Concerning Trials, Mine: Sharing my vulnerabilities cuts against the grain of my intrinsic nature. I’m fairly private concerning much of my life. More and more lately, God has been prying some of those vulnerabilities out of me; I’ll be exposing some of my fluctuations through trials... beginning with my ugliest Lows… and nastiest irritations, as I begin sharing some of the things I’ve written over the past few months.
Trials can give us a fresh dose of humility to keep us from trusting in ourselves, rather than in God who raises the dead. They also reveal God’s grace, mercy, and the loving kindness in his infallible word.
"Faith" Cannot Grow Without Trials.
Unshakable faith comes from having your faith shaken.
When I wrote this, I was on the bottom of a fresh dung pile. I was trying to get away from all the worms and castings swirling round and above me. I couldn’t even believe I was writing it; but I was compelled to save the memory of how low I’d fallen… it was without intent Ever... to share. I was in the depth of nothingness. . . So there was no way it could be edifying to anyone. I repulsed even myself. And as I wrote the last verse, I still “felt†no strength or hope... I only knew it was true; I penned that truth for fear of negatively sealing my own fate.
I wasn't moving an inch; I wasn't going anywhere-- not unless God planned to carry me... I could barely lift my head during the ten or fifteen minutes I spent writing. As embarrassingly, pitiful as it is … even that was not without laying my head down to rest in between. There wasn’t an ounce of strength in me to be found when I penned the following poem. When I wrote this I gave it a somewhat negative title; but since reviewing it from a different perspective, I changed it.
　
When Weak, We Are Strong
It came and went with a subtleness,
disappearing without deceiving
Barely a hint of her digress
she noticed not her own leaving
Whoever she was went unseen;
barely a conspicuous stench,
one never to be missed
Grateful, she gave thanks
　
As for her time— her stench of birth;
small with barely a wail..
She marked and stained the earth,
leaving faint trace of trail
　
More than all her nothingness
were vapors— a fading stench
O hear the silent wind pray
leave no foul residual
　
In the wind of prayer was power;
making use of her weakness
The most feeble of all her family;
perfecting strength from God.
There lies glory. . .
The Prophet's Daughter ~ July 2012
　
　
　
　
His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Thus his grace is manifested and magnified. For when I am weak, then I am strong. .... When we are weak in ourselves, then we are strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; 2Corinthians 12:9
For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselvesso that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1Peter 1:6-7
It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:26
　
I credit the warrior spirit of my grandson, Peter, for initiating the break in my battle. Sometimes it takes very little to lift incredible weight. Peter set his heart to do something for me in faith, and the giants began falling. I had no idea such blessing would come from a loving, act, done in simple faith; it snowballed into an incredible release… I’m thankful for the encouraging touch of all warrior spirits... How blessed the fallen soldier is when a warrior comes to their side. 　
　
May God be Glorified in the Lives and in the Hearts of His People.
I've added some new quotes, and wish to share this again;
it's a favorite of mine... I hope my new friends will enjoy it.
Preserving the Art ...
of Beauty
Wrinkles: TheService
Stripes Of Life
　
Robert Eagle Perdue ~ Dec. 6, 1940 - Feb. 3, 2012
“We've been tamed and hobbled...our wildness is a distant
memory; frowned on by most, denied it ever was by most.
We've made a mess…â€
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Robert Eagle Perdue was born in Clayton County Tennessee. “Forever a Marine at heart†he was a one of a kind story teller. A man of few words, he made every word count. I found within him a golden treasure, with both the heart and the faith of a child. I’ll always hold dear, the colorful rainbows he left in my heart. “ I’ll be seeing you.â€
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He knew someone was coming to get him.
This time, he knew that someone was God.
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He knew his final marching orders!
Summary: Be prepared; Do good.
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“Art of Beauty†Quotes...
When I was younger, I could remember anything,
whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are
decaying now and soon I shall be so I cannot remember
any but the things that never happened. It is sad to go
to pieces like this but we all have to do it.
~ Mark Twain ~
Learning acquired in youth arrest the evil in old age;
and if you understand that old age has wisdom for it’s food,
you will so conduct yourself in youth, that your old age
will not lack for nourishment. ~ Leonardo De Vinci
A man's age is something impressive, it sums up his life:
maturity reached slowly and against many obstacles,
illnesses cured, grief’s and despairs overcome, and
unconscious risks taken; maturity formed through so
many desires, hopes, regrets, forgotten things, loves.
A man's age represents a fine cargo of experiences
Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years.
We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the
skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.
~Samuel Ullman. ~
You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt;
as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear;
as young as your hope, as old as your despair.
