Thy Word:

Teaching About Giving To The Needy

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:1-4 NLT

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My Thoughts:

It’s the most giving time of the year and in our part of the world, it’s starting to feel that way because the blistering hot days may be gone for a while. (That alone deserves praise to the Lord!) If the weather and calendar isn’t reminder enough of the “giving season” season, our mail and email also remind us by providing many giving opportunities.

What motivates you to give? Is it a feeling of gratitude because you are blessed to be able to give? Or is it because you seek the approval of others? Maybe it’s both?

Jesus is warning us about giving because of our desire to gain something in return or for recognition. If we do give for personal gain or recognition, we will most assuredly receive public admiration, but Jesus tells us we may forfeit our reward in heaven from God the Father.

It’s easier to give or do what is right when we receive public recognition, but as believers, we should give for the pleasure of giving and as a response to God’s love. We should ask ourselves, ‘would I still do this if there were no personal or public benefit to me?’ Spend some time checking and praying about your motives.

“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT

We should also be seeking ways to give generously in service all year round, not just during the holidays. Look around to see if someone is in need of a kind word, or a personal note, perhaps a meal, or by the generous giving of our time. Our time can sometimes be the richest gift and provide the greatest rewards.

If you are like me, time slips by quickly and before I know it weeks and months have gone by and I’m doing my best to stay ahead of my to-do list. Because of that, I know I must be intentional about my giving.

I use my electronic calendar for reminders and appointments, so why not randomly schedule ‘giving’ appointments on my calendar with a special word or symbol to remind me to give? When I receive that notification I can look for ways to respond in secret. Sounds like fun to me!

Would you take a few moments to seriously consider how you can create a habit of giving not only in your life but in the lives of your children as well?

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Closing Prayer: Father, I love the straightforward truth of Your word about giving. Why do we give? Why do I give? Am I doing it so I can get man’s approval or out of obedient love for You? I pray it is the latter Father, but I will be examining myself for the real truth. Please guide me to look for ways to give in secret, with a grateful heart, and to honor and glorify You. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

 

 

 

Thy Word:

Teaching About Vows

You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the LORD.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

Teaching About Revenge

You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

Teaching About Love For Enemies

You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:33-48 NLT

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My Thoughts:

I love the clarity of these last three sections in chapter five! Well, I thought it was clear, and then God started talking to my heart about the last two sections. Let’s take a look at what He said to me about everything:

Vows: Jesus is stressing the importance of telling the truth because many people were breaking promises or being too casual about their commitments. I would say that describes our world today too, wouldn’t you? Although oaths or vows were (and still are) common, Jesus says we are not to use them—our words alone should be good enough. He says keeping promises without an oath is important because it builds trust, which strengthens relationships.

“But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.” James 5:12 NLT

Are you known as a person of your word? If so, there is no need to back up your words with an oath.

Revenge and Love:

Revenge and love, you ask? Why in the world would I put these two topics together? I didn’t plan to, but then God began to unfurl how closely related they can be when our emotions are involved.

How many times have we dreamed of doing something in retaliation for a wrong or perceived wrong? (Guilty!) However, the Lord says:

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18 NIV

“”Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.”” Romans 12:19 NLT

Did you immediately say or think: But you don’t know…., did you see what they did…, yeah but…?

Yikes! I can’t deny that these very words have been in my heart or come out of my mouth during a deep time of hurt. But I learned a very valuable lesson about revenge—and love—that I want to share with you.

Several years ago I spent the day with two children who had been traumatically impacted by domestic violence. They had witnessed their dad abuse their mother one too many times. To say their little hearts and souls were damaged is an understatement.

Their mother had some important business to attend to when she decided to remove her family from the abusive relationship, so my husband and I immediately offered to care for her children. To take their minds off of what was happening we entertained them with movies, games, laughter, fun snacks, and lots of positive words.

At one point the children started sharing their fears and hurt with us. Some of their feelings were wrapped around how they felt he should be hurt for how he had hurt them (revenge). We stopped everything and we listened. The overriding theme from their little hearts was they felt helpless and their lives felt out of control.

We told them we understood how they felt and that we wished we could make all the hard things go away. I told them the most important thing they could do was pray. Without realizing it, I asked those children a very important question:

“Do you know who I am praying for the most through this?”

They both answered, “Momma.” Then one added, “Us too.”

I replied, “Yes, I am praying for all of you, but I am on my knees praying like crazy for your dad.”

It shocked those children to hear me say that and one lay her head down on the table and wept. Between her sobs she thanked me. Why? As terrified and confused as those children were, we saw they still loved their Dad. They just couldn’t process or understand why he was being so mean.

I’d like to say I was wise that day, but I know better. My prayers for the whole family were simply me admitting to God that I didn’t know what else to do or say. I believe God put those words in my mouth because He wanted me to share the power and comfort of prayer with those children.

