A Picture

A Picture

A Fragrant Aroma

A Fragrant Aroma


John 12:3
3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15
14 thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
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Yesterday, I shared the story of me spelling a heavenly aroma at my friends home which in turn prompted me to ask what is was. In using "fabuloso" as a comparison again to today, I want to point out that we are not limited in our expression of how we use something.

A couple of weeks ago some of you came to our lake home to retreat away from the city and to share our God stories. A dear heart questioned me about the scent that was lingering more prominently in my bathroom. When I shared with her that it was simply a lavender scented cleaner, the initial response was disbelief. "No way Shelli, your kidding." I went and got the fabuloso and showed them all that it was not an extravagant plug in nor was it an expensive candle. We all were giggling and laughing as I shared how something about the smell just motivates me to clean, I actually want to clean so I can smell the fragrance. A few days later I spoke to the dear heart that had asked me what it was and bubbling over with excitement she shared that she had gone out and picked some up. I began to share with her the different ways I use it. Again lots of girlish giggling as I explained how I pour a cap full in my fountains, saturate then squeeze out a paper towel to place in my air return vent, a cup full in the tub with an inch of steamy hot water, pour some in the toilet tank etc....She said WOW!!! you are creative.

She may of even thought "a little over board with the stuff too."

In the John 12 we are given the account of how one disciple thought Mary had gone overboard in the way she had chosen to express her love and passion for the Lord. As he spouted off, the Lord shut Him down with "leave her alone!"

We all express our love for the Lord in different ways, remember Martha was expressing her love for Him by preparing and serving this dinner that was in honor of the Lord. Martha was infusing the place with the aroma food and Mary with the aroma of expensive perfume. Notice how both activate the sense of smell. When we are in the presence of hearts that are set on God there is a sense of sniffing out so to speak that something is different about this person. Some will be drawn into it and others may not like the scent at all, and that's ok the Lord knows what He is doing through you. The important thing to me here is that we are the aroma of Christ and how we express that is unique to each of us. We all have our own story to share as to why we Love Him. It is through us that the knowledge of Christ spreads. Sharing our story spreads the knowledge.

When I think about the gospel accounts of how Jesus did things, I note that He was creative in all He did. If your heart is full of passion and love for the Lord, don't be afraid to express it for Him in the creative ways that He has intended for you, even if there is a Judas in the background sounding off that you should be doing it differently, the Lord will take care of that.

May His fragrant aroma linger in the air around you drawing others in to His Garden of Delights.
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Keep in Prayer:
Please keep Ashley Tomlinson and those with her in your prayers this week as she is on a mission trip in Haiti.
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Comments of others regarding previous Delights are below. As always, I Thank you and welcome all responses...
Comments:

RE-Charging the Atmosphere
I'm so glad "Fabuloso" is a gift to you. You and all your sweet kind delights are truly a gift to me and my family. God has blessed me with a friendship for which I am so grateful. "A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses" And your hands are smelling so good...Sister!!! God bless you and all your gifts!! With love,G.
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RE- An Appointed Time
WOW that is truly WOW, thank you so much.
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RE-Charging the Atmosphere
I love this!! It so reminded me of the story I sent you. We do put off an aroma to some that is death, and to those that are being saved is life! I guess it is worth the chance of doing it either way. Speaking His Word.
I LOVE THIS -Jeremiah 20:9
"...His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot."
_____________________________
"Today's Delights" are personal reflective journal entries written and shared by Shelli Schulte. They are shared with the intention to encourage, uplift and unite others in Christ. Shelli respects all men and women in God ordained positions, however, Shelli believes that there is one person ultimately responsible for her faith and the guarding of it. That person is her. Shelli encourages others to be responsible for their own faith through an intimate relationship with the Lord. Others are encouraged to put to action the wisdom of the Berean's...Measure all things said and done pertaining to the things of God against the Word of God, our plumb line.

Where there is no revelation people cast off restraint... Proverbs 29:18a

*Revelation comes through the word of God, the word of God is Christ, relationship with Christ brings revelation. A life without relationship with Christ is a life that is wondering aimlessly without direction. Shelli Schulte
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Charging the Atmosphere

Jeremiah 20:9

"...His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot."

Mark 4:21
He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?
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I have a friend who loves fragrances, when one leaves her house they come out smelling like a bouquet. One day she shared with me what the heavenly scent was that seemed to rise above the others. This girl in her excitement in sharing this with me, well, you would of thought she was the spokes women for " Fabuloso". She was beside herself with the fact that I had never heard of much less used or experienced Fabloso. "Oh Shelli we have to get you some fabuloso right away" Her excitement combined with the air being filled with the heavenly scent of this cleaner ignited me. Believe me, I was in hot pursuit of fabuloso and I could not get to the store quick enough to purchase mine. Her excitement and positive comments in sharing about fabuloso created a charged atmosphere.

When we find something we love we can hardly wait to tell others about it. It is indeed like a fire wanting to spread. We don't tuck an item that we love away never to be seen again, do we?

Notice in this story that I am sharing, that it was me experiencing the scent in her house that prompted me to ask her what it was, which in turn gave her the opportunity to share and let that fire (excitement) out. If she did not use it but instead hid it away to take a couple sniffs for herself occasionally I would have never experienced it.

The story repeats itself, now when others smell it in my home they want to know what it is.

When we are living wholeheartedly for the Lord the same principle thing happens. The very air around us becomes charged for God. His fragrance lingers around us. Others can not help but to notice and when they ask we can hardly wait to speak his word that burns like fire on our hearts.

When there is no one around to express it to we can still let the fire out and charge the atmosphere with audible praises to him . God inhabits the praises of His people.

Have you charged the atmosphere for God?

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Keep in Prayer:
Please keep Ashley Tomlinson and those with her in your prayers this week as she is on a mission trip in Haiti.
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Comments of others regarding previous Delights are below. As always, I Thank you and welcome all responses...
Comments:

I love reading all your daily delights you send me!
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I never read those words in Psalms before, but my heart leaped for joy as I
know God through His grand love has been removing my sack cloth. I feel His
love each time He does and my heart rejoices.
_____________________________

"Today's Delights" are personal reflective journal entries written and shared by Shelli Schulte. They are shared with the intention to encourage, uplift and unite others in Christ. Shelli respects all men and women in God ordained positions, however, Shelli believes that there is one person ultimately responsible for her faith and the guarding of it. That person is her. Shelli encourages others to be responsible for their own faith through an intimate relationship with the Lord. Others are encouraged to put to action the wisdom of the Berean's...Measure all things said and done pertaining to the things of God against the Word of God, our plumb line.


http://www.unexpecteddelights.com/

Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Choosing without Force

Philemon 1:14-

I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
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This verse made me think about how it is far more meaningful for one to choose to do right on their own than it is to force one to do right by demanding it.

Seems to me if God himself would have wanted puppets on a string instead of meaningful heartfelt relationships with His creation, He could of just left the tree out of the Garden. As much as it must of pained Him, certainly being God, He knew in advance what Eve would choose.

Relationships have to be reciprocated from the heart, to the heart. God has always wanted us to choose Him without force. He first loved us and it is a gift to choose to love Him and love others without Force. If it was forced then it would not be Love. (1 Cor 13)

Sharing God's Love is far more effective than forcing or pushing man's religious ideas of God.

1 John 4:7-8
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
_____________________________

"Today's Delights" are personal reflective journal entries written and shared by Shelli Schulte. They are shared with the intention to encourage, uplift and unite others in Christ. Shelli respects all men and women in God ordained positions, however, Shelli believes that there is one person ultimately responsible for her faith and the guarding of it. That person is her. Shelli encourages others to be responsible for their own faith through an intimate relationship with the Lord. Others are encouraged to put to action the wisdom of the Berean's...Measure all things said and done pertaining to the things of God against the Word of God, our plumb line.

Where there is no revelation people cast off restraint... Proverbs 29:18a

*Revelation comes through the word of God, the word of God is Christ, relationship with Christ brings revelation. A life without relationship with Christ is a life that is wondering aimlessly without direction. Shelli Schulte

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A few Comments of others regarding previous Delights are below. As always, I Thank you and welcome all responses...

