I was Wooed and Courted

 I was Wooed and Courted

By Penny Williams

 

One of my favorite memories was spending time in the Catholic Academy. Only 5 years old I did not know it was an orphanage. As an only child I yearned for the intimacy of sisters or brothers. When at the farm, my grandma taught me how to be a proper lady complete with curtseys and bows. My grandfather taught me how much fun a farm can be as I watched him work, rode on his tractor with him as he plowed those long rows and all the miraculous wonders of farm animals. With my Mother I learned that life was short, live your life now, be thankful, do not judge, and get a trade.

I have learned that all people are where they are on their life timeline, doing what they either desire, needful or what they believe is good at the time. Most appear to live without a care.  They work with what they have inside of them to reason. Place all those things jumbled together in a treasure chest and eventually they become a Holy Spirit student of a lifetime. Though my mother was an alcoholic I held nothing against her. I am my mother’s daughter.

Now you may ask how did I end up in an orphanage? That comes later. My story is not a bedtime read, but all truth, mercy, grace, ignorance, selfishness, weakness and many victories.

The very dangers and obstacles that were in my life became a bold stronghold of a shield of faith in my walk in Christ. 

“I have learned and learned well!”

This article is all about my experience with my best friend. For the first time in my short life, I was introduced to Him in the Academy sitting on sister Jane’s lap as she rocked me. She introduced me to the Holy Father, His Holy Son Jesus and The Holy Spirit. I asked questions and she answered me with the greatest patience, love, truthfully and completely. During the years up ahead, I was to think about her answers and receive the same comfort I had as a child. Her words were stained upon the canals of my heart and I believed. Her seeds fell on fertile ground. Some Oak trees take time to grow.

As the years went by with too many sins to list here, off and on I would think about the God that I had met in the orphanage. I knew in my heart that someday I would return to the God of my childhood. But when was the good time? After all, my thinking was such that I needed to clean up myself first before I approached my Holy Father.  I was a single divorced mother raising 3 sons by myself, living in a trailer and replicating the same life my mother carried out. Driving home from a bar, one night I missed the turn off to my street that would take me home. How I got home safely had to be God’s grace.

Another time, driving home once again late in the night and going around a sharp curve, I saw an oncoming car had jumped into my lane with its lights blinding me. I was headed for a head on collision if I didn’t do something quickly! I jerked the vintage 1953 VW to the left and saw the large car speed by me, then jerked the car back onto my lane and it was then that my car began to bounce and roll 3 times on the highway. While I was rolling and bouncing, I heard a lady screaming from somewhere in the dark. She must have seen what happened. Having no seatbelts in those days I was thrown out of my car alongside the highway. I laid there and couldn’t move my feet or legs. My first thoughts were, “Oh Father, please not that.”  Little by little I began to move my toes, feet and then my legs. When I stood up, the police came along with the ambulance, and they said I should not be alive. The paramedics checked me out and I was, “fine.” They were astounded and had never seen anyone survive in such an accident. I looked over at my VW and it was flattened and crushed. If I had stayed in the car, I would have been sandwiched to death as there wasn’t anything left.

 I knew this was a miracle and the next day my body was bruised from head to toe. It seemed God was getting my attention. But did I listen?

Not yet.

My point here is that I am willing to tell all the worldly things I have done if I can get your attention to listen to me.

Without going into detail, God finally got my attention. I could tell something was going on, but I didn’t really understand it at the time.  I’d had some people over and although I cannot remember who they were, except for a little blonde girl about 10 years old. Apparently, she had been watching me closely and came up to me and asked me,

“Are you a Christian?”

My mother pounded it in me to never lie. That question stopped me in my tracks. I told her,

“I didn’t know, I guess so.” 

That question made me think. It was like someone asking you if you were saved? I used to wonder about, “Saved from what?” Back then, I didn’t understand their question. I didn’t know anything about the Bible. Only that there was A Holy Father, Holy Son Jesus and a Holy Spirit, a Genisis and a Book of John and Revelation.

My Avon lady “Geri” came around and talked about Jesus. I didn’t realize her words were seeds and that they were falling on fertile ground. One day my mother and I were debeaking chickens and there was a new lady helping us out. All she talked about was Jesus and His apostles. Mother and I looked at each other. I admired her and saw something in her that I wanted. More seeds were sown and more water was given for them to grow in my heart.

In my heart I knew I was returning to the God of my childhood, but I still did not understand what was happening to me. One day I had to ask someone the question that was burning inside of me. I went to Grandma Bruces who lived around the corner. When she opened the door I asked her, “Can a Christian believe that there are evolution and creation at the same time?” She replied with a resounding, “No.” That was good enough for me! As far as I was concerned, her word was sound!

