Archive | September 2020

The Language of Heaven

Sep30

Recently, I have been not spending as much time on Facebook as I used to. Not because I don’t like it. I do. It’s cool to see what people are up to.

But lately I’ve been constraining myself to posts from my closest family and friends, and a few pages of culled information from those I trust. I have a couple of group pages that I really enjoy. But scrolling, just for scrolling, I’m afraid I’m out.

There is a huge reason why this is so. Allow me to explain. If you have read many of my posts at all, you know how very non confrontational I am. The introvert in me was not immediately bothered by a worldwide quarantine.

However, the differing opinions on how to handle it, people making their dissenting views known in the most obnoxious of ways, and the cancellation of life in general, for months, when the original deal was to be maybe a month. No one knows for sure, but instead of discussing the issues, battle lines have been drawn, and then, are continuously being moved!

Add to that, the current political climate, oy vey! Politics, especially at election time, brings out the worst in people. “Battle lines being drawn, nobody’s right, if every bodies wrong.”

And finally, even with some of those that are near and dear to me, a conversation cannot be had without hurt feelings, and alas, name calling, and unceremonious un-friending.

I’ve truthfully been trying to hear every side of every story. I know that this rubs against the grain in most people. It’s tough to listen when you believe in something different.

In so doing, you may or may not learn from a different view point. At the very least, you’ll be able to see why they think what they do.

We’re all so different. It has been a difficult time. I still love those whom I love. I cannot however immerse myself in the negatives day after day, hour after hour, without becoming cynical, and highly unhappy with my own self.

I believe that our negative thoughts can be transformed. I believe it because many of my own thoughts have been transformed – and I cannot go back.

If you are still reading this far in, then I trust I’ve hit a chord. Following are some thoughts on transformation. These quotes have given me new perspective on my thinking, and on how to renew it.

As stated earlier, it HAS been a difficult time, but step by step, promise by promise, line by line, I am FULLY at peace. After all that hard work on my inner self, it is my duty, to not back slide, or lapse into old negative thinking. (An old mentor of mine called it “Stinkin’ Thinkin”)

I’ve also included a link to a teaching that I heard several years ago, if you want to dig a little deeper.

All following quotes by Graham Cooke

  • If the problem is that big, think how big the promise is. Every problem comes with a promise, and a provision.
  • Your circumstances are not the problem. Your PERCEPTION of the circumstances is the problem.
  • Stop crying out for rescue. Cry out instead for majesty, God’s supremacy, and sovereignty.
  • We need the mindset of the spirit. Life and peace.
  • As He is, so are we in this world. Romans 12:2 (ESV) tells us; Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Negativity should not be our language if we are followers of Christ. We can exchange all of our negatives for the positives found in Him. Gifts of the Spirit they are called.

They can be found in Galatians 5:18-23. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, (rage culture) rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. (We are witnessing so much of this at this time!) I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

If you would like the entire teaching, you can follow this link

⇾The Language of Heaven – Graham Cooke⇽ (April 2014)

Please comment here, or message me if you have questions, or would like to further discuss this topic.

And you. You whom I love. If you’ve read this far, know that I miss you.

Until next time …

What We Know For Sure

Sep28

Whatever we see with our eyes.

Whatever we hear with our ears.

Whatever prattle we have going on in our minds that comes from our every day lives, there is one thing that we can be sure of.

He knows us.

ICB
Morning, noon and night I am troubled and upset. But he will listen to me.

He hears us.

GW
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky displays what his hands have made.

He created us.

CEV
The heavens announce, “The Lord brings justice!” Everyone sees God’s glory.

And HIS justice will be seen in all the earth.

Know this.

Remember this.

Let it melt away your fear.

Until next time …

Fearless Friday – The Father’s Voice

Sep25

Some of the comments from this weeks Bible study had to do with listening to the Father’s voice. The study was in Deuteronomy chapter 5. This is where the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness.

I’m positive that there was much fear floating around. Fear as to what they would eat, what they would wear, how far until they arrived at their destination.

It was in this chapter that Moses received the 10 commandments and relayed them too the Israelites. The part that interested me the most, was the part following the commandments being given.

Here is the reading from verses 22-31. Note all the times that God spoke –

22 “These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire, of the cloud and of the thick gloom, with a great voice, and He added no more. He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

23 And when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. 24 You said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives. 25 Now then why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer, then we will die. 26 For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go near and hear all that the Lord our God says; then speak to us all that the Lord our God speaks to you, and we will hear and do it.’

28 “The Lord heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever! 30 Go, say to them, “Return to your tents.” 31 But as for you, stand here by Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I give them to possess.’

I can only imagine that there in that setting, the people must have been quite afraid. In those days, God did not yet live inside them, but His presence was always around them.

In the New Testament days, God moved into our hearts, and we can hear His via the Holy Spirit. In our day, we can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.

We can hear it, if we believe. We can hear it if we are calm enough to listen. We can hear it when we have invited Him in.

I believe that God is always speaking. I also believe that we are not always listening.

I think that we that we are waiting to hear His voice “in a whirlwind”, (Job 38:1 ESV Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said) when in fact, most of the time, it is just that “still small voice”. (John 10:27 (ESV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.)

In the following video, you can visibly, and audibly see, and hear the effect of a fathers voice on the one who belongs to him.

If you belong to God (You do, but you need to recognize that fact) His voice will be able to calm your every nerve.

Psalm 46:10B (ESV) “Be still, and know that I am God.

In this day in our age, I need my nerves calmed. How about you?

Until next time …