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RE- The Answer

Awesome picture! Children sure do keep it real...that's one reason I've spent my life working with them.

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RE- The Invitation

One of the many things I love about your Delights ... you use "everyday examples." Of the many, many insights we can gain from the below, the one that keeps circling in my head is, "My burden is light." Then when you used the example of floating in the water ... well ... it truly became real to me.
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RE- "The Answer"

:what an awesome story, Jm is adorable! thank you as always for sharing with us!
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Bible reading plan posted weekly at www.UnexpectedDelights.com


Copyright 2010

http://www.unexpecteddelights.com/

The Answer

2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: tell


you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never

enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this

child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mathew 18:2-4

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Two evenings ago I was laying across the bed in the cabin of our boat when all

of a sudden my eight year old son plopped down beside me and threw his arms

around me and said, "I love to snuggle you!"

In a sort of flip, fun way I asked, "WHY?"

He replied, "Because, I love you so much."

Again in a fun way I asked, "WHY?"

In a very earnest but joyous tone, His reply, "Because to me, you are the answer
for everything."

I believe that pretty much sums up and brings to life what Christ was talking
about in the verses above.

If one can speak the following with sincerity and joy, "I love being next to you, Lord! I love you, Lord! To me, you Lord, are the answer for everything", then one has become like a child. Humble and great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Father, thank you for the simple wisdom of children!!!
_____________________________

"Today's Delights" are reflective journal entries written and shared by Shelli

Schulte. They are shared with the intention to encourage, uplift and unite

others in Christ. Shelli respects all men and women in God ordained positions,

however, Shelli believes that there is one person ultimately responsible for her

faith and the guarding of it. That person is her. Shelli encourages others to

be responsible for their own faith through an intimate relationship with the

Lord. Others are encouraged to put to action the wisdom of the

Berean's...Measure all things said and done pertaining to the things of God

against the Word of God, our plumb line.

Where there is no revelation people cast off restraint... Proverbs 29:18a

*Revelation comes through the word of God, the word of God is Christ,

relationship with Christ brings revelation. A life without relationship with

Christ is a life that is wondering aimlessly without direction. Shelli Schulte

------------------------------------------

A few Comments of others regarding previous Delights are below. As always, I

Thank you and welcome all responses...



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Comments:



RE- The Invitation

"Very inspirational!!!"



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RE- The Invitation

"Dross

2.Metallurgy. a waste product taken off molten metal during smelting,

essentially metallic in character.

4 Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith

(HOLY SPRIT)...

Reminds me of the circumcision of the heart. The metallic character reminds me

that the main reason why people exalt themselves is that they are protecting

their hearts, or giving themselves the praise that they felt they needed to feel

significant, because it was not given to them on some level by someone they

trusted(parents, teachers). They don't realize we don't need this from anyone

but God. Exalting themselves stems from that brokenness.



I ask, believe and receive with you.

AMEN!!"

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Copyright 2010

The Ocean Rose

www.unexpecteddelights.com/ocean-rose-collection.html

For The Good

Through God's divine hand at work, I was asked by the Pastor of the church I attend to stand in for Him at the pulpit on one of the weekends he would be away. I was shocked at first and a bit hesitant. I found myself questioning the Lord and asking Him if He was sure He had the right person, I reminded Him of all my imperfections, flaws, weaknesses and of course the fact that I have not received training for such a thing...through all my rambling on and on, I heard Him speak to me in His gentle loving tone,

"O' My Dear one, come let us reason together, I do not look at those things for I do not see as man sees, I look beyond, straight into the intentions and conditions of the heart, if you did not know you were flawed, you would not know how much you need me. My power and strength are made perfect and seen as effective in your weakness. Do you not know that there is no training course or success that can substitute time spent with me? Surely you recall Peter and John, they were unschooled ordinary men who spoke my word with courage and astonished the rulers and the elders. They had spent time with Me. Isn't that you I see first thing in your morning breathing in my word? Aren't you the one who spends endless time writing to me and seeking me throughout  your day? I am not a God who would forget your devotion to our relationship. Do you not remember that I have said to you I have equipped you? You know that I enable my people to do what I call them to do. I have purposefully called you. Do not question my selection, I am God and you are not...Now go and I will be with you."

Needless to say, after hearing that, I willingly went with a servants heart and delivered the message this past Sunday through His confidence. I was nervous, but I felt at ease knowing that He has a plan, and that His plans are always Good, I know that in all things He works for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. His plans are always better than anything I could come up with on my own. He is God and His ways and thoughts are much higher than mine. I place my trust in Him. Throughout the service, I yeilded to Him and He blessed me with fluent speech and led me the whole way through the message, He was there as He said He would be. I do love Him so and He delights me more than words can express...He knows my heart, and that I am flawed and imperfect, but He knows I love Him and need Him. I have made many mistakes but My desire is to please him in all I do and when I fail He is faithful to forgive me when I ask.
Simply put He loves my heart and I love His....

Being Sure and Certain

Through my readings and writings this past week, the word hope has come up numerous times. In preparing for delivering my testimony and speaking before the church I attend, the following verses presented themselves;
Isaiah 49:12c- "then you will know that I am the Lord, and those who put their hope in me will not be disappointed."
Romans 5:5- And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
Hebrews 11:1- Now faith is being sure of what we Hope for and certain of what we do not see.

The Lord is our hope and we know Him, therefore instead of disappointment we receive joy. Our belief has been moved  to a place of knowing...We are no longer people who simply know of God, we are a people who know Him. Because we have put our hope in Him, He opens the door for us to know Him and when we experience His manifest presence in our lives, there is no one that can ever convince us that He does not exist. We know him...We are sure and we are certain....

May your walk of faith with Him take you into higher realms of knowing Him...you will be delighted...

Higher Plans

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways," declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

His thoughts, His ways and His plans are higher than ours. His desire is for us to walk in trust as obedient servants. Walking as an obedient servant is a success that far outweighs the positions of authority and power that the world would have us to seek. Any plan that I could come up with on my own can not compare to what He has planned for me, I don't know what is around each corner, all I know is that as He leads I follow one step at a time. He is doing a new thing and there are times when it seems He is calling me to do things that are completely out of my realm. In  reflecting on that, it is clear, that is exactly what He is doing. It calls me to a higher level of trust in Him. I know that it is impossible for God to fail, His plans will come to His full purpose and walking in fellowship with Him towards that purpose is a garanteed place of success, for with Him we can do all the things that he has called us and chosen us to do....

There is No Other

As I read through the Isaiah passages last week, the phrase, "There is no other"  rang out loud and clear throughout several chapters.

"I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior."  43:11

"I , even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." 43:25

"I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God." 44:6b

"this is what the Lord says-your Redeemer who formed you in the womb; I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone strectched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself..."44:24

"...'surely God is with you, and there is no other; there is no other god.'" 45:14b

"I am the Lord, there is no other..." 45:18

"turn to me and be saved all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other..."45:22

"Remember the former things of long ago; I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me." 46:9

"Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed." 49:23

It is clear through these passages that GOD wants us to KNOW him. Through these passages He spells  out exactly who He is, then promises to those who KNOW and put their HOPE in Him that they will not be disappointed. He shows us such an incredible picture of what was and is to come in Christ. Make no mistake, a day will certainly come when all will KNOW and remember that it was He who foretold it.

O' My God and My King my heart is filled with peace and pure joy in KNOWING that you are God and there is no other...there is no disappointment in KNOWING you....

The Excellency of God's Word

Hello All!!! It was a very relaxing but invigorating break away from the fast paced world of electronics. Thank you for your patience.

I do hope you were able to fit in reading Psalm 119. I am completely in love with that Psalm. How about you? Did you notice that the Hebrew letters seperate the passages? did you know that it is the longest chapter in the Bible? For me the words are so perfectly in line with my own thoughts and feelings regarding God's word and the things I feel in my own heart.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweet as honey to my mouth...

Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth and teach me your laws....

Direct my footsteps according to your word...

Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees...

I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my Delight....

If you ever lack words to speak to God, go to Psalm 119...

Lord, I delight in your word...it lifts me up to heavenly places. May it elevate those who seek you into new heights of understanding.. In your Name Jesus I as, believe and receive...

