, but they can’t and if they can’t, He surely has as eye on us as believers. Unlike some have said, He is not out to get you, He would love to help you, but He is just and we have a free will. You can run but not hide from God. I wanted to share this Psalm to prove it.

O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
1f I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139

And all this was written long before Jesus came, how much more does He keep us as His Spirit is in us, not just upon us at times, like in the Old Testament. His death made it possible to have peace both with God and His peace as well, John 14:27.

Look what happened when sin and fear entered the world.

Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

In Genesis 16:18, Hagar gives Him the name El Roi, the God who sees, as she fled with Ishmael, and were wandering the desert. Jesus appeared in the flesh even back then at times, as God or the Angel of the Lord, now after He gave His life for us we are to be led by the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:14.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 6:26-28

We don’t have to hide from God, He loved us enough to send His Son, what a sacrifice! Besides, we can’t hide anyway.

Designecolologist/ Pexels

---

The Quest For Peace

Turn away from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

Pursue peace, or the Prince of Peace, Jesus. Great idea. And isn’t it a quest? The Cambridge definition says it is a long search for something difficult to find. In my prayer time, this was a specific phrase that came to mind, I always listen to the still, small voice of the Spirit, and while Jesus should not be difficult to find as He is in our hearts, I understand it.

Lately, as I pursue Jesus, I have run into walls of spiritual warfare. And truthfully, sometimes, there is little evidence of Jesus, even among believers. More people reached out to me on FB and Pinterest, but where were my visitors when I came home from the hospital?

Is there a lack of pursuing peace among believers? Is it getting harder to be at peace with sinners? I think it is possible, very possible. Pursuing peace is a major part of learning wisdom and discernment.

If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all people. Romans 12:18

So then, we must always aim at those things that bring peace and that help strengthen one another. Romans 14:19

Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it. Hebrews 12:14

You must turn away from evil and do good; you must strive for peace with all your heart. 1 Peter 3:11

These verses are from the New Heart version, but are similar to other translations, differing in only a word, like the Amplified using fervently or perhaps strive in others for pursue.

The verse in Romans captures my eye. Back in school, people knew I was a believer, I got a few jabs but basically, I could get along with others. I have seen a few children that were difficult to keep or teach, but now, there are some I just have to avoid. It is a shame that young children are not interested in Christ. Fortunately, I have been able to pray for babies, and there are still few receptive little ears as His return is ever closer.

But it is a sign of the times, each generation has more knowledge, but are far less moral. Not everyone, but a lot more than before. I live in a more peaceful neighborhood than in Atlanta, but in some ways there is less peace, even the more I pursue Jesus.

Everyone is not going to believe alike or agree to disagree. But as much as I can I want to keep pursuing the Prince of Peace, and live a holy life, in order to see God. It might be a long search to find someone that many are finding difficult to believe and follow, but we as believers know better and want to live in peace.

https://biblehub.com/romans/14-19.htm

https://biblehub.com/hebrews/12-14.htm

https://biblehub.com/romans/12-18.htm

https://biblehub.com/1_peter/3-11.htm

Hester Quang / Unsplash

Jesus, Risen Lord. Judas, Foolish Disciple

.

As we delve into wisdom and foolishness in the Bible, we certainly cannot leave out Judas. He started out like the rest didn’t he? If women like Deborah, Abigail and were wise. What went so wrong? Or like the devil, was iniquity found in Him? Let’s see what we can learn from the story of Judas.

Judas Iscariot was translated simply as man from Kerioth, south of Judea, he was the son of Simon. It was likely, he was first drawn to the preaching of John the Baptist. Later Jesus calls him as one of the twelve. He was likely not wealthy, it is suggested in commentary that he was even a peasant, and being entrusted with more an more money, as keeper of the purse for the disciples was just too much for him. Whatever the case, he was the betrayer.

He found himself entrusted with larger sums of money than he had ever seen and then there was temptation. We know only a little about him, his covetousness, and unfaithfulness. Was he perhaps a swindler or embezzler? Several times he showed his tendency to avarice and selfishness, greed.

