this is a place for me to keep a spiritual journal about my life and God,my thoughts about what i read and stody in my bible.
i hope those who read here find a blessing from what they see.
Hello all my faithful readers. lol. That's about none. But who knows who will pass this way in the analogues of time.
anyway I want to tell you about something I have been learning from a wonderful Lady! Known as white_raven. She is a wonderful Christian woman, who has been trying to help me with a problem with one of my kids. But in the process of this I have learned a great deal. One is about weakness, and that our only weakness is our selves. When we try to go things alone. With God we have no weakness. If you think about it, first we are scared, cause the bible tells us that we fight not against flesh and bone but against powers and principalities in dark places. I first read that verse and I was like wow that's a bit scary to think of. But it seemed to fanciful for me to take great note of. Then my son and I got hit full on with the true reality of it. But this isn't about that. serfice to say I wasn't prepared and shamefully to say I had no clue as to were in scripture to find my aid. I knew only that God had said we have the authority over evil. That simple knowledge kept me safe in one situation. But a new one arose that I need more then just that.
we are not weak! Not with God on our side. Look at Goliath, a monster of a man slain by the youth David. We all have Goliaths in our lives. Jesus told us faith the size of a mustard seed(a very tiny seed indeed) could move mountains. Like the Goliaths in our lives, some times they are mountains. mountains of emotional despair. Mountains of relationship problems. Mountains that over whelm and push us down till we feel crushed by the weight. But one mustard seed of faith can move those mountains. How is that? Cause God guides us, shows us the way past, around or through these mountains and some time shows us how to lift it up and toss it out of our way. But he doesn't just stop there, he gives us the tools to accomplish this and last but far from least he gives us His strength so we can do whatever is needed. A friend of my has a blog "am I strong enough?" most definitely you are! With God we are. Lets look at what he says about our strength in Him. First he tills us in phil. "to be worried for nothing , but in all things by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding shall keep your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus." phil 4:6.7 so God say give it all to me and I will give you peace over the things you give to me. And I think in a small way I understand why that peace surpasses all understanding.... Because, when we give our mountains over to God with a small bit of faith, we don't know the out come. We don't know how God is going to work things out for us. Yet we know He will, and our small mustard seed of faith tells us that. And so peace is ours. To the common eye, or non-believing eye. It makes no sense that we should feel peace about these things and not be in misery.
well so far if we bring our problems(mountains) to God, and have a mustard seed of faith we can move mountains, AND we will have peace over it all. Well I say that's a great start. But He doesn't stop there. He wants us to have confidence. And he tell us that we can do ANYTHING through Christ Jesus who strengthens me/us. Parents, this is a great tool for the kids that likes to say "I can't" a lot. My son has almost stopped saying "I can't" cause I make him resite that very verse. lol. ok so we have our mountains, and we also have the powers and princepalities in dark places. we spoke briefly at the start of this about the authority God gives us over such things. here He says quite clearly we have authority..... luke 10:19, mind you this is Jesus speaking "behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpoins , and over ALL the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you" there is your authority. i'd say that pretty well cover the things that go bump in the night, unless of course it's your pipes, the He give authority to the plumber you call. I may joke, but there are other things that go bump in the night and you have all authority over it. psalms 27:1 says "the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? the Lord is the defence of my life, "whom shall I dread?" and isaiah 54:17 " no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgement you will condemn. this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication is me, declares the Lord!" theres a kicker. evil can not form a weapon against you, nor accuse you. and i'm not talking evil ie calamity. I is talking EVIL. ok what evil are we talking about well john talks about it in john 10:10, "the theif comes only to steal and kill and destroy;(Jesus speaking) I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." we mean the thief, serpant, satan and all his demons. the ones we have the authority over. finally psalms 34:4 "I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all of my fears." if you read on in that chapter this is a lot of wonderful verses about the Lord answering prayer.
the Lord has given us the faith by which mountains can be moved(the mountain in our own life), the ability through him(cause He strengthens us), and the authority over evil, to slay Goliaths(be it things that go bump in the night or just the feeling of being under attach from forces un seen), and he gives us the words of encouragement and confedence(we should worry for nothing, and whom sheould we fear? we are answered and delivered from our fears)
lastly. all things work together for good for those who believe. just a mustard seed of faith...
