Category Archives: The Word

Thanksgiving Joy??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #413

22 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by in Attitude of Gratitude, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Gratitude, Longsuffering, Patience, Perseverance, Thanksgiving, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #413 Thanksgiving Joy????

 

Tomorrow is the day that we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the US, but we ought to be a thankful people every day! What are you thankful for today? Are you thankful? Have the trials and troubles of life drained your ‘attitude of gratitude’? I hope we can boost our thankfulness quotient today as we prepare for a day of celebration, family, reflection, and hopefully time looking up to the One who gave HIS life for us!

One of my favorite ‘thanksgiving’ passages is a little different than you might expect, yet it is a passage that often weighs heavy on my heart, for I need continual reminding of the heart that I desire to live out before the world. A heart of gratitude toward God—but even more!

“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;

11 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:”     Colossians 1:9-12

We are called to give “thanks” unto God our Father, but I don’t want us to miss the way we are to be “giving thanks”! We are called to be thankful with “all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”! Ouch!!! Now you know why I said earlier that this passage weighs heavy on my heart! Not just because sometimes I forget to keep my attitude of gratitude, but also because God calls us to an even higher plain—God calls His own to be thankful with ‘patience’, ‘longsuffering’, and ‘joyfulness’! Oh my, the “P” word! Yes, patience. As my husband is often heard to say, “I have patience, there are just times I can’t use it!” We all have trials that are sent to help us develop patience—and the two words used here—patience and longsuffering—deal with two different aspects of patience; one deals with our circumstances and the other deals with people. We are called to keep a grateful attitude and spirit with patience in our difficult circumstances, and also to “suffer long” with those people in our lives who are so good at ‘pushing our buttons’! Ouch again! But that’s not all—we are to do all this with “joyfulness”! How?

Well, I’m not claiming to have the answer to that question, but I would like to offer some insight, if I can. We can only be ‘joyful’ in difficulties as we remember that it is God who holds us, God who saves us, God who gave His only Son to die for us, God who sustains our every breath, and HE is trustworthy! When we trust in the God who IS able to sustain us, we can have hope in the midst of turmoil, comfort in the midst of pain, and power to overcome our circumstances and the difficult people we encounter.

“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.”   Proverbs 3:5-6

Trusting God in our difficulties will build our confidence, and as our confidence grows, we will gain more gratitude and be a testament to it in our every way. James reminds us of the import of looking to God in the good times as well as the difficult—because our God is in charge of both.

“My brethren, count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect

and entire, wanting nothing.”   James 1:2-4

When we trust ourselves to God with patience, longsuffering and joy—we will stand out in a world of discontent and continual manipulation! We have a higher call! Will we answer that call today, and take time to focus on being thankful to God? Remember, it is all from HIM!

“Every good gift

and every perfect gift

is from above,

and cometh down

from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.”     James 1:17

Take some time to count your blessings—they are many!!!

Welcome Home??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 18

19 Sunday Nov 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Be Fruitful And Multiply!, I Will Never Leave You, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, The Only Way, The Word, Walking With Jesus, Welcome Home

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.18    Welcome Home???

 

We’ve been on the road for the last week or so, and I’m reminded again of the beauty and warmth of ‘home’! But what is home, really? I’d like to share a few thoughts with you today about home, what it means to me, and what I think we need to remember about “home’!

We often have sentimental thoughts about home, and that’s ok, but home is more than sentiment! Home is the entity that God created to help man be all that God created him to be! Home is the incubator of humanity—good or bad!

“And God said,

Let us make man

in our image,

after our likeness:

and let them have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over the cattle,

and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing

that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God

created he him;

male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them,

Be fruitful,

and multiply,

and replenish the earth,

and subdue it:

and have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over every living thing

that moveth upon the earth.”  Genesis 1:26-28

God created us to fill the earth with humankind, to rule over all that HE had placed on the earth for them, and the home and family were God’s plan for accomplishing that! And while we have perverted it to the ultimate –God’s plan hasn’t changed. He created man and woman for each other—to fulfill His purposes for all mankind!

“And the LORD God said,

It is not good that the man should be alone;

I will make him an help meet for him.

19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed

every beast of the field,

and every fowl of the air;

and brought them unto Adam

to see what he would call them:

and whatsoever Adam called every living creature,

that was the name thereof.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field;

but for Adam there was not found

an help meet

for him.

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib,

which the LORD God had taken

from man,

made he a woman,

and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said,

This is now bone of my bones,

and flesh of my flesh:

she shall be called Woman,

because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave

his father and his mother,

and shall cleave

unto his wife:

and they shall be one flesh.

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”   Genesis 2:18-25

God created a “home” by bringing together the man and the woman to become one—to be “one” in the image of God. To come together for one another to dispel the loneliness through companionship of husband and wife; Eve was brought to Adam to complete him relationally. And while Adam and Eve were the first, God declared the future principle of every home—that the man should leave and cleave to his wife! God set up the function and perpetuation of the family—the core of every home! The leaving from father and mother and cleaving “unto his wife” was the order for the first man, and God hasn’t changed the rules, regardless of what the world around us is promoting. We must remember that when we belong to Jesus, we march to a different drummer than the world—we follow God. We are to build our earthly homes on the principle of God’s heavenly home!