~Douglas MacArthur
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I live in that solitude which is painful in youth,
but delicious in the years of maturity.
Albert Einstein 1879-1955
Old men are dangerous; it doesn’t matter to them what’s
going to happen to the world. ~ George Bernard Shaw
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I thought, 'Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.
But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the
Almighty, that gives him understanding.
Job 32:7-8
Let the beauty of the Lord be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands for us. Psalm 90:17
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How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
O prince's daughter! The curves of your thighs are like
jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful craftsman.
Song of Solomon 7:1
Old Time, that greatest and longest established spinner
of all!.... his factory is a secret place, his work is noiseless,
and his hands are mutes. ~ Charles Dickens
Old age means realizing you’ll never own
all the dogs you wanted to. ~ Joe Gores
Age is a question of mind over matter.
If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
~Leroy "Satchel" Paige
While one finds company in himself and his pursuits,
he cannot feel old, no matter what his years may be.
Amos Bronson Alcott 1799-1888
To be seventy years young is sometimes far more
cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old.
Oliver Wendell Holmes 1809-1894
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Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
but beautiful old people are works of art.
Eleanor Roosevelt 1884-1962
The years teach us much the days never knew.
Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882
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The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you
never get the urge to throw a snowball.
~Doug Larson
My eyes are ever toward the LORD;
for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Psalm 25:15
Alas for those that never Sing,
but die with all their Music in them.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
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Sing to Him, Sing Praise to Him;
Tell of all His Wonderful Acts.
1 Chronicles 16:9
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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
Africa my Africa Africa my motherland Mother or Fatherland Childless you went almost But he that intervened The God of all nations
Africa my Africa Mother of nations great Nigeria in the west Ethiopia in the east remains With labor pangs You brought them forth
Africa my Africa Father of Egypt To the north, be so planted And Zimbabwe, the south remains And for Africa that mothered them all
Africa my Africa Your discovery had brought you pains Children and grandchildren To the great sea you lost Continents with them were fed
Africa my Africa In Vain labor no more Loose a child, but to no one Your great nations do protect For he shall intervene When you cry for help.
SONG OF ADMONITION By Emeka Azuine, London, England
Africa: My ancestors taught you You refused the counsel of the wise What new knowledge will I teach you As I do not breed Solomon's blood?
Africa: Learn this song I sing Never let it slip like rain and moon Look and see your children cry As burdens of hunger suck them dry.
Africa: Hear and see them writhe In agonies of disharmony they fry As wars rip their skulls So in grief and weary do my heart bleed.
Africa: Thus will my ancestors and I bleed Till you rid your camps of manless men Whose spirits paddle our lives In the seas of death where they live.
Toris Okotie (The African Poet) NY
My African Child So young in heart He cried for milk So poor and helpless Mama weeps in pain
His eyes so red A week he cried A month ago, To the world he came
Mama so young Papa has run Under the bridge They lay their heads
In storm and rain They search for food Through man and sex Mama fed him well
The days went by Mama health decreased Only five months old Mama said goodbye
In rain and cold He cried so loud In sun and heat He wept and wept
Three days gone by Since mama left And now he sleeps To meet with mama
ACHOLI LAND! Okema Leonard, Uganda
Acholiland oh acholiland, The once happy mother of proud warriors, To you we wail, For redemption from the fangs of terror, The terror that bleeds us white, The terror that siphons your blood that runs in our veins,
Lambs without a shepherd we remain, Driven away from you into the darkness, Mama we yearn for an end to our misgivings, Oh! Acholiland,
Do you hear us when we call out to you? When our cries run our voices frail, When wantons hunt us, your children down, The harmony you taught us is no more, Your children have learnt the little art of unleashing terror,
Unfortunately on your very siblings, Pain is all we feel and grim is what we see, Blood is what we pay for being your children, Oh! Mother, spread your wings and redeem us, to rise and shine again.
Lord Father, I pray that in spite of the unworthiness and sin of this vehicle, that you will dispel darkness, bringing your light and blessings from these words. May this be a year to mark profound maturity and growth in your people, and in those you are calling; continue drawing us close to thee. To God be all Glory.
God’s Blessings Aren’t Wrapped
As Pretty As We Might Expect
TheBlessed Beatitudes
The Greek word for "blessed" used in the Beatitudes is makarios (plural: makaroioi). First, a little history on how this word has been used;
( Mostly from the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament).
In ancient Greek times, makarios referred to the gods. The blessed ones were the gods. The blessed ones were beings who lived in some other world away from the cares and problems and worries of ordinary people.
