Question...: If Christ purchased me for a price and is a ransom and complete payment for my life on this earth, I am having a hard time understanding the biblical backing in that I or anyone else will become "good enough" for a person on this earth, when I and you are found complete in Christ who said it IS FINISHED...?...replies are SOOO welcome!!!

My Journey in Proverbs

I have been blessed by the amazing study Bible that I purchased approximately three years ago. It is "called" the New Spirit Filled Life Bible, New King James Version. The study material in this Bible is excellent and I have learned so much through the Hebrew/Greek word study sections.   The Lord directed me to begin a study specifically in the book of Proverbs and so far I have been tremendously blessed by the Word as well as the study items associated with a few of the verses I have been meditating on lately. It was placed upon my heart to share some of this Proverbs Journey with you! I know you will be as blessed as I have been, enjoy.

Proverbs 16:3- "Commit" your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established" 

"Word Wealth Notes": "Commit", galal: To roll, roll down, roll away, remove. In Genesis 29:3, galal, refers to rolling the stone from the well's mouth. In Joshua 5:9, the reproach of Egypt is rolled off from Israel.  In this text, the reader is encouraged to roll his works into God's care. (See also Ps. 37:5) The picture is of a camel, burdened with a heavy load; when the load is to be removed, the camel kneels down, tilts far to one side, and the load rolls off. From galal numerous words are derived, among which: galgal: "wheel" or "whirlwind"; galil, :Galilee, literally, "circuit" or " district"; gulgolet: Golgotha, "skull", or "head" and megillah: "scroll".

This text along with the study material included has really ministered to me this week. It is still so amazing to me that God is so ever present and very involved in every aspect of my life down to the smallest of details to the largest of decisions. I have been feeling pretty overwhelmed lately for many different reasons. It has just seemed like so much is going on in my life and it has seemed to hit all at once. During this season I have continuously prayed for God's direction and peace. I have opened every area of my heart to God and have asked that He would help lessen this load and help me to cast my cares upon Him. After praying and confessing to God that I felt just so overwhelmed with life right now and I needed His help I was directed by the Holy Spirit to read Proverbs 16:3. After reading I took a quick glance at the study material and just began to cry tears of joy. My God is the God who sees. He sees me and He hears me, He answers me!! I saw in this scripture and study material that I needed to roll away and remove things in my life and God would pick them up. He establishes me.  KNEEL and TILT!! 

Single and IN Purpose!

If you are single, please know that God has a much higher calling upon your life than spending all of your time and energy trying to attract a marriage partner.  Please also know that you are not forgotten or being punished, your singleness is actually a blessing if you embrace it and choose to use it wisely. As the Apostle Paul wrote, being unmarried is an amazing opportunity to serve the Lord without distraction. (1 Corinthians 7:34). Begin to search your heart to discern which areas of your life need to be cultivated into a more mature relationship with Christ. This is the key to serving God with your singleness instead of serving God to be married which involves a self-seeking motive. You reach a higher level of maturity in Christ when you ask of God what it is He would have you to do or study daily instead of asking God to do something for you. It is true that you might find a decent partner by reading books on how to get noticed, by joining an internet dating service or attending churches where the statistics are in better favor of your desired search for a spouse.  But what amazing heaven-scripted beauty and mature relationship with our heavenly father we forgo when we try to write the story ourselves.  God is in fact in the business of writing incredible love stories. The Word of God has been compared to a love letter from God to us as His children however the problem is that most of us aren’t willing to leave the pen in His more than able and sovereign hands. As a warning it is also destructive to remove the pen from the Author and Finisher of our faith and peruse our own good and place God’s name on our own agendas for justification.

In the same way, when we rush ahead of God in search of a love story, we end up with less than God’s very best for our lives. Often times our good ideas such as casual dating, flirting or even manipulation for attention must first be dissected under truth to reveal sin or selfishness. Also often, our good plans that don’t particularly lead us to sin will still distract us from God’s best for our lives.

The most honoring way to find a godly spouse is to stop searching for one and instead focus your entire life around Jesus Christ and His priorities. During the blessing of time given while still single you began to produce fruit of a relationship with Christ as a foundation of truth and a life giving source. Also it is during the time of singleness while keeping your priorities in order that you find yourself cultivating the areas of your own life that will prepare you to be the godly spouse that you yourself would desire in a husband or wife. If God wants you to be married, He is MORE than capable of writing your love story in the most unlikely way, in the most unlikely place and without the help of blind dates, singles groups, online dating services, your well-meaning family members that continue to remind you that you are getting older and even your own opinions about your honestly selfish motives to find completeness in another person.  We must realize that our true identities are found in Christ and our wholeness comes from God alone. Also how much different would our single lives look if we exchanged our time searching for our future husbands or wives and spent it studying the Word of God and PRAYING for our future spouses instead.

