02.27.07
Would God FORGIVE ME?
The following anonymous story is a personal testimony from a believer who struggled with not feeling forgiven by God.
I had been a Christian for several years, but during that time I had occasional distressing bouts with anxiety. I just could not believe that God had actually forgiven me. Sometimes I even doubted that He was capable of forgiving a woman whose sins were as bad as mine. I remember vividly an evening when I was looking through my photo album. As I walked back over the years, the pictures seemed to condemn me anew. They brought back to my mind the kind of life I had lived before I had confessed my faith in Christ.As I turned the pages, photo after photo leaped into focus and pointed a finger of accusation directly at me.It all came back in huge, overwhelming waves of condemnation. The drinking (I used to brag about being able to drink anyone under the table); the smoking; the friends who swapped wives among themselves; the angry chip on my shoulder about not knowing the man who caused my birth. Then came a messy divorce, followed by a physical involvement with a man I knew I didn’t love.
I closed my eyes to escape the pictures. But all I could see were nails being driven into the hands of Christ. I agonized. The photo album brought all my sins back. All my Christian joy was gone. I could see only my unworthiness, the blackness of my sin, and my terrible guilt. Shame engulfed me. I felt totally worthless and condemned. I pleaded with the Father to help me. The Bible had become a staff of life to me, so I turned to it in desperation. Was I truly forgiven of all my sins?
God led me to these verses: “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 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. I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” (Isa. 43:18-19,25)
My heart welled up with joy. My smile returned, for I knew I was forgiven and that I didn’t have to remember who I used to be. I realized that I am the Lord’s–for His glory and praise. I know now that Satan, the accuser of the brethren, used those memories to oppress me. He wanted to cripple me, to make me ineffective in the service of God. But the truth of the Bible had once again triumphed.
When I look at my picture album now, I see the “NEW ME”–
not the one captured by past sins. I am covered forever with
the ROBE of the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ!
(An excerpt from the Article “The FORGIVENESS of God“)
God may TEST His CHILDREN
but He will also PROVIDE a WAY OUT so that they can STAND UP under it…
temptation; the desire to have or do something that you know
you should avoid
enticement; the act of influencing by exciting hope or desire
lust; have a craving, appetite, or great desire for
testing; act of subjecting to experimental test in order to
determine how well something works
trial; the act of testing something to find out about it
TEST is a PROCESS designed to PURIFY & STRENGTHEN US, but God does not LEAD US to SIN
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
(James 1:13-15)
Three Sources of TEMPTATION
“For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
(1 John 2:16-17)
God will not allow US to be TEMPTED beyond our ABILITY to RESIST
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
(1Corinthians 10:13)
God’s GRACE ENABLE US to say NO to TEMPTATION
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”
(Titus 2:11-12)
God’s WORD HELPS US to meet TEMPTATION
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
(Matthew 4:1,3-4)
PRAYER strengthens US against TEMPTATION
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
(Mark 14:28)
When WE are faced with TEMPTATION
WE should RUN the other DIRECTION
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith,
love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
(2 timothy 2:22)
If WE do not yield to TEMPTATION WE will be REWARDED
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the CROWN of LIFE that God has promised to those who LOVE him.”
(James 1:12)
The Holy Spirit WARNS US
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God . . .
–2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
The Bible claims to be divinely inspired by God. In other words, what it says is what He says. And by ‘He,’ we’re not just referring to God in a general sense–but also to the Holy Spirit in a specific sense–because the Spirit is the divine agent by which the inspiration came (2 Peter 1:21).
So it stands to reason that when we read something in God’s Word, we’re actually receiving something directly from the Holy Spirit….
These warnings aren’t just coming to us from prophets and apostles. They’re coming from the Holy Spirit, who loves us enough to warn us about the pitfalls that could potentially cause us to stumble in our spiritual lives. We’ve been warned, and the responsibility rests on us to receive these warnings with a humble heart.