Plug In & Be Still

It seems I am on electronic overload, in fact I believe many of us are.. the Lord is nudging my spirit to simply  "Plug In & Be Still"...I am prompted to invite you to take a vacation away from your electronics over the next week with me. I believe God is calling us to plug in completely to Him for a time. It does not feel convenient to limit all my connections, but I feel pressed in the spirit to do so...My plan is to soak myself in His word over next week with very limited internet and cell phone use...I have posted a reading plan for the next 7 days.  That plan includes the longest Psalm so take your time with it and really enjoy it,...Remember that even if things are not making sense, God is still planting seeds. Any heart that seeks Him will find Him and He will open up unto thee His good treasures....the deep and unsearchable things that are layered within the scriptures...So keep moving forward in your readings and always pray before reading...Ask him to speak to your heart through His word... He promises that anything we ask according to His will, will be heard by Him...I will be journaling my impressions from the readings and will share with you next week God willing...

Thank you for your patience and God Bless your hearts with an abundance of Unexpected Delights over the next week...

Comfort My People

Don't you just love how chapter 40 starts out...Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. When I read those words I see the many hurting hearts the Lord has placed in my path over the past several weeks. My heart aches for them and with them and I pray the Lord gather them in His arms, to hold and comfort each heart.

"He tends His flock like a shepherd, He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart."

 Each evening as I look to the sky and see the starry host that He calls by name, I stand in awe and I am comforted, knowing that even as he knows each starry host by name He also knows every need, every hurt, and every desire that has ever entered my thoughts. He knows the history of all scars left upon my heart . He has comforted me and brought me peace. He has shown me that healing follows trauma. He has shown me that mercy moves mountains.

May you be comforted by the Lord through any trauma, May your broken heart be open to His hand of healing upon it... 

FYI

 I am having some technical/electronical challenges, please bare with me...

Psalm 116:15

May you be blessed by the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth...

The Greatest Success

I do hope everyone is doing well and continuing to read along. I realize some things are very hard to understand. The thing to remember as you are reading along through His word is that He is planting seeds.

 It is very clear in Isaiah that walking outside of the will of God is a sure path to failure and disaster. The greatest success is walking in obedience to His will. Sometimes that is not easy. Sometimes he calls us out of our place of comfort to move us forward in our callings. Yesterday, I shared with a group of women a portion of my testimony. Being in front of a group is not a place of comfort for me, however, I know that when He calls us to do something, he has a plan and he is in control. My greatest delight is sharing how He has blessed my life and made Himself know to me and if He wants me to do that in front of one or in front of many, I will humbly do that. Before I began yesterday, I asked him to take my words and use them for His glory. I completely placed my trust in him to do that. There is perfect peace walking in His will. No matter how often I had to stop and recollect my thoughts, I knew He was there doing His work. It was an absolutely wonderful time of sharing. New bonds of friendship were born and the Lord touched all of our hearts.

Lord, thank you for the bond of friendship with others that you have placed in my path and thank you for always being at my side. I know that no matter where you send me or what you call me to do, you are always there and I know that with you I can do all things. You always have a plan and it is always good. There are many hurting hearts out there, thank you, thank you , thank you for touching those that needed a touch yesterday..thank you for the message of "I am in your heart, and I love your heart"...In your name Jesus I ask, believe and receive...with love your delighted one..

Many Times

I was reading Psalms 106 and I was struck by the first five words of verse 43, "Many times He delivered them..." I began to think about the old testament and how people sometimes perceive God as mean because of the judgement that He unleashes. It is interesting to me that many will miss His love and compassion that is also tucked within those writings. The next verse states that , "He took  note of their distress when He heard their cry; for their sake  He remembered His covenant and OUT OF HIS GREAT LOVE HE RELENTED." How glorious it that? How many times will we forgive our own children? How many of us when we hear our children cry out will not run to them?

Lord God, I am ever so greatful for the MANY TIMES that out of your GREAT LOVE you have heard my cry and delivered me...

Updates

Hello All,

Hope this day finds you happy and well.

I am hoping for your patience this week, as my posts will be random. There are a multitude of things going on and I am requesting your prayers that I will complete with some measure of organization the tasks set before me for His glory.

 I am excited about reading Isaiah and will interject with a post later in the week. If you would like to comment or add any insights that God may be speaking to you on the reading, you may do so via e-mail cprforthespirit@unexpecteddelights.com I would love to hear from you....

Have a very blessed day...

Isaiah

We are going to switch gears for the next 66 days and move into the book of Isaiah. I have felt pressed in the spirit to go there. So lets check it out together...Can't wait to see what He has to show us there...

Isaiah is the first book of the prophets and this book is interesting as they all are, but Isaiah is unique in that it is a small version of the entire Bible. There are 66 books in the bible, there are 66 chapters in Isaiah. The first 39 chapters conincide with the 39 books of the Old testament and the remaining 27 chapters conincide with the 27 books of the New testament.

An incredible scripture is given in the first chapter where the Lord says, "Come let us reason together,"
I find that so awesome that God almighty invites us to come and reason with Him...As we move through these chapters keep that in mind...

The Coming of the Lord

"Don't let anyone deceive you in anyway, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over evrything that is called God..."

Stand firm in the truth...

Growing Upward

Right off the bat in this second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul commends them on how their faith is growing and how their love for others is increasing. I love this...As I read this, I reflected on a conversation I had with a dear freind of mine just yesterday. Based on our conversation and the things she shared with me, her faith is growing and her love is ever increasing and she is seeing through new eyes (His eyes). She would tell you the strides she has made in coming out of a dark place are small but I see them as grand. I hear Him saying to her just as he has says to me and to you, " For I know the plans I have for you, dear one, to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future....I am the Lord your God nothing is to hard for me..." I am estatic about the things I know He is doing in her life and ours.  When she  reads this, I am sure she will know it is she that I am refering to. I love you my friend, keep your heart set on Him, water it daily with His word, He is faithful... I could not help but boast about you and thank God for you...

Like the spring flowers that are bursting forth from the earth, so is faith rising up out of the hearts of those who are set on Him...Spring  has a way of resurrecting us, it calls us to grow upward towards him...The heart is the soil, His word is the water and faith is the beautiful flower that blooms in many colors, shapes and sizes...

Mount Up, Let Your Spirit Soar

When we mount up with wings like eagles, our spirit soars to heavenly places, greater heights are before us and the view is incredible....unknown treasures await us and unimaginable joy moves us even higher into a place where there are no spiritual restrictions...Lord, I thank you for my wings like eagles...

God's Fellow Worker

My apologies that I have not had the opportunity to post over the past few days. We were traveling and time at the computor was nill and none. At any rate I do hope you continued to read His Holy word...

In reading through the 1st book of Thessalonians, Paul is encouraging believers to grow in love for one another as we actively wait for the the return of our Lord. I love how in the 3rd chapter, Paul refers to Timothy as God's fellow worker. This brings me to a point, if you haven't noticed by now I am a strong advocate for being actively involved in the activity of God. Paul tells us in verse 5:14, " warn those who are idle, encourage those who are timid, help the weak and be patient with EVERYONE." These are all actions that one can take to be involved in the activity of God. We are fellow workers also. Being a worker implies that one is not sitting idle. Needless to say, God's plans will always come to fruition. We are called by Him to work with Him, if we shun that calling it does hinder His work just like a broken leg or non-functioning body part would hinder us. If we are not actively involved He will call on another who is active. I love being involved in His activity, nothing can compare and I don't want to miss out.

So what is God's will for us, what does He want us to do? People ask this question often. Look at verses 16-18, "Be JOYful always; PRAY Continually; give THANKS in ALL circumstances..." We are not to be idle, laying around dormant as we wait. The previous three things are basic actions that should be a part of our lives. I can hear someone now saying, sure Shelli, how can I be joyful always? Stay In God's presence, How? Pray continually, giving thanks... Remember that God inhabits the praises of His people. He is where there is praise, just like a moth is drawn to light so is God drawn to praise...Oh' Shelli I hear someone saying, this sounds draining to constantly be praying and praising....Consider Isaiah 40:31 that says this, "those who WAIT on the Lord SHALL RENEW their strength; they SHALL MOUNT UP with wings like eagles, they SHALL RUN and not be weary, they SHALL WALK and not faint." Do you see all the  action that is attached to waiting and do you see what is attached to the action?....

