"For the Lord watches over the path of the Godly" 1-6
"For the Lord declares,"I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain." 2-6
"Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.11. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!"12
Friday, May 15, 2015
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Estudo da carta aos Filipenses - Autor: Apóstolo Paulo
Carta aos Filipenses / Autor: Apóstolo Paulo
Hoje cedo, quando eu estava lendo as cartas de Paulo aos Colossenses e aos Filipenses, eu comecei a notar que ele geralmente seguia um padrão ao escrever as cartas para os irmãos na fé. Em quase todas as cartas que encontramos no Novo Testamento, o Apóstolo Paulo fazia saudações no início e no final das cartas, compartilhava com os irmãos sobre suas orações por eles, sobre seus desejos pessoais, verdades, como estava agradecido a Deus por isso ou aquilo, e finalmente compartilhava pedidos aos irmãos, ou exortações, como comportamentos que ele esperava deles, como deveriam ver as coisas de Deus e seu dia-a-dia, como deviam se portar como filhos de Deus, etc. Achei que seria interessante separar tudo isso e ler a carta novamente, como "novos olhos", tentando imaginar que ele tivesse escrito essa carta a mim, ou seja, trazendo essa carta para a minha realidade e para engrandecer o meu caminhar com Cristo. Aqui esta!
Saudações
Graça a vós, e paz da parte de Deus nosso Pai, e do Senhor Jesus Cristo (Filipenses 1:2)
A graça do Senhor Jesus Cristo seja com o vosso espírito. (Filipenses 4:23)
Orações de Paulo pelos irmãos na fé
E isto peço em oração: que o vosso amor aumente mais e mais no pleno conhecimento e em todo o discernimento, para que aproveis as coisas excelentes, a fim de que sejais sinceros, e sem ofensa até o dia de Cristo; cheios do fruto de injustiça, que vem por meio de Jesus Cristo, para glória e louvor de Deus (Filipenses 1:9-11)
De sorte que, meus amados, do modo como sempre obedecestes, não como na minha presença somente, mas muito mais agora na minha ausência, efetuai a vossa salvação com temor e tremor; porque Deus é o que opera em vós tanto o querer como o efetuar, segundo a sua boa vontade. Fazei todas as coisas sem murmurações nem contendas;para que vos torneis irrepreensíveis e sinceros, filhos de Deus imaculados no meio de uma geração corrupta e perversa, entre a qual resplandeceis como luminares no mundo,retendo a palavra da vida; para que no dia de Cristo eu tenha motivo de gloriar-me de que não foi em vão que corri nem em vão que trabalhei. (Filipenses 2:2-16)
Meu Deus suprirá todas as vossas necessidades segundo as suas riquezas na glória em Cristo Jesus. Ora, a nosso Deus e Pai seja dada glória pelos séculos dos séculos. Amém. (Filipenses 4:19-20)
Agradecimentos de Paulo a Deus
Dou graças ao meu Deus todas as vezes que me lembro de vós, fazendo sempre, em todas as minhas orações, súplicas por todos vós com alegria pela vossa cooperação a favor do evangelho desde o primeiro dia até agora, (Filipenses 1:3-5)
Pedidos de Paulo aos irmãos na fé
Somente portai-vos, dum modo digno do evangelho de Cristo, para que, quer vá e vos veja, quer esteja ausente, ouça acerca de vós que permaneceis firmes num só espírito, combatendo juntamente com uma só alma pela fé do evangelho;e que em nada estais atemorizados pelos adversários, o que para eles é indício de perdição, mas para vós de salvação, e isso da parte de Deus; (Filipenses 1:27-28)
Portanto, se há alguma exortação em Cristo, se alguma consolação de amor, se alguma comunhão do Espírito, se alguns entranháveis afetos e compaixões, completai o meu gozo, para que tenhais o mesmo modo de pensar, tendo o mesmo amor, o mesmo ânimo, pensando a mesma coisa; nada façais por contenda ou por vanglória, mas com humildade cada um considere os outros superiores a si mesmo;não olhe cada um somente para o que é seu, mas cada qual também para o que é dos outros.Tende em vós aquele sentimento que houve também em Cristo Jesus, (Filipenses 2:1-5)
