Author: jma47

Consequences

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The consequences to David’s deceit were relayed from the Lord through Nathan. You can read it for yourself in 2 Samuel 12:10-12. I hate reading chapter 13. One of David’s sons set up a deceitful plan and raped his sister. Then one of his sons set up a deceitful plot and killed that brother.
 
We do not often reap in the same season that we sow in. Absalsom didn’t kill Amon until two years later. It was several years after that that Absalom’s treason took place and verse 12 was fulfilled.
 
Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
 
I willfully disobeyed the Lord in 1975. I reaped that disobedience 10 years! The path of obedience is strewn with grace, but the path of disobedience is a mire, a swamp, or a treacherous path of calamity.
 
Jeremiah 17:10 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Fortunately the Lord knows everything. Nothing is hidden from Him!
 
I love John 3:21 which says, “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
 
Authentic followers of Jesus walk in the light. They want the Lord to be glorified in all that they do. They want His name to be praised. They want to make Him known through their walk of righteousness.
 
Proverbs 4:18 says, “But the path of the just is like a shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” John 1:4-5 says, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness…” We are to let our light so shine before all men. We can’t do that if we are walking in dark deceit.
 

Healthy Bones

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There is an amazing picture of healthy bones in Job 21:24. The Amplified says, “His pails are full of milk (his veins are filled with nourishment), and the marrow of his bones is fresh and moist.”
 
Psalm 63:5 says, “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.” The literal is fat abundance.
 
Fretting causes us to lose bone mass. Psalm 37:8 says, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret–it only causes harm.” Fret means to gradually wear away something by rubbing or gnawing. Do you have gnawing anxiety? Philippians 4:6 Amplified says, “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything…”
 
Here is a new song that helps us understand God’s way to having healthy bones.
 
Rejoicing Bones
 
When I thought about my circumstances I became gloomy inside. My heart was getting heavy and my peace destroyed. Then in Your Word You revealed the secret of health. My bones are affected when my heart is in despair.
 
You said renew your mind. Rejoice in Me. I change not. There’s no shadow in Me. No matter what happens I remain the same.
 
So I turned my gaze from what was dragging me down. I looked to You my victorious One. My heart began to rise like yeast in dough and my mouth opened in song.
 
In You I can rejoice. For You are my strength. I look away from sin to the spotless Lamb. All my sins are cleansed in Your precious blood. My heart sings through a rush of love. Yes my heart is filled with joy in You that nothing can destroy. I rejoice in You my eternal strength. My joy is full when I look to You.

Who We Are

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We are made in the image of the One who is eternal (Genesis 1:26). We are chosen by God to be holy and blameless before Him (Ephesians 1:4). We are born by the will of God and not of man (John 1:13).
 
Why are we here? We are created for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). We are called with a holy calling to represent Him (2 Timothy 1:9). He has good works for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).
 
Now here is a new song to encourage you to be all that He has created you to be:
 
Celebrate Your Uniqueness
 
My hands have made you and fashioned you in My image. There is no one else like you. Don’t try to copy others. Influence them through who you are. Be you in the design of My making.
 
Creativity is freedom from sameness. It all begins in your thoughts. Be free to explore and develop the passions I’ve given you. Thoughts can box you in or free your spirit. Accepting who you are will cause you to thrive in every aspect of your life.
 
All things work together for good to those who are called according to My purpose. Nothing is in vain. I will redeem it all. The things you have been through have given you eyes to see and ears to hear and compassion to minister to others. I want you to celebrate you as I celebrate you. You are created for My glory.

Purposeful Thoughts

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All our actions are preceded by our thoughts. Therefore our thoughts need to be purposeful.
 
In my reading about David and Saul in 1 Samuel, there is a scene that is very purposeful in my mind. David’s thoughts were backed by his governor-value.
 
Twice he could have killed Saul. Once in the cave (24:3-7), and again when Saul and his army were asleep (26:7-12). What was his governor? He would not put his hand against the Lord’s anointed.
 
