Sharpen Your Sword (week of 11/30/08)
Ok, let me be perfectly honest here.
I was going to write about James 1:13-14 today. In fact, I had it written and was just adding a few supplemental verses at the end.
But, I came across something that stumped me, and realized I may not have it exactly right, yet. So, I’m going to pass over that one for now and go on to one of my favorite verses.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.
Are you in bondage? Are you a slave to someone or something? Work, drugs, sex, alcohol, money, anything? Are you a slave to sin? Are you a slave to religion?
Did you know that you have a Redeemer who has come “to set the captives free?” It’s true! And, it’s amazing!
Ask anyone who has been rescued from a life or death situation, and they will tell you of the immense relief they felt. No, relief is too light a word. Honestly, I’m not sure how to describe that feeling. And, yes, I have been on the receiving end of such a rescue.
About 4-1/2 years ago I was in a position where I thought I was “hooked up.” I mean, I believed in Jesus…that’s all it took right?
Wrong.
**NOTE: Reading further is probably going to anger some. That is not my intention. My intention is to reveal the Truth of Christ’s love for the church through the example of some of my own experiences.
I thought that as long as I didn’t commit the “Big 3″ sins, I was ok – you know, murder, theft, and adultery. I was told that going to church and confessing to a priest was necessary for forgiveness. I was encouraged to pray to saints and to the virgin Mary. (No, I am not knocking Catholics here….but, this was my experience and this is what I learned from it.) And, there was more, but I won’t get into the rest.
I did go into that cubicle and confess to the priest. He told me to go have a good weekend. WHAaa??? Needless to say, I was confused. Wasn’t there more to it than that? Didn’t I need to say some Hail Marys, or something?
Well, God is so gracious. He sent me someone I had never met (and still haven’t met in person! Hint hint!) to point out to me the error of my ways. I learned that I was right to question the need to confess to a priest once a year, or, at all. In fact, I learned the truth that the only One I needed to confess to – the only One in fact, who could absolve me of my sin anyway – was Jesus! I learned I was right to question praying to the dead – ie, saints, Mary, etc.
It was not until this revelation that I began my life anew as a true, repentant believer in the Son of God, Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. And, the truth of being set free creates a euphoria that cannot be explained and never fades. I was saved….and my chains were gone. The ransom – PAID.
Slavery comes in many forms, and I was very close to accepting the chains offered to me that would have placed me in bondage (and kept me in bondage to previous unconfessed {to God} sin). I am so grateful to God that He chose to intervene. My rescue from God came via email! At least the first installment. It’s kind of like I was hanging from the edge of a rocky cliff, and was held onto long enough (the email) to allow someone to tie a rope (the Bible) around my waist. The rope pulled me to safety, and prevented me from getting close to the edge again.
Now, I am not saying that the Catholic church is a rocky cliff to jump (or be pushed) off. But my experience was that the legalities kept me from experiencing true Christianity. Religion, yes. Christianity, no. There is a difference. Religion = legalities/rules/regulations = BONDAGE. Christianity = FREEDOM IN CHRIST.
And it was the Word – the TRUTH of God that set me free.
Jesus came to set the captives free, and wants nothing more than to draw you to Him, and rescue you from the edge of whatever cliff you are desperately hanging onto today. Grab hold of His hand, and let Him pull you to safety. Let Him pull you close and keep you from the edge. He wants to rescue you – after all, you are His creation – His child.
Other than the sin we are in bondage to before we are born again as believers, there are various ways Satan chooses to keep us in chains:
Drugs
Alcohol
Sex/pornography/homosexuality (there are TONS of things in this category…but I’m sure you understand)
Money – wealth/debt – Material things
Work
Marriage/Children/Family (If we place these relationships ABOVE our relationship with Jesus in our priority, then we are, indeed, in bondage to them.)
Success/fame/personal glory
Gluttony
Vanity
Lies/deceit
Hate/anger
Religious legalities
Abuse – emotional/physical/sexual
Impure thoughts
And the list goes on….
