I was lifted by the spirit, and taken to a holy place High above the clouds, surrounded by His grace Was a river flowing and embraced by so many …
THE RIVER OF GOD
Tag Archives: God
TO THE DEEP
Psalm 42:7 [Full Chapter]
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
Listen to the words, DEEP calls to DEEP! If you are wanting to grow closer to God, get to know God, or your relationship with Him is in shallow water, If your time in His word is shallow, If your time in prayer is shallow, If your service to Him is shallow, If your fellowship is shallow, I’m here to say to you, DEEP calls to DEEP! His word says In the roar of His waterfalls! Wouldn’t you like to experience the roar of His waterfalls? When is the last time you have experienced the roar of His waterfalls? I,m talking about the out pour of Gods presence in your life. I’m talking about God drawing near and being active in your life where there is no question if He exists or not. If you will forget for a moment this is a blogger writing His thoughts down and Listen, open your heart, you just might hear, the ever so, still small, but very DEEP, voice of God speaking to you and asking you to go DEEP!
I’m talking about all His waves and breakers sweeping over you with His love! You have to enter into the deep, “spiritually”. let me draw you a picture. Your at the pool, you walk to the shallow end, where the steps are. You step in and feel the cold water, so you go in slowly, your not the type to just dive in. So you gradually make your way into the shallow water but you know God is all the way at the other end at the very bottom. So you take a DEEP breath and get fully submerged! You intentionally dive DEEP and swim towards the depths where He is at the deepest end of the pool.
I wanted you to have that mental picture so you can picture it everyday in your quite time with God this week. Now lets dive into the deep end of spiritual water, Jesus, God and His holly spirit! picture a swimming pool empty, no it’s not a skateboard park. It’ your heart! Now what you need to do is fill it with spiritual water, His word, worship, meditation, and prayer. Not only do you add these things to your heart but you open it DEEP because DEEP calls to DEEP!
Knock and the door will be open to you, seek and you shall find! Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and everything else will be added to you. The Kingdom of heavens door, is your heart. The key to your heart, is repentance! So grab the key, open the door and enter into the Kingdom of heaven, but let me remind you, He is in the Deep end, so go deep!
IDENTITY
Identity, is one of the most deep complicated subjects. I recently had a conversation with someone very close to me about their purpose in life. The conversation was anxious, in desire for change! I recently did a post on desire, but this takes desire to an even deeper place. Even though we have many desires, desire does not claim our Identity. We must decide who we are before we can even sift through our desires.
Sometimes we can want things simply because it is popular and it is a direction others are taking. In helping the person I asked a question, what separates you from everyone else? Then I answered the question because I know this person well. I said the thing that separates you from your friends and others is the fact that you think through your choices and usually you make the hard decisions that require sacrifice! This quality is your best quality I said! This quality is a given blessing and is a part of your Identity. I then said but you have to ask yourself are you going to listen to your friends or are you going to continue to be what separates you from the crowd?
Everyone is searching for Identity! The only true place to find it is through Christ! The more we walk with Him, the more shall I say, we become ourselves! Honestly we start out so lost. Through a process we slowly begin to find ourselves through our Identity in Him! Praise you Lord, thank you! This transformation can’t happen without worship and His word, quiet time with Him and meditation.
We have an inner battle taking place between the flesh and the spirit and this is what causes us to want to go the same direction as the world.
Matthew 7:13-14 [Full Chapter]
[ The Narrow and Wide Gates ] “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Moving towards Christ and struggling through the process of following His word is the only way to find your true Identity. Learning sacrifice and conforming to His will, is when you the clay, begin to take shape! Your Identity!
Isaiah 64:8 [Full Chapter]
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
God bless you in your search for your true Identity!!!
Blessings to the New Year! It’s your year!!!
BROKEN BRIDGES
Relationships seem to begin well, after some time they can be very complicated. Two different people trying to connect with each other, with the goal to become one in each other. So often what we find is conflict and then it goes unresolved. Once so excited, talking on the phone for hours at a time, never seemingly getting enough of each other. So what happened? How did things go wrong? What changed? What led to saying things we will regret! the cold shoulder, anger, tears, resentment, and hopelessness!