Makarios took on a second meaning. It referred to the "dead". The blessed ones were humans, who, through death, had reached the other world of the gods. They were now beyond the cares and problems and worries of earthly life.
Finally, in Greek usage, makarios came to refer to the elite, the upper crust of society, the wealthy and powerful. It referred to people whose riches and power put them above the normal cares and problems and worries of the lesser folk --
When this word, makarios was used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament, it took on yet another meaning. It referred to the results of right living or righteousness. If you lived right, you were blessed. Being blessed meant you received earthly, material things: a good wife, many children, abundant crops, riches, honor, wisdom, beauty, good health, etc. A blessed person had more things and better things than an ordinary person. To be blessed, you had to have big and beautiful things.
In all of these meanings, the "blessed" ones lived in a higher plane than the rest of us. They were gods. They were humans who had gone to the world of the gods. They were the wealthy, upper crust. They were those with many possessions. The blessed were those people and beings who lived above the normal cares, problems, and worries of normal people. The word blessed, went far beyond our thinking, in terms of the ordinary, practical blessings of life. It meant to be Super Bl-e-s-s-e-d!
Matthew (reflecting Jesus' thoughts) uses this word in a totally different way. It is not the elite who are blessed. It is not the rich and powerful who are blessed. It is not the high and mighty who are blessed. It is not the people living in huge mansions or expensive penthouses who are blessed. Jesus pronounced God's blessings on the lowly: the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the meek, the mourning. Throughout the history of this word, it had always been the other people who were considered blessed: the rich, the powerful, the God’s.
Jesus Came and Turned it all Upside-down. The elite in God's kingdom; the Blessed Ones in God's kingdom; are Those Who are at The Bottom of the Heap of Humanity.
A Jewish Story: The old Rabbi said, "In olden days there were men who saw the face of God." "Why don't they any more?" a young student asked. "Because, nowadays no one stoops so low," he replied.
It would be difficult in history to find so few words spoken with so much meaning. Such teaching was contrary to all they had ever heard from the priest or rabbi’s. They see in it nothing to flatter their pride or feed their ambitious hopes. The blessings of God do not come wrapped the was we expect them.
The blessings Jesus offered shocked people. The last thing in the world people wanted to hear is blessed are the poor. This is still true today. That’s why preachers say God wants you to be rich. Jesus begins by saying blessed are the poor.
The beatitudes declare an objective reality as the result of a divine act, not subjective feelings, and thus should be translated with the objective "blessed" instead of the subjective "happy." The opposite of "blessed" is not "unhappy," but "cursed"
The beatitudes are written in unconditional performative language. They do not merely describe something that already is, but bring into being the reality they declare. As eschatological blessings, the beatitudes are not "entrance requirements" for outsiders, but a declaration about insiders.
Eschatological : 1 : a branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of humankind. 2 : a belief concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humankind; specifically: any of various Christian doctrines concerning the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, or the Last Judgment 　
“The beatitudes put the yeast of love in the fat flat dough of human greed, spite and willfulness so it can rise.†It introduces something in our human nature to help us rise.
The Hidden Sequence in
the Blessed Beatitudes
The Beatitudes Identify The Sequence of Salvation.
If you really look closely at the beatitudes of Blessings from God, it may give you a better understanding as to why there aren't a lot of Christian's plainly identifiable. It goes against the grain of not only what many churches teach, but it goes against all human wisdom and natural desire. This is not a prosperity message; it is what Jesus taught. The promises associated with these blessings offer eternal life. ( Matt 25:31-46)
(1) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The final condemnation of the Laodecian church is that they are wretched, pitiful, Poor, blind and naked; they don’t recognize they are spiritually bankrupt. Revelation 3:17. Even King David recognized the poverty of his heart and said, I am poor and needy, my heart is wounded. Psalms 109:22. We must realize our weaknesses, and know man’s wisdom is utterly useless; it cannot cleanse us; and we must realize it to the point where we cast ourselves on Jesus. The poor in spirit boast no personal virtue or merit; they know that without God they are nothing. One of the dangers in being materially rich is putting one’s trust in wealth over trust in God. To be poor in spirit is to realize ones’ spiritual poverty; it’s the first step to salvation! It proceeds every other spiritual blessing. Without this recognition, we can't repent of our condition.
(2) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Those who mourn express their sorrow of sin. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:10 Lamentations: they mourned their captivity. We mourn not only for our own sin but by the sins of God’s people. If Christians get to the place where they are not grieved when they see sin, especially in the body of Christ, they are no longer blessed and the holy spirit is grieved. Ezekiel 9: Sighing and mourning, grieving and lamenting over sin among God’s people should be the attitude of the redeemed. Ezekiel 9.3 To grieve our sin, is true repentance.
