About Family Animosity

Recently a friend shared that she is deeply troubled by the lack of love and charity one family member routinely shows to others within the family. The current cause of this relation’s animosity is a male cousin’s choice of a spouse; precisely that the spouse is of a different ethnicity.

Now there’s several major points for concern here but we are putting the focus where my friend did, on her relative’s seeming inability to love her family the way a self-professed believer ought to – and because I too have experienced similar issues within my own family, and see it among others as well.

Why can folks, even believers, be more loving to non-relatives than to those within the family?

The saying “Charity begins at home” seem an appropriate life principle in this instance, however, since this is really not Scriptural we will go to the principles we can depend upon – the WORD of GOD.

JESUS tells us that the greatest of all commandments is that we love GOD and love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31)” Can we genuinely love our neighbor if we are not loving “ourselves,” considering “ourselves” as being our parents, siblings, nephews, nieces, even cousins? Should “ourselves” not be the people with whom we share common DNA, blood-types and wombs; the people with whom we shared bed covers, bath water, and bed-time stories?

Why do we grow up and disconnect so severely as to arrive at a place where we feel only resentment, hostility, and downright hatred for our relatives? Why are we involved in so many long-standing feuds, rivalries, unresolved quarrels, feuding, and childish bickering with our own flesh and blood?

The Scriptures teach us that we live and build our lives best as families.

We have Biblical evidence that GOD created families to be building blocks to human society, and as such, the family structure should be nurtured and protected.

• When Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him, God asks Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" Although Cain's response, "Am I my brother's keeper?," was meant to be facetious, the implication is “yes”, Cain was expected to be Abel's keeper and vice versa. Cain failed and GOD punished him by separating him from the rest of the family. (Genesis 4)
• When God saved Noah from the flood, his wife, his sons and his sons’ wives were also included in the ARK. GOD kept the family unit together to build anew. Later when Noah’s son Ham shamed his father, GOD was displeased and Ham was punished.  (Genesis 6:18).
• When God called Abraham out of his ancestral home Haran to go to a new land, He called him and his entire family, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran. (Genesis 12:4-5).
• When the prostitute Rahab agreed to help Joshua and the Nation of Israel conquer the city of Jericho, she had one stipulation that the lives of all her family would be spared, and not just herself – “my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them…” (Joshua 2:12)
• When GOD gave Moses the Ten Commandments He included instructions related to the family – the fifth commandment is “Honor your father and mother.”
• The Apostle Paul talks about what Christian homes ought to look like – that children should obey their parents but parents should also not provoke children to anger by the way they treat them. Ephesians 6:1-4 and Colossians 3:20-21.

Did JESUS love families?

We might think it’s contradictory to His teaching that JESUS encouraged His disciples and others to leave their families behind and follow Him instead. But JESUS never disregarded families; His best friends in all the Gospel narratives were the family unit of Mary, Martha and Lazarus; the latter He raised from the dead and gave the women back their only brother and protector.

 JESUS also loved children which is a clear indication that He loved families.

It is safe to infer that JESUS loved His family despite the fact that He chose His ministry over them. JESUS loved His mother. The first miracle JESUS performed in the ministry was because His mother asked Him to – He turned the water to wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2.)  One of JESUS’ last acts while He was on the cross was to ask the disciple John to look after His mother. (John 19:26-27).

It is an anomaly to say we love GOD and GOD’s people and not be able to love our natural family.

Scripture asks the question, if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 1 John 4:20.

The Apostle Paul gives us 10 characteristics of genuine love in 1 Corinthians 13: 

1. patient and kind;
2. not jealous or boastful or proud or rude;
3. not demanding of its own way;
4. not irritable;
5. keeps no record of being wronged;
6. rejoices whenever the truth wins out;
7. never gives up;
8. never loses faith;
9. always hopeful;
10. endures through every circumstance.

By showing this type of love within our natural family structure, we build and nurture strong and healthy support systems within that will extend outward naturally.

Then we can fulfill JESUS’ commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves – in spirit and in truth!

Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind…Proverbs 11:29

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy and Triune GOD, YOU are the GOD family, Father, SON and Holy Spirit who are always in one accord. As ONE, YOU created, YOU loved and YOU save. Father, teach us to live by YOUR example, to honor and love our natural families so we can obey YOUR commandment to love our spiritual families. Forgive us for claiming YOU NAME but living other than YOUR will and command as children. Father I pray for every family that is in conflict while professing to love YOU; that they will come to an end of selfishness and begin to show patience and kindness, put away jealousy and irritability, give in and not demand “rights”; that they endure, keep the faith and never give up! Cause us to love like CHRIST did on the cross, even after we sinned against His Father. Cause us to imitate HIM, the way, the truth, and the life. We acknowledge that all glory, all honor, all dominion and power belong to YOU for ever and ever. We pray all in JESUS’ NAME.

Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Deciding GOD's Way

“God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.” ― Augustine of Hippo

So many of us (yes, myself included…) make decision-making a more stressful activity than it out to be.. This is also true for GOD’s children since we want so badly to excel in the eyes of our fellow believers, and the world.

We fear being judged for doing the wrong thing, so we agonize over taking action and bring ourselves to a state of paralysis by analysis – over-analyzing and over-thinking a situation, unable to make a decision or take action. The result is a paralyzed outcome – we end up with nothing but feelings of frustration. Add to that guilt, if we have disappointed someone who is depending on us.

On the other hand, we may jump in at the very last minute with a hasty, anxiety-ridden decision and end up with ineffective and poor outcomes.

Either way, we should not allow the fear of being judged to be an excuse to procrastinate.

There is a healthy way to make decisions and once we can lose our ego long enough to accept that no decision is going to be perfect we can live happily with our choices.

As children of GOD, our decisions must honor GOD. Whether it be a personal matter or involve the Body of CHRIST, there are some Biblical principles that we should engage in to ensure GOD-honoring decisions:

1. PRAY – We are instructed to talk to GOD first about everything so He can lead us along the correct path (Proverbs 3:6). We also ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5).
2. CONSULT THE WORD – We must ensure that choices/decisions we are thinking of making are in agreement with the WORD of GOD and if any part falls short be prepared to make adjustments or revise. GOD’s WORD gives guidance, as a lamp to our feet (Psalm 119:105.)
3. SEEK GODLY COUNSEL – We are the Body of CHRIST, all of us are working towards the common goal of holiness. Having a consultation with a believing friend or family member is wise; consulting with a pastor or other trusted church leader might even be better, based on the circumstances. “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22
4. DO RESEARCH – On the practical side, we must be informed and learn as much as possible about the issues involved and any options – we ask questions of persons with expertise and experience so we have as much data as possible for consideration and evaluation. Let the wise listen and increase their learning; let the person of understanding receive guidance. Proverbs 1:5.  

GOD is the only omniscient being and capable of perfect planning and decision-making.

No decision is going to be flawless and work perfectly, but if we make our decision with prayer, sound wisdom, and biblical counsel, we do not turn become paralyzed with fear of making a wrong move but continue to trust that GOD will bring us through any rough spots and take care of the outcome.

We admit it if we have taken a wrong turn, ask GOD to help us make the correct adjustments, and change direction accordingly. GOD will direct us and bring us to a healthy place

.

Prayer is where we begin the decision-making process and prayer is what will keep us throughout. There is no time that we do not need to have GOD at our side and when we get to the finish line, we give all honor and glory to Him since it is not by our own efforts that we succeed.

“…pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We are most susceptible to a state of paralysis by analysis when we trust only in ourselves. The reason? We have no power, talent, or genius of our own, it is Almighty GOD who blesses our efforts, and gives us strength to endure, and His power for success.

We make biblical principles our decision-making beacon and we can accomplish much, with almost perfect results.

“….in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD, Mighty and Everlasting Father. With all our hearts we trust in YOU and not our imperfect understanding. We submit every plan, thought, and idea to YOUR grace and ask for favor to help us make correct choices in our lives and on behalf of others so we can act with the wisdom YOU give. We thank YOU for direction and guidance, and cause us to trust that YOU will never lead us astray but always to a good outcome and great success. Thank YOU for forgiving us for even thinking that we have any wisdom of our own. Through YOU alone we can live in abundance. We acknowledge that all glory, all honor, all dominion and power belong to YOU for ever and ever. We pray all in JESUS’ NAME.

Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Get Some Rest!

Here’s a new thought for some Believers – even the most mature among us tire and the resolution is plain and simple. STOP and REST!

Instead we compare ourselves to others, self-reproach and guilt ourselves into pushing harder, praying for more strength, telling ourselves to be stronger, have more faith and push through.

NO! What we are experiencing is not a Spiritual malaise or laziness or shirking our responsibility to the Body of CHRIST – it’s the human condition.

Because we are frail our minds and bodies get worn out and JESUS is saying, everyone will be better served if we "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:31. When He issued the invitation to all who are weary and burdened to come and rest. He included Believers as well. (Matthew 11:28)

GOD rested from His labors. Genesis 2:2.

There comes a time for all of us when we must RSVP to JESUS’ invitation and go with Him to a place of quietness and rest, for as long as He lets us stay. Allow Him to soothe us in lush green pastures, lead us beside quiet streams and replace our desert place with a thirst-quenching watering hole. 

Then our souls are refreshed and we will be ready to get back on board, with joy!.

 “Never, never did CHRIST send a heavy-laden one to work; never, never did He send a hungry one, a weary one, a sick or sorrowing one away on any service.” James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)

GOD never asks us to labor for Him out of our depletion but invites us to take His rest and the “free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17), when we need them.

Take the challenge!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Mighty and Everlasting Father, in YOUR wisdom YOU provide for our frailty and all that we need for a fruitful and joy-filled life so we do not become weary and discouraged in our service. YOU give us time to rest from our labors as YOU rested from the work of creation. Thank YOU, Father, for reminding us that YOU are not a hard task-master but a loving and kind Father. To YOU we hold up our cup, fill it up LORD with enough refreshing to share. All glory, all honor, all dominion and power to YOU for ever and ever. In JJESUS’ NAME we pray!  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Lift Up Your Head!

“….do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3: 16-17

At a recent ladies Bible study this passage of Scripture from Zephaniah 3 was the basis for our opening prayer. We also had a brief discussion of the text – we looked at how well it expresses the Father’s attitude towards His chosen, especially when we are discouraged by life circumstances.

We agreed that when Believers are in distress so overwhelming that our “hands hang limp,” when we are too weakened by sorrows to initiate a defense of our own, this Scripture is a good place to camp out and draw comfort and strength.

   

We know that GOD is the one positive constant in life. Because immutability is one of His attributes, GOD cannot change; we can trust what He tells us in Zephaniah 3 and allow His WORD to give us peace and restore our strength.

For as long as our situation remains, as well as to encourage others, we can be sure of the facts summarized in this Scripture passage, and also explore dozens more that support them just as well:

GOD is happy in our company and watches over every aspect of our existence with care.

We are created in GOD’s own image (Genesis 1:31) and He takes great delight in making sure that we are cared for, have an abundant life and prosper since He is magnified when we do (Psalm 35:27.)

• GOD never leaves us or forsakes us but walks with us through our valleys; He knows where we are every moment – His eyes follow us everywhere; if we quiet our spirits we will know His presence. Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 23; 2 Chronicles 16:9.
• GOD knows even the number of hairs on our heads, nothing is lost to us and He is not aware of it. He draws even nearer when we are brokenhearted and weeps with us and encamps His angels about us. Luke 12:7; Psalm 34.
• GOD enables us to rest at night and lifts up our hung down heads. Psalm 3.

GOD is the Mighty Warrior who wages war on our behalf and teaches us how to be victorious.

As children of GOD we are precious to our Father who makes us strong when we need strength and protects from harm (2 Thessalonians 3:3.)

• GOD will teach us how to fight Psalm 144; and will do battle for us. He is Johavah-nissi our victory. Exodus 17.
• Nothing is too hard for GOD Jeremiah 32:27; Luke 18:27; He is our Fortress, our Shield, our Refuge, our Deliverer, and our Salvation Psalm 18; 
• All Power belong to GOD Psalm 62.

GOD loves us perfectly.

We can take great comfort in the fact that GOD loves each of us as if there is but one of us and He never judges arbitrarily (Psalm 86:15.)

