💥 God leads HIS children with mercy and in a perfect way

 

Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ

 

Psalm 18:30  As for God, His way is perfect: the Word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler (a shield) to all those that trust in Him.

This morning it was on my mind that the ways of GOD are perfect. When God gives us a plan, a way to go, it will be perfect in every aspect and full of mercy because God loves us. Thinking about all of this reminded me of a couple of things that happened many years ago.

My husband came home from work one day saying that he had been asked to work on a project in Germany for 18 months, and families could go too.

After he told me all of this, the only thing I could say was that I wouldn't be able to go with him because of my mother being in a nursing home with dementia and other medical problems and I couldn't be that far away from her for that long. He was disappointed but understood and we talked about me making trips over there to visit from time to time. I was working full time but felt that something could be worked out with my employer so this could happen.

I knew I would miss him a lot and started turning to God asking Him to please help me with this feeling and prepare me for this. 

 

This went on for a little while until one day God spoke the following to me, in the form of a thought ... Since you didn't ask to go I am going to show you how to work things out so you can go.

Then God told me how it could be worked out so I could go, and I simply followed His instructions on what to do and every family member involved was helped in some way. 

 

My son had been working out of the country for a while. He and his then wife had recently returned to the US and were living with his wife's family until they could get settled with jobs and find a place to live. 

 

God's plan was for me to have them come and live at our house. That way they could keep an eye on the house for us while we were gone which my husband and I liked and they would have a larger place to live and more privacy than at the in-laws house. They loved the idea. Plus our dogs knew both of them and would be very happy to be able to stay in "their" home with people they were already familiar with.

The situation with my mother was going to be well taken care of.  Drew, as her grandson, could talk to the doctor if a medical problem came up and call me, if necessary. Maria, my daughter-in-law, I knew could keep an eye on my mother's day-to-day physical needs and talk to the nursing staff, if she had any concerns, just like I used to do. Maria had a strong protective streak in her and it made me smile when I thought about how she would deal with this situation. I knew my mother would be in competent hands with the two of them.

I also realized my husband would be greatly helped by my being there because of the long hours he would be working, for help with meals, laundry, shopping, etc. Plus the companionship too was important to him and me and the chance to travel around Europe together once his work schedule allowed him to do this.

He was so happy when I told him that I could go. I told him how God had worked it out for us, and everybody loved it and was blessed in some way by it.

It still makes me smile even now when I think about what God did in this situation.  It was a perfect solution because God was the author of it and I was able to go with my husband in peace and with gratitude to God for His kindness both to me and to all involved.

Second way God showed me mercy ... I had been in Germany for a while when I got word from my son that my mother was dying and, according to her doctor, had just a very short time to live.

I believed I needed to return home and be with her in her final days. I can't remember what I prayed during this time and was actually dreading going back because I knew I would just be sitting by her bedside watching her die.

I made an airline reservation to return to Houston where we lived and was preparing to leave. But the day before I was to leave I developed a physical problem and had to delay my flight by one day.

When I landed in Houston my son and daughter-in-law were there to meet me. I took one look at my daughter-in-law's face and knew that my mother was dead.

They told me she had died 12 hours before I got there.

It was a relief to hear this because I saw it as an act of kindness because I felt there was nothing, at that point, that I could have done except to sit there and watch her die. 

God's ways are perfect and merciful. Certainly I would rather have Him guiding my steps than me doing it. 

 

As children of God, we see this over and over as we commit ourselves to His loving and wise care. 

 

 

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💥 Podcast: Superstitions of men. Do we really live by these?

 

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on December 31, 2020)

 

When we are born of God and HIS Spirit lives in us we are very different from the way we were before God revealed Himself to us.  We no longer follow pagan ideas.  Now we have in us, through God, the Spirit of Truth.  We cannot live in lies. 

 

* Does the eating of black eyed peas on New Year's Day bring you "luck"?

 

* If you break a mirror do you really expect 7 years bad luck?

 

* If you get in the crowd of single women at a wedding to try to catch the bride's bouquet, do you really believe that will cause you to become the next bride?

 

* If you wear bananas on your head will your baseball team win?  (This is really one of my personal favorites.  I saw the Arkansas baseball fans do this at the College World's Series a few years ago.  But they lost the game.  At least they could eat the bananas, unless the bananas were plastic as some were.) 

 

We as Christians cannot live by worldly superstitions. 

 

Our "luck" (blessing) is from God, creator of heaven and earth who really has power. 

 

1 Timothy 4:7  But refuse profane (secular sayings) and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

 

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalms 91:1-2   He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in HIM will I trust.

