Day 7 - God's love dwells in me

Day 7 - God's love dwells in me

Mom's verse is again 2Timothy 1:7 (see yesterday's)
Here's some more for our meditation! :)

-He that loves not knows not God;
for God is love. 1John 4:8

-And hope makes not ashamed;
because the love of God is shed abroad
in our hearts by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us. Romans 5:5

-No man has seen God at any time.
If we love one another,
God dwells in us,
and his love is perfected in us. 1John 4:12

-And we have known and believed the love that God has to us.
God is love;
and he that dwells in love
dwells in God,
and God in him. 1John 4:16

-If a man say,
I love God, and hates his brother,
he is a liar:
for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen,
how can he love God whom he has not seen? 1John 4:20

Day 6 - God's power dwells in me

Day 6 - God's power dwells in me

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity
(of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear),
but [HE HAS GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF] POWER
and of love
and of calm and well-balanced mind
and discipline
and self-control.
2Timothy 1:7 (Amplified)
Or from the King James that I am use to hearing:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Mom also included 1Cor. 1:23:
But we preach Christ crucified, ...unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST THE POWER, and the wisdom of God.

Here it is in context from the Message version (vrs22-25):
"While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations
and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom,
we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified.
Jews treat this like an anti-miracle—
and Greeks pass it off as absurd.
But to us who are personally called by God himself
—both Jews and Greeks
—Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God.
Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness."

Day 5 - God dwells in me

Day 5 - God dwells in me

What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God;
even as God said,
"I will dwell in & with & among them
and will walk in & with & among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be My people."
2Cor.6:16 (Amplified)

Days 1-4 verses

Day 1: CHRIST IS IN ME
The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations,

but now is made manifest to the saints:

to whom God would make known what is the riches

of the glory of this mystery

among the Gentiles,

which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory. Col.1:26,27

I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME;

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal.2:20
(this has been a favorite verse of mine since high school)


Day 2: THE MIND OF CHRIST IS IN ME
The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God,

for they are foolishness unto him;

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned…
BUT WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST. I Cor. 2:14-16

I also think of Phil.2:5 that says

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

The mind is a major battle field for me, this is something I hold tight to.

Makes me think of the armor:

The helmet of salvation

-protecting the mind of Christ in me

The breastplate of righteousness

-it is His righteousness that holds me upright

The belt of Truth

-may all that is conceived in and birthed from me be Truth

The shoes of the gospel of peace

-May everywhere I go know His peace and good news

The sword of the Spirit/Word

-May I remember I battle NOT flesh and blood

-but principalities and powers...

The shield of faith

-it is the faith of Christ in me that thwarts the darts of the enemy.

Day 3: THE WISDOM OF CHRIST IS IN ME
But it is from Him that you have your life IN Christ Jesus,

Whom God MADE OUR WISDOM FROM GOD

(revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting it as)

our righteousness (thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God),

and our Consecration (making us pure and holy),

and our Redemption (providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin).

1 Cor.1:30

I also read:

-"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him." Eph.1:17

-For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.Luke 21:15

-His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Eph.3:10-12

-For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.Col.1:9

- My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.Col.2:2-4

-Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.Col.3:16

-If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.James 1:5

-But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

Day 4: THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IS IN ME
Do you not discern and understand that you are God's temple,

and that God's Spirit has His dwelling in you?

I Cor.3:16

Introduction to mom's 44 day challenge

My mom did a study on Philemon 6 awhile ago and is going to read each of the 44 verses involved, meditate on them, and possibly memorize them;
she has invited me to do it with her ...
and I invite you...

-Here you will find her introduction.
-In tomorrow's blog you will find the first 4 verses (because I didn't think to do this till today and it would be nice for the blog to be current).
-Then I will have each day's verse posted, and I will add any additional thoughts, etc.

So today's and tomorrow's are long,
but the additional 40 will be shorter...
and please, if you are reading these,
feel free to add any comments!