(3) Blessed are the meek (gentle) for they shall inherit the earth. We often equate meekness with weakness. Not true, there is strength in meekness. To turn the other cheek when you know you have the power to deck the other guy and put him in his place is the strength of true meekness. Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.†Matthew 11:29 To be Lowly in heart is humility. People who don’t think their getting enough recognition are never satisfied. They never find rest for their souls. Meekness is a serenity where God has placed us. It’s not knocking someone else down while clamoring for higher ground. The opposite of meekness is pride; esteemed recognition is the desire of the proud.
The meek know the world will never see them as God sees them and they’ve stopped caring; they don’t even try to convince people otherwise. They’re desire is to please God.
Peter Marshal said “Lord, when were wrong make us willing to change, and when were right, make us easy to live with.â€
John Calvin, the great reformer, when he was dying gave instructions to bury him in a common, unmarked grave with the poor. He didn’t want followers to make a shrine of his tomb. That’s meekness!
(4)Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Jesus was quoting the bible. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night. Psalms 42:1-3 “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. John 7:37 Jesus said he had food you don’t know about; Doing the will of God. John 4:32 His will is written in His word, the bread of life. The woman at the well; whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; John 4:14. Job said, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.†This kind of hunger prepares our souls for eternity.
Can you imagine the consternation on the faces of these rich and powerful Jewish people when Jesus told them, "You do err, not knowing the scriptures?" Mark 12:22 Hosea records the Lord's saying: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: The Lord informed the children of Israel: "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings" (Hos. 6:6). The Jews, including the Sadducees, were supposed to be the guardians and promulgators of the word. How dare Christ to accuse them of ignorance!
(5) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Luke 18: The tax collector beat upon his breast and said LORD, have mercy on me a sinner. The Pharisee acts like he deserves it; he will list all his qualities to prove his righteousness, showing he deserves it. Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8. The king forgives a debtor, but that debtor didn’t forgive his debtor? What happened? He didn’t receive mercy. Someone wrongs us, either real or imagined, and we tell everyone about it. Will God show us mercy when He comes? What is the opposite of mercy?
(6) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Before Steven, was stoned he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.†As they were stoning Stephen he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!†Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!†Having said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:55-60
Nathaniel comes to Jesus, and he was pure in heart, no guile in his heart. Jesus told him, “Hear after you will see the angels of God descending and ascending on the son of men.†John 1:51. Love one another fervently with a pure heart. 1 Peter 1: 22. Who may dwell in your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and speaks the truth in His heart. Psalms 15:1-2 How many humans dwell in the presence of God that we know of today? Elijah, Moses, and Enoch. For three hundred years Enoch sought purity of heart and soul, and because of it he was translated to heaven.
You may ask, how can I see God? Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself and will see God. 1 John 3:3. We cannot do it ourselves, God must perform heart surgery. We become pure as we partake of the pure milk of the word, by applying it with faith. God transforms our hearts. God can purify us. Pursue peace with all men and holiness. Hebrews 12:14 7
(7) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. But the wisdom from above is first pure,then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3: 17-18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 2 Corinthians 5:18 We are ambassadors for Christ, that others may be reconciled to God. Peacemakers make peace with God first, then lead others to God. They are the sons of God. As many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. He who turns a sinner from his ways, saves a soul from death and covers a multitude of sin. James 5:20. 8
(8) Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. If you are a peacemaker you will be persecuted. You will very likely be gossiped about, and all manor of evil will be said about you. In some wars the enemies deliberately shot the medics because they knew it would demoralize the soldiers if they didn’t think they would get any help. The devil wants to shoot the peacekeepers. Even the UN peace convoys are attacked in other countries because they don’t want peace. That’s how the devil is. The idea of seeing persecution as a blessing was so revolutionary, that when Jesus said it, he had to say it twice. What?
Now, there are also people who think there is virtue in being obnoxious. If you don't agree with them they attack you. They pick, prod, goad, twist, confuse, and accuse, then twist it all up again, and go around crying persecution. If they are being persecuted, it’s not for being righteous, rather for being obnoxious!
(9) Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. If you suffer for doing wrong, you deserve it; but if you are truly suffering for God, you will rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Paul and Silas are whipped, beaten, and put in prison, then they praised God. He then lifts them up and right out of prison. The blessing came because they chose to rejoice. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Be exceedingly glad. The disciples were persecuted and rejoiced with for being counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ name. Acts 5:41
We may be persecuted but we will not be consumed. The burning bush burned but was not consumed. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in the fiery furnace, but they were not consumed! Just keep this in mind; persecutions do not consume the bride of Christ.