The culmination of his intent was at the table of course, when Jesus tells them he is about to be betrayed. But even before, he is objecting to Mary of Bethany and her anointing Jesus, pretty much calling it a waste of money and suggesting it could be used for the poor. He grew worse and worse, until he betrayed his Master for thirty pieces of silver.

This is the sinful mindset that becomes madness, the foolishness we studied before. As a fan of silent movies, I had the chance to see the 1927 film, The King of Kings, there is another one with Jeff Hunter from the sixties. I watched it once and really had to watched it again and really think it through.

Jesus, played by H.B. Warner, who will later be Mr. Gower, in It’s A Wonderful Life, appeared at first to me to be a thin, gaunt, Jesus. But then I noticed how only His look put the devils out of Mary Magdalene. There are other poignant moments as well and I recommend it for movie buffs and believers.

Judas is played expertly by a handsome Joseph Schildkraut. At first, he is friendly with Mary Magdalene, we don’t know that for  sure. He follows along but goes slowly madder and madder, trying to resist. The scene that caught my attention is when he palms his communion at the table. I wondered if that wasn’t God showing us that Judas could not really have taken it. Had he really had literal and intimate communion with the savior, he could not have betrayed him.

Taking daily communion is part of the lives of many believers, though many still fear not being worthy and will not do it. He knows hearts, so don’t worry, if you are repentant and doing your best to serve Him, He makes you worthy, or none of us would be. But Judas was not walking with Him to the fullest, and the devil entered him. Perhaps, it was that he never really believed.

Was he possessed? I was taught that Christians could not be. Perhaps, but at least highly oppressed. I get these unbelieving statements all the time from people who don’t believe he can oppress Christians, think again. While you may not be possessed, you can be oppressed. Jesus breathed on the man and yet, maybe, he did not receive the Spirit or ever believe. Not everyone who says they know the Lord does and look how the disciples argued. The devil enters him at Passover, if he is the only one Jesus will ever lose, I would think possessed, until the Antichrist comes.

Jesus heals and delivers the oppressed. See Acts 10:38. Who kept the woman bound and bent over, threw a child in the fire. And Jesus was driven of the Spirit to be tempted. God will allow him access to you, as you grow in grace and favor, we are to learn to resist the devil and be submissive to God. To not be ignorant of his devices, to cast him out of our own minds and thoughts, Judas did not overcome him in his own strength and neither do we. We need Jesus.

So we have John to thank for a more detailed accounting of Judas, he even records Jesus calling him friend to the last moment with the kiss of betrayal. After further study, I discovered that this Greek word for friend, is more, companion. As further study on Communion, you may want to read John 6. Jesus is explaining it and the Jews don’t get it or the symbolism. It may be here that Judas really turns on him, Jesus calls him out but not by name but look at John 6:66.

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him….. was Judas behind this as well or was his heart hardened so toward him, that his soul was all but lost. So we know how he handed Him over for thirty pieces of silver, and later threw it away and hanged himself.

People will use that as a contradiction and say it means the Bible isn’t true, because it says he was hanged and because his bowels spilled. But that isn’t so. In effect, he was his own judge, jury and executioner. He hanged himself, and it is very likely the limb broke eventually, and his body burst.

Did he go to hell? I would think yes because Jesus says He has kept all the Father has given Him, except the son of Perdition. Could he have asked forgiveness? It is possible. Jesus restored Peter after his denial, he wept bitter tears and was afraid to  have Jesus approach him after the resurrection. Judas may have had a chance, had he been able to face Jesus. But I just could not say for sure.

I hope we can all take a lesson from the foolishness of Judas, that there is a real enemy. While Jesus had breathed on him he may not have been saved because He had not been crucified. Like in the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon others was not in them like believers. I think he may have felt remorse but judged himself.

We live in a time of people without conscience, they are losing their souls. Saved people never will lose the eternal lives but your soul, mind, will and emotions can be out of control, oppressed and even turned over to destruction to save the soul. But most of us are just not omniscient to enough to discern hearts, Jesus was more than a carnival mindreader, He perceived thoughts and intentions.

