Lay Up Treasures!!!

>> Thursday, December 31, 2009

What do you think of most often you when you are told a story about a person who laid up treasures? I think about medieval castles, foreign lands, evil kings, and powerful armies...well, maybe not all the time, but most of the time! Jesus came to give us a new meaning to the word treasure. he manifested real wealth in this world by giving his life as an atonement for sin. While he taught daily in the temples, mountains, and streets, he commanded us to lay up treasure, and not just any treasure...eternal treasure!


"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

There are many aspects I could expound on from this verse, but to save you all from having to read a textbook, I will focus on the last, but for me the most convicting, part of this verse: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

First, let me define "treasure." The online dictionary defines "treasure" in two ways which I found fascinating! The first is the use as a noun; something valuable, a possession or thing that we own that is worth a lot of money to us. The second definition is a verb; something we treasure in our hearts, or hold dear. I think a lot of times we view 'treasure' as something earthly. It is human inclination. We need, rather, to see the word as an attitude of the heart. We need to treasure our relationships, our walk with God, the still moments of the morning when we can hear God's voice, the little miracles that happen in our walk each day, and perhaps the most of all, the people we are able to influence for Christ! These are the treasures that Jesus spoke of while he taught. Not something that could be taken away or stolen or spoiled, but something that would last for eternity.

Secondly, Jesus warns us that where we lay our treasure is where we will choose to place our heart. We must ask ourselves where our heart is! I must ask myself where my heart is. Is it with a person my parents don't agree with? Is it with earthly possessions? OR...is my heart with those I am discipling for Christ, and with those I am receiving Godly counsel from? I would encourage you to take a morning and get up early and just seek God in the stillness while everyone else is still asleep or occupied. There is something about being completely alone with God that forces me to come to grips with who he is and what he expects from me...his child! Laying up eternal treasures impacts our direct relationship with God. We are called to throw aside every weight that besets us and run towards Christ, our master. Would you run with a briefcase? This is what we agree to do when we embrace competing affections, treasures, that are not of the Lord!

The Bible as well as our History books boast many people who laid up eternal rather than earthly treasure. George Mueller is a man who sacrificed all for himself in order to eternally impact God's kingdom. During his ministry, he fed and clothed millions of orphans simply by asking God for the provisions needed. He never asked once for money, yet great wealth passed through his hands, a little at a time, just enough for God to show his amazing power. Through it all, Mr. Mueller saw the hand of God in everything. He amassed no earthly wealth, but the souls of orphans were his chief concern. Mr. Mueller did not just feed and clothe children. He taught them about Jesus and about the undying love of our Savior. His eternal treasures made him a very wealthy man. Mr. Mueller had faith that God would provide. He recognized the worthlessness of earthly treasures and the great riches that resulted from eternal ones. He once said, "If the Lord fails me at this time, it will be the first time." Oh that we could all see the Lord that way! If we could, I think we would then be able to destroy the affections and treasures that tear us from our relationship with Jesus Christ!

Something that has been really convicting to me lately is the level of complaining that I seem to accomplish! I'm not sure how you all feel about complaining, but as I have looked back on the murmuring heart in my binder from Journey to the Heart, I have felt the need to put myself in the place of those I complain to and about! It is a spiritual sapper! I realize now how detrimental complaining is for the relationships we have and especially the relationship we have with God. I think it's a very appropriate time to say...Contentment is something that could certainly be helpful in applying this command to our lives. This command we so often brush aside and take for granted.
Contentment is realizing that true happiness does not depend on material conditions. Contentment realizes that God has given me everything I need for my present welfare and happiness! The secret to contentment is enjoying the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16:11). The alternative to contentment is boredom with worldly possessions (Luke 12:15). The more we release our worldly possessions, the more we will be able to grasp at eternal treasures. "Discontentment makes rich men poor while contentment makes poor men rich." (Ben Franklin)

Ask yourself how content you are. Refuse to believe that it is too hard to try. Be content with what God has given you, but discontent with allowing your spiritual life to dry out. Jesus Christ came to lay up treasures in heaven. We see a pure example in his life. Truly, there was nothing worth giving up his glory in heaven, here on earth. Yet, because of the love he had for us, he came anyway. He was content to die. To be made a servant of mankind... to bow lower than a slave...to heal those who had no gratitude...and to give up the greatest gift...life itself! His reward? We are his inheritance! Each child of God adds to the inheritance which rewards the sacrificial gift of Jesus.

