God gave me a revelation earlier in the week. But I just kept thinking, well God that is just for me. (Maybe not) It's one of those moments where you have heard something a hundred times and you even believe it, but God gives you a visual in a different way.
My husband and I were doing our morning Bible study and then we started talking about exercising our Faith. Then God showed me, He has given us each a measure of Faith. (paraphrased) Rom 12:3 We have heard that a lot in our life. But what God showed me was that He gave us each all the faith that He was going to give us. That we didn't need to pray for more faith, He gave us each equal amounts of faith just like he gave each of us equal eyes, ears, arms, legs. Now when we are a baby, we have to start using our arms, legs.... to strengthen them, just like when we use our faith it builds us up. When God asks us to build up our faith, he is wanting us to use it. If you never used your arms they would become weaker and weaker until you could not do anything with them, however by using them a little each day and increasing what you do with them you build them up.
I've always been big on not letting complacency creep in, I personally think that is one of Satan's favorite tools against us, is to convince us we can do it later, after all we have time. I also believe that we need to be in balance. It doesn't do us any good to get fired up and go read 27 chapters in the Bible and not understand what we have read. Or like the person that is trying to get into shape goes to the gym works out for 3 hours, only to burn out and never go back. So we need to exercise our Faith a little each day, in balance. "Faith is the substance of the things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" Heb 11:1
In James 2:14-26 It says faith without works is dead. (paraphrased) Again this is a balance of faith mixed with your works or deeds. I heard someone say that your works are what you believe. Which if you break that down makes a lot of sense. You will only act on what you believe, therefore your works will stem from what you believe.
Work your spirit out a little everyday a little faith a little works and see how shapely your spirit becomes.
Be Blessed
Lynn
Check back I'll be posting a new recipe for Temple of the Holy Spirit : ) on my other Blog later.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Bryant Mountain & God Pt 2
Well it had been a year to the weekend that we made the trip up Bryant Mountain to go to Smith Reservoir. It was a nice sunny Sunday and we had some time so Dad suggested we make another attempt at going over the mountain to the really neat fishing spot. So we grabbed a pop and loaded into the pickup.
Now because of what had happened the year before, breaking down and walking off the mountain, Mom and Dad had a little joking going on. But they both resolved to the fact that it would be too much of a coincidence to break down two years in a row on the same weekend.
We traveled along, past the "Big Fir" in the clearing, enjoying the beautiful day and the scenery. Juniper trees with their bluish purple berries, sage brush, buck brush, Douglas fir and lodge pole pine. There was even a grove of cotton woods, but that was in the other direction. We stopped every now and then to check out a deer or two along the way. When Grandpa went on rides with us, we got a Quarter for seeing the first deer, and a nickel after that, it had to be confirmed though.
So Dad makes his couple of special turns that was supposed to take us to Smith Reservoir, but as we continued on it seemed as though things weren't as carefree. Being young I really didn't understand, but it was very quiet as we got close to the spot where we had broken down the year before. All the sudden out of the blue Dad states, "Somethings not right, I don't think we should continue on". Well I had never known my Dad to be superstitious but hey if he said we needed to go, then we needed to go. Now we were on that one lane dirt road with the embankment on the drivers side and the large drop off on the other side. So Dad Pulls up the side of the embankment, so he can turn the pickup around and get out of there. He pumps the brakes and yells "We don't have any brakes". My Mom yells back "Don't say that, that is not funny"! to which he replys "I'm not joking"!
There was a whirl of motion and a jerk like I was on a carnival ride and then we stopped. I hadn't realized it but I had glued my arms around my Moms arm so tight that when she opened the pick up door - in one motion of her arm, she flung me 1/2 way across the road. The pick up was hanging over the edge of the embankment. One wheel was on the road, one was dangling in the air, one was on the edge and the other was 1/2 on the road 1/2 off with a 2" in diameter by 2 foot sapling wedged under fender well holding the truck from going over. The momentum of coming down the embankment, the soft dirt road, and the pickup was stopped by a sapling.