“10 For he looked for a city

which hath foundations,

whose builder

and maker is God……

13 These all died in faith,

not having received the promises,

but having seen them afar off,

and were persuaded of them,

and embraced them,

and confessed that they were strangers

and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly

that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out,

they might have had opportunity

to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country,

that is,

an heavenly:

wherefore God is not ashamed

to be called

their God:

for he hath prepared for them a city.”   Hebrews 11:10-16

When we follow Jesus, we seek a home—a heavenly home—that is built by God–The eternal “home” maker. But while on earth, we are to live at home with Jesus in our daily lives, regardless of where we are, and live in such a way that others see our holy and pure lives and want to be at home with Jesus too! While we aren’t at “home” here permanently, we are a reflection of the heavenly home—as we reflect the glory of the God who lives within us.

“And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called

in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ

dwell in you richly

in all wisdom;

teaching

and admonishing one another

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing with grace

in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do

in word

or deed,

do all

in the name of the Lord Jesus,

and the Father

by him.” Colossians 3:14-17

We are called to let the “word of Christ dwell in you richly” because we are “one body”—just as the husband and wife are to be ‘one’, we are ‘one’ with Jesus Christ in heart and mind and are at “home” with Him in all we do, as He dwells in us “richly”!!! And when we are ‘one’ with Him we can be at “home” anywhere HE leads us! Jesus desires oneness with us, and oneness in our homes! It’s what Jesus prayed for us before He headed to the cross!

“Neither pray I for these alone,

but for them also

which shall believe on me

through their word;

21 That they all may be one;

as thou, Father,

art in me,

and I in thee,

that they also may be one

in us:

that the world may believe

that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory

which thou gavest me

I have given them;

that they may be one,

even as we are one:

23 I in them,

and thou in me,

that they may be made perfect

in one;

and that the world may know

that thou hast sent me,

and hast loved them,

as thou hast loved me.” John 17:20-23

That “the world may know”—that is our job—that is why God adopts us into HIS family! To be a part of HIS eternal, heavenly ‘home’!

“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 1:12-13

We are born again to be “the sons of God”—children of God, born “of God” to be His children before a lost and dying world; to be at ‘home’ here with Jesus within our hearts, showing the world what a real “home” looks like—real oneness—real love—real purpose—real direction—real, genuine relationship. Not a religion but a real home-life relationship! A relationship that the world needs!   And one day we will spend eternity in God’s heavenly home!!!

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God,

believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions:

if it were not so,

I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again,

and receive you unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go

ye know,

and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:1-6

Jesus came that we might have an abundant life here and eternal life with Him in heaven—at home eternally with our Father God and His Son Jesus!!!

“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.” John 10:9-11

This great and good shepherd came to give HIS life for us! He came that we could have abundant life—at home while He leaves us here and in eternity when our time on earth is up!!!

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit?

or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven,

thou art there:

if I make my bed in hell,

behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me,

and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;

even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness

hideth not from thee;

but the night shineth

as the day:

the darkness and the light

are both alike to thee.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins:

thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise thee;

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvellous are thy works;

and that my soul knoweth right well.”    Psalm 139:7-14

Home is where the heart is—for home is who you are with not where you are—there’s no place like home—when your home is with your Savior, who has made you at home where He is—and HE IS everywhere! Always!!!

Just as the Psalmist reminds us—we are ever in HIS presence—and He has us in HIS hand—at Home with Jesus!

Is Jesus Enough??? Bible Ballistics: #411

15 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Gratitude, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Made like Jesus!, Thanksgiving, The Only Way, The Word, Trials, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #411      Is Jesus Enough???

 

Approaching this Thanksgiving season, I wonder if we have considered how thankful we ought to be for Jesus!!! We use His name, we talk about Him, we even mention Him to others, but are we gratefully depending on HIM for our every need? When we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, we become God’s children—restored and adopted into the family of God. We become joint-heirs with Jesus and receive the gift of His Holy Spirit dwelling within us, to lead, guide, teach and convict us of sin, all to conform us into His image rather than our own! (See Eph. 2:1-10)

But we are often distracted from our Lode Star and loose our way. Let’s consider some scripture to remind ourselves of all that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ; reminding ourselves of the gift of His salvation, His presence and His unfailing love for us—displayed in His shed blood for our sin!

“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 1:12-13

We are born again as “sons of God”—children of The Holy God of the universe, Almighty God of all creation, by the blood of Jesus! And when we remember to keep our hearts filled with an attitude of gratitude, we can rejoice in all it means in our earthly living and our future with God The Father, Jesus Christ The Son, and the precious Holy Spirit for eternity. But ‘Until Then’ we must keep our eyes on Jesus, the one who will sustain our every breath!