As I was recalling and typing this story for my blog, God pointed this out to me: isn’t what happened to all of us that day really the best answer? What if we all prayed, with reckless abandon, for our enemies to seek and find the Lord instead of seeking revenge? The end result of our prayers could mean the reception of love, grace, and mercy from Jesus and that would bring light into broken lives. Revenge…, well, how does that do anything more than make us like our enemy, which creates more sin and more turmoil?

I am certainly not making excuses for what that dad did to his family. But I also knew what type of childhood he had and he was proof that ‘hurt people, hurt people.’

My husband and I prayed with those children for their protection, and their mother’s protection and wisdom. Then we prayed for their dad to seek the Lord with all his heart, and to repent and turn from his poor behavior. Those children received comfort for their broken hearts.

No, this couple’s story did not have a fairy tale ending, but it did have a safe ending. In addition, I know we will never forget what we learned that day, about the value of choosing love and mercy over revenge, and to give the rest to God.

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Closing Prayer: Father God, we thank You for the power of Your words that remind us how important it is to speak in honesty and truth, without vows, so we can be men and women of integrity. We are also grateful for this powerful lesson about the importance of showing and extending love, even in times of difficulty. Father, I pray that we all walk in Your mercy and grace and mirror love over attempting to satisfy our selfish desires to seek revenge. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Thy Word:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Romans 8:26 NIV

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My Thoughts:

A Fictional Story…, or is it?

My life has encountered some big rough patches and things are changing almost daily. I feel empty, restless, vacant, dirty, and broken. My life looks a lot like this parking lot:

My marriage is over, I’m scared, everything feels like it takes too much effort, I’m easily aggravated, and I hear myself being negative a lot. My life feels out of control, my patience is low, my tolerance is high. All I see is everything that happens to me is hard and everything that happens to him is easy. It’s not fair.

But, I keep going back to the last item on the list: my tolerance is high. That has gotten me where I am today and it’s a very hard thing to face.

You see, it’s more than just a simple divorce because I have a secret brokenness that only my closest family know. I am a victim of domestic violence. Bile rises in my throat as I say these words and I feel so ashamed. You won’t hear me talk about it and once I get this divorce behind me, I’m going to try to bury that little secret. I’m going to try to get the old ‘me’ back.

Let me back up a little and tell you about the day the walls of silence crumbled. I was at a retail store with my children and my husband. He was engrossed in some guns so I told him I was going to walk around with the children. Once I was safely out of his hearing I quickly called my Mom and told her tearfully that in a fit of rage that morning my husband had pulled out his gun and pointed it to my face, daring me to take it from him. I was terrified, but I also knew our relationship had turned a very ugly corner so I had to do something.

Do you know what was strange? I learned later on that night that my Mom realized in that moment what was going on. Here is the weird thing, I didn’t know it; I just thought he was being a jerk.

She firmly told me to call the police immediately. Before I could answer, I had to quickly hang up because I saw him looking for us. I told the children not to say anything about me calling Grandma.

When we got home I received a call from my Dad and he also told me to call the police. I couldn’t do that because if I did my husband would lose his job and we couldn’t afford that. I pretended I was talking to my dad about a TV show we both watch to let him know my husband was close by. I told him I’d call him back later that night.

Mustering up a little courage, I told my husband he needed to leave, that I’d had enough of him. My husband has a job where he is gone for multiple weeks at a time, and then he came home for three or four days. He was scheduled to leave in a few hours anyway and although he acted like he was mad, I knew he was ready to go. He thought he was fooling me but I knew he was cheating on me with multiple women. He thought I was asleep when he got up and called one of them to say he was anxious to leave. Even though I hated him for what he was doing to us, my heart was broken that he was seeing other women.

After he left, I spent the rest of the day with my children and got them ready for bed before I called Mom. What is it about calling your Mom that brings on tears? The minute she said ‘hi’ I started crying and I told her I was sorry that I had made such an upsetting call earlier. I felt like she was probably mad at me. Do you know what she said?

“Mad? Why in the world would I be mad? Honey, I am so glad you called me; it was the right thing to do. Besides, you need to understand this is not your shame, it is his.” I was a little surprised at her calmness.

Puzzled I said, “Shame? I don’t understand…?”

It was then she told me she was going to ask me a series of questions and wanted only yes or no answers. One after another I answered her questions and the tears began to fall again as I realized what the questions were revealing. The outcome confirmed I was a victim of domestic violence.

If you knew me, you would be shocked because I am a strong and independent woman. But what I also learned is that abuse happens very slowly and it grows like a cancer. The first episode is typically small but if nothing is done to stop it, then it grows and spreads until a tolerance is developed. I was physically sick that I hadn’t seen the truth of what was happening to me.

I used to go to church where I had a community surrounding me but I left when they had some internal issues. I kept saying I was going to find a new church but since my husband didn’t like me going, it was easier just to stop. Did you know that being set apart from others is also a form of abuse? Your abuser wants you to be alone so you don’t tell anyone what is happening.

I’m so tired and even though I don’t feel like fighting most days I know I have to make these changes for the safety of my children and myself.

