Psalm of the Week - 8:1 - December 28, 2015

Verse of the Week - Philippians 2:5-8 - December 28, 2015

Jesus – A Piece of the Relationship Pie

For years, the amount of time that I spent with Jesus was a very small part of my life.  

Honestly, on Monday through Saturday, Jesus had about ten percent of my time.  In contrast, I gave Jesus about half of my day on Sunday.  The pie chart above represents this weekly relationship "pie."

I am not saying I did not have a relationship with Jesus.  

I did and do have a relationship with Jesus Christ.  I AM saying that my relationship with Jesus consisted of slices of time because I didn't know enough about the New Testament teachings to understand my relationship with Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.                                                                                  Romans 10:9-10 NIV

Truthfully, I was looking for a way to connect the Bible with my daily life.  

My question was, "How do I take this biblical information and use it in my daily life?"  In fact, I asked this exact question one Sunday morning during my Sunday school class.

A long pause followed the question, while all of the women in the Sunday school class stared at me as if I had suddenly turned into an alien from another planet.

Had I done something wrong?  

It felt like I had, but the question was sincere.  However, not one woman tried to answer my question and the class resumed with our weekly lesson as if I had never asked my question.  Maybe I had phrased the question poorly, or no one understood exactly what I was asking.

In my quest to understand how to use the Bible in my daily life,I visited a Christian bookstore and bought a Discipleship Study Bible with life helps in the back of the Bible.  At last, I felt as if I might have a way to learn how to implement biblical information into my daily life.

My time spent with Jesus began to grow.  

About 20% of my average day became using the new Discipleship Bible and reading the different sections of the life helps.  The new knowledge began to help me see how the different books of the Bible fit together like pieces in a puzzle.

Slowly, I began to see how I could put the Bible information into action in my daily life.  My personal relationship with Jesus was deepening as my Bible knowledge continued to grow.  However, I still divided my relationship with Jesus into slices of time.

In the meantime, I took a college night class entitled, "The Teachings of Paul."  The college professor was also a pastor who truly wanted the class to connect with the Apostle Paul and to see the context of Paul's life in the New Testament.

A weekly class assignment was to find a current news story and pair it with verses from Paul's writings.  Students had to explain how and why the chosen verses were applicable to the news story.

Hallelujah!  I learned a method to apply the scripture to my daily life, in a practical manner that I understood.  The Lord sent me a teacher!  Woohoo!

Now fast forward to an afternoon in February 2009, a video about the Holy Spirit is playing and a woman is leading a group prayer for the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  Head bowed, I am silently praying with her.  Suddenly, tears began flowing from my eyes as I find myself reliving my baptism

. 

With crystal clarity, I recall and feel all of the emotions - the joy, and the sense of completeness I experience the moment I sink beneath the baptistery water.

  

Moments later, my face emerges back into the air; a reborn child of God entering the world.

Yes, I am a daughter of the King!

The moment I came up out of the baptistery waters in 1994, I was a daughter of God.  What I had not understood during my actual baptism was the fact that I had the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of me.  

That understanding came to me during the recollection of my baptism. I became a holy child of Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit from the inside out!  I belong to Jesus.  I am a coheir of the kingdom!  What a revelation I received from participating in that video prayer!

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”  So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.                                Galatians 4:6-7 NIV

The revelation that Jesus loves me from the inside out has forever changed my life.  I loved Jesus for years without understanding that I had the Holy Spirit living inside me.  I am in awe that Jesus loves me from the inside out!  He knows EVERYTHING about me and STILL loves me unconditionally!

and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"  They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

                                                                                                                            Acts 19:2 NIV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.                                                                                                                                John 14:16-17 NIV

Do you want to know how to use the information in the Bible in your daily life?  The answer is simply this, "Jesus lives inside you.  The Holy Spirit dwells in you to give you guidance from the moment you give Jesus your life.  This is God's plan to reconcile you to Him."