I have chosen two verses which tie into contentment and treasures to share with you all:

"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
I Timothy 6:7


"For I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Phil 4:11 "My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19


Let me leave you with a challenge: How many treasures can you find in the next week? How many rhemas? How many disciples? How many can you share the love of Jesus with? How often can you catch yourself before you complain or utter a murmuring word? How often can you make Jesus first priority? I encourage you to leave behind that which doesn't matter in order to reach farther for that which will matter for eternity. Each one of your are a treasure. Look around you and see all the other treasures. Perhaps the hardest thing will be to view little siblings as a treasure when they seem to get on your nerves, or parents when you don't see eye to eye with them...but they are! Every last one. Hold on to that and cherish it...and most of all, believe it! You've only to leave your bedroom to find many treasures in all sizes and places! Keep living the journey...don't just "know" it.

~Hannah
Phil 4:13

I am posting this a little early so I don't have to worry about remembering on New Years Day...



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Be Perfect

>> Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Yesterday we learned what it means to love your enemies, a command found in Matthew 5:44. 4 verses after the command to love your enemies, Jesus said,

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.


What did He say to lead to this next command? In what context was Jesus talking, and how did Jesus go from the command "Love Your Enemies" to "Be Perfect"? Let's take a look:

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48

Clearly, Jesus was referring to being a respecter of persons. God is not a respecter of persons, causing rather his sun to rise on the evil and the good, the rain on the just and the unjust (See also II Chr. 19:7, Romans 2:11, Eph. 6:9 and Col. 3:25).

How do we apply the command to be perfect?
In verse 47, Jesus said, "And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?" The word used here for "salute" is the Greek work aspazomai, which means "to enfold in the arms [of your heart], to joyfully, lovingly, and enthusiastically greet a person." We only have once chance to give a first impression and that chance often comes right at the moment of eye contact. In a split second, people can conclude whether or not you're sincerely interested in them. To apply Christ's command to be perfect, we should exercise immediate, enthusiastic and sincere interest in the lives of everyone we meet- whether they be poor, rich, sick, unpopular or attractive.

Why would Jesus command us to be perfect?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Our standard is always set by who God is. We shouldn't compare ourselves amongst friends in church, family members, co-workers or acquaintances; our standard is always God. So the most obvious reason why Jesus would command us to be perfect would be because we are to be as true and accurate examples of Christ as we possibly can be. Another reason Jesus would command us to be perfect is summed up in a quote by John C. Maxwell,

People don't care how much
you know until they know
how much you care!

Applying the command to be perfect by demonstrating no respect of persons by showing love and interest in everyone will cause others to be much more receptive to the Gospel when we have opportunities to share with them about the Lord.

What perspective should we have to help us keep this command?
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Ephesians 6:5-9
The key to demonstrating a perfect spirit to all whom we meet is to remember we are doing this as unto the Lord-- in return for the perfect enfolding of His love He has demonstrated to all who believe on Him. Jesus saved me when I was a sinner. I praise God that He is no respecter of persons, and I joyfully strive to express my gratefulness to the Lord for what He's done for me by imitating His unconditional love as well as I can to everyone I meet.

Verses to Memorize:

II Chronicles 16:9a
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Colossians 1:28-29
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I John 3:3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Philippians 3:15-16
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

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Enemies? You've gotta love 'em!

>> Sunday, December 27, 2009





Love Your Enemies!

