Category Archives: A heart of faith

Joy Of The Lord??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #318

27 Monday Jan 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Jesus-Wonderful Counselor, Joy Is Contagious!, Joy of The Lord!, Joy To The World?, SIN, Sin IS the issue, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word, Victorious Living, Victory IN Jesus!, Walking by Faith or Sight?, Walking With Jesus, Well Done Thou good and faithful servant!, What's coming out of your heart., What's coming out of YOUR mouth?, Where your treasure is--Your heart is!, Who's in your heart?, Whole Earth Is Filled with HIS Glory, Whose Side Are You On?, YOU Can do ALL things through Jesus

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Joy Of The Lord???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #318

“And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha,

and Ezra the priest the scribe,

and the Levites that taught the people,

said unto all the people,

This day is holy unto the LORD your God;

mourn not, nor weep.

For all the people wept,

when they heard the words of the law

10 Then he said unto them,

Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet,

and send portions unto them

for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our Lord:

neither be ye sorry;

for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying,

Hold your peace,

for the day is holy;

neither be ye grieved.”  Nehemiah 8:9-11

While many of us are familiar with part of this passage, “the joy of the LORD is your strength”, the context is often overlooked, and that is what I want to share briefly with you this morning.

We do have an assured “joy of the LORD” and what Nehemiah, Ezra and the other leaders of Israel/Judah who had returned to Jerusalem after the 70-years in Babylon, wanted to remind the people of was that their toil in rebuilding was to be a holy encouragement to them!  They were weeping and experiencing great grief over the loss of Solomon’s temple because of their sin.  And while we can go back and read Ezra and Nehemiah in their totality and see that the people still had issues with sin,  their leaders were calling them in this passage to rejoice in The Lord and what He has done for them in this return!

Many of us have suffered through the rubble of life and there are times that the grief is overwhelming when we see the results and consequences of our sinful, selfish, fleshly choices!  But when we have repented of our sin and failure before our God, we can get up and press on in this “joy of the LORD” which truly “is your strength”!  God has made it clear in His Word that when we repent—He will forgive.  John makes this clear in his first letter.

“If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.

2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you,

that ye sin not.

And if any man sin,

we have an advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins:

and not for ours only,

but also for the sins

of the whole world.”  1 John 1:6-2:2

In closing I just want to encourage you and myself to remember that God says what He means, and He means what He says; and when we come to Jesus in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin, we can be born again to new life in Jesus, and forgiveness of our sins.  But what so many of us forget, is that we are continuing to walk in a sinful world, and it does rub off on us—yet we have

“an advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins:

and not for ours only,

but also for the sins

of the whole world”!

So, the question is one we all have to answer; have I been born again and received Jesus’ payment of my sin debt.  I’ll leave you with a couple of passages that make it simple and true.

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

I pray that you will find and grow in Jesus’ knowing that “the joy of the LORD is your strength”!

Amen and Amen!!!

Trusting With Confidence??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #314

14 Tuesday Jan 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Armor of God, Believe God?, Believe IN Jesus, Believing God's Words, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Stand Fast!, Still Will I Trust HIM, Storms, Study to Show Yourself Approved Unto God, Trials, Troubles, Trust, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True

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Trusting With Confidence???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #314

I’m a bit late posting this week, but as I’ll be out of pocket for the rest of this week, I wanted to share some thoughts with you; not new thoughts, but things that I need reminding of every day, and thought maybe you would be blessed by the same reminders. This year has already been challenging, with the release of my book, and juggling orders, mailing, taxes, and keeping things straight and done in a timely manner, but God in His heaven hasn’t left the throne and I know that my confidence is in HIM not myself, and maybe you feel the same way.  But remember, as I am often known to remind those around me, “We Win!”