I had hesitated and was running from God. I was to discover that God wanted my attention and to be still and to listen to Him. And that is exactly what happened to me. What might you ask?  It was around Easter time when I was shattered, ashamed, broken and full of despair I knelt by my bed and prayed and confessed to the same Holy Father, I met when I was only 5 years old. I confessed to as many sins as I could remember and asked for forgiveness. When I stood up, I was a brand-new baby believer. This was before computers and cellphones. My unsaved mother gave me my first Bible, then my Avon lady gave me many books of helps to study the Bible. My cousin gave me another new Bible that I carried to Church. I had a small closet that was between my bedroom and bath and that is where I studied. I studied for hours upon hours after work. My children would not make a sound until I got up, and they became my first students. Everything I learned, I joyfully gave to them. I fell in love studying about the truth of My true Holy Father and His love, His Son Jesus who carried and fulfilled His love upon the cross and His Holy Spirit whose love continues to abide in us today. Every time I approached the word I knew I was going to meet The Holy Spirit. His words were anointed and alive as they leaped out of the pages to me. I became addicted to the love of His truth. I walked alone for miles on those old dirt roads knocking on doors to tell my neighbors about the love of Jesus. If it worked for me, it would work for anyone.

I walked into a convenient store to get something and was told that they could tell I was a Christian by my eyes.  I was forgiven and completely set free by His love! I lost all my worldly friends. To some, I had “got religion” and had gone completely insane. My neighbor mentioned that “I was going through a phase and that she will get over it.”  We attended the nearest church, and I can remember a deacon saying about me, “She will calm down soon and get over her zeal.” Listening to him, I thought to myself: “No way! Hearing those abrasive words, made me more determined to stay on the mark and prove him wrong!”

 I walked back into one of the bars I once attended and prophesied a warning to a young man that I sat next to! His eyes filled up with fear, and he could not get away from me quickly enough! That was when I discovered why I had walked into that place. No, I did not have a drink.  I became very sensitive to the leading of my best friend, “The Holy Spirit.”  I learned that it is He who taught me His truth, even while I slept. He knows my heart, knows my motives and intents and what I will say before I say it, knows what I need before I think about it. He is my best friend and knows everything about me, the past, present and future. He knows my weaknesses, my wills and He still loves me.  His character is full of love unlike anything you have ever experienced in the world. Those who believe and have humbled themselves and have surrendered their hearts to Him through repentance, experience an overwhelming power of His love and acceptance into His family. Behold, His Glorious Body of Christ!

No. We are not perfect, yet.

When you think about it:

The Body of Christ is full of ex’s.

Ex, Thieves

Ex. Prostitutes

Ex. Liars

Ex. Hypocrites

Ex. Murders

Ex. Idolaters

Ex. Adulterers

Ex. Druggies

Ex. Alcoholics

Ex. Divorced

Ex. Homosexuals

Ex. Addicts

Ex. Prideful

Ex. Pedophilias

Ex. Excessive Angers

Ex. Lust

Ex. Greed

Ex. Selfishness

When a humble repentant soul comes to Jesus with everything, he has inside of him, you begin to get deliverance from all those things. Then The Holy Spirit begins to do a deep work inside of you. This takes time. As you grow, you no longer desire any of those things, they will leave. They cannot stay inside of a vessel that is filled with God’s love, The Holy Spirit.

The realization of the heartfelt and deep forgiveness of Jesus Christ assures you with opened eyes and ears and a godly replacement from the things in the world. This means you will finally be able to have understanding. You will see everything in a new light given by The Holy Spirit. The old you no longer exists. If those in my past were to see me today, they would not be able to recognize the old worldly me that they once knew.   When this happens and you have sincerely become born-again:

He replaces your thievery with His truth and honesty.

He replaces your prostitution with a secure godly love through the Body of Christ that you never knew.

He replaces your tongue that taught you to lie with His glorious truth!

He replaces your hypocrisy and doublemindedness, to having The Fear of God!

He teaches you that if you even think about hatred toward another, you have already murdered him in your heart. You learn to walk in repentance.

He teaches you not to put anything before His will. No nothing!  Not anyone or anything!

He teaches you that should you lust after another man’s wife; you have already committed adultery in your heart. He teaches you to resist the enemy and he will flee.

He teaches you there isn’t a need to depend upon drugs anymore, because by His grace and Your faith, He is healing you right where you are at. He waits for you to ask.

He teaches you to replace your drinking with God’s love. You begin to replace alcohol with His word and become more dependent upon His will.

He teaches you to forgive those who are divorced. As two minds have hardened their hearts and walked away from their vows; they must forgive each other. We have all sinned and come short of the God’s glory.

He teaches us not to judge those in the world who have fallen into an alternative lifestyle.  Pray for them. Sin is sin in the eyes of God. When we have broken one commandment, we break them all. No one is exempt.

He will replace your worldly pride with the fruit of humility as you learn. The old you is dead and The Holy Spirit is busy remolding you into the likeness and fruit of Christ.

He replaces all self-gratifying perversity by giving you new eyes to see and experience God’s truth that will cut the strongest Oak Tree down in your life. It is all by His strength, through faith in our loving God.

He replaces your temper tantrums with a godly patience you did not know is working inside of you. Instead of burning with anger, you will be on fire for God.

He replaces all lust and gluttony freely with learning how to buffet your flesh with His word. As you learn to fear God, you will break away all those things that have been commissioned to destroy you. They become unimportant in your life.

He replaces your greed and selfishness with godly fruit of helping and giving in His love to those in need.

When you come to a full surrender with a repentant heart, your whole world is turned upside down and inside out. Nothing will ever be the same again. You will be completely unrecognizable.

With much prayer…

All those replacements will take T-I-M-E. During a whole lifetime of learning the word, listening to the word and applying God’s truth to your life. We learn many of our truths by the temptations, the struggles and the trials that we begin to go through. It could be something like our insides being turned inside out. We reveal who we are and what we are made of when we are tested. Be encouraged, the breaking will come to destroy what is needed in your life for you to see and understand where you are at in your walk.