• We are precious to GOD and honored; He gave His SON for us. Isaiah 43:4; John 3:16.
• GOD does not take pleasure in our destruction Ezekiel 18:23; 31-32.
• GOD’s love is steadfast and forever. Psalm 136:26.
• God so loved us that he gave his only Son for us, while we were still His worst enemy. John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4-6. 

Child of GOD, we need never feel discouraged or afraid for long if we make these facts our focus instead of our fears.

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD, Mighty and Everlasting Father. Thank you for being always near to us, especially in times of greatest need; thank you for being our glory and the one who lifts up our heads! Thank you for reminding us how loved and how unique we are among other creations – that YOU created us in YOUR own image and watch over every moment of our lives with delight. Thank you for being our Johavah-nissi who holds up a standard over us so the enemy knows YOU have already won the battles for us. Thank you for our goodness, peace and joy which YOU give to us through JESUS, who is the embodiment of YOUR enduring love for us. Thank YOU ABBA for all that YOU are and do…to you we give all glory, all honor, all dominion and power for ever and ever, and we pray all in JESUS’ NAME.

Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

The Disease of Spiritual Pride, Conclusion – Healing

Alas, how much pride the best have in their hearts! It is the worst part of the body of sin and death; the first sin that ever entered into the universe and the last that is rooted out. It is God’s most stubborn enemy! From Jonathan Edwards’ Seven Signs of Spiritual Pride: Undetected Spiritual Pride

Scripture has this to say in part about GOD’s attitude towards the proud –  He despises, detests, opposes, destroys, punishes, rebukes, scatters, and separates Himself from such. Nothing positive here!  

• The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, the LORD God of hosts has declared: "I loathe the arrogance of Jacob.” Amos 6:8
• He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. Luke 1:51

While the proud are an abomination to GOD, He adores the humble and bestows on them grace, favor, riches, honor and, best of all, righteousness through His Son.

To serve with humility is to serve like JESUS who, though He was GOD (John 1:1&14; 10:30), chose to become a servant and Savior to the world, took on the nature of common man and went to the cross in our place as the atoning sacrifice for our sin. (Philippians 2:6-8). GOD honors those who honor His SON.

Believers can be dangerously unaware of spiritual pride.

Jonathan Edwards describes spiritual pride as our secret enemy – “…because of the nature of spiritual pride, it is the most secret of all sins. There is no other matter in which the heart is more deceitful and unsearchable and there is no other sin in the world that men are so confident in. The very nature of it is to work self-confidence and drive away any suspicion of any evil of that kind.”

Spiritual pride produces a false confidence within us and hides the evil inherent in it so well, so as to deceive us into thinking that we are offering our best service to GOD when, in truth, we are dishonoring everything that He is.

Fortunately, we have a Father who loves us and is the GOD who sees and knows everything about us – El Roi is HIS NAME. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13.)
If we belong to GOD, He will rescue us even from our secret faults.

Scripture tells us that “The Lord knows those who are his;, and Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2:19. When the Holy Spirit reveals to us what is buried in our hearts, to correct our sinful behavior, we ought to listen and act immediately. 

If we truly love GOD we want to avoid becoming hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:7-19).

The path to serving with humility, joy and truth.

There is but one way to restore a broken relationship and heal a transgression against GOD – confession, repentance, praise and prayer; and this is what got me over.Once I became aware of what I had become in GOD’s eyes. I confessed my sin of pride and repented for the strange fire I had been offering to Him that had grieved His Holy Spirit. 

For weeks I sought GOD’s heart to heal mine but being mindful that nothing of my own would be enough, I gave back to GOD what I could have confidence in, that which was His, the promises in His WORD. I asked HIM to be true to Himself and to –

• Show me all the sins lurking in my heart and cleanse me from hidden faults (Psalm 19)
• Continue to search me and show me when (not if) I begin to stray again and lead me back to Him (Psalm 139)
• Set a guard over my mouth and keep my heart from all evil (Psalm 141)
• Cleanse me of my unrighteousness and wash me of my sin (Psalm 51)
• Teach me wisdom to recognize my own desires and temptations; to speak less and listen more; to be a doer of His word and not just a hearer (James 1)
• Give me understanding according to His word so I can love His Law. (Psalm 119)
• Strengthen me with power through His Spirit in my inner being, so that CHRIST may dwell in my heart through faith and fill me love that surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 4)

And so restoration begins...

