Jonah in the belly of the fish, Jesus in the tomb, manna He provides

I love a word fitly spoken (proverbs 25:11) and this morning I was studying in Jonah and loved how timely it was that The Lord landed me to study about the 3 days Jonah spent in the belly of the great fish and how He compared His three days to that same sign that happened to Jonah. Yet more interestingly it was God that provided the large fish to swallow him. I've read and read and different commentators disagree but since it's in the scripts, and Jesus references it, ill take it to the spiritual bank. I had not planned on looking up the Hebrew word for "provided" but as it stared me in the face I saw "manah" and it hit me in a personal way. God rained down manna for the Israelites to eat and they had to go out and gather it in proportion to their need. In the same way, He has given us everything we need for life and godliness through His word as followers of Christ but we have to get up and gather that daily bread. The manna of His word and the bread of His presence. I talk to so many people who have very real issues or are stuck in a stronghold of sin but they don't want to do the work it takes to be free (we didn't get into a lot of dysfunction overnight and while He can deliver us in an instant, it usually takes time and relationship with the Lord through His word) The Lord has performed major heart surgeries on me and He never once called in an anesthesiologist because He is not after behavioral modification but after heart transformation. It's not so much about our healing as it is about knowing and believing our Healer. He died so we might live and live life more abundantly. I beg you if you are stuck that you will taste freedom and follow hard after Jesus. I'm proof that His word works. It works for you and it works for me but it scares me so much over how many people will just settle for what it cheap and live in a land of slavery when God has a place for you that even in suffering, bears much fruit...will you and I keep returning to our vomit or land of slavery? Or will we let the chains fall where they may and allow Him to bring beauty from the ashes? A garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair? Once you taste and see that He is good there will never be satisfaction in what is temporary or a substitute. I'm speaking of the God of the bible not the one being pedaled by so many. He can resurrect the dead in you and in your life. I know.

"Children are to be seen and not heard" an awful statement that raised a couple of generations of people that learned to stuff their feelings down

I would love to slap the ever loving crap out of whoever coined the phrase: "children are to be seen and not heard!" That had to originate from the devil himself. Maybe that's a reason that people with that ideology think it's ok to terminate an unborn baby...they can't speak for themselves. I also wonder if people who had parents that felt that way toward them made them feel like they never could express their feelings whether they were good or bad? Then, these people became adults and maybe married someone who treats them the same because that's what they were used to. Maybe they feel like they are never really heard and can't have healthy conflict because their feelings are never treated as valid so they stuff things down until they explode. Jesus calls us to seek peace and pursue it. It doesn't mean we "keep the peace" but that we make peace. Keeping the peace can turn to walking on eggshells as to not set the other person off. That's not peace. Peace is not the absence of conflict. Pursuing peace may mean taking some risks to break the cycle of catering to a selfish person who doesn't allow your relationship fertile soil to grow. You may have to pull some stuff up by the root and address the seriousness of your estate which isn't without a price or pain. You may have to rock the boat to have that peace. I love when the disciples and others were rebuking Children from coming to Jesus as if they were less important and Jesus straightened that junk out quick and told them to let the little children come to Him and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. If you grew up in the environment I'm speaking of and find yourself still in that...remember Jesus will hear you and He cares about how you are treated and were treated but own up to your part of the vicious cycle since you can't change anyone else and pour out your heart to Him and let God make the rough places smooth and get off the whole walking on eggshells. That's not freedom. That's called suffocation. It may mean for some a break in relationship or tougher boundaries but whoever you are please know that if you call out to the God of the Universe, the One who spoke and the world came to be, the One who has always been and never had a beginning, the One who made a way for you and me to be right with Him through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus...He stoops down from on high and He hears and He listens and He gives you dignity. We deserve nothing from Him and He is so gracious to us. He is the BIG deal and He gets you. You don't have to explain your back story to Him. He is there in your yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He not only wants you to be seen as you shine for Him...He wants you to be heard. He will perfect that which concerns you and me. May we have the faith of a little child!

Fear of The Lord that keeps us from sin

I was reading and thinking of the inflection that must have been in Paul's voice in the following passage. With a media saturated culture and churches that compromise the word of God for fear of losing money, we have become so desensitized to sexual sin. With shows like Jerry Springer and magazines that glorify sex and sexual immortality, we don't mourn over it, we make sport at it. I challenge those who are believers to turn off any movies that have unrealistic romance stories or even a hint of immorality, put down any books that would appeal to the lust of your flesh, set up filters on your Internet for protection, do not set your eyes on any vile thing, flee from immorality: it is your way of escape! Detox yourself. Draw a dad-gum line in the sand! Your eyes are a lamp unto your soul! Only let the good in and hate what is evil. It is the pure in heart who shall see God. If you aren't serious about protecting yourself you are bowing to this in some way. What if our churches in the West actually did church discipline like the bible says? That would put the fear in us alright...the fear of God that keeps us from sin. But it won't happen because it would separate the wheat from the chaff and cutdown on building funds and attendance. I don't know how extreme you need to be but cut off anything that is causing you to be entangled in sin. Once your lust is turned up you don't make clear decisions. No one makes you sin and sadly so many aren't serious about living for Christ. Eternity is at stake here. If there is no fruit of Christ in your life and you are just a self proclaimed sex addict then 1) you aren't a believer 2) Jesus isn't going to deliver someone who doesn't cry out for deliverance. He is not powerless to save but many don't want to get well and have accepted defeat. It's work to be free from past sin and esp sexual sin. It takes work to re-wallpaper your mind and allow God to change the desires of your heart. His word works and He changes. I am proof!!!
My reading for tonight. It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." (1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ESV)I also meant to add before anyone starts doubting their salvation: you have to follow Christ meaning be a learner of Him to know Him. Then to know Him is to love Him. To love Him should bring about obedience. The work of sanctification and becoming more like Christ doesn't happen over night. Until we lay these bodies down we will struggle with sin. Yet our position is that we are no longer slaves to sin. Sin should not have mastery over us. Where there are areas of long standing sin in your life and mine... They need the balm of His word. Start in the psalms if you need a place. Then go to the New Testament. I'm a huge Old Testament dweller also because everything that was written down in the Old Testament is to teach us. If you are struggling with salvation settle the matter. Commit yourself to Him and there is no magical prayer but accept that He is the way the truth and the Life and that He died on the cross to make you right with God and save you from the wrath of God by taking on Gods wrath because the law could never make you right with Him. It was only the sinless life of Christ and His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. Seek to know Him. He is not words on a page but LIFE! That doesn't mean you won't sin.