Quanto ao mais, irmãos meus, regozijai-vos no Senhor. Não me é penoso a mim escrever-vos as mesmas coisas, e a vós vos dá segurança. Acautelai-vos dos cães; acautelai-vos dos maus obreiros; acautelai-vos da falsa circuncisão.Porque a circuncisão somos nós, que servimos a Deus em espírito, e nos gloriamos em Cristo Jesus, e não confiamos na carne. (Filipenses 3:1-3)
Irmãos, quanto a mim, não julgo que o haja alcançado; mas uma coisa faço, e é que, esquecendo-me das coisas que atrás ficam, e avançando para as que estão adiante, prossigo para o alvo pelo prêmio da vocação celestial de Deus em Cristo Jesus. Pelo que todos quantos somos perfeitos tenhamos este sentimento; e, se sentis alguma coisa de modo diverso, Deus também vo-lo revelará. Mas, naquela medida de perfeição a que já chegamos, nela prossigamos. Irmãos, sede meus imitadores, e atentai para aqueles que andam conforme o exemplo que tendes em nós; (Filipenses 3:13-17)
Portanto, meus amados e saudosos irmãos, minha alegria e coroa, permanecei assim firmes no Senhor, amados. Rogo a Evódia, e rogo a Síntique, que sintam o mesmo no Senhor. E peço também a ti, meu verdadeiro companheiro, que as ajudes, porque trabalharam comigo no evangelho, e com Clemente, e com os outros meus cooperadores, cujos nomes estão no livro da vida. Regozijai-vos sempre no Senhor; outra vez digo, regozijai- vos.Seja a vossa moderação conhecida de todos os homens. Perto está o Senhor. Não andeis ansiosos por coisa alguma; antes em tudo sejam os vossos pedidos conhecidos diante de Deus pela oração e súplica com ações de graças; e a paz de Deus, que excede todo o entendimento, guardará os vossos corações e os vossos pensamentos em Cristo Jesus. Quanto ao mais, irmãos, tudo o que é verdadeiro, tudo o que é honesto, tudo o que é justo, tudo o que é puro, tudo o que é amável, tudo o que é de boa fama, se há alguma virtude, e se há algum louvor, nisso pensai. O que também aprendestes, e recebestes, e ouvistes, e vistes em mim, isso praticai; e o Deus de paz será convosco. (Filipenses 4:1-9)
Verdades
Tende em vós aquele sentimento que houve também em Cristo Jesus, o qual, subsistindo em forma de Deus, não considerou o ser igual a Deus coisa a que se devia aferrar,mas esvaziou-se a si mesmo, tomando a forma de servo, tornando-se semelhante aos homens;e, achado na forma de homem, humilhou-se a si mesmo, tornando-se obediente até a morte, e morte de cruz.Pelo que também Deus o exaltou soberanamente, e lhe deu o nome que é sobre todo nome;para que ao nome de Jesus se dobre todo joelho dos que estão nos céus, e na terra, e debaixo da terra, e toda língua confesse que Jesus Cristo é Senhor, para glória de Deus Pai. (Filipenses 2:5-11)
Pois todos buscam o que é seu, e não o que é de Cristo Jesus. (Filipenses 2:21)
Posso todas as coisas naquele que me fortalece. (Filipenses 4:13)
Desejos Pessoais de Paulo
…segundo a minha ardente expectativa e esperança, de que em nada serei confundido; antes, com toda a ousadia, Cristo será, tanto agora como sempre, engrandecido no meu corpo, seja pela vida, seja pela morte.Porque para mim o viver é Cristo, e o morrer é lucro. (Filipenses 1:20-21)
Mas o que para mim era lucro passei a considerá-lo como perda por amor de Cristo; sim, na verdade, tenho também como perda todas as coisas pela excelência do conhecimento de Cristo Jesus, meu Senhor; pelo qual sofri a perda de todas estas coisas, e as considero como refugo, para que possa ganhar a Cristo,e seja achado nele, não tendo como minha justiça a que vem da lei, mas a que vem pela fé em Cristo, a saber, a justiça que vem de Deus pela fé; para conhecê-lo, e o poder da sua ressurreição e a e a participação dos seus sofrimentos, conformando-me a ele na sua morte,para ver se de algum modo posso chegar ã ressurreição dentre os mortos. (Filipenses 3:7-11)
Monday, October 4, 2010
In love with God again
