Author Archives: Blanche

What Love Isn’t??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 23

02 Sunday Feb 2020

Posted by in A Father's Love, By His Grace, Consider Your ways, Faithfulness, Love, Made like Jesus!

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 23 What Love Isn’t???

 

February is referred to as the month of love, as Valentine’s Day comes this month, but so does Ground Hog Day—today, Leap Year Day, and President’s Day; yet I really don’t feel led to talk about season’s weather, the extra day we have this month, or politics, but I would like to share a bit about what we need to know about love!  What it is and what it isn’t, and we’ll probably carry this subject over for a couple of sessions, Lord willing.  The main thing I would like to share is what God says love looks like; and the first and foremost issue about love is what God says!

Let’s begin with what Jesus tells us!

“And one of the scribes came,

and having heard them reasoning together,

and perceiving that he had answered them well,

asked him,

Which is the first commandment of all?

29 And Jesus answered him,

The first of all the commandments is,

Hear, O Israel;

The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord

thy God

with all thy heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy mind,

and with all thy strength:

this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like,

namely this,

Thou shalt love thy neighbour

as thyself.

There is none other commandment

greater than these.

32 And the scribe said unto him,

Well, Master,

thou hast said the truth:

for there is one God;

and there is none other but he:

33 And to love him

with all the heart,

and with all the understanding,

and with all the soul,

and with all the strength,

and to love his neighbour

as himself,

is more than

all whole burnt offerings

and sacrifices.”  Mark 12:28-33

Even His enemies couldn’t resist the truth that came from HIM who IS truth—Jesus!  But where do we get that kind of love?  Only from God!  Only when we know God and are known of Him through the blood of Jesus in forgiveness of sin and redemption can we truly express that kind of love!

“We are of God:

he that knoweth God

heareth us;

he that is not of God

heareth not us.

Hereby know we the spirit of truth,

and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let us love one another:

for love is of God;

and every one that loveth

is born of God,

and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not

knoweth not God;

for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God

toward us,

because that God sent his only begotten Son

into the world,

that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love,

not that we loved God,

but that he loved us,

and sent his Son

to be the propitiation

for our sins.

11 Beloved,

if God so loved us,

we ought also

to love one another…

…19 We love him,

because he first

loved us.”   1 John 4:6-11, 19

Did you get that?  GOD LOVED US FIRST!  Did then, does now and ever will.  And the beauty of it is that when we will come to HIM in repentance and faith, He imparts not only His righteousness to us, but His love also.

“For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”   2 Corinthians 5:21

And as Paul reminded the Romans and us:

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet

without strength,

in due time Christ died

for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God

commendeth his love

toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.”   Romans 5:1-8

Whoa brothers and sister—“while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”—that’s for YOU and ME!  That is love!  God loved us who are unable to save ourselves—poor lost sinners—”But God”! l One of my favorite biblical phrases—”But God”—and I am so grateful that even when I couldn’t save myself, God had a plan to reach me and lift me up out of the pit of hell and deliver my soul—heart—mind and life from wrath and made me HIS child!  How could I not LOVE HIM the same way, and by HIS power not my own!  THAT IS love—but it gets even better—Jesus paid for my sin so I could have life with HIM. It didn’t depend on me, it depends on the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that Jesus made for us at Calvary!  He paid our debt with HIS own blood:

“Herein is love,

not that we loved God,

but that he loved us,

and sent his Son

to be the propitiation

for our sins”!

Amen and Amen.  And again that “but God”—the God who loved us and is still saving souls today.  If you know Him won’t you let HIS love shine through you, and if you don’t, I invite you to come to Him today, so you can know true love—the love that God has for you, and wants to share with you, impart to you, and grow in you!  Today

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead

in trespasses

and sins;

2 Wherein in time past

ye walked according

to the course of this world,

according

to the prince

of the power

of the air,

the spirit

that now worketh

in the children

of disobedience:

3 Among whom also

we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires

of the flesh   

and of the mind;

and were by nature

the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead

in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness

toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”   Ephesians 2:1-10

Won’t you seek to know God’s real love?  Don’t settle for the cheap imitation of the world!  It may look good for a time, even scripture tells us that there is “pleasure in sin for a season”, but it also tells us clearly that we will all give an account.  Please hear Him as He speaks to us today; for He won’t always “strive with man”!  (See Genesis 6:3 and Hebrews 11:25)

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary

in well doing:

for in due season

we shall reap,

if we faint not.”   Galatians 6:7-9

What are you sowing?  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test!