Since GOD cannot deny Himself He will not reject a broken contrite spirit (Psalm 51). GOD is patient with us because He wants none to be destroyed and everyone to repent. His desire is for us to be healed from our sin-sickness; and so we shall be, if we listen and obey.

Know that as long as we are in these bodies we are vulnerable to failure.

“The old nature never does improve, it is as earthly, and sensual, and devilish in the saint of eighty years of age as it was when first he came to Christ.”  ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

 Satan hates GOD and he hates those who love GOD and wish to serve Him faithfully. His mission daily is to devise ways to deceive us into sinning against the Father. Scripture warns us to, Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Sin devours our trust in GOD, destroys our faith and puts a wedge of deceit between us and our Father. Our only sure-fire weapon against the enemy’s fiery darts of temptation is GOD’s WORD and constant prayer..

… if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 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 endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

We will never be good enough, or strong enough spiritually on our own but there is ONE who is all of that; JESUS who our Father sent to save us. If we are serious about putting spiritual pride aside to become acceptable servants of GOD, we must take our focus off ourselves and fix our eyes on Him.

JESUS, our model for living and serving in grace and truth.

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our good GOD and faithful Father. YOU, O LORD are good, YOUR unfailing love continues forever, and YOUR faithfulness continues to each generation. Because YOU first loved us YOU gave YOUR SON who suffered and died for our sinful pride and arrogance. Father, teach us to be more like HIM, a humble and meek servant, ready to give ourselves for others, not for us but for YOUR NAME and YOUR renown. We are grateful that YOU are patient with us, warning us by YOUR Spirit and waiting to reconcile us back to your grace.  Father, we thank YOU for healing us of the disease of pride, forgiving our sins and redeeming our lives from the darkness and into your marvelous light, so we can be called children, through JESUS CHRIST, our Redeemer and LORD, in whose precious NAME we ask all things. To Him be all honor and glory!  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

The Disease of Spiritual Pride – Part 1

It has been the manner of spiritually proud persons to speak of almost everything they see in others in the most harsh, severe language. It is frequent with them to say of other’s opinion, conduct, advice, coldness, silence, caution, moderation, prudence, etc. that they are from the devil or from hell. Jonathan Edwards on Fault-finding and Spiritual Pride

I suffered from the worst case of presumptuous spiritual pride until the Holy Spirit convicted me.

How I was made aware of this fault within myself.

Several years ago I became a volunteer counselor at a Christian-based non-profit crisis pregnancy ministry which provided free clinical and social services aid to women. The client base was young, single, and often abortion-minded, some of whom were repeats with a history stretching from the teen years to young adulthood. Central to the ministry’s goal was to lead women and their families to a new life in CHRIST.

The clinic policy was to have at least two volunteers working together, to begin each shift with prayer and be a support and knowledge base for each other so as to provide the maximum benefit to clients. Often, we would share the names of difficult cases with each other and pray for these on our own time.

About a year into my service I became aware of a dissatisfaction within myself – I couldn’t say that any specific incident triggered it but gradually it became clear to me that it was related to the counseling ministry. 

To my mind, I was doing everything right – I gave generously of my time, was kind to clients, prayed with them, did follow-ups on my own time to find and offer extras to enhance our service to clients and their unborn babies.

My reputation as a good volunteer was solid. Until the Holy Spirit exposed me to myself – showed me that man may look at the outside and be pleased but GOD, the Father, looks at the heart and what He saw in mine did not at all please Him. 

GOD showed me that I was ministering from a spirit of pride and I was hurting the heart of my Father. UGH! I was crushed!

Everything I did was commendable to others but on the inside I wasn’t loving and GOD-honoring as one should be in ministry. Instead I was ministering with a harsh spirit – self-righteous, blaming, criticizing, fault-finding, and prideful. Seeing my clients as less than and me as their superior savior.

Pride was the foundation of the ugliness I saw in myself and the key to our failure as Believers. It is what happens when we allow the enemy to flood our hearts with a false enjoyment of our own self-importance and drown out the loving kindness of the ONE to whom that distinction rightly belong.

