Tears Of Peace

I have written a lot about tears. I have cried a lot of them. I thank God that He has them in a bottle. Psalm 56:8 And I am more thankful that when the Lord returns He will wipe them away forever. But some of those will have to be tears of joy at just beholding Him in His glory, there won’t be anything sad about meeting Him.

That is true for me and I hope you but not everyone can say that, there will be weeping for the one was pierced, and lost souls well, will be turned away forever, and some will have lost rewards. But I don’t want this to be a sad post, far from it. We know that weeping can turn to joy in the presence of Jesus.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalm 126:6

There are several kinds of tears and one kind protects the eye, another releases the pent up stress and emotions. We have all cried both tears of joy and sorrow, with laughter and grief. But as I was working on my December posts about peace, the thought occurred to me that there are tears of peace.

When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. Psalm 84:6

While the Valley of Baca was real place and there was a pilgrimage, it can be a metaphor or symbol for our lives, that as we travel through it, our tears will become refreshing springs, falling like autumn rains, our tears can clothe us with blessings as well, releasing our most sincere and heartfelt emotions to God, for healing and the balm of Gilead, His Spirit.

When Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, He wept over it. Look at the verse and what He says…How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:42

How important are tears, and His peace, a gift, from John 14:27. Jesus wept over Jerusalem as they rejected His peace. Though they will one day weep for Him, the one they pierced, Israel rejected their Messiah. Jeremiah wept over those in captivity, and the psalmist says this…

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. Psalm 39:12

God cares about our tears, He made them for a reason and He knows hearts. And He also told Jeremiah and Ezekiel not to mourn or weep for certain people, that He had removed His peace from them, now I know that is Old Testament, but look who is our peace, Jesus.

Now, Jesus always speaks His peace to us, He is our peace, Ephesians 2:14.  But remember, He told the disciples to shake the dust from their feet, if they spoke peace and were not received. So, if people continue to reject Him, perhaps, He does remove the offer of peace from them. And sometimes, even believers are not receptive, so being enlightened once, if they continue to crucify Him afresh, they may not lose salvation but surely His peace.

So, I was very tenderhearted and cried at many hurts, then I heard someone say not to let the devil see you cry, so I stop crying, for years trying to be a strong Christian, but that was wrong, when I heard a sermon telling me to receive His peace, the hard and harsh words that were spoken over me and in anger, even against me, the enemy attacks against me, melted. So, I am often in prayer now, I’m praying in joy but there are tearful moments, and even now and again a warm tear rolls down my cheek, He is not holding His peace from me. I let the tears of peace roll, and receive the gift of His peace, day by day.

I want you too to receive His peace, we never want it hidden from our sight, Christmas is a wonderful time to consider, both giving and receiving His peace.

CocoParisienne / Pixabay

Speaking Christmas Peace

What do most of us say this time of the year? Merry Christmas or Happy New Year, Happy Holidays for the more politically correct, I say it too and just like the phrase. It is the happiest season of all, right? Just like I instituted Communion into my own Thanksgiving, I am starting a new tradition, not only for Christmas, but just in everyday conversation.

I think that we as believers, should be speaking His peace, just as He told the disciples. While He taught them as disciples, they were servants. But He explained to them that now they had learned and go teach others, that they would glorify the Father, that is what asking anything in His name and receiving is for, and perhaps why a lot of prayers go unanswered, are we as the Bible says having been taught ourselves, no longer needing to be taught, are we glorifying God? Being led and taught by the Spirit? Can He now call us friends?

Abraham was a friend of God’s, a lot of people stay in faith but never grow and follow the love of Jesus and desire to prophesy and operate in spiritual gifts, they make think of themselves as disciples and servants, when He wants children and friends. So let’s look at what Jesus tells the disciples concerning these verses, remembering that John 14:27 and His gift of peace is what He left us.

As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Matthew 10:12-14

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

This really does dishearten me, Jesus called Judas friend even in the Garden of Gethsemane, he did know what he had been taught, he had a choice.  Now, I know Jesus had to die for us, but the love He still had for him and Peter who betrayed Him, was restored, it troubles me that people can walk away from.