I think I'm in love with God again ... like when I first met Jesus, my Savior and Lord. God is starting to stir things up again in my soul and I feel alive again, with a purpose again ... a greater purpose than what I thought I was here for ... a much greater purpose than to be a wife, a mother and a good person ... a purpose to be a Godly wife who supports her husband, a Godly mother who raises and guides her child according to God's word, and a Godly woman who impacts people's lives by the way that she lives her life ... God is teaching me that He lives in eternity and that one day for Him is like a thousand years, and that a thousand years is like one day for Him ... that He is almighty, graceful, provider, kind, patient, loving, just, righteous, merciful, strong, everlasting, everything, sufficient ... that he also mourns with those who mourns, laughs with those who laugh, and feels what we feel .. that He is a sympathetic and empathetic God, who cares for me ... who chose me so that I could chose Him over other gods .... who loved me first so that I could learn what love meant ... and could love others ... who died for me so that I could die to myself everyday on behalf of the ones I love ... who sacrificed his being on behalf of me, so that I could do the same for the ones I love (and that I don't love), even and specially when I don't want to sacrifice ... who wants the best for me, so that I can have a glimpse of His love for me ...
Today He took me to a passage in Isaiah 26:3 that says: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you". God's promise here is that He will keep in peace those whose mind is firm in Him, because he trusts in God ... the reason his mind is steadfast in God is that he trusts God ... because He trusts God, he is able to take his thoughts captive to God ... he is able to walk by faith and not by sight ... to have hope in the midst of suffering ... those whose mind are firm in God will have PEACE ...
Today He took me to a passage in Isaiah 26:3 that says: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you". God's promise here is that He will keep in peace those whose mind is firm in Him, because he trusts in God ... the reason his mind is steadfast in God is that he trusts God ... because He trusts God, he is able to take his thoughts captive to God ... he is able to walk by faith and not by sight ... to have hope in the midst of suffering ... those whose mind are firm in God will have PEACE ...
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Being a Peacemaker
So, this is how God started our time together this morning: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Mathews 5:8 "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:8 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." Mark 9:50
So, up to here, I was getting where God was trying to tell me. To be a peacemaker. Then, he made it a bit more personal and practical. He led me to Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." I thought, what does this verse have to do with the other verses about 'having peace with one another'?
So I asked God: What does that mean Lord, to submit to my husband? And this is what He told me in my Spirit: "It means to obey my commands. There is an order. You are both equal in my sight. It's like a boss and an employee relationship. Because the boss is in a position of leadership that doesn't make him more important, valued or more of a human being than the employee. It simply means that he needs to be respected as the leader, for the position that he is in. The employee must trust him and know that he oversees everything on behalf of everybody and that he is the one carrying on his shoulders the responsibility of his actions. The employee is the one who needs to try to maintain the peace between them ... do what he does best without trying to stir up things that might lead to conflict. On the other hand, the boss must value the employee, give him space to be himself, to strive at his full potential. And the relationship will grow." Then the Lord said: "Wives, be the peacemakers in your relationship with your husbands". "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:8 He continued: "Respect him as your leader. Listen to what he has to say. Ask him what his motives are. Be slow to anger, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20 "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." Hebrews 12:15 Seek peace!