My dear friends and fellow Journey-launched believers, I've been blessed by each of you who have written the Word and your meditations. This is so great!
It's my turn to write on this most against-the-grain command. I got to thinking, do I even have enemies? Yes, there are enemies of my soul: the spirit of fear, pride, doubt... But when the Lord Jesus told you and I to love our enemies, wasn't He talking about people? The dictionary describes an enemy this way: "one who feels hatred toward, intends injury to, or opposes the interests of another; a foe." I don't know about you, but I've never been at war nor have I experienced torture or persecution. As I began to think about what this command could mean to me, I suddenly found myself relating in a much deeper way than I would have imagined. Perhaps our enemies don't parade with machine guns, but there may be those whose actions demonstrate an underlying ill will toward us. Perhaps they aggravate, ignore, and openly disdain us, undermine our opinions, refuse to offer common courtesy. In short, they inflict a degree of suffering, being antagonistic, personal adversary. Some of the hardest to take are those who call themselves our friends, even offer a profession of similar beliefs, but who dissemble with their lips our reputation.
In the ancient land of Isreal a man after God's own heart endured riducule, rejection, and scorn. He, even as a king, was hunted by the nation's enemies, his own servants, relatives and even his immediate family. And yet He found a peace from His enemies. If enemies pursue, pressure, press hard in on our souls, may something like this humble plea echo in the throne room of heaven from our own hearts.


Hear my cry, O God:


attend unto my prayer.


From the ends of the earth will I cry unto Thee,


when my heart is overwhelmed:


lead me to the rock that is higher than I.


For Thou hast been a shelter for me,


and a strong tower from the enemy.


I will abide in Thy tabernacle forever:


I will trust in the covert of Thy wings.


Psalm 61

Several thousand years after those words were penned, an explosion of military combat errupted and spilled once again onto the streets of a small town. Pent up emotions now surged into the air in rapid fire. A young woman and her 9 year old daughter screamed in terror as they fantically ran to find shelter. But before they could escape, explosions from some of their own forces blew close by. Shrapnal followed by bullets penetrated the young women who had instinctively sheltered her child. For what seemed like an eternity the fighting continued. When it finally died down at dust, the little girl felt as though hope for her Mom's life was over. Hot tears burned her cheeks. Hungry, thirsty, frightened of life, she curled up to her only security, the near lifeless body of her mother.
Then out of the darkness, tall figures approached. Fear gripped her heart. Should she run? How could she leave her mother. But it only took one look into the caring faces of those in front of herto know that they weren't about to hurt her. In fact they gently gathered her Mom and laid her on a stretcher. Before she knew it, an ambulance was wisking her away from the horrible streets of hate and death. In a hospital a diligent crew of medical staff immediately went to work to save the young mother's life while a nurse bought the little girl some of the best food she had ever tasted. That was only the beginning of what would be 3 months of compassion and care extended to the destitute little girl and her Mom. Who were these strangers and why have they been so nice? The little girl wondered as she sat near her peacefully resting Mom. They didn't look like her. They didn't speak her language. It was her people that had opened fired on these people's military personnel. But instead of treating her as an enemy, they had saved the life of the most precious person in the world to her. In amazement she watched the hospital staff administer treatment until her mom was well without ever asking for money. That little girl, now a career woman herself, has never forgotten, how as a dirty child of the enemy, she experienced lovingkindness without reserve. As a result, she gave her life to the One who initiated such love. With passionate dedication, she works to pass on the Jesus' life giving principle because as an enemy she was loved.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
(and here comes a promise)
That they may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:44-48

The following points of obedience that have put this command into my heart and life:

Meet a need:

Don't you love it how God works circumstances in and around your life that directly relate to what He teaches? It happened to me this week. Someone who just hasn't had a liking for me ever since I can remember suffered a tragic loss. Friends, it is in times of need that the people in our lives who are to whatever degree enemies are open to our sincerity and good will for them. In the case of the person who I am writing about, I found a common ground, a chance to demonstrate care and I watched her get the feeling Proverbs 25:21,22 talks about.


