Author Archives: Blanche

His Blessings Abound??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #425

05 Friday Jan 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Knowing God's Word, The Word, The Word Or The World?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #425 His Blessings Abound???

 

I would like to share a favorite passage of mine with you this morning. As we’re still in the “New Year” mode, it seems to be a good time to rehearse the goodness of God, and set our hearts and minds on pleasing Him in all our ways.

Sometimes the enemy deceives us into believing that we can just ‘go with the flow’ and live a life that is pleasing to God, but I think we must determine to be focused on God, His Son Jesus, and His Word, as we yield to and listen to the indwelling Holy Spirit in all our ways. The choice is ours, but the consequences will follow the bent of our choices. Even as Paul told the Galatians:

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”   Galatians 6:7 (Choices have consequences!)

And as we strive to sow to “The Spirit” and not ‘the flesh’, the Psalmist paints a most vivid picture of the difference between the options of our walk. I pray that this will be an encouragement to you today, as you wind up your week. May we each use our time wisely as we strive to know and experience God’s blessings in all our ways!

“Blessed is the man

that walketh not in the counsel

of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way

of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat

of the scornful.

2 But his delight is

in the law of the LORD;

and in his law doth he meditate

day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree

planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit

in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth

shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so:

but are like the chaff which the wind

driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly

shall not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation

of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knoweth

the way of the righteous:

but the way of the ungodly

shall perish.” Psalm 1:1-6

My prayer for you today is taken from Paul’s prayer for the Colossian Christians; I pray this for myself as well as each of you—May we ever grow in the “knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”! Amen and Amen!

“For this cause we also,

since the day we heard it,

do not cease to pray for you,

and to desire that ye might be filled

with the knowledge of his will

in all wisdom

and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord

unto all pleasing,

being fruitful in every good work,

and increasing

in the knowledge of God;”    Colossians 1:9-10

Pressing On God’s Way??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #424

03 Wednesday Jan 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Dare To Be Different!, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Let You Light So Shine, Living Right, The Only Way, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #424 Pressing On God’s Way???

 

I have been mostly ‘off’ of Facebook for a while, except for posting my Bible Ballistics Blog, yet I have noticed a lot of posts advising people to “detox” in the New Year—get rid of people who are ‘negative’, lie, cheat, etc.! As I noticed these ideas, I couldn’t help but think, “I’m so glad that God doesn’t “detox” Himself of us when we mess up.”

Now I don’t believe we are to allow people to corrupt our hearts and minds with bad behaviors, but I do think we need to get back to thinking biblically and behaving towards others remembering that God has extended grace, mercy and forgiveness to us. I seriously think we need to stop being ‘taught’ and ‘trained’ in our faith, and behavior by the national media, social media, television and the movies. We need to do that which pleases God NOT man. While we are called to be aware of those around us, and to call them to a higher plain, we are to do it with truth and grace.

“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:” Ephesians 4:14-15

We are called to speak the truth in love—never discarding people because we don’t like their behavior; but by our life, love and example calling them to a higher plane that only Jesus lift us to! And when we hold ourselves to that ‘higher’ call, others will often do one of two things; they will desire to know the One whom we follow, or they will hate what we say and walk away in disgust. But we are to maintain our integrity, even as Job declared his confidence in God before his friends who were ready and willing to condemn him unjustly. We march to a different drummer!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.” Job 13:15

Job understood that it is God who set the standard; it is God who will judge what we do with it; and Job was committed to live a life of integrity before God, regardless of what others thought of him. We who claim to follow Jesus can do no less! Yet we are to be cautious of our intimate companions—for they can affect our heart and our mind.

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

And another passage from Paul reminds us that we are to press on in The Spirit not the flesh—and believe me (as you’ve seen for yourself), social media is inundated with the flesh!!!

“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.

10 As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them

who are of the household of faith.”   Galatians 6:7-10

While we are called to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (See Matt. 10:16), it is to be from a heart filled with the “love of God” which has been “shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” and that ought never to be diluted with the hatred of the world! (See Ro. 5:1-10)

So I challenge each of us today, to determine in our hearts and minds to be a true reflection of Jesus to the dark and wicked world around us—uncorrupted by the “wiles of the devil”! We can choose to be “bitter” in the flesh, or we can choose to be “better” by the power of God’s Spirit and His Word working within us and manifested before others!