 

 ***

 

2 Corinthians 4:6-7  For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

 

 ***

 

Isaiah 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

 

*** 

 

Matthew 6:6-8  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to the Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 145:8, 19  The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

 

19 HE will fulfill the desire of them that fear HIM: HE also will hear their cry, and will save them.

 

*** 

 

Psalm 146:3-9  Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 

4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: 

 

7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:

8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:

9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

 

 

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💥 Revelation 4 (Reading through the Bible)

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 

² And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. ³ And HE that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

⁴ And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

⁵ And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

⁶ And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

⁷ And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

⁸ And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

⁹ And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

¹⁰ The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

¹¹ Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for THOU hast created all things, and for THY pleasure they are and were created.

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💥 Podcast: We admonish one another showing them the way of God as we live on this earth

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on December 8, 2020) 

 

Romans 15:14  Paul says:  And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

admonish:  to warn one another and to show the way of God ... to reprimand, to drive a person to turn back to the way of God.

When we see a person going in the way of this world, contrary to the way of God, we tell that person of the way of God and we urge that person not to go in the way of this world, which causes destruction to themselves.

Multiple times, I've witnessed Pam Padgett trying to turn both men and women to the Bible.  She shows these people the scripture on the subject, giving them a chance to turn from the way they are about to go and conform themselves to the Word of God.

I do this both to the church people and to the worldly people, for why would I want either to be destroyed in the way they are going.

 

(When they repent and heed the scriptures they are saved from this world and its ways.)

We conform ourselves to the image of Christ when we follow The Word and we give them an opportunity to do the same thing as we "admonish" them.

 

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Deuteronomy 31:6   Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, HE it is that doth go with thee; HE will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

 

*** 

 

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask any thing according to HIS will, HE heareth us:

15 And if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIM.

 

*** 

 

Psalm 116:1-2  I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.

2 Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.

 

 ***

 

Acts 17:24-29  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us:

28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

 

*** 

Psalm 119:1-2  Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

 

2 Blessed are they that keep HIS testimonies, and that seek HIM with the whole heart.

 

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💥 Revelation 2-3 (Reading through the Bible)

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith HE that holdeth the seven stars in HIS right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

(Jesus walks in the midst of the church.)

² I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

³ And hast borne, and hast patience, and for MY name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

⁴ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

⁵ Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

⁶ But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

***

⁸ And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

⁹ I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

¹⁰ Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

¹¹ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

***

¹² And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith HE which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

¹³ I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast MY name, and hast not denied MY faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was MY faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

¹⁴ But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

¹⁵ So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

¹⁶ Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of MY mouth.

¹⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; 

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

***

¹⁸ And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath HIS eyes like unto a flame of fire, and HIS feet are like fine brass;

¹⁹ I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

²⁰ Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
²¹ And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
²² Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
²³ And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am HE which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

(God will reward us whether it be for good or bad.)

²⁴ But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
²⁵ But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

²⁶ And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: ²⁷ And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

²⁸ And I will give him the morning star.

²⁹ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.


Revelation 3

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith HE that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; 

I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

³ Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. 

If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

⁴ Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

(Even as bad as it is in that church group there can be some who will be with Jesus.)

⁵ He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before MY Father, and before his angels.

⁶ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

***

⁷ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; 

These things saith HE that is holy, HE that is true, HE that hath the key of David, HE that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

⁸ I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept MY word, and hast not denied MY name.

⁹ Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

¹⁰ Because thou hast kept the word of MY patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

¹¹ Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

¹² Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of MY God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of MY God, and the name of the city of MY God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from MY God: and I will write upon him MY new name.

¹³ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.


***


¹⁴ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of MY mouth.

¹⁷ Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

¹⁸ I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear MY voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with ME.

²¹ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with ME in MY throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with MY Father in HIS throne.

²² He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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💥 Podcast: For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (I Cor. 4:7)

 

 

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on November 30, 2020)

 

It is God who created each of us as HE wills.  One differs from another as we fulfill the will of God and our purpose on this present earth.

And we function as one body when we belong to God and have the Spirit of God.

 

Paul tells us to stay in the place where we are called by God.

 

Make your calling and election sure.

 

We are God's workmanship, created by God to do HIS will.

But some fill their lives by trying to copy other people instead of being created by God.  And Jude calls them "mockers".  

Jude 17-20  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  How that they told you there should be mockers  (imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith ...

As the body of Christ we have different purposes, different functions in the body.

Know what you are!  Serve in those gifts given you by God.

 

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalm 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 

 ***

 

John 6:28-29  Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

 

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him (the Word) whom He hath sent.

 

 ***

 

Nehemiah 8:8-11  (The people of Israel had been returned from captivity in Babylon. They had rebuilt the wall surrounding Jerusalem. While they were there, a census was taken. The people were of one accord and requested a reading of the book of the law of Moses.)

8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

 
11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

(Comments from Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ:   Our joy comes as we think and ponder on what God has done for us. 

There is a peace also in the security that He loves us because He has performed that which helps us. 