Breeze heard the earth sing at Friday, February 03, 2006
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF CHILDREN
A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.The teacher said it was physically impossible for awhale to swallow a human because even though it was avery large mammal its throat was very small. Thelittle girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by awhale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whalecould not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. Thelittle girl said, "When I get to heaven I willask Jonah". The teacher asked, " What if Jonah wentto hell?" The little girl replied, "Then you ask him". _______________________________________________________________A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom ofchildren while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows whatGod looks like." Without missing a beat, or looking upfrom her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute." _________________________________________________________________A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. Afterexplaining the commandment to "honor" thy Fatherand thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandmentthat teaches us how to treat our brothers andsisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy (theoldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill." ________________________________________________________________One day a little girl was sitting and watching hermother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenlynoticed that her mother had several strands of whitehair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Whyare some of your hairs white, Mom?" Her motherreplied, "Well, every time that you do something wrongand make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."The little girl thought about this revelation for awhile and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma'shairs are white?"________________________________________________________________The children had all been photographed, and theteacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copyof the group picture. "Just think how nice it will beto look at it when you are all grown up and say,'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael,He's a doctor.' A small voice at the back of the roomrang out, "And there's the teacher, She's dead. " _________________________________________________________________A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation ofthe blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, shesaid, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood,as you know, would run into it, and I would turn redin the face.." "Yes," the class said. "Then why isit that while I am standing upright in the ordinaryposition the blood doesn't run into my feet?" A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty." _________________________________________________________________The children were lined up in the cafeteria of aCatholic elementary school for lunch. At the head ofthe table was a large pile of apples. The nun made anote, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE.God is watching." Moving further along the lunch line,at the other end of the table was a large pile ofchocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note,"Take all you want. God is watching the apples." ________________________________________________________________
Breeze heard the earth sing at Monday, January 09, 2006
Well guys I'm about cross eyed. I have typed up the first half of the first lesson from the basics for believers book. For my Christian group online to use for study. It's kind of ironic , I have been telling pastor for months I wanted to host a basic for believers class and/or a bible study at my home, and here I am hosting it kind of lol. But man is it a lot of work typing all that up. I'm a self taught typist and though I no longer work with two fingers and hunt and peck, and I sometimes don't have to look at my hands, I am no where as proficient as for this to be an easy task. But hey who said work for the Lord would be easy right? But today I have no idea what to write for my journal. In typing I have read about salvation, the holy spirit, everlasting life, spiritual life and spiritual death. That is being separated from God(spiritual death) and having fellowship with God(spiritual life) , the judgment of the white throne and the judgment seat of Christ, and I got to temptation and pooped out. Oh, one is the judgment the nonbelievers will have, that's the white throne one. And one is the judgment we will have at the judgment seat of Christ.
you know I once heard a man tell another man that he was going to burn in hell and he would be watching from heaven laughing at him. What an incredibly horrid thing to say to someone, and definitely not Christian like. I remember my pastor talking to me about judgment, the white throne judgment. He said we will be there, not to be judged but we will be there and see all those who are going to hell. He felt that at some point he would see someone he either missed giving the word of God too, or maybe cause to turn from God, at any rate there would be someone or even a few people that he would know and he would know if he had only done a little more he might have saved them(yes I know only God saves, not the point) how hard will it be for us to see these people going to condemnation. How many lost opportunities have we had? I know I have tons. But this man I don't think will be laughing at all. His words will come back to haunt him as he sees the people he has said such thing too. We don't wish hell on anyone. I have seen people wish some would get cancer so they would learn to be humble before God. I have Seen people pray curses against someone. This is not Christian behavior. This is not love, this is not righteousness, these things have to be inherently evil. I remember from the old testament some king had a faithful man on a hill over looking a battle between his people and the Israelites, and he wanted the faithful man to curse the Israelites. The bible said who he cursed was cursed and who he blesses is blessed. He refused the king and told him God said he was not to curse them. The Christian does not curse others or wish despair on them. The world is becoming a sick place, and being a Christian does not inoculate you from it's decease. Guard your hearts well, and your thoughts. For it is contagious.
the white throne judgments though I will not be condemned with the unbelievers, I wonder if my heart shall break to see it.