Can it be repaired? Do I want to repair it? He changed, she is not the same person. I’m no longer attracted. I cant forgive. I cant forget. My heart is hard, I cant go on! So few avoid this from happening, so few live the dream we all start with. Our vision of a relationship in our mind, that ever so quickly crumbles.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
This scripture is very challenging when it is the last thing you feel like doing. Our battle is against principalities. We are called to choose and not live by our feelings.
Ephesians 6:12King James Version (KJV)
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Principalities want you to work off of feelings rather than love. Feelings are the hook! Like a fish caught fighting for its life. Caught by the bait of pride, fear, insecurities, lies, anger, and fooled by the shinny lure of misunderstanding! If only we could see to the heart like God. I believe it was purposed for us not to see to the heart. I believe we are purposed to battle with feelings. Because our battles begin in the mind and if we are convinced in our mind the enemy has its hold.
Might I say relationships are not about feelings but a choice, a choice to love. A commitment to do what is right regardless of the other person. The choice to love when you feel the person doesn’t deserve your love, as we do not deserve Gods love.
When we walk by our feelings it is like a blind man feeling his way around in the darkness. We must walk by the word of God which is the lamp to our feet. At first the feelings we have are not good but as we walk by faith and the word of God our sick heart heals and feelings that were dead come alive in Christ. So we must walk by faith not by sight or feelings.
Men are so built to lead but what happens when the women starts giving honey do list, or telling her husband not to do this or that! The man puffs up his frustrations, because you know, he is the man, he should lead! He struggles with disrespect rather then understanding relationships are about serving, Remaining humble, being gentle, leading by softening his character. Not listening to the negative thoughts about her in his head. Instead renewing his mind to the mind of Christ.
When a relationship is lost and there seems no hope to fix it, I can tell you there is always hope. You must start to dig up the bad that you sowed. So that you can begin planting new seed. because Gods word says you reap what you sow.
Dig up your hard heart, resentment, and anger. Dig up the lies in your head. Put on Christ and begin by sacrificing. Sacrifice your time, give up things to God and your relationship without him or her knowing. Serve them, seek to understand the true heart of their bad behavior, rather than living in misunderstanding. Care about how they feel, choose to care for them as you desire to be cared for, even if you don’t feel it. Most people act badly when they are hiding hurt. The crazy thing is if we take the time to find out whats really going on we can usually fix it quickly.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Proverbs 4:23
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves
I am a work in progress, sharing my walk with you through this blog!
DESIRE
In this life we all have desire! It seems like the majority of our desire gets shattered leaving us feeling empty, less than or as someone who will never reach the deepest longings of our heart. I believe the bible speaks on this in many different levels. Psalm 37:4 [Full Chapter]
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
I’m writing this post because of a comment left on my post (THE ROAD TO LOVE) A gentleman spoke of never feeling love and having a deep desire for it. This blogger left me feeling very sad, yet at the same time very encouraged and excited about what the Lord will do with someone with such desire and not only desire but the desire for the most important thing in the world, ( LOVE )!
How do we take delight in the Lord when our desire has left us empty? Faith is the answer to this question. Everything is tested by faith! Do we believe God? Can we pick ourselves up when we feel discouraged, hopeless, beaten down, faithless and our heart full of lies. Our we able to take an honest inventory of our lives looking at our sin, repenting, getting right with God and then walking in promise, security and faith. 2 Samuel 23:5 “If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire.
We are in this together Christian family! Didn’t God say, don’t seem it strange these trials we are up against, that our brothers and sisters are all facing the same kind of trials. I have many desires and some I am still waiting for, and have been waiting for, I have a strong desire for them to come to fruition. Waiting, trusting, believing, struggling, doubting, despair, being restored and beginning again, waiting, trusting, believing! The process of growing in our desire and even sometimes God changing our hearts and showing us desire in a new light and it usually has to do with our desire for Him!