May God bless your week, and may you hear and obey!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank YOU For Caring!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #622

31 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Giving Or Taking?, Grace, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Thankful

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #622      Thank YOU For Caring!!!

 

I’d like to revisit a topic that is near and dear to my heart—gratitude!  I personally want to thank all of you for your prayers for our family in the recent tragic death of my daughter.  So many have reached out to us in more ways than I can mention, and we want to thank you for your kindness toward us.  I also want to take just a few moments to encourage you to reach out to others—to be sure you’re listening when God prompts you to remember someone special in your life; don’t take it as ‘co-incidence’ but rather know that it’s a “God-incidence” and He is asking you to ‘do’ something!  Don’t wait, pray, make that phone call to thank one: who befriended you, who reached out to you in a time of need, was a Sunday School teacher who touched your life, a special friend who is always there, a cousin who helped you be the person you are today!  Send that card, make that call, walk across the street to make that visit, whatever God is speaking to your heart–Don’t miss the opportunity of being a blessing to someone today; or miss receiving the blessing of touching another life with God’s love, mercy and compassion.

“A friend loveth

at all times,

and a brother

is born for adversity.”  Proverbs 17:17

Always remember that words are powerful, and the old children’s adage is far from true, for “sticks and stones may break my bones”….but “words will….” oft times hurt more than bruises!  As I’ve often heard and said, “Watch your words, and keep them sweet, you never know, which ones you’ll eat”!  So, in closing a timely reminder to us all to be diligent encouragers rather than those who bring discouragement and disregard to others.  Today!

May these passages speak to your heart today and may it be said of us as it was of our Lord Jesus, “He went about doing good!”

“A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold

in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring of gold,

and an ornament of fine gold,

so is a wise reprover

upon an obedient ear.”  Proverbs 25:11-12

And one last reminder, real love is action not just empty ‘words’!  Take some time today to read all of 1 Corinthians 13!  (And FYI ‘charity’ is also translated ‘love’!)

“Charity suffereth long,

and is kind;

charity envieth not;

charity vaunteth not itself,

is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly,

seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things,

believeth all things,

hopeth all things,

endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth:

but whether there be prophecies,

they shall fail;

whether there be tongues,

they shall cease;

whether there be knowledge,

it shall vanish away…

…13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity,

these three;

but the greatest of these

is charity.”   Portions of 1 Corinthians 13:4-13. Amen!

Resting IN Jesus??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #621

29 Wednesday Jan 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Believe IN Jesus, Confidence, Dependence, Encouragement, Follow Jesus, God of all comfort!, Growing in Jesus!, Resting In Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #621      Resting IN Jesus???

 

I have just a brief word to share with you today, but a word that I often rehearse to remind myself to keep my eyes on Jesus rather than my circumstances.  And while my circumstances or yours may require a certain amount of our time, effort, mind and even our heart—we don’t have to allow them to overwhelm us, when we will but check our focus continually.

“Fret not thyself

because of evildoers,

neither be thou envious

against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down

like the grass,

and wither

as the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD,

and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also

in the LORD;

and he shall give thee

the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way

unto the LORD;

trust also

in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment

as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently for him:

fret not thyself

because of him

who prospereth in his way,

because of the man

who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself

in any wise

to do evil.”   Psalm 37:1-8

I pray that you will ponder the truth and beauty of this passage as you go through the rest of your week.  And may I simply add that if your “delight” is in the Lord, you will find that your own heart’s desire will become that which is pleasing and delightful to God, rather than the flesh!  Drawing near to God invokes His transforming power in our hearts, continually conforming us into the image “of His son”!  It’s not our attempting to convince God that our desires ought to be rubber-stamped with His “OK”!  When we keep our eyes on Jesus, He will continually change our heart, our mind and our direction!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

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.”  Romans 12:1-2

Amen and Amen!!!

My Hope Is In Thee??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 22

26 Sunday Jan 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Armor of God, HOPE, If not now? When?, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 22  My Hope Is In Thee???

 

“Behold,

the eye of the LORD

is upon them

that fear him,

upon them

that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul

from death,

and to keep them

alive in famine.

20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD:

he is our help

and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice

in him,

because we have trusted

in his holy name.

22 Let thy mercy, O LORD,

be upon us,

according as we hope in thee.” Psalm 33:18-22

As we think about the trials and troubles of life, we can sometimes be overwhelmed and become discouraged, but I want to lift our hearts to consider The Word of God today.  We need to continually remind ourselves of the faithfulness of God, for Satan comes with a vengeance to tell us that God doesn’t care!  His same old lies to “steal…to kill…and to destroy”—but we can, we must, “stand fast in the evil day”!