My family has encouraged me and they have been a lot of help. My Mom reminds me regularly that with Christ there is always hope. I have to rely on those who are stronger than me because I can’t seem to grasp this truth some days. On those days I simply cry to out to God and let my tears speak for me. I know that’s okay because God says:

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Romans 8:26 NIV

Do you see what that says? The Spirit speaks the words I can’t seem to find on those hard days, and I know there are going to be more hard days until I get through this and find myself again.

However…, don’t you love when you see this word? It means there is more and I need more right now!

However, when I look again at that picture of the broken parking lot that represented my life, do you know what I saw? I saw this:

Can you believe it? In the middle of that dirty, broken, vacant lot, there was a beautiful flower growing. It’s a perfect picture of my future because I truly believe that something beautiful will come out of this brokenness if I stay the course and stay strong.

My story is far from over, but I’m going to hold onto the truth that when this is all over our life is going to be beautiful again. When I need help being strong Jesus says he will help me with that too:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV

Jesus is the core of my strength and this verse has become my life verse. I know the Lord will take me through this hard time to a place He has set aside just for me. All I have to do is lean on Him and look for the beauty even in the brokenness.

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Summary:

In my latest blog on Matthew 5, we reviewed adultery and divorce. Although I mentioned that God does not expect us to stay in an abusive relationship, I wanted to address the topic a little more in depth. This fictional story captures how subtle domestic violence is but sadly many stories don’t have an ending that is one of hope, because in real life the story often ends in death.

My family is laced with good people for whom I am extremely grateful, but there are also incidences of domestic violence. I talked about that in my own personal testimony at the start of this blog (The Power of Words). What I am about to say may shock you: two of the worst abusers in my family are women. Yes, you read that correctly. Although the documented cases for domestic violence for women are much higher, the numbers of men being abused by their spouse or partner are growing at an alarming rate.

Domestic violence rarely becomes resolved by ignoring what happened and if there are children in the marriage/relationship, even though your children may not be physically harmed, what they see and experience will leave permanent scars, and your children may even mimic that abusive behavior. Get them counseling!

Leaving or removing yourself from an abusive relationship will not be easy, but it is the only answer for healing your family.

If you or someone you love are being abused, you can get help immediately by following this link:

https://www.thehotline.org/resources/statistics/

If you are concerned about safety or your abuser finding you have gone to this link, at the bottom of the page is a large “X” in a red box. You can quickly leave the website by clicking on the “X” icon or by pressing the Escape key twice. Users of the Microsoft Edge web browser will not be able to use the “back” button to re-enter the website after hitting the “X” or “Escape” button.

On the website are toll free phones numbers and resources available to help you get the specific help you need.

If you are truly not sure whether or not you are in an abusive relationship (remember, abuse starts small, and abusers often employ mental and verbal abuse to further confuse us), there is a section on this website titled “Is This Abuse.” There you will get facts to help you understand what abuse is and how to look for those warning signs.

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Closing Prayer: Father God, I pray if there is someone struggling in this type of a relationship the facts and the information included on this website link give them courage and the proper resources to get away safely. Father, we love that you are a God that loves us enough to be our voice when we don’t have a voice. Give them courage and strength so they can start anew with you, Lord. We know it may not be easy, but the long term reward will be worth the end result. Finally, thank you for the many men and women who work tirelessly to help those being abused get out of this terrible situation. I pray an extra blessing on them as well as on those who are trying to get away. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thy Word:

Teaching About Adultery

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye—even your good eye —causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand—even your stronger hand —causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” Matthew 5:27-30 NLT

Teaching About Divorce

“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.” Matthew 5:31-32 NLT

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My Thoughts:

Adultery

This was not an easy lesson and I’ve been praying through it for days. Thank you for your patience as I worked through what the Lord wanted me to share with you.

The Old Testament laws said it was wrong for a person to have sex with anyone other than their spouse. But Jesus is telling us in these verses that the desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse is mental adultery and thus sin. Jesus emphasizes that if the act is wrong, then so is the intention.

My study Bible tells me this critical and candid information: “To be faithful to your spouse with your body but not your mind is to break the trust so vital to a strong marriage. Jesus is not condemning natural interest in the opposite sex or even healthy sexual desire, but the deliberate and repeated filling of one’s mind with fantasies that would be evil if acted out.”

To net this out, I believe that Jesus is again reminding us that what we think, or meditate on, can be a stepping stone to sin.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 NLT

Jesus is so serious about the sin of adultery he uses the example of gouging out your eye or cutting off your hand. (Let’s not do that people!) However, we can literally remove ourselves (run!) from a situation that starts by causing inappropriate thoughts.

Let’s look at this example: A married woman confidentially shared with me she was in a time of struggle in her marriage. Neither she nor her husband wanted to seek counseling because of pride, so things continued to slowly get worse. Eventually she admitted to me she was having inappropriate thoughts about a married coworker. This man was someone she had known in the past, and although they were both now married, she sincerely believed God brought him back into her life to start a relationship since her marriage was in turmoil.

