Category Archives: Abiding In Jesus

That Attitude Of Gratitude??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #150

02 Thursday Nov 2023

Posted by in A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Attitude of Gratitude, Glory To God, God's Presence Not Presents, Good Neighbor, Good News, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity

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That Attitude Of Gratitude???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #150

November has arrived—the month of cool temperatures (although we ended October here in Oklahoma with a week-long time of night freezes, not just frosts as we usually do, but freezes and seasonably early cool days), colorful leaves, pumpkins, hayrides, and bonfires!  I do love November, not only for the fall colors and temperatures but also for the season of gratitude.  We enjoy the 4th Thursday in November as ‘Thanksgiving Day’ here in the US, but gratitude is an attitude that we all need to cultivate every day, especially those who believe in and follow Jesus.  So rather than the popular “Thanksgiving Train”, or “Days of Thanks”, I simply want us to share a focus on gratitude for most of this month, for it seems to me that we now live in a culture of ‘entitlements’ with no idea of gratitude. Let’s be the change!

The Psalmist has a lot to say about an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ so let’s take a look at Psalm 100 and ask God to mold our hearts into hearts of extreme gratitude—thankful to our God, The Creator of all things; and that we ask HIM to create in us a grateful heart that will spill over on all around us.

“1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD,

all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD

with gladness:

 come before his presence

 with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD

he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.”  Psalm 100:1-5

Oh to be the people of gratitude that will put a smile on the face of our Lord Jesus, Father God, and The Holy Spirit; that we can spread the smile of gratitude here on earth, for we will be shouting it in heaven.  Let’s practice our ‘attitude of gratitude’ today—and then again tomorrow!  Then repeat!!!

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude,

which no man could number,

of all nations, and kindreds,

 and people, and tongues,

stood before the throne,

and before the Lamb,

clothed with white robes,

and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying,

Salvation to our God

which sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne,

and about the elders

and the four beasts,

and fell before the throne on their faces,

and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,

and thanksgiving, and honour, and power,

and might,

be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”  Revelation 7:9-12

Amen and Amen!!!

A Blessing From Psalms??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #148

27 Friday Oct 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Blessed by God, Blessings from the Psalms, Encouragement, The Word, The Word Or The World?, There IS (Still) A Fountain, Worship?, YOU Can do ALL things through Jesus

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A Blessing From Psalms???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #148

Just a brief blessing for us today from the Psalms, always a treasure no matter what we may be facing.  I pray that you will find a special word in this varied passages!

“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.”  Psalm 1:1-3

Oh, that we could get our focus off of “prosperity” in this world and long for and pursue God’s blessings to “prosper” in what we do for Him, for others and to be found faithful before Him!  The only way we can do that is to heed the words of the Psalmist here and walk in the right way—the right places—and in right standing before The Lord Jesus Christ, and Father God by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit!

“But he knoweth the way that I take:

when he hath tried me,

I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps,

his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back

from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth

more than my necessary food.”  Job 23:10-12

I love the book of Job, and I remember the first time I saw this verse—I asked God to help me truly desire “the words of his mouth more than my necessary food”—and for me that’s quite an accomplishment to pursue, for I love food—how about you?  To pursue God’s Words as much as I do food would be an awesome goal, it’s one of mine; and while I don’t always succeed, I do try continually.  And to walk in God’s way is also my heart’s desire.

“Order my steps in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:133

One of my continual prayers is to be found of God in HIS ways rather than my own!  Remember Jesus said there was “none righteous/good”, the only righteousness that we can have must be imparted to us by the Redeemer’s blood bought salvation!

“The steps of a good man

are ordered by the LORD:

and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall,

he shall not be utterly cast down:

for the LORD upholdeth him

with his hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24

May you find encouragement and hope in The Word of God—He’s ever at work in His own, and you can trust to HIS care.  He has promised it to HIS own:

“… for he hath said,

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear what man shall do

unto me.”  Hebrews 13:5b-6.

Amen & Amen!!!