PHILEMON 6

"I MAKE MENTION OF YOU IN MY PRAYERS….
THAT THE COMMUNICATION OF THY FAITH
MAY BECOME EFFECTUAL
BY THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF EVERY GOOD THING
WHICH IS IN YOU IN CHRIST JESUS."

COMMUNICATION: The Greek word is "koinonia" and means the act of using as common; the fellowship, the sharing of the things we hold in common.
World Book says that "Communication suggests merely that it becomes the common property of giver and receiver."
When we look at all the Scriptural references where "koinonia" and it’s derivatives are used, we find the following which we hold in common:
(the words in quotation marks are the English words used for translating "koinonia".)

‘partakers’ of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Phil.3:10; 1Pet.4:13
‘partakers’ of the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4
‘partakers’ of the glory that shall be revealed. I Peter 5:1
‘fellowship’ with the Father and His Son. I John 1:3
‘fellowship’ of ministering materially to the saints. Hebrews 13:16; Romans 15:26; 2 Cor.9:13; Phil.4:14; 2 Cor.8:4; Gal.6:6; I Tim.6:18; Rom.15:27
‘fellowship’ with one another. I John 1:7
‘fellowship’ in the gospel. Phil.1:5
‘fellowship’ in the mystery which has been hid from ages and generations but is now made known to the saints, which is CHRIST IN US, the expectation of glory! Eph.3:9; Col.1:26,27
‘companions’ of those who receive reproaches and afflictions. Heb. 10:33
‘communion’ of the blood of Christ. I Cor.10:16
‘communion’ of the body of Christ. I Cor.10:16
‘communion’ of the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor.13:14
liberal ‘distribution’ to others produces many thanksgivings to God. 2 Cor.9:13

EFFECTUAL: The Greek word is "energes", or in-working.
World Book says under ‘Energy’:
derived from the Greek "energeia",
derived from "energos" meaning Active,
derived from "en" meaning IN and "ergon"
meaning WORK=ACTIVE IN WORK
– active strength or force, healthy power, vigor, ability to produce desired action or results. Active in experience, where the rubber hits the road.

ACKNOWLEDGING: The Greek word is ‘epignosis’ which means FULL KNOWLEDGE AND REALIZATION.

PHILEMON 6 PARAPHRASED FROM ABOVE INFORMATION:

"THAT THE COMMUNICATION OF THY FAITH,
that is, the sharing of that which we hold in common; scripturally, sharing in His sufferings,
in the divine nature,
in the glory that shall be revealed,
in the fellowship with the Father and His Son,
in giving materially to the saints, to those who teach, and to all men;
being companions of those who receive reproaches and afflictions;
the communion of the blood of Christ,
the body of Christ, and of the Holy Spirit;
the fellowship with one another in the gospel
and in the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations
but is now made known to the saints,
which is Christ in you, the expectation of glory…
MAY BECOME EFFECTUAL, active, operative, energized, producing the desired results,
BY THE ACKNOWLEDGING, that is by the full knowledge and realization of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

If the property of the Giver (Jesus Christ)
becomes that of the receiver (me)
and it becomes our property in common (communication)
and if the sharing of what we hold in common
becomes productive and operative
by the full knowledge and realization
of every good thing which is in me
in Christ Jesus,
then it is imperative that I know what those good things are,
and they should be the confession of my mouth!

They are mine in Jesus Christ the minute I receive Him, but until I have a full knowledge of what they are, they will not do me any good in my daily life. It is like a person who is struggling under a heavy load of debt and living like a pauper. He is suddenly given a cheque for $1,000,000, but he keeps it in a coffee can at home. He continues his daily struggle in his own strength to provide meager existence when he could be living in abundant supply and producing life in others around him, which in turn would produce many thanksgivings to God.