So when you have been saved, taught, received grace.ive to glorify the Father and don’t crucify Jesus afresh, we have been enlightened as we study His Word, and while the world’s peace is not even the issue, we wand His peace to fill us and renew us and we need to speak it to our own houses, ourselves and our family. We need to speak it to our friends and fellow believers. So along with Merry Christmas, let’s speak Christmas peace.

And in the previous verse, He says there is no greater love, that He is laying down or giving His life freely…that is what He came for amid all the cute manger scenes and shiny ornaments, and gifts. We must remember, He our peace, Ephesians 2:14 and His peace is our gift, John 14:27…..

You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:15, what better friend do we have than Jesus? What better friend would we want?

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

Jesus preached peace, healing, grace and truth, and I want you to have the gift of His peace this year, so I speak His peace to you, to your health, your family, your church, and your home and your heart, where Christ makes His home, as  we believe.

Stas Durov / Pixabay

Christmas Peace

I had no idea what to start writing for December, but as I was resting as I have learned to do, it came to me to write about Christmas Peace, that really is what it is all about, there was not a lot of peace on the earth from the fall of creation to His birth. I am sure there were times and intervals when the conflicts were at a lull but there were always wars and internal spiritual struggles.

People were idol worshipers and pagans, there were a few who served the one true God, He took a lot of blame for what happened because He knew that people would follow the enemy, and give way to doctrines of devils. Jesus even said as it was in the days of Noah, that it would be the same as His return was near.

We see it today, so much anger, bitterness and strife, even among families and some believers. He had dealt with me for more than two years very strongly about His peace from John 14:27.  I admit it has been a struggle to at times, but that is not His will, He wants us to be still. Psalm 46: 10, if we are striving, we are not resting in His love and not receiving the gift He has so graciously given us, His peace.

So we will look at a lot of the aspects of peace this month and I hope I can share with you the revelation of peace as it comes about in the Word. Imagine the peace of Eden, and then the chaos that ensued. People became heathen and barbaric, and there was only one possibility to redeem them.

Because God gave everyone a free will, He knew what Adam and Eve would do. I like to think He would have forgiven them, they were too afraid to ask. That is when fear enter the world, worry, panic, terror and even death. Now, I know God makes the final decisions but we studied how Jesus tasted death for us, He took the power from the enemy. So no wonder, He, Himself, is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

And we know how that He, Himself, is our healer from Isaiah 53. So there is a lot to study abo peace, how it came, how it is a gift, how to receive it in the midst of storms. There are lots of verses, and I hope you will find time as many people are at home to study them or journal them, even come back to our study or share it, as it is an important gift.

It is a gift given by God in the form of Jesus, a gift Jesus left as He sent His Spirit, and I hope it is a gift I can share with you that you receive and share with others, so here is our foundational verse.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 New Living

I cannot over emphasize how that has resonated in my spirit by the Holy Spirit, I would literally wake to His peace, even going through trials and overcoming health issues, I found as I studied and did not try to replay the day or think about tomorrow, even anticipate people’s responses, which I am good at as a writer, or even look back which Jesus also warned about, that I had a lot more peace.

I had entered the rest of faith that Hebrews talks about, know He is there to take care of it, and has overcome so I will. Believe me God is still taking a lot of blame and He sent us the very Prince of Peace, so let’s look to Him for Christmas Peace, He is what Christmas is all about.

Tasting Spiritual Food

They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.…1 Corinthians 10:3, 4

We have already talked about Jesus referring to Himself as the bread of life and manna from heaven. We know Jesus was there as the second person of the Trinity as the world was created, He appeared also at times as the Angel of Lord. He told Jews that before Abraham was, He was, and they did not understand that He was eternal or the Messiah, and indeed He is the same, yesterday and forever as it says in Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus stepped out of eternity to become a baby, grow up and be crucified in order to give man a chance at redemption, why He is called the second Adam. Our verse today is speaking of the Jews coming out of captivity. They wandered in the wilderness, ate the same spiritual food and drink. Remember, how Moses struck the rock and water poured forth.

That was a symbol of the living water as the manna was the bread of life, Jesus. These people also were snake bit and Moses fashioned a brass serpent, on a pole and put it up for people to see. Jesus was lifted up on the cross, and people look to Him for healing, see the symbolism,. But Moses made a mistake in his anger and smote the rock a second time, God had told him to speak to it.