Upscale antique drop table- stained and turquoise

This is a table that is super OLD! It was in pretty bad shape and over all ugly and I'm not sure why I didn't redo it sooner. Anyway, it was two different colors and I had to make repairs to it and fix the joints that were coming apart. So, I sanded her down and I've wanted to keep the wood on the top so I stained it with dark mahogany from minwax then went over it with a satin polyurethane from minwax for protection. On the bottom I put candle wax on the areas that I wanted the wood to peek through on and then scraped off the parts with wax with Morgans spreader. Ha. I love it!

Cheese

My baby sister taught mister Biggs how to say cheeeeessssseeeee! That's what he was doing here. <3 him.

Redoing furniture

Blair's room. This is a dresser I redid. It matches his big boy bed so well!

Fear of man will prove to be a snare. Every time.

Snapshots of some of my thoughts from the word.

Baby girl

Morgs wanted me to post about her glasses and say nerd alert. Haha. Lub her. Then look at this cool chalkpaint. Love.

Fun with furniture, distressing, and adding some cool factor.

First I wheeled and dealed with this dresser. It was $300 and I got it down to $75. I normally wouldn't pay that but I had a purpose for it. So I needed something for my music (we love to get our praise on and to hide CDs and wii stuff in the kitchen. So, I couldn't find my beta blocker for my mitral valve and pulled an all nighter. I decided I was going to change out the knobs and then didn't like the red ones. Then ah ha "while you were sleeping" as I say I thought I will modge podge this cool stuff on here in the center. If I like it who cares who else does? So I put a layer under and started sticking my papers in no particular order. Then I went over it with the modge podge gloss. Now a trick I always use to paint (always) is a foam brush. If I can't do something ghetto and quick then I won't do it. So I broke out my foam brushes and went to work with the cabinets, sides, and top. I then mixed some antique stuff (Martha Stewart from micheals) with my paint and did another coat. I let it dry and ran over it with steel wool pads. Then I did the top modge podge and applied a generous coat of triple thick. I adore it and if it gets messed up...who cares? And it has so much cool factor and character in person.

That's a tunic not a dress tutorial

http://youtu.be/Y_rMfuLItk8
http://youtu.be/i13lpJS0G0s
http://youtu.be/58VNzfsInVQ
http://youtu.be/hpsnDlqkDYA

That's a tunic not a dress memo part 1

http://youtu.be/4c_M1W_pAX8

A little bit of this and that

Pictures and pictures

Christ Alone

"It is easy for me to worship in the summer sunshine when the melodies of life are in the air and the fruits of life are on the tree. But let the song of the bird cease and the fruit of the tree fall, and will my heart still go on to sing?...[Then]I know at last that I desire not the gift but the Giver. When I can stand in His house by night I have accepted Him for Himself alone." George Matheson Anyone who has ever experienced any kind of suffering in life will completely understand what this man is saying. George Matheson is new to me as I heard Pastor Erwin Lutzer preach this past week and he brought him up and told of how he was blind and his sisters read to him and he memorized everything. He memorized the scriptures, his sermons, and the thing is that he was not completely blind until he was 20 years old. He finished his education and was called into the ministry, yet he came to a place where he had to pull away for a bit as he grappled with things and came back when he could operate from authenticity. I respect that. God already knows our hearts and I've heard some people say it is wrong to question certain things and I disagree. God is about relationship as scandalous as that is and He is greater than our hearts and He knows and sees everything. So, not two days after listening to that sermon (I made a mental note to look at George Matheson's bio but didn't) I opened my devotional and there was the above quote by this same man. I love the Lord for hearing my voice and I love how alive and active He is in our lives as we seek Him. When we seek Him, we will find Him, when we seek Him with all of our hearts. "My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God."