Did you read our themed verse today about strength and joy taken from 1st Chronicles? As co-workers of God we stand in His presence, when we are in His presence we move through His strength, through His spirit and boy oh boy does that bring joy...

Don't sit idle. Do not put out the spirit's fire. Do something...Be Joyful, it's contagious. Encourage someone, its uplifting. Just do something dear one, do not lie dormant...

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else"...To love is to become actively involved...God Bless your sweet heart today and always...

Like a Father

"Like a Father with His children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory"  1 Thessalonians 2:11

We should expect no less than this from one another as followers of Christ...that we should, (as brothers and sisters in Christ,) exhort, encourage and charge each other to walk in a manner worthy of God...

Thankful

"We give thanks to God always for all of you..."

In reading the 1st chapter, I thought about those of you whom I know read this blog and are devoted to reading through His word with me...I wanted you to know today that you are in certainly in my prayers and I do thank God for you...you too as Paul said are loved by God and chosen by Him. Isn't that glorious to know that we are so loved by God and chosen by Him...

I am blessed today that I am looking out over the ocean waters with awe and wonder.... thinking about how grand His hands are and how nothing is to hard for Him...I do not know your specific needs today, but He does and I am lifting you up before Him and believing that whatever your need is it will be accomplished through Him and by Him...

Lord, I do thank you for these devoted hearts that yearn to know you, bless them in whatever way aligns with your will for their lives today...In your name Yeshua I ask, believe and receive...

Shepherd Your Flock

"When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive  the unfading crown of glory." 1 Peter 5:4

Are you shepherding your flock?

The Morning Star

"We have something more sure, the Prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the morning star rises in your hearts..." 2 Peter 1:19

Peter was an eyewitness to the Glory and the light of Christ. He saw with His own eyes the ancient prophetic word coming to pass. In this passage, he is telling us to pay attention to the Prophetic word in the scriptures that they were not produced by man but are from God through man carried along by the Holy Spirit. He tells us that we will do well by paying attention.


If you walk into a dark room and someone turns on a light within the room, your eyes are naturally drawn toward the light. If you walk into a dark room and there is no light, what is your first instinct? You go directly to where you think the light switch is, right? How many of us like to walk around in a dark room? We don't, we head for the source of light. Jesus is that light, he is the morning star. Everyone is looking for the light, whether they are consciously aware or not is another story. Some people are following a false light/artificail light. See is this way, we are happiest in the natural sunlight, the artificial light of a light bulb can not create the same effect of joy and happiness that walking along on a cloudless bright sunny day can. The joy and light of Jesus is like a sunny day, where as following false prophets is like the light of a light bulb. There may be gladness to have some light but they are missing out on the full effect of the pure bright light of Christ. Pay attention to the light you are following and what it is producing in you. False prophets are among us as Peter warns in 2 Peter 2. Always, always take responsibilty for your walk with the Lord by paying attention to the scriptures and what they say and by spending time with the Lord your self. You will do well...

Lord I thank you for the inexpressible and glorious joy that the pureness of your light brings to me. I pray for those who are walking under the influence of false light. Rise up within their hearts O, Lord that they may know the Joy of walking in pure light.... In your name Yeshua I ask , believe and receive

Angelic Joy

In celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, I read the accounts of the resurrection story over and over. It is one story that I can hear countless times. The Joy of it overtakes me. It seems each year my heart opens even wider and receives the event as new and fresh as if it just happened. It is not just a story, it is the reality of our salvation. We went to a sunrise service overlooking the waters of the Ohio river yesterday morning and during that time, I found myself thinking about the resurrection morning, really visualizing it  and imagining I was there. Two angels dressed in dazzling white. Can you see them? I can. Can you feel the pure Joy of their announcement? I can. What an incredible morning....Sonrise Sonday...

This morning, I was blessed in reading this months teaching written by my dear sister in Christ Marie Chapian...I love this as I can see her dancing as a little girl and I can see this angel beside her moving about in sheer delight. Serving the Lord is a true delight, the angels enjoy it and so do I...

Marie will be in Chicago next month and I do plan do attend, if there are others in the Ohio valley area who would like to attend be sure to contact me and we can arrange to meet and carpool...I will keep you posted or you can check Marie's site for details, the link has been provided below...
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ANGELS IN OUR LIVES AND THE POWER OF SUPERNATURAL JOY

-- Marie Chapian

When I was a child I thought God was the only one who could see angels and we humans were not meant to know anything about them because angels were a mystery known only to God. Even though we weren't taught about the angelic realm in Sunday School or Church we children somehow sensed around us an angelic presence that was not at all mysterious, but completely natural.

I remember as a five year-old in my tap shoes and sequined costume waiting to go on stage in a statewide talent show. I wasn't nervous or fearful because standing beside me was my guardian angel. The angel's presence was encouraging and comforting, and he also seemed to be having fun. In the years to follow I performed in a zillion talent shows, musicals, plays, dance recitals, films, you name it -- with my guardian angel beside me in the wings (no pun intended.) I experienced many miracles such as healing of serious injuries and being spared deadly accidents, and the like.

It wasn't until years later after dedicating myself wholly to the Lord Jesus and changing direction to enter full-time ministry, that I began to study the role of angels in our lives. I earned a PhD in counseling and became a psychotherapist working with patients in desperate need of a transforming move of God. I began witnessing countless miracles in the lives of people. Baptized in the Holy Spirit, a move of God ensued that overflowed with signs, wonders, miracles, healings, and deliverances-and the joyous, happy presence of God's angelic realm.

Have you ever seen a depressed person energized and empowered? No. Happiness empowers. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and told him, "I stand in the presence of God!" We, too - you and I -- stand in the presence of God. Every time we pray we stand in the presence of God. Once we get a glimpse of the happy, brilliantly joyous angelic realm surrounding the throne of God and inviting us to join along, we can't help but be touched. How can we resist such love, such joy? One thing I've learned from watching God's angels at work is the inexorable power of joy. Angels move in joy, perfect joy. And so can we. We can overcome the trials and woes that beset us. The joy of the Lord is truly our entire strength.

Angels are God's messengers sent to share with us the same profuse flood of love that they enjoy every minute of every day. People ask me how to recognize angels in our lives. Is there a formula? A pattern to follow? Is there a formula for finding God? No. He finds us. We love Him because He first loved us. My guardian angel found me. Your guardian angel has found you! One day I realized that my guardian angel actually enjoyed his job! It was a revelation to me. I made the discovery that the presence I felt beside me as a child, and now walked with every day, is unequivocally happy.

Happy! It's not difficult for a child to recognize the presence of angels, so let's you and I take the plunge into God's heart, and together with His angelic realm, press in to solely love and serve our King of Kings, magnifying His name with unassailable victory, power and joy. I'm ready. Are you?

I'll be teaching on the angels in our lives in Chicagoland in May. Keep your eye on this website for more information. Let the miracles begin!

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You're welcome to reproduce and use these teachings by Marie but do give proper author credit.

To view more of Marie's teachings, please click here.

Rise Above

If everyone could take the following and run with it, what a world it would be...

"Finally, ALL of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate, and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with Blessing, because to this you were called..." 1 Peter 3:8-9

To be a blessing to another  person even when the flesh is insisting that you react in discord is a feat well worth the task. In other words rise above the insults, you may suffer the insult, but you will also feel your spirit soar...

As we think about what occured on this day so many years ago, can you imagine what it must of been like for Him to take all the abuse and insult and speak not a word against them, but instead to say, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

Can you imagine the disciples thoughts, after seeing all the miracles, can't you imagine them thinking, "ok, Lord, when are you going to let loose and get them back with all your power?" Can you imagine that even Judas himself may have thought when he took that money and turned Jesus over, that there was no way anything like what happend to Jesus could happen. They saw Him do the miracles, they knew He was their King, but oh boy, their idea of how He would obtain that position was not even close to being in line with God's plan.

Think about your reactions today...do they align with God?