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd

giveth his life for the sheep.”   John 10:10-11

As Peter also reminds us, our enemy has already been overcome, we can walk in confidence and hope!  Yet we must remember to walk in God’s ways and trust HIS ways for life.  Don’t settle for the lies of the enemy—he will rob your joy and delight in The Lord!  But like the liar he is, Satan will lead you down a path of destruction, trading the real for cheap imitations of life.

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth for you.

 8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom

he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast

in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect,

stablish,

strengthen,

settle you.

11 To him be glory

and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.”  1 Peter 5:6-11

Oh, how glad I am that my hope and confidence rest in JESUS, not myself!  Yet we have a work to do, a life of obedience wherein we seek the face of God, not the admiration of the world!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

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.”  Romans 12:1-2

We live in a world continually trying to conform us to its ways, Satan will use any device or scheme to draw our eyes off of Jesus and the ways of God!  We must choose to stand fast and hold on to The One who gave Himself for us.  Paul called the Ephesians to “walk worthy” of The Lord who had given them “new life”!  I’d like to share a rather lengthy passage from this letter to the Ephesians for our perusal.

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about

with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait

to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth

in love,

may grow up

into him in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body

fitly joined together

and compacted

by that which every joint supplieth,

according to the effectual working

in the measure

of every part,

maketh increase of the body

unto the edifying

of itself

in love.

17 This I say therefore,

and testify in the Lord,

that ye henceforth walk

not as other Gentiles walk,

in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened,

being alienated

from the life of God

through the ignorance

that is in them,

because of the blindness

of their heart:

19 Who being past feeling

have given themselves

over unto lasciviousness,

to work all uncleanness

with greediness.

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

21 If so be that ye have heard him,

and have been taught by him,

as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation

the old man,

which is corrupt

according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man,

which after God

is created in righteousness

and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying,

speak every man truth with his neighbour:

for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry,

and sin not:

let not the sun go down

upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole

steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have to give

to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace

unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:

32 And be ye kind

one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”   Ephesians 4:14-32

I would simply ask you to ponder these things as you go about your week; don’t consider what I think is right or what you think is right, but consider what God says is right—worthy of a child of The King!  Behaving as such—”child-like” in our faith but never  “child-ish” in our actions.  And that is often a difficult thing as we live in a world steeped in selfish, childishness—everyone clamoring to get their own way. Instead may we heed the call of verse 32 and pursue kindness and forgiveness—” even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”!

And if you’ve never experienced the forgiveness of Jesus, you can call on Him today.

“Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks

 unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness

of sins:”  Colossians 1:11-14

Jesus is ever calling to YOU!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in

to him,

and will sup

with him,

and he

with me.”   Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

What Are You Sitting On??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #620

24 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Born Again, Building on The Rock or The Sand?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #620      What Are You Sitting On???

 

I’d like to take some time today to call each of us to examine ourselves to see what we are counting on.  What foundation have you laid for your life.  As an old adage says, “Every pot sits on its own bottom!”  I’ve often heard it said that, “There are no grandchildren in heaven”—simply meaning each individual must be born again themselves, you won’t get in on mother’s or grandmother’s coattails!  We can’t count on someone else to get us to heaven.  John chapter one tells us there is only one way to God/heaven and that’s to become “sons of God” by being born again!

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 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:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:11-13

The main thing I want us to ponder today is, what have you/I done with Jesus?  Are you resting on HIS foundation—the foundation of the sacrifice of His death, burial, and resurrection for sin—or are you sitting on sinking sand? (See 1 Cor 15:1-6)

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great

was the fall of it.”  Matthew 7:24-27

We often miss the import of this precious passage that Jesus taught, and write it off to a cute little children’s song; but this is the import of life—what have you done with Jesus.  Have you heard His Word and rejected it, and built on the sinking sand?  The parable here implies that both houses looked alike on the outside, but the foundation will tell the tale.  We can fool other people, we can fool our friends, we can even fool our parents, you may even be fooling yourself—but you can’t fool God!  And the foundation will reveal itself when the trials come—the storms of life—and they will come!  Jesus doesn’t say “if they come”—but “when they come”!

So, the question we need to consider today can make the difference between life and death; sinking or standing; knowing Jesus and walking in His strength and power, or your own.  The choice is yours but choose wisely there is a test!  And there is a storm on the way!   What are you standing/sitting on?  I pray that you are standing on the Rock of Ages—Jesus!

Amen and Amen!!!