Oh my goodness! NO!!! God will never tempt you, but do you know who will? Satan!!!

“And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.” James 1:13 NLT

I’m happy to say her marriage was eventually restored before the act of adultery, but it did not come without consequences and heartache. She transferred to another department (removed herself from the temptation), she and her husband sought Christian counseling, and eventually their marriage was even better because they learned how to communicate with each other.

Did you see the big red flags before she turned from the situation? Lustful thoughts, pride, hurt, and lack of communication. If any of these red flags are happening in your marriage, seek help now!

Divorce

Divorce is just as hurtful and destructive today as it was in Jesus’ day. God intends for marriage to be a lifetime commitment. Too many times today, couples enter into a marriage with an “escape clause” mindset. Meaning if it doesn’t work out, divorce is their simple solution.

May I just say, there is NOTHING simple about a divorce, and having gone through it, I know first-hand about the destructiveness, especially when children are involved in the break-up.

HOWEVER, before you quit reading, please understand God does not want us to stay in a marriage where abuse is taking place.

“Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.” Proverbs 22:24-25 NLT

“Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.” Colossians 3:19 NLT (This also applies to wives; never treat your husband harshly.)

God has a lot to say about who we are to be united with in marriage (as Christians):

“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. ” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NLT

Men…, women…, if you feel marriage problems can be solved by getting a divorce (again, I’m not talking about abusive relationships!), then I encourage you to seriously reconsider that thought process, especially before you enter into marriage!

How do we do this? Well, I’m not a marriage counselor, but I will share my thoughts: we start by being as “wise as an owl” in the dating process. What does that look like? An owl seeks with eyes wide open and ears that keenly listen.

1. Don’t enter into a relationship if you are both not actively walking with the Lord.
2. Date for four seasons and don’t succumb to the lure of pre-marital sex. A person can only “pretend” to be someone they are not for so long. In that timeframe their true personality will be revealed. If this person has “deal breaker” tendencies and refuses to get help for them, you cannot change them. Walk away from the relationship and it will be easier if you have not become intimate with them.
3. Does this person value you enough to put the greater good and long term goals of the relationship before their personal desires? Answer: if you aren’t #1 in their lives now, you won’t be after you get married.
4. Learn how to communicate and solve problems before you enter into marriage. This doesn’t happen automatically after marriage. If you don’t figure it out while you are in the dating season it will only complicate and make your marriage more difficult.
5. If you don’t learn how to solve differences and problems in your marriage, a divorce isn’t going to solve anything. You will most likely carry the inability to communicate and resolve problems into other relationships.
6. Before you enter into marriage take a marriage class at your church, and seek counsel with a pastor or another couple who lives these truths.

The bad news: My first marriage ended in a divorce as a result of not living any of these truths. There were harsh consequences for all of us, but especially for my children.

The good news: My second marriage started with both of us entering into the relationship committed to having open and candid conversations, no matter how difficult. We vowed to each other that divorce was not going to be an escape clause. This was critical because we had each gone through a divorce and we were both bringing hurt children into the marriage.

Did we make colossal mistakes? Yes we did and the #1 mistake was not having the Lord in our marriage from the start. I am happy to say the Lord is now the foundation of our marriage and has been for a long time. Every day our marriage becomes stronger and we praise God for that.

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Closing Prayer:

Father this was a hard lesson and it reminded me where I have messed up so many times. However, the good news is You have been with us every time we have needed You and we praise you, Lord. What a blessing it has been to be joined to a man who guides our family under Your wisdom and authority, and I thank You for this sweet gift.

I pray Father that we all have a better understanding about how easy it is to fall into the trap of adultery especially when we allow our thoughts to go unchecked. I pray instead we turn to You, Your Word, and Christian counseling to help us learn to communicate with each other and make our marriages stronger. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Thy Word:

Teaching About Anger

“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.”

Matthew 5:21-26 NLT

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My Thoughts:

Anger has been prevalent in my life for more years than I care to remember. My earthly father was an abusive alcoholic and not only did he rage and harm my Mother, his unquenchable rage impacted his three oldest children (I was one of the three).

With no remorse or shame he raged at work, and he had no qualms about being verbally inappropriate and out of control around strangers. To say he was a very angry man, would be an understatement. I would like to say this ended the day our family escaped from him but anger has a way of infiltrating lives and sticking around, even when it’s something you hate, especially with children.

Our verses today touch on a specific Moral Law from the Ten Commandments, “You shall not murder.”

The first time I heard a sermon series on the Ten Commandments, I said to myself, “At least there is one commandment I haven’t broken because I’ve never murdered!”

I was so relieved until the pastor asked, “When was the last time you murdered someone with your ugly thoughts or words?” Uh oh…. Our verses make it very clear how serious it is to think or say or do something ugly about or to another person:

“But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.” Matthew 5:22

Perhaps after reading these words again we are squirming a little from guilt, and asking, ‘you mean it’s a sin to even think about things in anger?’ Yes it is, because the “meditation” of our heart is where anger starts and ultimately contributes to our mouths (and worse) committing murder!