God promises us eternal life if we believe in His son Jesus.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 NIV

His light will expose everything that you need to get rid of.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 NIV

You become a child of the resurrection! A child of God!

There are countless of scriptures that promise you eternal life if you give your heart to Jesus. Everything changes for the good.

 

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father,

I believe that Jesus was the complete sacrifice upon the cross so I could have forgiveness of my sins. I believe he was resurrected on the third day and seen by at least 500-600 people and continued to teach. I believe He was sent to be my Savior. I know I am a sinner and I need help. I ask that You would please forgive my sins. {name them}_____.  Forgive me, Father, and take them away and deliver me from all of them. I need You, I need Your help, Your direction and need Your love in my life.

In Jesus name I ask, amen.

If you have prayed this prayer in all sincerity, I welcome you into the Kingdom of God and into His family. If you do not have a good Bible, they give them away in the thrift stores. Find a good Bible believing church and get connected with a study group as learn and grow, they will pray for you as you when you face trials.

Congratulations

HOPE

 

HOPE

 

 

By Penny Williams

The hope that comes from God is a holy gift placed within our hearts to believe and trust in Him beyond anything we can see physically on earth. Hope is an indelible drive within our hearts that cannot be removed. Though there are times when we are discouraged, I believe that through The Holy Spirit’s gentle teaching and love, His hope keeps us on the mark. Hope is manifested during war when our sons are maneuvering and commissioned to be the tip of the spear out front paving the way before battle. They pray and hope they won’t die or become permanently injured.  Hope is given and expressed when there is serious sickness in our families. We pray, we believe and we use the faith that has been given to us and we hope they will come through. Amid our trials we hold onto the hope in our hearts asking God to give us strength. We hope for everything from healings to a better paycheck. From losing weight to gaining weight. For the forgiveness that Jesus brought that sets us free from the chains of sin and brings us peace. For discernment in times when we make important decisions. We hope we have made the right choice. We pray and seek counsel and hope it is good.  We even “hope” people will like us when we walk into a strange room. We hope our fiancé’s parents will like us. We stand upon faith and believe in our hearts the Bible is the true, infallible and errant word of God. We hope that there is a better world where our loved ones have gone.

Picture in your mind a round circle in your heart. In that circle is Jesus. His Holy Spirit abides within that deep circle and gives us hope. His hope connects to:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Ga.5:22

“Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.” Ga.5:23

“(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Ph.1:11

We are called to bear fruit through everything we walk through, with God. We are in complete dependance upon our Father’s grace to bring us through the rough times and if you look closely, you will see a tiny bud of His goodness upon your branch. Learn to see His hand in every part of your life and soon there will be more than one bud upon your branch. Our Heavenly Father connects with us in so many ways. He knows how to lighten up our hearts and make us smile. How to laugh again. And, throughout the whole process we have the strength that His hope brings.

In my vegetable garden I noticed two plants coming up that I never planted. Their rich dark leaves grew large and protective and then I began to see many blooms. Spaghetti Squash! My favorite squash. I was overwhelmed with the rush of love that my Heavenly Father gave to me. He knows how to capture the deep wonder of Him in my heart and I felt His love. Soon, I will be harvesting about 7 spaghetti squash to give to those I love. We used to sing scriptures all the time, “He bought me to the banqueting house and His banner over me was love.” Song 2:4

It is a good way to memorize scripture without trying.

Our Father wants our hearts to smile. He wants us to see Him in everything we do and don’t do. He knows when our hearts are breaking and He begins to apply the salve we need to be healed. He never leaves us. When we are walking through the valley of darkness, we have nothing to fear.   

His hope tells us to:

Not give up!

Though there have been times, I wonder why? I pull closer to His word.

Stay on the course He has given to me!

The flesh wars against the spirit. I remember Jesus saying, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6 “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.” 1John 4:4

Continue on, to learn how to love in the way that His Son loves!

This is an assignment from God and sometimes takes a lifetime to bury the things we have learned when we were of the world. We are to: “forgive now and understand later.”  I realize that nothing can stop Jesus from loving me. Even when I did not know Him, He loved me. Love is a sacrifice.

Not be swayed by man’s doctrines or idols!

Idols are different today than the ones they made thousands of years ago. I will search my heart to see if I am putting anything before God.

Nourish and keep a thankful heart!

Do not take anything for granted and be thankful for the smallest things in  your my life. In one moment, we could lose everything He has given to us. To be truly thankful, we must be humble.

Cherish God’s teachings in my life for they are a privilege! I will grow!

This is how He talks to us. He teaches and guides us. His words will penetrate your heart so you can walk in His light consistently. You will learn who God is through His word. His words give us everything we need.

Be steady with hope, not rising above; or below in what He has given us.

God is our mainstay as we walk. He has given us a thankful heart, for we can see His work everywhere,

Pray to give Him all the glory.

Our Father God knows what He is doing and when He does it. We do not have to understand everything about Him to believe and know He is the Creator of all.

Be careful to always love Him first above everything else in our life.