May you be abundantly blessed on this Good Friday...may forgiveness rise up within your soul like a beautiful sunrise sparkling over the waters...

Thank you Lord for forgiveness...

History of Easter

A Spiritual House

We have talked about this before. Christ the Lord is the precious Cornerstone. We ourseleves are living stones placed upon a secure foundation in Christ. Notice that cornerstone and capstone are both used to reference the Lord in the structure. Look up the meaning of these two in regards to placement in a structure. What is revealed to you by this?  Read chapter 2:1-10 again...

Lord, I pray that my life is always a beautiful stone in the structure, that it may always glorify you, the overseer of my soul...In your name Yeshua I ask, believe and receive...

The Ultimate Goal

The ultimate goal or end result of our faith is the salvation of our soul. Faith is our most valuable asset, more valuable than gold as Peter puts it.

"The Precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect...." Those who put their faith and hope in this are passed over because of that precious blood. We receive salvation/eternal life. On Sunday we will be celebrating the ressurection. Take time over the next couple of days to read the gospel accounts of what led up to that event. If you have not seen "The Passion" watch it. It is heart wrenching, but every believer needs to see it. We need to have a keen sense of what the price of salvation was.

Peter tells us to prepare our minds for ACTion in verse 13. In verse 22 he talks about being purified by obeying the truth. Read those two verses again...Read chapter 1 again...

Lord, Thank you for loving me and paying the ultimate price for the ultimate gift for me....

Power of Prayer

"THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN/WOMAN IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE"

First, I supose what one would ask as I did, what does righteous mean? Someone who is living a righteous life is living a life that is pleasing to God. This person pursues God's will in all areas of of their life. Does this mean perfection? No...It means the heart is pure in it's pursuit of God's will. The heart longs for God and longs to please Him in every situation...When this person approaches the throne room of God with prayer, it is without doubt, powerful and effective...If your walking in God's will, does it not stand to reason that what you take before Him in prayer would be powerful and effective...

Maybe your asking, what is God's will? Draw close to Him and you will know...

Lord, I thank you for those who are living a life so pleasing to you that they can move mountains. I thank you for those who have come before you on my behalf...I have felt the power and effectiveness of their prayers...May my own life be pleasing to you all the days of my life...In your name Lord Jesus I ask, believe and recieve...

Drawing Near

The one concept in James chapter 4 that should grab your attention is this, "Come near to God and He will come near to you" Grab on to that and do not let it go, let it roll through your heart. These words are fail proof...Drawing near to Him draws Him near to us...Think about this when you take a step towards someone they are that much closer to you...when you are going out to meet with someone, the moment you see each other, you begin to move toward each other. When we spend time meeting with Him in prayer, quiet time, bible study, worship, praise etc...the same thing happens...If you are reading this you are drawong close to Him and He drawing close to you now...

Lord , I cherish our times of meeting and drawing close. Thank you...

Passover

What a day to be still and reflect on who Christ the Lord was/is and who we are in Him...

See  & reflect on Exodus 13:9. We are bought with the blood of Christ and sealed with His spirit...Like an invisible mark that only the eyes of heaven can see...Through the obedience of one man we are brought out  of the bondage of  darkness into His glorious light...

A Divine Bit & Heavenly Wisdom

The scriptures say that all kind of beasts can be tamed but no man can tame the tongue. With man this is impossible but with God it is possible to control the tongue. It requires knowledge and understanding that come from above.... "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered." Proverbs 17:27....

Verses 3-5 indicate that it is through divine obedience that the tongue can be controlled. Think of it as having a divine bit in place. We allow the Holy Spirit to have full reign in our life, but unlike a horse and its owner, we have the ability to choose to remove the bit. The tongue can be controlled, we just have to surrender it to Him...Have you ever had a moment where you open your mouth and garbage falls out? I have and it greived my spirit. This brings me to the point that is made in verse 2...We all stumble...The world may not be there to catch us but praise God He is..
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Who is wise and understanding?

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is a deep understanding of people, things, events or situations, empowering the ability to choose or act to consistently produce the optimum results.Wisdom is comprehension of what is true or right coupled with optimum judgment as to action.

Heavenly wisdom is comprhension and deep understanding that come from heart knowledge of the things of God, not head knowledge. It gives us what is needed to act accordingly...When one is acting with heavenly wisdom intact, you will see  a person who does not harbor envy and selfish ambition, but one who is peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit (Galations 5:22), impartial and sincere...

What do you see in your heart? Are you operating with earthly wisdom or heavenly wisdom?

Lord, root out all bitterness, envy and selfishness...Help us to operate and act on wisdom that comes from you...In your name Jesus I ask believe and receive....

Real Faith

Really there are no words needed except for those found in verse 2:17: "Faith by itself, if not accompanied by ACTion is Dead"....Real faith is always accompanied by ACTion, real faith will not have to be expressed in words, it will be seen in its ACTions...You will notice that real faith will have mercy attached to its ACTions...

Mercy Triumphs over Judgement!!!

Pure & Faultless

I love how this book starts out...James , "A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ"...James was a half brother to Jesus and  like Jude he did not become a believer until after the ressurection. I love how they both refer to themselves as servants whereas they could of said they were half brothers of the Lord.

What a grand chapter this is, many things stand out...I noticed the word pure is used twice...first to instruct us in verse 2 to consider it pure joy when faced with trials of different kinds. James says that the testing of faith develops perserverance. Think of it this way, just like exercise develops muscle and strength, so too does the testing of faith develop the muscles of your faith. The more your faith gets worked out, the stronger it becomes. When our physical bodies are in optimal shape we feel good, the same applies to the spiritual body. There is pure joy in perserverance. The point to be taken here is that the next time a trial comes your way face it as though it is an exercise that will build you up not tare you down...

The second place the word pure is used is in verse 27..."Religion that God our Father excepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted from the world." There is more to this than what appears literally obvious. Who are the orphans, who are the widows and who is the world? When I think of orphans and widows the word that comes to mind right away is loss. Something in their lives is missing. The orphan has no parent, the widow has no husband. When you look at this through spirit eyes you see those who do not know God as Father and those who do not know Christ as Husband, are missing out. Notice it says, "in their distress"... If one does not have God as Father and Christ as husband, they also lack the Holy Spirit who is the comfortor and most certainly without these, a life is not complete or content, there is distress. Who knows God as Father, Christ as Husband and carries the seal of the Holy Spirit, (the comfortor)? We do, so who should comfort those who have this missing? We should...This is pure and without fault...Who is the world? Any idea, philosophy, or religion that is in oppositon to this and exalts itself above Christ...

In the verses preceding verse 27 James discusses that we should not only listen to the word, but to also do what is it says...Faith in ACTion...Be obedient to the word...Remember Romans 1:5 says that obedience comes from faith... James says that, "The one who looks into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does." Real faith will give birth to obedience. See it this way, when you go to college and receive a degree for a specific line of work, at some point you have to apply what you have heard and learned, if you do not guess what, the blessing of a pay check will not come your way...You have to act on the knowledge you have received...If you apply for a job, get hired, and they train you, are you going to apply what you have been trained to do? Of course you are...you move forward and improve in your position because you have become obedient to the knowledge that you have obtained...the same principal applies in our faith...Faith should never become stagnant, your faith through obedience should keep compelling you to move forward...to ACT...ACT on what we are hearing and learning...

In conclusion; in being a servant of the Lord our faith will be tested that we may become strong. We will  be expected to apply that which is learned through the hearing of his word. We will be expected to touch the world with that which is pure and without fault being careful not to let the world infect us...Through us, that which was/is pure and without fault (Jesus) will continue to touch the untouchable...

Can I get an Amen?

I am just overflowing with joy that is like a well fed spring today...Why? Because our God is the God  of miraclous activity and I love seeing and being a part of His activity...

Mercy Mixed with Fear

Grumblers & Faultfinders

Do you know any?

Jude describes them this way:  ... dreamers who pollute their own bodies...reject authority... slander celestial beings...they speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do not understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals...shepherds who feed only themselves... they follow their own way, they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage... these are those who divide you, who follow their own natural instincts and do not have the spirit. In a nut shell they have created a God/belief system that does not hold them accountable in any way shape or form to the one True God( they change the grace of God into a license for immorality). 