The Sum of the Sequence of Salvation
First you repent; There’s a meekness in repentance where one is poor in spirit. You mourn your condition. You humble yourself before God; You hunger and thirst after His word; When you get His word and the living water of Jesus, you feed upon it; You then begin demonstrating it by living for God, being merciful to others, living pure in your life; You become a peacemaker, and begin bringing others to God for reconciliation, and building up the body of Christ with the gifts God gives. All that live Godly will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12. Are you being persecuted for righteousness sake? If I were not suffering some form of persecution, I would be worried.
The Picture of Christ
These Beatitudes are a picture of Christ’s life and ministry; They are the very character of Jesus. For your sake, Christ became poor. 2 Corinthians 8:9 Blessed are those who mourn. The messiah was a man of sorrow, acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53: He mourned so intensely that He was sweating blood. Jesus said “I am meek and lowly†He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. He opens not his mouth. He was meek. Did Jesus hunger and thirst. Was he in the wilderness hungry? “He said man does not eat bread only, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.†Even hanging on the cross he thirsted; but it was for more than just water; it was because he was separated from his Father. The Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:11. He said go and sin no more to the woman caught in adultery. John 8:11. Jesus was pure. Your word is very pure. Psalm 119:140 Jesus was the pure lamb of God. Every drop of His blood is what sealed the covenant of peace and salvation to us. John 18:38 Was Jesus a peacemaker? He’s the very Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 He reconciled all things to himself. Colossians 1:20. Was he persecuted? Horrible slanderous things were said about Christ! He laid His life down without blemish, and was crucified that we might live. Pilot could find no fault in him. The man hanging next to him said he did no wrong. He was tempted in every way as we are, yet he was without sin.
The Sermon on The Mount
When Jesus brought this sermon, He was saying, this is who I Am. The blood of Jesus sealed this covenant of salvation to us. It is available to all. You may be persecuted but you will not be consumed. God so loved the world that He gave His son, that the world could be reconciled to Him.
Behold what manner of love the Father’s bestowed on us that we should be called sons of God. Who are the sons of God? All those who whole heartedly accept the Blessings God gives us are adopted as sons of God.
For those in Christ who are growing, the old self is gradually and continually being replaced by Christ Himself. As we die to all of the false illusions of what we think self should be, the joy received by the new self, makes all the discomfort of dying worth the pain, and the second death will not hurt.The significance of dying to ourselves in “this life†is of greater value than can possibly be imagined. To the depth we are willing to die to ourselves, to that same extent we can begin to experience the power in the true blessings of God.
We need the attitude of Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death; For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5
God Bless You!
Thank You For Visiting!
I’m adding a few comments/responses that may clarify this even further. I wish there were room to post them all.
　
From: The Prophets Daughter 12/31/2011 21:47:18
Richie, I did not remember the entirety of your comment when I was compiling the response. I was just now reviewing this comment, and want to clarify what I was referring to. I missed part of what you were saying, only responding to the aspect of being poor in spirit.
But you’ve got it, first were poor in spirit, then were blessed, but always remembering where we get those blessings-- from our Lord. Yes! “Anyone being led by the spirit, giving themselves totally to God is blessed.â€
xoxo Me
RichPed wrote: 12/30/2011 23:54:13
Hi Sis - I have often thought that people misunderstand the word 'blessed' to mean something other than what it does. Jesus sees us as blessed when we are poor in spirit. Being blessed means to me being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and giving of myself totally to Him, Jesus. Lots of love to you Dena. Richie
　
The Prophets Daughter: 12/30/2011 23:54:13
　
The best way I can think of to explain what I mean about being poor in spirit, is to clarify some specific biblical examples. I didn't list half of them; it takes time to look up all the scriptures I gave. Here are a few I didn't use; there are various manifestations of one’s being poor in spirit.
Moses- When God came to him with a mission to lead his people out of Israel, he said, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt? . . . Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either heretofore or since thou hast spoken to thy servant; but I am slow of speech and of tongue" Exodus 3:11; 4:10.
　
The reason God got angry at Moses is not because of his humble assessment of his own abilities, but because of his lack of faith in God's ability. God responded and said to Moses, "Who made man's mouth? Who makes him dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak" Exodus 4:11-12. At the same time, God clearly had pity on Moses, who maybe stuttered or stammered; he really was slow of speach. It wasn't that he was unwilling, it was that he didn't know how to do it the way he talked. So God told Moses he could take Arron, a relative, I think it was his brother in law; anyway, Arron was to speak for him.