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.                                                                                     1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.                                                               Acts 15:8 NIV

In conclusion, Jesus no longer gets slices of my time.  He gets all of my time because I truly understand that I belong to Him.  The Holy Spirit dwells inside me to guide and help me understand the teachings in the Bible.  I understand my relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  

On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.                                                                                               John 14:20 NIV

Prayer for Receiving the Holy Spirit from the book, The Holy Spirit by Andrew Wommack

"Father, I recognize my need for Your power to live this new life. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. By faith, I receive it right now! Thank You for baptizing me. Holy Spirit, You are welcome in my life!"  I am so grateful You gave me this wonderful gift. Please help me to walk in all of its benefits! Amen

I

Psalm of the Week - 98:4-6 - December 21, 2015

Celebrate the birth of Jesus this week! 

A baby was born in Bethlehem who was to change the world. Rejoice that the Lord loved us so much that he sent his son, as man and God, to live among us for a short while. A living God and eternal life are the joy and reward for all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Celebrate Christ as King! 

Verse of the Week - Hebrews 1:1-2 - December 21, 2015

In the Sunday School play I narrated, one phrase repeatedly drew my attention,"When heaven touched earth...".

When heaven touched earth, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. His birth fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Redeemer, the Lamb, the Prince of Peace, and Heir of all Things. 

Jesus continues to be the link that keeps heaven touching earth. Amen? 

Christmas 2015 Poem

Verse of the Week - Galatians 4:6-7 - December 14, 2015

Christmas 2015 started before Thanksgiving this year. I have to admit, I did buy a few Christmas items in October. However, I was on a Christmas party committee that kept me focused on the true spirit of Christmas, Jesus Christ.

Jesus' sacrifice and ascension into heaven occurred so that you and I could become heirs of God through Christ. In return, Christians were given a holy spirit that dwells inside of us. 
Happily, we have the Spirit of Jesus with us all year - not just in December at Christmas. 

Pastor and bible commentator Matthew Henry wrote about the advantages of being heirs through Christ and having the Spirit of Jesus with us in his bible commentary:

The great and invaluable advantages which Christians enjoy under the gospel
1. We receive the adoption of sons

•  It is the great privilege which believers have through Christ that they are adopted children of the God of heaven. 
• We who by nature are children of wrath and disobedience have become by grace children of love. 

2. We receive the Spirit of adoption. 

• All who have the privilege of adoption have the Spirit of adoption-all who are received into the number partake of the nature of the children of God; for he will have all his children to resemble him. 
• The Spirit of adoption is always the Spirit of prayer, and it is our duty in prayer to God as a Father. Christ has taught us to pray to God as our Father in heaven. 
• If we are his sons, then his heirs. It is not so among men, with whom the eldest son is heir; but all God’s children are heirs. Those who have the nature of sons shall have the inheritance of sons.

Knowing that I am an adopted heir of God through Jesus Christ fills me with joy - capital J-O-Y. The Spirit of Jesus helps me to resemble him more and more as a child of love, not wrath. How marvelous is that? 

Psalm of the Week - 148:11-13 - December 14, 2015

As Christmas 2015 approaches, let's not forget to praise God for sending Jesus to us.The angelic host appeared to proclaim God's glory to the shepherds. Our Father God loves to hear his sons and daughters praising him. As you listen to the song below, praise God for everything he is above the earth and heaven. 

Safe By God's Grace and Jesus Christ

It is completely dark as I drive down the highway. 

Ahead, on the road shoulder, two flashing lights catch my attention. It's some type of delivery truck with the flashing hazard lights on. Without warning, the light of my low beam headlights reveals a large, brown shape lying in the center of my lane. 

My brain screams, "DEER!" 

My eyes search for oncoming traffic. None. The car literally seems to jump sideways even though I am not aware of having turned the steering wheel. I feel the right front tire graze something. At the same time, the car slips sideways slightly. However, lightning-fast reflexes turn the steering wheel slightly to the right. The car's front end swings right and the back end stops sliding. 