If we listen to the conscience He has given to us, we will stay in His will. If we make that a special habit; then we will begin to hear His voice. His Holy Spirit teaches us His will in many ways. We are to fear Him, as it keeps us from sin. We are to be careful in what we say as it is a matter of life vs death, and we will be judged by the words we give.

It sounds like we walk a tightrope at times, but when you begin to grow, like the song says; “the things of the world grow strangely dim.” We become more spirit than flesh.

Not one of us can brag about all the things we have done for our Lord. If we must boast, let it be of Him. One author has said, “It isn’t any of the things we have done for Him, it is what Jesus has done for us.”   

God’s hope is a gift and is connected to The Holy Spirit and it is He that washes us with His word and brings us through our doubts. He teaches and comforts us and explains how Biblical verses tie into today’s living. Remember when Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. “Mt.6:33,34

As a believer:

The Kingdom of God should be the first thing we seek after you are born-again and the first thing we should be understanding and the last thing, we think about before we go to bed. We are to be desperate and go after The Kingdom of God like that of a drowning man who keeps coming up from the water for air and never gives up.  It is the hope inside of a man’s heart that drives him into a life of godly faith! It is The Holy Spirit that gives us the grace we need to keep us afloat.

When a repentant sinner comes humbly before our Holy Father and confesses his sins believing by faith that he will receive forgiveness, there is a party in heaven! Everyone rejoices! That is not all, The Holy Spirit fills us with the power of His love and He blesses us by cleaning us up and teaching us throughout the years as we learn to be the Overcomers we are called to be. We carry His torch, and the light of His love is given in many ways. We receive His hope, His counsel, His truth, His joy and most important His word and is all given through His love.

Perhaps it is time for you to dust off that Bible and return to your first love.

Think for a moment about what happens to a piece of fruit when it stays on the counter for too long and we do not eat it. The fruit begins to ripen, dry up and rot.

Ask your heart:  

During a trial did I rejoin the world?  Did I wonder where my joy went, my hope? What did I do? And why? The world’s enmities are always standing close by and will justify your behavior with earthly reasons and answers. But love in the Holy Spirit will never leave you because He lives within you. You need to know who you are carrying around and begin to listen to His small voice within you. His creative hand is everywhere and He is our hope. This is why we talk about “The Blessed Hope.”

We have His hope as He continues to reside within us wherever we go and do. We carry this hope around as we walk in faith.

Jesus Christ is our hope. We put all our trust in Him as we live.

I am convinced that we cannot live without His hope inside of us. His hope waters our faith. Not to outshine His light, but to be fuel inside of that light so others can see it, walk in it and proclaim God’s goodness with hope. His light is pure, holy and full of truth. Hope can bring you the peace that you crave if you use it. Walking in hope breeds a consistency in Christ. We begin to multiply more hope towards those in need. Our wishing turns to a prayer and our hope kindles our faith.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Ro.15:13 NIV.

“for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written FOR OUR LEARNING, that we THROUGH PATIENCE and COMFORT of the scriptures might have HOPE.” Ro.15:4 KJV.

We have a God of HOPE!

We have a God of PATIENCE!

We have a God of MERCY!

We have a God who judges our hearts!

He holds us accountable for our motives and intents!

He forgives us when we humble ourselves and sincerely ask for forgiveness!

He will give us His strength to get through each day at a time.

“Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.” Psalm 102:18 NIV

Dear Reader,

Though you may have stumbled upon these words today and began to wonder if they are true. Allow me to say, that every time you see a believer who has given their life to Jesus and has been born-again, you are looking at a modern-day miracle. Not one of us can clean up ourselves alone. We all need His miraculous help.  If you sincerely need help and healing, call upon the one who gives help and heals your broken life and heart. This will be the most important decision you have ever made in your life. I say most important decision because asking our Holy Father to come into your life and give you a new heart, a new life, new eyes so you can see, new ears so you can hear what His Spirit is saying will be ongoing for the rest of your life. He will teach you His way and His will forever. The minute you pray and believe that Jesus paid the complete sacrifice for all your sins upon that cross and make that decision and ask Him into your life you become a new person.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV

How does this happen?

Jesus Himself kept saying through His red words, “IF you believe in me, you will have eternal life.”

Salvation is a free gift of grace from God to you. If someone loved you so much and wanted to give you a free home or car, would you accept it? You might wonder, what is the catch?  Have you ever thought that perhaps this is your time to make a life decision?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 KJV Rd the book of John.

The truth is, Jesus is the only way to life after death. Everyone of us have an assigned appointment to stand in front of Him one day, but we do not know of the time.  The world’s teachings say that there are many ways to life after death. Not so, according to the written word, there is only one way to life and that is believing in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and was sent by His Father to be the Lamb of God, a pure sinless sacrifice for us. He was seen by over 500 people when He was resurrected on the third day.

I remember when I was accused for my “archaic religious belief” when in our online forum. Yes, I believe. Jesus’s words give us hope. And if we apply them to our present day, we will have the victory that He desires to give to us. It is His Holy Spirit that begins to soften up our hearts as we learn. After we are born again, alas become pliable to receive.

Please pray with me:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your Son Jesus who paid the price for me, so I can be set free from sin. Right now, I repent of my sins. Name them____________. I ask that you would forgive me and give me a new heart. Forgive my selfishness and make me into a new person. I ask that Your Holy Spirit would fill me with your love and truth.  Keep me on the mark Father. In Jesus name I ask, amen.

