Trials and Transformations

 

                                            

 

 

 

 

                                                         Trials and Transformations

                                                              By Penny Williams

 

Did you ever wonder why you are here? What purpose do you have on this earth? We know that being a wife or staying single is a calling and so is having children. When I think of being held responsible for developing little minds into the formation of goodness and all the many challenges that arise in the process, I think to myself; “what a huge task we’ve been given.”  Everything begins at home. This is the first place where children begin to learn and have an example of how to act and what to say or believe.

We become awed by those who are literally called to grow luscious, gorgeous food for us to eat. While driving in the countryside, I love to see the beauty of orange pumpkins growing in the field. Such glorious paintings of orange, so big and so beautiful! They speak unto themselves the abundance of life while autumn begins to hum them to a sleep.  The independence of yellow squash vining in the ditches in the Blue Ridge mountains has never failed to remind me what an amazing God we have! We used to live up there and I discovered that almost anything would grow in that red clay. God Himself oversees all the seeds.

I have a friend who is a passionate giver! This is her artistry. She is completely joyful over sending cards when you lose a loved one or a pet. She helps her church to plan a meal for the seniors and decorates their tables with colors of love! If she could reach up to one of those luscious clouds in the sky to bring us a smile, she would. Every day is Valentine Day for her. I can honestly say, her joy is made complete when she plans, decorates and gives to others. If you are in need for an answer to a question, knock on her door! If she doesn’t know the answer, she will find out for you!  Her heart literally breaks when her neighbor is sick or is suffering a loss. I am blessed to have her as a friend and neighbor.

Whatever your position, whatever reason you are here on this earth today, whether it be teaching, caretaking, giving, pet care, construction worker, police or guard, a floral arranger, waitress, attorney or judge, ditch digger, or salesman. Whatever your call and vocation, we need you and you are important to us.

What about those who go through battle after battle, confused in their minds, are weighed down with physical ailments and are just plain tired of fighting?

What about those filled without hope and riddened with hatred?

Those who have been unknowingly corrupted and brainwashed?  Those who are being used to test your heart?

Sure, it is unfair and what about all those corrupt judges who keep the good people who have prayed publicly, behind bars because they “offend” others and the evil ones who have murdered, are pardoned?  

Did you ever wonder to yourself, “Why did God cause this to happen to me?” Be assured, there are reasons for everything that happens to us. When we go through a very tough trial, our hearts are tested to see if our faith is genuine.

God knows, but He wants you to see what is in your heart and what you still need to clean up.

Ask yourself if your faith is genuine? Unlike that of fool’s gold, but the real thing.

Every time we are tested and tried, we are transformed inch by inch.  Your trials work for you, not against you. Our walk is not an easy walk, but a narrow road that leads to eternal life.

Here is 1 Peter 1:3-9 from the New International Version (NIV):

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Our new birth brings us living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We have a LIVING HOPE! All because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! You have His Holy Spirit alive in our hearts! He is living inside of you! Everywhere you go, you are carrying the Kingdom of God with you!

4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,

We have a God given endowment in Christ waiting for us in heaven! As one being born-again, this is your birthright!  Can you possibly imagine?  Believe it! You are getting ready to graduate!

 

5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Have faith in God! Get faith! Sleep it and eat it! Believe His word is true and act upon it!  His power is shielding you and preparing you to SEE and experience Your salvation. You will see the manifestation of your faith! We are living in the days of Noah and Lot. We are in the last days.

6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer GRIEF in  all kinds of trials.

If you believe this word, we can rejoice! We can sing aloud! We can even dance as we give our Father praise!

This is one reason why you are going through such trials. Just one reason, though there are many reasons. Those words say: IN ALL kinds of trials. You are never alone when you go through a trial. There are always some who are going through worse trials than what you are going through. Look around.

Can you place your trust in God?

7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Here it is! So that your faith is Genuine! Your faith will stand under pressure because it is worth more than gold and refined by fire! What do you do? You will praise God and continue to give Him all the glory and honor when you walk through the furnace of affliction! Your face will be as flint, and you will not be moved!

8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

We believe! We haven’t seen Jesus, but we love Him! Even now, we still love Him! We believe in Him! We cannot describe our joyful hearts that His Holy Spirit has given to us. We belong to our Father! We are His! We are Children of the Resurrection!

9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls..

