Time seems to escape me lately! Is it like that for you? Do you wish there were more hours in the day? Don't you know that God never has that problem. He didn't need night or day, He is light! He didn't need time, He's timeless. He never had to travel to be somewhere, He's everywhere at the same time. I cannot wrap my mind around it! I get so tired, but God never tires. Psalm 121 is my favorite Psalm. My help comes from the God who can do all of that! Wow!
We have been studying Psalm 22 with the Up Bible Study. Anthony Evans sings "Never Let Go" and he does a fantastic job! You would be blessed to hear it! This study has done such a work in these kids. We sat down with our Bibles and blew the doors off the popular myths about Christ and Christianity. We learned that David could speak boldly in front of God because he had a relationship with Him. Like we spout off to our best friends when we are angry, David did the same thing! He asked why God had abandoned him and as he poured out his complaint his heart began to lighten and he began to strengthen himself with God's word and character. Before you know it David is speaking a prophetic Psalm, the very one Jesus quoted while He was on the cross.
With the help of the scriptures we learned that God does not abandon His children. Read this...
Psalm 22:24-26, "For He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one;
He has not hidden His face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
From you comes the theme of My praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear You will I fulfill my vows,
the poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the Lord will praise Him-
may your hearts live forever!"
Now God may have let Jesus' physical body die, but He NEVER planned on leaving Him in the pit of hell! Never! God is not about to give up what is His! If He was going to do that why didn't He just let Satan take over Heaven? Because He will NOT share His glory, nor will He allow it to be destroyed! Now we may see terrible things happen to things of God and children of God, but don't think for one minute that God does not see or that He does not care. He does! And be assured of this one thing: He is never taken by surprise and it will ALL work for His glory in the end. Satan doesn't really even get to win one round, because God is always on the throne and He is NOT giving it up. Remember Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house, falleth." Luke 11:17 How could God abandon David, Jesus, or us?
Now we are working on a Biblical world view with these Up middle schoolers. They are learning how to put on God's eyes, His "glasses" by reading His word. Won't you pray for them. They have to turn away from everything they're being taught in 8 hours of school for two hours of Bible study every week. They need your prayers.
The Kings Kidz did an awesome job this week. Sky, Tracy's daughter, taught the lesson on Sunday. It was awesome opossum! We are learning how to get along with our families. Easier said than done sometimes as we see today and in Biblical times. They were people just like us!
We took a break from the Biblical characters last week and watched something related, videos on "The Ten", commandments that is! We'll be studying Rachels' children this week. Check out the Mercy Abounds Facebook page for more details!
Mercy Abounds is a ministry dedicated to teaching God's Word and loving His children. As you consider what God would have you to do with your time, talents, money and other blessings, would you consider this ministry? Just put it before the Lord and see what He would have you do. Thanks for your prayers and for caring about these kids. If you get the chance watch the movie, "The Secrets of Johnathan Sperry". It's about a man who does what we do and it's a true story including what happened to the kids later in life. What an inspiration!
To God be the glory!
Jamie
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Rewind and Renew
So much has happened since the last post! We took a two week break from everything but the Next Door Bible Study because my 25 year High School reunion took place this past Friday. Notice the new picture and you'll see me with my friend of over 30 years. It was interesting to see old friends and make new ones. Girls and boys morphed into women and men. Some people looked totally different to me.
I was very pleased that so many of us made it. Some were not with us because of time and travel. Some were not with us because their lives had come to an end. I was also glad to see that so many had come to know Christ as their Savior. 25 years is a way out! God was gracious to give us this time and there are still some who don't know Jesus. It reminded me to continue to pray for my family and friends who are lost, and I rejoiced to see everyone, no matter their walk. As long as there's breath in a body, there's a prayer for salvation. Only God knows who will and won't turn. As the song says, "I'll sing until the whole world hears!"
This has been another terrific week at Mercy Abounds. The Next Door Bible study family are working our way through Genesis, the sons of Jacob and the beginning of the nation of Israel. We are learning so much. This particular week from Genesis 25 we learned about falling and getting back up.
After Dinah had been raped and Simeon and Levi murdered an entire city of men, took the women and children and all of the family of Jacob (now called Israel by God) had to travel out of the area, God took them back to the place where He had introduced Himself personally to Jacob. Again He reminded Jacob that he was no longer to be called by his given name of Jacob, which means "supplanter, deceiver, liar..." but Israel meaning Prince with God. Only God elevates the lowly! Every other culture and some religions ignore or pity the poor and pitiable. BUT GOD, I love to hear that, "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6.
Jacob told his family in Genesis 35:2 that they were to "put away your foreign gods (thanks again Simeon and Levi for bringing all the foreigners and their gods in....emphasis mine), purify yourselves, and change your clothes." Isn't that just how we should approach God? Putting away all our idols, everything that has stolen time from God; purifying ourselves, get rid of the false and the flamboyant; and change our clothes, come clean and humble before the Lord. Then, go back to where it all began. Where was it that God gave you your calling or made you that promise? Where was it that He told you what you were to do or where to go? Go there again, make a new altar, get a fresh Word from Him and be refreshed, reassured and renewed of strength.
When God reminded Jacob of His plan for a nation through him there was no reprimand. God did not yell at Jacob, nor did He mention, according to the scripture the offenses committed. Jacob and his family had outwardly done the act of repentance. Turning from their sin to God. When they left, Jacob buried Rachel and his past (the old man) and Israel (the new man) moved on according to Genesis 35:20,21. I love that God's Word put it just like that! Following is a genealogy of his family.
Now, I believe with all my heart that we should take instruction from God's instruction manual, His Word. We now do inwardly what Jacob and his family did outwardly by repentance that leads to salvation through Jesus Christ. We put away what was once important as we turn humbly to God leaving all that was false and flamboyant so that we can be made new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Before we can be refreshed, reassured and renewed with strength we have to be redeemed by the blood of Christ. If you've never experienced what I'm talking about, would you consider the possibility that you may not truly know Christ as your Savior? I'm not judging or accusing, just opening the question for exploration.
A good litmus test for salvation is to be able to understand the Bible and hearing God speak through it. I'm not saying that the minute you get saved you can open the Bible and preach. However, Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27. So, if you have never heard God speak to you through the scripture and you are not following Him, you might want to take some time with Jesus to reconsider things. Or, maybe not. You do certainly have a choice. I hope you make the same one I did, because this choice is one with eternal consequences.
Maybe your heart is hurting and you are angry with God, the choices you've made and the fact that He allowed you to make them. I have certainly been there. Would you allow me to serve you by telling you that God is in the same place you left Him, everywhere, all the time, and He knows everything that happened. He saw it, and He cares. The fact that He allowed pain into your life doesn't make Him a liar or unfair. Jesus told us, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33, and, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." John 15:18. How much more honest can God be? Could it be you didn't know these things because you don't know the Word? Knowing God's promises from the Bible are like knowing your algebra equations. You must study to know it.
There is so much more to tell but I'll write in a couple of days. If there is anything I can do to encourage you in the Lord, please allow me to do so. My contact information is on this blog or go to the Mercy Abounds FB page and message me. May God bless you as you search your heart these next few days!
To God be the glory!
Jamie
I was very pleased that so many of us made it. Some were not with us because of time and travel. Some were not with us because their lives had come to an end. I was also glad to see that so many had come to know Christ as their Savior. 25 years is a way out! God was gracious to give us this time and there are still some who don't know Jesus. It reminded me to continue to pray for my family and friends who are lost, and I rejoiced to see everyone, no matter their walk. As long as there's breath in a body, there's a prayer for salvation. Only God knows who will and won't turn. As the song says, "I'll sing until the whole world hears!"
This has been another terrific week at Mercy Abounds. The Next Door Bible study family are working our way through Genesis, the sons of Jacob and the beginning of the nation of Israel. We are learning so much. This particular week from Genesis 25 we learned about falling and getting back up.
After Dinah had been raped and Simeon and Levi murdered an entire city of men, took the women and children and all of the family of Jacob (now called Israel by God) had to travel out of the area, God took them back to the place where He had introduced Himself personally to Jacob. Again He reminded Jacob that he was no longer to be called by his given name of Jacob, which means "supplanter, deceiver, liar..." but Israel meaning Prince with God. Only God elevates the lowly! Every other culture and some religions ignore or pity the poor and pitiable. BUT GOD, I love to hear that, "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6.
Jacob told his family in Genesis 35:2 that they were to "put away your foreign gods (thanks again Simeon and Levi for bringing all the foreigners and their gods in....emphasis mine), purify yourselves, and change your clothes." Isn't that just how we should approach God? Putting away all our idols, everything that has stolen time from God; purifying ourselves, get rid of the false and the flamboyant; and change our clothes, come clean and humble before the Lord. Then, go back to where it all began. Where was it that God gave you your calling or made you that promise? Where was it that He told you what you were to do or where to go? Go there again, make a new altar, get a fresh Word from Him and be refreshed, reassured and renewed of strength.
When God reminded Jacob of His plan for a nation through him there was no reprimand. God did not yell at Jacob, nor did He mention, according to the scripture the offenses committed. Jacob and his family had outwardly done the act of repentance. Turning from their sin to God. When they left, Jacob buried Rachel and his past (the old man) and Israel (the new man) moved on according to Genesis 35:20,21. I love that God's Word put it just like that! Following is a genealogy of his family.
Now, I believe with all my heart that we should take instruction from God's instruction manual, His Word. We now do inwardly what Jacob and his family did outwardly by repentance that leads to salvation through Jesus Christ. We put away what was once important as we turn humbly to God leaving all that was false and flamboyant so that we can be made new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Before we can be refreshed, reassured and renewed with strength we have to be redeemed by the blood of Christ. If you've never experienced what I'm talking about, would you consider the possibility that you may not truly know Christ as your Savior? I'm not judging or accusing, just opening the question for exploration.
A good litmus test for salvation is to be able to understand the Bible and hearing God speak through it. I'm not saying that the minute you get saved you can open the Bible and preach. However, Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27. So, if you have never heard God speak to you through the scripture and you are not following Him, you might want to take some time with Jesus to reconsider things. Or, maybe not. You do certainly have a choice. I hope you make the same one I did, because this choice is one with eternal consequences.
Maybe your heart is hurting and you are angry with God, the choices you've made and the fact that He allowed you to make them. I have certainly been there. Would you allow me to serve you by telling you that God is in the same place you left Him, everywhere, all the time, and He knows everything that happened. He saw it, and He cares. The fact that He allowed pain into your life doesn't make Him a liar or unfair. Jesus told us, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33, and, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." John 15:18. How much more honest can God be? Could it be you didn't know these things because you don't know the Word? Knowing God's promises from the Bible are like knowing your algebra equations. You must study to know it.
There is so much more to tell but I'll write in a couple of days. If there is anything I can do to encourage you in the Lord, please allow me to do so. My contact information is on this blog or go to the Mercy Abounds FB page and message me. May God bless you as you search your heart these next few days!
To God be the glory!
Jamie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)