“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 4:31-32

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

Press on dear ones—Press on for Jesus!!! Amen and Amen!

Be Ye Holy, But How??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 23

31 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by in Confidence, Dare To Be Different!, Holiness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.23 Be Ye Holy, But How???

 

As we think about this New Year’s Eve and going into 2018, I just want to share a brief word with you today, that I hope will challenge us all to approach this time of new beginnings with a hope and a goal for pleasing God. May that my friends, be our hearts desire for each day—today and into each tomorrow!

“And he said unto them,

It is not for you to know the times

or the seasons,

which the Father

hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power,

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses

unto me

both in Jerusalem,

and in all Judaea,

and in Samaria,

and unto the uttermost part

of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8

Jesus reminded his disciples that they were to wait before they went out—wait for the promised indwelling Holy Spirit! They were to wait and not go in their own power, but to go after they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and then go forth being “witnesses unto me”! And to be His witnesses, we must walk in the power of HIS Spirit, not our own flesh. That is what enables us to “be” Holy as God calls us to be.

“Then Peter said unto them,

Repent,

and be baptized every one of you

in the name of Jesus Christ

for the remission of sins,

and ye shall receive

the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you,

and to your children,

and to all that are afar off,

even as many

as the Lord our God shall call.”    Acts 2:38-39

We can only do God’s work God’s way—by the power of His Holy Spirit. It’s one of the reasons that Paul calls us to “walk in the Spirit” not the flesh, to allow the holiness of God working within us to be seen by the world.

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh……….

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”    Galatians 5:16 & 25

When we walk in Jesus’ Holy Spirit, we are enabled to be a reflection of God’s holiness and glory before a world of darkness and corruption. It won’t be very popular, but it will be noticed—and it will make a difference, whether we ‘see’ that difference or not! We are to do God’s work as we go from day to day, everywhere we go, in all we do—we are to “be” holy!

“Wherefore, my beloved,

as ye have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only,

but now much more in my absence,

work out your own salvation

with fear

and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you

both to will

and to do

of his good pleasure.”    Philippians 2:12-13

Paul isn’t calling us to work “for” our salvation, but to “work out” what God has put within us—His Spirit! Just as he told the Galatians, when we will “Walk in the Spirit” and “live in the Spirit” we will be living in God’s power and not our own, and we can join Paul in declaring one of my favorite principles of living out a ‘holy’ life before those around us.

“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.”   Galatians 2:20

And when we come to live the crucified life, we will find that we are walking and living a life that is pleasing to our God!

“But as he which hath called you

is holy,

so be ye

holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”   1 Peter 1:15-16

Amen and Amen. And in closing I’d like to share some thoughts that I wrote down earlier this year, and they seem to be an appropriate way to bring this year to a close and go forward in hope, confidence and the power of our God, living lives that will make a difference in HIS Kingdom.

       Real “Holiness”

              isn’t a denomination– 

              or even a church—

              but it is the expression, the manifestation—

                      of a mind set on Jesus–

                      of a heart yielded to God—

                      of a life lived in pursuit of

                             the pleasure and

                             the approval of God!

It is a life lived in humble obedience to The One who holds our affection, devotion and gratitude— 

Not because we have to — 

              but because we love God—

                     and we love making HIM smile!     Blanche Brittain 2017

May you have a blessed and Holy New Year pursuing God?

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

Jeremiah Wasn’t A Bullfrog!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #423

29 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Compassion, Confidence, Jeremiah Wasn't A Bullfrog !, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Joy To The World?, No Sin No Need?, Perseverance, SIN, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #423  Jeremiah Wasn’t A Bullfrog!!!

 

I know my schedule has been off lately, but with technical issues and personal issues, it’s been a bit of a challenge to stay on track recently; but hopefully, we have all the techno things taken care of, and the other issues are getting better. So I just wanted to share a thought with you this morning, and while it may seem a little strange, it really reflects how I am feeling going into the New Year.\

While Jeremiah wasn’t a ‘bullfrog’, he was a great, faithful prophet of God—in fact he is called the weeping prophet because he ministered to the people of Judah for some forty years, with little visible response, because the people of his day thought that they were all “OK”! And I believe that is where we here in the U.S. are, in that same place; and I often relate to Jeremiah and his broken heart for the people that he ministered to. May I ever be as faithful to my calling as Jeremiah was to his, and the passage that I would like to share with you today epitomizes that sense of grief and sorrow that he felt (and I do also) over those around us!