I know that one are of conflict between my husband and I is how we communicate with one another. I've been reading a book about communication where the author talks about what he believes is the most effective way of communication, empathic listening. He says that "as you authentically seek to understand, as you rephrase content and reflect feeling, you give the person psychological air. As he grows in his confidence of your sincere desire to really listen and understand, the barrier between what's going on inside him and what's actually being communicated to you disappears. It opens a soul to soul flow. He is not thinking and feeling one thing and communicating another. He begins to trust you with his innermost tender feelings and thoughts. " ("The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey, pp. 249) I see the link of what God is trying to show me. That I can be a peacemaker in my marriage by changing the way that I communicate with my husband. Seek peace he says to me! It is as if I can hear a friend saying: "Treat your husband with respect and honor because God chose him to be your leader. Stop arguing with God. Trust Him for He knows what you need. If you disagree with your husband, tell him in a way that doesn't disrupt the peace between you. You are to be the peacemaker in this relationship. He is to be love. You are to be peace. Trust the Lord with all your heart when things don't go the way you think they should go. Make God your refuge, and try not to disrupt the peace".
So, up to here, I was getting where God was trying to tell me. To be a peacemaker. Then, he made it a bit more personal and practical. He led me to Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." I thought, what does this verse have to do with the other verses about 'having peace with one another'?
So I asked God: What does that mean Lord, to submit to my husband? And this is what He told me in my Spirit: "It means to obey my commands. There is an order. You are both equal in my sight. It's like a boss and an employee relationship. Because the boss is in a position of leadership that doesn't make him more important, valued or more of a human being than the employee. It simply means that he needs to be respected as the leader, for the position that he is in. The employee must trust him and know that he oversees everything on behalf of everybody and that he is the one carrying on his shoulders the responsibility of his actions. The employee is the one who needs to try to maintain the peace between them ... do what he does best without trying to stir up things that might lead to conflict. On the other hand, the boss must value the employee, give him space to be himself, to strive at his full potential. And the relationship will grow." Then the Lord said: "Wives, be the peacemakers in your relationship with your husbands". "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:8 He continued: "Respect him as your leader. Listen to what he has to say. Ask him what his motives are. Be slow to anger, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20 "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." Hebrews 12:15 Seek peace!
I know that one are of conflict between my husband and I is how we communicate with one another. I've been reading a book about communication where the author talks about what he believes is the most effective way of communication, empathic listening. He says that "as you authentically seek to understand, as you rephrase content and reflect feeling, you give the person psychological air. As he grows in his confidence of your sincere desire to really listen and understand, the barrier between what's going on inside him and what's actually being communicated to you disappears. It opens a soul to soul flow. He is not thinking and feeling one thing and communicating another. He begins to trust you with his innermost tender feelings and thoughts. " ("The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey, pp. 249) I see the link of what God is trying to show me. That I can be a peacemaker in my marriage by changing the way that I communicate with my husband. Seek peace he says to me! It is as if I can hear a friend saying: "Treat your husband with respect and honor because God chose him to be your leader. Stop arguing with God. Trust Him for He knows what you need. If you disagree with your husband, tell him in a way that doesn't disrupt the peace between you. You are to be the peacemaker in this relationship. He is to be love. You are to be peace. Trust the Lord with all your heart when things don't go the way you think they should go. Make God your refuge, and try not to disrupt the peace".
