Who Am I Trusting?

bode-1501371__480 (2)God’s Kingdom is like no other. The King is 100% trustworthy. No where else is this found. So who are you trusting in today?

When we respond to the King’s call to enter His Kingdom we obtain a great gift, a certificate of sorts, that entitles us to the benefits of daughters and sons – and God faithfully protects His own.

As you go through this day facing situations, decisions, offenses, how will you handle them? Will you re-act allowing fear to be your guide? Or will you act, trusting that God brings us all things for His purpose and our good. Fear versus trust, the outcomes are very different.  If we could see as our Father-the-King sees, we would realize how often we fail to trust Him and rather trust ourselves or another person.

Psalm 1:1-3 tells us that the man or woman who is blessed is the one who trusts in and relies upon God; who’s hope and confidence is in Him. This child is like a fruitful tree, with plenty of water flowing in and sends life forth. Jeremiah 17:5-8 repeats these same thoughts:

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Trust in the Lord– and walk under His blessings.

Trust in man– dwell in a parched, wilderness place.

 

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Rely upon the Lord– and have green, flourishing leaves.

Rely upon man– be naked and destitute in a desert place.

 

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Hope in the Lord– and do not be afraid.

Hope in man– be anxious and fearful.

 

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (RSV)

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (RSV)

Decide to be firmly planted by trusting in our Heavenly King, and no other. He loves you dearly.

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A True Wonder-Woman

We live in a world marked by much pain and suffering, yet God’s desire is that we prosper in the midst of the situations we face.  By prosper, I am speaking of flourishing, growing and walking in victory—the Bible calls it being blessed.

My life-theme is centered in Psalm One.  This Psalm succinctly lays out the way God said things would go in life.  I love this because God is faithful to all, He is never-changing, and what He says is true.  With His help, and the Holy Sprit’s power indwelling the believer, we have all the potential to be “Wonder-Women” of God!  That brings me great comfort and joy.

Let’s look at those who are blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable/Amplified) and why this is.  Those who obey the instruction of our Father truly become a “wonder” to those around them.  Why?  Because onlookers observe their life and are amazed, or wonder… “How they can continue on? … happy, believing, fortunate, prospering.”  This is truly a wonder that only God can perform in us!

Let’s look at this incredible Psalm and rejoice, knowing we have the possibility to live the blessed life because of God’s great love and provision for us.

PSALM ONE

Blessed is the woman…

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, (following their advice, plans and purposes)

Nor stands in the path of sinners, (submissive or inactive)

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; (to relax and rest)

2 But her delight is in the law of the Lord, (instructions)

And in His law she meditates day and night. (ponders and studies)

3 She shall be like a tree, Planted (and tended) by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season, (evidence of spiritual life)

Whose leaf also shall not wither; (die off)

And whatever she does shall prosper. (comes to maturity)

4 The ungodly (those disobedient and living without God) are not so, But are like the chaff (worthless, dead, without substance) which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand (justified) in the judgment,  Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God).

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought).

Notes in parenthesis are taken from the Amplified Bible.

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Light vs. Darkness

Walking in the Light is a wonderful place to be!  The benefits of having unbroken fellowship with our Creator God and one another is beautiful.  Because Christ provided the way to the Father, through His terrible suffering for sin and death on the cross, we are now free to enter into this beautiful place of LIFE!

Safety is found in the Light.  Satan’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).  He operates through deception, lying spirits, and whatever leads to separation from God and others.  Isolation is a large part of His plan.  Guilt and shame keep people isolated in their sin.  Praying for someone who is bound is our duty, privilege and opportunity as followers in Christ.

I John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

A Frog or A Prince?

Do you feel at times like the people around you are discontented, unsatisfied, empty and looking for fulfillment in some temporary way?  Their life is typified by occasional bouts of frustration and anger, because things aren’t going their way.  Love, lust, fashion, food — being with the in-crowd – these things are very important to them.  Have you ever wondered why some people become so obsessed with material pleasures and have such a difficult time living a joyful life?

There are a couple of cliché’s out there that are quite aprapos to this discussion, such as: “What you sow is what you reap;” and, “Garbage in, garbage out.”  These clichés are true.  Let’s look at the example of someone who gives themselves to watching soap operas, day in and day out. These shoddy shows are filled with drama, problems, unfaithfulness, lying, cheating, adultery, sexual sin, murder … the list goes on that fills the plot of these daytime addictions.  If a woman spends her time indulging in these programs they will eventually affect her thinking and the way she speaks and treats others.  The frustration and boredom within her own life is most likely quite different than the ease and romance of life that these soap operas portray, and can become a subconscious torment to her.

Conversely, someone who begins their day giving time and attention to God’s Word will enjoy the fruit and benefits of growing in the wisdom and knowledge that comes from our Creator.  His design and plan for us is a joyful life in the midst of a sinful, pain-filled world.  Faithfulness, family, truth, safety and love; how does one compare these Godly traits to the world’s pleasures?  You don’t.  There is no comparison.  In order for someone to desire and enjoy God’s delights over the world’s menu the person needs to choose wisely.  Look down the road and see where each choice will end.  Deciding to put our desire and attention into God’s Word each day will produce the fruit of right living.  Reading a chapter from Proverbs each day will provide wisdom and guidance.  If you do these things, your life will change and soon begin to reflect what has been taken in.

I have noticed that the lives of many people are governed by the trends and fashions of the world.  The superficial behavior exhibited by them would fit nicely into a soap opera or a bachelor/bachelorette program.  The primary focus being on the external, so-called  beauty, is all very topical and sexually alluring.  The quality of a person’s character is secondary;  the depth of fidelity and faithfulness is viewed as old-fashioned.  When I see comments on Face Book about beauty and realize some of the people commenting don’t personally know the individual, and often are commenting simply by having seen a photo, it causes me to realize how truly shallow people can be.  We must decide if we will allow the deceptiveness of the world’s allurements to gain our heart, or choose instead, the reality of a truly beautiful and wonderful Savior.

To find true beauty and happiness we need the Prince to change us from a “frogette”  into a princess!  Imagine how different a woman can be when she surrenders the natural woman — earthly, carnal, sensual (the Bible says) and turns her entire focus  from those things to her Prince, desiring to give herself completely to Him.  The “princess” transformation happens over time and is a truly beautiful thing to behold.  Let’s face it, frogs marry frogs;  however, princesses marry into the King’s family.  Each person tends to find and gravitate toward his or her own kind.   We cannot live in the world’s Kingdom, feeding upon its lusts and expect to marry into the King’s Kingdom.   Nor should we!  We were born for the Kingdom of God.  Do not feed upon the crumbs of this world… if you do, you may end up spending the rest of your life in a marsh with a frog.

P.S.  Don’t lose heart in any season… God is always wanting to change frogs and frogettes into what He originally designed us to be!

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Do Not Be Deceived

snake-1634293__480“Sin will take you farther than you ever want to go…”

Satan deceives… Christ restores.
Then he steals… Christ gives.
Satan kills… Christ gives life.
Satan destroys… Christ recreates.
The Deceiver hates… Christ loves.    (John 10:10)

David lusted… sin committed.
Guilt and shame… has to blame.
Tempted further… next was murder.
Took the wife… tried to hide.
Guilty soul… all is dark.   (Galatians 6:7)

Nathan came… all exposed.
Sin and shame… now to reckon.
Decisions to make… Father waits.
Mercy sought… Light is coming.
Repentance came… God forgave.  (I John 1:9)

If we walk in the Light, as He is in the light,
we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Christ cleanses us from ALL sin.  (I John 1:7)