I encourage you to find a fellow believer if you are in bondage today – ask them to pray with you that your chains will be lifted and that you will be freed by the Truth that is Jesus. Even now, before you accept that new-found freedom, read your Bible everyday. There is so much truth in it, that you can’t help to remain free with God’s grace!
May all God’s children experience true Christian freedom.
Psalm 51:10,
Toni
How do you witness/evangelize?
I would like to pose a question – I anticipate (and look forward to) many responses!
(For the purposes of this post, “witness,” sharing one’s faith,” etc. mean verbally speaking to someone about the destination of their soul upon death. I am not referring to simply living a quiet, Christian life, as simply living our lives is NOT how we are commanded to “Go into all the world.” So, again, the following questions mean sharing in an attempt to cause a true conversion.)
How do you witness to others?
Do you go out of your way to share your faith with strangers?
Do you regularly share your faith with others?
If the answer is no, why not?
Do you have a favorite memory of a time when you witnessed to someone?
Do you have any suggestions for a new Christian who may be nervous about sharing his/her faith?
Looking forward to your responses!
Washed by the Blood,
Toni
Happy Thanksgiving, and Grace be unto you…
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:3-8
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving today. I do truly count this blog as a blessing, in that I get to speak on behalf of our Lord, and pray that something I write can and will be used by our God to enrich your life in some way. My prayer is that there will be people who will find the Savior through this blog, or that at least a seed shall be planted. Not my will, but His be done. I write to be invisible so that He may be seen through me.
May you be unable to count the multitude of blessings that are given to you this Thanksgiving and in the year to come.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and thanks for reading.
Giving thanks in all things,
Toni
Iron sharpeneth iron…
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17
On our trip to Houston this past weekend, we were blessed to be able to stay at the home of some dear friends of ours. (You know who you are!) I cannot begin to count the ways the Lord has blessed us through them. With loving kindness, they have brought a message from God to us on many different subjects. And to top it off, they surprised us with another great blessing – another dear couple from our old church joined us for dinner! It was a joyful reunion, and a gift and blessing that means so much to me. Friends have always been very important in my life, and these two sweet couples simply define friends. I have learned much from both, and look forward to spending eternity with such as these.
This verse from Proverbs proves that we can learn from our friends and that having friends can definitely improve our attitude. God uses our friends to show His grace, His comfort, His mercy, and His heart – sometimes. No man is an island, is the saying. A man with no friends is a very lonely man, indeed.
But be warned: But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled. Matthew 26:56.
Friends are wonderful gifts from Jehovah, but we must be sure to keep our friendships in their right place. They are a gift FROM God, not an idol to be placed on a pedestal. Our friends are human, and therefore, completely fallible. They will fail us on occasion. There will be times when we call, and they will not be there. There will be times when they don’t listen and grieve or mourn with us. They will not always take our side in a battle, and we will have disagreements.
But, there is hope! There is One Friend we can always count on…One Friend who will never leave us nor forsake us.
Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
No matter what the circumstance…no matter if everyone else around us has fled the scene, Jesus remains. When it seems no one is listening, He is. And, it is my contention that sometimes He causes our human friends to forsake us so that we have to turn to Him. He longs for us to run to Him first, every time. He is waiting, with open arms, for the chance to comfort, to teach, to grieve, or to praise with you!
I can honestly say that my best friend on earth is my husband. I love him more than I can express with words (and I can talk – a lot!). But, there are times when he can’t give me what I need. Only Jesus can help at those times. It is not a cause to be angry at or blame my husband for a shortcoming, because in doing so I am condemning the entire human race.
We can’t be everything to ANYONE. There is a void that only Christ can fill, and there is a limited time to ask Him to do so.
So, I implore you this day, right now, if you have not asked the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ to be your Best Friend – to save you from your sins and the wrath to come, do it now, while there is still time.
Standing on the Rock of Ages,
Toni
Faith and Works
Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith
by my works. (emphasis added) James 2: 17-18
Faith & Works. How often do we confuse, or worse, separate the two? We are told in 3 John verse 5 to “do faithfully” – and yet many times we don’t want to do. We have our kids’ tee-ball practice, supper to cook, or something else we must do instead of doing to serve God & His Eternal Kingdom. We become complacent. We begin to take our own salvation for granted, without trying to ensure we lead as many as possible to the LORD as well. As God-fearing Christians, we should look at every opportunity to serve as a blessing, not a burden. Doing is fun! And exciting! Works without faith is possible – faith without works is not.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. James 1:22-24
Are you “doing” or just hearing?