The devil blinds the minds of unbelievers to the gospel, he can blind the minds of believers much the same way as to the way he works, deceives, about healing and spiritual gifts. You can be saved and he will come after your testimony. We must plead the blood, take our Communion and keep looking to Jesus and not be foolish.

Matthew 12:43 Mark 4:15, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8

Freely Photos / Canva

Higher Ways

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

Now, isn’t this wisdom? God is smarter that we are. That’s just all there is to it. He even asked Job where he was when he hung the stars. I have felt His presence, knowing that I thought I had learned so much only to discover, I didn’t really know much at all n comparison to Him, that is why we need Him so.

And I want to show you a verse that helps explain it. God is in another realm of thought entirely. He is omnipotent, omniscient and eternal. And He wants to share His thoughts and ways with us.

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

Another book attributed to Solomon, even in that day, history repeated itself. God has seen it all. There is nothing new under the sun. I see that in teaching through my blog, it is a blessing to share some of what I have learned and been taught, and I try to make it simple and keep it fresh. You will see repeated posts on rest, peace and even wisdom. There is nothing new under the sun.

Yet, 2 Corinthians 5:17, teaches that as a believer, we are new creations in Him. And God, Himself has promised to do a new thing, Isaiah 43:19. It is referenced in other places as prophetic words and in Revelation 21:5.

So, God, whose ways and thoughts are higher than our own, doesn’t live under the sun like we do. He lives life in heaven and invites us to enter His realm of life, thoughts and ways, through His Son Jesus. It is wisdom to think His thoughts, act the way Jesus would, and live as if we we in heaven already. I know that sounds tough, but we make it harder by refusing His words and His rest, by not receiving His gift of peace.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory. Colossians 3:1-3 New Living Bible

Not only is this prophetic in the sense of His coming and believers being with Him, it is for now, as believers. How close we walk to Jesus is up to us. Do we want the status quo, to settle for less, or nothing new under the sun as Solomon wrote? Or would we rather listen to the greater one than Solomon, who was one with the Father, and think higher thoughts, and His ways.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2 New King James

Father, sometimes our hearts do overwhelm us, and we are not to be troubled or afraid, John 14:27, lead us to Jesus, and let us speak what the Spirit would have us to, your thoughts and ways, in His name, amen.

Toni Ferreira Ph /Pexels / Canva

When It Looks Impossible!

When it looks impossible, it probably is! And it for us but not for God! I had to look that verse up and here are parables and wisdom from the Lord. Jesus response in Luke 18:27, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

He has just finished explaining becoming like children but even prior to that the widow that pleaded with the righteous judge for just against her adversary, He correct the self righteous for being thankful that they were not like others including tax collectors, many were thieves. And the proud, rich, young ruler who was sure he had kept all the commandments. When Jesus asked him to give up the riches, he went away sorrowful.

Now, Jesus wasn’t necessarily asking Him to give up everything but to stop depending on his own works and rely on Him. The disciples are amazed and want to know who can be saved if it so difficult for the wealthy. Saving souls is impossible for us, but not for God.

We have to humble ourselves before Him in order for Him to exalt us. I knew I could not overcome my recent hospital stay. It looked like I was not going home, It was impossible for me. But not for Him. Physical therapists could only help me so much, it was impossible for me to walk. But He got me going.

As I write this post,  am thankful to be up and about, able to do some housework. I went to lunch. I still can’t drive but what is impossible for me is not for Him. I always had trouble believing Him for small things but I realized that was because I believed for so much. I knew He could do it, that He would do it. I think I was trying to be able to do the impossible myself, and that tripped me up. Not that I was not humbled or awed by His presence, amazed at His gifts, I had learned to depend on me because others thought I was not independent enough, but I was not going to be independent, I depended on Him.