Now, I am heading south, BUT I am in the northbound lane. My hand seems to be moving independently and steers the car back into the southbound lane as I take a deep breath. Suddenly, I am aware that I have been holding my breath. Shakily, I let out the oxygen-depleted air and take a deep breath to calm my frantically beating heart. Safe.

Then, I realized that I was still holding my phone in my right hand. 

Yes, the entire incident happened in a split second, AND I was holding my phone in my right hand the whole time. Why?

I had wanted to call my husband and tell him I was on my way home. Normally, I call him while the car is still parked. Tonight, I forgot until I was on the road. I hadn't wanted to stop on the road shoulder in the dark to call. However, I am not writing this to tell you about my poor choice. 

I am writing this to praise God and Jesus for protecting me from a potential disaster. 

Thank you, Jesus, from the bottom of my heart for keeping me safe. You kept a crowd from stoning an adulterous woman. Thank you for keeping me safe from the consequence of my action just as you did for her. 

Thank you, Jesus, for giving me a wise counselor who can tell my reflexes what to do instantaneously, without thought on my part. 

Jesus, you calmed a storm, walked on water, fed 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread and fish, and turned water into wine. Miracles are your business. Thank you for intervening in my life and for keeping me safe.  

Thank you, Father God,  for arranging the timing so that no one else was involved in this incident. I know you have a plan for my life, just as you had a plan for Jesus' life. 

Thank you Jesus for being faithful to God's will. I will continue to be faithful to his will and to your will. My life is yours, to do with as you will. I am your grateful servant. 

Verse of the Week - Galatians 4:4-5 - December 6, 2015

 "That we — Whether Jews or Gentiles, who believe; might receive the adoption of sons — Might stand related to God, not only as his people, ...but also as his sons and daughters;...favoured with his special guidance, protection, and care; might have continual liberty of access to him...might have all our wants...supplied by him here, and might be constituted joint heirs with his beloved Son of the heavenly inheritance hereafter."                                                                                          Benson Commentary

Isn't this verse amazing? God sent Jesus to redeem us, that we could be adopted as sons and daughters of God. How do you feel about that? 

I find it amazing that God loves his people enough to come up with a plan that includes sending his son to Earth to be born as an ordinary baby. A baby that grew into a man who knew he was going to die on a cross. 

Psalm of the Week - 148:1-3 - December 6, 2015

Psalm of the Week - 105:5 - November 22, 2015

Remember his marvelous works and his wonders. The Old Testament is full of marvelous works and wonders. 

He gave words of judgment to his prophets, who then performed marvelous works and wonders in God's name. 

Read your bible and remember what God has done for his people. Refuel your faith. Read about the many marvelous works and wonders that are recorded in the bible. 

Happy Thanksgiving! SalleeB

Verse of the Week - Mark 11:25 - November 22, 2015

As you make your way through this week of Thanksgiving gatherings, Black Friday shopping, and holiday traffic, remember to forgive others so that God will forgive you. Let go of resentments caused by family and strangers. 

Family gatherings can be VERY stressful. Are you still carrying around a resentment or two against your parents, or sibling? This would be the perfect time to forgive them. Don't carry a smouldering resentment into your Thanksgiving dinner because it may burst into a full blaze if the object of your resentment irritates you. Pray that they will reap a harvest of blessings and forgive them. Forgiveness will give you an internal serenity that comes from God. He forgives and we must forgive. 

Black Friday shopping. Where do I start? Jammed parking lots, long lines, rude encounters, and a myriad of other issues can cause resentment to start bubbling up inside. Stop resentment in its tracks with prayer and forgiveness. Say these words," There, but for the grace of God, go I." or better yet, pray the Serenity Prayer.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

Do not be a road rage Christian - practice patience and tolerance towards strangers who are driving a vehicle. You cannot change how those drivers are driving. I know how tempting it is to voice an opinion about someone's driving, especially when it looks like they are two inches away from the rear of your car. Pray for them. Ask the Lord to intervene for you. Resentment and anger will do nothing except cause you to separate yourself from your faith. 