Remember that God cares more about this area of your life than even you do.  He wants the pen of your life, not to make you miserable, but to bless you beyond all you could ask or think.  Those who put their hope in Him will not be disappointed. Trust God with every area of your life and continue to pursue Him.  God will not allow you to miss out on the opportunities and future He has planned for you when you continue to seek His face and walk in the path He has planned for you before you were even born.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Genuine vs Imitation

God offers authentic love. His devotion is the real deal.  But He won't give you the genuine until you surrender the imitations. God is the creator. Satan is the imitator and duplicator.  God is a jealous God. (Exodus 20:5)
If you are requesting of God through prayer for genuine things...maybe your prayers have been delayed because He is waiting to loose what is in His mighty hand to give you, for you to loose the imitations you hold in yours. Think about it. What are you holding?
Remember: God witholds what we desire in order to give us what we need.

Who am I?

One of the ways believers get discouraged is to doubt who they are.  Our Creator knows his children best, and it is his opinion that counts the most! I encourage you to seek the face of God and find out who you are in Him! If you are a believer, you can avoid discouragement and doubt by holding tightly to what God says and reminding yourself of who He says that you are.  We can avoid missing our full potential and or not fulfilling God’s plan and purpose for our lives if we choose to operate in who we truly are instead of who we ourselves have made us to be.  Which masks do you wear?  Is it keeping people at a distance because you are afraid they will hurt you?  Is it being the life of the party when you’re secretly screaming inside? I encourage you to place all of these things aside and begin to walk in your true identity which is found in Christ. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (I Samuel 16:7) The Creator knows his children by their hearts. You can come as you are to God and reveal who you truly were made to be, by coming to know who He truly is. Be Blessed and Highly Favored!   

You are God’s child.

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—“ (John 1:12)

As a disciple, you are a friend of Jesus.

 “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” ( John 15:15)

You have been justified.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”   (Romans 5:1)

 You are united with God, and you are one with him in spirit.

“But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.” (1 Corinthians 6:1)

 You have been bought with a price, and you belong to God. 

“Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

You are a member of Jesus’ body.

“Now you [collectively] are Christ's body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and function].”  (1 Corinthians 12:27)

You have been chosen by God and adopted as his child.

 “May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]-  [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence),” (Ephesians 1:3-8)

You can do all things through Jesus, who strengthens you.

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].”  (Philippians 4:13)

 You are complete in Jesus.

“For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].” (Colossians 2:9-10)

You are God’s workmanship.

^“For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”

 (Ephesians 2:10)

You are a citizen of heaven.

“But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior,”  (Philippians 3:20)

You are free from any accusation brought against you.

“Who shall bring any charge against God's elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?”(Romans 8:33-34)

You cannot be separated from the love of God.

“Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 8:35-39)

You have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.

“But it is God Who confirms and makes us steadfast and establishes us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and has consecrated and anointed us [enduing us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit]; [He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His by] putting His seal upon us and giving us His [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit and guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise].” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

You are hidden with Jesus in God.

“IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)

You are a work in progress.

“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” (Philipp

Movers and Shakers

This is a little something that I read earlier today and wanted to share... Enjoy :) 

Living the life of faith is the evidence that a person believes the truth. In the parable of the wise and foolish builders, Jesus said that the person who hears his words and puts them into practice is like a man who builds his house on the rock.  The person who hears the words of Jesus but does not put them into practice is like a foolish builder who builds his house on sand. 

“I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts” –John Locke

“A thought which does not result in action is nothing much, and an action which does not proceed from a though is nothing at all.” – Georges Bernanos

“Don’t do nothing just because you can’t do everything.” – Bob Pierce

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“One does what one is; one becomes what one does.” – Robert von Musil

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann van Goethe

“Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any.  It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.” – Thomas Jefferson

“It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever—the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it.” –Vincent Lombardi 

Rain

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:17

We have prayed for rain, agreed together for rain and God is faithful.. it is raining. The heaven has given rain and the earth will produce its fruit.  It is the season for fruit to be produced..is your field cultivated? Did you plant seed? You cannot expect your compromise or spiritual laziness to produce fruit from which you have not prepared for.  First and foremost have you identified the season you are in right now in your life? We do a diservice to ourselves when we do not seek the face of God to know in which season of our life we are in.  You will find yourself frustrated and discouraged if you are looking for fruit to be produced or a harvest to take place in your life if you are not in the spring or summer seasons of your life.  You must identify if you are in a winter or fall, which we must remember every season is perfect to God.  Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. You must know whether it is time to plant seed or a time to plow the field. In all things pray for direction. As you seek God you will find him.