Our hearts can deceive us especially when it comes to desire. Our flesh the sinful nature has a desire against the spirit and is why our desire leads us into despair. The way we envision our desire from the flesh is not the way it looks once we are living the vision, where our fleshly desire took us. Gods way is not our way and so we fight against Gods desire. Gods desire usually means dyeing to self, humbling our-self, seeking first God and His kingdom which then leads us to our desire being filled. Gods way is hard at times but the most rewarding. You have to ask yourself what does God really want? It usually has to do with you! Something you must walk through within yourself to bring forth the plan God has towards the blindness, darkness of our future, which is the outcome we cant see at first, but as we move through the darkness putting on faith the light shines through of Gods true desire for our lives, beginning with you. Sometimes It can be confusing, because we are going through trials that are painful and never seem to end. God said you gain the prize by perseverance and faith especially when your heart is being tested and an unfinished work is in place. look at Job.
Job 17 New International Version (NIV)
6 “God has made me a byword to everyone,
a man in whose face people spit.
7 My eyes have grown dim with grief;
my whole frame is but a shadow.
8 The upright are appalled at this;
the innocent are aroused against the ungodly.
9 Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways,
and those with clean hands will grow stronger.
10 “But come on, all of you, try again!
I will not find a wise man among you.
11 My days have passed, my plans are shattered.
Yet the desires of my heart
12 turn night into day;
in the face of the darkness light is near.
13 If the only home I hope for is the grave,
if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness,
14 if I say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’
and to the worm, ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
15 where then is my hope—
who can see any hope for me?
16 Will it go down to the gates of death?
Will we descend together into the dust?”
Listen to Jobs heart as he dealt with desire and was crushed by it! Mostly what I want you to see is a Man finding victory in His desire as he begins to fight out from the fire as he holds to faith!! He finds His one true desire, His faithful desire, God! The amazing thing is that God was always looking at His man Job with delight!
Question? Will you give and trust your desire to God?
God bless you, I hope this word in the time of discouragement, has given you strength and hope!! My greatest desire is for my God and my beautiful wife. God bless!
JESUS I KNOW THAT YOU LOVE ME
Psalm 100
Expanded Bible (EXB)
A Call to Praise the Lord
A psalm of thanks.
100 Shout to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Serve the Lord with joy;
come before him with singing.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
He made us [Gen. 1–2], and ·we belong to him [or not ourselves];
we are his people, the sheep ·he tends [L of his pasture; 74:1; 79:13; John 10:11–14].
4 Come into his ·city [L gates] with songs of thanksgiving
and into his courtyards with songs of praise.
·Thank [Praise] him and ·praise [bless] his name.
5 The Lord is good. His ·love [loyalty] is forever,
and his ·loyalty [faithfulness] ·goes on and on [L for all generations].
How do we know that God loves us?
John 3:16
Expanded Bible (EXB)
16 “[L For] God loved the world so much that he gave his ·one and only [only; unique; T only begotten; 1:14, 18] Son so that whoever believes in him may not ·be lost [T perish], but have eternal life.
Why then do we not hear Gods voice? Feel His presence? Know with confidence we are His? Why have we not entered into the amazing relationship He came to offer? How come for some it is only a good thought, a great hope, believing will make it OK to live however we choose and in the end because we hold this belief all will be OK.
Isaiah 45
Expanded Bible (EXB)
God Chooses Cyrus to Free Israel
22 “All ·people everywhere [the ends of the earth],
·follow [turn] and be saved.
I am God. There is no other God.
23 I ·will make a promise by my own power [L have sworn by myself],
and ·my promise is true [L a righteous/right/true word goes out of my mouth];
what I say will not ·be changed [be revoked; L return].
·I promise that everyone will bow before me [L For to me every knee will bow]
and ·will promise to follow me [L every tongue will swear; C allegiance; Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10].
The word says follow Him and His teaching. Seek Him and you will find Him. Knock and the door will be open to you. Faith is knowing what Christ did for us and how he made a way for the sinner to come into relationship with Him. When I really found God, it was when I realized I the sinner, could come before Him and seek His face. I could step out in faith and walk with Him just as I am with repentance in my heart. I learned that when condemnation came in, it tried to call me away from Him and tell me I was not good enough. I learned there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I found a God who excepts me for who I am. I found a teacher who is patient in teaching me His ways. I found a father who allows me to walk through this difficult life only to reveal more of who He is.