If you have prayed this repentant prayer, congratulations! You have been born-again; all things will be new to you.. Give yourself time to grow. Find a good Bible believing church, join a small group as they will help you grow and pray for you as you learn. Be sure and buy a Bible or they usually give them away at Thrift stores. Welcome into the family!

 

God of all Comfort

 

                                                God of all Comfort

                                                         By Penny Williams

 

Spring is here! Summer is near! Pine pollen covers everything and there are wasps and hornets that squeeze their way onto our screened porch.  If I feel brave, I capture one in a bottle and put him back outside where he belongs. Other times I grab my bug spray.  While on this earth, there will always be something that either gets into our food, nests on our porch, finds its way to your attic or under the hood of your car, or eats the leaves off your tomato plants. Not to mention the snakes. I remember a time living in Florida driving down a highway and talking to my babysitter, my peripheral vision told me I mistakenly ran over what looked like a huge log in the road. When I looked into the rear-view mirror of the car, I saw the grandpappy of alligators unhurt and lumbering back into the bush. My old Corvair was never the same.

There are countless reasons and explanations when searching for the causes of our trials. When as a freshly born-again believer filled with joy, fiery zip and zeal, I had thousands [a slight exaggeration] of ideas about pleasing God. In fact, most of the time I ran ahead of Him, tripping, stumbling, but still carrying His torch and message of love. I was out to change the world! Exasperated, my girlfriend looked at me and said,

“You are in need of patience.”

That statement stopped me in my tracks and made me think. Has anyone thought about what we go through to get this priceless crown of patience? If you were like me and in need of patience you would be placed in situations with a smile, told to wait, be calm and see. Hours turned into days of waiting then months and even years. We go through tough times to bear the fruit of patience. For us to have the fruit of patience we must link up with endurance. We are going to have to endure the trial. Patience is a must for our Father’s children. The Holy Spirit begins to restructure our heart and thinking patterns. There are times in our lives when we must slow down and once again listen:

“Be still and know I am God.”

Our lives are beyond what we think we know and yet we put so much store in the physical. Jesus knew this when He taught us through His parables. We could identify as He talked. He patiently spoke through The Spirit of Truth whose words miraculously opened our hearts, our minds, our souls and yes, even our flesh. All in love. Every person you see who has been truly born again is a walking miracle. His work in our hearts never ceases because He never stops teaching us.

“So do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” He. 10:35-36

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” He.12:1

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” Ro. 5:1-5

Nothing is as sweet to me when my heart is grieving when talking to a friend and she says to me:

“I know exactly how you feel because it has been 3 years since my daughter passed and just now, I am starting to feel like living again.”

As I listened to her, I was comforted by how The Holy Spirit was consoling me.  He uses His people to give us the comfort we need in our lives. He will use a stray homeless kitten! Our Father knows what it takes to give you comfort.  A friend who has experienced the same thing you have begins to comfort you with the right words at the right time. As we listen, The Holy Spirit begins to heal our hearts, and we become fruit bearers of His promises and purpose.

In Christ, everything becomes turned around. He gives you a new heart to store up His goodness, new eyes so you can see through His lens, new thoughts so you can think His way. Your speech will be filled with His grace that has changed your life.

Have you ever talked to a person who has a storehouse of patience? Years ago, I was talking to a lady who was married to a very immature man. I watched him on his motor bike tearing up the yard. Her response, “I have enough patience for the both of us.” She had patience and character!

Something miraculous happens when you come through a tough trial, you feel lighter and as if you can almost touch the hand of God.  Do you understand why? Because your heart has given the problem to God. There are some things that we are unable to carry. When that happens, you will receive the peace of God.

Is there a divine connection between humility and patience? I believe they both go together; you cannot have one without the other. Humility will never say, “I deserve it!”  And, will never brag about themself but boast upon God’s will and grace. Patience gently takes your hand and whispers, “Don’t give up I am still here, just a little bit longer.”  

Here is a heart check for you.

When we are confronted with another roadblock, how do our hearts respond?

Do we:

Stretch our faith and see the possible blessing throughout the challenge? Yes, you can do this! Look for it!

                                                                 The Test of Forgiveness

Have we forgiven everyone who has offended us?

a. Those who have lied to us

b. Those who have stolen from us

c. Cheated, betrayed and rejected us

e. Broken promises again

“For if you forgive men when they have sinned against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Mt.6:14

True godly believers have no other option. This came straight from our Savior. We must forgive everyone. When we do, our Father throws it into the sea of forgetfulness; never to be brought up again. The matter is finished.

I could name countless cases why we should keep that chip on our shoulder and not forgive, but they would be words from the world and not God. Unforgiveness is like drinking a glass of arsenic slowly. There are always adverse effects from unforgiveness.

Most of the time we do not recognize that our very problem is a camouflage of redesigning us into a beautiful piece of pottery.

It could be something like driving in the country and looking for a chicken farm to buy a bunch of chicks. You stop at a roadside fruit stand and ask where the farm is and he tells you, “Just over the hill.”  You drive over the hill and a few more hills, until finally you see the farm.

The point to that story is to never give up on your walk. The hinderances are sent by God to prepare you to be strong and to shine like a diamond.

