#AWAKE . to the #TRUTH. How many times do you hear a lie repeated until you believe it to be true? Who or what is your #standard,#rereward, #protection? Does it depend on the person talking? Are you persuaded by smooth oratory, good looks, humor, argumentative shouts, scholarly research, or a skeptic? I personally, use the Bible as my plumb line to keep things straight. There is conflict between good and evil – the Living God (Truth) and Satan (Liar). God gave us His Commandments for our own good showing us that there is liberty in law! When the law is not observed we have chaos! Everyone doing what is right in his own eyes. 57:20 “Wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace to the wicked, said my God” Devil came to destroy..God came to save us from destruction. I’m still reading Isaiah 58 where truth spoke to me. 2.”They seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of GOD; they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching God…9.”When you will call, the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and He shall say, ‘HERE I AM.…11.LORD shall guide you continually. 8.God’s light shall break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before you; the GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE YOUR REREWARD/PROTECTION” Our law/justice and protection are connected to our LIVING GOD.
Author: Barbara Jones
THE LIVING GOD #UNCHANGING
#Change is one thing that you can count on! As a young child, I thought everything was #unchanging as time seemed to stand still. With maturity, the years seem to have a snowball effect. (Every day rolling more swiftly than the one before) I simply cannot recognize the society today compared to seventy years ago. The song “Where have all the good men gone” reminds me of our mortality… We cannot stop time, but we can prepare for immortality with the LORD who never changes! Mal.3:6 “For I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT” (what about us?) 1Corth.15:53-58“this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality. .. then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory: O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to GOD, who gives us the VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the LORD.” What a comfort to rely on the Word of our LORD who IS UNCHANGING...You can take that to the bank! (and get His interest!)
THE LIVING GOD #INFINITE
No bounds, no limits, and no ending! Sounds like the promo of the next #Super #Hero Movie to me that might have the title INFINITE. As a child , I put canning lids on my wrists, climbed trees, and swang down on a rope while my cousin, Jerry threw rocks at me while I deflected them with my wrist bands (lids). I wanted to be just like wonder woman! Never achieved that miracle, but even at my age I watch and cheer for the American Ninja Warriors. Today, I am more aware of boundaries, limits, and endings. As a child I just mastered jacks when I out grew it…just learned to date -then became a bride – being a wife a whole new relationship -working teaching school – then motherhood – fast forward and they are grown with children of their own -then I’m a empty nester and too soon a widow. 46:4 “Even to your old age I AM HE; even to your gray hairs I will carry you: I have made, and will bear; even carry, and will deliver you.” I have seen many beginnings and endings which could leave one hopeless. However, my eyes, ears, and heart have been opened by the only INFINITE LIVING GOD who has given me Eternal Life with ETERNITY in His grasp. Isaiah 44:6 “This said the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts, ‘I AM the First, and I AM the Last; and beside me there is no God.“ Is.43:7-13 “You are my witnesses, said the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may known and believe me, and understand that I AM HE: before Me there was no God formed neither shall there be after me. I even I, Am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared and saved and showed there was no strange god among you: therefore you are my witnesses, said the LORD, that I AM GOD. Before the day was I AM HE” 51:9 “Awake, Awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; 5,6 My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth and my arms shall judge the people…on my arm shall they trust. Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but MY SALVATION SHALL BE FOREVER, and MY RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL NOT BE ABOLISHED.” To infinity and beyond!
THE LIVING GOD #RENEWS
#Ages #one to #seventy-nine were at our recent #family gathering for #birthday #celebrations in #Atlanta while we renewed our love for one another. After all the traveling,..eating, restaurants, shopping, park concert with food trucks, we still managed to visit and share presents with tall tales; however, all ages were exhausted including the dogs! Yes, we have dogs and service dogs in our family. My son and youngest daughter are in wheelchairs, one granddaughter has a prosthesis, my first born daughter suffered a head injury from a car accident, and her daughter suffers with seizures. Would you believe I was reading Isaiah 40 during my morning devotion one of the days of our celebration…how appropriate! “Have you not known: Had you not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint, neither is weary: there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and to them that have no might He increases their strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. . . .(41:10)Fear not; for I AM with you; be not dismayed; for I AM your GOD: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness….For I the LORD your GOD will hold your right hand, saying , Fear not; I will help you” When you are weary and feel you cannot carry on…turn to the only LIVING GOD who can hold your hand.