Many people find themselves in the same predicament, not understanding the parallel. It was God who allowed His son to be both beaten and scourged for healing, it was not Moses’ right. And it is the same with Holy Communion, people fear it but should keep a repentant heart, and proclaim His death until He comes.

Inadvertently, we can find ourselves striking the rock that is Christ, when we should be speaking to Him. We know He is the rock in the Old Testament and the New. So we should speak to Him about any of our problems as a believer, we need never blame or doubt Him, He has made a way, if we are in obedience. He is a High Priest who knows us intimately, He tasted death for us.

Just like most of us eat three times a day, we should taste the spiritual food as well, the enemy is no match for a well fed believer, who speaks the Word and to the rock that is Christ. Spiritual food does go into the heart and all leaven will be filtered out as we believe, grow in grace and allow the Spirit to teach us.

I know a lot of us may have the same problem. I used to say something and people just up and disagree. Doctrine and denomination can get to the best of us, but believers will know the truth. It is strange how we can hear the same thing and yet not get it, it happens a lot, but we have to grow in grace and will always be learning.

The words of Christ are spiritual food, as is the Word, I pray we taste them. And let them grow in our hearts, for He is the rock of our salvation, and invites us to His table, and He loves us. That is our visual today.

Rebecca Jones   Sasint / Pixabay

I hope you have enjoyed Taste And See November and will join me for Christmas Peace.

Taste And See Verses / Sunday Bonus

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 Berean

For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. Job 34:3

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy. Job 8:21

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

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psalm 81:10

Fill us each morning with your constant love, so that we may sing and be glad all our life. Psalm 90:14

For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:9

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence. Proverbs 13:2

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Proverbs 18:12

Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste. Proverbs 24:13

When you are full, you will refuse honey, but when you are hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet. Proverbs 27:7

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

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  Matthew 3:8

Blessed are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, for they will be filled.        Matthew 5:6

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Matthew 6:25, 26,27

You will know them by their fruit. Matthew 7:16

For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world. John 6:33

I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 6:35

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him God the Father has set His seal. John 6:27

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. John 6:51

Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe in God and believe also in me. John 14:1 Good News

And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52

Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. Acts 14:17

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22,23

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:19

What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because He suffered death for us, He is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame. Hebrews 6::4,5

Through Him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to His name. Hebrews 13:15

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:3

For He saved us and called us with a holy call, not in accordance with our desserts, but in accordance with His own purpose and the free grace which He bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before the commencement of the Ages… 2 Timothy 1:9

Rebecca Jones  Daria Yakovleva

These are most of, if not all of the verses used in this month’s study. Some are more about righteousness or grace so i am including more to do with taste and see, sweet and food.

Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man ( or woman ) who trusts in Him. Psalm 34:8

His Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Sweeter Than Honey

I was hoping this sweater would make us think of candy, and here is our verse for today.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

I often catch myself telling my mother, Jesus has been very sweet about this, like my situation of being offline, the ups and downs of healing and teaching this way. He has always been sweet to me and more than I deserved, but He doesn’t see it that way.

Why? Because He is so sweet. It is so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word, the song says and I keep falling in love with Him over and over again. It just sweeter and sweeter as the days go by, oh what a love between my Lord and I keep falling in love…..Great lyrics and I sing them often when something passes me by or I overcome by His words and my testimony. I am favored with grace and that is something we don’t deserve but He sees our hearts and gives grace upon grace.

He offers it to sinner and it abound, the Bible says, but to a believer who understands it they will not insult the Spirit of Grace, the Holy Spirit by willful sin, but know they have an Advocate when they do. I tell people that the one who was altogether lovely and sweetness Himself died for them, and it is true. John 1:16, the Message says gift upon gift.

Honey was the sugar of Bible days. I love those dark chocolate truffles, and I live in the south so sweet tea is a must, but I use Splenda. Pecan pie is so sweet, that one slice a year is enough. One of those filled lemon cremes or chocolate doughnuts, baked on the spot in Atlanta, those are sweet. 

But whatever is sweet to us, His words are sweeter, softer, and more gentle than any, though the Spirit can and is firm, that love is what prevails. Let’s look at some sweet words, okay. And why not have a piece of candy, I have been wanting a Milky Way.

