Do I Attract Breakthrough?

Have you been betrayed? Have you been hurt by someone? 

Most people have been either hurt or betrayed- some have been through both. Including Jesus...

This morning, as I was reading a verse during my quiet time, I saw a piece of it that I hadn't seen before. It kind of hit me between the eyes.

It is a passage that I hear at least once a month, when we partake of communion at church, but added times, when I am reading the Bible. 

1 Corinthians 11:23-24a - " For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord Himself. On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some break and gave thanks to God for it."

The part that hit me, "On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus... gave thanks..." (NLT)

What about this, hit me between the eyes? When I have been hurt, or felt betrayed, how did I react? 

Well, I reacted like most every person probably does. I've cried. I've been in shock. I've complained (to the Lord and to whoever would listen). But... have I reacted like Jesus did? Have I given thanks? I think that IF I have been grateful for it, it was definitely NOT the same night that it happened. 

A dear sister shared with me to take my complaining and turn it to praise. If I heard myself complaining or grumbling, to stop and find something about the thing that has upset me, that I could be grateful for- even if it is as basic as the Lord helping me to learn to be grateful in more situations.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

- When my body aches- I thank God that I am alive to sing His praises so the Rocks won't cry out. 

- When my career seems to be struggling- I thank God that He is my Provider

- When someone hurts me, or someone I love- I need to praise Him for what He is going to work for good in this, even though I probably can't see it, at the moment. I need to thank God that He will heal the hurt. I need to thank God...

I read this in "Whispers From Heaven: Partnering with God in Powerful Prayer and Effective Intercession" by Beni Johnson, recently.

"Thankfulness is one of the most vital attributes within reach of every person alive...It would literally change the world as we know it. Thankful people attract breakthrough." (page 215)

Knowing that gratitude is the best way to get through the tough circumstances, I wanted to find an example in the Bible. (Not that Jesus being grateful was not a good one- I just thought it wouldn't hurt to look for more.) How about Paul & Silas?

Acts 16:24b-26 & 29-30 "...he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed... Then he (the keeper of the prison) called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Paul and Silas were in prison, with their feet shackled in stocks and in the "inner prison". It seems hopeless, right? What do they do? They have a praise/worship time! I can't say I would have done that, at least not that quickly, but Paul & Silas did. I heard one minister years ago say it this way... Paul & Silas were in the dungeon, shacked... it's dark, it's damp, and it would easily be depressing... but these two decide it's time to sing, to worship the Lord. They are singing, the melody is rising to Heaven, and the Lord bends over to listen more closely. They keep on singing, and singing, the Father is really blessed, His heart is moved and all of a sudden He starts tapping his foot. They sing a song with a faster tempo, and He keeps on tapping and the earth shook, the foundation of the prison shook, and the chains and shackles were opened!  THEN, the keeper of the prison (who would have been killed for escaped prisoners) is encouraged by Paul & Silas, because all the prisoners were still there. The keeper then decides that He needs to be saved. The keeper takes Paul & Silas home, cares for the wounds, and his entire family gets saved. 

That is a pretty good example, to use, too. 

Lord, I know that living in this world means that there will be hurts, challenges, frustrations, and even betrayals. I also know that You can take everything I go through and work it for my good, and I know that You want me to be grateful in everything I experience, and You can help me to do just that. When I find myself in situations that hurt, and feel like betrayal, help me to be grateful. Help me to praise You. 

Thank you!

Promises unseen? Remember... and Hope!

 Have you ever opened your eyes in the morning, and maybe even not slept well through the night, with concerns that you had upset someone in your life? When you got up, they were at work (and you know you probably can't reach them if you were to try to call)- so you sit down to try to have your time with the Lord, and that is weighing pretty heavily on your mind; adding to the concern. Then the little voice in your head telling you the other person is hurt, they think you are selfish, the list goes on and on and on, making it very difficult to stay tuned in to the Lord and His presence with you, right? 