I found the lover of my soul!!!! I found true faith and acceptance!!! I found a God who is over everything!!! I found a friend who has made me more of a man than I could ever imagine. I have many faults and struggles with sin and a heart of flesh. I have also been freed from many of them. I have been changed from the inside and continue to change as I walk with Him and learn.
Do not just believe, follow Him, seek Him and know Him and you also will be able to say, Jesus I know that you love me!!!!!
May God touch you with His truth, may your eyes open and encounter the true living and faithful God! www.fullofrosesinspirationals.com
please enjoy the video below, just double click it 🙂
PLANTING TREES
PLANTING TREES
I’ve planted trees of the worst of winters.
Trees as empty and bare as they come. The lies I’ve told, the words I’ve spoken.
The bitterness I’ve held inside. The judgements my heart held tight.
I remember each leaf that fell, as my heart turned cold,
as in the depths of hell where barren trees belong. The days I pushed my Lord away,
I walk alone as if it were the coldest winter day.
The days were dark the winds seemed to never stop blowing.
I was caught in the current of the river that flows by the dead tree orchard.
The dark clouds a constant reminder of the season I’m in,
yet in my insanity I continue to plant empty trees.
Trees that belong in a graveyard of the wicked.
Seasons change and so can I as I remember the trees I’ve planted in my past.
Trees of strength and glory, trees so big one could climb to the top and see the world.
Trees as green as the rain forest.
Trees that flourished because they were watered by the hand of God.
Trees of true heart, true light, and true beauty, trees of conviction!
Trees that were planted by the choice to serve, to love, to forgive , to give.
Trees that opened my heart so bare that all I knew was to care.
The warmth of the sun shining down on me spoke of Gods pleasure.
Today I’m planting my first good tree of this season,
hoping to never see an empty tree in my orchard again.
Inspired by God, written by Ken Hernandez
Isaiah 41 (Expanded Bible)
Only the Lord Can Save Us
8 ·The Lord says, “People of Israel, you are my servants [L “You Israel, my servant].
·People of Jacob, I chose you [L Jacob, whom I have chosen; 44:1].
You are ·from the family [descendants; offspring; seed] of my friend Abraham [Gen. 12:1–3].
9 I took you from ·places far away on [L the ends of] the earth
and called you from ·a faraway country [its farthest parts].
I said, ‘You are my ·servants [L servant].’
I have chosen you and have not ·turned against [rejected; thrown away] you.
10 So don’t ·worry [fear], because I am with you.
Don’t be ·afraid [dismayed], because I am your God.
I will ·make you strong [strengthen you] and will help you;
I will ·support [uphold] you with my ·right hand that saves you [or righteous right hand; C a symbol of power to save and protect; Ex. 15:6; Ps. 63:8].
11 “[L Look; T Behold] All those people who ·are angry with [seethe/rage against] you
will be ashamed and disgraced.
Those who ·are [strive] against you
will ·disappear [become nothing] and ·be lost [perish].
12 You will look for your enemies,
but you will not find them.
Those who ·fought [wage war] against you
will ·vanish completely [be as nothing].
13 [L For; Because] I am the Lord your God,
who holds your right hand,
and I tell you, ‘Don’t be afraid.
I will help you.’
14 Do not be afraid ·even though you are weak as a worm [L you worm, Jacob],
you ·few people of Israel who are left [or people of Israel; or maggot, Israel].
I myself will help you,” says the Lord.
“·The one who saves you [Your redeemer/protector] is the Holy One of Israel [1:4].
15 Look, I ·have made [or will make] you like a new threshing ·board [sledge]
with many sharp teeth.
So you will ·walk on [thresh the] mountains and crush them;
you will make the hills like ·chaff [straw].
16 You will ·throw them into the air [winnow them], and the wind will carry them away;
a ·windstorm [gale; tempest] will scatter them.
Then you will ·be happy [rejoice] in the Lord;
you will ·be proud of [boast in] the Holy One of Israel [1:4].