I saw that I wasn't truly listening to clients’ distress but was presumptuous in giving “good” advice with no real empathy attached. I began to recognize that in discussing cases with other counselors my tone was disrespecting and my focus was on deficiencies only. I assessed everyone’s issue according to my own preconceived ideas and expectations of what was acceptable, and my own definition of “goodness.”

Until we walk in total obedience to GOD’s Law we are not true disciples and are poor examples of Believers.

People make very poor gods!

To GOD be the glory, what I very inadequately attempted to be to others in His name, GOD became to me in truth! Mercifully and lovingly, He showed me the error of my ways and gave me no rest until I repented and asked for His help to change my heart and thus my attitude.

Such irony that when we become the repentant we ask for and need the same grace we deny others. The love of restoration we don’t allow others to see in the Father through us is the same love that He freely gives to us so that we can be fully restored and reconciled back to Him.

JESUS confirms for us the greatest of GOD’s commandment in the Law, that we: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40.

All that we are and do in GOD’s name and for His kingdom must be tightly wrapped up within what is expressed in these quotations – love for GOD and love for others.

First John 4:7-21 tells us why our claim to be children of GOD who love our Father can be verified only by our love for others:

• GOD is love
• Whoever does not love does not know God...
• This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
• ….since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
• ….if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
• We love because he first loved us.
• Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.
• Whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

Scripture also tells us two other important facts about our identity as GOD’s children:

• In this world we are like Jesus. 1 John 4:17
• …we not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18.

We represent JESUS to the world so we live like JESUS, the Word (who) became flesh and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) We love in word and deed and with a pure heart.

How did I get to a place of joy in ministering with true humility and love?

To be continued…

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our good GOD and faithful Father. Thank YOU for YOUR goodness, mercy and grace. Thank YOU for a love beyond all understanding that caused YOU to give YOUR only SON as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Thank YOU that we can love because YOU are LOVE. Thank YOU for JESUS’ who, despite being one with His Father, He did not use His divine power to appear greater but humbled Himself and became a servant for us. Forgive us for prideful behavior which grieves YOUR HOLY SPIRIT; remind us that YOU alone have the authority to exalt. We thank YOU for healing us of the disease of pride, forgiving our sins, crowning us with loving kindness and redeeming our lives from the pit of darkness through JESUS CHRIST, our Savior and LORD; to Him we give all honor and glory and in His precious NAME we pray!  

Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Rest for Our Souls

Without a doubt, we are experiencing times that are trying to men’s souls!

Heavy monsoon rains unleash floods and landslides across Nepal, India and Bangladesh last week, at about the same time that Hurricane Harvey unleashed its fury upon the city of Houston, burying it under tons of gallons of flood waters.

Before folks could draw breath, the 400-mile wide category 5 Hurricane Irma, following right on Harvey’s heels, roared and slashed its way through the Caribbean Leeward Islands in its path and is now making landfall in Southern U.S. States, as of this writing.

Even as Harvey and Irma continue to wreak havoc on people’s lives, we are receiving warnings about new weather patterns in formation that could repeat the same destructive path as these two.

Meanwhile, other news reports tell us that dozens of wildfires have flared up and are raging across the Pacific Northwest this week, blanketing the skies with opaque smoke from the Cascades to the coast and raining ash down on cars, streets and people.

As if this isn’t enough, people in Mexico had thousands of their homes and public buildings devastated by one of the strongest earthquakes felt there, and in Guatemala as well, in a century, measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale. There is also fear of a tsunami flooding backlash.

In all this, millions of people have been displaced, jobs and livelihoods obliterated, and hundreds have died.

Recent natural disasters aside, the western world has become a frequent target of terror attacks that kill and maim innocent people just going about their daily lives. Living with terrorists’ threats is now a normal part of life for many.

People are weary to the very core of ourselves!

The reporting of bad news over every type of media is relentless and many are admitting to a pervasive sadness brought about by the barrage of suffering we witness first hand. Seeing peoples’ homes and businesses destroyed by earthquake, Hurricane and fire, and entire islands in the Caribbean obliterated has affected many deeply.

Not so amazingly, we are experiencing a greater move towards GOD and the people of GOD now. Oh, there is the usual bitter murmuring of “Where is GOD?” but that question is decidedly dominated by the heartfelt cries, “We need JESUS!” and “Please pray!” 