If you encounter this type of person, remember that we are to be known by our love for each other and that we are to keep ourselves in God's LOVE...a natural instinct may be to fire right back at them, don't do it, even the Achangel Michael did not dare to hurl slanderous accusation against the devil..We walk in the spirit and we are instructed to build ourselves up in the most Holy Faith and pray in the Holy Spirit...

We are instructed in verses 22-23 to be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; and to others show mercy, mixed with fear... I see three types of people that we may encounter on our walk with the Lord: those who are doubters, those who are seeking and ready, and those who are bent on heading to the eternal jail cell...Notice that we are to show mercy to the first group, we are to snatch (which implies quickness to me) up the second group and show mercy mixed with fear to the third group. Mercy mixed with fear...You know, the thought of someone I love, spending the rest of their life in a jail cell bothers me, how about you?  Think about this for a moment, if one of your loved ones was sentenced to jail because they chose to ignore the law, what kind of feelings come over you? I know that discussing this subject does not give us the warm and fuzzies and by golly friends it shouldn't... it should cause us to feel uncomfortable...I just praise God that He is LOVE and that we are grounded in His love and that He has shown mercy on us...His  instruction in how to handle ourselves and others is given without fault. There is no doubt in my mind that His plan is much better than ours. You do something wrong, here in our society, you are sentenced. With God we have all done wrong, but He has provided a way to clear the charge against us and for that I am eternally greatful...

So in keeping with the words of Jude (half brother of Jesus), who by the way was a doubter who did not believe Jesus was the Christ until after the ressurection, ....Mercy, Peace and Love be yours in Abundance today and always....

Leading with a Heart of Truth

As we conclude the letters that John wrote we see that in the 3 John there is one by the name of Gaius. John through his own heart of truth encourages and commends this man for his walk with the Lord and the handling of those whom the Lord sends his way. John is overjoyed in the work that Gaius does because his walk is grounded in truth. I love this little book because it is a wonderful example of how we should be to one another. I truly believe that it is of the utmost importance to lift up, encourage and commend  one another when our walk matches the talk. I have a freind who without fail gives me a biblically grounded word of encouragement everytime we communicate. When I hear it, I know that my spirit is strengthened by it.

Another part of this little book is a firm warning from John to beware of one called Diotrephes, who apparently is quite the hypocrite. It seems he states one thing but His ACTions claim something else.
Do be aware of this in your own walk, this is not judgement, this is gaurding yourself from becoming entangled in something that is not of the truth.

Finally there is a fellow by the name of Demetrius that John makes mention of, now listen to these words that John writes: "Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone- and even by the truth itself." Did you hear that? Even the truth itself speaks well of him...His actions as well as his words are grounded in truth (Jesus).

Good reputation and favor follow those who are walking in a heart of truth, can you see that?
God is love, Jesus is truth. We are to be grounded in Love and truth....

I even love how this book ends because John says to them, " I have much to write to you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink, hope to see you soon and we will talk face to face."

Wouldn't you love to know what else he said to them when they met face to face? There are some things that just reguire face to face interaction. He does not want to use ink and pen, think about it, can ink and pen adequately express what a face to face interaction can?..I love meeting with people face to face and sharing the things of God...It is funny as I am writing this, I am recalling how I had been reluctant to post my picture simply because I never want what I am doing for the Lord to be about me, I wnat people to see him not me, but recently through two different people whom I perceive to be full of wisdom told me that it is important for people to see eyes, and I thought to myself, "of course it is, they are the windows to the soul."

Have a very blessed day...

Lord, I thank you for the friends you have provided for me in my walk with you. May I be to them as they have been to me. Help us Lord, also to recognize hypocrisy, that we will not become entangled in that web. Help us to always do what is good and pleasing to you... In your name Yeshua I ask , believe and receive...

God's Springtime Garden

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Comment Alert

It has come  to my attention that some are trying to post their comments but I am not seeing them.. If you have commented I am so sorry that they are not showing up. I am trouble shooting this. I think the problem is that most are not doing the word verification so therefore the comment does not register. I have redone the format so that you will see the word verification right away. This blog has also been set up so that you do not need a google account to comment, you may choose the  "anonymous" option at the bottom of the page.
It would be appreciated if you would add your name or initials at the end of your anonymous post. You may also send private comments to cprforthespirit@unexpecteddelights.com

Please be sure to enter the word verification before hitting publish Your comment. This feature is a safeguard against spam..

Knowing

In conclusion of the book of 1 John, something really stood out  like a neon sign to me. This phrase, "This is how we know".

The only place in the entire NIV version of the Bible that this phrase occurs is in the book of 1 John and it occurs six times in the following verses: 2:5, 2:18, 3:10, 3:16, 3:24, and 5:2.
This is how we know we are in Him...
This is how we know it is the last hour...
This is how we know who the children of God are...
This is how we know what Love is...
This is how we know that He lives in us...
This is how we know that we love the children of God...

Please take the time to look at those verses again. There are six things listed above that we should be able to know, it is spelled out for us...It does not say, " this is how we believe ,"it says "this is how we KNOW"..My whole premise in everything that I do in my own walk is based on a faith that not only believes but knows. I encourage people to go beyond knowing of God to knowing Him. There are a lot of people who know of Him but how many know Him? Know Him ...

Did you notice also that 1 John 3:16 sounds familiar and has the same numbers attached to it as in another book, the book of John. In John 3:16 it says that,  God so loved the world that He Gave His only son, now here in 1 John 3:16 we see that Love is manifested through Jesus in that He laid down His life for us. The Father has loved us, the Son has loved... We are likewise to love others as He has loved us. Again, I encourage you to read the verses above again and again.... Write them down, carry them with you...There is a lot to hold on to and grasp wholeheartedly in these passages... If we are not first rooted and grounded in God's Love then all else is in vain. We are told that love is greater that faith and hope (1 Corinthian 13:13). Preceding this verse in in 1 Corinthians Paul makes this statement, "...Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." When we see His face we will know in full, but even now we know in part...

Take inventory today of what you know...Please realize that I am not talking about what others have told you, I am talking about what you know through your own personal relationship with the Lord...

Do a search today, see how many times the word love or a variation of it  occurs in the Bible...

Knowing God's love is simply irresistable....
This is Love for God: to obey His commands, and His commands are not burdensome....1 John 5:3

Psalm 78:1-2

"O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old."

How Great is the Love

I'll tell you, it is soooooo great, at times it is hard to comprehend. I often ask, "who am I that you should love me so, Lord?" Really, who am I? When I think about some of the poor descisions I have made in my own life, I stand in awe at the relentless love He has had for me through it all. His love is as sure to me as the air I breathe. He does lavish us with His love...why? because we are is His children. Let that sink in, really think about.

Now in the same way that He loves us we are to love one another. Pay close attention to verse 3:18, it says, "let us not love with words or tongue but with ACTions and in truth." There are three elements contained within this verse. How many times has someone told you they loved you but their actions did not seem to match their words? Lets take this a step further, supose someone says they love you and they take action that would indicate that they do love you, but still something just doesn't jive. Maybe it is because they have done it and said it but they did not do it from a heart of truth. Where does a heart of truth come from? Jesus said that He is the way, the truth and the life. If Jesus is not the very core of the heart then it does not matter what one says or does because it is not coming from a heart of truth...there is worldly love and there is heavenly love. If Jesus resides in the heart and one tries to so something that does not align with the word of God, the heart will condemn us. Why? because it is going against the truth. "This is how we know that we belong to the truth, (Jesus) and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn (say somebody or something is bad: to state that somebody or something is in some way wrong or unacceptable) us."  "God's heart is so much greater than ours, he knows everything." It is God's heart that knows the core of our hearts, if the heart is condemning us, letting us know that something is unacceptable, God knows it and He brings peace to that heart of truth in His presence.

We will not be condemned (give somebody legal sentence: to make a judicial pronouncement stating what punishment has been imposed on a person found guilty of a crime, especially in the case of a heavy penalty or a death sentence) because the heart of truth will not allow it, the heart of truth will do what pleases God. See verses 21-24...