Lying in the hospital, a nurse came in one night with a trainee. I think she wanted to help me more, but the older nurse just whizzed  covers on and off and said, ” No one is going to enable her like that? ” I had that phrase thrown at me the other day, enable. I told my mother who is overprotective, that if she is, God is more so of His child. I am not being enabled but empowered the one who does the impossible, and don’t I know it.

Not everybody walks  in His love, even if they know it or have benefitted from it. We are at all stages of life and faith, and it is a shame that a loving Lord wants to do for us and we are not letting Him. It’s impossible for me Lord but not for you, whatever the problem is.

Don’t enable people by being their only source, you might pay the rent or buy the groceries to help but don’t give money for drugs, it will defeat the purpose. Just turn over what is impossible for you to the one who makes it possible. HE knows if the need is for tough love or tender love, there is a time and place for both.

The same is true of faith. I pray for lots of people, but I want you to be able to pray for yourself. Many years ago, I once said that I didn’t need a minister to pray for me, that I could pray for myself. Truthfully, I knew I could not stand in the long prayer line, I was repentant of it and sometimes, I would repent of it though it was forgiven, but I was growing in grace and I could pray for myself and others and I knew why, it was because He was praying for me.

You know what? Just about everything I do is impossible, I was almost not born, would not have had a mother either, should not be able to walk, and so much more. Lord, I am weak but I am strong in you. What is impossible for me, isn’t for you.

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Genesis 18:14

know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. Job 42:2 New Living

Oh, Lord GOD, you did indeed make heaven and earth by your mighty power and great strength. Nothing is too hard for you! Jeremiah 32:17 New English ( NET )

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9 New Living

For nothing will be impossible with God.. Luke 1:37 -Gabriel to Mary concerning the virgin birth and Elizabeth having a baby in old age.

We have to recognize that we have limits and don’t see the hearts of others like He does, when it looks impossible, it is not for Him. He is wisdom.

Liza Summer / Pexels / Canva

When It’s Hard To Breathe Again

I

This summer scene is so nice but we are moving into fall and still studying wisdom. I have been reading some Proverbs, but then I was in Psalms, 150:6 and came across the verse that says to let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Now, that is wisdom.

I know it is not always easy to breath, that sounds strange I know, breathing should be natural and easy but often it isn’t. We sometimes run across the saying, ” Just breathe! ” I  read about the ancient Christian practice of prayer breathing a few years back and I was blown away, pardon the pun. I was doing this myself already at the Holy Spirit’s leading. I have had bouts of bronchitis that would literally choke me. And I like to sing, so that’s what I did, I had to praise the Lord.

Although I was not attacked by it for three years, I had some infections in the summer of 2021 but by Thanksgiving I had developed a blister on my leg toward the hip. I had had blood blisters before, no big deal. But when this one burst that weekend, I went to the hospital, and not one but three different ones, it was a bacterial infection. Eight surgeries saved my leg, but Jesus saved me from multiple ailments, any one could have been fatal. And to top it off off, I had Covid.

I hated the oxygen. I had nosebleeds. It was horrible and I just wanted to go home. Still not able to walk, I couldn’t but by late January, finally, I could go home. They were amazed that I had never been on oxygen at home, but I remembered the breath prayer, and Psalms and the Lord’s Prayer, are good, any of your favorites will work.

The summer heat is  not helping those with chronic breathing problems, nor Covid or any ailment. As we move into fall and winter again there are still problems we may face. I rewrite it this in response to the pressures and panic of Covid, and just to praise the Lord for the breath I have to praise Him with.

Jesus, His name is like the fragrance after the rain. There is a name for that, did you know that? It is called petrichor ( pe- tri – cor ). The morning mist, the dew, the rising heat from a summer storm that drifts the steam away into a a cooler evening. God was in a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by that. Clouds are full of mist and water, the Spirit is like that, wind, breath, life. Pneuma, in the Greek and ruach. roo-ok in Hebrew, and funny it rhymes with nuach, noo- ok, the Hebrew word for rest.