Willing to communicate:


This has been a tough one for me. My own mind says, "If she won't talk to me, I won't talk to her." "If he won't talk nice, I won't either." With our little tongues, so very connected to our hearts, we can do a world of good or bad in split seconds. And wouldn't you know it, but even our silence will speak for us. Daily I'm confronted with desire to love only those who love me.

But as always Jesus is calling me and you too, to so much more.

I'll close with a quick story. At my work I encountered someone who didn't like me, not even enough to say hello. I found out later that I looked a lot like several girls she'd known previously and had not had appreciated. Determined, she would look the other way, refuse to say hello, and ignore me. I had begun to think something must be very wrong with me. But I made up my mind it wouldn't be unfriendliness. So I went out of my way to be nice, the way I would be to someone I liked. Do you know that the steady love paid off! She began to perk up, say hi too, and by the time my birthday rolled around you should have seen the amazing spread she put on!
Although we don't live even in the same country any more, to this day she remains a good friend.
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute,
willing to communicate;
(and here comes a promise)
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
I Timothy 6:18,19


A phrase repeats itself over to me often these days. "With the merciful Thou wilt show Thyself merciful. Janny, treat them better than they deserve." And in responding to grace, my heart says, "Yes Lord."

You see, when I was an enemy against the Lord, He loved me.

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Follow Me

>> Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Something that God spoke to me about in this command was that in order to follow Him, I/we shouldn't have any unconfessed sin in our life.

"Follow Me" is a command, not a question, or a suggestion. There should be nothing in the way of our doing this. God loves us and wants us to follow Him because He knows what's ahead and has wonderful, unthinkable things in store for us. We don't want to be the one hindering God speaking to or blessing us.

Jeremiah 29:11 and 13 say,

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end... And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all of your heart...

I love those verses!! When we search for God and follow Him, we will find Him!

At my church we just finished a preachers conference, and one of the things that really stood out to me was that when the pastor was talking about Paul's death, he said, "In order to die like Paul you have to live like Paul." That really spoke to me. I want to be like Enoch in the Bible who "was not for God took Him", and Abraham, in that he talked with God and they had such an awesome relationship. And David, in that he had a heart after Gods own heart. Those are the three people that I want to be like. Enoch is my favorite character in the Bible, but I never thought much about his life but his death, and how much I just wanted to be "not because God took me".

So, with all that said, I need to live his life to have his death. Enoch walked with God without any Scriptures to tell him how to do it. He just did it. Isn't that amazing? We have the Bible and the Holy Spirit, but do we walk with God, do we follow Him and love Him with all of our heart? I know I don't, and sometimes I'm feel so discouraged and depressed because no matter how hard I try I still mess up!! And I think, how could God still love me? How could he want to have a relationship with me?

A couple of weeks ago, I just felt I couldn't pray to Him or have a relationship with Him, because compared to Him and He giving his son to die for people that don't love Him, and He dying and being flogged and his flesh torn and a many other things, I feel like my heartaches and my sufferings were nothing, and that I'm such a baby, and stupid, and just so unworthy and lower than the earth, how in the world could He still want me, and have a relationship with Him, much less follow Him? Thinking about it I feel so humbled and so unworthy!! His love is so incomprehensible! Plus He wants us to follow Him! He and His love are so amazing!

Never ever give up hope or think that you are just not enough for Him and that you can never measure up, and aren't good enough to follow Him. Prov.13:12 says,

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.


That verse showed me that I had lost my hope and was depressed and that I need to follow a desire and the only thing that can fulfill me the most is Christ. Now I am one of the happiest people I know. I am a tree of life!

Here are some verses that went with this command:
Psalm 63:8, Matthew 19: 28-29 and 2 Corinthians 4:1-4.

Proverbs 11:30 says...

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

I hope that you can read these verses and the surrounding ones and ask God to speak to you through them. When I started reading them I was just overwhelmed with all that God showed me. Whenever I open His Word He always has something waiting for me! Its so cool.