Forgiveness will bring serenity, peace, and a closer relationship with God. Let Thanksgiving weekend be a time of forgiveness. Enter into the holiday season with rejoicing because you are a child of God and have received forgiveness.  

                         Have a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving! SalleeB 

Verse of the Week - Mark 11:24 - November 15, 2015

Disciple's Prayer Life

A couple of years ago, I participated in a bible study entitled, Disciple's Prayer Life - Walking in Fellowship with God by T.W. Hunt and Catherine Walker. Week 1 of the study listed four reasons why God answers prayer:

1. The prayer acknowledges God.
2. The prayer is supported by the intercession of Jesus through his priesthood.
3. The prayer is supported by the intercession of the Holy Spirit.
4. The prayer comes from one who is related to God and Christ.

Jesus was instructing his disciples in Mark 11. 

Therefore, this biblical promise is supported by the intercession of Jesus through his priesthood. Additionally, as a child of God and heir to the kingdom (Romans 8:17), we are related to God and Christ. Plus, we were given the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us. (Acts 15:8)

In conclusion, God will answer our prayers based on the principles above IF it is in his time and plan for us.

Psalm of the Week -105:3-4 - November 15, 2015

Glory

God

Lord of all

Over all creation

Reveling in his holy name

Yahweh is good all the time

Rejoice

Revel in his love

Enjoy his protection and care

Joy leaps in the hearts of those who praise him

Overwhelming happiness to belong to him

Infinite mercy for those who seek him

Calling on his strength 

Elohei Ma'uzzi - God of my strength

Seek

Strength is freely given to seekers by

Elohei Tehillati, God of my praise and

Elohei Mikkarov, my God who is near and dear

Keeping my face focused toward Him who lives inside me. 

Verse of the Week - 1 Samuel 12:23 - 8 November 2015

The History of Samuel
Samuel was the spiritual leader of Israel and God's prophet for years. When the people decided they wanted a king, he reluctantly presented the desire of the people to God. 

God was the king of Israel, but the tribes of Israel had made up their minds that an earthly king and government was needed to protect them against foreign kings. 

Wow, I am amazed at the small amount of faith that the tribesmen had in the God who delivered them from Egypt, the king of Moab, and the Philistines. However, God went ahead and gave them what they wanted, an earthly king.  Samuel obediently anointed Saul as the king of Israel.

Samuel represented God to the people and he was a righteous man. Samuel told his people in his farewell speech (1 Samuel 12) that he would not sin against the Lord by not praying for them. In fact, he said he would teach them the good and right way.Therefore, he continued to do his best for the people, even when they rejected the kingship of God, and demanded an earthly king. 

Psalm of the Week - 34:11 - November 8, 2015

Fear of the Lord does not mean "I am afraid" fear, but reverential awe. 
I had these two meanings for fear confused inside my head for a long time. During my childhood, I was well acquainted with "I am scared to death" fear. Maybe this is why I missed the fact that God loves me and when bible verses say to "fear the Lord" it means to stand in awe of God. 

Standing in Awe of God
During a motorcycle trip through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I experienced how it feels to stand in awe of God. The incident happened in a scenic view pull off where I was the only visitor. 

After shutting my Harley off, I just sat there and looked at the sunlit, silent, blue-purple mountains that surrounded me. Clusters of pink azalea blossoms were scattered haphazardly down the mountain sides. Gradually I became aware of the absolute stillness that surrounded me. The only sound to be heard was the metallic popping of the cooling exhaust pipes on my bike  A deep feeling of sheer awe at the indescribable beauty and majestic stillness of the untouched mountains infused my whole being. 