People who never seemed to care that much about, think of or mention GOD before are seeking Him, both on their own as well as reaching out to those who know and serve Him. People are asking for miraculous interventions – acknowledging by their action that when we are as stressed out by life troubles, as so many are now, we can only get restoration from GOD.

 

It's time to tune out the noise and refocus our attention.

As human beings we are here to care for and support each other during times of difficulty. However, there are times when we are not enough for each other. When souls are as overwhelmed as they are now, human effort alone is insufficient to quell the anxiety, confusion, fear, helplessness, frustration, loss, grief and sorrow – and similar emotions that cause a leaden weariness deep down in our souls. We each are living with a quiet dread about the future, and the unknown – What next? Where next?

In these times only the One who gave life to the Universe can restore life to our souls – the Creator GOD who while the earth was formless and void said “Let there be” and there has been ever since. That for which we are all yearning for soul vitality is personal; we need individual, one-on-one intimacy with the Source of true life.  

The one thing sufficient to restore soul peace and quiet our inner turmoil is immersion in GOD’s WORD and the manifestation of life on the earth which –

Gave life from the beginning 1 John 1:1; Prov. 3:1; is full of the Spirit of life John 6:63; is His breath…. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; is living and divides soul and spirit…Heb. 4:12; is medicine for the whole body.. Prov. 4:20-22; lives forever Matt. 24:35; and became life and lived among us. John 1:14

Get alone with JESUS.

In John 16:6 JESUS tells His disciples that He is “the life” and Revelation 19:13 tells us that JESUS is the WORD of GOD. These divine natures are synonymous. JESUS is the original source of life described here – In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD…. In (JESUS/the WORD) was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:1-4

JESUS Himself issued a personal invitation to ALL who are weary and burdened to come to Him to find rest for our souls. (Matthew 11:28-29) This is not a corporate invitation but individual. Each of us are unique and carry our own form of soul sickness – there is no “one size fit all” solution. JESUS, who is the giver of life knows what each of us needs and will provide it with gentleness and humility.

The medicine source is the same, but the cure is unique to each of us.

On our own we must seek out the WORD.

• …you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deut. 4:29
• Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1
• Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2
• …ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
• Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God…Psalm 42:11
• For you created my inmost being….Psalm 139:14
• You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you… Psalm 63:1
• Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being… Psalm 103:1
• The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. Psalm 19:7
• HE leads me beside quiet waters. Psalm 23:2
• In peace I will lie down and sleep…Psalm 4:8

From Genesis to Revelation the WORD and the LIFE fills us with new infusions of His own love, joy and peace.

With grace and truth JESUS will restore and energize our souls again.

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—I whom you have delivered. Psalm 71:23

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our gracious GOD and faithful Father; YOU by whom all things were created and to whom all things belong, YOUR people are weary and worn out; many are afraid, confused feel hopeless and are sorrowing. We come to YOU, our only hope for healing of sick and damaged souls and we ask for an infusion of true and lasting joy, peace. JESUS give us joy, not as the world gives, as He has overcome the world and all of its pain. Deliver our souls from being cast down and cause us to remember that the LORD still reigns supreme. All raging storms, fires and shaking earth are things that in the end will work out for our good and YOUR glory. Father, we thank YOU for your continuing benefits; in the midst of it all YOU forgive our sins, crown us with loving kindness and redeem our lives through JESUS CHRIST, our soul salvation, and our LORD, in whose precious NAME we pray!  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Since We're Precious to GOD

Much of North America and Europe are already seeing signs that the lazy, hazy days of summer are ending. Before we know it, ‘Ole Man Winter will be here, a time of year that many people dread, and not just because of the freezing temperatures and hazardous travel conditions that come with it..

To my expressions of joy at the cooler morning temps this past week, I got this response from a family member, “I hate this time of year – I am already beginning to feel ‘It’!” Not an expression of pleasure! “IT,” for this individual and others, is commonly known us “the winter “blahs” or “the winter blues,” the medical terminology is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – and these folks are looking forward to "IT."