During our sufferings, the trials and testing’s of our hearts; we are receiving the end results of OUR FAITH!! “The salvation of your souls!”  The end result of your faith!

All our tests and trials are a sure transformation of our souls into the likeness of Jesus Christ!

The end finality or result of your faith= the salvation of your souls.

Remember when Jesus went out into the wilderness for His faith to be tested? He fought the enemy with the word! In these modern times, we go through the same thing today. Remember Job, who was sitting upon a heap of ashes and had everything taken from him? His children, livestock, wife, home; literally all that he had was taken from him. He was suffering bodily, mentally and miserable. His faith was tested too. Of course, God knows your heart much better than you know it. He wants you to see where your heart is when you are placed in a trial. He will not abandon you when you go through your trial. He teaches us when we go through trials.

I don’t like the words, “long suffering.” No one is exempt in the Body of Christ. If you love Jesus, you will go through persecution. We are transformed in Christ when we go through what I call, our “customized trials.” Our experiences are our teachers. We either become embittered or better. I sometimes think of Joni Eareckson Tada. She has been in a wheelchair since she was 17, battled depression on and off and had to wrestle all the things in her life that being a quadriplegic brings.  She once said, “I always look for someone who has it worse than me, and I find it.” She looked online as she saw a poorly ragged starving man in Calcutta who couldn’t move any of his limbs, resting on the side of a building. Having no one by his side. Did he wonder if anyone cared or loved him?  Joni has touched countless lives as we have listened to her 15 min. broadcast on the radio or heard her talk at a Billy Graham Crusade. Perhaps you have used her cards that she has painted from her mouth. Our attitude should be:

“If she can do it, so can we!”

 

I remember hearing a preacher on TV talking about long suffering. He asked:

“Has anyone here gone through some hard times out there? No?  

Just wait.

Has life been one big party? Yes?

Just wait.  

Has anyone ever found yourself lost, busted and broke? No?

Just wait.

Never been sick? No?

Just wait.

Never had any problems with mortgage or a car payment. No?

Just wait.

Always had a promotion and a good job?

He said, “Just wait! You just wait.”

He wasn’t being negative but only speaking the truth. The man that spoke, was warning you and wanting you to be prepared, not astonished. Life can be a bowl of cherries for a little while.

Then, life happens.

My mother used to call earth a testing ground.

Before we are born again, our eyes are not opened spiritually. Nor is living an easy life and having everything given to you. We develop a thankful heart during our trials. It isn’t only the word that teaches us, but God given experiences that we go through teach us the fear of God.  

It seems at times we arrogantly make the wrong decisions so we can learn from them. Every one of us will have to go through some suffering eventually.

We have heard many scholarly answers as to what St. Paul’s thorn was as he asked God to remove it three times, then God answered him:

⁶ Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2Co. 12:6-10 niv

In the KJV the word torment says “buffet.”

I cannot think of anyone who was more fully equipped to speak God’s word than Paul! He was a Pharisee and trained in the ways of Jewish law. He knew the word. He had the answers, all the answers! He experienced supernatural experiences and aside from being flogged 5 times, 3 times beaten with rods, stoned and dragged out of town to die, being violently hated, in and out of prison, shipwrecked, he went without food and water on and off. I can well imagine most times he was in a physically weakened condition.

In all that he went through, he never gave up! He pressed on! He was determined to finish the race he was given. Was his thorn a possible conceit of all the revelations and knowledge he had been given? Was it the painful memories of the past things he had done “in God’s name” before he had been born again? Either way, Paul received much grace to encourage the faith that had been given to him. He boldly declared, “when he was weak, he was strong.”

I believe that in his constant weakened condition, nothing could come between him and God. Paul went from being self-dependent to totally being God dependent, in a continual way throughout his whole life. I cannot wait to meet him someday,

Perhaps you have not yet experienced God’s life-giving grace and faith to those who ask Him. Maybe you are tired of struggling with all the battles day in and out. You have heard of Jesus Christ, but do you know Him?

Isn’t it time? Perhaps you have been running for too long in the wrong direction? Time never stops for us. Isn’t it time to give it all to God?