What Matters To You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #147

25 Wednesday Oct 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Clothed In His Righteousness, Distractions, Faith or Entertainment?, Faithful, Faithful Follower, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, For Such A Time As This, Not hearers only, Not Of This World, NOT the world's wisdom, Obedience, Obedient or NOT?, One Day Too Late?, Only Jesus, Only One Way

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What Matters To You???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #147

Sometimes it’s so hard to keep our focus on Jesus when we are distracted by the things of this world.  I went shopping yesterday for the first time in a long time, and the first time I went alone in a long time, so I went to my favorite antiques store—3 stories of amazingly lovely things of every sort and kind—and just browsed on my way along every aisle, and I couldn’t help but want this or that, and as I took thought of ‘what will I do with it’—do I really need it—can I afford it—is this just “I want” or something useful that I need or will enjoy?  All these thoughts went through my mind as I saw several things that I would love to have had—some for good reason or usefulness, others just because they were pretty!  As I told my friends who own the store, “I have good taste, I just don’t have money!”; and while that was in jest, it is often how we feel.  God has a few things (well a lot) to say about our desires, and the things that we allow to consume us; is it JESUS or the world?  People don’t particularly like to be around people who talk about Jesus all the time, or those who choose a lifestyle of modesty, simplicity, and generosity.  Many believers can’t share with others because they have obligated themselves to ‘pay for’ so many of the things of this world, they aren’t able to invest financially in God’s Kingdom or share with those in need!

“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

We are to focus on ‘following Jesus’ and living out that which HE has put within our hearts, not only His Holy Spirit, but the principles that are found in The Holy Word of God!  It seems that we have become so satisfied with the world’s “good opinion” that we have forgotten that Jesus said if we followed HIM there would be opposition—no opposition?  We might need to check out our ‘stand’.  Paul makes it clear and plain—there is a cost to following and obeying Jesus.  Are you following Jesus or the world?  It’s a question that only you can answer!

“Yea,

and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus

shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers

shall wax worse and worse,

deceiving,

and being deceived.

14 But continue thou

in the things which thou hast learned

and hast been assured of,

knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child

thou hast known the holy scriptures,

which are able to make thee wise

unto salvation

through faith

which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be

perfect,

thoroughly furnished

unto all good works.”   2 Timothy 3:12-17

Oh, how I pray that we will see what Paul saw, that God’s Word is our only hope of success in God’s work—and it is truly God’s work, not our own!  Jesus said it, and I am reminded of His words so often for I get distracted so easily. Even this morning as I’m writing this article—the kitchen, a husband in need, the phone, doing tasks in the middle of getting God’s work done—Oh, Lord Jesus, forgive my divided heart.  Help me keep my eyes on YOU!

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

 He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.”  John 15:5

Did you notice that Jesus referred twice in these verses from John 15 to our “fruit”; we are to bear fruit for HIS Kingdom, He didn’t call us to pursue prosperity, but heavenly fruit.  In fact, if we go back to the beginnings of His ministry, this principle is there too!

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through

nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

How do we get so distracted?  Partly because it’s everywhere around us, partly because we have allowed the enemy to have more sway in our hearts than our Lord!  I would like to share some verses for you to consider, and a list that you might want to lay before God and ask Him to show you and me where we need to change our focus!  Help us Jesus, to live in such a way that should you call us home (either in the air or through death) we will hear “well done, thou good and faithful servant….”!  That is the desire of my heart, and I fail as much as anyone, but I keep getting up and pressing on with my Lord—by HIS love, grace, and the power of HIS saving blood!  As I’ve often said, “Spiritual success, is getting up one more time than you fall!”

“Love not the world,

neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world,

the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh,

and the lust of the eyes,

and the pride of life,

is not of the Father,

but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away,

and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God

abideth for ever.”  1 John 2:15-17

“Behold, what manner of love

the Father hath bestowed upon us,

that we should be called the sons of God:

therefore the world knoweth us not,

because it knew him not.

2 Beloved,

now are we the sons of God,

and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:

but we know that,

when he shall appear,

we shall be like him;

for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him

purifieth himself,

even as he is pure.”  1 John 3:1-3

Do others know that Jesus is IN you/me?  Or are we hiding our light “under a bushel” (see Matthew 5:15+)?  I close with a rather lengthy passage, but there really isn’t a good place to interrupt what James wants us to hear.  May God open our hearts, our minds, and our eyes to see through the eyes of Jesus!  Bless Your Word Lord, to our “conform us” into the image of our Lord Jesus!  To God be the glory!