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."Romans 12:18
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Intimacy with God
"Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight." Isaiah 5:21 "Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; their men of rank will die of hunger and their masses will be parched with thirst." Isaiah 5:13 "...for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 5:24
God is showing me today that when I leave Him and walk according to my own will, I bring suffering to my life... that I was not made to go on alone ... that I have a Father in Heaven who cares for me and wants me to depend on Him .. for EVERYTHING. That "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.' " Isaiah 7:9 "Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." II Chronicles 20:20
God is showing me that I am not to trust the counsel of men, before I counsel Him ... that I am to seek Him first, and hear His voice. "The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary;" Isaiah 8:13-14 The psalmist describes how miserable his life was and how disturbed he was by trying to understand the things of this world that his mind just wouldn't conceive, until he finally approached God ... "All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning" Psalm 73:14 "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God" (16,17) When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. (21-24) God wants me to put my trust in Him, to make Him my refuge, my strong place, my hiding place. That I am to come to Him when I am anxious, or sad, or depressed with my surroundings ... when things don't go the way I think they should go .. when I feel rejected, taken for granted .. He wants me to come to Him ... where I will find comfort and peace ... where I will find healing ... and care ... and love ... He wants me to come to His sanctuary where I will find Him ... His promise is that I will find the heart of Father who loves me above all things ... who sees and feels my pain ... who understands my fears and struggles ... who sees my faults and imperfections and yet doesn't judge or reject me ... but instead, loves me .... in spite of me ... not because of me, but because of who He is ... God is love ... and not to love me would be Him going against His own nature ... I read in Psalm 27, 5: "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." That rock is Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith in Him. God wants me to say what the Psalmist says: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." Psalm 73:25-28
Not long after I met Jesus God showed me that my purpose as His daughter, is to get to know Him deeply and to proclaim his wonderful Truth to all men. He showed me that He was going to "take me to the desert", and that He would speak to my heart, and that "In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master". Hosea 2:16. God wants intimacy with me, and oneness. He showed me that without Him I cannot do anything and that I am to stay close to Him. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5 That I am His light in the world, and that I am to live in such a way that people will see what I do and will be pointed out to Him: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Mathew 5:16 That He anointed me to "preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19 That I am to share about His love to the ones who are poor in Spirit by not knowing Him, to bring liberty to the ones who are trapped in themselves, in their own world, depressed, caught up by their own destructive thoughts, prisoners of the things of this world, in bondage, blind for the things of God, who live a life separated from God, their creator. To proclaim that Jesus our Savior and Lord will return to take us home.
So today I told the Lord that I wanted to serve Him that way and that I am here for Him to do whatever He wants with me. And asked how He was going to use me in that way since I am so small, still so full of my own inadequacies and deficiencies, and struggles and weaknesses ... He told me that He wants me to walk by faith, that "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6. That "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 That Jesus is the author of my faith and that as I get close to Him I will see what my mind can't conceive. And that His power is made perfect in my weakness. It is all for His glory! He reminded me that His plans for my life are based on His love for me, and not on my conduct or person. He brought me to Jeremiah 29:11-12, a verse that I've shared with so many, and that today He wanted me to make it personal for my life: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity." Jeremiah 29:11-14
How I long to know you more and to serve you better Oh Father. I pray as the Psalmist prayed: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" Psalm 139: 23-24, so that your plans for my life can be fulfilled in you.