Pray with me:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for doing a work in my heart. I do not understand everything that I read, but I need to be born again. I want to know you, Lord.  I ask that You come into my life. Today I willingly accept Your free gift of salvation by grace in faith. Open my eyes so I will understand Your word. With Your grace and strength, I repent of all my sins. [Name the sins you think of__________.]  Purify my heart with Your Holy Spirit and teach me all your ways. I believe that your son Jesus died upon that cross so I can have forgiveness from my sins. I believe He was resurrected so I will have eternal life. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

If you have prayed this prayer, Congratulations and welcome into the family of believers! Buy a good Bible if you do not have one. They give them out freely at Thrift stores. Find a good Bible believing church and get involved with a small study group so you can grow. Your new sisters and brothers will hold you up in prayer and are always anxious to help you in times of need. When you go through a trial, they will be there to help.

 

Praise 3

 

Praise 3

By Penny Williams

Not only are we to give praise to God because He loved us before we knew Him, but there are other godly reasons.

Turn to 2 Ch. Chapters 19 & 20.

God uses men to accomplish His purposes here on earth. King Jehoshaphat is to be remembered as a King who feared God.

King Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of Judah, reigning from approximately 873 to 849 BC. He was the son of King Asa and is remembered for his righteous leadership, military victories, and significant reforms during his reign. Jehoshaphat is particularly noted for his victory over the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, which showcased his reliance on God. His commitment to following God's commands contributed to his success as a ruler. 

He is to be commended for tearing down all the idols in the land, set up godly judges and forewarned them to judge with a perfect heart, telling them that when they judge, do it as unto the Lord and when they judge, do it in fear of God. In other words, take their positions of godly leadership seriously.  He was clear about how they were positioned to work for God and worked for Him.

Without fail, it seems after we do something good and are headed in the right direction, evil stretches our way to bring our hope down. The Bible says in the first verse of Chapter 20 that the Moabites, the Ammonites with some Meunites decided to make war with King Jehoshaphat. The first thing he did was go to the Lord and then proclaim a fast for all of Judah. The people of every town in Judah were united and together they sought the Lord and when they were all together King Jehoshaphat gave a prayer in verses 20:6-12. He asked God to judge that army, and, in his prayer, he admitted he didn’t know what to do.

Can a person be humble, yet bold? Yes, that describes King Jehoshaphat. Men of Judah, their wives and children, were all there listening to his prayer. God saw his heart. “Then the Spirit of Lord” came upon Jabaziel son of Zechariah and a descendent of Asaph. He said,

“Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”

 

King Jehoshaphat’s response?  He believed! He bowed down and everyone who was there also bowed down in worship before the Lord. Then, some of the Levites also believed from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and Praised, the God of Israel, WITH VERY LOUD VOICES!

Early in the morning they left for the desert of Tekoa. Jehoshaphat had something to say, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD YOUR GOD and you will be upheld; HAVE FAITH in his prophets and you will be successful. After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to Sing to the Lord and to Praise him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord for His love endures forever.”

 

Vs 22 says: As they began to SING AND PRAISE, THE LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah and they were defeated. The Bible talks about how they destroyed each other.

 

This is your key to seeing and experiencing the power of Unity, Prayer, Faith and Praise.

Jesus asked if He would see any faith on earth when He returned. He also said that He is returning for a unified Church.

I ask you, “what is the opposite of love?”

Most people say, “hate.” But that isn’t so. The opposite of love is fear. Think about it. Fear of speaking up, fear of driving, fear of people, fear of what might be! All the what if’s you can imagine! What would people do if they saw you raise your arms and give God all praise from your heart? Why would you even care? They won’t save you; it is God who reads our heart.

Let’s be honest. What is stopping you?

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2Tim.1:7

 

I imagine when King Jehoshaphat was first told about the armies coming to make war with him in verse 3, he was quite alarmed. He may have felt a spark of fear. But he resisted all fear and with the faith that God gave to him, he followed through with proclaiming a fast and a prayer. Together, with everyone in unity, in one mind, and in faith, going out in high praises. God honored their trust in Him and they defeated the enemy.

 

Everyone you see is going through a tough battle. When we get our eyes off ourselves and begin to look around it makes our problems seem small. A small encouraging word that you have stashed in your heart might just be the very thing they need to hear to water their hope in Christ.

 

Never give up! May your New Year blot out all the former dark memories. Allow His light to shine everywhere you go and your words to be seasoned with grace.