Was that God or what! We used rocks and dirt and built a foundation under the other wheels, Dad put the truck in Granny gear and got it back on the road. We were able to drive it down the mountain going no more than 5 miles an hour.
Now my parents weren't spirit filled at the time, but they were full of His spirit. Once again God was on the scene to watch over us and take charge.
Psalm 61:3
For thou hast been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy.
As for Smith Reservoir, I've never been there, nor has my Mom or Dad.
(The picture is not from Bryant Mountain, however looks very similar to the view we had looking down on the farm land below from the clearing by the "Big Fir")
Be Blessed
Lynn
Don't forget to always check my other blog too!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Bryant Mountain, Smith Reservor, and God! - Part 1
When I was a little girl we lived in the country. After church on Sunday's we would have Sunday supper and then go for a family drive, which most of the time included my Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom and Sister.
We lived at the base of a mountain, which often times we would drive and explore some of the forestry roads and or logging roads since my Dad worked at the lumber mill close to our house at the base of the mountain. On the other side of the mountain was a valley, which most of the time required an hour drive around the other side. However my Dad had been told by one of the loggers that there was a road to cut across the mountain and get to a great fishing spot, Smith Reservoir. So what a better time than a sunny Sunday drive to check it out.
On this particular drive it happened to be only my Dad, Mom and I. We headed out and went over all the familiar roads that I had seen so many times. Then Dad took the couple of turns that would take us to our special destination. All the sudden we found ourselves between a rock and a hard place. Literally! We had a huge drop off on the passenger side and a huge boulder on the drivers side. We'll since there was not a good place to turn around, my Dad tried to squeeze up the bank of the hill and between the boulder to get by. Well unfortunately our Tie Rod Broke. There was nothing we could do, the truck would need to be towed off the mountain road.
So there we were 12 miles up in the mountains broke down. (This was before Cell phones)So Mom and I set out at a steady pace, and Dad took off on a jog to get down the mountain to get help before it got dark, promising he would stay on the road and not go cross country in case he fell or got hurt, so we could find him.
Now I was somewhere around 10 to 13 years old and the only thing I could think about was that this mountain had open range cows. Funny I grow up in the country and I'm afraid of Cows. So my heartfelt prayers were "God Please don't let the cows get us".
Meantime my Dad didn't keep his promise too well, and I thank God for protecting him in his disobedience. :) He cut across a couple of places, made it down the mountain, and got his Uncle to come pick Mom and I up. It was starting to get dark and cold, and Mom said "When we get in the clearing by the "Big Fir" we'll stop and build a fire to get warm, your Dad will be coming with help anytime now, we only had shorts, flip flops and tank tops on. Dad's Uncle got there right when the Big Fir was in sight.
I didn't know until later that there are bobcat, bear, and other things worse than cows that Mom prayed wouldn't get us. And I wouldn't know for years later until I was a Mother myself, what she would have been willing to do to protect me if we would have had an encounter.
As a parent, and as protective as I am, I feel I have only touched the tip of the iceberg of knowing how much God loves us and what He is willing to do to save and protect us. He gave us his Son.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
There is more to this story, so be looking for Part 2 of Bryant Mountain.
Be sure to check both of my blogs, I will be posting on the other soon.
Be Blessed.
Lynn
We lived at the base of a mountain, which often times we would drive and explore some of the forestry roads and or logging roads since my Dad worked at the lumber mill close to our house at the base of the mountain. On the other side of the mountain was a valley, which most of the time required an hour drive around the other side. However my Dad had been told by one of the loggers that there was a road to cut across the mountain and get to a great fishing spot, Smith Reservoir. So what a better time than a sunny Sunday drive to check it out.
On this particular drive it happened to be only my Dad, Mom and I. We headed out and went over all the familiar roads that I had seen so many times. Then Dad took the couple of turns that would take us to our special destination. All the sudden we found ourselves between a rock and a hard place. Literally! We had a huge drop off on the passenger side and a huge boulder on the drivers side. We'll since there was not a good place to turn around, my Dad tried to squeeze up the bank of the hill and between the boulder to get by. Well unfortunately our Tie Rod Broke. There was nothing we could do, the truck would need to be towed off the mountain road.