“And I heard as it were

the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice

of many waters,

and as the voice

of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”   Revelation 19:6

God is still God, God is still good, and I still trust Him!  How about you?  Have you let the strife, conflicts, confusion, and just plain old weariness beat you down? Just take a breath, look up and rest in the assurance that “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”; put on some uplifting praise music (for me that’s the good old Southern Gospel that I was raised on) whatever lifts your heart, soul and mind upwards, then just breathe in the air that God is still supplying.  Put on that armor of God as Paul instructs us in Ephesians 6:10-19 (be sure and commit this to memory and then you can put it on every morning before you face the world—it truly helps!) and go out with confidence in your Lord!  And if Jesus isn’t your Lord yet, He can be if you will but come to Him in faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for your sin, repenting of your sin and receiving His forgiveness and saving grace!  His amazing grace!!!  (See Ephesians 2:8-10)

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall

direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.”  Proverbs 3:5-8

And in Jesus’ own words, remember, He cares for His own.

“Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 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.

12 But he that is an hireling,

and not the shepherd,

whose own the sheep are not,

seeth the wolf coming,

and leaveth the sheep,

and fleeth:

and the wolf catcheth them,

and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth,

because he is an hireling,

and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd,

and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me,

even so know I the Father:

and I lay down my life for the sheep.”   John 10:7-15

Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation, and He is able to save, keep and deliver us into His Kingdom!  You can trust to His care, no matter the trials that face you; no matter the confusion that Satan may through at you; no matter the discouragement that may assail you, remember Jesus is the Risen Savior.  We can be victorious in all things through Him.

And Paul’s great reminder to the believers in the church at Corinth is still true for us today. We can withstand “in the evil day”!

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”                                1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Amen and Amen!!!

Following Jesus Into 2025??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #312

05 Sunday Jan 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Encouragement, Eternal Treasures, Examine Myself?, Faith, Faithful, Faithful Follower, Faithfulness, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, For Such A Time As This, Perilous Times Are Here, Persecution, Perseverance, Suffering With Jesus, Take Up YOUR Cross

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Following Jesus Into 2025???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #312

 

As we go into this new year of 2025, I would like to share a most impactful but often overlooked passage from the Apostle Peter; a passage that can challenge our often-presumptuous attitude toward God and what we consider as our “privilege” in being God’s children.  Suffering is often the call of true believers; yet what is our attitude toward this scriptural principle?  Today we’ll consider truth, first of all from Jesus, then from Peter.  And let me clarify something before I even print it, and that is when Jesus refers to asking anything “in my name” it isn’t a heavenly slot machine using Jesus’ name; rather it is seeking “first the Kingdom of God…and His righteousness…”!  When we put God first, we’ll know His will and not only pursue it but follow it faithfully.  And just FYI, if you’re popular with the world, you may want to examine your relationship with Jesus (not judging simply making an observation, Jesus did!)

“Ye have not chosen me,

but I have chosen you,

and ordained you,

that ye should go and bring forth fruit,

and that your fruit should remain:

that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father

in my name,

he may give it you.

17 These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me

before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him that sent me.”   John 15:16-21

Peter seems to restate the case for persecution of the believers by reminding us of the example of Jesus.  I pray that you will ponder this call to faithful service to our King regardless of the cost.

“Honour all men.

Love the brotherhood.

Fear God.

Honour the king.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters

with all fear;                                   (respect not terror)

not only to the good and gentle,

but also to the froward.  (unreasonable)

19 For this is thankworthy,

if a man for conscience toward God

endure grief,

suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it,

if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins

in his own body

on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:17-25

As another side note, we are healed from sin by His stripes, so that we can live unto righteousness (See 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).  I would also encourage you to read on into chapter 3 for more advice for our homes; remembering that what we live before our children is much more important than just our words.  I pray that God will help me to be more of what He has called me to be—by His grace, through His power, and for His glory.   Won’t you join me in concentrating on our pursuit of God this year—today, and today and the next today!!!

“This is the day which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

Amen and Amen!!!

 

The Word–Jesus??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #305

20 Friday Dec 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, The Word, The Word Or The World?, There IS (Still) A Fountain

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The Word–Jesus???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #305

I want to share John’s account of Jesus—not His birth, in particular, but His self-existent nature as God Almighty, The Son!  Jesus Christ The Lord!  John didn’t start at the manger, or the angels appearing to Zacharias or Mary, he went back to Genesis!  He wanted us to know that Jesus IS God and ever will be.  People say that Jesus never claimed to be God, but I beg to differ!