 

 

Praise #2

 

 

Let’s talk about God’s word of “Praise” a bit. I get very excited about what happens to believers when they begin to praise God. In Psalms 68:1, this is a sure thing. When you give praise to God, your enemies MUST SCATTER! In vs 3 it talks about the righteous being glad, rejoicing before God; and may they be happy and joyful.” His joy is given to you. You may not have started out that way, but His joy will pour out to you when you begin to give Him Praise. Rejoicing, praying, clapping hands, dancing, musical instruments, a joyful noise and singing are all forms of praise.

The Body of Christ becomes unified.

Praising God is a sure weapon when we are in battle.

Could this possibly be the missing link in some churches of today?

But you might ask; how do I begin to praise God?  What is the beginning?

The very beginning is with your soul. Your soul is your emotions, your personality and makes all your decisions. If your soul asks The Holy Spirit inside of you, “What is your way? Your decision?” You will connect to God and make the right decision. Always pause a bit before you answer someone or must make an important decision. Ask God, what is the right way to go that will give Him the glory. There isn’t a person on earth who can successfully negotiate with truth. The foolish try and many “think” they are getting away with it, but The Spirit of Truth always catches up with them. Whenever The Spirit of Truth is sent out, justice begins.

Your flesh may say to you, “I don’t feel like praising God.” Your soul and flesh can spar from time to time. Only when you listen to The Holy Spirit within you will you begin to praise God. He is just that real in your life!

Now is the time to realign your heart with God and give Praise to God.

In Psalm 103 1-22 David says that we are told to:

Bless or praise the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, do not forget all His benefits.

Can we say, “Soul! Praise the Lord!”

What are His benefits?

LOVE! Mercy! Grace!

He forgives ALL our sins and heals ALL our diseases.

He saves us from destruction and crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies.

God has saved me from much destruction! From scarlet fever twice when I was a baby! From being hidden in an attic so that my mother wouldn’t find me. I fell off a cement porch and split my head open. Playing in my sand box a great Dane attacked me.  From a stepfather tying me up at 5 years old to a kitchen chair and whipping and beating me! Living in a Catholic Orphanage [which worked for my good].  From a bull chasing me in the pasture! I was a latchkey kid before the word became popular. My mother moved around so many times, I do not remember many of the names of the schools or the towns. I made friends and said good-bye. As a teenager, I was arrested twice on the same night! Spent time in a juvenile home. I have lived with 3 alcoholics. From twice being choked by two different husbands, from a terrifying car wreck and I was saved because my VW threw me out as it continued to roll and bounce over 3 times and flattened when the car stopped. From being viciously attacked from behind and having a bowie knife at my throat as he raped me in the bush.

Yes, there is more. That is only touching upon some of the incidents I have gone through.

I have good reason to give God Praise for the rest of my life!  I can attest and boldly proclaim, all my heart belongs to Jesus Christ who rescued me from the things I went through due to my youthful foolishness and the things that were not my fault.

He satisfies our mouth with good things, and our youth is renewed like eagles.

Want a bounce in your step? The Spirit of Joy on your face? Are you oppressed? Depressed? Do you not know the way to go? I tell you from my heart. When you begin to believe that Jesus is calling to you, do not hesitate, this is The Holy Spirit summoning you. When You accept that He is the Son of God, He changes your entire life. You begin to grow and He never stops teaching you.

He will give you righteousness and judgement. Moses was shown His way, His acts to the children of Israel. God is a merciful and gracious God. He doesn’t get angry quickly but abounds in compassion and lovingkindness. Although the word says He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. Most important, He does not deal with us according to our sins. Nor does He reward us with punishment according to our wickedness. As high as the heavens are above the earth is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him. He removes all our transgressions as far as the east is from the west. Just as a good father loves his children, so the Lord loves those who worship and fear Him. He knows us! He knows our frame. He knows you better than you know yourself.  He remembers we are dust.

I heard, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

I was completely humbled, shattered and broken into pieces as I was nursing my baby boy when I started to read the book of John. God’s truth overwhelmed me when I read of His love. All my life I had been searching for real love, and I found it in the Bible. I was stressed and wired. Bewildered, I realized where I was heading and suddenly, the only way I can describe it is, I felt a physical force of compassion that began in my head and traveled all the way down to my toes and out. What was that I thought to myself? Later, I learned it was the Holy Spirit.  I had been lovingly introduced to our Heavenly Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the orphanage, and I carried a small candle of hope inside of me throughout my life knowing I would someday return to the God of my childhood. I repented and knelt by my bed and gave my life to God and when I got back up, I’ve never been the same.  My only regret? I just wished that I had returned much earlier. Our timing is up to The Holy Spirit though, not us. 