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 NLT

When I read these verses and consider what I’ve thought or spoken out loud…., let’s just say, I’m ten for ten on breaking those commandments. Not a proud moment for me.

The second paragraph speaks about sacrifices at the altar, or the Ceremonial Laws. But remember, Christ died for us so we don’t have to make a literal sacrifice anymore. Jesus is the final and perfect sacrifice. We do, however, approach the throne of God when we pray and confess our sins. We cannot ask for forgiveness for our sins when we won’t forgive someone else for their sins.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 NLT

Don’t get angry with me if you are feeling a bit convicted right now! As you can see, this truth comes directly from God’s Word!

I want to stress something to you before we go any further: DO NOT confuse forgiveness with association. For instance, God wanted me to forgive my father for his heinous acts, but He would not have asked me or any of my family to stay in that abuse. We forgive because we are forgiven and because it frees us from being forever bound to our abusers in negativity and bitterness when we refuse to forgive. But that does not mean we stay in an abusive relationship.

The best peace and freedom I ever received was the day I chose to truly forgive my father.

The worst thing about my life before I chose to forgive was living my life in bitterness and anger. Even though I despised those qualities in him, without proper counseling about the importance of forgiveness and how to forgive, I repeated those nasty character flaws.

If you or someone you love has been impacted by abuse, especially if there is a child involved (voice of experience!), I encourage you to lay down your pride and get Christian counseling for everyone to break free from the potential long term effects.

Finally, the last portion of these verses has been the most challenging for me because not all “adversaries” wish to reconcile, and we can ALL be adversaries. God tells us:

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 NIV

Meaning, don’t wait for them to make the first move, we need to make the first move.

But it’s their fault….

But they….

But…

Sometimes all it takes is a kind word sent in a card. No expectations, no judgment, just make the first move.

*****

Closing Prayer:

Father God this was a very difficult lesson and I thank you for guiding me through it. I pray Your words and my honesty will be the encouragement someone may need to get help, and heal any unresolved brokenness or unforgiveness. Father, I especially thank you for the reminder that it’s important to settle our differences quickly, otherwise we may end up in prison…, perhaps a prison of our own making. Give us all the strength and courage we need to take those first steps towards healing and reconciliation. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Thy Word:

Teaching About The Law

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”

Matthew 5:17-20 NLT

*****

My Thoughts:

People have a love hate relationship with the law, wouldn’t you agree? We love the law when we see it protects us, but we can hate the law when we perceive it restricts us.

The Law of Moses was God’s moral and ceremonial laws and they were given to protect his people, and to also help people love Him. Unfortunately, the religious leaders had turned the original laws into a confusing tangled mess of rules. Jesus wasn’t speaking against the laws, but against the abuses of God’s laws.

So if Jesus didn’t come to abolish the laws, it begs the question, does that mean the Old Testament laws still apply to us today? The answer is a somewhat confusing ‘yes and no.’

My NIV study Bible breaks the law down into three categories and provides details behind each one:

1. Ceremonial Law
2. Civil Law
3. Moral Law

“Ceremonial Law (Leviticus 1:2, 3 for example) relates specifically to Israel’s worship and it’s primary purpose was to point to Jesus Christ. Therefore, these laws were no longer necessary after the death and resurrection of Christ. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial law, the principles behind them—to worship and love a holy God—still apply.

Civil Law applied to daily living in Israel (Deuteronomy 24:10, 11, for example). Because modern society is so radically different from that time and setting, all of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. But the principles behind the commands are timeless and should guide our conduct. Jesus demonstrated these principles by example.

Moral Law (the Ten Commandment for example) is the direct command of God, and it requires strict obedience (Exodus 20:1-17). The Moral Law reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies today. Jesus obeyed the moral law completely.”

Let’s look at the verses for each piece of the law:

Ceremonial Law-“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you present an animal as an offering to the Lord, you may take it from your herd of cattle or your flock of sheep and goats. “If the animal you present as a burnt offering is from the herd, it must be a male with no defects. Bring it to the entrance of the Tabernacle so you may be accepted by the Lord.” Leviticus 1:2-3 NLT

So how often were they to do this? “This is a permanent law for you, to purify the people of Israel from their sins, making them right with the Lord once each year.” (Leviticus 16:34) This once a year offering was called the Day of Atonement and all Israeli’s did this. However, other sacrifices were necessary throughout the year in order for God’s people to approach Him for different reasons. Can you imagine?

Listen, I cannot abide the sight of blood and if you read the entire chapter of Leviticus 1, it might make you a little sick. There is no way I could do any of that! Praise God Almighty that He gave His only begotten Son as the final and perfect sacrifice!

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT

I am still overwhelmed when I consider the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us! He died for all of our sins so we would never have to go through this sacrificial process again once we believe in Him. Praise Him!