Thanks for letting me put my thoughts on display, and I hope and pray that God speaks to you all through some way and that you all might be blessed. Have a merry CHRISTmas!!!

--Elizabeth Nicolls

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Honor God's Law

>> Monday, December 14, 2009

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law,
or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but
to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven
and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no
pass from the law, till all be fulfills."
Matthew 5:17-18


The Lord showed me through this study, that I(we) need to have love, a large heart, to Honor his law. That was very convicting to me, because I tend to see the bad side in most everything! The Lord showed me that I have been like the Pharisees, trying to live by works, not having a relationship with Him. He gave me this verse:
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word,
even in this; Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself." Galatians 5:14


He also showed me that the entire Bible is the law from cover to cover, not just the Old Testament. I always thought, there was no need to read the Old Testament ( except Psalm and Proverbs). I am really excited about reading it and finding out new truths that the Lord is gonna show me!

David is the perfect example of a man who truly loved the Lord. If you just read Psalm 119, you can see how much David loved the law. He uses the word law twenty-five times, as you slowly read it and think about it, you see how he used other words that are similar to the law, as in the words; precepts, commandments, and statutes. He was truly a man after God's own heart.

The definition of Love is; "Giving to the basic needs of others so that their authorities get the credit, God gets the glory, and we have the joy of eternal rewards." Reading this made me think of Colossians 3. If we whole heartily seek those things which are above, we will naturally love others as Christ would love them. I need to learn to have true compassion for others, not see how they are, but see what they might need ( as in Christ's gift of Love).

Here are some verses that I am gonna work on, hiding in my heart.

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I
might not sin against thee" Psalm 119:11


"For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our
lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will
save us." Isaiah 33:22


"All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness: That the man of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto
all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Please pray that I would have Christ's love towards others.
I am also gonna memorize Psalm 119.

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Rejoice When Reviled

>> Wednesday, December 9, 2009

"Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." - Matthew 5:12

I have to admit that contrary to Grace, I was excited about this particular command, but,I kinda knew it would make me feel very convicted. You could safely define 'rejoice' as "something Hannah never does." I started to think about this word which occurs over 42 times in the new testament. This was not given by Jesus as an alternative for grief, or as a idea on how to improve your social life, or anything like that. No, this was a command. Jesus commanded those that he taught to r
ejoice! In Matthew 5:12, we are called to rejoice because we have a great reward waiting for us in heaven. This goes back to the verse that Emily noted on day one:

"Forgetting those things which are behind,and reaching forth unto those things which are before." - Philippians 3:13.

We are not to dwell on the bad things that happened in the past, but rather, reach forward towards the mark of the high calling of Jesus Christ.

"Blessed be God and our Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To and inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." - I Peter 1:3-4

As I started to think about who had fulfilled this command in scripture, my initial thought was Paul. However, as I flipped through Acts, I stopped at Stephen...one of my favorite Bible characters. Stephen has always stood out to me as a man, unafraid of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and bold to preach it. Stephen rejoiced when he was reviled.
" When they (the people) heard these things (Stephen's sermon), they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth; Bet he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus, standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Think about how wonderful it would have been to look up and see the glory of the Lord and Jesus, standing on the right hand of God!This is truly an example of a man who rejoiced, and was exceeding glad because of his reward in heaven. The suffering he endured on earth was momentary. He recognized the eternal joy and treasure that he would benefit from when he reached heaven. He "fell asleep" after asked God not to lay the sin to their charge. Some people believe that "fell asleep" alludes to a painless death. Although we won't know until we get to heaven, we do know that Stephen was a man of great joy. He boasted in the Lord just as King David did. When he was called to be with the Lord, he went praising God.

There are a lot of character qualities we could develop that would help us rejoice in all things. Listed below are some of them with their definitions:

Boldness - Boldness is welcoming any suffering that comes from doing what is right, because it will produce a greater power of love; We are told in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again, I say rejoice!"
Contentment - Contentment is realizing that God has already provided everything I need for my present and future happiness; If we are content, we will be able to rejoice over what God HAS given us verses complain about what we think we lack for our fulfillment in life.