　
Job - "I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes" Job 42
　
Isaiah - said, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" Isaiah 6:5
So we learn from Job and Isaiah that one source of lowliness is to see God in his power and holiness.
　
John the Baptist - "I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie . . . He must increase, I must decrease" John 1:27; 3:30 Could this be why Jesus said, none is greater than John?" Luke 7:28 "If anyone would be first he must be last of all and servant of all" Mark 9:35
　
The Tax Collector - Jesus told a parable of a Pharisee and a tax collector who went up the Temple to pray. Concerning the tax collector he said, "But the tax collector, standing far off, he would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you this man went down to his house justified" Luke 18:13. Which is just another way of saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."
　
The Canaanite Woman - When Jesus at first refused her request for help, since she was not a Jew, she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." To which Jesus responds, "O woman, great is your faith!" So we learn from the centurion and the Canaanite woman that poverty of spirit is right at the very heart of what true faith is.
　
Peter - When he saw the power of Jesus on the Lake of Gennesaret, "Simon Peter fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord'" Luke 5:8 - When we truly see the power of the Lord, we are aware of the depth of our own sinfulness.
　
Paul - "I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh" (Roman 7:18). "We have this treasure in earthen vessels to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us" 2 Corinthians 4:7 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" ! Corinthians 3:6
I am the foremost of sinners
; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life" 1 timothy 1:15
　
What is Poverty of Spirit?
It is a sense of powerlessness in ourselves.
It is a sense of spiritual bankruptcy and helplessness before God.
It is a sense of moral uncleanness before God.
It is a sense of personal unworthiness before God.
It is a sense that if there is to be any life or joy or usefulness, it will have to be all of God and all of Grace.
The reason I say it is a SENSE of powerlessness and a SENSE of bankruptcy and a SENSE of uncleanness and a SENSE of unworthiness, is that, objectively speaking, everybody is poor in spirit. Everybody, whether they sense it or not, is powerless without God and bankrupt and helpless and unclean and unworthy before God. But not everybody is "blessed."
　
Who Is Blessed? Or where is the blessing in this?
First, when Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit," he does not mean everybody. He means those who feel it. So it is appropriate to take the first and second beatitudes together. "Blessed are those who mourn," clarifies the subjective side of being poor in spirit.
Blessed are the poor in spirit who mourn. Blessed are the people who feel keenly their inadequacies and their guilt and their failures and their helplessness and their unworthiness and their emptiness—who don't try to hide these things under a cloak of self-sufficiency, but who are honest about them and grieved and driven to the grace of God.
Blessed are you! because you are going to be comforted. Fear not, you worm, Jacob! Fear not, Moses, Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6-9), Isaiah, Peter! For I will be with you, I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Yours is the very kingdom of God.
From RachaelGrace: 01/01/2012 00:52:48
　
I cannot comment now Dena, this blog touched me personally because of all that has happened of late which you are aware of and so much more...I haven't read anything of late that has touched me more than this did tonight. God's words are pure! It is ours that constantly reach for this same pureness of heart, spirit, meekness while suffering to understand totally the blessings bestoded on us...I remind myself daily that what I suffer now is absolutely nothing to what Jesus suffered for all of us. Nothing in this life that any of us suffer will ever come close to what he suffered for us. This is "my" personal saving grace and blessing. God gave his life for me, what small price I pay, I pay willingly....................................................yet, I cry out please Lord no more...............................never feeling forsaken..........just tired and broken....................did not my Lord feel far more broken than I!..........................his words are constant confort ~ the only words of comfort that still hold the fragments of this body together for whatever his purpose, I do not ask, just say Lord "thank you for blessing me this day."
　
From The Prophets Daughter: 01/01/2012 15:12:35
Oh Rachael, I know what you are going through, and you’ve been through so much. I cannot begin to feel the extent of your suffering, but I do grieve and hurt along with you. I hear you, I also have the same desire for purity. You’re right, there is nothing we suffer that comes close to what our Lord suffered. And still Racheal, I think there are many of us who echo these same sentiments you so beautifully shared.
“This is "my" personal saving grace and blessing. God gave his life for me, what small price I pay, I pay willingly....................................................yet, I cry out please Lord no more...............................never feeling forsaken..........just tired and broken....................did not my Lord feel far more broken than I !â€
We all want to be fixed! We’re all undergoing some kind of surgery somewhere; complete heart transplants, complete personality transplants, eye surgeries; you name it; when the cry of our heart is for purity, we’re getting fixed, being refined.
