Tag: godlyliving

Where We Are Now?

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Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Do you see it? God is not working to bring us back to “Normal.” He is clearly doing something new! I caution you, as well as myself. Do not rejoice that justice has appeared, as Jesus said in Luke 10: 20, “… but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Pray for those who have found disillusionment. Reconcile with those who have been against you. Forgive others so God can forgive you.

A new thing? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen clouds like this before!

When Pastor Cheryl Gmitter spoke at LiveMore women’s ministry’s fall meeting, she sent us home with the following passage from Romans 12. Let’s see what this section of Scripture will teach us today, on this side of the heated election season. How do we walk in love and…

Behave Like a Christian

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

For the past few mornings, I have heard, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” And could not think what came next. I’ve been listening to Kevin Zadai’s videos while I trim venison for my son. Kevin repeatedly emphasizes that we need to become secure in the Father’s love so that nothing can shake us. Have you turned off the news yet?

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Humanly, it is difficult to give preference to others and continue in diligence and fervency. In the Spirit, as we faithfully serve the Lord, we become fervent and diligent.  We must choose to be kind and affectionate, walking in brotherly love.

12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Are you able to rejoice in these days? Do you hope in God, have patience in the hard days?  It all comes from faithful times of prayer. [of course, time in the Word goes hand in hand with prayer]

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

This is a time to show our love for others by sharing what we have and spending time together, rejoicing and encouraging each other.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

I hit a nerve with a Christian friend on Facebook as the election rhetoric heated up. I’ve rarely had anyone take offense at something I post, so her relentless back and forth caused me to dig in and practice this verse. It was several days before we agreed to disagree. I told her that no matter what happened with elections, I still love her as a child of God.

15. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

This verse is a difficult point, but it’s a good thing to walk out over this time of upset and division.

16. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Oh, the glory and joy that come when we heed this verse! When Jesus commanded us to love each other so our joy may be full, He meant it. What joy fills me when I’m communing with others who are full of the Spirit!

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

This is a stern warning! The devil and his demons like it when we repay evil for evil; it puts them in a tizzy when we keep good things high in our beings. It’s a creative choice when we choose to truly live peaceably with others.

19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

It’s a release from a heavy weight when we drop the weapon. Our Lord knows how to rightly deal with the offenders.

20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

In other words, many persecuted Christians have led those who persecute them to Christ! I leave you with this final directive:

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I bless you to live in Shalom and to find the open portals that bring heaven and earth together!

Random April Musings

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Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Stand fast… stedfast… half of this year’s word God gave me to concentrate on for 2023. Cara Whitney points out that wild horses seem to be free, but horses need help from humans to survive. Humans living without Jesus think they’re living free, but looking for love and provision in all the wrong places is not freedom. Knowing Christ frees us from the law of sin, death, and lack. God’s freedom offers us what we long for: unconditional love, purpose, and meaning. The yoke of Jesus is light, freeing, easy when you walk with him. Our adversary, the devil, is a hard taskmaster. Our selfish, fleshly nature is no better. Let’s surrender daily to our Lord and walk in true freedom.

‘Wild Horses’ pages 220-221 Cara Whitney from Unbridled Faith

9. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10. who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 1Thessalonians 5:9-11

Uta Milewski titled today’s devotion, Courage. God sad he’s done his part, so whether we live or die, we live together with Jesus. Praying in the Spirit builds us up so we can encourage each other. Praying in tongues, even for a short while each day, results in big change over time. Join in and see how you will become a source of courage for others, participating in the Kingdom of God. This explains what’s happening in my life these days!

12. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2Timothy 3:12-13

As I’ve said, my first book, Musings Along Life’s Journey, is available for purchase. It is not without persecution… let me explain. I have been working with my publisher and librarian to schedule a date to promote my book. The date has changed three times, my book printing being delayed. My books came in God’s Kairos time, my second word for 2023. This brought the first snag, not enough time for the library trustee board to read my book before promoting the event. I immediately signed a book for each of the 9 trustees, thanking them for being my pre-readers. I checked in with the librarian about a week later to set another date. She said she’s not gotten my book to all the trustees yet. Also, she is not allowed to use the library name for any promotional materials if it’s a Christian book or church event. I could see if the person scheduling the community room would let me schedule, then she could do the promotion without the library name on it.