Determination - Determination is looking at insurmountable obstacles as opportunities to cry out for God's supernatural intervention; If we look at difficult situations as an opportunity for God to work a miracle, we will be able to rejoice in the power of our living God instead of murmur over what seems to hard to overtake.

Endurance - Endurance is experiencing the power of God's love by rejoicing in trials and tribulations; this is definitely a quality that we need in our Christian walk!!!!

Enthusiasm - Enthusiasm is God's energy in my spirit, expressing itself through my mind, will, and emotions; This is a good example of what "rejoicing"looks like. When in doubt, read the definition of enthusiasm!

Forgiveness - Forgiveness is responding to offenders so that the power of God's love through me can heal them;The opposite of Forgiveness is Bitterness which zaps all the joy out of us. Bitterness creates a hardened heart. If we are able to fully and freely forgive those who offend us, the power of rejoicing will be made real in our lives.

Gratefulness - Gratefulness is expressing sincere appreciation to God and to others for the ways that they have benefited my life; Our level of gratefulness should be a test as to how often we rejoice. We are to rejoice in ALL things. Therefore, if we are grateful, we will know that our level of discontent has gone down and we are learning to rejoice more frequently over more situations!

Initiative - Initiative is acting on the rhemas that God gives us in His word; I don't know about all of you, but I know that some of you are older sisters or brothers. SO...in light of that, If us older siblings initiate the rejoicing at the beginning of the day, it makes for a whole lot nicer of a morning, afternoon, and evening, and yes, it sets the tone for the entire day! It is vital that we set a good example as older siblings and there are few better places to start than rejoicing.

Joyfulness - Joyfulness is the bright spirit and radiant countenance that come by being in full fellowship with the Lord; do I need to expound on how this relates to rejoicing??? :-)

Patience - Patience is welcoming trials and tribulations without giving God a deadline to remove them.

Sincerity - Sincerity is being as genuine on the inside as we appear to be on the outside;
I think we can all agree that there is nothing more detrimental to God's reputation than when outsiders think Christians are hypocrites. It is so important that our joy be real joy...not ours, but God's in us!

In light of all these character qualities that we need to be developing, I would really encourage you to seek the Lord about the areas you are weak and allow him to be strong where you lack. I know for me that the list seems long and overwhelming, but we all need to remember that God's grace is sufficient where we fail.

Lastly, I just wanted to leave you with some scripture verses that go with the command:

"But rejoice in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings! that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy! If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part, he is evil spoken of, but on your part, he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet, if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on this behalf."-(I Peter 4:13-16)

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thinks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you! Quench not the Spirit!"-(I Thess 5:16-19)

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me!"-(II Cor 12:9)

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice! Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."-(Phil 4:4,6)

May God bless you as you seek to serve him and to apply His commands to your life.







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Be Born Again

>> Tuesday, December 8, 2009

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
John 3:7


My first response when I found out which command had been assigned to me was a complaining attitude. "Why do I have to do the command, Born Again? Why can't I do an easier one like Repent or Go the Extra Mile?" But when I got into studying this command and scratching the surface of what it means to be born again and how I can apply it, I found many rewards of studying it and reasons for getting a deep understanding for the amazing and glorious transformation that occurs when we are born again through Christ's redemptive work on the cross. I have only begun to be able to study this command with the weeks notice that I received and now I'm looking forward to continuing to meditate on this command. I have written here the insights and applications that the Lord gave me these last few days.


There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 3:1-8



A couple insights I wanted to share with you right away was that Jesus said that we MUST be born again to see [know, be acquainted with, and experience] the kingdom. Also, I found that the Holy Spirit of God and water are often spoken of together in the Bible. See Ezekiel 36:25-26

One of the questions that I asked is, "What does it mean to be born again?" Being born again is a fundamental of the message of the Gospel and needs to be understood fully and clearly so that we are not confused and so we can clearly explain it to someone else. Something that I noticed is that Jesus seemed to expect Nicodemus to already understand what it means to be born again so it must be pretty simple.