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

When we belong to Jesus by being born again, we belong to God The Father, and The Son, and the Holy Spirit (also God) is given to us—to conform us to the image of The Son!  May we take this time of celebrating His incarnation and bow before Him in joyful gratitude for His gift – the gift of Himself, dying as our substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for all who will come to Him in repentance of our sin, and trust in the blood He shed for me.  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.  Let’s see John’s description of the arrival of God in flesh!

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God,

whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness,

to bear witness of the Light,

that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light,

but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light,

which lighteth every man

that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 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.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”  John 1:1-14

This WORD came to save—He lived truth, He spoke truth, in truth He died for sin, and He rules and reigns today, and HE is coming again.  I pray that your celebration includes The Savior’s birth and His return.

Amen and Amen!!!

A Christmas Fortnight??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #301

15 Sunday Dec 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Jesus call, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Mighty God, Past-Present-Future, Prince of Peace, Salvation, The Word, Wonderful Counselor!

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A Christmas Fortnight???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #301

Continuing the reposts for Christmas due to my injured finger.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #122 A Christmas Fortnight-Wonderful Counselor?

“For unto us

 a child is born,

unto us

a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace

there shall be no end,

upon the throne of David,

and upon his kingdom,

to order it,

and to establish it

with judgment

and with justice

from henceforth even for ever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts

will perform this.” Is. 9:6-7

Unto us the promise was and is given!  A child would be given! And “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this”!!  This child would come because God would send HIM, and He would be the ‘wonderful counselor’!!!

Wonderful: inspiring delight, pleasure or admiration; extremely good, marvelous.

Counselor: one who gives guidance, one trained to give guidance.

Jesus would be, is and ever shall be the most wonderful of counselors.  And what would He counsel us about?  Let’s see.

Revelation 3:17-18:

“Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not that

thou art wretched,

and miserable,

 and poor,

and blind,

and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me

gold tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness

do not appear;

 and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.”

Jesus’ advice in a nutshell: Let Him speak to your heart, reveal your sin and then receive HIM as the only cure for your sin problem.  No matter how much we ‘SAY’ that we are sufficient unto ourselves, Jesus reveals the truth of our heart.  But praise God; He doesn’t just leave us there.  He offers to supply (gold), clothes (white garments), and open our eyes to see!!!  To see Him—God, our Redeemer, Jesus!!!

Isaiah 55:1-2,

“Ho, every one that thirsteth,

come ye to the waters,

and he that hath no money;

come ye, buy, and eat;

yea, come,

buy wine and milk without money

and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money

for that which is not bread?

and your labour

for that which satisfieth not?

hearken diligently unto me,

and eat ye that which is good,

and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”

Jesus is our delight, HE who gave HIMSELF for us!!!

John 10:14-15,

“I am the good shepherd,

and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me,

even so know I the Father:

and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

He willingly laid down HIS life for us to have LIFE!!!

Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”

This ‘Wonderful Counselor” can be our salvation because He Redeemed us with HIS OWN BLOOD.  Jesus laid down HIS life that He could take it back again after 3 days and be victorious over sin, death and hell for all who would believe in HIM.

Revelation 5:9-10,

“And they sung a new song, saying,

Thou art worthy to take the book,

and to open the seals thereof:

for thou wast slain,

and hast redeemed us to God

by thy blood

out of every kindred,

and tongue,

and people,

and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God

kings and priests:

and we shall reign on the earth.”

Jesus, the babe, came to die for YOU and ME!!!  If you know Him–praise Him, thank Him and live for Him that the world may know!!  If you don’t know Him—you can today.  Listen to His voice speaking to your heart, repent of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection to be sufficient to save you, because:

“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.” Rev. 3:20

Won’t you open the door today??

Amen and Amen!!!