Revolting: Why I told my child the truth about Santa

I am revolting and pulling the plug on Santa and not because we are believers and I want to be the fun sucker.  Yet, to me Christmas is about the birth of my Saviour and while I will still give my kids gifts im going to walk to the beat of a different drummer because it alarms me at what I see just in our nation, there is such a pervasive victim mentality and sense of entitlement.  I'm not saying it's because of Santa either. It's just that we are running ourselves in the ground to spend what we have so our kids will have the latest everything and setting them up for a lifetime of disappointment as God is clearly not a pie in the sky Santa Claus.  I've seen so many "try Jesus out" for a few weeks or months and not only are they not willing to do the work required to get out of the hole they may have dug for themselves...they want Jesus to wave a magic wand and lickity split all their problems just go away.  Well that's not how it's gone with me.  The Great Physician never called in an anesthesiologist for any amount of heart surgery He's performed on me. I was awake and had to commit and cooperate to being free in Him. There are things I let go of but He had to pry my hands off of them and change my heart and mind as I memorized scripture and got on my face in prayer and worship but it took major cooperation with my Savior.  He is about relationship and I came to know Him as more than enough.  The I AM in my life.  The things I used to cling to that were lies...defined me so much so that I thought id die without them and yet God healed me by killing those very things that were indeed keeping me in sins slavery and killing me slowly.  I was reading Jen Hatmakers blog and it really does make me want to vomit over how much time, energy, and resources we are spending to play Santa and I've never lied to her about him but I'm so sick of it being all about that and not Jesus.  I don't care what anyone thinks of me as I will not teach her that God is a killjoy by any means. however we sponsor 2 kids that are EXTREMELY poor and it is costly each month, that live in the Sudan, then another child in India through Compassion international, and As Our Own to help against child trafficking and slavery.  She has grown up knowing and learning about how poverty stricken these kids are and how so many don't have food to eat, parents,  or like our kids in the Sudan...some fall to their death from sleeping in trees or have been dragged away by dogs or hyenas and killed....does God love her more than these? No.  Yet this goes on and while people would argue about my giving I would back it up with Isaiah 58.  God calls us to care about the poor and oppressed and poverty and etc is not whether or not you have a north face or the latest Wii whatever. I'm joining the revolt to make Christmas about our obsession with Christ and not some man behind the curtain so to speak on the road to Oz.  Also, how many of us want to protect our children from ever feeling the slightest bit different? Yet, I can tell you with a huge family it was not possible to spend lavishly on Christmas (with 7 people) and yet so much of our worth as kids was tied up in what all we got when we came back to school.  I remember one year even lying about my presents as a kid because I felt that tug to fit in.   I would peruse the toys r us catalog and circle and dream.  Yet guess what...I didn't get everything I wanted and yet in all the ways I've suffered in life (not talking about Santa here) those very things have driven me closer to Christ.  So what I'm saying is that I feel like we work so hard to  be accepted and for our kids to be excepted and the finished product seems that we are raising a generation of spoiled brats and feeding the narcissistic beast of self, self, self!  I've realized more and more as I've agonized and prayed that it really is about the inside of a person and installing what matters.  I never "fit in" and felt ugly and less than...but I'm telling you it created a longing in me for Jesus.  So in hindsight, I'm thankful my parents didn't give me every thing and go in debt to do it.  What are we teaching our kids when we try so hard to climb a worldly ladder of success to fit in and be accepted? There are many days where I'm like ok Lord no one likes me.  And I remember how His own chosen people missed the Messiah because He did not come as they expected but as a lowly servant, from a working family.  I'm not comparing myself I'm just saying that to follow Christ will mean my allegiance to Him not my allegiance to consumerism or keeping up with the Joneses.  I've even tried to step back over certain hurts that hurt me because they've hurt my child but trust that the same One who has ordered my steps is ordering hers and she may not understand at times why she wasn't friends with so and so at the time...but she may look back and go wow Lord, Your ways are perfect.  I look back and thank Him for not only saving me from myself but also others and how I may have gone down some really bad paths had xyz not occurred in my life.  We truly are raising up some lightweights and I'm over here trying to correct some mistakes I've made w Morgan and not do the same with Blair.  I have hardly bought the poor guy any toys...why? Because I way outdid it with Morgan and then she would be playing with the pots and pans.  Yet this since of entitlement started welling up in her because she was being conditioned in that way and it was my fault.  I've had to cease buying her anything unless it's clothing, books, and now stuff when it's her bday or Christmas.  What would she ever learn about hard work, the way I did, if everything is handed to her regardless of what she does or doesn't do.  So it's not just the santa thing...it's me trying to buck the system of raising two more kids on this planet that think life is all about me, myself, and I.  And my kids are blessed and not wanton but what if our America collapsed tomorrow would we even be survivors? More than overcomers? I want it to be said of them that they know what it means to have plenty or be in want and to be content.  I know those extremes well.  All I'm saying is we feel so sorry for some kids because they don't have the latest and greatest and yet are their basic needs being met? So many around this world, their needs, basic needs are not being met and how many people in america are relying on the government to meet their needs without lifting a finger other than to get their nails done?  Our system is so abused these days.  Like the EBT card.  We don't want anyone to even be embarrassed about government assistance (which I know there is a need for but id venture to say 85% on government aid are abusing it. With no embarrassment at all we give some that maybe needed temporary assistance no reason to even blush about the misuse of our tax dollars.  It's called enabling the victim mentality and it motivates you to do nothing but play into the woe is me attitude that is so pervasive. Should we give to others? Yes! It's so scriptural...but in terms of all the angel trees please define need.  All I'm saying is that in the life of a believer we are running a race and we are to run so as to get the prize and not everyone will make it to the finish line and not everyone gets the prize.  There will always be the rich and the poor and pain and trial and sometimes yes not being the cool kid have been the catalyst for me to see my need for Jesus.  

What does it mean to guard your heart? A re-visit.

Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life. (Proverbs 4:23 NET) So for an entire week I was pretty much confined to a cabin in a little bitty town that you could blink and completely miss it. To the right of the cabin (please picture green shag carpet, the stale smell of an old persons house, furniture from 1960, a carpeted bathroom, bunkbeds for the two rooms. Nothing glamorous unless you are a guy. To rod it's the taj mahal...to me well, it's a place to rest my head as long as I lay something down first for fear of mites or worse. It's not exactly the place I want to spend an entire week at for vacation. Rod could live on an island as long as he could hunt. Me, I'm a deeply rooted people person)is a main highway so going out to play with my 1 year old is not really up for grabs. Yet it never fails that when I go I have some extended time to focus on the Lord through His word and to read and read. For the nerd like me that's a real good thing. Instead of the saying "my cup overflows" for me it would be my "books overfloweth!". Try as I may to keep my night stand free of commentaries and books without fail each room in my house ends up with a pile of books. I was pondering (doesn't that sound scholarly? Like of course you ponder...in the middle of nowhere! Haha) how much time we spend on things that don't matter a hill of beans this side of heaven? How much time spent in front of a television medicating some sort of desire and trying to meet that desire in a deformed way? I'm not expecting that many people read this blog but let me go ahead and clear this up: I'm not saying at all that all forms of media or entertainment are bad or that you should only read your bible in your spare time. I know some would try to turn it into that. Yet when it all comes down to it if you take Gods word seriously...would what you watch, what you look at on the Internet, what you listen to? Do those choices edify you at all? Can those things stand up to verses in scripture? Are the things true? Go with me here for a second...let's look at a secular song and I could do it with a Christian song as well...how many songs are there where a guy is singing about how he would die for you, give his life for you, in fact he's even going to die if he doesn't have you? The cynic in me will talk back to the radio and say, dude I know some girl wrote this song! Unless you have an extremely unhealthy obsessed relationship that suffocates your will to live...I've dated a lot of people and you may start out like that in euphoria or lust...but it sure doesn't end that way. One of you will likely feel suffocated when the new wears off and need to go drink from another well. If you don't pursue an active walk with Christ and you fold to the idolatry of things, people, or hobbies, you will forever be seeking from a different well altogether but one in the same becaus how it runs dry ever so quickly. I've encountered a lot of situations and had a ton of people confide in me and I cringe when someone has no biblical grounds to leave a marriage yet they are not happy anymore. Their spouse failed to be what Jesus should be to them and the other person didn't make them "feel" passion anymore. Or the person that thinks that if only they could move, then their problems would all disappear. That's where I want to insert: hello!!!! You are packing your junk and moving to a different house. Same people, same baggage, same problems at a different address!!!!!! Until we get to the root of our issues and deal with them head on baggage will continue to be a magnet attracting the opposite with equal amounts of more baggage and changes in circumstances or spouses will not solve the real needs of your soul. No one can validate you enough, applaud you enough, show you enough affection or adoration. So back to my litmus test of scripture. When we are allowing all of these things in our minds and hearts, say what you want about how you are the exception to the rule but you are deceiving yourself...when we allow those things Gods word is abundantly clear that your eyes, my eyes, they are a lamp unto our soul. If the light we let in is good then our hearts and minds will reflect that goodness. But if the so called light we think we have is dark...indeed there will be darkness. That's what happens though...if you don't guard your heart and mind you slowly compromise and become desensitized. Your heart becomes hard and calloused. You lose some spiritual nerve endings so to speak. The lines between black and white get blurred. It's a huge deal because I can run through channels, or the Internet, or the radio and tell you that as far as the mainstream goes most of the things we are letting in are not true, they are certainly not worthy of respect. Ok push pause again. We as individuals have little respect for ourselves. I can remember trying to teach my brother and sister about how our bodies are a temple of the Lord. How we are honored in His sight and precious to the Lord and how Christ calls us to be Holy because He is holy. The word there if I'm not mistaken (I'm in the car without my lexical aides) is the same word in Greek to be consecrated. To be set a part. There needs to be a difference in you and someone that doesn't know Jesus. In the New Testament we are encouraged over and over (or admonished) to walk in the light. To put off the deeds of darkness, to rid ourselves of how we used to live before we came to Christ...our former ways that brought nothing good and only shame. We also are told to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God. I once heard a teacher say that the problem with living sacrifices is that we can get back up. It's the truth that's why we have to make some choices, draw some lines, and drive some stakes in the ground. Clearly, the new believers in the first century were struggling with those things or it wouldn't have been penned and God doesn't waste words. The same word to them is the same word to us. To guard our hearts we are going to have to allow the Lord to have His way and pull up some weeds that are overtaking our garden, clouding our thoughts, and turning up the heat for our flesh that will only get hotter and brighter and end the end consume you. Without intentional pouring the water of His word on the flames...that baby isn't dying out and if your choices dont line up, you are stoking the fire to your own flames. I can promise you one thing: you are going to get burned. I know from experience that anytime I've departed and not been obedient I took a hard fieldtrip and learned and an proclaim that He was right all along and He is for me. When you and I live in rebellion to Gods word it is the picture in James of us setting ourselves in opposition to God. We are literally like a wrestling match according to the Greek, arranging ourselves as an opponent in opposition to God. It scares me to think of it. God can not lie and while He is merciful, He is true to His word and what a man sews that will He also reap. Sew to the spirit equalling life and peace, or to the flesh equalling death and destruction. How about some life and peace!!! Pour me a tall glass of that! And here is where the rubber meets the road. When you continue to go headlong taking ways that are not firm...listen you are storing up wrath. I would encourage anyone who has an ear to REPENT! TURN! FORSAKE! FLEE! Run for your ever loving life! The thing is that once something has a stronghold on us and the enemy is ever accusing us, it makes it real hard to choose life and make good decisions because sadly some of been like the Pharisees that I mention in my previous post. They disqualify anyone who falls. So many that have caved to the fleshly desires feel that disqualification. And so many stand ready to cast stones, or worse keep you bound. Anyone who has truly walked with God for a length of time would know how capable they are of becoming ensnared and how as psalm 130 states and I'll paraphrase, that if You O LORD kept a record of sins who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness." Man may never forgive you for some of the things you have done. They may say, "hey Jenny, you made your bed so lie in it!" that's what the devil wants you to believe. That's what will set you free though is throwing yourself in the word of God. The last thing you need to do is put the bible down. As the late D.L. Moody once said, "this book (the bible) will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book." So I exhort any brother or sister in Christ to GET!BACK!UP! Pitch a tent in the scriptures. I'd say live in Psalms and Proverbs for a mighty long while. 