I have a prayer request.... My daughter Lee, keeps having these fainting spells and after them terrible headaches. I take her to the doctors tomorrow, and I'm sure now there will be tests ordered. Please keep her in prayer. Wisdom for the DR's, healing for her, strength for us both, and that it be nothing serious. Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts.
love and hugs breeze.
Breeze heard the earth sing at Wednesday, November 16, 2005
There is plenty of places in the bible where someone was laughed at. That's not really a good kind of laughter or humor. Example Sarah laughed when the angels said she would conceive in her old age, and a group of men laughed at Jesus when He said that a little girl was asleep and not dead. But did Jesus laugh? Does God have a sense of humor. Of this I have no doubt. And not because of the duck billed platypus either, as some comedians claim shows God's sense of humor. I know God laughs and has a sense of humor because we do, and we were made in His image, his image in having free will, having intelligence, and in having heart. In all of that there is humor, and so we laugh. Laughter is good for the body. It releases endorphines that make us feel good, lessen pain, relieve stress etc... Could you imagine some of the family stories that must have been told by Mary of Jesus growing up? As they tell of Jesus disappearing on them and when they finally find him in the synagogue, one of the priests says you have a smart boy there and Joseph says well yes, but not smart enough not to scare his mother half to death. He'll be doing chores for a week for this one. lol. Of course I making up most of that. The bible is not a book like we read in fiction that tells us what is going on in the descriptive ways a story teller does. It give accounts. But I think there are times we can picture the scene and know there had to be laughter. Can you picture the man who climbed the tree to get a chance to see Jesus. There he is holding on for dear life, out on a limb waving furiously. This had to give Jesus and the apostles a chuckle. There is a point where Jesus gets annoyed with the pharisees and the bible says He called them born of vipers, some versions say He said they were a den of vipers. Well I looked it up in my Greek and Hebrew dictionary the word, these well meaning bibles give us, is what amounts to the PG version. What He really calls them is born of a vipers anus. I don't know about you, but I laughed my self silly when I saw that. You can just picture Jesus and the apostles walking away and the apostles saying I can't believe you called them that and they're all chuckling over this outrageous thing Jesus said to them. Maybe I'm wrong. But point being, there are plenty of places in the bible where you just know they had to be laughing. Jesus is clearly shown in the bible to be moved to emotion many times, anger, even tears, but it doesn't say He laughed. Why do you think that is? Actually I'm going to do a search later on today to see if I have missed something and it does show He laughed about something. But I think because showing He laughed wasn't dignified. When Jesus turned water into wine, the look on the servants faces must have been priceless. When they dipped into the water and drew out wine. Could He have chuckled a little then? Given one a wink? I have seen Christians who walk around with this straight face all the time, never smiling, never laughing, and although they are very kind and soft hearted, they some how feel to be Christ like they should not laugh or smile. My brethren I promise you Jesus laughed, He giggled, He chuckled, and He laughed heartily. He smiled , He grinned, and He even beamed(you know that huge smile usually having something to do with a child, but it's just one of those smiles that shines) Jesus is God, but He was also human in all the ways we are. So laugh! Chuckle, giggle it's good for you, God gave it to you! So don't be afraid to laugh.
love and hugs breeze ....... PS I will let you know what I find from my search.