Civil Law-“If you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to pick up the item he is giving as security. You must wait outside while he goes in and brings it out to you.” Deuteronomy 24:10-11 NLT

This portion of the law concerned private relations between people and can be summed up in the Golden Rule:

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NLT

Raise your hand if you think our world has become very “me-istic” and we are in dire need of reinstating this law! (My hand is raised high in the air!)

Moral Law-this is the Ten Commandments. Simply listed they are:

1. You shall have no other gods before me
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol
3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God
4. Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not give false testimony [lie] against your neighbor
10. You shall not covet [desire what belongs to another]

Jesus obeyed these laws completely; I wish I could say the same.

But none of us are perfect and we are all sinners, (“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 NIV), so how do we fulfill all three categories of the law in order to become righteous enough to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven?

“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” Matthew 5:20 NLT

We do it with Jesus.

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NLT

On our own, we simply cannot become righteous without Jesus, it’s impossible. There is not a day that goes by that any of us don’t sin. If you don’t believe me, I dare you to pray a dangerous prayer I once prayed when I thought I had gone a whole week without sinning! My prayer was simple and reckless:

“Father God, open my eyes to my sins so I can repent and be forgiven.”

Can I tell you that I almost came undone? Can I tell you that the revelation of my daily sins (notice that’s plural) were almost more that I could bear? When I thought I could not take one more minute of the wretchedness of my sins, Jesus reminded me that His death was the final sacrifice and because I believed in Him, I was “made right with God.” I have His forgiveness, I am saved, and that makes me righteous, therefore, I will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven!

Praise God Almighty, and brothers and sisters, I pray you have this righteousness as well!

*****

Closing Prayer:

Father God, thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law as the final and costliest sacrifice ever made, so we could be made righteous in Your eyes. Father thank You that because I believe Jesus died for my sins and was raised in three days, I have forgiveness of my sins and eternal life with You. My prayer today includes the desire of my heart that all those I love surrender to Jesus so they too can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Do you need to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Remember what Jesus tells us: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NLT

If you believe this in your heart, follow this link and pray this prayer from the late Billy Graham (you may have to copy and paste the link into your browser) and you too will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven:

https://binged.it/2pwNzyJ

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Word:

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:13-16 NLT

***

My Thoughts:

Salt has been used for thousands of years to preserve and season foods. It was once difficult to obtain, so it was a highly valued trade item. For a time, it was even considered a form of currency. Today salt is more readily available and relatively inexpensive (excluding designer salt, of course, but that is a whole other topic!)

I love salt! There was a short time in my life I couldn’t get enough which made me wonder if my body was deficient in sodium. I now only lightly sprinkle salt because I know it doesn’t take much to enhance or improve what I’m eating.

In many ways, this is a picture of my relationship with Christ. In the beginning, when I was deficient in my knowledge of Him, I took in large quantities of information to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible. Over time, I altered the way I studied and began to sprinkle myself with daily readings and savor what I learned. That sprinkling enhances what I learn and hear as I walk through His word.

In our verses today, salt is used as a metaphor to show how the disciples were to be like salt and preserve their society and the world around them from moral decay by sprinkling them with the knowledge and love of Christ.

There is a story in the Old Testament where Elisha, the prophet, is asked to help a city that is located in a beautiful place but the water is putrid. He sprinkles a little salt and the water is restored to good:

“The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”

“Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.”

So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’ ” And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.” Kings 2:19-22 NIV

That’s what happens to us when we accept Christ as our savior and we are sprinkled with the word of God. We become healed from our impurities and forgiven of our sins.

Salt also makes us thirsty, so it’s natural the more we know about God, the more we thirst for Him. Jesus says we should know Him so well our words should always have the seasoning of salt so others will thirst for more:

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6 NIV

Then Jesus continues this theme when He says we are a light in the world and cannot be hidden. He is basically saying the same thing again with a slightly different emphasis. He stresses we are not to keep the Good News of what has happened and changed in our lives quiet or hidden once we have accepted Jesus. Rather, we are to always be prepared to explain the hope we have as believers:

“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” 1 Peter 3:15 NLT

When we reflect Jesus in our daily lives, we have the opportunity to influence others and that could be very thing that ultimately leads them to Christ:

“Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.” 1 Peter 3:1b-2 NLT

We see from all of these verses, what we say and do as Christians can have a dramatic influence on others.

Therefore:

“Let my tongue sing about your word, for all your commands are right.” Psalms 119:172 NLT

Finally, there are two words I don’t want you to miss in our verses today: ‘you are.’ Jesus does not use passive language (you could be, you should be, etc.), but rather a truth, or a fact, about who we are once we become believers in Christ. We ARE the salt of the earth and the light of the world; therefore, we must share what we know!

My heart feels the call of the Lord to be salt and light as I read all of these powerful words. Would you, could you, be the salt and light that enhances someone’s life today so they are drawn closer to Jesus?