Symptoms of SAD include feelings of depression or deep unhappiness which can range from mild to severe, and it is associated with changes in seasons, as well as the cold and darkness of winter. In its severest form SAD sufferers feel hopeless or worthless with some even having frequent thoughts of death or suicide. SAD sufferers can also show abnormal irritability, and a desire to sleep and eat more, resulting in weight gain

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A range of other physical and psychological symptoms are listed by the Mayo Clinic of the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. The institution advises SAD patients not to just brush off these feelings or try to tough it out on their own but to get medical help. Treatment is available to relieve symptoms and improve sufferers’ quality of life.

Should a child of GOD with this condition respond like everyone else?

Believers are not immune to diseases of any kind and could also be afflicted with SAD and also manifest any degree of known symptoms. The response of any with a SAD diagnosis should be to take full advantage of available medical assistance.

Ultimately GOD is our healer, but He does allow our healing through science and medicine. GOD is the one who makes man’s minds and gives talent, ability and resources to all people so they can learn about the world in which they live, including what He reveals about science and medicine. This and all knowledge belongs to and comes from GOD alone, and is for the benefit all people, especially those who are His.

"Who has put wisdom in the innermost being; Or given understanding to the mind?” Job 38:36

For wisdom and power belong to Him. "…He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. Daniel 2:20-22

Natural and the supernatural resources are controlled by GOD but He makes all accessible to us, except for that which He chooses to keep secret. (Deuteronomy 29:29). Thus, as we seek and accept medical advice and therapies we ought also to seek GOD’s WORD, pray, and ask for prayers and support from the family of GOD.

Treatment for SAD varies based on symptoms and severity and may include either, or a combination of, light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications. In a consumer information bulletin the Mayo Clinic recommends SAD sufferers also, “Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.” This is where the children of GOD have a distinct advantage over non-believers – we have access to GOD’s supernatural sources of healing.

A daily dose of GOD’s WORD with the peace and comfort it contains is the ultimate Mood Regulator.

A depressed person may have feelings of sadness, worthlessness and guilt, all emotions that are contradictory to what GOD desires for His children – which is joy, a rich and abundant life in CHRIST JESUS and forgiveness. How do we reconcile these opposites? We drink daily of GOD’s WORD – the spiritual potion that He prescribes for all who are His, and yield to its healing power.

Every WORD of GOD is meant to remind us of His great love for us, how priceless we are to Him, and to what great lengths He has gone to ensure we will forever be with Him.

• GOD loved us first and loves us still, enough to send His own Son to die for us while we were still His enemies: This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10; John 3:16; Romans 6:8.
• GOD delights in us: For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Psalm 149:4; Zephaniah 3:17; Psalm 104
• GOD made us each unique, individual, and one-of-a-kind: “…you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful..” Psalm 139:13-14; Isaiah 64:8; 1 Peter 2:9; Psalm 119:73-74.
• We are GOD’s masterpieces, made in His image, and called to live out our God-given identity as his children: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10; Genesis 1: 26-27; Isaiah 14:27; Romans 8:31; Matthew 5:48.
• We are sons and daughters of the Most High GOD: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18; Romans 8:16; John 1:12; 1 John 3:2.

The Holy Spirit causes these truths to go deep into our hearts and minds to bring soul healing comfort and give us strength to turn away from self-destructive emotions and embrace ones that GOD affirms.

When GOD’s children face any life circumstances that cause our souls to become weary with sorrow, the cure is to take in GOD’s WORD to regain strength and perspective. (Psalm 119:28.)

In the WORD of GOD we find our assurance that we are forever precious in GOD’s sight – it is that truth which will heal all our diseases!

...from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children. Psalm 103:17

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our good GOD and faithful Father. Thank YOU for YOUR WORD which gives life and health; thank YOU for the assurances of YOUR precious love – it may be possible for a woman to forget her nursing child, but YOU could never forget us nor YOUR promises. Thank YOU for the Holy Spirit that helps us to remember who and whose we are – we are not worthless, guilt-ridden and without joy, but are loved dearly by the MIGHTY GOD who is faithful and good and kind; whose thoughts towards are more numerous than the sand on the seashore. Father, we thank YOU for healing our diseases, forgiving our sins, crowning us with loving kindness and redeeming our lives from the pit of darkness through JESUS CHRIST, our Savior and LORD; to Him be all honor and glory! And it is in His precious NAME we pray!  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile