Paul and Isaiah

Paul was raised in a strict religious environment. He came a long way from home to Jerusalem to the temple where he wished to “preach” or at least expound on the Bible. The bible, which was the first five books of our Bible, were his guide to life. He knew the religious leader, Gamaliel, a great teacher of the Jewish Law.

I never knew, before Beth Moore, Gamaliel told the religious leaders of the day to “Leave Peter and the apostles alone, if they are not of God, their beliefs will slowly die away and the people will stop following them but if they are from God you will  only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39 paraphrased)* Many of the religious leaders believed in the things Jesus taught, they just weren’t strong in their beliefs to want to give up their “status” in the “religious” community. 

Paul and Isaiah reflected greatly on the spiritual aspect of Godly things. They knew the Lord well.

How much time do we really read and reflect on the Bible or better yet, the things of God? How much do we know “about” the word verses how well do we “know” the savior?

I have been lax at really studying the Bible in my “Joy of Living” Class I take on Wednesdays. I manage to get the lessons done for the week. But, in the end, I wonder how well do I really “know” Isaiah?

Even if it is a kind of “rushed” study of the whole book, I can get a glimpse into Isaiah’s mind and life. (It is a long book.) He, like Paul was “close” to God. He loved the Lord, and I have to wonder, “How well did he know the Savior?”

How was it to live before Christ? Expecting Him any day. Knowing how He would come into the world as an infant and be raised as a human yet, Lord.

Did Isaiah wish He could wait till the Lord came into the world before he went to Heaven? Did he have aspirations of knowing the Lord and Savior as a human?

Probably like Paul, Isaiah came to know the Jesus, through God. It was a spiritual acquaintance. Paul however, came face to face with the Lord Jesus; Isaiah had a spiritual awakening with The Lord, God. However difficult it is to imagine knowing these two men, they were spiritual “Giants.”

I hope I can come to know Isaiah more in the months to come and really get insight into the people of God.
*Acts 5:38-39: Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fall. But it it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.) NIV

By Lanell Stuart

01/02/14

The Tangled Web

The Tangled Web

Have you ever been caught in a spider’s web? Ewe, we react, “How quick can I get rid of this thing!” It’s sticky and the more we try to resist the more determined it tries to stay on you.

Life can become entangled like a web. “Just stay away from me,” we tell Satan. The more determined we become to live for Jesus, the more determined he is to make you stay in a sad, miserable state of being.

We can become entangled with others lives to the point we just want “out”. But God is urging you onward. “Don’t give up on the unlovely. Keep loving them and showing them the way back to God.” I think that is what God would say to us. Remember you were once unlovely in God’s sight. Someone took the time to invest in my life to bring me to the a fullness of loving God again. Someone took the time to pray for me that I may be brought to the point of saying, “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation.” (Psalms 51:12, KJV) And it has been restored.

My web is unraveling, slowly. I am returning to Lord’s way for my life. Returning, to escape the spider’s web that promises rewards for my life, but never succeedsed.

The Lord is restoring to me the joy of my salvation. You also can obtain that reward through loving friends and family.

Everyone comes into your life for a season and a reason. We can learn through each incident in life. The Lord leads in mysterious ways, Paul announces in his word to the Colossians in Chapter one, verse 27. It says, “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of the mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” God makes known the mysteries of our life, which is to know Jesus better.

He says in Ephesians 6:19, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.”

I pray you will not get caught in the spider’s web of deceit that promises rewards that are not there in the end.

The promises of grandeur and fulfillment do not lay in the promises of man but in the promises of God. Seek God and all will be added unto you. (My words paraphrasing from Mt. 6:33 NIV)

“Love the Lord with all thy heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

By Lanell Stuart

GRACE

The grace of God passes all understanding and will uphold you throughout life.

I’ve been reading a lot about the heroes of the Bible. They were all tested in their faith. I think we have all been tested in our faith at some time in our lives. It depends on how we handle the problems of life that Satan throws at us.

We suffer loss of health. We suffer loss of loved ones. We suffer through divorce. We suffer through relationships. All the while God is watching how we handle the problems of life.

Joy comes in the morning. James said, “Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials.” (James 1:2 HCSB)

Because trails or difficulties of life can strengthen our faith in God who knows all things, sees all things and understands all things, we can find joy in them.

All the trials in life are tough to go through. When you have faithful friends and family to help, we can suffer with faith and hope. We have hope in a well-known God who understands fully trials of life.

After all, it was Christ at Gethsemane that sweat drops of blood so that if the cup could be removed, it would have been. He pleaded with God, “If there could be any other way to save these people, please make a way.”

We all want our trials to be small ones. Sometimes they seem more than we can bear.

Please don’t be bitter or turn away from God in your trials. The devil would have you then. You are in trials because you are a child of God. Satan would love for you to change and leave God behind.

My prayer is for you to see your trials to the end and keep God in your heart. He will let you know then that you are His child and He loves you very much. Please have a peace, sometimes called joy, about you so others will understand you are a child of God.

STORMY WEATHER

     The thunder rolls as sounds of a storm falls over the sky. Will it bring a light rain? Or will it bring a downpour? We don’t know at the first sounds of the storm falls over southeastern Texas.

When storms come over our life, how will we face the obstacles that come into our lives? Will we count it as a huge trial or something God will use in our lives to enhance our relationship with him? Will we use the trials as a stepping-stone or a bolder we can’t possibly move?

     With God all things are possible, we are told. But do we believe those words or are they just something we have heard?

     

     When trials come, we don’t always think, “God” first. We should and wouldn’t want to admit to anyone we have thoughts of anything else. When trials come, when we hear the big “C” word for cancer, we are devastated. We react negatively. We don’t always know what the Lord has going on for us. “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord,” we hear people say.  We don’t always live like we believe it.

     We know the Lord suffered going to and on the cross. We know God had something better for us through the devastation of the cross. God prepares us for the inevitable—everlasting life. We know we will end up in Jesus’ presence.

     We can keep living through the storms of life. We can depend on His word and live with Jesus on our minds and in our hearts.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who live him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)

IN THE BEGINNING

Genesis 2:15-17

MAN REBELS

The rebellion was the beginning of mans trouble between himself and God.

We find in Revelation the fact that it was the devil tempted Eve and Adam in the Garden. Adam was just as tempted as Eve was or he would have led her away from sin.

Luke 4:2-12

Jesus was tempted just as Adam and Eve when He went into the wilderness to worship God.

First the temptation was for food, just as Adam and Eve were tempted with the thought of food. Why is it that when we are hungry our belly cries out and we are more vulnerable? We succumb to the desire of wanting “me to become full”.

Esau sold his birthright for temporary sustenance. It smells so good. Our senses become stronger for our bellies to be full. Our selfish desires increase when we are hungry. Just like a baby that learns quickly, me, my, mine we keep that attitude, unless we learn to rely on the Lord’s leadership through our selfish desires.

The first temptation was for food because that is where Jesus was most vulnerable at the time. The answer from Jesus was, “It is written, man does not live on bread alone.”

The second temptation by the devil was: “Surely you will not die,” the serpent said. Eve was tempted to have the first and last word. You will be smart. The devil offered intellectual pride. .  Eve thought she could rule more than she really wanted.

The devil tempted Jesus by offering him to rule over all the earth. Jesus’ reply was, “Do not tempt the Lord your God.”

The third temptation of Eve was, “You will not surely die?” He was offering her knowledge of life and death. That sounds so powerful.  When we ask people a question, sometimes, it makes them doubt. Eve doubted God’s word and guidance.

Jesus reply to such a temptation as the Devil said, “Jump off this cliff and you will surely not die.” Satan offered Jesus power over the laws God put in place when he created the heavens and the earth. Satan was in effect saying, I will give you power over nature’s law, therefore power over God.  Jesus’ reply, “Get the behind Satan, The Lord is God and Him only will I serve.”

Verse 13 says, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

In Adam and Eve’s case the Devil left also, only the consequences were quite different. They learned what it cost to disobey God.

Jesus went on to conquer death by his resurrection by obeying God.

Just As The Ant Has Done

Have you ever watched the ant,

So innocent and strong?

Can carry twice its weight

To depths far unknown.

We need to take the lesson

The ant has offered us.

Apply it to our lives,

And live our very best

just as the ant has done.

Arise at dawn working diligently.

Rest as The Lord has mentioned,

In His scripture bright and strong

So we can be productive

just as the ant and Lord have shown.

Based on Proverbs 6:6-9

Circles

Circles

"Did you ever see a lassy go this way and that way? Did you ever see a lassy go this way and that?" Remember that song from childhood? Think about it.

Sometimes we run in circles going from one thing to another trying to find satisfaction for our souls. Sometimes life takes us this way and that way until it finally dawns on us. "Why am I in such a hurry?" "Why am I going at full speed?" We go reeling back and forth, back and forth. Trying to make decisions on our own without consulting Jesus.

Jesus said, "Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-29 NIV

Jesus meant, if I place his yoke upon me, he will help me carry my burden. It will not be mine alone. Too many times I thought I could handle my problems alone, only to find God wants to be in the middle of your decisions.

There is an old saying, "don't walk behind me, I may not  lead, don't walk in front of me, I may not follow, walk beside me and be my friend." I sincerely believe Jesus wants to walk beside me and be my friend.

Thus I am reminded, I should not be a Lassie going this way and that,  but to look to Jesus to put my burdens to rest.