1)because as nature abhors a vacuum and we were created to be filled...you can't just turn away from long standing sin without turning TO something and for freedom that's going to mean the daily choice to get in the word and let it transform you. Apart from Christ we can do nothing and if we are willing to radically forsake things that are destroying us oh and the people around us since our sin affects every member of the Body as we can't walk in darkness and operate in our callings and yall when you are operating as you should and fulfilling what God has put you here to do...there is a supernatural joy that comes from it. It's a paradox but I know it to be true! No one learns more than I do when I'm studying and teaching. I can remember lessons in my head that the Lord imprinted on me so to speak and I doubt one other person remembers it like I do because it was what God was working in me. However, we are robbing God and the Body of Christ when we are wigging out in sin. It is pleasurable for a season, promises much, and takes you places you NEVER intended to go. So again back to my banner, with the Lord is FULL redemption! Say it outloud! FULL REDEMPTION! Not in part but FULL...the whole thing...redemption. I get sick of people treating others like they should go home because they are disqualified. I'm puking in my mouth thinking about it. Like the woman caught in the act of adultery. Or the "sinful woman" when Jesus told them that He who was without sin to cast the first stone. None of them were without guilt. None could stone her because He blew the top off when He stated that to look and lust after another was the same as adultery. Clearly sin is equal in that it requires judgment yet not all sin has the same consequences. Yet not one of us is any better than the next but that doesn't give any of us a free pass to dismiss holding others accountable. Now that's a soapbox I hould save for another time. What's sad is that the enemy is so good at shaming us once we have fallen that we begin to believe the lies. Who are we to hold someone accountable when we did such and such? That is a weak link where people are falling like flies. You had a choice to sin and it's my understanding that the Lord is all wise and all knowing. He can't learn anything. Can't do it! Impossible. So, when He cried out: "It is finished" on the cross...guess what! It's finished. He bore our sins on a tree. Past, present, and future. Please don't take the seriousness out of what I'm saying and no we are not to use our liberty in Christ as a license to sin. So ok the apostle Peter (quick tangent: many believe he was the first pope and most Roman Catholics believe that the Pope is infallible...have they studied their original predecessor is what I'm curious about?)walked with the Lord of glory. He was an unschooled, ordinary man, and was taught by THE RABBI. The Rabboni healed the sick, raised the dead, taught him how to be a fisher of men, he knocked the socks off of Peter so to speak. Or the sandals as Peter covered himself in the dusty roads where Christ walked. He went from town to town and was privy to an intimacy which wasn't possible for others as the Holy Spirit had not yet come. Peter denied Christ. Flat out, straight up, said he didn't even know Him. Jesus who? Then, on that Friday, on a hill, He gives up His spirit, He was forsaken. And the temple curtain was torn into. The earth broke open, the sky turned black, and on the third day...He GOT UP! Born to serve and suffer, by His stripes we received life and healing from the unredeemed fallen state we live in. Instead of having to go somewhere to worship and inquire of the Lord...we gained access unto the Holy of Holies. No more sacrificial system...He was the Lamb Slain before the foundation of the world, and He calls you and me to offer ourselves as living sacrifice as our spiritual act of worship. Few of us understand the force or weight of that and what a privilege and honor it is to be a bondslave "doulos" of Christ. One who commits herself freely to be His slave and NEVER go free. All of that's to say, it doesn't mean there aren't consequences but He knew every day of your life before one came to be. If like in the end of the book of John, He reinstates Peter...then He will do the same for you if you humble yourself and cry out for mercy. If you are like me, you praise God for leaving that in His word. Peter sinned grievously and hung his head in shame. He went back to his old job (shame) of being a fisherman. He picked the nets up that He had probably dropped 3 years prior and went back to business as usual. I love Jesus because He stated before Peter's denial that he would deny Him 3 times, before the rooster crowed. He stated it to the T people. Y'all then, after telling him that Satan asked permission to sift Peter like wheat and said that He had prayed for him. Jesus prayed for him. He then told him that when he turned back (there was a turning away in the denial)to strengthen the brethren. I pray someone has read this far: He asked Peter three times on the shore, after His resurrection, whether Peter loved Him. You can't see it in English translations but He used different words for love and He pointedly lifts His head, as He is the lifter of our heads...and I'm sure looked him square in the eyes (the Lord gives us dignity). Eye contact is so important to me and usually people who won't look you in the eyes have a shame thing going. So He is all His mercy doesn't cast Peter away. Peter wasn't done yet. Peter would go to his departure being crucified upside down as to not dare feel worthy enough to be crucified in the same manner as Christ. As a side note crucifixion was considered so awful that people were not even to speak of it as it was an atrocity and a curse. Jesus was humiliated that we might have dignity. He took that for us. We can't even imagine. So sister or brother get on your face, grieve, mourn, and let your tears be the mustard seeds that you sew and when you get up off the ground from praying...pick up your bible and seek Him. It's the only ticket I know to true freedom. My battery is dying on my phone and I'm so not finished. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 NET) Proverbs 4:23 AMP Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. NIV 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Do you remember the old song by Reba McIntyre and Vince Gill "The Heart Won't Lie"? Well, most of us know that is a lie. Our hearts are deceitful above all things. The things we say and do are definitely a reflection of what is in our hearts. Proverbs 22:15 says this "15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him." Bottom line folly is bound up in each of our hearts from the time we were born. If you read the preceding verses that lead into verse 23 you will see the importance that God's word must have in our hearts if we are going to live victoriously and be sure footed. God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19) if He says something in His word He means it and He will prove right always. I was reading in Jeremiah 5:3 this morning about how God struck Israel yet they felt no pain; He crushed them, but the refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent (I am paraphrasing). We can be bent on rebellion or we can set our face like flint determined to do the will of our Father (Isa 50:7 NLT). We can start choosing to believe Him and take Him at His word and live in obedience to Him. What does it mean for me to guard my heart? The word guard is the word Nasar meaning "to guard, protect, keep, obey; to observe, behold, watch, inspect. Used to denote guarding a vinyard..., a fig tree..., and a fortress. Those who performed this function were called watchmen...In an ethical sense one can guard his mouth (Ps 141:3; Pr 13:3), his path in life (Pr 16:17), his heart (Pr 4:23), His lips (Ps 141:3), and his tongue (Ps 34:13)...Israel was likened to a vineyard and the Lord served as her keeper (Job 7:20). (Key Word Study Lexical Aids) I would say part of guarding your heart means confession of your sins, examination of your heart, and a careful inspection of what you let in and out of your heart and mind. What you watch, where you go, who your friends are, what you listen to, what you set your affections on, and choosing obedience not based on feeling but on truth. Weeding out roots of bitterness, unforgiveness, disobedience, lust, immorality, gossip, and so many other things that seek to ensnare your heart. Knowing the truth is what will set us free from the deceitfulness of our own hearts. Heart is the word leb here meaning "the center, the middle of something... Leb however, is more commonly used for the center of man's inner or immaterial nature...In the bible the whole spectrum of human emotions is attributed to the heart...Leb is used to signify the mind (2 Ch 9:23), good sense (Pr 10:8), and discernment (2 Ki 5:26). Wisdom and understanding reside in the heart (1 Ki 3:12, Pr 16:23). The heart can be deceived (Isa 44:20) and is the point of origin of moral evil (Jer 17:9). It is the seat of the will (Nu 16:28; Jdg 9:3; 2 Ch 12:14). To refuse to make the proper decision is to harden the heart..." (Key Word Study Lexical Aids) So we are to guard the core of our being...the center of our emotions and our inner or immaterial nature. We do this by paying attention to His instruction (vs 20-22) that is what will keep our hearts with all diligence...the attention and application to Gods word. Here is what The Bible Knowledge Commentary says: " The heart should be guarded for out of it ( a wellspring) come one's actions (cf. Luke 6:45). Here the word "heart" means more than mental capacity; it also encompasses one's values (cf Matt. 6:21)." "These verses apply the command to guard one's heart (v. 23), including what one says (v. 24), sees (v. 25), and does (vv. 26-27). So I plead with you cry out to the Lord to make you wise in your heart. Ask Him to stand at the door of your heart with the truth of His word and guard that thing. Withhold nothing from Him. Further Reading: Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. Proverbs 16:20-22 (in Context) Proverbs 16 (Whole Chapter) Proverbs 16:23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Proverbs 16:22-24 (in Context) Proverbs 16 (Whole Chapter) Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. Proverbs 18:14-16 (in Context) Proverbs 18 (Whole Chapter) Proverbs 22:17 [ Sayings of the Wise ] Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, Proverbs 22:16-18 (in Context) Proverbs 22 (Whole Chapter) Proverbs 23:15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; Proverbs 23:14-16 (in Context) Proverbs 23 (Whole Chapter) Proverbs 23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.