We know that He gives us good things for our benefit. It helps us to rest and trust in Him ...... it is our strength.)

 

*** 

 

Romans 15:4-5   For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

 

 ***

 

Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward HIS name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

 

 

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💥 Revelation 1 (Reading through the Bible)

 

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto HIM, to shew unto HIS servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John:

 

(2 Peter 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.)

 

(JB ... shortly come to pass ... ? I think this had to happen first ... Iran attacks Israel with missiles (10-1-2024)  Luke 21:20-22 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 

 

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

 

It has begun.)

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Revelation 1 

² Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

³ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

⁴ John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne;
⁵ And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. 

Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶ And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

⁷ Behold, HE cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see HIM, and they also which pierced HIM: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of HIM. Even so, Amen.

⁸ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

⁹ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

¹¹ Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

¹² And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

¹³ And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

¹⁴   HIS head and HIS hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and HIS eyes were as a flame of fire;

¹⁵ And HIS feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and HIS voice as the sound of many waters.

¹⁶ And HE had in HIS right hand seven stars: and out of HIS mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and HIS countenance was as the sun shineth in HIS strength.

(Great power!)

¹⁷ And when I saw HIM, I fell at HIS feet as dead. And HE laid HIS right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

¹⁸ I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

¹⁹ Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in MY right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. 

The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

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💥 That which is important

 

Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ

 

John 1: 1- 4 

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made.

4 In HIM was life; and the life was the light of men.

The Word that we are given from the Holy Spirit guides us in ALL things pertaining to our life on earth. By following this Word, we have life, the life HE gives us. 

 

This Word illuminates our way to travel through any rough waters and challenges that may be ahead. In this way He lights our way and gives us eternal life.

The Holy Spirit guides me everyday ..... from finding items around the house, making purchases, determining which road to take to a destination, and what to wear. I talk to God all day and He helps me all day. 

 

I know several women who ask me if I need them to give me moral support and encouragement. I reply that I depend on God for this. If they want to be with me to help pass the time, that would be fine. Of course, kind words are always nice to hear but not needed. 

 

If I find myself becoming irritated, I pray.  If I see someone in trouble, I pray. 

 

When I see a deer with horns, I ask God to protect him through hunting season unless the hunting human needs food. We currently have about 40 deer in our yard each evening. Some of our neighbors have commented that we have a "deer farm". We just do not allow hunting by anyone but our family. Our family has not hunted here for about 10 years. It seems that the deer know where they are safe. My husband likes to sit on our porch to watch them in the evening.

Then I see those in the world that do not know HIM ... how they suffer ...... how lost they are ....... how they think they are wise ....... how angry they are ...... and I ask how I was chosen and they weren't .... I am impressed with "My (God's) will be done". I have done nothing to deserve this gift. 

 

Right now my sister is dying of cancer while I have been healed. As I watch her suffer I struggle with this and ask Him to help me through. I do not know if she is born again but I call her and speak that which is in my heart. I love her. She was my best friend for many years. Her tumors are so large that she is forced to buy a larger clothes size and yet, she has no pain. The last time I spoke with her, she said, "You should see me without clothes, I look like the concentration camp prisoners with all of my bones showing and a big stomach." I ask Him to help her and give her HIS spirit. I ask her to turn to HIM. She prays for HIS will to be done and is at peace with her situation. 

 

Being human and dealing with our flesh and emotions is sometimes so difficult. If God wants us to live, we will live and if God wants us to die, we will die. We will be on this earth the time and place that HE appoints. 

 

(Acts 17:26 And (God) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;)

 

Death is not the worst thing to happen to us. The worst thing to happen to us is to not be born again, to not know HIM and to be damned to hell.

My heart is so full of love and appreciation that I have been given the amazing gift of the Spirit to give me life .... this life that is the light of men.  Living or dying is irrelevant ... only the Spirit is relevant. 

 

 

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💥 Podcast: Deuteronomy 28: Blessings of God valid for NT church today

 

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on December 6, 2020)

 

Here are some of the blessings and promises of God that are valid for today's NT church:

 

Deuteronomy 28

 

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all HIS commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and HE shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto Himself, as HE hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in HIS ways.

10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.

11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

12 The LORD shall open unto thee HIS good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

And there are many more blessings of God valid from OT for today's church.

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Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in HIS law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

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Isaiah 54:17

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of ME, saith the LORD.

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Joshua 1

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

***

And there are many other OT promises valid today for those who love the Word of God and believe that which God says and lives by those Words in his life on this present earth.

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Matthew 26:41 (Jesus says) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 

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Romans 8:35-39   Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For THY sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through HIM that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 

*** 

 

Ephesians 5:18-21  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

 

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Hebrews 4:9-11 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

 

10 For he that is entered into HIS rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from HIS. 

 

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

 

 ***

 

Isaiah 57:1  The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

 

 

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