17 “The poor and needy people look for water,
but ·they can’t find any [there is none].
Their tongues are ·dry [parched] with thirst.
But I, the Lord, will answer ·their prayers [L them];
I, the God of Israel, will not ·leave them to die [L abandon/forsake them].
18 I will ·make rivers flow [L open rivers] on the ·dry hills [barren heights]
and springs flow through the valleys.
I will change the ·desert [wilderness] into ·a lake [pools] of water
and the ·dry [arid; parched] land into ·fountains [springs] of water.
19 I will ·make trees grow [plant; put] in the ·desert [wilderness]—
cedars, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees.
I will put pine, fir, and cypress trees
growing together in the desert.
20 [L …so that] People will see these things and ·understand [know];
they will ·think carefully about these things [consider] and ·learn [comprehend]
that the Lord’s ·power [L hand] did this,
that the Holy One of Israel [1:4] ·made these things [created it].”
Our journey with God, who can know and understand the ways of God? How is it that we can see to the spirit of His word and apply it to our daily lives. Understanding God is understanding He is using everything in our lives for His glory! This scripture describes Gods children as His planted trees. Trees that are planted where the river flows. Planted by the river of His presence. You see no one in the bible got it all right. Every prophet and servant of God struggled with flesh and heart. Trees take time to grow especially the trees of God. He did not make dead lifeless trees. He made trees of faith and glory! Will we see it today or tomorrow? Is that faith at all? Trees go through many seasons and changes. Trees grow mightier in time.
Faith my fellow trees, will be the answer in its time! Will you choose to find the strength of a tree no matter what the weather is or the season? Will you extend your branches when the leaves fall or a branch breaks? Will you see it through the storms of winter to see the blossoms of spring? Faith and drawing from the river that flows next to you will show itself true. God will not leave you or forsake you, but I must tell you, your faith will be tested and rewarded by the heart that grows roots deep towards the source of water.
Today you can choose to believe the truth and defeat the enemy by simply believing truth and pushing out the lies. You are not alone in your struggles. He is with you and all of us other trees are praying and pressing in with you. Hopefully strong trees are being planted today, I’m believing you are!
18 I will ·make rivers flow [L open rivers] on the ·dry hills [barren heights]
and springs flow through the valleys.
I will change the ·desert [wilderness] into ·a lake [pools] of water
and the ·dry [arid; parched] land into ·fountains [springs] of water.
19 I will ·make trees grow [plant; put] in the ·desert [wilderness]—
cedars, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees.
I will put pine, fir, and cypress trees
growing together in the desert.
20 [L …so that] People will see these things and ·understand [know];
they will ·think carefully about these things [consider] and ·learn [comprehend]
that the Lord’s ·power [L hand] did this,
that the Holy One of Israel [1:4] ·made these things [created it].”
May our Lord Jesus Christ poor His presence over you and this message, I love the trees of God, they are the weakest yet the strongest. They are more glorious than any other tree, for they are courage’s and full of heart. God bless your day www.fullofrosesinspirationals.com
please check out this video and also check out my other post rainbow symbolism of promise 🙂
A MOMENT IN HEAVEN
A MOMENT IN HEAVEN
I awoke this morning to the birds singing
I went outside, there was a sense of well being
The air was so fresh, a calm breeze blew across my face
It was so quiet, as if everyone was sleeping
I found peace and joy in my heart
As if the world had stopped just for a moment
The longing in my heart to draw near to You
I closed my eyes and pictured You in my head
The flowers in the garden began to bloom
The trees filled with the shiniest fruit
The grass grew seven shades greener
The grape vines that never produce were full
A rainbow had criss-crossed another rainbow across the sky
It was most beautiful
A stream came rushing through my feet
Fish with wings jumping over me
The sky a shade of blue I had never seen before
A Man in white came walking towards me with a gleam in his eye
I have never seen Your face, but I knew it was You
Lord please don’t make me leave this place
He spoke to my heart with a smile on His face
I realized there was still more to be saved
With a tear in my eye, I smiled
He knew my love for Him
Keeping all in my heart of that day
I will seek all that You lead me to
Isaiah 65:17
A New Time Is Coming
17 “·Look [T Behold], I will ·make [create] new heavens and a new earth,
and people will not remember the ·past [former things]
or ·think about those things [bring them to heart/mind].