New look, same blog!
Don’t leave! You haven’t gone to the wrong page! It’s still the same blog….just a new, updated look.
See you again soon!
Enter into His courts with praise!
This is a very short posting:
As a way of thanking God for the many blessings He has provided this past year, would you please write a comment and share what you are thankful for?
These are some of the things I’m thankful for this year:
1) My health….yes, I’ve gotten some bad news, but I’ve also been granted the opportunity to change it!
2) My family is going to be back together soon!
3) Jonathon’s salvation!!!!!!!!
4) Grace even when I don’t deserve it – at all.
5) Some of my newest, yet dearest friends – I was worried when we moved back here that I wouldn’t find such great friends again….and God has definitely blessed my socks off in that area.
6) My mom & my stepdad for all they do for us each and everyday. I love you both so much!
7) My dad & my stepmom – we get to see you more now that you live far away than when you were close! And Dad, what you told Mandy and I in San Antonio this summer meant more to us than you know! I love you!
8) My sister – you are there for me when I have my little pity-parties….Thanks! And I love to laugh with you….ok, and sometimes at you….but I still love you! Yahoo Messenger was created just for us, I think!
9) John – for putting up with me when I am not being a very Godly wife!
10) All the things God has done in and through me and will continue to do through me.
And, I’m sure I could go on and on! So, please, won’t you comment and tell me your list?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! ; )
On My Heart
I want to talk today about something that has been weighing on my heart for a little while now. But first, I have to apologize…
John and I (& the girls!) had the chance to go to Houston this weekend to see some dear friends, and to visit with Jonathon. (I’ll tell you about those in another post – we got a WONDERFUL surprise and had a great visit!) We didn’t get home until Sunday afternoon, and we had to start work on unpacking the remainder of our stuff from our “faux move!” Looooong…long story…. Anyway, I apologize for not getting a Sharpen Your Sword post up yesterday, and hope to remedy that this week with a special Thanksgiving Post.
Couple of notes:
1) Countdown to John being home officially: SIX DAYS! Friday is his last day in Sulphur and he will be back home working only 40 minutes from the house – for good! YAY! We have waited almost TWO WHOLE YEARS for this! It has given me new insight into what our service men and women and their families endure for our freedom….we need to always thank them for what they sacrificed for us…
To all my dear friends and family who read this….thank you for serving and thank you to your familes for being willing to sacrifice with you.
Ok,
2) If you read this blog, would you mind leaving me a comment? I love hearing what others think about my blog, and it shows me that someone out there is relating to what I write! And feel free, PLEASE!, to share my blog with all your friends! I am praying that God uses my words to communicate His love and desire for all to be saved. So, if you enjoy it, tell me and tell someone else! And thank you in advance!
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Now, for today’s REAL blog!
Recently, God has placed in my heart a message about the gifts, blessings, and talents He so graciously bestows upon each of us (1Corinthians 4:7). Some of us receive blessings in the form of finances: large home, plenty to eat, abundant wealth, expertise in budgeting, knowledge of saving and frugality, etc. Others are endowed with tremedous spiritual gifts in areas such as preaching, teaching, discerning, counseling, etc. Still others have been blessed with talents such as artistic ability, computer knowledge, writing, photography, imagination, organization, etc. And of course, I couldn’t possibly list all the potential gifts and blessing the Creator has seen fit to impart to us.
So many times, we see our gifts as a way to do something for us. Something we can use to increase our wealth, fame, and personal glory. We decide, in our imperfect human heart, that God has granted us this thing to provide us with all we can acquire through its use! Seldomly do we stop to think what He really intended that gift, talent, or blessing to be used to accomplish.
God has told us we are to go into all the nations and preach the Good News (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 15:15). If that is so, why would He choose to bless us in any way at all with the intention that it will be used to further only OUR cause, or bless only US financially? My contention is that He wouldn’t. Yes, I think He provides for our needs using those talents, but I think that all too often, we miss the bigger picture of what the Lord wants to do through us using the unique gifts and blessings He has given.