David talks about how man’s days are like grass, like a flower, but when the wind comes and passes over him, it is no more and its place knows it no longer. But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who reverently fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children. To those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments.

Do you know what that means?

Remember one thing, what you do while you are here can possibly affect your children and it will be either for God or against Him.

It means to imprint His word upon your hearts. The Bible says, “fear God and live.” It is His fear that keeps us from sinning.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, His sovereignty rules over everything. Bless the Lord you His angels, they are mighty ones who do His commandments. They obey the voice of His word! He Blesses all of you hosts, You who serve Him and do His will. Bless the Lord, all you works of His in all places of His dominion.

Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O My Soul.

Stay tuned for Praise 3.

ALL PRAISE

 

                           

 

                              Let God Arise and His Enemies be Scattered!

                                    By Penny Williams

 

Early in my walk with Jesus we use to sing Psalm 68:1 KJV. There was a fire that pitched within everyone’s soul as we began to praise the name of our King of Kings, better known as Yeshua Hamachi or Jesus the Messiah. There is power in giving Him praise from your heart by song, by your lips, power when you raise your arms in praise, power when the trumpet is blown, when the tambourine is played, power when you use any instruments to give praise to our Heavenly Father.  We are talking about the Kingdom of Christ.  

Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is within you.”  Lu. 17:21

You cannot see “The Kingdom of God” unless you are born again. Jn.3:3

“The Kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Ro. 14:17

“For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” Ro.4:20

I fully believe when a church is in unity, filled with the Holy Spirit; God takes note because He knows that flock wants His presence. To do this we give Him praise in the faith He has given to  us.

In Romans 4:20 Paul was relating to the suffering of believers that were going on and although the church had many teachers, they had few fathers to oversee those who were speaking and teaching. One of the things Paul said to them was to warn them and to “follow me.” Apparently, there were many whose pride and egos were in their speech when they spoke.

“Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, neither can corruption.” 1Co. 15:50

There is power when you clap your hands unto the Lord. The Bible says,

“Clap your hands, all ye people shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” Psalm 47:1

In verse 6: “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.”  

Four times in that single verse tells us to open our mouths and sing onto our Lord.

 There are countless ways you can give God praise. I was talking to my daughter “Grace” about how I was searching for a topic to write about. Forgiveness? Love? I always touch on God’s love in all my articles because I was one who was rescued by His great love.

I mentioned “Praise?”  

She said, “Yes, please write an article about praising God.”

I said, “There is power in praising God. But I do not see many giving Him praise today.” There is an old saying that if you can hear yourself sing, no one else is singing. I know that God always sees and hears us, the room should be filled with the zeal of God’s love and freely to give Him all praise in song.

Why, might you ask?

Listen closely:

When we praise God, His power, The Holy Spirit comes into our presence, and all true heart-filled believers have been given a deposit of the Holy Spirit that is a mark upon them that can never be removed. God knows who are His. The one time and perfect sacrifice Jesus went through upon the cross for our sins can never be retracted. His sacrifice can never be removed. Not even from history books. Although, we know that the enemy tries to wipe it out, the Bible talks about how we already have the victory. That is good reason to be zealous. Jesus arose on the third day and revealed himself to over 600 people teaching about the Kingdom of God for 40 days before He was ascended. Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies that were prophesied about Him in the Old Testament. He was and is the New Covenant.

Allowing The Holy Spirit to give Him praise in your heart will change your entire life! Need a miracle? Give Him praise! Can you be publicly clamorously foolish for Christ? I believe you can!

Use the faith that God has given to you and give Him praise. Believers do everything in faith.

Back in the day, there were many small books written about the power of praise and believers took praising God seriously, laudingly and with great joy that bought strength to their bodies as faith was reproduced continually in their lives. A renewed boldness in Christ unfailingly comes when God is given praise during your trials and daily challenges. Suddenly, when you are giving all praise to our Father, you are setting your heart upon Him, His will and not upon the world Ro.12:1-2. Praising God brings a renewed faith, hope, joy into your heart. You are thinking about His goodness and not about your problem. You have decided not to be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with good. When you give godly sincere “heart-praise” to God, you are indeed becoming an overcomer.