18 My people will be happy and joyful forever
because of the things I will ·make [create].
I will make a Jerusalem that is full of joy,
and I will make her people a delight.
19 Then I will rejoice over Jerusalem
and be delighted with my people.
There will never again be heard in that city
the sounds of ·crying [weeping] and ·sadness [crying].
20 There will never be a ·baby [infant] from that city
who lives only a few days.
And there will never be an older person
who doesn’t ·have a long life [L live out his days].
A person who ·lives a hundred years will be called young [or dies at a hundred years will still be considered a child],
and a person who dies before he is a hundred will be thought of as a ·sinner [or accursed].
21 In that city those who build houses will live there.
Those who plant vineyards will get to eat their grapes [C as opposed to times of conquest, when homes are confiscated and crops are stolen].
22 No more will one person ·build a house and someone else live there [L build and another inhabit].
One person will not ·plant a garden and someone else eat its fruit [L plant and another eat].
·My people will live a long time,
as trees live long [L For like the days of a tree
shall be the days of my people].
My chosen people will live there
and enjoy the ·things they make [L work of their hands].
23 They will ·never again work for nothing [not labor in vain].
They will never again give birth to children ·who die young [L doomed for misfortune/disaster].
All my people will be blessed by the Lord;
they and their ·children [descendants; seed] will be blessed.
24 I will ·provide for their needs [L answer] before they ·ask [call],
and I will ·help them [L hear] while they are still ·asking for help [L speaking].
25 The wolf and the lamb will ·eat together in peace [feed/graze together].
The lion will eat hay like an ox,
and ·a snake on the ground will not hurt anyone [the serpent’s food will be dust; Gen. 3:14].
They will not hurt or destroy each other
on all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
When I wrote this poem I was at my dinning table early In the morning drinking my coffee when I was moved to go out into the backyard. The minute I got outside I felt the Lords presence and closed my eyes when I had the vision of the beautiful poem. I believe we can find a piece of heaven here on earth. Heaven is reachable through our hearts. Our hearts are the door way to Heaven. When we open our hearts in worship to Jesus we enter into His presence, the kingdom of God! Heaven is the finish line of the race we are in. Heaven will be the frosting on the Jesus! Heaven in all its glory will not compare to Him. We Have access to Him now!
Everything in this life has a current that pulls out into the deep sin of this world. Drawing us away from His kingdom and His presence! Opening our hearts to Him is like swimming against the current of the ocean, helping you escape the current of this world and finding the safety in His truth. The more we go against the current, the more we find ourselves on the narrow path walking in His kingdoms glory. The more we are in touch with God and the more we gain a taste of what is to come.
I want to encourage you to go against the current of this life and have a moment in heaven today. The moments in heaven give us all we need to reach our full purpose in this life, leading us into all of His glory and bringing with us as many as possible to heaven eternal!!
Thank you for following this blog I am encouraged by your passion for Him. As I read many of your blogs I am so touched by the diversity of Him in all of you. God bless you in all of your moments with Him until we are with Him completely for all et
THE LOVE OF THE FATHER
The love of God is hard for many to understand, The reason for that is our flesh. The flesh condemns us to the grave. Our sin and flesh keep us from God. The enemy Satin uses our weakness, the flesh to lie to us and keep us from the truth that is spirit. The spirit of truth! Faith is spirit! Christ promises are spirit. The word of God is spirit! It is the spirit that covers us, It is the spirit that sets us free. If we walk by the flesh and the lies of the flesh it only brings lies and death, but Christ made intersession for us that is through His spirit. So we must walk by the spirit of truth and put away the lies of the flesh that only bring death.
If you are a perfectionist the flesh and lies are your worst enemy! You see you are a sinner, we all are and unless you realize that it is Gods spirit and death on the cross that has cleansed us and has set us free, can you receive the gift of the spirit and walk in it. Walking with God just as you are, imperfect. Following God and walking with Him through all your mistakes and imperfections. Trusting Gods perfect work on the cross will finish its work. This is walking by the spirit.