Do you need to invite Jesus (the truth) into your heart today? Take Action & Invite him in...Speak the following prayer with me if it is in your heart to do so and you have not already invited Him in.

Lord Jesus come into my heart today, right now. Bring your truth and peace that I may live a life that pleases my heavenly Father. I need you, I have done wrong in my life and I know that you gave your life for me to cover over those wrong things that I have committed against myself, others and you. I believe that there is no other name under heaven to which I can come for the salvation I seek. You first loved me and now I want to love you back. I want our hearts to become one that I may know you and that through your Holy Spirit you will guide me into all truth. In your name Jesus I ask and believe...

If you invited the Lord into your heart through this prayer, write down this date and keep it in your heart and written in your Bible...Today is your "Heart of Truth" birthday and it is a sacred day...the heavenly hosts are rejoicing on your behalf and so am I...

God's Love Completes Us

"But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:5

There is so much in this one power packed verse...Can you see all that is in it? Loving God causes you to obey His word. It is like a circle, it does not end, it is complete, a circle is complete, there is no beginning and no end, it is complete in and of itself, every peice of it mirrors the opposite side of it, an exact imitation of the other side. We imitate Him. See todays themed verse in the side bar (Ephesians 5:1-2)...He loves you, You love Him ,  you obey , the more you obey the more you love, the more you love the more you obey and see yourself becoming like Jesus. You are part of something that is complete. If we are walking like Him , we are walking in love and walking in obedience. If someone claims to walk with Jesus and you do not see the fruit of love manifested in an obedient heart, then that person is not walking with Jesus. They go hand in hand to complete the circle...

O' How I love you Lord, You are so faithful and your love completes me.

SONlight

Yesterday, here in the tri-state we had a clear beautiful day. People are different in the sunlight...have you noticed that? Smiling, talkative, joyful, energetic etc...It is like an energy field of positivety has blanketed everyone...Here is a word of wisdom today...a similar effect, even more powerful than the sunlight, takes place when you walk in the SONlight...When you walk in the SONlight, it makes no difference what the outdoor whether is...It can be pouring down rain or a snowy day, but in your soul there is a light so bright that it cuts through the dreariness and makes the rain and snow sparkle as it falls upon the earth...

Walk in the SONlight daily..."God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5

Father, thank you for the SONlight...your light lifts my soul above the clouds where the sun always shines...

May SONlight rise up within your soul, may it break through the walls of darkness and remove former limits, so that you may be free from the dark chains that have held you back....In the name of Yeshua I ask it and believe that it will be...Selah

A Theme of Three

As we finish up the book of Mark, which focused on the ACTions of Jesus and preceding Mark we concluded the book of ACTs, clearly something stands out here. Three letters A-C-T : Acting Christlike Today. This is not the kind of ACTing that is done for one day or done in the spotlight of movie cameras, this a continual way of life for us. It is who we are. From here on out we will be HIGHlighting through His word what it means to duplicate and conform ourselves to the likeness of Christ. All of the themes require ACTions that match our words. Our first theme in portraying Christlikeness is , "Growing in Love." True Love manifests in ACTions, not just words. As we read the account of the crucifiction yesterday in Mark chapter 15. The first attribute is manifested in the ACTion that Christ first loved us enough to lay down His life for us. In John 15:14 Christ says these words, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down His life for His  friends." His ACTion matched His words. The next thing He says after that is, "you are  my friends, if you do what I command." Make a mental note that contained within that sentence will be the focus of our next theme, "Growing in Obedience." In yesterdays post I said to you that I know you have at least one friend, here He is, What a friend we have in Jesus...

I titled todays post, "A Theme of Three." As we concluded the book of Mark, did you notice all the Threes. When something is a HIGHlight to me, I research it. Where do I start? At the beginning of course. In Genesis I went to see what happened on the THIRD day. Something very interesting. One of the things God said on the third day was this, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yeilding seed and the fruit tree yeilding fruit after His kind, whose seed is in itself." Another version says it this way, " Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in, according to their various kinds." Now you are asking, what does this have to do with what we are talking? Everything beloved, everything...When you apply these old scriptures symbolically to today, this is what I see: Jesus is the original seed of LOVE, Notice too that He was crucified the on the THIRD hour, He was planted within the earth but the earth cound not hold Him, like the miraculous event of a tiny seed that breaks through the soil at spring time. What I want you to take from this, is the detail that the seed produces fruit in its image. It duplicates,copies...we too are to copy, duplicate, and have a likeness to Christ. The themes that we will cover is like the soil, it is the good soil, the organic soil that we want to grow in...They are the very attributes of Christ...

Take a love walk today and notice what is springing forth...

Through Young Eyes

I received this sweet picture in the mail today from a 10 year old named Emma. Emma has committed herself to reading the Daily Delight Scripture Passages with her mom each evening.

I love it!!! What a great picture... I just had to share it...Thank you Emma for the card and the inspired drawing...Bless your heart and Jesus Kiss your nose...

A Distressed Soul

Jesus takes the 3 (Peter, James &John) with Him into the garden of Gethsemane.

3 times he finds them sleeping.

It makes me think about the times in my life that I denied Him. Lord, thank you for forgiveness. It makes me think of times that I should of been keeping watch instead of sleeping. Friends who may have needed me to pray through the night for them but instead I was sleeping. Father, thank you for understanding friends. Lord God, I want to be alert and there for my friends. Help me to discern those times that require intense prayer for those I so dearly love.

Now, in reflecting on friends some of you may have heard me refer to Peter, James and John as the inner circle. It seems the Lord took the three of them off to Himself on several occasions. Again, it makes me think of friends that are there for us, friends that we can bare our souls to. We all need a friend or two that we can feel comfortable in sharing deep things. The Lord shared with them that his soul was very distressed even to the point of death. As you contemplate this passage reflect on the friends that you have that you are willing to bare your soul to...Do you have one or two? I pray you do...I know you have at least one...

In reading this passage, I also began to think about the reaction of the three to the Lord's soul baring, I wonder, was it just too much for the flesh to handle? Could they not stay awake because maybe they too were very distressed and heavy burdened, but were unable to understand and identify the full significance of where that distress was coming from? When a loved one is distressed we feel it, don't we? We may not know the full circumstances, but something in us feels what they are feeling...I know that Jesus must of been frustrated with the three, but I also know that He understood as He spoke to them and said, " the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."

 The Lord instructs us in Mathew 11:28-30 to come to Him, all who are weary and heavy burdened, and He will give us rest. If your soul is in distress and burdened there is no better place to be than with Jesus...Are you burdened? Talk to Jesus and talk to the friend/ friends He has given to you.

Lord, I pray for sleep that is restful. May we awake energized and ready for each day. Thank you for your gentle humble heart that brings peace to my soul and provides me the rest that I need even when I am carrying a burden...In your name Yeshua I ask and believe...

News Flash-Keep Watch

Mark chapter 13 is filled with information from Jesus regarding the end of times. If you are not properly prepared, it can seem to be a very gloomy chapter. Before I share what I see in this chapter I want to say to you that scare tactics are not of God. (God did not give us a spirit of fear but of sound mind.) ( Perfect love drives out fear). The fear of God and being scared to death of God are two different things. The words Jesus is speaking through this chapter most assureddly should  have a profound effect on us and make us stop to think about one thing and one thing only, "Am I asleep or am I awake in Christ?"

If you are awake in Christ you will be able to see what is coming and you will be preparing yourself and those around you for what is coming. Closed eyes can not see. If you close your eyes while you are driving, you are sure to experience disaster. Reflect for an instant on this: we own water front property so my husband is on continual alert, watching the news to monitor the river levels. In preparation for the rising water he has a very detailed list of things he goes through to keep the water from causing damage to our property. Supose for a moment he slept through these reports and missed the reports or worse his eyes may be (eyes that are open but blind) open but his ego decides to choose to ignore the reports altogether thinking to himself, "oh those weather people, what do they know?" Surely you can see what would happen to our property if we are not watching the reports or choose to ignore the reports.

Now what do I see in this chapter? I see a news flash that I am paying close attention to, with eyes wide open in Christ. The chapter is filled with tell tale signs that followers of Christ should be able to pick up on, but the most important thing to me to take from this chapter is contained within the last two verses.