“The harvest is past,

the summer is ended,

and we are not saved.

21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people

am I hurt;

I am black;

astonishment hath taken hold on me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead;

is there no physician there?

why then is not the health

of the daughter of my people

recovered?”   Jeremiah 8:20-22

Jeremiah asked the rhetorical question that many who follow Jesus are asking today, including me, “why then is not …. my people recovered”? Why isn’t America saved? Why isn’t the world saved? Why is there a “cure” for sin, but most refuse to acknowledge the ‘cure’? Because most are denying the diagnosis—SIN!

And if there is no sin, then there is no need for a redeemer. Jesus Himself, told us that He wouldn’t be popular, and most would reject Him! Even those around Him couldn’t see who He was, because of SIN!

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.”     Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus told us that the “many” would take the popular “broad” way, and only a “few” would take His narrow way—the way of the cross. Why? Jesus gave Nicodemus the answer to that question:

“He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.”     John 3:18-20

We can choose to trust in Jesus and His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for our sin, or we can cling to our sin and take the “broad” way to destruction. You can choose to run with the “bullfrog” named Jeremiah, or you can come to Jesus and receive a “Jeremiah” heart that God can use to reach others. And remember that many whom God calls, He sends out to meet the world with tears of genuine compassion and love. But remember, God’s ways aren’t our ways. Which road will you choose? Who will you follow? May we ever join the Psalmist in understanding that the harvest is worth the planting? Or as I’ve been known to say, ‘The blooms are worth the wait!”

“The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth,

bearing precious seed,

shall doubtless come again

with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves with him.”    Psalm 126:3-6

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

 

 

Forgive Us This Day??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #422

28 Thursday Dec 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Forgiveness, Jesus Is The Only Way!, My Grace Is Sufficient, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #422  Forgive Us This Day???

 

As we approach a new year, I want to do a little “house-cleaning” for the soul and I invite you to join me. One of the things that tend to hide from our view is unforgiveness, and it is a killer—it kills our joy, our peace, and our ability to obediently go forward with Jesus.

In the ‘Model Prayer’ Jesus reveals the import of forgiveness to every believer.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day

our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory,

for ever.

Amen.”   Matthew 6:9-13

Jesus calls us to forgive, not just because He ‘says so’, but because we are ever seeking God’s forgiveness! How can we claim to be children of God, who are forgiven, yet withhold forgiveness from those who have offended us? What sin could I justly fail to forgive others of that would be equal to or greater than the sin that God has forgiven me of? There is none! But so often we look at our own sin through those “rose-colored glasses”, rather than seeing sin as God sees it. We can incur God’s judgment and discipline in our lives when we hold others to a different standard than ourselves. So just a simple reminder for us all today, God has called us to judge rightly or not at all.

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:1-2

Without getting into the great debate, Jesus doesn’t call us to ‘never’ judge, but to judge with right judgment. And the place where that must begin is with “me”.

“For if we would judge ourselves,

we should not be judged.

32 But when we are judged,

we are chastened of the Lord,

that we should not be condemned

with the world.”    1 Corinthians 11:31-32

Another thing that we learn from the Apostle Paul is that we should always recognize that our sin debt was immeasurable; we can never save ourselves—for we truly are ‘sinners’ saved by God’s grace and the blood of Jesus.

“And the grace of our Lord

was exceeding abundant

with faith

and love

which is in Christ Jesus.

15 This is a faithful saying,

and worthy of all acceptation,

that Christ Jesus came into the world

to save sinners;

of whom I am chief.”     1 Timothy 1:14-15

Jesus came “to save sinners; of whom I am chief”, and praise God He did!!! I am surely glad that He has forgiven me! How about you? Are you holding others to a higher standard than you think God holds you too? Or are you judging rightly, and extending to others the grace and forgiveness, which you have received? One of my favorite verses, which I still have to remind myself of, says it all:

“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

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:29-32

I’m to guard my heart, guard my mouth, bringing no grief to The Holy Spirit, as I refuse the wrong and cling to the right, “kindly” forgiving others because I AM forgiven!

Amen and Amen!!!