For instance, we have some dear friends who have been blessed financially, and with a large home. Since they’re children have moved away to college and grown up, they have been able to be used by God to provide a place for many people to call their “home away from home.” John & I have been among the many blessed by them in this way. I can’t count the number of times we have stayed at their home for various reasons – visiting, business, hurricanes, etc. And they are always so gracious. They have opted to use their blessings to bless others. It may seem a small thing to some, but to the ones on the receiving end of their generosity, it is anything but.
There are those who are blessed with a significant amount of wealth. Does God want those people to use that wealth for their own gain, or does He have a higher purpose? I dare say He has a MUCH bigger plan. (Malachi 3:10) But we have to be willing to let go. We have to be willing to leave it ALL behind, if that’s what He chooses (Mark 10:17-34 – ESPECIALLY v.21). God can restore double or more what He takes away – read Job in your Bible – if He chooses. But it requires our obedience.
The same goes for gifts and talents. I feel like God has blessed me with good communication skills, although some might disagree! And I have thought about MANY ways to exploit those skills in an attempt to create financial gain for myself. Each time, I keep coming back to the fact that if GOD gave it to me, I should let HIM decide how to use it. And, if it blesses me financially, great. If it doesn’t, great. The point is, I don’t want to exploit any talent I have been given anymore. I love to write, and I love photography, and I will earn income from either or both only if it is God’s will. But, I want Him to choose. I know God gives each of us our talents and gifts based on the plan He has for our lives. I know that His intention is for those talents to be used in growing the Kingdom of God in Heaven. If I write a book, and it causes financial gain for me, great. But it is only a good thing if it adds to the Kingdom of God. My stepdad likened it to the Parable of the Talents in the Bible (Matthew 25:14-30). And, that is so true. We shouldn’t be hiding what God has given (in the form of a job or business, even), we should be multiplying it in the Kingdom!
If you are familiar with Christian music, you may have heard of an artist by the name of John Waller. I love his music. One of his songs is about what all who love Christ want to do: “something BIG. Something so big its destined to fail without You, Lord. Something greater than me.” I believe that we can do just that, with God, through the talents and gifts He has given. It has to be His will – apart from that its “destined to fail.”
So, today and all this week, especially this week, look around and look in the mirror. What blessings are you holding on to that God is calling you to give back to Him? What do you have that you don’t really NEED? What talent has God blessed you with that you have used only for your own gain? Is there something you do well and love to do that you know, deep down in your soul, that God put their for His use?
I encourage each of you to pray, earnestly. And I will be praying also – for you & me. That we will all coming to a knowledge of the will of God in our lives and that we can have the courage and strength to give up what we must, and submit our gift and our life to Him completely. EVERY ONE of us has a purpose. EVERY ONE of us has someone we can bless – somehow. It may be someone you know, it may be someone you don’t know yet. It may be someone you never meet this side of Heaven. Luke 12 :48 says, “…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…”
We have all been given much – by way of different types of blessings….how are you using yours?
Sharpen Your Sword! (Wk of 11/16/08)
**Note: I encourage you to read the references given so you can have a broader understanding of what I am saying. (And, if you find a mistake or disagree with me, let me know! You could be right!) And, as always, do not take my word for it. Read God’s Word for yourself. II Timothy 2:15 says: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
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Romans 5:8-9 says:
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
This is one of the most comforting, powerful, faith-invoking scriptures in the Bible, in my humble opinion. Think about it:
Christ suffered such tremendous persecution. He was mocked. Cursed. Accused of blasphemy. Misunderstood. Laughed at. Beaten. Crucified. Pierced. And He died. And He – the God and Creator of the universe – did this all for us before we chose to repent of our sins. Before we chose to follow Him – at a time in our lives when we still mocked Him ourselves. And make no mistake, if you have chosen to ignore His call in your life, if you have refused to give in to the Spirit, you are still mocking Him. The Bible is clear that if you are not a child of the Living God, you are His enemy.