If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold. Psalm 12:6

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off. Proverbs 24:14

“Son of man,” He said to me, “eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.” So I ate, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. Ezekiel 3:3  John eats a sweet scroll but in his stomach it is bitter. Revelation 10:10 – how we ” taste or feast ” on His words. With what John saw no wonder it became bitter.

There are other references to sweet as to sleep and even fellowship, and the counsel of friends, but if you walk with Jesus or operate in spiritual gifts, many of His word can be            ” rhema ” or specific words from the Spirit, and those are often timely and very sweet.

So His words are sweet from the poetry of Psalms, Song of Solomon, and the wisdom of Proverbs to the love of Jesus in the gospel of John, what verses are sweet in you mouth? Another reason to both read and speak His words, so ours will be healing and sweet.

Rebecca Jones  Keylee Garrett / Unsplash

Tasting Worry?

Maybe, you recall the parable about not toiling or spinning. Jesus says to look at the birds of the air, how the Heavenly Father feeds them both literally and He is there when they fall. God never intended any harm to come to any creation, Adam lost the spiritual authority, Jesus gave it back.

He also says we are worth many sparrows, and that we should not be worried about what we will wear or eat or drink. Our body is more than the food we eat, we need to live by the Word of God, not bread alone but the bread of heaven, Jesus. So why are we worrying, it will not change anything?  We must learn to trust in Him.

Have you ever really seen a sparrow that wasn’t finding his lunch in the form of a French fry at a fast food place. I noticed a nest at the grocery store, way up in the sign,  now that was a good place to raise a little family. There is bound to be someone dropping an apple or roll, even some popcorn or chips.

Many of us worry about food, especially, when there are runs on supplies in bad weather, warnings to stock up in case something runs out or if a disaster strikes. Though I have family who can remember going hungry, most of us don’t know that feeling, thank the Lord but there are those that do, not only in foreign countries but here at home as the economy is in a mess and people are not working or working from home, being quarantined.

The local school went around giving out milk and fruit while it was closed, so you see, He was providing, neighbors show up with something, I even got groceries from a church, there were left over boxes, not picked up on last July 4th, I have used it and given it away, rather than see it wasted.

I hate to see food wasted, and I am sure the Lord does. It is better to eat a little and then ask for more, give children small portions and ask them to eat five green beans or peas. I learned that when I helped with kindergarteners. Still, we are not to worry. I told this to a lady, and she said she would remember a phrase I know the Spirit inspired, ” Worry is not in my vocabulary. ”

Worry, like fear, will come but it is not from God either, believers have to have faith He is Jehovah Jireh, the provider. So let’s take time to be thankful and still share and let others taste His goodness this holiday season. Now, here are some verses to meditate on. Happy Thanksgiving, but if you live elsewhere join us in a day of feasting on God’s goodness.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Matthew 6:25, 26,27

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him God the Father has set His seal. John 6:27

Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe in God and believe also in me.

John 14:1 from the Good News translation, anxious and anxiety are often interchangeable with worry, and there are more verses on that if you care to study them. Let’s not taste worry, when Jesus tasted death for us.

Rebecca Jones   LINESTYLEMAKEOVER

My ( Passover ) Cup Overflows

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

https://biblehub.com/esv/psalms/23.htm

I took this verse from the beloved psalm, and while we may be familiar with runneth over, overflowing is better. Jesus asked that the cup be taken from Him if there was anyway possible in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was in agony as the enemy tormenting His thoughts and mind. He was trying to obey the Father and give His life willingly but the human part of Him was having trouble with the decision. It was enough of agony for Him to voice it, yet He agreed to the Father’s will.

Haven’t we all agonized over decisions, perhaps, not to that degree? If you don’t think Jesus understands us think again, He faced it all without sinning, tempted in every way we have been. We overcome because He did. He did partake of that cup, and there are others in the Bible.

The couple about to be married drinks from the same cup, God sees marriage as a covenant. There are also four cups at Passover. They are in reference to the verses in Exodus 6:6,7, ” I will bring out,” “I will deliver,” “I will redeem,” and “I will take. ” All four that God did bringing them from slavery. The Roman tradition has the drinking of as many cups of wine as the name of the guest, in this case God, YHVH, yod, ye, vav, he. Yahweh.