I recently experienced this, and it is probably the most real example I have ever lived of these verses:

Matthew 5:23-24 - "This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God." (MSG)

Now, that day I went through the motions, because I couldn't get to that person at that time. I did get some revelation in my quiet time with the Lord; but it opened up much more after I was able to speak with them. More revelation came once I knew that they were not upset, peace came to my heart, I was able to turn off the lies that had been bombarding me, and the peace that came was beautiful!

During the quiet time that day, I read Isaiah 46:11b, and it says this, in the New King James Version: "Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it." 

But the Amplified Classic says it this way: "I've said it, and I'll most certainly do it. I've planned it, so it's as good as done." 

I know that I have some promises the Lord has spoken to me that I am still waiting to see come to pass, and I know many people that can relate with this. We have these promises, words that have jumped off the pages of our Bible as we've read it; encouraging conversations with others that we have felt the weight of His presence (a witness to our spirit) when it was spoken, and we knew that the Lord was telling us He would do that for us. Many of these promises we know in our spirit, but we've also written them down, to help us remember them. As I was experiencing this, I was reminded of another verse.

Isaiah 46:9- "[Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like me." (AMPC)

As I re-read that verse, I let my mind walk through my history... I remembered the times where I have seen things happen that when they happened I KNEW that God had moved in my life. What did this trip through my history accomplish, you may ask? Well- it stirred my gratitude in my heart. It stirred up hope- if He's answered prayers before, He'll do it again- because He never changes! It helped me to see that He is truly Good, and Faithful and His love always, ALWAYS, gets the victory!

Lord, I thank you that you are helping me to see the truth in the lessons you have for me in the Bible. I thank you that You help me to hear what is fresh for me each day, and that You remind me that it's okay to look back, only to see all You have done and how far You have brought me in my walk with You so far. You help me to "remember, the former things" that You have done, so I can trust that since You never change, and You don't lie, that the promises I have from You WILL come to pass. Thank you!

Do I Make Jesus Sad?

 This morning the verse in my devotional was one that I could almost feel the sadness in Jesus' words to his disciples. 

The verse was Matthew 8:26a - "But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" 

Granted, many of the disciples had grown up as fishermen, and were familiar with storm on the sea. They had probably had family friends and other fishermen that had died in storms on the same body of water; and hearing and seeing all that they had in the time they had experienced with Jesus, so far, was still quite new to them. But I would think that they had heard of God telling Joshua, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Maybe not in that specific wording, but it is possible, right?!?!

Then I was reminded of the story of the Centurion in Luke 7. The Centurion comes to Jesus because his servant was very sick. First he sent friends to ask for Jesus' help. Then he headed that way so he could ask Jesus, himself; and they met when Jesus was on His way to the Centurion's home. Jesus was willing to go to the Centurion's home; but the Centurion's response was different from so many other responses. "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, "Go," and he goes; and to another, "Come," and he comes; and to my servant, "Do this," and he does it." (Luke 7:6b-8)

The Centurion not only shows faith, knowing the Jesus had the authority to speak it and the servant would be healed; but it shows respect for Jesus' time, too. The next verses say, "When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" (Luke 7:9)

But as I read the first passage today, I started thinking about this story, and the timeline (as I know it from memory). Jesus and his disciples had traveled together for sometime now. They have been with him as he has ministered to many and healed them, and he's shared what we refer to as the Sermon on the Mount, and that's just what we have recorded. He's poured a LOT into this group. 

Jesus and his friends all climbed into the ship to cross the water, and Jesus had ministered to many people and was tired- so he laid down to rest. Having checked the weather report- they thought it would all be good, but the verse said that the storm came up suddenly. 

Have you felt like a "storm" has come up suddenly in your life, before? Maybe you are currently in that storm. Sometimes it's those sudden storms that are the hardest to weather. I know some storms you see coming, and others come totally unexpected and can occasionally knock us off kilter. 