2 Peter 1:2 says,
"GRACE and PEACE be MULTIPLIED unto you
THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE (epignosis=full knowledge) of God,
and of Jesus our Lord,
according as his divine power HAS GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS
THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE(zoe=life, motion, activity)
AND GODLINESS (reverence for God),
THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM
that hath called us to glory and virtue (force, strength of mind or body):
whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious PROMISES:
that BY THESE ye might be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust…"

I Cor.2:12 says,
"I have received, not the spirit of the world,
but the Spirit which is of God:
THAT I MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS
THAT ARE FREELY GIVEN TO ME
BY GOD."

MAY WE ALL DESIRE TO BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE……

Expectations

It had been awhile since I was on here, so I perused a bit...
I noticed my blog on being aware of my expectations.
I found this funny because my husband recently brought home some Joyce Meyer cds, and the one on contentment spoke to expectations, which spoke to me.

Where do our expectations lie?
Dare I give a churchy example?
Let's say you are going through something tough,
you EXPECT your pastor or elders to walk through it with you,
they are busy and for one reason or other aren't there for you like you'd like - you feel let down, a bit hurt, even bitter and resentful.
OR
you EXPECT God to hear your cry for someone to help you through,
God provides your neighbor lady, or a coworker, or maybe the pastor!
You thank them - of course! But you are praising God for His provisions. And you have no cause to be hurt by anyone.

Say you are married, you know the person loves you - they did marry you after all. But you expect certain things ... now be careful!

Let me share a story my sister shared with me (because her's is so blatantly God, whereas my experiences aren't quite so black and white!)
She was tired, started a battle against cancer, and was feeling rather unloved. She starting crying out to God regarding her husband and God asked her what she wanted from him. She didn't know, so she blurted out for him to call her Sunshine or something. Anyway, after time in prayer she resurrendered her need to feel loved to God. Her husband was sitting watching TV as she carried a load of laundry from the upstairs to the basement. In passing through the living room her husband, without much of even a glance, said "hey there Sunshine". Becca went to the laundry room and bawled! She told me he has never called her that before, nor since. And that ache she had to be loved - was gone - and was fed through more 'small jestures' that GOD did THROUGH her husband in the days that followed.

Don't you see - God can even be our lover ... ok, one of my stories...

"Special" days have always been "just another day" for my husband. Valentine's was our first date though and so I would usually try to do something a little extra for him. Then his mom passed away on Valentine's Day and it became just a day to get through.
On Valentine's of 09 my husband got up to go and get something to move the snow in our driveway. I was actually a bit relieved. I was feeling just awful ... ugly, unloved, unworthy of love... blah, blah, blah. So I was sitting on the couch crying, literally and out to God, wondering if He could still love me, when the door bell rang. I hadn't brushed my teeth or anything, I ran my hand over the mess of hair on my head and wondered who in the world would be at the door. I opened the door and my husband - who RARELY buys flowers, really, one hand counting in 16 years - AND who always bad mouthed Tim Horton's and coffee - was standing there with a Timmy's and beautiful bouquet of roses! Needless to say he was taken back a bit by his wife's outburst of tears and death hug! I felt like God Himself was standing there. He has OFTEN used my husband to demonstrate and bring understanding of His love for me.

None of this takes away my love for my husband - in fact I have found it quite the opposite, I sense a deeper connection to my husband for it!

Is it wrong to expect anything from anybody? No, but you need to be careful. I have gone years praying about things in my dear husband - some things God has changed in his heart very quickly, others, well, He's taking His sweet time! :) In those times I have found it good to search my heart, and it has stretched me in my reliance on Jesus.

I personally struggle the most with the expectations I hold of myself. That's where Joyce touched a nerve in me... or I should say God did through her!
As I clearly demonstrated in my blog of my expectations, you now know a bit of them too. God has blessed me so much and protected me, I can't help but think and feel that I should be more than I am. It's hard to see things that should/could be done and not beable to do them.

But my expectation will stand in God and my faith that He is faithful to complete every good work He starts - including me! ;D

Chris Tomlin ' I Will Rise'

Considering how acutely aware I am to how fleeting my life is - I should not have to tell you how much this song meant to me as I heard it for the first time over the satelite radio on my holidays!(see previous blog for more info.)