What is a Zealot? Part 2 of my cliff note version.

The Zealots  First let me start out with a definition and the way I can remember them is over zealous. Which reminds me the verse in Romans. We as believers need zeal coupled with knowledge and not just zeal! And speaking of Rome the zealouts bucked the authority of Romes control in palestine.  Try to think of that when you remember that our man the apostle Paul was a Pharisee before his conversion.  He had a zero tolerance for Christians as we see in the book of Acts.  Think though of his letter in romans about submission to governing authorities (romans 13) For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (Romans 10:2 ESV) Zealot  a. One who is zealous, especially excessively so. b. A fanatically committed person. 2. Zealot A member of a Jewish movement of the first century a.d. that fought against Roman rule in Palestine as incompatible with strict monotheism. Now push pause. Think of them as a bull in a china shop bent on revolting or destroying anything of a Roman thumbprint on Palestine. Out of the 3 groups it amazes me. You have 1) pharisees who were pious in a lot of good ways.  Yet they were so legalistic that they could never reach beyond their own sect. They prided themselves on works and the praise of man. Here's the thing...when you take grace and the gospel out of the picture you get rote form without function. It's what Jesus straight up called them to the pharisaical carpet on. They were worried about external appearances. They were worried about the outside of the cup being clean and the inside was full of filth. There is no transformation apart from Christ in us but no transformation when you have a bunch of head knowledge that doesn't ever make it past your head. Yet look at different denominations or people in general. How so many focus on what you have to do for God.  When who has ever given to God that He should repay them? Believing on Jesus is the only way we have justification. They were rebuked because on the outside they looked like white washed tombs but on the inside they were dry desolate bones. That's some strong language out of the mouth of God. Yet how many homes are there where men and women are worried so much about how things appear? They care more about what the outside represents then what's going on with the inside and there may be abuse, unfaithfulness, all manner of addictions, and etc going on under their roofs. It's so sad really. Jesus cut their false facades with a sword so to speak since He clearly is the Word made flesh.  Maybe their intentions were good at first but it sure didn't end well according to self righteousness. I love the picture the Lord paints of the Pharisee and the sinner. Because in his piety the pharisee goes on and on about how at least he isn't like this tax collector sinner as he recounts his tithes and good deeds. If we are counting on that it's a one way ticket to hell. So the sinner, stood at a distance and could not even look up. That represented contrition in the distance. Then, Jesus blows it out of the water when He says that the sinner went home justified. The very one that the Pharisees would disdain and remember they were deeply Jewish and religious and missed the Messiah (a lot of them anyway) yet the "sinner" received forgiveness and justification. Those who were far away, He came to bring near. He didn't come to call the righteous o repentance...but the sinner. So do you see a little of why He used that example as He appealed to self-righteousness with the Pharisee? It makes perfect sense. If you know these things it brings whole new meaning to the gospels. Jesus didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Man just messes junk up without God. The law and blood sacrifices in the Old Testament were pointing to our Savior and His words were for our good that we might have life and that in obedience things would go well with us. Instead they focused more on the do nots. The Lord could care less about us offering tithes and sacrifices and them not be from our love for Him, or us obeying Him out of love. When we are working and counting on our own righteousness unto salvation it puts us straight up under the law and on a set of weights and balances and we will surely be weighed on the scales and found wanting.  He would tell us to take our offerings and sacrifices and get them out of His face because they are a stench to Him. He doesn't need anything from us and yet He delights in our obedience to Him.  He makes so much of that so clear in Isaiah. Tithing is a matter of obedience and lordship. I am very serious about tithing and not just throwing some left overs in an offering plate. If I withhold what is already His anyway then without fail I'm bowing to the idol of greed. Whew!  It doesn't bode well. So do you find yourself anywhere in this picture? 2) The Sadducees were what we would call people with license to indulge and etc in their minds. When we compare ourselves to others it is foolishness. The whole "at least I'm not as bad as so and so"...well here these guys are and they are experiencing benefits. They aren't very threatening and are out of touch with their pedigree family status and their wealth and education. To me they would be more likely to really never get the big picture on what it means to put a stumbling block in front of others. For an example in our day...maybe they would be out with a group and have others around them that were weak in their faith. Maybe new converts and maybe some of the new believers very much know how they are involved in their church and that they are believers. So maybe a couple of them have just sworn off alcohol for the 1000th time and are looking for a good group of people to be around and they look up to them and see that hey they are partaking of alcohol in the name of "hey Jesus drank!" and they decide to go ahead and order a few too and then they spiral back into defeat with their addiction. It may not mean that the others are addicted at all but only that they were a stumbling block because they used their freedom in Christ and another one weak in faith tripped up. It's not wrong to drink alcohol even though I believe for me in total abstinence...it's just maybe that they should save their one or two glasses of wine for the privacy of their own home.  I don't want to get on a tangent here either but I can't tell you the people that throw up the "Jesus drank" thing in my face. He did and He indeed was without sin. However, there was a lot of modern features in that day but it is also clear that their water wasn't exactly on a filtration system and carried bacteria and of course we know that fermented alcohol is probably a tad better for killing bacteria then drinking water out of the nearest stream. Also, according to proverbs others were encouraged to take strong drink to one who was about to die. It was to lessen pain and etc. they couldn't call in hospice or get anxiety meds. Even when I think of Noah getting drunk as a skunk...I'm not saying it's right but merely trying to grapple with what in the world kind of post traumatic stuff you and I would go through if we'd spent ALL that time building a boat and then you know it wasn't all kumbya on the arc for all that time and with all of the animals. I mean I'd be in a panic just spending that much time in a global flood resting on top of the water. I sure wouldn't be all cheering on in the scene while every person and living thing besides what was on the boat died. I can't even imagine. And maybe the Lord was merciful but I'd be ordering up some Dramamine and air fresheners and poop scoops for those animals and a face mask or 100 to help me with the smells. I'm sure when they got off that boat it was some kind of traumatic. Everyone is gone but you and yours. I'd probably get drunk like Noah as well. Does that sound awful of me? 