God is showing me today that when I leave Him and walk according to my own will, I bring suffering to my life... that I was not made to go on alone ... that I have a Father in Heaven who cares for me and wants me to depend on Him .. for EVERYTHING. That "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.' " Isaiah 7:9 "Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." II Chronicles 20:20
God is showing me that I am not to trust the counsel of men, before I counsel Him ... that I am to seek Him first, and hear His voice. "The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary;" Isaiah 8:13-14 The psalmist describes how miserable his life was and how disturbed he was by trying to understand the things of this world that his mind just wouldn't conceive, until he finally approached God ... "All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning" Psalm 73:14 "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God" (16,17) When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. (21-24) God wants me to put my trust in Him, to make Him my refuge, my strong place, my hiding place. That I am to come to Him when I am anxious, or sad, or depressed with my surroundings ... when things don't go the way I think they should go .. when I feel rejected, taken for granted .. He wants me to come to Him ... where I will find comfort and peace ... where I will find healing ... and care ... and love ... He wants me to come to His sanctuary where I will find Him ... His promise is that I will find the heart of Father who loves me above all things ... who sees and feels my pain ... who understands my fears and struggles ... who sees my faults and imperfections and yet doesn't judge or reject me ... but instead, loves me .... in spite of me ... not because of me, but because of who He is ... God is love ... and not to love me would be Him going against His own nature ... I read in Psalm 27, 5: "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." That rock is Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith in Him. God wants me to say what the Psalmist says: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." Psalm 73:25-28
Not long after I met Jesus God showed me that my purpose as His daughter, is to get to know Him deeply and to proclaim his wonderful Truth to all men. He showed me that He was going to "take me to the desert", and that He would speak to my heart, and that "In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master". Hosea 2:16. God wants intimacy with me, and oneness. He showed me that without Him I cannot do anything and that I am to stay close to Him. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5 That I am His light in the world, and that I am to live in such a way that people will see what I do and will be pointed out to Him: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Mathew 5:16 That He anointed me to "preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19 That I am to share about His love to the ones who are poor in Spirit by not knowing Him, to bring liberty to the ones who are trapped in themselves, in their own world, depressed, caught up by their own destructive thoughts, prisoners of the things of this world, in bondage, blind for the things of God, who live a life separated from God, their creator. To proclaim that Jesus our Savior and Lord will return to take us home.
So today I told the Lord that I wanted to serve Him that way and that I am here for Him to do whatever He wants with me. And asked how He was going to use me in that way since I am so small, still so full of my own inadequacies and deficiencies, and struggles and weaknesses ... He told me that He wants me to walk by faith, that "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6. That "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 That Jesus is the author of my faith and that as I get close to Him I will see what my mind can't conceive. And that His power is made perfect in my weakness. It is all for His glory! He reminded me that His plans for my life are based on His love for me, and not on my conduct or person. He brought me to Jeremiah 29:11-12, a verse that I've shared with so many, and that today He wanted me to make it personal for my life: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity." Jeremiah 29:11-14
How I long to know you more and to serve you better Oh Father. I pray as the Psalmist prayed: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" Psalm 139: 23-24, so that your plans for my life can be fulfilled in you.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Being humble before God
This is how God started our conversation this morning:
"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." Ephesians 5:17 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21 "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time". I Peter 5:5-6 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:10 "
So I asked Him "what does it mean to humble myself before you Father?" He reminded me of this verse in Deuteronomy: "Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you." Dt 8:11-16 The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, for a very long time, and God had given them liberty through Moses, who brought them out, and for 40 years they were wondering in the desert, going towards the promise land. God fed them and gave them water, and provided for all of their needs. Just like He did with me, as he took me out of bondage, out of a life where He was not a part in, where I often tried to fill the emptiness that invaded my soul with things that could never satisfy me, with foolish things from this world. He gave me eyes to see what truly matters. He gave me a deep desire inside of me to seek Him, and to know who He is. To know what His plans are for my life. To know why He created me. He gave me a meaning for my life. He brought me to His lap and told me that I am His beloved daughter and that I can call Him Daddy and know that He will always be there for me. He brought me peace, a peace that I could have never found anywhere else. He took me out of bondage, just like He did with the Israelites. And he reminded me today that humbling myself before Him means giving Him the glory for the things that He has done and does in my life everyday. Giving Him the credit. Recognizing that everything comes from Him. that I cannot do anything without Him. That He is the one who gives me strength and wisdom, and everything else for me to achieve what I intend. "You may say to yourself, My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today." Deuteronomy 8:17-18
Then I asked the Lord again: "But why do you constantly want to make me humble?" He led me to this verse: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Deuteronomy 8:2 "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." (3) I got it!! He let me live an empty life for 26 years, then He gave me food for my soul, and showed me that I cannot live "by bread alone" (feeding my physical body only), but that my soul needs to be fed everyday by a relationship with Him! I need to have food for my physical body as well as for my spirit. When Jesus was tempted in the desert Satan told him to prove that He was the Son of God by telling the stone to become bread, and Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word of God." Luke 4:4 In Isaiah I read: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in rich food. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live." (55:1-3) God brought me to the same place He took me yesterday morning, telling me that He wants me to come close to Him: "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive." (6-7) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. What's God's will? That I come to Him, that I spend time with Him, that I delight in Him! "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the" (8-11) desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 I want to know God's will for my life, but more than that, I want to know His heart!