(should I die before I wake, please make this one of the songs!)

There's a peace I've come to know,
though my heart and flesh may fail.
There's an anchor for my soul,
I can say 'it is well'.

Jesus has overcome,
and the grave is overwhelmed,
the victory is won,
He is risen from the dead!
And I will rise
when He calls my name
no more sorrow, no more pain
(I sing 'no more shame')
I will rise on eagle's wings.
Before my God,
fall on knees,
and rise...
I will rise.

There's a day that is drawing near
when the darkness breaks to light
and the shadows disappear
and my faith shall be my eyes!

And I hear the voice of many angels sing
'WORTHY IS THE LAMB!'
and I hear the cry of every longing heart'
WORTHY IS THE LAMB!'

This fleeting life

Roughly about 3 weeks ago I decided to get on the right track health wise and at least take my multi's. I had been given some and it became very obvious, very quickly, that my body was having an adverse side effect. My eldest and youngest were gone, my second child was still asleep with her cousin and my husband was away at work. I took the pills and sat at the table for some devotional time. I was expecting the niacin reaction, but it began getting very intense, so I went to lie on the couch. My hearing got muffled, I was struggling to breath and as I reached up to touch my burning face I realized it was very swollen. I got up to go to the bathroom and got dizzy, seeing stars and my vision got blurry. I reached the bathroom and was astonished at just how swollen I was. Fear gripped me as I realized just how difficult it was getting to breath, my hearing and sight were nil at this point and a staggered back to the table - crying out to God and wondering if I should call 911 or what. It very much felt that I could suffocate very shortly. When you experience something like that there is so much that flies through your mind. I breathed deeply and tried to relax and I could feel it subsiding a bit, so I continued to wait it out. About an hour later I was finally able to function decently again.

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath. Selah" (Ps.39:4-5)

On the Friday that I left my mom's to pick up my daughter from camp I was driving alone in my husband's work truck. As I was crossing a main double lane highway I grabbed the wrong gear and stalled the truck. Two vehicles came speeding around the corner and I narrowly got missed. I will confess it shook me up, and again, I became acutely aware at how fleeting my life truly is.

"But I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord;
I said, You are my God.
My times are in Your hands;..." (Ps.31:14-15)
...

After the truck stalled, I continued on my way south to pick up my daughter from camp. I decided to take a detour to the east to see a friend, wondering if that was wise considering the muggy heat and dark clouds. She and I visited for a bit and when I went outside I saw I had had a call from my husband. I called him back and he informed me a tornado touched down 5km West of Sundre ... looking at the map, I would have been going through Sundre had I not detoured. (My poor husband was so worried as he was unable to reach me! I must remember to keep my phone on me!)

It was still hot and muggy and the black clouds were still rolling in from the west when I left, and I will admit I left with a prayer on my lips. As I followed the highway I seemed to stay on the outskirts of the storm and only saw very heavy rain (you know when you start to wonder if the half ton can hydroplane that there is a lot of rain!). I got a bit turned around in Didsbury and had to stop and ask for directions, got back on my way and as I was about half an hour out of Cochrane I came to the top of a hill and saw the snow and hail in the ditches. I thanked God - thinking that my stall in Didsbury had kept me from this dump - and continued to my aunt's in Cochrane. Watching the news that evening with them I saw that stretch of highway where I had seen white in the ditches - except, seemingly shortly after I passed through it really dumped. There was easily 6 inches of slush on the highway itself, people were stuck and mirrors were broken from the large hail.

"God declares that His hand “has laid the foundation of the earth,

and His right hand has spread out the heavens.”

“In His hand are the deep places of the earth.

The heights of the mountains are His also.”

“He holds the waters in the hollow of His hand.”

“A man’s goings are established by Jehovah,

and He delights in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down,

for Jehovah upholds him with His hand.”

(Isa. 48:13; Psa. 95:4; Isa. 40:12; Ps. 37:24) "

(taken from Letters of Hope)

" I lift up my eyes to the hills—

where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;" (Ps.121:1-3)