Stay tuned for “Praise 2”

 

 

 

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The SEED

 

                                                        The Seed

                                                                           By Penny Williams

 

                                                                   

Everything began as a thought, then was conceived of a seed. Depending upon what kind of thought you receive will depend upon whether you entertain it or cast it away. Everything comes from our hearts as this is where we file the things that are imparted and important to bring up later. The acorns drop from the Oak tree with some taking root, whereas some are used to ground up for flour or coffee, others are used for decorations while the squirrels happily bury for wintertime. The sunflowers stretch their long necks as if to give praise to the sun embracing the light and when the seeds are ripe for the picking, sometimes you will see flocks of yellow birds come to dine. Zinnia seeds become scattered when the wind blows, and the thorny blackberries pop up everywhere. We sometimes plant bulbs that never come up to meet the sky. Others cannot wait to bloom.

What happens to those bulbs who never reach through the earth? They seemingly never had a chance. Was it just a bad bulb?  Did the insects or other critters get to the bulbs before they decided to germinate? Maybe the soil wasn’t good.

God is the mastermind of all fruitfulness, and He uses seeds everywhere you walk and look and scatters them everywhere. This is part of His large plan.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth to a virgin named Mary telling her that she was highly favored of God and that she would conceive in her womb the Messiah and would rule over the house of Jacob forever. The Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her. He would be Holy and called, “The Son of God.”  We could even call Him “The Son of Love.”

God is a Spirit. He is Love.

Mary became impregnated with God’s seed [His Love], with His Word. The Word’s name is Jesus Christ. Everything He said and did was all about glorifying the Light and Love of the Father.

I do not know anyone who can understand all of God’s thoughts or His ways. Isaiah 55:8

Our God uses our thoughts to accomplish His will in our lives and others too. One single word from our Father sent His Son Jesus who changed the whole world, His name has melted hearts in bowed knees in repentance, created unwanted wars, exposed the evil intents of enemies, caused division in households and many believers were martyred and continues today, just as Jesus said for those who believe He is the King of Kings. The name of Jesus Christ is known worldwide, and it's never been the same since.  Rd. Matt. 10:34-42. 6:25-34

In John 3:3 “Jesus answered, and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Jesus was casting seeds.

Mary was a forerunner of what happens to those of us who listen and understand God’s Word. They become overshadowed or pregnant with that word by God’s Holy Spirit [love]. During such a miracle, we do not realize what is happening when it happens. Although, the only way I can express it for myself is that; I had a small glow of a candle inside of me from my childhood and knew in my heart that “Someday I would return to the God of my childhood.” I did not know when or how. I felt that I should “clean up myself first” before I returned. But that isn’t the way God works. His Holy Spirit cleans us up after we humble ourselves, repent and confess our sins and accept that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. Although, the confessions from our hearts take a few minutes, in time there will be memories of other past sins to confess. By God’s grace and faith, you have stepped out of death into life through being conceived in and by His Love. Although we are new creatures in Christ, the process of cleaning up our old fleshly worldly habits can take years. Be patient, God is with you. Everything you go through will be a lesson for you to learn and grow.  We all have our own “customized past paths” we have walked through.

Let’s go to the parable of the Sower.

Matthew 13:1-23 KJV

¹ The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

² And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

³ And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

⁴ And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

⁵ Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

⁶ And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

⁷ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

⁸ But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

⁹ Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁰ And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

¹¹ He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

¹² For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

¹³Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

¹⁴And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

¹⁵For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

¹⁶But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

¹⁷ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

¹⁸Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

¹⁹ When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside.

²⁰ But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

²¹ Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

²² He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

²³ But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

 

Within every life, there is an enemy and along with that threat there is a solution.  

The amazing thing about this parable is that, just because someone is preaching the word, or reading the word does not mean they are hearing, accepting or retaining the word. It all depends on where their hearts are at the time they hear it. Insincere hearts are blocked from the truth. The Holy Spirit seeks humble hearts.

The humble heartfelt prayer of faith is powerful before the word begins to go out into the airwaves. Just as when a farmer prepares their soil before they plant their seeds, so we too need to learn from the farmer to prepare the soils upon whom we scatter God’s seed. A full and complete dependance upon His Holy Spirit by faith promises to bring a fruitful harvest. Though we may not see the harvest or know about it until later, it is all by His miraculous mercy and grace.