　
I would like to make a distinction between some of the things you are currently suffering, and some of the things I’ve suffered. I'm not without sin; I’m still subject to suffer the consequences for my own failings and imperfections; this I deserve; I’m still subject to human err. I still make mistakes. Not all my sufferings are always for righteousness sake.
　
However, in all those things I suffer, weather it be for Christ sake, or from my own imperfections, I have every confidence that I am learning and becoming wiser to the schemes of the evil one; God instantly forgives our sins, the minute they are confessed; He remembers them not. And Jesus ever lives to make intercession for all of us; He sees us not as we are, but as we are going to be.
　
This is how we must be learning to see each other, that we might encourage each other in it. Satan will continually roar and fight against our seeing each other as Christ sees us; it is his full time job. But of everything that Jesus suffered, it was because He was completely pure; He was unblemished, and without sin. Even Job suffered and was near blameless, but we are learning and being purified by all those things we suffer. You are not alone sweet sister; you are loved.
　
　
From RachaelGrace: 01/01/2012 21:30:24 　
Dena ~ I agree with everything you've said...Everyday since all this started I pray, giving praise and confessioning my sins. Everyday I "feel" sins being washed away. Yet knowing I'll be forever doing this because of the fact that I am human and none of us are born able to be or forever be sinless no matter how we try. Knowing too so many suffer far worse than I, I confess my weaknesses too; while asking that others be blessed having their pain whatever it is taken from them...It's almost unbelievable to me that this whole world is so full of suffering regardless of the source.. Will there ever be an end to this battle between good and evil? I believe there will be when Christ comes for us. We just have to hold faith regardless of everything happening inside us and around us...Faith, trust and the love of our Lord IS the only answer......You are not alone, none of us are even in our darkest moments....................................　
　
From The Prophets Daughter: 01/03/2012 04:17:30
Racheal, these scriptures blessed me this morning; I pray they will bless you as well. Sorry, I’ve not had a chance to get on here until after midnight for the past couple of nights. I have an awfully lot going on this week. Thank you so much for being such a loving blessing in my life. I love you! I think of you even when I can't get on here, and carry you in my heart. Always.... me...
　
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. Psalms 18:30
Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. Psalms 119:140
　
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalms 19:8
We may appropriate His promise for guidance: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye (Psalm 32:8)
　
We may appropriate His promise for help: Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace of help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
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His breath is like a rushing torrent, rising up to the neck. He shakes the nations in the sieve of destruction; he places in the jaws of the peoples a bit that leads them astray. Isaiah 30:28
　
God's Time of Sifting . . .
What About Satan?
I worship the one God of all creation who created even the angels, including Satan himself. According to scripture, a day may be as a thousand years to the Lord and a thousand years as a day. Regardless, it matters neither how long creation took or how it was accomplished. I need look no further than to the intricacies, magnificence and functions of the human brain to believe.
Were all the intricate pieces of a watch put into a box and thrown into the universal explosions of time, we would still be waiting for it to evolve into a watch capable of telling the time. Yet every intricate part of creation was designed to work perfectly together that all creation might thrive. Then Satan began to deceive man, by telling him that he could improve upon God’s divine designs, thus setting into motion the inevitable destruction of earth, it’s atmosphere and the very soul of man?
There is an un-going war between good and evil. This diabolical force intensified when the angel, Lucifer (Satan) was cast out of heaven in rebellion against God. One third of the angels (also called sons of God) were thrown out of heaven with Satan. (those angels believed his lie). God created Satan both brilliant and beautiful, but rather than to give God glory for that, he desired God’s glory for himself.
Satan was so magnificently beautiful and powerful, that he deceived himself, due to his own growing pride. Satan wanted to be like "the Most High." This title of God (El Elyon in Hebrew) literally means "the strongest of the strong." (Isaiah 14.12-4) Satan could have selected from among many other titles of God. For example, Satan could have used El Shaddai, which means "the breasted one who feeds His children," but he didn't. He might have picked "Yahweh Rohi" which means "the Lord our shepherd," but he didn't.
Satan's goal is obvious. Satan wants God's POWER and AUTHORITY, but he doesn't want anything to do with God's nurturing and leadership attributes. Satan wants absolute power, but without having responsibility to care for anyone but himself. We can easily recognize his contribution into the hearts of many people today, beginning with the highest leaders of this nation.
Satan is a master twister of truth, always mixing lies with the principles of God’s truths. In all honesty, it might appear that he’s done a bang up job in making Christianity look foolish and hopeless. And though he may attempt to pervert everything within the power of his domain, he cannot delay the appointed time of Christ’s return; If it seems as though we’ve been waiting forever, it is because God is lovingly getting the last of His crops ready for harvesting by holy reapers. Satan’s pride swells to his greatest strides just before the final fall; and so it is with men.
