It Doesn’t Have to Run in Families

You often hear people say that heart attacks or alcoholism, or something runs in their family. Well, it doesn’t have to. Not when you become a believer in Christ. Did you know that His agony in Garden of Gethsemane broke the curses of Genesis?

When His sweat became as great drops of blood from a broken heart, and fell upon the ground, no longer were believers destined to struggle and till, digging in dry, cracked or even scorched earth. Women would no longer suffer as much in childbirth, only the devil’s curse remained, and will forever. But believers, who can believe and receive from Him are delivered.

You will get varying opinions, that there is no such thing or that there are curses that have to be addressed and broken. Just because Jesus paid the price, we still have to receive His blessing as opposed to the curses of the Old Testament. Indeed, their are family traits that are passed along, and as believers we can be engaged in spiritual warfare, only Jesus could impart righteousness and destroy what the enemy would bind us with, instead, he is bound. And I am so glad of that, I used to think fear was after my family, but I know now I didn’t have to seek ” greater faith ” but grow in it.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree. ” Galatians 3:13

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” Romans 5:19.

And what of Proverbs 25:2? Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim. New Living. Does that mean that some people deserve their curses?

No, it means that they can choose, blessing or curse. Though some may try to curse us as believers, the Lord is on our side, and even if someone thinks they have cause to curse us, God has it covered. People into the occult will try and fail. I did need prayer once, concerning this, I had not realized I was letting something affect me, but mostly, it is just over, I had a psychic stand out and yell at me as I sat in a local drive thru. I paid her no attention.

Let’s take Balaam, for instance, sent to curse the Israelites. How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced? Numbers 23:8. As he looked down on the camp the tents were arranged in the shaped of a cross. Jesus was being prophesied.

Mostly, there are learned behaviors in families. Children are quick to notice what is acceptable or not. If parents are loving toward each other, girls may look for someone like their father, boys, look for a wife who has mother’s qualities. If all they do is fight, it is easy to see how domestic violence is prevalent.

Like I said, Jesus breaks this snare of the enemy over believers. No weapon formed against us will prosper, Isaiah 54:17. For a long time, I though fear was a generational curse in my family, but when I was taught not to fear, and that God had not given me a sprit of fear. 1 Timothy 2:17…..I resisted it, I never accepted it. Was it spiritual warfare? Many times, but t never prevailed because Jesus did.

I do believe that words affect you, hurt you, and can even destroy you. But as a believer, we are more apt to guard our word and let the Lord guard or hearts. Just because someone says it over you, doesn’t make it so. Not even all prophetic words come to pass unless a person believes them.

You don’t have to be just like an alcoholic mother, or an abusive, demanding father, because yours were. Or die of cancer because someone else did. You don’t have to have a heart attack just because three people in your family died from them. Take care of yourself, take medicine if you need to, get rest and exercise and trust God with your health, and soul. Jesus breaks the enemies devices.

Many spirits find their way into our lives, they do have names like alcoholism, addictions, stealing, lying, cheating. Violence, rage, hate and murder are also more evil ones. Many demons and imps are just temptations, even fascinations with sin.

However, I once saw a child being prayed for on television to cast out the devil, he was laughing, and no wonder, the people were asking God to bless him. That is not the way it works. God does not bless evil. The abusive boy went on to kill a a woman. But he had a choice and the prayers were amiss. There are people who live in lack, of having their needs met and who lack wisdom. Ask for it.

One famous family has been said to be cursed. There was lot of sin there, but a lot of good as well, and while death may have claimed them, they still had the choice to believe or not. But believe me, it doesn’t have to run in families.

Emma Rahmani / Corelens / Canva

What In The World Is Owlaween?

Okay, it is just a fun way of changing Halloween into something that is not so scary. I am posting cute owls on Precious In His Site, with verses about not fearing. Fear, not normal care or concern, even caution, the unbearable, overwhelming, redundant or sometimes ridiculous fears we have all faced is what is the devil’s realm. We will study some of these fear filled topics in October.

Fear is not the opposite of faith as I once believed, it is the opposite of love. God has a way of quieting and calming the fears of His children, if we will let Him. And the fear of God that the Bible refers to is more of reverence and respect, though we should realize the foolishness of opposing an all seeing and all knowing God. He sent His Son to die for us, Jesus, who lived in a heaven with no fear came to earth, faced down humanity, death, hell and the grave, He understands fear.

In the Bible owls are mentioned in several respects, but not as wise. Considered unclean and evil birds, they were not to be eaten, Leviticus 11:13-18; Deuteronomy 14:11-18, sometimes, the translations change owl into a kind of snake or even ostrich. The wisdom aspect comes from the goddess Athena, pictured with an owl, and of course, we know Solomon was the wisest king but his wisdom was from God 1 Kings 3:10, and Jesus is greater still, Matthew 12:42.

Owls are only of average intelligence though they possess incredible, binocular like vision. And their heads are large and rotate but only about 270 degrees not a full 360. They are are nocturnal, and have a moaning or mournful cry or hoot, causing many superstition and becoming the substance of bad omens, even death, should you hear one.

However, the prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zephaniah use owls in verses pertaining to the coming falls of cities and their desolation. Owls do live among ruins and in dark, barren, foreboding places. Babylon, and the fall of Edom, the Lord takes vengeance on His enemies, Isaiah 34:8-11. 

The weeping prophet Jeremiah describes Babylon’s destruction and perpetual desertion, where the only inhabitants will be desert creatures, hyenas, and owls. Jeremiah 50:39

Assyria falls in Zephaniah 2:13-14. Nineveh was obliterated even after Jonah finally went. These prophets were contemporaries and lived near or at the same time, before the return from captivity.

Owls are associated with many beliefs, superstitions and myths, but were created by God, and blessed originally which is why I decided to turn them into a way of teaching His Word, though they are associated with witchcraft and the devil., they do trick their prey, they have also appeared in Christian art, at the cross, symbolizing the believer coming to the light upon receiving Christ as Lord. Owls can see in the dark, if only we all could.

David, Micah and even the much earlier book of Job recount the haunting and mournful sound or hoot of the owl, associating it with loneliness and solitude, and we know Jesus even secluded Himself, in ” lonely ” or isolated places. to pray and rest. Even if the disciples were falling asleep. Matthew 14:13, Mark 6:31, and Matthew 26:40.

So, I hope you will join me for interesting posts and topics, We might learn some things we didn’t’ know. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and wants us to as well, and ultimately, He does it for us and through us. Owls were not an interest of mine, I like cardinals and doves, have had finches, canaries, cockatiels and a parrot, but I learned to draw owls, kept coming upon them in Christian coloring books. And while I was working on church mice, I ended up with owls too, and they friendly on the children’s blog, and know about wisdom and fear. And we will have a Happy Owlaween because we know too. Woo-hoo!

 Job 30:28-29, translated ostrich, Psalm 102:3-6, Micah1:8…

Alexas Fotos / Pixabay / Canva

And please join us on Precious In His Site all month as we get ready for Owlaween.

https://preciousinhissite.wordpress.com/blog/

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.

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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

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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

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Jesus, Risen Lord. Judas, Foolish Disciple

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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

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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.

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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.

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