So there we were 12 miles up in the mountains broke down. (This was before Cell phones)So Mom and I set out at a steady pace, and Dad took off on a jog to get down the mountain to get help before it got dark, promising he would stay on the road and not go cross country in case he fell or got hurt, so we could find him.
Now I was somewhere around 10 to 13 years old and the only thing I could think about was that this mountain had open range cows. Funny I grow up in the country and I'm afraid of Cows. So my heartfelt prayers were "God Please don't let the cows get us".
Meantime my Dad didn't keep his promise too well, and I thank God for protecting him in his disobedience. :) He cut across a couple of places, made it down the mountain, and got his Uncle to come pick Mom and I up. It was starting to get dark and cold, and Mom said "When we get in the clearing by the "Big Fir" we'll stop and build a fire to get warm, your Dad will be coming with help anytime now, we only had shorts, flip flops and tank tops on. Dad's Uncle got there right when the Big Fir was in sight.
I didn't know until later that there are bobcat, bear, and other things worse than cows that Mom prayed wouldn't get us. And I wouldn't know for years later until I was a Mother myself, what she would have been willing to do to protect me if we would have had an encounter.
As a parent, and as protective as I am, I feel I have only touched the tip of the iceberg of knowing how much God loves us and what He is willing to do to save and protect us. He gave us his Son.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
There is more to this story, so be looking for Part 2 of Bryant Mountain.
Be sure to check both of my blogs, I will be posting on the other soon.
Be Blessed.
Lynn
Monday, April 7, 2008
Before I walked Daily with God - He Walked Daily with Me.
Well for the last couple of days I have had fun playing with our youngest two grandchildren ages 4 and 1 1/2. What a joy. My Husband chases them and is loud and tickles them relentlessly. Then they run to me for protection, then back to him for more.
I see why God says to have faith as a little child. As our daughter twirls them around and we toss them up, they trust us. No questions, they just trust us.
I'm not sure why we limit God, why is it that?
Joshua 23:14
"Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed."
I read a book when I was a teenager "Illusions" by Richard Bach In there he talked about a messiah called the "I am". Now at the time I was believer, but not walking with God. When life would bum me out and I didn't think I could handle any more, I would pray and tell God that I was on "Auto Pilot" and He would have to take over because I couldn't do it any more. In my unknowing way I was casting my care.
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you!
I did not understand the magnitude of these events, however there was a quote in that book that said something like "Argue for your limitations and sure enough they are yours" Now that saying can have some meaning on its own and several times in my life I would tell myself, "Never any limitations"! I hadn't thought about this phrase in quite some time but a few weeks ago I heard a pastor say "What you make excuses for you purchase" The Pastor went on to explain that if we don't make excuses and we are quick to repent and offer whatever it is up to God, he can deal with it.
As I meditated on that teaching the Lord spoke to me saying this is like the story of the good samaritan. When you are having trouble in any area, if you will address it in a quiet way lifting it up in prayer, He will be faithful to gently reward you and help you deal with it. However if you go out in the streets and make excuses for your behavior or problem that you should be dealing with that is the reward (or help) you will get. Only the sympathy of your audience. God is saying, there are Never any Limitations with me - Trust me with child like faith. I will close with the 91st Psalm. It has a lot to say about how much God wants to protect us.
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Blessings
Lynn
I see why God says to have faith as a little child. As our daughter twirls them around and we toss them up, they trust us. No questions, they just trust us.
I'm not sure why we limit God, why is it that?
Joshua 23:14
"Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed."
I read a book when I was a teenager "Illusions" by Richard Bach In there he talked about a messiah called the "I am". Now at the time I was believer, but not walking with God. When life would bum me out and I didn't think I could handle any more, I would pray and tell God that I was on "Auto Pilot" and He would have to take over because I couldn't do it any more. In my unknowing way I was casting my care.
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you!