*****

Closing Prayer:

Father God, thank you for teaching us the value of learning more about You. Today I pray that all who read these words surrender their hearts and lives to You so they can continue the forward movement of Jesus by being salt and light for others. Father, I pray as I go about my day, that I find opportunities to sprinkle Your truth and bring Light to someone who needs to hear about You. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Thy Word:

The Beatitudes

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Matthew 5:3-12 NLT

*****

My Thoughts:

Of all the writings about Jesus in the Bible, the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, chapters 5-7, is the first, the longest, and the most prominent. Up until this point, the disciple Matthew’s writings are mostly an introduction of Jesus. However, not only does this body of principles hold a place of prominence in the New Testament, this sermon is about to directly confront the reader (that would be us!).

Jesus starts with a section called the Beatitudes that list a series of blessings with a Proverb-like proclamation. Although Jesus does not include narrative for each of these blessings they are precise and full of meaning. Simply put, Jesus is describing the traits He was (and still is!) looking for in his followers. If our goal is to be more like Jesus (and it should be!) these beatitudes will challenge how we live every day.

Unfortunately, as we read through each blessing, we get a sense that they directly contradict how our society tells us we are to behave, wouldn’t you agree? Jesus even points out in the last blessing that our efforts to develop these characteristics will result in opposition and persecution from our peers.

Let’s look at what Jesus says versus what the world says:

1. Instead of being poor in spirit, our world encourages us to be prideful and have personal independence.
2. Instead of mourning, our world encourages us to attain happiness at any cost.
3. Instead of being meek, we are encouraged to ladder climb or seek power.
4. Instead of seeking righteousness*, we pursue personal desires.
5. Instead of showing mercy, we exhibit strength without feeling.
6. Instead of being pure in heart, deception and immoral practices are acceptable.
7. Instead of being a peacemaker, we seek personal peace without concern for the world’s chaos.
8. Instead of standing firm even in the face of persecution, we avoid it by having weak commitments and standards.

(*Definition of righteousness-acting in accord with divine or moral law.)

I don’t know about you, but these truths hit home in my heart and I am faced with my weaknesses and failure to mirror Jesus in several areas!

Jesus ends this section by telling us we will be rewarded in heaven if we live our lives according to His blessings. Notice He doesn’t refer to them as hardships, but as blessings, and that is how we need to see them as well.

In the Kingdom of Heaven, wealth, power, and authority are unimportant. Kingdom people are to seek different blessings, benefits, and attitudes.

Today let’s ask ourselves a very hard and revealing question: which attitude are we reflecting? Are we reflecting the selfishness of world, or the humility of Jesus?

(See section titled “Extra” that list verses from my NIV study Bible about how we are to develop the attitudes Jesus lists as blessings.)

*****

Closing Prayer:

Lord this is a very convicting lesson and I confess to You I must make changes in my life right now. I ask for a hedge of protection to surround me as I face some very fast paced months with multiple commitments, coupled with some difficult personal challenges. During these times of weakness may I remember Your power and glory are mightier than the devil who seeks to destroy me in my weakness. I ask this in the name of my savior Jesus. Amen.

*****

Extra:

Poor in spirit-James 4:7-10

Mourning-Psalm 51, James 4:7-10

Meekness-Matthew 11:27-30

Righteousness-John 16:5-11, Philippians 3:7-11

Mercy-Ephesians 5:1-2

Pure in heart-1 John 3:1-3

Peacemaker-Romans 12:9-21, Hebrews 12:10-11

Persecuted-2 Timothy 3:12

**Two options for reading the Bible online include Blue Letter Bible and YouVersion.

 

Thy Word:

“One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.” Matthew 5:1-2 NLT

“Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James’s brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot ), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).” Matthew 10:1-4 NLT

*****

My Thoughts:

Before we jump into the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), let’s take a look at two key words in these verses: disciples and apostles. We see Jesus call these followers disciples in chapter 5, then both in chapter 10.

Maybe you (like me) wondered “are they disciples or apostles? Do they mean the same thing? If not, what is the difference?”

Although the words disciple and apostle are sometimes used interchangeably, they mean different things. A disciple is a follower or student of someone. An apostle is someone who is sent out with a message or mission.

Jesus’ disciples were a group of followers who listened and learned from him. When Jesus chose twelve of his disciples to accompany him and later sent them on mission’s to preach/teach about Him, they became apostles.

As I was preparing this blog, our Sunday Bible Class leader gave a fabulous comparison with biblical references I’d like to share with you:

• “Disciple & Apostle – not synonymous (both – Matt 10:1-2; Luke 6:13)
• Disciple – Learner, pupil
• Apostle – emissary, representative, one sent with the authority of the sender

Qualifications of an Apostle:

• Chosen & sent by Jesus (Mark 3:14)
• Witness to the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21-22; Acts 10:41-42)
• Confirmed by the signs [miracles] of an Apostle (2 Corinthians 12:12)

The Apostles, being sent by Christ, spoke with the authority of Christ; when they wrote, they wrote with the authority of Christ. That’s the highest authority there is.”

Courtesy of Mr. John Adams, Blog: www.written4u.com

(Biblical references listed after my closing prayer.)