The cups are also referred to as Cups of Sanctification, Deliverance, Redemption and Praise. All of which Jesus does for us as a believer and how we see Him as the Son of God, and Passover Lamb, There is even a fifth cup filled and left in the center of the table, at least it appears to be in Old Testament times, it is not drunk but watched over as a sign of Elijah. Some thought Elijah was John the Baptist and some Jesus. Of course, they were not, and  that cup is symbolic as to use drinking the cup with Jesus, we just can’t do it without Him.

Elijah will return and be killed along with Enoch, neither ever died, which gets into Jerusalem being a cup of trembling at some point. There is both redemption and wrath associated with cups, why Communion or the Holy Eucharist is sacred, the wine represented the blood and how much more the sacrifice of Christ is. But we are not to take it fearfully, but respectfully and not remain in willing sin. We have to rightly divide the body and blood as well as the Word. There is power in the blood and healing in Communion.

Remember when Joseph interpreted dreams, the cup bearer was released. He also hid His cup in Benjamin’s grain, longing to bring his family to him, God does the same with the Jews. So cups can have serious meaning in the Bible but also healing and joy. Whether four cups or one refilled four times, Jesus causes our cups to run over, to overflow with His Spirit.

I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord, Psalm 116:13

Do you have a special goblet, chalice or cup? I do, it is a purple goblet with the Lord’s Supper, can you envision Communion with Jesus, let’s lift the cup of salvation, and thank Him that He alone is worthy of praise and make our cups overflow.

https://jewsforjesus.org/newsletter-mar-2002/the-mystery-of-the-passover-cup

https://www.chosenpeople.com/site/jesus-the-messiah-in-the-four-cups-of-passover/

A Taste Of Thanksgiving

Even as we study our verse to taste and see the Lord’s goodness from our foundational Scripture, we can have a taste of thanksgiving any day, as giving thanks is actually a sort of communion with Him, it is not just a holiday celebrating the pilgrims and Indians, and a feast.

The settlers had that feast out of thanks, having survived harsh winters and enduring difficulties upon seeking religious freedom, that fight is ongoing in many ways still. We give thanks at meals or at least we should say grace, I did just now as I am writing this post, having enjoyed a wonderful Sunday dinner.

You see, the word thanksgiving, is eucharisto, communion. And yes, it can be the kind, breaking the bread and having wine or  grape juice, you can do that at home, keeping a repentant heart, and being a believer. And it is also the kind of just being with the Lord, that comes from stillness and prayer.

He should always be a guest in our homes as He is in our hearts, and thanksgiving is a continual, ongoing part of salvation just as prayer is. I don’t think Jesus minds if is paper plates of fine china as long as He is welcomed and appreciated as Lord. We can have a touch of thanksgiving anytime, and taste His goodness year round.

It will not hurt anyone to put down the phone and enjoy a family dinner, at least once a week. for a long time we had a regular Friday night at a restaurant, even with friends. I had lunches after the Bible studies I taught on Thursday mornings. It is all fellowship and getting together, and where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there.

There will always be some who just come to eat, for a free meal and whatever is being given out, but they just might also get fed or feast on His Word, at the least, a seed is sown. The harvest depends on the soul, ae you going to let it take root and grow or allow the enemy to steal the words of Christ from you?

It doesn’t have to be an elegant table though that is nice and a good ideas for couples to have intimacy with each other and the Lord. It is good as well for children to learn manners and respect, how to dine out. I have seen people leave their dinner and even coats with rowdy children in tow.

Our lives have become too fast pace and perhaps a bit of sloth creeps in. No, I don’t expect you to iron tablecloths and polish the silver, but we should remember to make lasting memories while there is time, to enjoy family and friends, communion and thanksgiving, a prayer of grace is all part of that.

Surely, we can taste and see His goodness, and add a touch of thanksgiving to any day, even coffee with a friend, and the Lord will be glad to join you.