"If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. What I say to you , I say to everyone:'WATCH!'"

Are your eyes open in Christ? Are you watching or are you asleep?

Be on Guard! Be alert!

Lord God, I thank you for eyes that see and I ask for those whose eyes are not open that they may be opened and awakened in you. Without you it is gloomy and dark...but with you even in this chapter of what is a head, you shed your awesome light in verses 26&27 and I thank you...May our eyes be opened and our hearts be prepared, even to the very minute details so that the most valuable property of all will not suffer damage...In your name Yeshua, I ask and believe, your will be done...

The Cornerstone

Haven't you read this scripture: "The stone the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone, the Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes." Mark 12:10-11

A few things to see here and ask...First of all Jesus is quoting Psalm 118:22, the only old testament reference to a cornerstone. Next who are the builders? Jesus was speaking to prominent men in the "church", the chief preists, the teachers of the law and the elders who were rejecting Him, the Cornerstone. Jesus is the Cornerstone of The Church. Before we go any further, lets determine the significance of a cornerstone. The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. This to me is fascinating because when we think of "church" most will picture a physical structure set in one specific place. When I read this I see Jesus and us. He is the cornerstone and we are the stones set in reference to Him. It does not matter where we physically gather because we are the church structure. We each have a unique position in the structure. What is your position? Have you thought about the ways that you add to the structure? What do you feel Jesus is calling you to do to support the structure?

Something else to consider when visualizing the church is to remember that Jesus specifically commissioned the Gospel to be spread to all corners of the earth. Think about that symbolically...Now what do you see when you think about the church?

O' Lord, you are my foundation. In everything I say and do may it always be in perfect reference to you...what I see is marvelous in my eyes...

Mountains

Faith combined with a believing heart and spoken words can move a mountain.

Listen and pay close attention to what Jesus says, "Have faith in God, I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain , GO, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done. Therefore I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have recieved it and it will be yours."

When you receive something, what is your reaction? You are thankful...You thank a person right away don't you? This is a truth, Jesus said it was the truth...Do you believe Him? Begin thanking God for what you ask for right away as if you have it.  What mountains do you want to move?

Lord God, I thank you for the mountains you are moving through faith on behalf of our believing hearts...

Peace

It always tickles my heart when I read the following passage:

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them , but the disciples rebuked them, When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed  them.

My own 7 year old son wrote a prayer this week to read over the announcements at school. He did not inform me of this until the morning of. There is nothing sweeter than the prayer of a child and I was not going to miss out on hearing this, so I readied myself and headed off to school with him with a recording device in tow. When I heard the prayer I was a bit baffled but later realized the significance of the prayer. The prayer was as follows:

Dear Heavenly Father, Bring PEACE to the people that are poor. Stop any wars and we pray for PEACE in the world. We pray that people don't fight but live in PEACE.

Now I don't know about you, but that first line threw me for a moment. I wondered why he would ask for God to bring peace to the poor instead of asking  him to bring food, clothes, shelter etc...and then it hit me like a brick, if we have everything we could ever want, but do not have the peace of God within our hearts, we would not be content and at peace enough to enjoy the things God has intended for us. A heart that contains the peace of God is the treasure of all treasures... and it took a 7 year olds prayer to highlight that point to me..."The Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" When was the last time you approached God with a child-like heart?... See him through child-like eyes today and let Him wrap you in His arms and bless you...In those arms PEACE preavails...

In honor of the sweet and special children around the world, I would like to send up a special prayer on behalf of Emma, Sammy & Jacob...

Lord God Almighty, put to flight any hinderance that would try to prevail over the peace that is intended for these sweet hearts. May they love you, draw close to you and know you always as the Lord of their lives. May they know how beautiful and special they are to you. May your love abound and caudle their hearts, that innocense may be kept alive with pure belief in you...In your name, Jesus I ask and believe...

May we all hold tight to the innocence of childhood and the wisdom of age....

Not One of Us

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

"Do not stop him, "Jesus said, "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is with us."

Just recently, a dear friend of mine was talking about the church and how of all the places she has ever been, she has noted that  the church tends to be in a continual state of argument. She said it is the only place that there is a constant state of disagreement. How sad is that??? That same week a gal came to me for answers regarding  a debate she was having with someone over some doctrinal hoopla. I sent her to scripture and told her that the Lord has already written the answers on her own heart, trust Him and refuse to debate with others. There are many scriptures that warn us of the deadly weapon the tongue can be, debating is the perfect breeding ground for an unruly tongue....

Any way, as I read the above verses it made me think of all the different denominations and small groups that break off here and there. The plain sweet simple truth of it all is that if our hearts are in tune with God's, we will be in tune with each other. I myself, do not like divisions and labels, However I respect all, for me I am simply a follower of "the Way, the Truth and the Life." At this point of my journey, the word of God is nondebatable. If there is another human (which there are many) out there that does not follow the exact same path that I do, but loves the Lord God and confesses the Lord's name, I bless that person and I thank the Lord for uniqueness of that person.

Notice that the Lord very clearly said, "Do not stop them,... if they are not against us they are for us". The very fact that the man was using the name of Jesus said that He believed in Him whether He was, "One of them or not" was irrelevant to Jesus...

If you have found yourself having a ,"NOT ONE OF US" mentally, I urge you to take it before the Lord...

Lord, bring peace and wisdom into the church setting...remind us all that you are Lord over all and that we are not...I thank you for all individuals who you have uniquely created and called for your purposes to be fulfilled and I praise you for reigning supreme in and over my life...In your beloved name, I ask, receive and believe...

Happy Birthday "Unexpected Delights"

Today is the birthday of the "Unexpected Delights/CPR for the spirit" website...
The site has made over 5680 positive impressions for Christ the Lord this past year and I think that deserves a big old fashioned shout out... PRAISE THE LORD!!!

What Others Think

Mark  8:27-30

When it is all said and done it will not matter what others think, what will matter is what you think and believe. Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do people say I am?" They responded with various answers, then Jesus asked, "What about you, who do you say I am?" Peter answered, " You are the Christ."

Be responsible for your faith. Remember the Bereans...Don't let what others think sway you without checking what they are saying against His Holy word. Stay in close communication with Him. You have the same access to Him as anyone else.

Just as Peter knew, I also know that Jesus is the Christ...

Lord, thank you for the wisdom and knowledge that comes with unwavering faith.

Bound by Traditions

There is nothing wrong with traditions just as there is nothing wrong with money. It is when we are so caught up in loving these things over the Lord that we get into trouble. We become bound by the Love of these things. Keep your eyes on the Lord, Love the Lord your God over all else.

Lord, I thank you for rich traditions and all your blessings over me but most of all I thank you for you...In your name I offer up praise and Love...

Hindered Power

Todays discussion will center around these two topics:
Lack of Faith & Two by Two


In verse 4 Jesus says, "Only in his own hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." In the verses just prior to this one, the people in the town are somewhat bewildered and asking questions, recalling that Jesus was just a carpenter and the son of Mary. "Where did this wisdom come from?" they asked and they were offended by him. Because they had witnessed who He was growing up they were unwilling to believe who he was. Their lack of faith hindered the work that could have been done there. Remember that in the post before this one, we noted that it is faith that draws power from the Lord. These poor souls missed out on that power because of their lack of faith. It is sad to note that this biblical truth sometimes holds true today when one even mentions their faith to a relative, the lover of the Lord is judged and shut down right away because the family member knows the kind of life they lived prior to excepting the Lord as savior and just like these hometowners they will often remind you of it. They miss out and there is nothing you can do about it but continue to love them, forgive them for their judgements and pray...
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What did you think about two by two? To me it appears important to Jesus by this account that we should be  paired up on our witnessing journey. Do you have another believer in your life that the Lord has paired you up with to do his work? My husband often talks about his different tennis partners and how some mesh with his tennis style better than others. We all are unique and have been equiped with different styles so to speak and I believe the Lord has His hand in pairing us up with those who will mesh well togehter in order to accomplish His purpose.

Lord thank you for all blessings past, present and future. Thank you for friends that are well grounded in your truths. Thank you for family members that have open ears and open hearts...In your name Yeshua I pray and believe...