Our physical battles can become tiring. Here is our hope in Jesus Christ: When we understand that pride is deceiving and selfishness is like greed which is like idolatry [Col.3:5] and repent and turn around, we will be waved past ourselves and into the blessings of humility and patience.  

Which comes first? Humility or patience? Humility must come first for patience to have its perfect work inside of your heart. Humility listens to God and will bury your pride. A heartfelt acceptance and understanding of our inabilities will give us the peace we need. You are unique and special. If God made you an apple, you can be the shiniest, best and loveliest apple around. Not so, if you’ve been trying to be an orange. There are some things we need to let go.  Be thankful and content in the hand He has set before you to do while you are here. Humble yourself and honor God. Listen closely to Him as He teaches you, He could be giving you a thankful heart.  Learn who you are in Christ and do not allow your past to identify you. Your past is forgiven and buried. Your identity is in Jesus Christ. You are learning to bear His fruit.

If you are truly bearing His fruit, wouldn’t you be attractive to those around you to taste and see God’s goodness?

                                                                             Fear God

We go through our obstacle courses to learn to fear God. We cannot see Him, but we know He is there, He knows our every move, every thought and we have read about Him in the Bible. He tests our hearts and minds. We have experienced His love, forgiveness, mercies, grace and patience. He judges us according to His word. There are times we are judged by the very words we speak. Why? Because we haven’t given a thought to fearing our Father. We haven’t given any thought to the consequences of our words or actions. Some of our consequences are short lived, others are long standing. If we have made an unthinking, fleshly, wrong decision for wrong reasons, there could be a consequence. Learn to be honest with the truth that you have found in Christ.

We have all done this. You are not alone.

There are times, we do not take the time to ask God through prayer about important decisions that “looks good” to you and we discover we have too easily walked out of the will of God. In other words, we have opened a door we should not have walked through. As we walked through that door, our Father never fails to teach us what we must learn.

It seems we sometimes become shattered so He can pick up the pieces again. I believe there are times when we make things complicated in our lives because we are selfishly impatient. We place The Holy Spirit on the shelf and refuse to listen to God. “We might think, I have always done it this way; and I will continue to do it this way.”

The Bible tells us to “fear God and live.” Our Father teaches those whom He loves. We learn to fear Him. Saying our walk is a process bears repeating.

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Psalm 34:7

“Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.” Psalm 34:9

“Come my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” Psalm 34:11

There isn’t any amount of bargaining in prayer, whining, crying, temper tantrums, screaming, complaining, fretting, or pouting, that will change God’s ways. If He loves you and you are His child; YOU WILL LEARN HOW to fear God. You will learn and what you will learn most is that it is He who has the last say and not you.  

To sum up our thoughts about the trials and tests we go through:

1.      We go through the trials and tests, to prove that our faith is genuine. 1Pe.1:3-9

2.      To develop patience and character. Ja.1:2-4

3.      To fear God, as it will keep you from sinning. God teaches us to fear Him. Dt.8:5

4.      To be fruit bearers. John 15:2

5.      To give comfort to those in the same way God has comforted us. 2Co.1:3-7

6.      To forgive all who have offended you. Mt.6:14

7.      The tests of selfishness and pride vs humility and patience.

8.      Other times, your trial is to develop a thankful heart.

 

I am sure there are scores of reasons why we go through our tough times, one is that the experiences make us stronger and wiser. The day will come when we can finally say to our Father:

 “I have learned my lesson Father and learned well!”

Pray with me:

Heavenly Father,

I need your strength; I need your forgiveness and love. From my heart, I forgive all who have offended me and purposely let them all go once and for all. Cleanse my heart Father and fill me with your forgiveness. I have sinned against you and others. [name your sins]_______. Take all selfishness and pride from me. Teach me your ways, your word and how to fear You. Open my eyes to see your hand in my life. Use me to be a fruit bearer. Come into my life and direct all my steps, season my mouth with your salt and let me be one who shines for You in all my ways.

In Jesus name I ask, amen.

If you believe that Jesus is Lord and have prayed in faith, welcome into the family of God! The Bible says that you are a new creature in Christ, behold all the old things are passed away.  Find a good Bible, a good Bible believing church and join one of the small groups as they will pray for you and help you through the tough times.

 

Pruning vs Purging

 

                                            Pruning vs Purging

                                                                                             By Penny Williams

 

It seems that I have developed a love hate relationship with my roses. I have been pricked so many times I’ve lost counting. I have one lone yellow fellow whom I call the yellow monster who climbs up on his trellis as if to see “his kingdom” every year. His followers are all the red roses that are planted in front of our home. I am not big on roses because of their thorns. Like that of some people, they don’t want to be touched! Too bad! Off with their heads I say!

Pruning them shortly after their blooms are quite finished and with good structure a deeper prune is given before winter comes, keeps us happy and humble. It is the process of pruning they do not like. When I feed and water them, they appear to forget their looks and hardship for a while.

So, it is within the Body of Christ, the predicaments we find ourselves going through; we continue to ask, “What and why are we going through such things? What did I do wrong?” As a Christian we know our sins are forgiven. And why at times do we still wrestle with the memories of the past? Things that have been forgiven, yet replayed in our hearts?

 Pruning is something like a haircut, it aerates the plant and causes it to grow better and gives off at least twice the number of flowers.  