Once Enlightened

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame. Hebrews 6::4,5

I used to wonder about his verse, and I still know people on both sides of the discussion who will argue rather than debate it. Can you lose your salvation? It used to be bother me in the days when I thought I was doing something wrong or that prayers would be answered, but He was answering, the enemy was and is and always will be a liar. The only one He ever lost was Judas, and He was still calling Him friend, as He was betrayed with a kiss.

Peter denied knowing Him and Judas, was so driven by the devil that he passed judgement on himself, judge, jury and executioner. Could he have repented? Perhaps, and that is a verse that people use to say the Bible contradicts itself. Wrong! He did hang himself, and his insides would have been spilled if the limb broke and his body fell.

I wondered how he could have been in the presence of Jesus and even been breathed on and go to hell. The answer has to be that he did not receive, money was his god or greed, he pretended to be and could have been a disciple.

Let me assure you that God knows hearts, Jesus knew in advance. He knew people would stop following Him when they did not understand the teaching of Communion. People still stop following Him, and will even in the future. Their love waxes cold, if it was ever His love at all. They are hurt and deceived, but will a born again believer lose salvation?

The great falling away mentioned at the end times, this is very much what it could be, though I had thought of it as the Rapture of the church, and people just disappearing but that is more calling away, so it is a warning to remain in Him, Jesus asks us to.

Lose your salvation? I don’t believe so, knowing from personal experience, that I was really trying to be a Christian and yet, I never was as interested in ministry, but I was Jesus. I watched a lot of teaching programs, listened to gospel, and taught children, even Bible study. I never felt that I was anything more than an intercessor, where was my life? The truth is I was focusing on Jesus, others and leaving me behind, when He really had even better plans. So, no, just because you think you have failed Him, or even have fallen short, there is grace.

You have to be a willing sinner, not knowing Him intimately, if at all. Why would you crucify Him afresh? Who would do that? His grace is sufficient, Paul says, if it is not, then you are saying that His once and for all who believe sacrifice isn’t good enough for you. The Holy Spirit is your teacher and brings remembrance of His word, you can refuse them, He will not always strive with men, we are told in Genesis. If eternal life were not eternal would any of us be saved?

The entrance of His Word brings light, but we can refuse and walk away, God is always wooing us to Christ. But we have a free will. I heard a woman say that she would lose her salvation, because she felt no compassion for someone and their loss. She quickly changed her tune. I have had that happen to me, and I am saved, God cannot help some who refuse, His ways, not will not He would if  they called on in Jesus name.

You can feel compassion for people, even those you know are not believers, but I have also over prayed, when I should have left them to Him. We cannot be the problem solver He is. Now, about I verse, I have heard other teaching that it was a specific group of Jews, that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit was mentioned to.

I was accused of it for believing in speaking in tongues, that is not so. He gives wisdom and discernment, I believe you can fall out of His will. if not His grace, I have seen that abound, and people who should have been in prison or dead, are still here as He offers them every chance to change. How long will He? Only the Spirit can say when a person’s heart is too hard. So if you are worried about losing your salvation, don’t! But just don’t stay willfully in sin, are you living with someone? Abusing drugs or alcohol? A habitual liar? If you truly know Christ, you know what is right and wrong. Knowing to do good and not, is a sin, so is envy, jealousy and even fear and anger. The little foxes will destroy the field of your testimony.

Who can say with certainty the condition of the the heart? We can only go by the fruit or what they say. The Spirit came upon people in the Old Testament, and departed the temple as well as people like Samson and Saul. But the Spirit is in us as a believer, we can be both baptized as Jesus was, John’s baptism and then have the subsequent baptism of Jesus’ fire, He can literally and spiritually put the dove of the Spirit on your head. Study 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14.

In closing, this was a necessary post, even if it has little to do with food or thanksgiving. Here the word taste is comparable to Jesus tasting death for us. So the warning for Christians, is to mature, and not fall away or else you are declaring Him, anathema, meaning cursed, in effect crucifying Him over and over, with your words or in your heart, Galatians 3:13 declares Him cursed for being crucified, though He knew know sin He was made so to save us and we are never righteous, but He gave us His righteousness.

After a stern warning and the promise of His hope, let’s use our base verse to meditate on. oh, and Job uses the phrase ” skin of you teeth “, that is the way some get to heaven while others will be rewarded.

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

Rebecca Jones   David Boca / Unsplash