Romans 8
Expanded Bible (EXB)
Be Ruled by the Spirit
8 So now, those who are in Christ Jesus are not ·judged guilty[a] [condemned; punished for their sins]. 2 [L For] ·Through [or In] Christ Jesus the ·law [principle; or power] of the Spirit that brings life set you[b] free from the ·law [principle; or power] that brings sin and death. 3 The law [C of Moses] was without power, because the law was made weak by our ·sinful selves [sinful nature; T flesh]. But God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son to earth ·with the same human life that others use for sin [or in a body like ours, prone to sin; L in the likeness of sinful flesh]. By sending his Son ·to be an offering for sin [L concerning sin], God ·used a human life to destroy sin [L condemned sin in the flesh]. 4 He did this so that ·we could be the kind of people that the law demands that we be [L the law’s righteous/just requirements would be fulfilled in us]. Now we do not ·live [walk; C life’s journey] following our ·sinful selves [sinful nature; T flesh], but following the Spirit.
God’s Love in Christ Jesus
31 So what should we say ·about this [in response to these things]? If God is for us, ·no one can defeat us [L who is against us?]. 32 He did not spare his own Son but ·gave him [or delivered him over; C to death] for us all. So with Jesus, ·God will surely [how could he not…?] give us all things. 33 Who can ·accuse [bring an accusation/charge against] the people God has chosen? No one, because God is the One who ·makes them right [declares them righteous; justifies them]. 34 Who can ·say God’s people are guilty [condemn; pronounce punishment]? No one, because Christ Jesus died, but he was also raised from the dead, and now he is on God’s right ·side [hand; Ps. 110:1], ·appealing to God [interceding; pleading] for us. 35 ·Can anything [or Who can] separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can ·troubles [trials; tribulations] or ·problems [distress; hardship] or ·sufferings [persecution] or ·hunger [famine] or ·nakedness [destitution] or danger or ·violent death [L sword]? 36 As it is written in the Scriptures:
“For ·you [your sake] we are ·in danger of death [L being put to death] all the time.
·People think we are worth no more than [L We were considered like] sheep ·to be killed [about to be slaughtered; Ps. 44:22].”
This is the love of the Father the love that has surely set us free by His spirit! So live by the spirit!
Psalm 68
Expanded Bible (EXB)
Praise God Who Saved the Nation
For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.
68 Let God rise up and scatter his enemies;
let those who hate him ·run away [flee] from him.
2 Blow them away as smoke
is ·driven [blown] away by the wind [Hos. 13:3].
As wax melts before a fire,
let the wicked ·be destroyed [perish] before God [Mic. 1:4].
3 But ·those who do right [the righteous] should be glad
and should rejoice before God;
they should be happy and glad.
4 Sing to God; ·sing praises [make a psalm] to his name.
Prepare the way for him
who rides ·through the desert [on the clouds; C as on a chariot; 18:10–19; 104:3; Is. 19:1; Dan. 7:13–14; Luke 21:27; Rev. 1:7],
whose name is the Lord.
Rejoice before him.
5 God is in his holy ·Temple [L abode].
He is a father to orphans [10:14; 146:9],
and he defends the widows [146:9].
6 God gives the lonely a home.
He leads prisoners out ·with joy [with singing; or to prosperity],
but ·those who turn against God [L the rebellious] will live in a dry land.
May this Christmas be yours in Christ Bless you! www.fullofrosesinspirationals.com
COMING OUT FROM THE CAVE
Many Christians struggle with some kind of cave experience. The kind of cave I am talking about is the cave of the heart. Most of the time we enter this cave without even knowing it. The cave could have come from childhood pain when we first learned to enter into this cave. This cave is where we hide what we don’t want to feel or look at. It is the cave where lies form the walls. It is the cave of dry tears.
Most of the time we walk around without knowing the cave even exist, because the cave even hides itself from us. The cave becomes something we enter without even realizing it. Its is the cave of our protection. Inside this cave forms many protections and wrong behaviors that hold us captive.
