WHO GETS THE LAST #WORD? In any #conversation, #argument, #debate, or #verbal #exchange, the one expressing the last word seems to me to have the more lasting effect. I have known a few people who always had to have the last word on any subject. When you twitter do you need the last comment? I personally think having the last say on any matter seems to make the one giving it a feeling of superiority. In my family, the elders always had the last word, and we honored their wisdom and stature as heads of our households. Today, I notice many individuals who act superior to their peers as well as the older generations displaying no need for a word of wisdom. Some people have cleverly shortened words, made up slurs, or transposed the words’ meaning. (high jacked words). I am glad to say there is one word that will never change! “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD WAS GOD.” John1:1 “the WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth” John 1:14 “the WORD of GOD IS LIVING and active and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit of both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Heb. 4:12 The Bible tells me who got the first word and who will get the final last word... “HE is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called THE WORD OF GOD.” Rev.19:13
from Barbara’s Bible
THE LIVING GOD #TRUTH
#Lies, lies and more lies seem to be filling our air ways today! How can you decern #truth from error? I was an only child, yet I had a very large extented family of aunts, uncles, and cousins who exchanged eventful encounters via conversations over meal time get-togethers. One such episode about me, I heard repeated too many times! At the age of three, I had been playing in the backyard with my three cousins when I came into the kitchen to ask my aunt for some water. She said, ” what are y’all playing?” I proceeded to fill her in…”Well, you see, I am playing with a very large elephant that lets his trunk down for me to sit and then he puts me up on his back …so I really need some water!” Aunt Hen looked at me and said, “Barbara Ruth, if you keep telling those whoppers the boogie man’s gonna get you!” Without skipping a sip, I said, “I’ve told a bunch of um and he ain’t got me yet.” No, not one of my crowing moments! Family, friends, God and His Holy Word have tempered my heart to tell the truth. Col.3:9 “Do not lie to one another since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices” Have you grown into a truthful individual that others can believe what you say? Is it important to be a truthful person? Just as men swear an oath to confirm their truth, God desires to show His heirs the unchangeable purpose guaranteed by His oath recorded in Heb. 6:16-20 “It is IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE “ Lessons I learned as a child are even more vital today when lies and truth are hidden by the cold blooded evil serpent twisting good for evil. Who can you trust that is telling the truth? Ps.119:160 “GOD’S WORD IS TRUTH” Deut.32:3,4 “I will proclaim (publish) the name of the LORD: ascribe greatness unto our God. HE is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: GOD of TRUTH and without iniquity, JUST and RIGHT IS HE.”
THE LIVING GOD #PRESERVES
#October 2, 2016 the #United #Nations takes control of the #internet replacing the #United #States authority!….What is that to you? Observe…#Find#Bible#Truth was reaching hundreds in #Russia and #China, but now – not one! 2Peter1:12 “I shall remind you even though you already know – you have been established in the truth which is present with you”. Is the Bible being blocked on the internet by the prince of the airways, Satan? If I did not known Jesus Christ as my savior, Satan’s constant germinal infiltration would destroy my life. Simon Peter said in 2Peter, “Those who have received a faith the same kind as ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ see His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life…partakers of divine nature...if these qualities are yours, you will not be useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Now I am talking about germs and Jesus / life and death. What does that have to do with preserves? As a young ministers’ wife living in our first parsonage next door to the church, the gracious farm women brought fresh green beans with canning jars to teach me how to preserve food by canning. I still remember the feeling of the sustained high heat required to kill the germs (we had no a/c in that Texas heat) After removing the jars we would listen and count as each individual lid would pop as it sealed. Preserving was finished when the germs were killed and the beans were sealed until the time of the feast. If we can preserve beans, I know GOD CAN PRESERVE US. Ps.97:10 “You that love the LORD, hate evil: LORD PRESERVES the SOULS of HIS SAINTS; HE DELIVERS THEM OUT OF THE HAND OF THE WICKED.”
THE LIVING GOD #REREWARD/PROTECTION
#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.
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.