There were crowds of people gathering around Jesus so that He went upon a boat to teach the multitudes upon the shore. He began to speak in parables.

The scriptures below will be in NIV unless otherwise stated.

 “As He was scattering the seed [word], some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.”

 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means; When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path [or wayside].”

Think about this.

If there was not so much life changing power in the word, Satan would not bother to pervert it or take it away. If there were not so much love and faith involved and the many promises that would set you free from yourself, addictions, lies, seductions from the world, he would not counterfeit the word nor accuse it of being a lie. We know that he is the father of lies. There are those who tolerate the word and will never remember what has been spoken. Sin hardens hearts and many will choose sin over God’s love. Sin seduces and then reduces all that you have.

God gives us love.

The enemy gives us lying accusations, encourages violence and hatred. What they accuse you of, they themselves are doing.

I ask you, why would our Father God give His beloved seed to anyone who would devalue it? The Bible talks about how it is a privilege to have it. His word is a treasure we put in our hearts.

“Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

“The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. “

To have good soil, deep roots and faith from God you are going to have to use the faith that He has given to you. This requires you to apply His word in your life. Trials, tests and temptations are going to come. Growth will teach you how to resist the worries and fears and do battle instead of going back into the world. The way of the world decreases the truth, while God’s word will give you a powerful hope that arms you with increased faith.

Is it not possible that when the seed falls on rocky places and has no root lasting only a short time could be part of unbelief in the mighty God who has offered eternal life?  

Run to Him and pray.

“Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.”

“The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. “

I am familiar with unwanted plants in my garden that begin to choke out my flowers or vegetables. Most are thorny vines. I find this factual how the enemy never fails to replicate God’s goodness with something ugly that destroys. He said for us to learn from His creation and if we are attentive and pray, we will hear His voice.

The superficial words from the world cannot hold a candle to God’s promises. Although there can be a lack of understanding of the word, it does not mean it isn’t true. The distractions, seductions and manipulations for riches will either stomp out the anointing that is in God’s word or water it down. The enemy continues to lie and is unable to speak the truth.

Ask yourself what kind of fruit have I been yielding?

What lies have I believed in others?

What lies have I believed in myself?

Things happen! Your heart begins to worry. Do you immediately go to the Lord about it? Worrying can choke your faith and your health if you allow it. When you submit to worry, where did your faith go that God gave you?  Worry can be a prelude to our words. Did you cancel out your faith by a negative word of unbelief? Perhaps you replaced it with the deceitfulness of wealth and why do we think that we can buy our way out of the pit we dug for ourselves in the first place?

The love of money will never buy you the love that you seek.

The love of money will never buy you a clear conscience.

The love of money will never buy you favor from God.

The love of money will not purchase healing for your body.

The love of money will never pay for forgiveness.

If you were to replace faith with your worries and for the deceitfulness of wealth, you would be as a barren tree that never gives fruit, and no amount of money will ever pay for your salvation.

Salvation is a free gift from God, if you repent and believe that Jesus went to the cross for your sins. We have all sinned. Every person you see in or out of church have sinned.

 “But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was given”

You win! You will be given new eyes for you to see, new ears so you can hear and a brand-new heart to begin to store good things inside instead of the things of the world. The puzzle begins to come together. There will be battles from time to time, but if you hang in there, I can see you running to the finish line right next to me. Be forewarned, when someone comes to the Lord, they lose all their worldly friends. I did because they said, “She got religion.”  Remember, Jesus said, “If they persecute me, they will persecute you.”  Tests will come along for your faith to be tried and then increased. Temptations will also make their way to your door. Resist the enemy and he will flee from you. As I have said previously, we go through these things so WE can see how we respond:

With faith or with fear.

When you opened the word for you to read, God already knew how you would respond from time to time, because He is Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresent. He is all powerful with supreme authority over everything. He is all knowing, He knows your thoughts before you think them, and He is everywhere. Not one of us can hide from His eyes. Not one bird can fall from the nest, that He already knows. When troubles come up in our lives and we respond in the wrong way, it is God who wants YOU to see how you responded. He wants you to understand what is still in your heart that needs to be flushed out. We go through these things for us to be honest with ourselves and if we can see them, we are made stronger in Christ.