The Holy Spirit is in us, around us and over us. It is He who gives us rest. as a line from the hymn Come Unto Me says. The sweet fragrance of His precious promises that permeate our atmosphere. The gentle wind that passed by me on a hot day or the crisp breeze of fall. He hovers over believers and is the very breathe we breathe, how else are we a living soul?

Prayer Breathing is different to chanting and yoga. Though chanting is like it in a way, it is more of a tradition if not a Catholic form or prayer, it was practiced in the early church. I learned about it from a lady from England. It is not channeling, the only spirit we want as believers is the Holy Spirit, He can get rid of any others. Yoga is not Christianity, though some people will try to incorporate it, and perhaps they can take away the false doctrines, I like to stick as close to Jesus as I can. While the Bible and life are full of symbolism, we have to discern.

A breath prayer is simply meditating on a verse. Psalm 23, 91 and I have been doing The Lord’s Prayer.  John 3:16, you pick, what applies to you. I like harp music. I like some acoustic guitar, and piano solos. There are excellent Christian artists whose music will help relax you. Cooler air relaxes you, ever wonder why the hospital is so cold? You breathe better But I can tell you after being hot most of the time, whether the Georgia heat or the fire of the Spirit., or just hormones, I now get a lot colder after those late night hospital baths.

I can breathe cooler air better, but I am happy for a sweater or extra blanket now. It’s hard to do most anything when you can’t breathe well. So keep cool, relax and pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you.  I now pray for the Spirit to breathe on and for people I get requests from, thankfully, I was never on life support and my lung re-inflated. Women will get this as they are accustomed to walking and light exercise, I did aerobics back in the day, I just never learned how to rest in Him until I got older.

As for men, they are naturally stronger and many overdo. Men who retire will feel a loss, as their work has been a huge part of their lives. They will lose interest in hobbies after so long or have already worked so hard that they are in less than the best of health. Either way, if they are receptive ( some men have read my blog ),  and are believers, they can learn to pray this way or wives, explain it, and pray with them. Prayer, salvation, intimacy with Christ are all very personal experiences. I hope to share what I have learned from the Spirit, after a lot of my own trial and error, I rely on Him. I had the word, enabling tossed my way, it is not that I was not trying, I could not walk, but I’m doing better and I am breathing and praising Him.

And as for deep breathing, If you are ill you may need to start slow, have you ever used a rescue inhaler or nebulizer? It’s the same principle. I’m breathing easier and I will sing to the Lord and go to sleep. It is also an excellent singing exercise. Of course, you can do it anytime, As many times a day as you can. And ask your doctor first as a precaution, depending on your condition. God has my ailments, blood pressure and diabetes that I did not know I had, under control. I just went back about three weeks ago and mine said to keep up whatever I was doing.

Do you have trouble breathing, does your baby? Do you have asthma? Emphysema? Allergies? Or like, me was it the bronchitis that lasts three weeks?  Or are you facing some serious illness. Do a few each day. if you can, sing, that’s good too. Oh, I hear you…you sound good to God. And you may have talent you haven’t discovered.

So let’s go….The Lord is my shepherd, inhale…..I shall not want…exhale

Lead us not into temptation…..deliver us from evil.

…from the Lord’s Prayer

Ephesians 2:14….He, Himself, is…….our peace.

Surely……..goodness and mercy…..shall follow me. Psalm 23

Come unto me….I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28 Get the idea?

You will have a new way to study the Word now, so get breathing. Whether you sing or not. Father in Jesus name I pray for suffering people today, that the restraints and constrictors on their hearts and lungs, for Isaiah 53 healing to spring forth, and demonic attacks halted and lives and chains be broken, even smokers delivered with a breath prayer, we need your help, we seek your presence, loose us in your love. Set us free. In Jesus mighty name, Amen.

From Isaiah 53….by His wounds we are healed….by His wounds we are healed…by His wounds we are healed…..just breathe….this is one I do personally, for my back and some other issues. I praise Him for the healing He is pouring out. We are in the season of Teshuvah, the forty days of repentance before the Jewish New Year, wouldn’t the miraculous be welcome during the last ten days, known as the ten days of awe?