My short cliff note version A Sadducee, and a zealot

Pharisees emphasized jewish tradition and practices that set them apart from pagan (Gentile...aka lost person)  culture. Their name meant "separated ones".  So interesting considering the word consecrated means to be set apart.  They prided themselves on strict adherence to every detail of the law. They were intolerant of people who were considered ritually unclean. They were pious and patriotic. They were respected leaders.  Think "fair"isees. NOT FAIR because our righteousness is as filthy rags and none of us are capable of being without sin. The law can never attain righteousness. Only the blood of Christ. So they were NOT FAIR to those who were pagans. Also a key difference between the FAIR isees and Sadducees (for teaching purposes to morgs I call them the SAD-U-C's like sad you see) was that the Pharisees were in STRICT adherence to the law which ultimately led to imposed burdens and rules that were man made. Think of holding liturgical values above the word of God. For example the church I grew up in held "the Book of Common Prayer" above the word of God. We didn't bring our bibles to church to even examine the scriptures. That's my experience. While the book of common prayer has some good stuff in it...it is not the living, breathing, word of God. So while the Pharisees dotted every I and crossed every T proverbially speaking the "Sad you sees" were Jews and liked the benefits of Roman rule. This reminds me of the people who were taken captive and deported to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar and when King Cyrus issued the decree that they could return back to their homeland (where they could worship under the Old Testament and not having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) many of them chose to stay in Babylon because of the comforts. Their captivity had been good to them. It's amazing how blind we are to the things that have been captivity to us and we prefer them over the Divine Presence of God.   So in my mind mixing in so much with culture that there is no defining Presence of God distinguishing us as believers will leave you SAD YOU SEE...from the compromise and over indulgence. They were aristocrats, wealthy, well educated, and from upper class families. Remember that the High Priest and lesser priests of the temple come from this group. Also, when we focus on man and look to a pope or priest and think they are any different from the rest as far as sin nature we will be SAD YOU SEE. No one is infallible and no one deserves our worship other that the Godhead. Respect people but don't bow to anyone but God. Look no further than the celestial encounters in the bible. The angels don't put up with the worship of man for a second. They tell anyone who falls before them almost vehemently to GET UP! DO NOT WORSHIP ME! Why? They get it. Look at the throne room scene where celestial beings do His bidding but have to cover their faces. They can't even look at Him.  One reason why I'm skeptical of any warm fuzzy I died and went to heaven and came back to tell you some stuff that God didn't see fit to put in His word stories.  Sadducees contd  They enjoyed Greco-Roman culture and as some are keenly aware of names were VERY important in the Word. Nehemiah-the Lord comforts -mary-bitter, Leah-weak eyes Immanuel God with us. El Roi- the God who sees. Jacob-deceiver Moses-drawn out you get the picture. They enjoyed the sophisticated life and were high falutin and even adopted Greek names. That reminds me so much of how the name change occurred (but not that they adopted it) in Daniel and their names were changed to give them pagan names and hopefully indoctrinate them to the point of indifference. That's the name of the enemies game.  To infiltrate your life so much so that there is no difference in the life of a believer. It's so subtle at first of course and down the slippery slope of compromise if you aren't determined to stand firm in your faith and guard yourself. Praise of man is so not worth the cost. They controlled the Jewish council (the Sanhedrin).  They were so high falutin that they lost any influence among common people. Does that ring a bell with any of the politicians of our day??  Oh and a BIG huge point I don't want anyone to miss. THEY WERE VERY MUCH A CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL GROUP!!! Please hang on to that when you think about the cross and why these different groups were so threatened by Jesus just as how so many in this world are completely intolerant of Judeo-Christianity. It's a big deal! 