Websters Dictionary says about pruning:

       To reduce by eliminating superfluous matter

       To remove as superfluous ~ away all ornamentation

       To cut off or cut back parts of for better shape or more fruitful growth~

       To cut away from what is unwanted or superfluous.                                                                                                       

Is it not true, as a believer we are representing King Jesus? Our words and our behaviors should reflect His Love.   As God is our Creator, doesn’t He have the right to take away our dross? What has become overwhelming or crass in our character and flaws our witness?

Purging turns up the heat a bit.         

To clear of guilt

To free from moral or ceremonial defilement

The removal of elements or members is regarded as undesirable and esp. as treacherous or disloyal.

 

Those tears that you have cried, were saved into a bottle. Everything that happens to us is for our good. We cannot see or understand it, nor can we feel it. But we can sense it in our spirits.  We have a good God who always wins. Although, we may not understand the whole picture, it is time to begin to us the faith given to us and trust Him in your heart.     

 John 15:1-17 niv states:

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

1.      I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

2.      He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

3.      You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you.

4.      Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5.      I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him; he will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.

6.      If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

7.      If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

8.      This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9.      As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

10.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.

11.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

12.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

13.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

14.  You are my friends if you do what I command.

15.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

16.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

17.  This is my command: Love each other.

Once you have given your life to Jesus, what in the world could ever compare to His love? The whole Bible is about His love. We have been privileged to have His word.

 

The KJV says purging and in the NIV it says pruning and in the AMP, it says takes away or pruning. Either way, pruning and purging are different forms and levels of chastisement. If you are a child of God, you will be either pruned or purged. We learn through the Word and our experiences. We do not like to be corrected, but isn’t it better now than to miss the boat later? Read about our Heavenly Fathers love: De.8:5, Ps.94:12, Pr.3:11, 3:12 Re.3:19     Our Heavenly Father cares enough to put a stop to us when we become too independent, self-confident and head-strong in the wrong direction. We belong to HIM, not to the world. Since that is the case, why is it that we give so much credit and homage to the world?

Love is shown in so many ways and usually by action. Jesus spoke many loving and teaching words to us and through them we become cleansed. Vs 3. His word is holy. Everything He spoke was pure. When Jesus went to the cross and suffered for our sins, He paid the complete and final price for us! He was victoriously resurrected on the 3^rd day blasting away any sting of death! All those who believe in Jesus and know Him, who have repented from their sins have eternal life. Jesus was sent by God to be the ultimate sacrifice and fulfill prophecy for us! He is alive! He lives! He is our Messiah! When eyes are opened and become born-again, it is not of themselves. God says He has foreordained you and picked you before the very foundation of the world. Can you wrap your head around those verses? The Bible continues to say, He knew you and loved you before you knew Him. He was sent to heal the sick. If you have sinned, you are sick. The Bible says we have all sinned, therefor we are all sick. Think about this: When we are born again through Christ and our eyes are opened, not only does God give us a new heart, but we are healed from the slavery of sins of the world! We are set free from captivity!

No one ever said that when you become a believer, you’ll live in a rose garden! Even if you do, there are still thorns. We live on planet earth that is still cursed.

The world gives you comforting lies, illusions about yourself and will place a self-righteous attitude of justification in your heart that feeds your ego. We listen to the news all the time.

The other night I was watching a program about Celine Dion. She is from Quebec, Canada and the world was truly her oyster. She adored her fans. Throughout the whole time she performed, she was plagued with hindrances. Completely shattered, her husband passed from throat cancer and Celine contacted a very rare disease called, “Stiff person syndrome” involving unbearable symptoms of seizures, tremors and much pain. She is quoted as saying, “It is possible that a person can have a career and raise children at the same time.” She was the youngest of 14 children and raised in a devout Roman Catholic family.  

Welcome into the family of God: Everything that you have placed in your heart will be pruned and purged at every turn. As you grow, you will begin to see the stains of jealousies, pride and selfishness that are still in your heart with a magnifying glass. The closer we get to eternal life, the clearer our shortcomings are seen and the humbler we become. You know what? This is exactly where our Father wants us to be!

I know of a man who is well known for his wisdom and has spent his entire life studying about God’s wisdom. He has written: “There is one thing I am fearful about and that is that I do not have enough love for others.”  All his many hours of studies, countless books written, have not given him the peace or consolation of knowing how to love. This tells me that one can have great amounts of knowledge and wisdom, yet no peace. Only God’s love will give a person peace.

Can we be honest with ourselves and examine our hearts to see how much of the world we are still holding on to?

 

 

 

 

Here are a few superfluous things that we need to think about and deal with:

 

Too selfish?

Why do we think so much of ourselves? God created us below Him, not above Him.  Selfishness is the number one reason why marriages get divorced. One person retains a hard heart while the other’s heart is soft and pliable wanting to work it out. The world says that you are number one, not God. He says for us to forgive and honor one another above ourselves.  Unselfishness will allow the branch to bend like that of a willow, that says, “How can I help you?”  Selfishness stiffens and rots until it breaks off the vine.

Too much pride?

Pride blinds, argues, paralyzes and says, “it is all about me.” God hates pride. All arrogance will fail. You will be humbled.  Either you will get rid of it or God will. Pride is a camouflage of weakness that is bred through lies.

Too vain?

