COURAGEOUS ONES!

Not long ago, a movie called COURAGEOUS came out after being preceeded by the playing of it's theme song frequently on the radio..It still gets air time so it must be inspiring many out there..  I, personally, have had a moderately 'hard' time with this whole concept of the NEED to be courageous since my temperament simply TRUSTS my LORD to know what is best and how to bring it about.. Words like 'RISK' and 'COURAGE' have not registered in my soul until recently... Now, I will tell you what it took!! 

While camping this summer, I took a 'sneak peak' at the Gospel of MATTHEW since John and  I will spend 30 weeks in it with Bible Study Fellowship (Google it!) this school year... I was amazed at how familiar texts I've read MANY times in the past, were seemingly JUMPING right off the pages at me! This is truly a wonderful aspect of the WORD OF GOD.. It is LIVING and ACTIVE!! I finally saw COURAGE in action as I noticed 2 individuals early in the book.. One was a LEPER.. the other was a ROMAN CENTURION.. Talk about 2 kinds of people unwelcome near HEBREWS! Obviously, lepers were NOT to mingle near healthy people! Then, of course, there were the ever-present Roman 'watch dogs,' who were no Hebrew's favorite company.. WELL, they both desired 'the touch of the Master's hand,' so to say. THUS, when He came near, neither of them was intimidated, but both showed instant COURAGE and DETERMINATION in order to access JESUS! Neither showed shame at their need, and both TRUSTED they would not look like fools!! The 'BOTTOM LINE' to this lesson for me is.. THERE IS JOY IN KNOWING I AM WELCOME IN HIS PRESENCE!!  As they experienced his nearness, COURAGE  arose within, causing them to not care about being unwelcome, or seeming to be 'inaapropriate,' or, should I say in today's terms, 'POLITICALLY INCORRECT!!?' What area do you want to watch JESUS work wondrously in? Are you thrilled to be near HIM at all times?                                   Here is the text in case you have time to read it..    

MATTHEW 8:1When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy^a came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

The Faith of the Centurion

5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

7Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

8The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith...13Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

One other principle I uncovered in this early preview was, AUTHORITY is awesome! The centurion knew it, Jesus had it, and we are children of his.. soldiers in HIS army.. AUTHORITY over the adversary is ours if only we appropriate it!!  I am still like a pre-toddler (a little shaky!) as I grow in my realization of this!! Spiritual 'muscles,' like our physical ones, only develop through use and practice!! Blessings to all.. Because HE LOVES US!! Sheila

"Down and out" or, LIFTED UP?

Two images come to my mind immediately as I type 'LIFTED UP'... ISAIAH 40:31 is the beloved verse which inspires us as we consider being lifted up on the updrafts which eagles soar in/on.. They make no effort to fly and seem peaceful as they are there!! We all love those times in life when we KNOW we are one of 'them,' experiencing the goodness of our LORD as HE is supporting us in times of peace, warmth, contentment, and more!  The other image I have is the initial one behind this post.. The well-known FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND delights us as we read, 'IT WAS THEN I CARRIED YOU,' as Jesus' response to our query regarding the single set of footprints as opposed to the two sets seen at first..! Yesterday, I shared with some of those I was singing for and with, just how we all have this choice daily!! Will we insist on being 'down and out,' (discouraged, frustrated, resentful, or other feelings) over whatever is causing us duress, or, will we welcome HIS desire and ability to CARRY US.. LIFT US UP ... so we may be freed from the morass our enemy sets to 'trap' us in?! CURRENTLY, on contemporary Christian radio stations like spirit105.3 (website) and KLUV? stations, the #1 song is HELLO, MY NAME IS... by Matthew West.. I absolutely love how it declares, HELLO, MY NAME IS  'CHILD OF THE ONE TRUE KING'... No more 'name' of REGRET or DEFEAT, which the song starts with!! Today, will you delight in being LIFTED UP and CARRIED as a CHILD OF THE ONE TRUE KING who DELIGHTS in doing so for you?? Hope so! I sure need to remember to welcome his doing so many times a day as I face battles with my flesh.... UGH! But, PTL.. He never leaves me or forsakes me! (HEBREWS 13:5)

'NEXT OF KIN'.. TO THE TRINITY!