“From whence come wars and fightings among you?

come they not hence, even of your lusts

that war in your members?

Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask,

and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:

let your laughter be turned to mourning,

and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:1-10

A prayer list of worldliness:

Style & Fashion

Popularity & Wealth

Opinions (other than God’s)

Success Or Failure (in the world’s eyes)

Where you live

Your Politics

Your position (where you are, what you do, how you live)

           Your children’s success or lack thereof?

            Your hairstyle Or Your physique…???

Give it to Jesus!!!  “Let this mind be in you…” (Phil. 2:1-5)

Amen and Amen!!!

Listening NOW Is Best??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #146

23 Monday Oct 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Advice for the journey, All About Jesus!, Christ IN YOU, HOPE, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Redemption Through HIS Blood, Regrets, Restoration

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Listening NOW Is Best???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #146

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong

in the Lord,

and in the power of his might…

…11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil…

…13 Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.

14 Stand therefore…”. Portions of Ephesians 6:10-18

The armor of God is our essential to being able to “stand” for God, His truth, His Word, and His ways.  It makes me sad that today we are so deficient in teaching The Word of God not only to adults, but to our children.  We spend so much time entertaining them, giving them snacks and having ‘fun’ that there is little time to impress upon them the truths of God’s Word; and while I truly believe the the major deficiency is in the home, the church is also at fault.  It seems that we are so concerned with getting the “crowds” into our buildings, that we work to make them ‘feel good’ and forget that the convicting work of The Holy Spirit seldom ‘feels good’, but without it there will never be a real, genuine, or powerful work of God in our midst (and yes, that is my opinion).  Oh, that we might hear the voice of Jesus and turn our hearts and minds to Him that we might be able to “STAND” for truth in this “evil day”—and yes, my friends it is upon us!  Five times in this brief passage Paull reminds us to be ‘strong’ and to ‘stand’!  Will we stand on The Word of God or fail?

Jesus called us to stand for HIM and to follow HIM not the world, or the popular, or the plans, programs, and ideas that the world uses!  Now I am not against fun, I remember great and glorious times of fun, fellowship and delight as a child, but it never took the place of Bible Study or leaning The Word of God.  I remember two- and three-week Bible Schools, and revivals that lasted that long also—not just 3 days!  Don’t faint, they were amazing times of seeing God work, and we learned Bible verses by the score, many that I remember today came from that training of childhood; but that’s not the main thing I want to consider, but I do want us to base it all on The Word of God not my words; which I hope will help you, but our main-stay must be what God says, HE IS our Lode Star (a star that leads THE way!)

“Saying,

The Son of man must suffer many things,

and be rejected

 of the elders and chief priests and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life for my sake,

the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself,

or be cast away?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me

and of my words,

of him shall the Son of man be ashamed,

when he shall come in his own glory,

and in his Father’s,

and of the holy angels.”  Luke 9:22-26

 Let’s assess this from the bottom up, if you would, for I think we often quote these verses but miss a real part of the meaning.  We get it that denying Jesus will result in condemnation (See John 3:1-19) but we can reject Jesus in more subtle ways that we often miss, and for some that will be an eternally consequent error!  We can deny Jesus by rejecting His sacrifice, but we can also be guilty of rejecting Jesus’ Words—scripture—for living; and in our culture we are denying it wholesale—we deny the creative order of male and female and try to rewrite what Jesus said clearly and without hesitation—isn’t that denying HIS words?  We say that salvation is a “pray this prayer, say these words, and Jesus will save you”, leaving off any word of seeing sin as sin, repentance, or cross-bearing!  Would this not be denying Jesus?  What Gospel are we sharing?