(An excerpt from Article “He Is Someone Who Warns“)
I Will Lift My Eyes
by Bebo Norman
God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt
Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in
I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You
God, my God, let Mercy sing
Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring
Is all of me
‘Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
‘Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together,
God So hold me now
02.26.07
MONDAY was GREAT
got up @ 5am
had my MORNING DEVOTIONS
BREAKFAST with kids
then proceeded to my INTERCESSIONS
Oh thank you dear Holy Spirit for teaching me to PRAY
I didnt know how…but you PRAY through me
HERE I AM….your willling DAUGHTER
I lay down my TIME
I lay down my STRENGTH
I lay down my PERSONAL
TEACH me Lord how to be
Your INTERCESSOR
I am WILLING…
LUNCH was scrumptious!
Achie’s 51st birthday
we had oyster cake…yummy!
chinese fresh lumpia…
I like the peanuts sprinkles!
beef with broccoli…tasty ones!
I brought a Mocha Special Birthday Cake
hope she likes it!
I went to SUPERMARKET today
did my grocery shopping @ lunchtime
everything’s going up nowadays
I paid $100+ bill on my NWA Credit Card
been putting all my card purchase on this
to avail Northwest Perks Mileage Program
they are giving 1 mile for evry $1
seem a GOOD DEAL huh?
we can get some extra Miles
for our USA TRIP on December
if God is WILLING…
we are all hoping & praying for God’s Supernatural PROVISION
for our FAMILY REUNION & CHRISTMAS VACATION in AMERICA
Oh we FERVENTLY beseech Your FAVOR & BLESSING dear Lord.
All the kids are OVEREXCITED & HOPEFULLY anticipating…
been talking about this TRIP most of our TIME TOGETHER.
its 4am…time to PARK typing!
going back to bed
DEVOTIONS at 5am later
oh dear Holy Spirit
I pray You will ENABLE me.
Thank You Lord Jesus
Thank You Heavenly Father
All PRAISES & HONOR belongs to You!
LIVING by FAITH & WALKING in God’s GRACE
“For it is by GRACE, you have been SAVED through FAITH, and this is not from yourselves, it is a GIFT from GOD, not by works, so that no one can boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8)
God is GRACIOUS…
SLOW to ANGER & ABOUNDING in LOVE & MERCY
By FAITH we RECEIVE Your LOVE O Lord Jesus Christ
By FAITH we RECEIVE Your FORGIVENESS
By FAITH we RECIEVE Your PROMISES to us
I will not forsake you for My Great Name’s sake
Because it has PLEASED Me to make you my PEOPLE…
(I Samuel 12:22)
Because you have set your LOVE for Me,
therefore I will DELIVER you…
I will set you on HIGH because
you have KNOWN My NAME.
(Psalm 91:14)
I have DELIVERED your SOUL from death
I have DELIVERED your FEET from failing
that you may WALK before GOD in the light of the living…
Says the Lord Your God Almighty….
(Psalm 56:13)
“The Lord has been MINDFUL of US; He will BLESS us, He will BLESS those who FEAR the Lord, both small & great. May the Lord GIVE you INCREASE more & more, you and your children. May you be BLESSED by the Lord who made HEAVEN & EARTH.”
(Psalm 115: 12,13b-15)
02.24.07
GOD’S CALL & PROMISE
“After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:1-9)
I BELIEVE…
I BELIEVE in GOD
I BELIEVE in YOU
I BELIEVE in the POTENTIAL that God has put in YOU
“WE can DO ALL THINGS through CHRIST who STRENGTHENS US”
(Philippians 4:13)
“We CONSECRATE ourselves, for TOMORROW God will DO AMAZING THINGS among US”
( Joshua 3:5)
I care for you!
Jesus loves you!
02.23.07
I will be Here for You
by Michael W. Smith
When you feel the sunlight fade into the cold night
Don’t know where to turn
Don’t know where to turn
And all the dreams you are dreaming seem to lose their meaning
Let me in your world
Baby let me in your world
All you need is someone who you can hold
Don’t be sad, you are not alone
Chorus
I will be here for you
Somewhere in the night
Somewhere in the night
I’ll shine a light for you
Somewhere in the night
I’ll be standing by
I will be here for you
In this world of strangers
Of cold unfriendly faces
Someone you can trust
Oh there’s someone you can trust
I’ll be your shelter
I’ll give you my shoulder
Reach out for my love
Baby reach out for my love
Call out my name and my heart will hear
I’ll be there, there is nothing to fear
*Repeat Chorus
LOVE is…
“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails….And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the GREATEST of these is LOVE.”
(1Corinthians 13: 4-8 & 13)