BUT, there is hope! The Lord in His graciousness CHOSE (in other words, He did it because He loved us so very much ~ see John 3:16)) to send His only Son to die a horrific and painful death upon a cross. He allowed Jesus to take on the weight of the world, literally, in order to redeem us to Him so that we might spend eternity in His presence, instead of in the depths of the fiery abyss, which is hell.
I know what my life was like before Christ. I know where I went, what I did, who I listened to, and the terrible choices I made. In one way, it hurts so much to look back at where I’ve been, and know that the Savior and King of the world endured so much pain and suffering for me – before I learned the truth that set me free. (John 8:32) On the other hand, it is such a relief. I know that my Lord planned for my redemption and salvation unto Him long before my life began. To me, that is just an absolutely amazing thought. He knew what my life would be like before I accepted the salvation He so mercifully offered. He knew the choices I would make (if you participated in the mission trip to Pachuca in 2005, you have heard my testimony – otherwise, it is likely only a few of you have heard it). And yet, in spite of all that, He still chose to die so His blood could be the atonement for the sins I would commit (and for clarification, ANY sin separates us from Him – see Romans 3:23) – against Him. AGAINST HIM. (That is something we tend to forget in our modern society – that our sins are NOT just against one another, they are sins against God Himself – but that’s a subject for another blog post!) If we are not redeemed through the blood of Christ, we have no hope of spending eternity with Christ. (Romans 6:23)
So, think about what that actually means: would you risk – no, scratch that – would you give your life willingly for any one person who did those things to you? What about for an entire planet or race of people who cursed, mocked, and seeked to crucify you? Would you die such a lonely, terrible death for them?
As Christians, we are to turn the other cheek. Look the other way and extend our hand to the needy, even when they curse us. Sometimes, it is so hard. It is a very difficult thing to love someone who hates us so much.
I think this verse speaks to us, not only about the abundance of agape love Christ has for His bride, the church, but also for the forgiveness we are to extend to others. After all, Christ provided a way for our forgiveness before we were willing to accept it.
If He did that for us, isn’t it the very least we can do to make the choice to forgive someone, even before they deserve our forgiveness and mercy?
The second part of this week’s scripture tells us the benefit of the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf: we will be “saved from wrath through Him.” Have you ever seen a father when his child completely disobeys? No matter how much he loves that child, he knows he/she must be punished for his/her wrongdoing. There will come a time, through death or the return of the King of Kings (the Second Coming – not the Rapture), that our chance for salvation will be passed. At that time, only those who followed Christ with their whole being – heart, soul, mind, and strength, will be able to stand before God blameless. That is our promise for being faithful and believing in and trusting in Jesus Christ. But for those who have refused that call, for those who have spoken belief, and not lived it, there is coming a wrath such that man cannot fathom its horror. And like the father of an unruly child, God – even though His love is pure and good, in fact BECAUSE it is pure and good - will have to punish those who have hardened their hearts against Him. God knows our thoughts, and our hearts. So He knows when our faith is genuine and sincere, and when it is just “for show.” (Luke 6:46; Psalm 78:35-36; Proverbs 26:23; Matthew 7:21; Mark 7:6; Titus 1:16) But the promise of being saved from that wrath is there for all who will choose now, this day, to live for Him. (Joshua 24:15)
Totally ~ heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Accept the Challenge!!
Share Your Testimony!
Tell someone who hasn’t heard your story how you came to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!
Ask the Lord to show you the person who needs to hear your story.
Be sure to tell them that this most precious gift is available to them, too.
Say a quick prayer before you speak!
Be prepared for the response you may receive:
Disbelief
Curiosity
Disdain
Sadness
Guilt
Conviction
Willingness to Submit to Christ!
Testimonies are powerful on their own, but add God’s Word to it, and NOTHING can beat it! We are promised in Isaiah 55:11 that the Word of God “shall not return unto [God] void” but instead, it shall “accomplish all” God desires, and “shall prosper in the thing whereto [God] sent it.”
Share your testimony! Share your faith! Share Jesus!
And after you do, be sure to leave a comment and tell us how it went! We’d love to give God glory and praise with you!
Be blessed!