AS of the arrival of the new prince in England, some of us may be thinking thoughts like.. “Well, he’ll never want for anything!”.. or, “ Will he ever have a normal childhood?,” etc.. I find myself being somewhat glad to never have been assured of full accommodations being made for my every ‘need.’  (and much more?) since that would come with many restrictions ‘for my protection and welfare.’  But, then again, I stop to remember that I am FULLY PROVIDED FOR, and that I am a daughter of the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!! What do I mean by saying full accommodations and arrangements may not have been made to meet all of my needs??? OOOOPPPSSS!  If I recall correctly, ‘My God shall supply all my needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus!’(Philippians 4;13) The wondrous facts about this are how ‘My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest of foods,’ and ‘The LORD is my shepherd.. I shall NOT WANT!”(Psalm 63:5 and Psalm 23:1-2) Come to think of it, I am very glad to be HIS daughter on earth since I have not/will not be too overly protected/sheltered, except by the very BEST who KNOWS what I truly need!! Being one of the LORD’S children entitles me to an eternal inheritance, along with peace, hope, joy, assurance, mercy, grace, and SO MUCH MORE!! Are you one of the ‘KING’S KIN?’ HOPE SO!!

Titus 3:4-7 ..when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

If you’d like further info, read on as I share some confirmation of what I’ve stated.  Ezekiel 44:28 "'I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession.” (Did you know we are all called priests?... YES! Some research I did yielded this information from The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia which totally concurs with how I comprehend this wondrous truth!  ‘In ancient times it was held that men in general could not have direct access to God, that any approach to Him must be mediated by some member of the class of priests, who alone could approach God, and who must accordingly be employed by other men to represent them before Him. This whole conception vanishes in the light of Christianity. By virtue of their relation to Christ all believers have direct approach to God, and consequently, as this right of approach was formerly a priestly privilege, priesthood may now be predicated of every Christian. That none needs another to intervene between his soul and God; that none can thus intervene for another; that every soul may and must stand for itself in personal relation with God-such are the simple elements of the New Testament doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.’ Of course, we all know this is because JESUS IS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST so we can boldly approach the Throne of God!. HEBREWS is full of this truth! He is our intercessor FOREVER!! HEBREWS 10:19-25 presents this so well!

JUST BLOGGIN'!

I desire to convey to any/all of you ‘out there’ just how much it means to me to be one who has chosen to welcome THE LORD’S intentions for, and through me. As I spent hours this morning reading, and responding to a blog which shares a mother’s experiences as she watches her young daughter fighting against AML (leukemia of a really tough kind!) for her life, I realized there are some of you ‘out there’ who express gratitude for the times I do a  post. So, although I am not currently being carried in HIS  ARMS OF GRACE through any particular ‘threat’ to ‘my comfort zone,’ I can write as one who testifies to his wondrous ways of doing so since I have been graciously supported and sustained  through at least 2 major times of potential darkness. All I know is how GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS. I remember how a statement in a book about a very severely, and lengthily tortured believer in China contains a statement which still blesses me as it ‘blows me away!’ The suffering one relates how he wouldn’t trade all those times of torment for ‘better circumstances,’ etc.. The reason he gives is something like this.. “FOR, YOU SEE, IT WAS DURING THESE TIMES MY JESUS WAS NEAREST AND DEAREST TO ME!” The bottom line when it comes to suffering seems to be.. We will all face some of it so we get to decide how close to let Him be to, and through, us at these times..(I think of the time my family and I did a sand ‘sculpture?’ which showed the 2 sets of footsteps turning into only one.. The caption on the final picture/sculpture? said, “It was then I carried you!”)   My acquaintance with the AML-fighting daughter is really gifted of the LORD as she has continued to pour out her soul for over 19 months now via cyber-space! Today, I read how a medical student came across the blog while researching AML..(www.conglomerationofjoy.com) This student was moved to a renewal of her relationship to The LORD, which she’d believed to be lost forever!!! HOORAY! So, I just decided to return to the blog address HE’S given me to share the wonders of HIM through!! May each and every one of you rejoice greatly as you count your blessings and read some more posts I should be getting ‘out there’ to all of you…Because HE Loves Us! Sheila    BTW.. WELCOME, newer readers! Please let me know you are ‘out there!’