I have already recommended this to several people including one who is bi-polar and the family of a baby with cystic fibrosis. I truly believe this early church teaching has found a voice and that this will benefit believers and cause non believers to believe. Spirit, pneuma, wind…the Holy Spirit breathes. God breathed and created a living soul. He never intended us to struggle in our walk with Him, that’s why He sent Jesus, and He gave His last breath for us, it is finished. If you can only breathe His name do so. If you can breathe deeply from the diaphragm, while you are healthy, try it also to increase oxygen levels, Don’t overdo it, and keep taking medications until the doctor takes you off.

Please try this if you are suffering. I believe it can even help with anxiety and panic attacks. I hope you are having a  wonderful day and can beat the heat, when it’s hard to breathe. Blessings…

See Rachel Britton’s video teaching. Her British accent is calming as she instructs you https://www.pinterest.com/pin/448460075406155385/

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

Photo by joshua yu on Unsplash / Canva

He Still Walks On Water

I like watch shows about looking for treasure. Occasionally, they get a great shot of a sunrise or sunset from the boat, and it is amazing. Sometimes, you get to see the boat against clear blue sky, and other times there will be storms or choppy water and they have to call it off.

Keep in mind the people of the day, and many of the disciples were fisherman. How often is Jesus pictured in a boat, there are several instances. He calms the demon storm after being awakened by fearful disciples. He tells Peter to bring in the net with a full haul after fishing all night and catching nothing. Peter does so at His word. If only we could always obey and hear His words, sometimes we miss things, and sometimes, we are just not listening. That is not wisdom, is it? Neither is superstition.

But think of being on a lake at night, just before dawn. Jews or fisherman, like many people, were very superstitious. Seeing a ghost was certain death. Now, in the hours, likely from three to six a.m., it may have been dark or just before sun up. Did you know that many people pass away at three in the morning, others are often led to pray then, even waking up? And it is a Jewish belief that God visits the earth each morning before dawn, we see Jesus doing that, here, and it can be the Holy Spirit.

So here you are a frightened disciple. Fear gets in the way doesn’t it? Jesus had already heard of John the Baptist’s death, healed people and fed five thousand. Now tired, He went away to rest. An example we have to follow.

Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew14:22-33

Again we see Peter the fisherman who would deny Him and be restored when Judas would not, open his mouth and question Jesus. We have all done it, I sure have, when I didn’t see something working out. But He doesn’t lie and knows more than me, He knows what He is doing. Peter was rebuked, well, actually, the devil for using him to try to convince Jesus to rebel against Rome instead of give His life.

This same Peter, was also warned when he was coming, Jesus said of Himself that the devil could find nothing in Him. Often he was after Peter, but Jesus visited His house, it may have been his child Jesus held on His lap as He explained divorce. He healed his mother in law, prophesied his denial, not once, but three times before the crucifixion.

The swearing Peter wept bitterly. It has been my understanding that there are no bad words in Hebrew, or perhaps, in the modern Hebrew, but he heard it somewhere. But he repented spent time with Jesus before He ascended, repentant and restored, he was baptized with the fire of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. And he preaches boldly.

Tradition has it that Peter’s wife was beside him, perhaps, she traveled with him. She was said to be killed in the coliseum by Nero even before Peter, who had become the rock upon which Jesus would build His church, would be crucified upside down, believing himself unworthy to like Jesus.

So, let me assure you that Jesus is at rest and wants us to be, but if we need Him, He is there at any hour, though God is Spirit and so are we, He is not a ghost in the sense of what we think of ghosts as. But the Spirit can move yours, He can show you spiritual things, and give you spiritual gifts. You can trust the Holy Spirit, but don’t just believe anyone or everything, it takes prayer, study and discernment.

And Jesus, well, He will lift us up as we step out on faith, but we need to keep our eyes on Him. Looking at our problems or the storms will make us sink. Thankfully, He reaches for us, and He still walks on water. And He is still wiser than we are.

Elma Sazonva / Pexels / Canva