Thanksgiving musings. Are we compromising truth? Is the gospel being proclaimed or are we as Christians growing tolerant from fear of man? Is it really loving to compromise truth? Fear of man will prove to be a snare.

Our need for biblical discernment as professing Christians is paramount (to say the least) in the day that we live in. If we don't have love we don't have anything but noise yet is it loving to agree with other professing Christians when it comes to straight up false teachers?  Nope. It truly alarms me that so many teachers that are watering down the gospel and distorting the gospel altogether are so widely accepted. All I'm saying is that Gods word to the believer needs to be the standard and litmus test in the life of the believer. So I'm going to attempt to say that while we all err in things and clearly and hopefully grow in our faith and our doctrine and theology hopefully line up with scripture...that we also need to be comparing what comes out of the mouths of pastors and teachers with the inspired word of God. debate is not a bad thing because it challenges ones thinking but in today's society we aren't dare to come out and stand on truth or we are seen as divisive or argumentative. It's sad that that's how Jewish rabbis spurred each other to think and now it's merely taken as "judging" and yet we are also told that we can judge a tree by its fruit so that whole cliche gets on my nerves. Yet there are some major deal breakers. Some major pillars of the faith that each Christian must believe in.  One of them is the Trinity. It's a BIG deal. T.D. Jakes for example holds to modalism.  Look it up. He does not hold to the 3 in 1 of the Trinity. Trinity is never mentioned in scripture but it's One God-triune-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Modalism however is completely unorthodox and holds that the roles of father, son, and Holy spirit are not One at the same time but different manifestations of those roles. Our minds are finite so that is straight up heresy. So why follow a heretics teaching (and to my knowledge he has not repented openly of that view)?  Joel osteen...he has denied Jesus as the only way and I heard it come out of his mouth. Is he a positive self help teacher? Yes! But dont call him a true shepherd of Gods people. Paula white and Joyce Meyer...they are women pastors (pastrix's) and anyone else. I have studied the language of the passage in 1 Timothy 2 ten different ways to Sunday and women were not educated like men (which I don't have time to even go into) we see Jesus gave dignity to women period. Mary set at His feet and that meant she was a learner a student of the rabbi. Men and women are equal...however eve was deceived first and while women can teach (I teach) they are not to shepherd a church so if I may be so bold...women can and have and will be greatly used by God but we are not to shepherd a church. It's just not even up for debate with me because one can take it up with God. Can they teach? Yes! Pastor...no! Not if the word of God is your basis. Also, it grieves me at how many only want positive happy and etc preaching. If you have cancer you need to doctor to do something radical and my friends we need the totality of Gods word and not just the good stuff because we have a sin problem and we need to be able to see it in the mirror of our own lives. So examine yourself. You can't examine yourself without the truth that penetrates and you can't change patterns of long standing sin without transformation that comes from fixing yourself on the word of God. You won't be free either just by focusing on the sin you must forsake. Know your weaknesses but fix your mind on Christ through His word. This isn't about meditating on fluffy clouds. The reason I write this is that a pastor that I have loved for 13 years now seems by all respects to have bought his own press. It has made me sick and I've prayed that certain allegations about him aren't true. I'm telling you it grieves me but at the same time my hope is in the God of the bible. Not a pastor and not other believers. If one falls...I'm not turning away or getting tripped up because while people are greatly used of God in our lives they are flesh and bone and capable of great error. So I challenge you to think for yourself. Don't just get everything spoon fed and don't sit under just one teacher either. That's cultic. It scares me to death over how many people are going to turn away on account of this pastor...because they will rest assured and it makes me ill. Yet where does our hope really rest? I'm asking anyone willing to read this far. You and I are without excuse. We can devote so much time to menial things and yet we trip up arguing over the king James version of the bible which was not the original translation FYI. Thank God on this thanksgiving that men and women died and were martyred so we could have His precious word. Let's let God be true and every man a liar. Please do not ask me who I'm talking about either because I will not for one second gloat over this man. Its just caused me so much needed examination. However, there is a difference in a true believer getting caught up or ensnared in sin and a straight up apostate that preaches a different gospel. The humble person will read what I'm saying and see how much I care and love truth or either stop up their ears because they don't care about the word being rightly divided. Also, guard yourself because we are sinners and are so capable of much destruction and so capable of causing others to stumble. Take heed you stand lest you fall. Be careful when you are told to guard your heart over who has the right to teach you truth. Compare everything to the scriptures. Let God be HUGE and man be small in our eyes. All idols will come tumbling down. God alone should be exalted. Never put man on a petastool because rest assured you will be disappointed.  Also, if a teachers teaching doesn't line up with scripture and they preach a different gospel the bible uses strong language that they be eternally accursed. So why the tolerance and the proverbial we are not to judge line? It's not biblical. It's not what the apostles and followers of Christ were martyred for.  And why the big deal for so many scoffers when it comes to Christianity?  Every other religion the M.O. Is tolerance except Christianity. In ignorance some will say its not true but study up on history in an unbiased way.  Christians have taken the heat more than any other religion and have been burned at the stake for truth! Why because our God threatens people's "religion" their pride, their power, their following, their political system. He is the very one who spoke and it came to be and just like Lucifer rebelled in heaven man still rebels and wants to innately be like the "Most High". People want to be God. And we live in the domain of the prince of this world and he seeks to destroy, defame, and devour. The reason I read the end of a story before I watch a movie or read a book is whether I want to waste my time. I have suffered much here but I know how it ends and it's going to be good. Lift up your heads!  His return is closer now than when we first believed. Rest assured every knee in heaven and under earth will bow. Hitler...he may have refused to bow on earth but oh he will. Saddam Hussein...he will bow and he will confess that Jesus is Lord. I pray we get it straight and bow down now and proclaim Him as Lord because eternity is a long time for the ending that is sure coming. His word is true and it will not pass away.