'JOB' (with a long 'O')DAY, not, WEDNESDAY!

"Twas the day before Thursday, when all through the camp, the campers and staff were awakening to a day of...." Well, Let's just say it wasn't THE BEST DAY EVER IN THE LIFE OF SHILOH . The campers last week were in the process of learning a MUSICAL DRAMA about JOB!! Basically, there were 5 occurrences which 'would have, could have, or certainly should have,' disgruntled those of us in love with the LORD! 1.A teenage young man broke his arm and sustained a slight concussion... 2.The other teen 'boys?' needed to be quarantined due to a bad virus which had struck in their midst..(so ANYWHERE they had been and all they had touched HAD TO be disinfected... WHEW!) 3. Sadly, a couple of gals needed to go home 3 days early... 4. Someone else somehow ran out of a crucial medicine.., and finally, 5. My hubby and I had the afternoon/evening 'off duty,' as cooks at the camp so we headed to the ocean, only to accidentally end up STUCK in the sand as we turned to head off the beach. Our car was not going ANYWHERE! (BTW.. an FYI..for any of you whoever drive on a beach..something we DON'T usually do!, I'll let you know now that AAA does not provide towing service in these circumstances!!!) Soon, we all began to realize how Satan had thrown us his best 'curve balls' that day, but, of course, he had met with defeat as we all just praised God for his goodness to us and his glory all around us! (In spite of no visible other vehicles on the beach, a large truck with a towing strap 'showed up' just as we'd learned of AAA's lack of support in our situation!..The couple in it were the LORD's! So, we had no time to 'despair,' because, of course GOD had been there all along, and knew just EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED, WHEN AND HOW!! Philippians 4:19 confirms how our Lord 'shall supply ALL our needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus! Because JOB remained humble, we all know how God restored his 'losses' at least two-fold! May we all remember to count our blessings even when those 'curve balls' are coming at us fast and furiously! (can you tell I like to watch baseball when I can?!)

Mad AT, or Mad ABOUT You???

Recently, my husband and I attended a Joyce Meyer conference just for the Saturday AM session. Her theme for that conference was, GOD'S NOT MAD AT YOU! How true! I am thinking though how she STOPPED SHORT of a second phrase which could have enhanced her statement.. How about this.. GOD'S NOT MAD AT YOU, BUT HE IS 'MAD ABOUT' YOU'!!? I can only imagine the depth of the JOY set before HIM that kept HIM on the cross. Nothing else could have!!(HEBREWS 12:1-2) His joy at the prospect of FINISHING the redemptive work necessary to reconcile us to the Father (Him!) must have been nothing short of exhilarating since HE is SO mad about us! We are created in his image!! No other created being is/was!! (nor are the rocks, trees, etc!) Having us living life on Earth in communion with Him and to his glory is truly a phenomenal reason for Him being mad about us!! (and all who respond gratefully to his plan/hopes/intentions for, and through us!!)

YESTERDAY, TOMORROW,... TODAY!

I saw a reader board that said something like 'YESTERDAY WAS ALREADY... TOMORROW IS NOT FOR SURE.. TODAY IS HERE SO USE IT WISELY..' but I revised it in my mind so it can be more to the glory of our LORD as He works in lives!!  I now say, YESTERDAY WAS...TOMORROW MAY NOT BE... TODAY, CAN BE LIVED IN GOD'S GRACE! We all have moment-by-moment choices to make as to whether we will allow/welcome HIS presence within us to empower living in such a manner as to please HIM.. I only 'wish' I'd remember to think of this every moment of every day!! Here's to a sharper, more intentional use of my mind so that 'my' will is more often his!! I know I Corinthians 10:13 says I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me if only... Well, you know what the apostle Paul says in Romans 7! (That's the chapter where he addresses the constant struggle with his flesh!! How well we all know of which he speaks.. )  May the LORD be glorified as we consider that new phrase I wrote about above! Blessings!