Breeze heard the earth sing at Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Today I am starting in 1st corinthians. Before I start talking about what I read over the next days I want to give you a reference point about the Corinthian church. This book is a letter from Paul to the Corinthians in which he is basically yelling at them. They had let things get out of control. Immorality, differing doctrines, and a worship time that had become something akin to a three ring circus, were a few of the problems. Women were yelling to their husbands in the middle of service, people standing up and babbling in tongues in the middle of the service etc... So this letter very strongly sets down guide lines for the Corinthians. Mind you at times Pauls isn't being nice about it. He is angry about the reports he has been getting concerning this church. One he him self started on his second missionary trip.
after a greeting and giving thanks, in which Paul cunningly reminds them to whom they belong and by whom they were called, Jesus Christ. He starts right out with their first problem. Division within the church. Small groups had formed in which people were associating them selves with a teacher rather then with God. Chapter 1:12 "now I mean this, that each one of you is saying 'I am of Paul', and 'I of apollos', and 'I of cephas' and 'I of Christ' " 13 "has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" in 13 he shows his annoyance with them right away. Then in 14 tells them that he is thankful that he had baptized none of them, except two people. He goes on to say that he is glad of that so that none of them could say they were baptized in his name. It seems to me that Paul finds this an embarrassment and he makes it very clear from the start that he is not happy with them. Through out acts and Romans there are statements made of Christians being of one mind. Yet we see on a smaller scale in Corinthians how quickly separation of thoughts and idea ultimately leading to differing doctrines. Today we see it on a very large scale. There has to be a hundred different denominations, all with slightly different doctrine, or very different doctrines. We have Baptist, Methodist, assembly of God, church of Christ, nondenominational, Lutheran, Catholicism, orthodox, the list is endless. We have fundamental, charismatic....Etc... All believing in Christ and God and all arguing, debating and accusing each other of false teaching and false doctrine. We have Christians using terms like "real Christians" and "true Christian". This is not what God had in mind. One spirit, one God, one Christ and one body of Christ being the church. But which church? I have sat and talked with JW's who's faith and belief is as strong as anyone's is. I have talked with many people who believe in their heart of hearts that their path is the right path and the only path. Well I agree there is only one path to God and that is by Jesus Christ, as He said, no one comes to the father except through me, and, by no other name under heaven that has been among men by which we must be saved. I doubt there are many who are of Christian faith who would argue those points with me, but what about the rest. The arguments are as endless as the churches. Speaking in tongues or not speaking in tongues, the holy trinity, Jesus is God Jesus is not God, you must be baptized to be saved or not. Even those who agree in baptism don't agree on the method, sprinkle, submerge, drown. Some of it I don't think really matters when it comes to salvation. The small things of no great consequence. Belief in speaking in tongues or not I think has no great baring on salvation(though there are those who would argue your not saved if you can't speak in tongues, mind you which is in no way biblical) but some bigger things I believe does make a difference to salvation. Like who Jesus is, God and part of the trinity or not. How did we veer off so badly? First we took scripture out of context to make it fit what we wanted it to. Next we added and took away from the bible as we like. We picked and chose what we liked and didn't like and didn't accept the word of God as a whole. We then decided it wasn't all true, or there were mistakes. Scholar's struggled in translation and a hundred different versions arose. One just slightly different from the other(sound similar?) and then we put the bible down altogether. On a side track, I have never been able to understand why people insist the KJV is the best translation, when it was one of the most corrupt periods of the church and king James him self insisted on certain word changes and additions. There are better and more exacting translations. Anyway off my side track. The bible instructs us how to choose, one it says KNOW God's word. We are to discern all things by whether it is biblical. God is not going to contradict His word. Is the doctrine being thought in accordance with God's word? Are they adding things or taking away things? Is the worship service in accordance with God's instruction as to how a service should go, or is it like the Corinthians service? Finding the right church for you is never an easy task, and even when you do find one you may still not agree with everything. My pastor and my self don't see eye to eye on everything. I do not judge others on their beliefs. There is so many that differ out there. But I wonder sometimes, we are to be of same mind. We are not to debate. Corinth was the prefect model of what not to do and how not to be as a church body. My sister said once to me that she was learning to listen to God's voice. It is true the bible tells us to listen to God's soft voice, but there are other voices that can come to us too. So listen with a discerning ear, God won't contradict Him self. Know His word and you will listen wisely, and choose wisely.
love and hugs breeze
Breeze heard the earth sing at Wednesday, November 09, 2005