The second glitch was that my Facebook account got scammed, and when I tried to log in, the password I’d recently changed, due to another scam, was rejected. After going through Facebook security measures, I was totally locked out. So, I made a new page. In my first post, I told how privileged I was having my Facebook scammed and blocked just when I was promoting my Christian book. Several people commented, giving links to use to unlock my original account. My so, Chris, messaged me not to click on any of them, they’re scams! So, if you’re friends with me on Facebook and get a friend request from me, it’s legit! Look for the selfie of me with Joyce from Tanzania on the profile.

I’ve been playing phone tag with my publisher, Sabrina Adams, for a week. I finally got her on the phone. She’s in the hospital, and they’ve found cancer has spread throughout her body. Last week, she told me that on the way to her treatment for the first cancer, she was ready to give up. In a vision, God told her she had two choices. He could end this and take her to heaven, or he had a mandate for her to start a publishing company named Zoe Life and publish Christian books for His glory. We’ll, you know which she chose. In the middle of publishing my book, her breast cancer was reoccurring, and she had a radical mastectomy. She refused chemo but agreed to radiation. She went for treatments for about a month, but chose to quit because it was taking so much out of her. Join me in praying for a miracle, complete restoration of her health!

For such a time as this! Keep tuning in to my musings, I will be making dates for signing events and will keep you posted. You can purchase my book, Musings Along Life’s Journey, at http://www.zoelifebooks.org, and if it still says, “Coming Soon,” ignore it because you can still order my book there.

Jesus paid it all! His precious blood is still available. Let us appropriate it!

March 2021-Count it all Joy!

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What a beautiful surprise it was yesterday to have sun and sixty degrees! It was nice to spend some time outside planning projects for the coming season. This leads me to think that the Lord talks a lot about springtime and harvest. Our heavenly Father is all about planting, watering and reaping. In every area of life we are planting seeds, tending them, and working toward an abundant harvest. As the apostle Paul said:

1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

What areas of your life can you think of that you are planting or tending toward a harvest? This time of year, it’s definitely seeds to start plants which won’t go out to the garden until it warms up enough in May. Thinking of my grandchildren, I am tending the Gospel seeds I’ve been planting and nurturing since before they were born. In my marriage, I’m rejoicing in the fruits we have already experienced, and tending and watering our relationship toward more.

Growing in the Christian Life: A Guide to James (James) - By: Stonecroft Ministries

Our women’s group has begun this Bible study from Stonecroft, A Guide to James, Growing in the Christian Life. We are learning how to count it all joy when various trials come and to ask for wisdom when we need it. The verse at the end of the first chapter is James 1:2-3 and I add verse 4.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

The assignment was to summarize these verses in our own words. Here is what I wrote, including verse 4. “Dear Sister, consider all troubles to be an opportunity for great joy! Lord, my endurance has a chance to grow and I learn patience when my faith is tested. If I let these troubles teach me patience, I will become perfected and complete in Christ Jesus and will need nothing.” I like this harvest goal! When Christ Jesus comes into your heart, the fullness of God-Father, Son, and Spirit-live inside you. This means all the fruits of the spirit, gifts of the spirit, love of God in Christ and all other things needed for godly living are inside you. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, we access more; sowing and reaping. In the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he explains how the grace of God works and how Christ works in us.

1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you…

Why does Christ work inside us? To prepare us to do the works ahead of us, purifying us as we sow and water, working toward harvest.

1 Corinthians 1:7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember, this year I am concentrating on two things: 1. In Christ we live and move and have our being, and 2. God has begun a wonderful work in you and will be faithful to complete it to the day of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The goal of all this is a relationship with Him and drawing others into the fellowship of Believers. On another note; I’m learning how to turn my posts into podcasts. Bear with me as I work out the kinks!