He could have avenged himself. He explained this to Abishai and then said in 1 Samuel 26:10, “…As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish.”
 
We too have governing verses about forgiveness. Ephesians 4:30 and Colossians 3:13. They both say that we are to forgive as we are forgiven. If these are imbedded in our hearts, they will rise up to stop us from avenging ourselves.
 
Enter Barnabas. Acts 11:23 says, “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”
 
The Strong’s for purpose is: a deliberate plan, an advance plan, an intention, a design. Our salvation was planned before the foundation of the world. Our walk with the Lord is all set forth through His word.
 
Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food. That purpose was set before he was in the situation.
 
We can purpose now in our heart before anything happens. That sets the standard in place to not bury any offenses, to forgive in the moment of the hurt or slight, and to extend grace. Then when the offense comes, and Jesus said they would come, our hearts are preset to forgive on the spot.

Heart Forgiveness

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God’s word is clear cut when it comes to heart forgiveness. We are to forgive as we are forgiven. It is not a partial obedience option.
 
Forgiveness is the solid core foundation of all interpersonal relationships. Conflicts, arguments, or demanding of rights are rooted in unresolved issues.
 
An unforgiving heart is willful disobedience. It is a manifestation of not keeping His commandments. We may not think about it in those terms but it is true.
 
1 Corinthians 13:5 Amplified says of love, “…Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong.”
 
It is the mental record of wrongs that keeps popping up when we least expect it. That is why Proverbs 4:23 is so relevant. It says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
 
Intrinsic in the word diligence is conscientious hard work. It requires alertness, and discernment of our heart-thoughts when we are wronged. Walking continually in the freedom of forgiveness requires mindfulness.
 
We dare not be slack in this. The enemy seeks to destroy and devour relationships. He hates us because we are made in the image of God for relationship. Galatians 5:15 says, “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another.” We demonstrate God’s love in us to those who don’t know Him by our love for one another.
 
Paul’s epistles are full of ‘one another’ verses. That is the power of living in heart-unity, looking out for others. It is the opposite of selfishness. Heart forgiveness is full obedience that is ongoing. The moment we feel slighted, that is the moment to forgive. It frees us. Unforgiveness binds us to the one who hurt us. It creates tension where God calls for peace.
 
Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Here is one of my heart-governor verses taped on my cupboard door. Titus 3:2 says, “To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”
 

Partial Obedience?

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Saul did not fully execute God’s command to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all that they had. Here is the jarring statement about his partial obedience. 1 Samuel 15:11 was the Lord speaking to Samuel. He said, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments…”
Samuel questioned Saul. Verse 20 says, “…But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek…” Then in verse 21 Saul placed the blame on the people.
I wrote in my journal: Lord, what have You asked me to do that I have only partially obeyed? Partial is defined in verse 9 with the words ‘unwilling to utterly destroy them…”
The Lord looks for heart-obedience. I love John 14:21. It says, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Manifest is two words that mean to cause to shine. The Lord will reveal Himself, make His attributes known to us, reveal His heart in our situations, and give us rich insights for clear direction.
1 John 2:3-4 says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him”
I’m always in awe of Hebrew 5:8. It says, “Thought He were a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things that He suffered.” I have to question: am I learning obedience through my trials? Hebrews 12:11 says that those who are trained by their trials will readily conform their thoughts, purpose, and actions to God’s will.
Heart-obedience is rooted in trust. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.”
Saul trusted in his own way and he forfeited his kingdom. Let Psalm 119:10 be the cry of our hearts. It says “With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments.”

Ebenezer Stones

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1 Samuel 7:12 is written right after the Lord thundered ‘with a loud thunder’ on the Philistines. It so confused them that they were overcome and defeated by Israel.

It says, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, Thus far the Lord has helped us.” Ebenezer means stone of help.