"Thank-you God for creating such beauty!" was out of my mouth, spoken aloud, before I even knew I was going to say it. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I was overcome with reverence and awe at the magnificent beauty that our heavenly father creates.

My Country Tis of Thee
The second verse of the hymn, "My Country Tis of Thee" expresses some of what I felt that day while I sat on my motorcycle and absorbed the scenic impact of the Smoky Mountains:

"I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills

Like that above."   

Satan the Deceiver
Do not let Satan convince you that God the Father, the Creator of All, is scary; or that you should be afraid of God. Biblical fear mean reverence of Him, reverence for all He has created, and awe at the sheer gloriousness that He cared to create you. 

Psalm of the Week -105:1 - November 1, 2015

Psalm 105:1 is an action verse. The psalmist lists three actions to take: 

1. give thanks to the LORD

2. pray
3. tell others what he has done.

Why give thanks to the God? Saying thank-you keeps me grateful. Self-centeredness separates me from God. Gratefulness removes self-centeredness.

Praying is conversing with God. Jesus often went off by himself to pray. If Jesus did it, I am doing it. 

Giving God credit for what he has done in my life is another way to remove self-centeredness. Giving thanks keeps me humble. I am not taking credit for providing my needs and wants. I am giving God credit for providing them. By telling others how God is working in my life, I have the opportunity to share my faith with another person. 

Verse of the Week - 1 Timothy 2:1 - November 1, 2014

"The disciples of Christ must be praying people; all, without distinction of nation, sect, rank, or party."
                                                                                                                          Matthew Henry

"The pattern that we find in the Early Church is that They Prayed and Prayed Often! And it’s time for the Church to have a New Emphasis. Its time for us to enter into the Spirit of Corporate Prayer, to rediscover the Prayer-Meeting. Just as individuals are to pray, we are to pray as a church body."

Norris Harris I

Houston Baptist University

What does exhort, supplications, and intercessions mean? 
Exhort = strongly encourage, or urge
Supplications = the action of asking or begging for something earnestly, or humbly
Intercessions = the action of saying a prayer on behalf of another person

Paul was strongly encouraging Timothy to take action - prayer action. Timothy was to actively and earnestly pray on the behalf of other people. Then, he was to give thanks to God. This is the example that I am trying to follow.

Why give thanks? When I say thank you to Jesus for his sacrifice, I am reminding myself of how much he loves me. God sent his only begotten son to die on a cross for me before I was even born. A humbling thought. I imagine that Timothy felt the same way. 

Giving thanks also keeps me grateful for the many blessings I have in my life. 

Believing and Receiving

Fourth Month Ultrasound
 Ashley, my daughter, went to her routine ultrasound appointment. This was her first baby and she was excited to find out if the baby was a boy, or a girl. 

After arriving for her appointment, the technician at the imaging lab showed her into the changing room and she undressed. 5 minutes into the ultrasound, the technician told her she had to step out and get the doctor. 

Ash Knew Something Wasn't Right
In absolute silence, the doctor looked at the images, as the equally silent tech moved the instrument across Ash's lower abdomen. Ten minutes later, Ashley was dressed and escorted to a private room in which her ob-gyn doctor was sitting. 

Your Baby Has Spina Bifida
Quietly, Ash was told that the ultrasound had shown the typical complications that occur in a baby with spina bifida -  clubbed feet, excess fluid in the brain, open spine in the lower back. Stunned at the news, she almost missed the doctor telling her she was having a boy. Ash walked out of the hospital, across the parking lot to her car, sat down in her car, and called me. 

During Later Appointments
Doctors told us the worst case scenario- mental retardation, no bowel or bladder control, seizures, very little fine motor skills, and no feeling from the waist down. If he walked, it wouldn't be until he was four. 

Bill and I refused to accept the diagnosis and told Ashley that the baby was going to be fine. We could tell she wanted to believe us, but the doctors kept bombarding her with their expert, medical opinions.  