These wrong behaviors and protections do not protect us at all, just the opposite. You see because the human heart reacts to rejection, hurt, pain, abuse, fear, insecurities, self doubt, poor self-esteem, anxieties, brokenness from learned behaviors. We can seem trapped with repeated failures. Things about our broken state that want to attach our identity to them. In the cave we form the wrong kind of protections, strength, pride, arrogance, humor, silence, and anger. We form anything that can fool anyone, even ourselves about what is in the cave of our hearts.
There is a death taking place inside us, keeping us from living the way God intended for us to live “free”! Alive in Christ! We can only come alive in Christ if we are willing to take a deep look into our hearts where we live in fear of the pain of this world. It means we have to be honest with ourselves and vulnerable with God and even others. Trusting God in this may be very difficult for most. If you want to experience healing and freedom from anger, broken relationships, fear, and lies about yourself you have to allow God into the cave of your heart, you protect with all that you are. We have to allow God through prayer to help us walk out of this cave.
Jesus Raises Lazarus
38 Again feeling ·very upset [deeply disturbed/moved], Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave with a large stone ·covering the entrance [L lying on/against it; C Jews typically buried their dead in caves with stones covering the entrance]. 39 Jesus said, “Move the stone away.”
Martha, the sister of the dead man, said, “But, Lord, it has been ·four days since he died [see 11:17]. There will be a ·bad smell [stench].”
40 Then Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
41 So they moved the stone away from the entrance. Then Jesus ·looked up [L raised his eyes] and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42 I know that you always hear me, but I said these things ·because [for the benefit] of the people here around me. ·I want them to [L so that they might] believe that you sent me.” 43 After Jesus said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come ·out [T forth]!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with ·pieces of cloth [strips of linen; graveclothes; C the dead were wrapped in strips of cloth], and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take the cloth off of him and let him go.”
JESUS waits at the stone of your heart and asks you to roll away the stone and allow Him to call us out of the dead things in our lives. Every area of your heart that has been hurt, that fears, that has believed lies, the part of you that hasn’t known life for some time. He asks you to take courage and to put on faith trusting Him to do what he came to do, to bring beauty from ashes.
Isaiah 61:3
Expanded Bible (EXB)
3 and to help the ·sorrowing [mourning] people of ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C location of the Temple; 59:20].
I will give them a ·crown [garland; headdress] to replace their ashes,
and the oil of ·gladness [joy] to replace their ·sorrow [mourning],
and ·clothes [a garment] of praise to replace their ·spirit of sadness [discouragement; heavy heart].
Then they will be called ·Trees of Goodness [or Oaks of Righteousness],
trees planted by the Lord to show his ·greatness [glory; C manifest presence].
TO LOVE AGAIN
The place I go to hide my fears
Deep inside I hold my tears
The lies are welcome here
A cage for the broken
Not a word here is spoken
Only loneliness and pain
Where the heart slowly dies
Where all my pain hides
The curses passed down
From UN-healed hearts
I’m walking out of this dead mans tomb
Not for me but for you
The selfish heart held so true
I choose to risk, to love
To rise from the dead
To love again
http://youtu.be/mENmbZ5Ikto http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=mENmbZ5Ikto
I want to talk about the song link above, knowing it is not by a Christian band. Gods spirit moved me by the lyrics. Follow me down to the valley below, spoke to me about the peaks and valleys we walk through as Christians. The valley below means there is work to be done before the mountain peak. My David don’t worry this cold world is not for you. I thought of God speaking to the line of Jesse, king David during his toughest moments as a man of God in the valleys reminding him where he was headed to the mountain of God and in His presence. Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul come to us Lazarus it’s time to go, spoke to me of the pain when light hits our soul with truth and the dead man Lazarus walks out of the tomb and the glory of God shines from our hearts outward. When we take courage and walk our hearts out of the tomb. God bless!
God bless your day may the Lord call the dead from their tombs and bring life and healing to those who are suffering. www.fullofrosesinspirationals.com
FULL OF ROSES INSPIRATIONALS 