Jesus pointed out that which is born of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the spirit is spirit. He isn't saying that our bodies need to be reborn, but our spirits. We are born with a dead spirit because we are born of Adam. This dead spirit separates us from God because he is Righteous and Holy. Our spirit has to be born anew through belief in Christ Jesus who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Before we were part of the world, but now we are translated into God's kingdom. We are then no longer part of the world, but we are born into God's family.


But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:12-13


Most importantly being born again is a work which God does not something we do. All we have to do is...


That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


Rom 10 :9-10



So why is this significant to us? This is another question I asked. How are we to obey this command if we are already born again? Isn't it a one time happening? Isn't our being born again something God does when we believe in Jesus Christ? So what's our responsibility?



1. Examine Ourselves

We need to examine ourselves and make sure that we are born again. If we aren't, then we need to repent and then become born again. We need to ask ourselves if our lives are showing evidence that we belong to the family of God.


Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

2 Corinthians 13:5



2. Appreciate His Work

If we have been born anew then we need to appreciate the wonderful and glorious work that Jesus has done and realize that we are part of the family of God. This is amazing.



Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:3



3. Bring Others Into God's Family

When we appreciate the magnitude of Christ's redemption, then we want others to be able to appreciate it too. Before I started studying this command if someone who was not a Christian was to ask me what being born again meant I would have stumbled over the answer. We need to be able to explain clearly to others what it means to be born again so they too can experience the kingdom of God.



4. Walk it out

There is an amazing metamorphosis that occurs when our spirits are born of God. There is an old man which is thrown away and a new man which is put on. We need to grow in the light of this transformation and continue to conform to the image of Christ. This is only done through God's enabling power that this is possible.




That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.


Eph 4:22-24



My encouragement to you is to take the time to study this command on your own.

You'll find the rewards are rich!

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Repent

>> Monday, December 7, 2009

Repentance is not sorrow that we sinned, sorrow that we hurt others or even sorrow that we got caught. Although sorrow and repentance often go hand in hand, it is important not to confuse one with the other. II Corinthians 7:10 says,

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Sorrow is a feeling of grief, sadness or regret. Repentance involves action. Our primary grief over our sin should not simply be focused on the virtue of our actions, but on the result of our actions, which is stated in Psalm 66:18:

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

True repentance is motivated by a desire to restore

our relationship and fellowship with God.



The humility needed for sincere repentance will develop in us a gracious spirit towards others as we realize that we, too, are sinners, and are completely dependent upon God's mercy and grace to forgive us, restore our relationship with Him, and give us the desire and power to do His will in the future.




Because just turning from something wrong would be incomplete repentance, a good question to ask ourselves would be, How can I demonstrate my repentance?” Simply refraining from sin would only be a 90 degree turn, and true repentance involves a 180 degree change in our behavior: turning from sin and to righteousness.

Paul demonstrated true repentance by turning from persecution to promotion. In Philippians 3 he gives some of his biography:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith; That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(See Philippians 3:5-10)

Paul was a pursuer. But he didn’t stop pursuing when he repented of his sin; he changed his pursuit from persecution the church to the promotion of the church and cause of Jesus Christ: a 180 degree turn from sin, to righteousness.

…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(See Philippians 3:13b-14)


Verses to Memorize:

Revelations 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Psalm 51:1-4
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Acts 8:22
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Proverbs 1:23
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

II Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

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Welcome

>> Thursday, December 3, 2009

Coming Soon!

We are a group of young ladies that have been brought together by a program called Journey to the Heart. Despite the differences in age, background and location, we all have one common purpose: to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

John 14:21 says,

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Because keeping God's commandments is the essence of loving Him, we will be studying each command of Christ and sharing with you the insights we learn as we grow in the love and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Please join us as we begin sharing on December 7, 2009!

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