Matthew 18:19-20 AKJVAgain I say to you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middle of them.

My husband and I are prayer warriors who believe God's promises. 
We met the news with prayer. Our church family, Christian Motorcyclists Association family, and extended circle of acquaintances kept our daughter, our grandson, and the medical staff who cared for Ashton, on their prayer lists.

Matthew 21:21-22 

And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen."And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

Yes, there have been surgeries, braces, and therapy.
BUT every nurse and doctor are amazed at how swiftly Ashton heals. In spite of brain surgery to install a VP shunt and reconstructive surgery to his lower back, Ashton was out of the neonatal intensive care unit in five days. At fourteen days old, he was released from the hospital to go home with his mom. 

God gave us a miracle. Bill and I praise Jesus at every opportunity for the healing that he granted Ashton.

Ashton's healing continues to appear. 
At birth, Ashton had no reaction to stroking, poking, or prodding from his feet to his hips. Now, he has feeling from his hips to right above the knees. At two years old, his little feet are straight and the night braces are no longer necessary. This has happened a full year before it was supposed to happen.

Again, God gave us a miracle. Thank-you Jesus for the speed at which our grandson continues to heal. 

Today, our grandson is an active toddler who speaks in 3-4 word sentences, stands unaided, uses a tiny walker to walk, and is starting to use a toilet like a big boy. 

Bill and I have no doubt that Ashton will continue to heal because we believed we would receive what we asked for - a healing. Ashton is healed. Every day, every month, we are giving praise and glory to God for the proof that he has healed Ashton.

And whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 

1 John 3:22 AKJV

Too Busy to Write, But Still Staying in The Word.

Happily, my new position at work is beginning to feel like I might know what I am doing. Been there? Also, this is my off week from breakfast duty; more time to prepare for the day and upcoming week is appreciated.  

Additionally, I am leading a four week, bible study at church. Since I am the leader, I feel obligated to do massive amounts of study. Did I mention I am an overachiever? Yep, once a commitment is made, my focus becomes laser beam narrow. 

Did I forget to mention that I teach the 5th/6th grade Sunday school class too? And,I am a member of the Christmas committee in our Christian Motorcyclists Association chapter? And, getting ready for the Sunday School Christmas play?

Sadly,writing has been taking a back seat to these other pursuits. I know, you are wondering why I don't say no, aren't you?

 Also, I find myself spending too many hours on Facebook, Amazon, Ebay, and other websites. Anyone else having this problem?

 TV viewing has also taken over a significant chunk of every morning and evening. Prioritizing my time is a task that must be done soon. No more procrastinating.

However, studying in the word and staying in touch with Jesus through prayer/meditation time is a priority. Studying for Sunday lessons and bible study is part of my time commitment. Spiritual growth has been the reward for the many hours I have given over to reading the Bible, preparing for Bible lessons, and private prayer time. 

In conclusion, it is time to get back on my writing schedule. Giving up some Internet surfing and TV viewing will be necessary, but do I really need to watch two hours of cooking shows back to back? No, probably not. 

Psalm of the Week - 143:10 - October 19, 2015

I am confident that God will teach me his will through my pastor's words, the Bible's words, and the leading of the Holy Spirit. The more I pray, read my Bible, and listen to my pastor's sermons - the farther I journey into the land of uprightness. The path is narrow and I occasionally stumble, but the Lord is alway with me on this journey.God wants the best for me because I am a child of God. 

Verse of the Week - Romans 8:28 - October 19, 2015

I love God. I know that all things work together for good because I love God. He called me to be an evangelist and a teacher of the Bible. When bad things happen, it isn't God. It is Satan trying to stop God's plan for me. However, I know that God will bring good out of every situation. 

SalleeB is Sick and Not Posting this week

I am recuperating from a respiratory illness and will not be posting this week. Prayers for my recovery would be welcome.