Amazed..

Godavari Bridge Image taken using Ramesh Ramaiah’s Samsung camera.

Good morning friends,

It has been one of those lazy mornings where I pray a neighbor doesn’t stop by cuz I’m still in me pjs. LOL. Course if they did stop by, my kids would open the door and welcome them in and they’d see me as I truly am so…bring it! (or maybe I’ll go get dressed…) Joshua and the two olders are helping over at Gages Lake  Bible Church. Luke, Ella and I have had a glorious morning of watching one of our favorite movies and cleaning up a bit. I was able to have time to talk to a dear friend who now lives in Texas. I love how the Lord times things exactly when I need them. I needed fellowship this morning. God knew how much…

I was wondering if you could be praying for my Mama? She has a terrible sinus infection and has not been sleeping for nearly a week now. I’m praying and praying for God to release rest and peace over her body. Would you join me? I would so appreciate that. I’m trying not to worry, but she’s my best friend…and the worry is a love transmitted into constant thought and prayer.

I think about that and wonder about God’s will in that suffering. Not sleeping is horrible. Not being able to breathe right…yuck. Where is the glory of God in suffering? His perspective is what I look for today. And the verses we are looking through are perfectly timed…

Matthew 7:

²¹ Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.

²² Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?

²³ And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].(practice lawlessness..)

²⁴ So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.

²⁵ And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand.

²⁷ And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it.

These verses are full of contrasts. Those who do the will of the Father and those who disregard His will. Those who listen and obey and those who do not…

 …he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Let’s look for some more verses that “flesh” out the will of the Father..

Romans 12: ² Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Which might be suffering, pain, loss…yet God’s will is eternal and our lives, if found in Christ, are eternal bound.

1 Thessalonians 4:³ For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice,⁴ That each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his own body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honor,⁵ Not [to be used] in the passion of lust like the heathen, who are ignorant of the true God and have no knowledge of His will,

1 Thessalonians 5: ¹⁸ Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

I give thanks that Mom can pray at all hours. I give thanks that she is with me and is so devoted to my family. I give thanks that she has been married to my Dad for forty some years. I give thanks that she can continue on, and that God will heal her, it may not be until she looks into the eyes of Jesus, but my Mom doesn’t complain. I’m amazed.  I’m pretty honed at the art of complaining and there will be days when I get off the phone with her and realize..I never asked how she was doing…sigh.

Hebrews 13:²¹ Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).

So we are getting what His will is, right? By no means a complete list, but a good start! 🙂 Now let’s look in depth at “Practice lawlessness).

Practice (ergazomai): practice is in the present tense which denotes continual action. (p.115, SOTM, @Precept Int’l)

1) to work, labour, do work

2) to trade, to make gains by trading, “do business”

3) to do, work out

a) exercise, perform, commit

b) to cause to exist, produce

4) to work for, earn by working, to acquire

lawlessness (anomia)

1) the condition of without law

a) because ignorant of it

b) because of violating it

2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

To work for, work out contempt for the law, violating the law, to work for wickedness…gag.

I do not want to be known as a foolish woman. I want none of that, thank you very much. Lord, I want to build my house on the rock. I’ll ask the Lord…help me stand! Please listen to this song..I’ve included the lyrics:

 wake up to another day
I don’t know if I can face
All the fears, that is tearing me down
Yea, I’m trying to be brave
But I’m afraid, about to fade
I wanna stand but I don’t know how

I look up and all I see is Your love holding me
When I feel like giving up
When my heart is hurt too much
Feels like I’ve reached the end
No, I won’t turn and run
This battle will be won
When I’ve done all I can
I stand stand stand
I stand stand stand

Some days I lose my place
It’s a fight to keep my faith
But You are with me, I am not alone, no
But all around my work is late
Toss like an ocean wave
You are my rock and the storm clouds blow

I look up and all I see is Your love holding me
When I feel like giving up
When my heart is hurt too much
Feels like I’ve reached the end
No, I won’t turn and run
This battle will be won
When I’ve done all I can
I stand stand stand
I stand stand stand

On Your promise, I will stand
Oh look the ground is sinking sand
On Your promise, I will stand
Oh look the ground is sinking sand
Sinking sand oh who woooh
It’s sinking sinking, yea ye

When I feel like giving up
When my heart is hurt too much
Feels like I’ve reached the end
No, I won’t turn and run
This battle will be won, yea yea
So I’ll stand stand stand
I stand stand
I’ll stand stand stand http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/brittnicole/stand.html

Let’s look at one more word as we finish this beautiful study by Precept Ministries International. How I thank God to finish this study! Such encouragement…lets look at this..the affect it had on the crowds…

Amazed…

1) to strike out, expel by a blow, drive out or away

2) to cast off by a blow, to drive out

a) commonly, to strike one out of self-possession, to strike with panic, shock, astonish

3) to be struck with amazement, astonished, amazed

Literally, the crowds were blown away! Astonished! How about you? How does it feel that you love the greatest Teacher EVER? The crowds were struck! You can be filled with the Spirit of God causing you to walk in wisdom and light and truth. How I wish I could hold your hand and show you what He has shown me over these past few years of pain and suffering that it was all worth it to know Him. And I don’t even pretend to know Him well…So imperfectly do I follow my King! Yet, His love is so powerful so filling!

Love you all, can’t wait to meet you in heaven…:) Pray on. Pray on. Oh, and btw, I’m starting up 1 Peter with Precepts on Monday..join me?