Never give up upon God and His plan for your life.   

In the beginning we are babes in Christ. The first thing to learn is to put God first in everything you do. Learn to pray and talk to Him. Go to Him about everything in your life. You are a toddler. Toddlers run too fast sometimes and slip and fall. Worries will come and the spirit of fear can be heart stopping if we allow it. Dropping your faith, going back and joining forces with the worries of the world will never bring you the victory that you desire. Learning and resisting will!  The minute you accept Jesus as your Savior you need to find a godly Bible believing church to make new friends [they will pray for you], seek out a mentor, find a good small support group to hang out with. Everyone there is growing and learning too. Organize your time constructively and pray with faith [expectantly] before you read your Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding as you read. Then, apply it in your life.

Read and meditate on it, eat it, walk it, listen to it, speak it and sleep it. When you need to know something, remember, God loves you and He is faithful and will always bring up the answer from The Holy Spirit.

Ask Him.

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Lu. 11:13

When you do this, you will understand how things work in the Spirit world first, then the physical. Spirit first, then physical.

When I was of the world, I used to think that everyone who went to church was squeaky clean. I thought they all had good upbringings, very little problems and I would look out of my window and watch them when they came home from church and why did they seem so happy all the time?  They had joy. The joy of the Lord!

In the past, fear may have kept you from coming to Jesus, perhaps of not being accepted in a group. Maybe you feel you would not fit in or maybe ignorance of the Bible. When I came to Jesus, I did not know anything about the Bible. I knew there was Genesis, John and The Book of Revelation. But I did not know what was inside of those writings. All I knew was what was given to me when at 5 yrs old sitting upon Sister Janes lap in a Catholic Orphanage. She introduced me to The Holy Father, Son Jesus and The Holy Spirit. She told me about the enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy everything we have by the sins we commit. Yes, I can remember everything she said and I understood it. I praise God that she was so obedient to tell me this truth. From 5 years old to 28 years old, I went through a series of unbelievable trials and tests. I am presently trying to wade through writing a book of my life, so all those who read this will understand where you are now, I once was. Yes, I went through that too! I never lived a “normal” life. There was always something tragic happening to me. So, you see, I have been there! It wasn’t until I was 28 that I made an official confession in my home to accept Jesus into my life forever. When I rose from my knees, I was a different person, but a babe in Christ. I discovered I couldn’t get enough of God’s word. I had finally found out who I was! I did not have an identity. I did not know who I was. I never had a father, but too many stepfathers. I never wanted to grow up. Why would I want to grow up when all I experienced was abuse, violence, pain and rejections?

Everything we go through, all those specialized problems and pains that stop our world and crush our hearts, are for us to continue being transformed into the likeness of Christ. We have a God who is never wasteful within any of our lives. He uses everything we go through in our lives to get the job done and you know what happens?

We become stronger! In His strength!

We have more faith! Higher, deeper and wider than before!

We love Him so much more! His love is like a homerun!

We are given more understanding! When more understanding comes, so does the joy!

Nothing! No one can take away what God gives to us! He is powerful and so is His word.

I am overwhelmed by His love, mercy and grace in my life. All the sorrows and pains I went through have been like purging through a fire of faith that strengthened my soul.

It will all be in my book. By faith, it will get done.

I urge you not to let another day go by without accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. He loved you before you knew there was such a love. My life is a walking miracle, and I will never stop praising His name or writing about Him. He is your answer now and tomorrow.  

Pray with me today this sinner’s prayer that everyone has had to pray before becoming born again. Consider it a door into eternity,  you will be walking through.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your unfailing love for me. Thank you for leading me right to this prayer and revealing to me what I need to do to become born-again. I believe that your Son Jesus died upon that cross, shed His blood so I could have forgiveness and eternal life. I believe that on the 3^rd day He was risen! Your word tells me to repent from my heart. I repent Lord.   I ask that you forgive all my sins. Name your sins.  I need You Lord. Please come into my life and take over.  In Jesus name, I ask this prayer. Amen.

If you have prayed this prayer of faith, congratulations and welcome into the family of God. Confess your faith to those who know you.  Find a good Bible believing church and connect to a small group. These people will help you get through the trials and tests that you will go through. God will use them to encourage you, and they will pray for you. You will know them by their love. May His blessings come in waves of abundance and the way be made clear for you as you grow.