(Side note: Don’t you love it when you are studying something and the Lord drops the same information in your lap in another place or from another person, like He did here? That always lets me know I’m on the right track with what Jesus is teaching us through this blog!)

In Matthew 5:1-2 we see Jesus call his disciples to teach them. He was preparing them for their calling.

In Matthew 10:1-4 we see Jesus give twelve of his followers authority and a mission, which as Mr. Adams tells us, “is the highest authority there is.” At that point Jesus refers to them as apostles when He identifies them by name.

The same process happens for us when we agree to follow Jesus. First we immediately become His disciples. It’s our responsibility to learn as much as possible about Jesus from:

1. Joining and regularly attending a Bible believing/teaching church.
2. Participating in a small group class or study that teaches the Bible.
3. Reading our Bibles (try just 20 minutes a day and not only will you learn, but that’s how God speaks to us!).
4. Having other believers as friends and mentors.

Once we become trained (although I find myself learning something new all the time and I love that!), Jesus makes us an apostle and sends us out to teach others about Him. How each of us does that, is based on how God has gifted us, or called us to teach about Him.

Now don’t get nervous because when Jesus calls us, He equips us.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT

I hope that clears up the difference between these two very important roles and helps all of us understand the critical role each of us play in sharing the story of Jesus Christ with others.

*****

Closing Prayer:

Father God, thank you for giving us this valuable pause in our lesson so we gain a better understanding of our own role for the Kingdom. I ask for a special blessing to be poured out on Mr. John Adams as he teaches and leads our class every week and mirrors what it looks like to be an Apostle for You. Father, I ask that each person reading (and writing!) this blog takes a hard look at their own role and evaluates where improvements can be made, so we can all accomplish our goal for you, Lord. I ask this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

*****

Biblical References

“At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:” Luke 6:13 NLT (see list of names in our verse from Matthew 10:1-4 in “Thy Word” section)

“Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach,” Mark 3:14 NLT

““So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”” Acts of the Apostles 1:21-22 NLT

Then God allowed him to appear “not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead.” Acts of the Apostles 10:41-42 NLT

“When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.” 2 Corinthians 12:12 NLT

 

Thy Word:

The Ministry of Jesus Begins

He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

The First Disciples

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.

A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

Crowds Follow Jesus

Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all. Large crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.

Matthew 4:13-25 NLT

*****

My Thoughts:

With the passing of John and the remembrance of his legacy…., ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!” (Matthew 3:3b) and “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2)

The ministry of Jesus begins and His words start where John’s legacy ends: “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)

Every time we share the gospel (the Good News about Jesus) with our words, our lives, and our actions, we become one of His disciples and clear the way for Jesus.

Our actions, or the way we live our lives, can sometimes speak louder than our words:

“Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.” 1 Peter 3:1b-2 NLT

I learned early on as a believer that WE can’t give everlasting life to sinners; all we can do is share what we know. Jesus does the rest because He IS the Savior and He gives salvation. (Phew! That’s a huge relief, isn’t it?)

However, Jesus promises us when we follow Him, He will teach us how to share the Good News, just as He taught his first disciples, so He can catch them:

“Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19 NLT

When Jesus calls us and we agree to follow Him, we receive several gifts:

1. Forgiveness for our sins and eternal life.
2. The Holy Spirit comes and lives in us to guide us.
3. As we read the Bible, we learn how to be more like Jesus.
4. God buries His word (the Bible) in our hearts to help us grow and “fish.”
5. God communicates to us personally as we read the Bible.

My decision to follow Jesus was the most important choice I have ever made because “he healed every kind of disease and illness” that was broken in my life and heart. I once was a woman who lived a life of fear, anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. It was a lonely and hard existence.

Jesus taught me I had nothing to fear because He was trustworthy and always with me. Because Jesus forgave me of my sins, it taught me how to forgive those who hurt me. Therefore, the sickness that anger and bitterness had created in my soul was removed and I was healed. I praise God!

(Please know that forgiveness and association are two different things. You forgive as an act of obedience and to help yourself heal. But, if someone is hurting you that does not mean you have to continue to associate with them.)

May we honor the Lord by learning more about Him, that we may communicate with Him and reflect Him. When we do that our reward is freedom from our burdens and we accomplish our own calling! This pleases God and as a bonus we leave a worthy legacy for those who come behind us!

*****

Extra:

Note: if you would like an excellent resource to study God’s Word, Debbie Stuart & Lisa Rose wrote: “20 Minutes A Day For The Rest of Your Life” and it can be purchased on eBay.com for $6.00 + shipping.

Disclaimer: I do not receive royalties from recommending any books to you in this blog. I recommend because they have been an important part of my growth, and I hope they benefit you as well.

*****

Closing Prayer: Father God, we are so excited to get started on this journey with Jesus as He begins his ministry for you, Lord. Please open our hearts and let us hear a personal Word from you as you guide us on this journey. We love you Lord, and thank You for the encouragement we received today to become disciples for You. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.