THE LIVING GOD #BOOK
Have you read a good book lately? Do you prefer #mystery, #spy, #superhero, #romance, or the latest How To book? Ever considered #reading the all time #best #seller? Yes, I recommend the Holy Bible! “Everything old is new again” The LORD told Moses, “Now go, write it before them in a tablet and note it in a BOOK, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever“ Many philosophies have come and gone through the ages, but GOD’s Word is consistently true! Is.33:6 “The LORD’S wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of the times and strength of salvation” Is.34:16 “Seek out the BOOK OF THE LORD, and READ” Do you ever read, but not focus? Is.39:5 “Hear the word of the LORD of hosts” My prayer for all of us is from Elisha as he said, “LORD, I pray open his eyes that he may see.” 11Kings6:17 In this tumultuous time may we read the BOOK OF THE LORD seeking to find Him by hearing His Word that we can choose to following the Living Truth, the great I AM.
THE LIVING GOD #JEWELS
Jewels in a #jewelry box are fascinating #treasures or so my young grandchildren thought when they played with them. You see I had a special chest which contained fake bobbles for them to wear while they played. For a short time they could be a king or queen with all the embellished regalia! Today I see a society that is enthralled with jewels and their manufactured reality. Have you noticed how many TV networks are promoting jewelry/silver/gold 24 hrs a day? We all know jewels have monetary value and it doesn’t hurt if they add beauty to our life. Does the Bible mention jewels? Luke 12:34 “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” Isaiah 2:5 “Walk in the light of the LORD. 7.Their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures…8.Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. 3:18 In that day the LORD will take away the beauty of their anklets, earrings, bracelets, rings, nose jewels. 2:11 The proud lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day” Mal.3:2 “Who may abide the day of HIS coming? Who shall stand when He appears?…He (LORD) shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Now if we treasure our jewels of silver and gold, what does our LORD, THE LIVING GOD TREASURE? … Y O U … Mal.3:16-18 “They that feared the LORD spake often one to another and the LORD .. heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and thought upon His name.. ‘they shall be mine’, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up MY JEWELS; and I spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that does not serve God.” Have you heard it said, “They’re a real jewel“! R U?
THE LIVING GOD #CROWN
Worldly Word: #Drink up and be #merry! #Live for the moment! #Party like there is no tomorrow! Heard any of those cliches? Many people have had their lives destroyed by strong drink. Oh you say, I’m just sociable having fun partying with friends who will show me the restroom and call someone for a ride home. Really! And that’s living? Have you ever watched a flower fading? Have you seen an intelligent, strong individual lose everything because of addiction? I have seen the destructive domino effect on all the lives surrounding strong drinking in my own extended family. It is hard to watch all the while feeling so helpless like observing a plane falling from the sky. I know it grieves GOD to see us disregard His Word. “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower which are on the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! They also have sinned through wine and strong drink; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. But the WORD OF THE LORD was to them precept upon precept…line upon line…here a little and there a little; that they might go and fall backward and be broken, snared, and taken. Wherefore HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD…Give ear, and hear God’s voice; hear My speech. For GOD instructs and teaches us to act properly with discretion” Isaiah 28 Do you listen to everyone around you saying, ‘accept everything just go along to get along’? Roses fade. Please turn to the WORD OF THE LORD of hosts for there will be a crown of glory for a diadem of beauty unto the residue of His people. Will you choose a crown of pride or GOD’s CROWN OF GLORY?
THE LIVING GOD #INSTRUCTS
#School starts back on Monday here ending a short summer break from #teachers’ #instructions. #Parents and #children are given rules to follow so that the year will go smoothly; however, it is up to each individual whether or not they comply. I have been both a student and a teacher so I know that you have to be “carefully taught”. A teacher’s plan has to be in place before instruction can begin to effectively achieve a goal step by step. With each bit of knowledge that is revealed the student has the choice to hear or block-out instruction. “Listen unto me now, children, and attend to the words of my mouth Prov.7:24” Sound familiar? If you read the Bible, God’s Word, you will realize GOD has written His teaching plan for us to follow. “Give ear and hear my voice; and hear my speech. For GOD INSTRUCTS him to act properly and does teach him. This comes from the LORD OF HOSTS which is WONDERFUL in COUNSEL and EXCELLENT in WORKING. Isaiah 28:23,26,29″ “The Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is His name, Great in COUNSEL, and Mighty in Work; for thine eyes are open *(not just in the back of the head of the teacher)* upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jer.32:19″ My prayer for all of us is that we will turn from our own plan walking after selfish imaginations of our evil hearts to God’s Instructions written so clearly in HIS WORD. “For I know the plans I have for you, declared the LORD, PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE” Jer.29:11