So, how do I react to storms? I am human... I have my good days, and my not so good ones. But, I am also a new creation, and it is my desire to not leave the Jesus feeling the way I felt when I read his response in the story in Matthew. I want to respond with faith- faith that knows that He is always with me and no matter how challenging the storm is, or how strong the winds may blow. His is always GOOD. His love is always with me, and He will always help me through every storm that comes in my life.

Lord, I want to thank you with all I am for Your Faithfulness, Goodness, and Love for me. I want to thank you, Lord that with your help as the storms come, I can remember Your faithfulness in the past, knowing that You don't change, and you will continue to be faithful in my life as each storm comes that You will be with me. Thank you.

Don't Be. A Pain - New Post

Sitting here this evening, having not felt well for a couple of days, from cutting out caffeine. I thought I was doing better at cutting back a little at a time- well, I'm working on it. =) 

But, I am still thinking about the passage from the message at church on Sunday, and my last post. I have changed the title of the last one, and am using it for this one- because that is more the trail that my thoughts have been following since I posted it.

"Don't be a pain"... let me go back to the verse that I referred to in my last post. 1 Chronicles 4:10b "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain! So God granted him what he requested." (NKJV)

Let's see if I can keep on track this time. 

I know I spoke to the meaning of Jabez's name, and that I can imagine him getting teased by the other kids about that. We know that kids can be mean. 

Yes, he prayed for enlargement of his territory, He asked that the Lord's hand would be with him and keep him from evil. But I am still stuck on that line, "...that I may not cause pain..." 

The question I keep asking myself on it is: "What taste do I leave in the mouth of others after meeting with, or talking with, them?" My desire is that I not only do not cause pain, but that I leaven them with the desire for Jesus; wanting Him. I want to be a good testimony, sharing His heart and His love for others.

This does not mean that I do not speak the truth when necessary, but you can speak the truth, not being hurtful (on purpose). My goal is to grow to be more like Jesus. He is my example, He came and brought truth, but hope with it. 

Jesus told us, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? ...You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:13-14 (NKJV)

Salt is used to enhance the flavor, to activate the rising effects in some baking, it also melts ice on roads and sidewalks.  Mix salt with baking powder and put it in some flour with some butter, sugar, eggs and flavoring and you'll get some amazing breads. Sprinkle salt on your steps and sidewalks and it makes it safer to walk on in freezing conditions. Sometimes you are served a meal that is tasty, but missing a little something... sprinkle a touch of salt on it, and it is like it wakes up the flavor that was there, making that flavor larger, somehow. Be what enhances the good in situations, bring hope.  

Light is quite different. Salt could potentially not be part of a recipe and not be missed if there is enough of other seasonings in it. But can you imagine a day with NO light? Even if the sun is behind the clouds, you still get some of the light. But can you picture what it would be like at night, no street lights, there are no houses, or the lights are all off? You notice the light of the starts and moon much more easily, when it is so dark. 

It seems the world is getting darker, and needs me, and needs the believers, to be the light where they are. If we are causing pain, it is not shining light for the Lord, we are adding to the darkness. 

Lord, I want to walk through my days shining Your light where ever I go. I want to carry Your flavor to the bland situations that need to be seasoned with Your goodness. I want to leave others with Your flavor after they meet with me. Help me to hear Your leading and to follow it with a willing heart, to be a blessing where You send me. =) 

Don't Let Pain Hold You Back (New title)

As the day is drawing to a close, I am thinking back about what was shared at church on Sunday. 

It is the third time in two and a half weeks that Jabez has been brought to my attention. So, I am reading that passage again tonight. 

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 "Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So god granted him what he requested." (NKJV)

I have heard people share on this some, and they have often concentrated on the part that says, "enlarge my territory"; and those were good messages- but today, when I heard it, I heard that and more... 

His name, Jabez, means "pain, or sorrow". What a rough name to grow up with! However, at the end of that prayer, after he asks for enlarged territory, and God's hand to be with him. He asks the Lord to keep him from evil- why? So that he would not cause pain. Jabez asked because he didn't want to be known for still causing pain. 

As I have thought of this, it has caused some introspection. How often do I go to prayer, asking for blessings, asking for provision, for me and mine?

Each of us has had something that has brought us pain, at some point in our life; from the loss of someone we love to someone close to us saying something hurtful, and a full spectrum of possibilities otherwise of possible events. Having been hurt, I do not want to be one that causes pain for someone else, if at all possible. 

I really do want to be a living example of the Father's love. I want to use the gifts, talents, and what I have, to bless others. I want to be the cup that gets filled to overflowing. As the Lord pours into me, I want to slosh over to those around me. 

Think of David's life. He was the one child of Jesse that was sent out to watch the sheep, and after Samuel anointed him in front of all the brothers and his father, it says that "The Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward." (NKJV) The next chapter we read about Jesse sending David to take some supplies to his brothers that were camped with the army of Israel. What did his older brother say? Did he thank his brother for the supplies? NO! He was angry and accused him of coming down out of pride and curiosity. He simply was doing what his father told him to do. Which set him up to be the only one, of all the soldiers there, this young person stood up to the giant! The Lord worked in David, His Spirit was on Him. Yes, he was hurt by those close to him, but He with God's anointing, strength, and blessing he went on to kill the giant, lean the army, become a king, and do many wonderful things, with God's help.

Again, Joseph is a good example. He definitely was hurt... his brothers decided they didn't want him in the family anymore, and they were going to kill him. But Reuben convinced them to put him in a pit, thinking he would rescue Joseph. But they ended up selling Joseph, and he was carried to Egypt to be a slave- all because of jealousy. As you fast forward many years to after he interprets Pharaoh's dreams and is promoted to his place of authority, his brothers show up in need. He could have held onto that pain, and he may have for a while. I am sure that the travel from where he was purchased from his brothers, to where he was purchased to be a slave in Potiphar's house, may have fed that hurt. It quite possibly gave Joseph fodder to take the hurt and turn it into bitterness or offense. Yet through his years as a slave, I am sure he was praying. The story tells us that "his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand." (Genesis 39:3) But Joseph ends up with one more "setback" or "pain". He ends up in prison. But it was getting him positioned for his position that was coming. If he hadn't been in prison, he wouldn't have been there to interpret the dreams of the baker and butler; to be remembered when Pharaoh has his dream and then be promoted. As we fast forward once more, we know that Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to purchase grain, and there is a long process there, but when they do come back with Benjamin, eventually Joseph does reveal to them who he is. They are afraid, but he tells them, "do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life." Joseph has been enlarged, Joseph has been blessed, and he has been able to let go of the pain, and is trying to comfort his brothers to alleviate theirs. He knows that God has taken the hard, painful, sorrowful situation and turned it into something good- not just for him- but for MANY. 

Wow!

Thank you, Lord, that you can take the pain in my life, and turn it into blessings. Help me to remember, as I go through each day that You always have my good as the goal. Help me, to use the blessings, the gifts, and talents that You have placed in me, to help others in their hard times. Help me not to cause pain for others, but rather to encourage and build them up. Thank you!

How Can I Be Cheerful About Hardships?!?!

I started today reading from a devotional, that I was given by dear loved one. Today's excerpt started with John 16:33, "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 

I have read, and heard this verse many times throughout my life, and if I think on it much, it honestly is not very cheerful to me. Even knowing the He has overcome the world. I am grateful that He has, but I still am living in the world. So, like I often do, I looked into the verse a little more and read it in the Amplified Classic and the way the verse is expanded helped. Here it is:

 "In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"

Yes- there are challenges, difficulties, trials, and frustrations that we will go through here in this life. But, He has promised us that He has already overcome it. He took away the power that they had to harm me. He will work good in and through it. 

I know I mentioned Joseph's life yesterday- but it fits again. He went through SO much, and yet he came through it to be the second most powerful person in Egypt. 

Each of us has a story, with some chapters that are about the more challenging times in our life. Times where someone we should have been able to trust- treated us badly; times where someone totally turned on us; times where our life was turned upside down for seemingly NO reason, and we just didn't know why, or how to get through it. BUT leaning on the Lord, and trusting that He is Faithful to be with us and help us through each trial, a day at a time, or even a moment at a time, is our victory through it. 

It reminds me of Isaiah 54: 17, that says, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and  every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me." says the Lord." (NKJV) 

It doesn't say that there are not going to be weapons, or that they won't be used against me- but it does say that it won't prosper. We can't expect our life to be smooth sailing, because we live in a world filled with imperfect people. But we can expect that all that happens will work for our good (Romans 8:28). 

Thank You, Lord, that You did overcome the world. You took its power to harm me, and You conquered it for me! Thank you that in You, I am victorious and I don't have to go through the hard things on my own- because You are always with me. Help me to remember this when new challenges and trials arise, and help me to praise You in the storms of life. 

Disquieted? Hope is the answer

I received a message from a friend this morning. She sends on every day, and has for a few years now. I love how often what she sends will fit right in with the theme or message from my quiet time that morning. It just helps me know I was picking up on the theme for that morning. =) 

This morning the Bible verse she sent me was 1 Samuel 30:6, "David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God." (NLT)

When I read that passage I was reminded of Psalm42: 5 & 11 (they both say the same thing) "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance." (NKJV)  Verse 7 says, "Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me." 

The story of Joseph- sold by his brothers to slavery in another land, finally gets to a place where he is doing pretty good, and then he ends up in prison, gets know there for helping others. In Genesis 40, the butler and baker are imprisoned and put under Joseph's care, and he notices they are sad. (I mean they're in jail... but it must have been different, since it is pointed out that Joseph notices it in verse 6, right?) But even after the butler goes back to the palace to resume his duties, Joseph is in jail... what is he doing? He's serving, and waiting on God. Then it happens, Pharaoh has a dream, no one can interpret it, and the butler remembers! He finally says something to Pharaoh about Joseph and He is set free. No longer a slave in Egypt, but second in command of the entire nation! While Joseph was waiting, God was working! 

How about Naomi & Ruth? Naomi and her husband and sons go to Moab to look for food, the sons marry women from there, and then Naomi's husband and sons all pass away. Naomi has heard (Ruth 1: 6) that the Lord has visited His people, and there is bread again. So, she decides to go back, and encourages her two daughters-in-law to stay in Moab. However, Ruth goes with her back to Judah. They have a place to stay, but no money & no food. Ruth goes to a field to glean. That is like going to the local "food panty" to bring home some food, only she had to work to gather it, it wasn't just handed to her. (Except the owner of the field told him workers to leave extra that Ruth could get, 'cause he had some interest there. LOL) After a few more happenings, Ruth and Boaz end up getting married, and having a child. 

Both of these stories are examples of people going to hard times, and not just for a day or two. For Joseph the years had to have had many moments where he found his heart "disquieted" or "heavy", "depressed" even, I would think. Naomi, left her home land, possibly concerned, and in the time she was in Moab, she basically lost everything. 

BUT GOD... They had to shake themselves, remind themselves, God is a Good God. God is near and as I am going through this difficult time, I am going to remind myself that He is my saving grace. He is my God and my Savior! Praising Him will bring His presence, and in His presence is the fullness of joy, and His joy is my strength. (Psalm 22:3, Psalm 16:11, & Nehemiah 8:10)

Lord, like David, help me when discouragement tries to keep me down, to remember that my praise is a weapon, and as I praise You, You fill the praises and your presence comes in. As Your presence comes in, joy comes with it, and that is the strength to get through the challenge I am facing. You are my Hope and Strength each day! ~Thank you!