I did not understand the magnitude of these events, however there was a quote in that book that said something like "Argue for your limitations and sure enough they are yours" Now that saying can have some meaning on its own and several times in my life I would tell myself, "Never any limitations"! I hadn't thought about this phrase in quite some time but a few weeks ago I heard a pastor say "What you make excuses for you purchase" The Pastor went on to explain that if we don't make excuses and we are quick to repent and offer whatever it is up to God, he can deal with it.
As I meditated on that teaching the Lord spoke to me saying this is like the story of the good samaritan. When you are having trouble in any area, if you will address it in a quiet way lifting it up in prayer, He will be faithful to gently reward you and help you deal with it. However if you go out in the streets and make excuses for your behavior or problem that you should be dealing with that is the reward (or help) you will get. Only the sympathy of your audience. God is saying, there are Never any Limitations with me - Trust me with child like faith. I will close with the 91st Psalm. It has a lot to say about how much God wants to protect us.
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Blessings
Lynn
Thursday, April 3, 2008
God is growing Me - One lesson at a time!
I started another Bible Study last night. A friend of my from church is leading so I said I would attend. So as I studied the story of Deborah on-line, my new study is about the gospel of peace. Learning to be bold and take our place in the kingdom of God. So as I am reflecting this morning on the things I've taken in the last couple of days. I felt the Lord was leading me to look up scriptures on courage. I feel that the Lord is telling me that when we are bold and courageous as Deborah was, we don't hesitate to do what we are called to do. When we are fully convinced of our position with Christ Jesus, we are not so easily swayed when the storms come at us. (The sower sows the seed - what type of ground is your heart where the seed falls?) In our study last night we were given a memory verse, and I thought ok I need to start speaking that out today so I can have it memorized. But this morning I was looking for the Scriptures on courage, the 1st verse that I saw was the very verse she gave us last night. So I think the Lord wants me to really get this down in my Spirit.
The scripture is Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come. nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I believe God wants all of us to be that fully convinced. When the storms of life come at us we need to have His living word so embedded in us that we can be like Jesus on the mountain saying "It is written"
Courage also holds an element of trust. We can not be bold if we are not trusing God to do the things He says he will do. When we hold on to something and don't give it to God to take care of it's like we are saying we can handle it better. That we are better than God. "Ouch" I encourage any one that is reading this to take an inventory of your heart right now and ask yourself. What areas of my heart am I not giving to God? Ask Him to help you lean on Him fully trusting Him with your life, and everything you hold dear.
Well as always I could keep going, but I think I'm going to go practice my lean before I go to work.
Be Blessed.
Lynn
The scripture is Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come. nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I believe God wants all of us to be that fully convinced. When the storms of life come at us we need to have His living word so embedded in us that we can be like Jesus on the mountain saying "It is written"
Courage also holds an element of trust. We can not be bold if we are not trusing God to do the things He says he will do. When we hold on to something and don't give it to God to take care of it's like we are saying we can handle it better. That we are better than God. "Ouch" I encourage any one that is reading this to take an inventory of your heart right now and ask yourself. What areas of my heart am I not giving to God? Ask Him to help you lean on Him fully trusting Him with your life, and everything you hold dear.
Well as always I could keep going, but I think I'm going to go practice my lean before I go to work.
Be Blessed.
Lynn
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Thanks
Just a short one before I go to Bed:
Dear Lord
Thank you for all my new friends and Sisters. Thank you for the teaching and learning. Thank you for the bonding and the closeness I feel with you. Thanks for your love, mercy and kindness. Thank you for my desire to become more like you. I pray that we will all have sweet peaceful sleep, that we will receive healing in our minds and bodies and hearts.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Dear Lord
Thank you for all my new friends and Sisters. Thank you for the teaching and learning. Thank you for the bonding and the closeness I feel with you. Thanks for your love, mercy and kindness. Thank you for my desire to become more like you. I pray that we will all have sweet peaceful sleep, that we will receive healing in our minds and bodies and hearts.
In Jesus Name
Amen
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