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;

but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,

whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness

with our spirit,

that we are the children of God:

17 And if children,

then heirs;

heirs of God,

and joint-heirs with Christ;

if so be that we suffer with him,

that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings

of this present time

are not worthy to be compared

with the glory

which shall be revealed in us.”    Romans 8:15-18

No matter what you and I are facing today—God is working it for our good, to conform us into the image of His Son! And all who love Him will suffer—in varying degrees—for following Jesus and doing His will His way, in obedience to His Word (which, by the way, hasn’t changed)!

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

What are you suffering for Jesus? Or are you afraid to let people know that you belong to Jesus. Are you hiding your “light” under a bushel? Jesus is ever encouraging, helping, teaching and empowering us to be His witnesses to a lost and dying world, but we can only do that in His power, by His presence, through the power of His Holy Spirit in us.

“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 15:4-5

So are we doing “nothing” or are we bringing “forth much fruit” as we follow Jesus. And don’t loose sight of the truth that when we are following Jesus in all we do, we may not even realize the fruit that is being produced through His work in and through us! The key is to know that Jesus IS all we need. I have experienced the principle, and seen God make it evident in the lives of others, “When you find that Jesus is ALL you have, you will also find that Jesus IS ALL you need!” Jesus indwells HIS own! Is He enough for you? Is He dwelling within you? He can be your all in all!

“But now ye also put off all these;

anger,            wrath,

malice,           blasphemy,

filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another,

seeing that ye have put off the old man

with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man,

which is renewed in knowledge

after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free:

but Christ is all, and in all.”   Colossians 3:8-11

Gratitude Is An Attitude Not Just A Day!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #410

10 Friday Nov 2017

Posted by in Attitude of Gratitude, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Gratitude Is Timeless, Praise God Today!, Thanksgiving, The Word, TODAY, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #410 Gratitude Is An Attitude Not Just A Day!!!

 

“But I am poor and sorrowful:

let thy salvation,

O God,

set me up on high.

30 I will praise the name of God

with a song,

and will magnify him

with thanksgiving.

31 This also shall please the LORD

better than an ox

or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.”    Psalm 69:29-31

I just want to share a few passages to remind us to keep our “Attitude of Gratitude” every day, not just one day a year. My favorite question for this time of year is, “Are you humbly grateful, or grumbly hateful?” It’s a question that only you can answer!

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD:

let us make a joyful noise

to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before his presence

with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise

unto him with psalms.

3 For the LORD is a great God,

and a great King above all gods.”   Psalm 95:1-3

May we ever praise Him with our grateful hearts, and live a continual life of praise and gratitude before a world full of ‘selflies’, greed, and entitlement. May our heart of gratitude be contagious to those we encounter each day. A smile can change the world around us—some sourpuss may be waiting to see you smiling ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ today. May we spread the gratitude and thankfulness everywhere we go!

“Oh that men would praise the LORD

for his goodness,

and for his wonderful works

to the children of men!

22 And let them sacrifice

the sacrifices of thanksgiving,

and declare his works

with rejoicing.”   Psalm 107:21-22

Even as James reminds us today:

“Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift

and every perfect gift

is from above,

and cometh down

from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.”     James 1:16-17

Remember ‘gratitude’ and ‘thankfulness’ aren’t just a “seasonal” option:

“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.”   Nehemiah 8:10

“I will praise thee,

O LORD,

with my whole heart;

I will shew forth

all thy marvellous works.

2 I will be glad

and rejoice

in thee:

I will sing praise

to thy name,

O thou most High.”    Psalm 9:1-2

Amen and Amen!!!

Let’s determine to truly “shew forth” all His “marvellous works” with our genuinely grateful hearts– full of His wondrous love and grace. Blessings on your day!

But It’s Only ‘Today’??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #409

08 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by in Choose You This Day!, Distractions, Praise God Today!, The Word, TODAY, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #409 But It’s Only ‘Today’???

 

I’d like to share a brief word of encouragement for each of us today—for today is what we have!

“This is the LORD’S doing;

it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad

in it.” Psalm 118:23-24

It is so easy to get caught up in the “big” picture, and the “future” plans we have that we forget to “live” today! The Psalmist reminds us that whatever is before us—the sunshine, the rain, the beauty, the ugly, the easy or the difficult—“This is the LORD’S doing”! We know that God is totally in charge, but we are so easily distracted and momentarily forget!

What we need to practice is reveling in the truth that our God is ever at work—in all things, and in ‘our’ things, no matter what that involves—and it ought to be “marvellous in our eyes”! When we practice being marveled at the works of God, it helps us enjoy those very marvelous characteristics and traits of our God! And part of that beauty is the wonder of ‘today’!

For “This is the day”—

The day that God has made—

The day that God has given to you/me—

The day that you/I can rejoice in HIM—

The day that God knows your sorrows and your joys—

The day that God will draw you/I closer to Himself!

If we’ll but “rejoice and be glad in it”, because HE reigns!