It is gracious ambition to covet to be holy like the Most Holy, for God said, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.†But it is sinful ambition to aim to be like the Most High, for God also said, “He who exalts himself shall be abased.†This is how the devil enticed our first parents to sin, by telling Eve, “You will be like God, knowing good and evil.†Satan is forever manipulating and perverting truths. According to the scripture, Satan will continue to both deceive, and to use deceived Christians until the very end. (I Thessalonians 5:4-5.) Many Christians claim to have super-natural knowledge from angels; but more often than not, their revelations are in direct opposition to scripture, and they themselves are deceived.
Meanwhile, God desires that his love for us be freely reciprocated. Had He desired Stepford worshipers, He could easily have created them. The choice is ours to follow good or evil. The trick is in recognizing evil when disguised as a beautiful angel of light. All that God made was good, including the angels. Even so, He loved us so much that He gave to each a conscience and a free will to choose right from wrong. Satan knows that each time we ignore our conscience, that it becomes weaker and weaker, until we can no longer hear it speak to our hardening hearts.
The angels know the very instant we become a Christian, that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 1:13) and marked as God‘s child. To God and His holy angels we are cherished loved ones. To Satan and his legions of evil angels we are an enemy. And the wrestling match begins. We are in battle! (Ephesians 6:11-12).
What is the first rule of battle? Know your enemy. Knowing Satan’s origin, his nature, his goals and the tactics he uses can help us gain the victory. One of Satan’s main tactics is to deny his own existence. Failing that, he seeks to ensure that anyone teaching that he exist is promptly laughed at an made out to be a fool. The whole world says, “Satan does not exist.†He is portrayed as nothing more than a cartoon character with horns and a pointy tail, carrying a pitchfork. The liberal preachers with doctorate degrees will assure you Satan is a myth, dreamed up by superstitious, uneducated people. The motion pictures depict Satan as a fictional boogey-man dreamed up for entertainment value. Suave commentators and TV personalities assign labels of religious fanatics and lunatics to anyone admitting to believing in Satan’s existence.
Nevertheless, Jesus says Oh yes he does exist! The old testament mentions Satan in 7 books - Genesis, First Chronicles, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah. The new testament mentions Satan in 19 of its 27 books. Every new testament writer refers to Satan’s existence, and the Lord Jesus mentions Satan 15 times.
When Jesus experienced the temptation in the wilderness and Satan suggests that He turn stones into bread, Jesus responds with Deuteronomy 8:3, that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by “every word†that proceeds from the mouth of God." And Jesus Himself is called "the Word of God" in Revelation 19:3.
What is lacking today in society, including in many Christians is sapience: The ability to apply knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action, or experience, or understanding, or common sense and insight. This is simply the ability to walk in what we know, because so few listen to the voice of their conscience.
I believe it to be true, that the being and attributes of God, as well as the difference between moral good and evil, were known, in some measure, even to the heathen world. The traces of them are to be found in all nations; So that, in some sense, it may be said to every child of man, "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; even to do justly, to love mercy, and to know of God.
How can you hold on to a good conscience? Treasure your faith in Christ more than anything else and do what you know is right. Each time you deliberately ignore your conscience, you are hardening your heart. Over a period of time your capacity to tell right from wrong will diminish, and your mind will be ever so subtly turned over to false delusions. As you walk with God, he will speak to you through your conscience, letting you know the difference between right and wrong.
Glory be to God, we know the end of the war. The great dragon shall be cast out and forever destroyed. Let us sharpen our swords and pray the Holy Spirit to lead us and to strengthen us for the conflict. Every man to his post, ye warriors of the cross, as the victory belongs to the Lord.
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The Time is Set in Stone!
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"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phil. 2:12-13.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6.11-12)
Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 1 Timothy
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'" Matthew 13:30
"For I will give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, and not a pebble will reach the ground. Amos 9:9
My thoughts began to dwell on Christmas and how it all came to be. . . The things that we most celebrate, the things we value most, the things we give our time. My heart ached for the elderly, the parents and grandparents now alone, wondering if anyone would remember them. All they held dear were but memories of those I saw last Christmas. . .
America is the leading nation in spreading false illusions that the elderly are useless; that they have no value or wisdom to impart to the young; no value even worth considering as contributions to society. This nation has no idea what they have lost for failing to pay tribute; to recognize, and to honor both the wisdom and beauty of those who marched on before us. We are paying the penalties for these modern, deceptive beliefs; and our once great nation continues to crumble into the depths of wreckage and disarray.