What made you give into a lying spirit? With all our studies, isn’t it time to see our hearts the way God sees it, through His word? Ask yourself, “What am I vain about?” My knowledge? Looks? God has His way, even gently to tell you. “Do not think yourself higher than others.”  Wake up!  Get your eyes off yourself and onto God.

Perhaps you are a gossip?

The book of James says that Your mouth either speaks life or death, builds up or tears down.  Gossiping destroys another’s character and your integrity. What you say will boomerang right back to you. Too many times, we give a self-fulfilled prophecy when we judge another.  Isn’t it interesting that Jesus said, we will be judged by every idle word we speak!  

Greed or Lust?

Greed only thinks about more and is never satisfied. Overnight we could lose everything. There is very little peace when the gods of greed and lust silently and slyly seduce you back into friendship with the world. Ask yourself where have I been greedy? Is it overeating? We love those second or third helpings. Is it through your eyes when you are in church? Do you blameshift your sins upon another?  In Christ you have the authority to put cast them away.  Get away from those thorns in your rose garden.

Unthankful?

If you have an unthankful heart, cheer up; things will happen to make you thankful. Listening to one of my sons talk about our meager beginnings and the various problems that arose while they were growing up and the thankful hearts that were formed, is music to this single mother’s ears. Not one of us had an easy life. Nothing was handed to us. I knew they had to be strong in all areas to face the world. I am thankful that I could not afford to give them everything they wanted, but taught them to work for what they desired. Do your children a favor and do not give them all that you missed out when you were growing up. As they grow, they will see what you were doing and call you blessed.

Impatient?

The world is proud of being impatient and boldly brags about it. While the believer is stumbling over toys left out, the baby is crying and needs to be fed, the dinner is burnt, the dog has chewed up one of the legs of the table and your sweet cat has played with the toilet paper all over the bathroom! How do you respond? Can you see how God’s spirit is working in your life to produce more fruit? Use what God has given to you, the eyes of your heart to discern what is going on. You are in the middle of being a giant fruit producer!  Always remember, there are those who are going through much worse things. Stop, and ask God for help in the faith He has given to you. Believe it! Stand upon it!

Not enough empathy?

Take the time to think what it would be like to be in another’s shoes. Think about those nations whose leaders have tortured and killed Christians for their faith. Think about those who are still blind and cannot see or hear the truth. Think about those who are being raised in abusive conditions. Those who have lost a son or daughter on the street, with drugs, disease or in war.  Some of us have so much empathy that it drips over the glass. There are times when all you can do is pray for them.

Not loving enough?

We circle right back around to His love. Jesus said in verses 9-11

“As the Father loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

 We are somewhat like the roses that we grow and need continued pruning and purging. No, it is not always fun or an easy life, but isn’t it worth being obedient and having His total and complete joy in our hearts knowing we are in His will?

When we are pruned, our faith is tested. Our Father begins to remove what needs to be gone and replaces it with His love.

As Christians our walk is a PROCESS. There are no shortcuts. The living hope that He has given us through His grace is our lifeline.  We learn by every single word that we read, study and through the experiences we walk through. Only our Father can process our need for pruning or purging singly, customized and little by little, molding and remolding us into the likeness of His son’s image as we go.

Are we listening to Him teach us as we go through the pruning?

Can we hear Him say, “Love one another” as we read those red letters?

Our Father God does not waste anything.  If we do not learn it, some other experience will come along to teach us what He desires for us to learn.  He is in the business of transformations.

He requires us to abide in Him and love Him through our obedience from our hearts. When we do, His joy is coupled within our hearts and we are fulfilled. Through every pruning or purging we become just a little bit more toughened in His love and restrengthened.  Then, we are called His friends. We now know that we have been appointed and chosen by our Father to bear good fruit. If we are bearing the good fruit of unselfish love, the world will see and know we are His.

Our walk will forever be about God’s love.

Think about it: We are a branch! A branch that must stay connected to the vine for us to live and produce fruit.  We are dependent upon Him and in need of His help, this is why we call upon Him to bring us through the pruning we receive. Perhaps this is one reason why Paul said, pray over everything.  A branch upon the vine can do nothing without the vine! We get everything from Jesus. And our Heavenly Father sees that it is done.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for being our teacher, drawing us closer through Your Son’s words. Thank You for Your love, and for drawing us closer and teaching us how to love through Your Son’s obedience. Thank You for revealing your thick dividing line here on earth between the world, flesh and the devil. Thank You for revealing this connection. Forgive us for not loving in the way You have shown to us. Take over our hearts, our minds, our souls and our flesh to resist anything that would displease You. We choose to build upon Your love and trust in You and have our joy complete in You. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

 

For those who have not yet accepted Jesus as your Savior, pray:

Heavenly Father,

I ask that you would forgive my sinful heart. [name your sins]_____. I repent Father.  I ask that You take over my life and purpose to be all that I can be in You. Re-arrange my life to put you first above all and teach me Your ways. Open my eyes that I would read of the greatness of Your mercies and grace. Fil up my heart with Your love and lead me in Your path and Your ways instead of mine. Guide me and direct me through the tough times and never leave me. In Jesus name I ask, amen.

If you have prayed this prayer from your heart, the Bible says that you have been born – again. Find a good Bible believing church, buy a good Bible and join a study group. They will pray with you when you go through pruning. Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. Welcome into the family of God!