We need to listen to God’s Word TODAY!  As a ‘senior citizen’ (and I’ll leave it at that, but I’ve lived a long time and have an abundance of regrets some of which I hope to help you avoid!) I have experiences that aren’t the thing I want to share, but I want to share with you the heartache of failing to heed Jesus’ Words, of delaying obedience to my Lord, of just plain missing the boat!  And I must tell you that the pain of regrets is a reality, but it has no comparison to the joy of obeying Jesus—when, where, and how HE calls us to be, do and follow Him, taking the cross to a lost and dying world.  The eternal destiny of others can be dependent upon our choice to obey or reject HIS call; what will we do with Jesus and His Word.  Are you in The Word enough to know what HE has said?  There is a joy to obeying God that has no equal.  I can’t tell you the joy I find in Jesus and obeying HIS call; but I can also tell you that the pain of regrets of failing HIM, and missing the mark are often painful reminders of my own sinful flesh—but praise God for forgiveness, cleansing and restoration to useful service!  I am so grateful that JESUS is The I AM—The One who CAN—The One who WILL!!

Don’t let the enemy come and destroy your joy over past regrets and failures—you go to 1 John 1:9 and do business with Jesus in confessing your sin and failures, asking for HIS open arms of forgiveness to wrap around you, and letting HIM cleanse you and restore whatever needs restoring (yet remembering that some times and things that we have broken, can’t be put back together, but if they can, HE will, and if not He gives us the grace to go on with open eyes to our failures, and confidence in HIS power to restore us to usefulness to HIM and HIS kingdom.  He’s waiting for you today!

“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.”  1 John 1:9-10

May we accept HIS love and care for us or be lost because we cling to our own way, our own righteousness, and miss heaven by a regret!  Remember Jesus’ own message to the church at Laodicea—a church who thought they had it all, but Jesus was ‘outside’ knocking on the door!  Are you in the church, but not IN Jesus?  He’s still calling!  Won’t you open the door and let The Master save, heal, and equip you for HIS service!  Jesus does good work—as I heard once, “Jesus doesn’t make any ‘Junk’!”

“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

I pray that you will hear HIS voice and open that door!

Amen and Amen!!!

Nothing Or Something??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #145

18 Wednesday Oct 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abiding In The Vine, Advice for the journey, All About Jesus!, Almost But Lost, Amazing Grace, Are you clean?, Are You Ready, Are you ready for Jesus' return?, Are you ready?, Grace, Greater is HE that is IN US!, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Something out of nothing

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Nothing Or Something???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #145

 

I have a relatively brief word for us today—and I say ‘us’, for I need this reminder and encouragement today, and thought you might as well.

Jesus’ message to His disciples just before His death, calls us to devotion with a most solemn statement of truth that we need to be reminded of—or maybe it’s just me?  Either way, let’s dig in.

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.”  John 15:1-5

Without Jesus, I would be nothing, but HE took this cracked pot—broken in pieces—and made it all anew by HIS blood, HIS love, HIS forgiveness, and HIS grace.  He gave me (and you, if you’ve been truly born again!) HIS indwelling Holy Spirit to guide me into HIS truth, by knowing HIS WORD, to convict, to encourage, to lead and intercede when we have no words!  OH what a Savior Friend is Jesus, and because of what HE has done in/for me, I can truly be one of God’s creations of ‘something out of nothing’, as Paul made clear.

“As it is written,

There is none righteous,

no, not one:” Romans 3:10

Because I was a lost and wandering sinner (even within and active in a church—a good church) Jesus came to me and broke my heart for my own sin and saved me.  I fell on my face before HIM, broken and wretched—I got up redeemed, forgiven and cleansed.  OH, what a Savior– to do for me what no one else could do, not even myself.  And because of what HE has done, I/we can now say “I CAN”!  All because Jesus said…”I AM”…”I can”….”I will”!  And HE did it all for you and me on Calvary!

“I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

Press on my friend, if you know Jesus walk on in power, grace, love, and wisdom; if you don’t know HIM, you can by hearing the voice of God’s Holy Spirit calling to your heart to see your sin as sin, to turn to Jesus in repentance of that very sin—yes all of it—and believing/trusting in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for your sin and mine!  OH, what a Savior!  Oh, what a friend!!!  I am praying for you even now!

“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 1:12-14

Amen and Amen!!!