"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." Ephesians 5:17 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21 "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time". I Peter 5:5-6 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:10 "
So I asked Him "what does it mean to humble myself before you Father?" He reminded me of this verse in Deuteronomy: "Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you." Dt 8:11-16 The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, for a very long time, and God had given them liberty through Moses, who brought them out, and for 40 years they were wondering in the desert, going towards the promise land. God fed them and gave them water, and provided for all of their needs. Just like He did with me, as he took me out of bondage, out of a life where He was not a part in, where I often tried to fill the emptiness that invaded my soul with things that could never satisfy me, with foolish things from this world. He gave me eyes to see what truly matters. He gave me a deep desire inside of me to seek Him, and to know who He is. To know what His plans are for my life. To know why He created me. He gave me a meaning for my life. He brought me to His lap and told me that I am His beloved daughter and that I can call Him Daddy and know that He will always be there for me. He brought me peace, a peace that I could have never found anywhere else. He took me out of bondage, just like He did with the Israelites. And he reminded me today that humbling myself before Him means giving Him the glory for the things that He has done and does in my life everyday. Giving Him the credit. Recognizing that everything comes from Him. that I cannot do anything without Him. That He is the one who gives me strength and wisdom, and everything else for me to achieve what I intend. "You may say to yourself, My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today." Deuteronomy 8:17-18
Then I asked the Lord again: "But why do you constantly want to make me humble?" He led me to this verse: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Deuteronomy 8:2 "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." (3) I got it!! He let me live an empty life for 26 years, then He gave me food for my soul, and showed me that I cannot live "by bread alone" (feeding my physical body only), but that my soul needs to be fed everyday by a relationship with Him! I need to have food for my physical body as well as for my spirit. When Jesus was tempted in the desert Satan told him to prove that He was the Son of God by telling the stone to become bread, and Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word of God." Luke 4:4 In Isaiah I read: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in rich food. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live." (55:1-3) God brought me to the same place He took me yesterday morning, telling me that He wants me to come close to Him: "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive." (6-7) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. What's God's will? That I come to Him, that I spend time with Him, that I delight in Him! "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the" (8-11) desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 I want to know God's will for my life, but more than that, I want to know His heart!
"Because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Friday, September 10, 2010
The true light
This morning God spoke to about His light and how He so desires me to get close to Him.
13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."Ephesians 5:13-14
Only by God's light (Jesus) we are able to see our own sin. As we get closer to Him, our sin gets on our face and we finally see that we have done, said or thought something that does not please our amazing God. As I confess my sin (agree with God of my wrongdoing), ask for His forgiveness and repent of it (turn my back away from it), I get cleaner and become more like Jesus. God's light unveil our eyes for us to see Him! (Psalms 119:18) Only God's Holy Spirit can unveil our eyes for us to see what is not so obvious in our sight.
As I get closer to Him and walk according to His will and purpose, I'll desire to be closer and closer to Him, because 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."(John 3:21) But if I continue sinning against God and living a life independent of Him I want to get further away from Him because "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (John 3:20)
The light, Jesus, came to bring us out of darkness. Out of our everyday sadness, of our problems that consume us inside, because"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:5)"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:5) "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:9-13) James says: "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8) "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."Ephesians 5:14 God is telling me to seek Him, to search His heart, that He will take me out of darkness. What an amazing promise and relief I find in our Jesus!
"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."
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