I record my Ebenezer victories in my journal and circle them with colored pencil. They often end in my writings. Here is an amazing one that I want to share with you. After my brain injury in 1/2/17, I could not see clearly. My pupils were small and odd shaped and they looked sick.

However on October 6, as I was fixing my breakfast, it felt like the bones around my eyes were stretching out on the sides. Then after I gave thanks for my food I was startled at the brightness of my egg yolk, and the purple of my blueberries. All at once it hit me. I raced into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My eyes were big, and round, and perfectly centered!

You can read more of God’s miraculous interventions in my life in my latest book, “He Drew Me Out Of Deep Waters: encouragement for hard trials.” All my ebooks and paperbacks are on Amazon.

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.” In every situation of our lives, His Presence embodies the air we breath. He delights to help us.

We are never alone. The Bible is a record of God’s intervention in the lives of His children. That’s why I love to read the Psalms when my life is being shaken by circumstances. They encourage me. They remind me of how the Lord works through His unchanging grace, mercy, and love.

Our Ebenezer stones are a testimony of what the Lord has done in our lives, and what we can always expect through His impeccable attributes. Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the Lord, I do not change…” Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He not said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

Finishing Well

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Finishing Well

Paul set the example for us as the end of his life was eminent. One book I read said that he was in a little hut waiting for his execution. He could hear the boots of his executioners coming down the path. What was it like for him?

2 Timothy 4:7-8 says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Today is a tribute to my friend Elliott Lovelace. He received his crown of righteousness a few days ago. Elliott was a part of my life all my life. He knew my parents before they were married. He was with them on their dates as they went door to door telling folks about the Lord.

He was a husband, father, grandfather, an evangelist, pastor, teacher, and a friend. His life exemplified the Lord, and his race was a testimony of God’s abounding grace. He had a great voice, and he and my mom frequently sang duets together.

What about you? Are you fighting the good fight of faith? I’m reading a book by Elizabeth Elliot. It is written at the beginning of her and Jim’s relationship. The Lord had them both wait. How did they wait? They continually offered up their unfulfilled longings as a well pleasing sacrifice to the Lord.

In this life we will have trials that severely test our faith. Yet, it is IN the testing that we draw nearer to the Lord. He alone becomes our focus and our hope. As we run our race, if we keep the Lord in laser-focus, we will confidently embrace every aspect of our suffering. We will finish well so that He is honored and glorified.

Wait, Wait! Part Two

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Here is my favorite scene of waiting. 2 Samuel 5:18-24. The Philistines had deployed themselves in battle array. David inquired of the Lord and He gave him specific instructions. There was a great victory breakthrough (Baal Perazim).

Same situation. The Philistines again deployed themselves. David did not copy what he had done before. Again he inquired of the Lord. This time the Lord told him to wait until he heard the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees.

Can’t you imagine that scene? David and his army are waiting with hearing ears. They are ready, but they are not to move until…then to advance quickly.

It is a great lesson to us in waiting. Here is another scene I love and refer to often in my mind. The Lord told Samuel that the next day he would encounter a young man who would become the king.

1 Samuel 9:14 is the divine interception. It says, “So they went up to the city. As they were coming into the city, there was Samuel, coming out toward them on his way to the high place.”

Verse 23 says, “And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, Set it apart.” As you read on you will see how the cook brought out the the ‘set apart’ portion.

As we wait, the Lord is setting up His provision for us. It is all behind the scenes. It requires our full trust. Wholly, absolutely, intentionally, trusting even when we cannot see any evidence of God’s provision.

Genesis 18:14 says, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Genesis 21:2 says, “For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the SET TIME of which God had spoken to him.”

We are purified-strengthened in our faith through our trial of waiting. God is acting on our behalf. He brings up any dross of impatience that would thwart His purpose.

Wait, Wait!

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Why is it that our flesh reacts when we have to wait? We do not like our goals being blocked. I’m scheduled to write for the Life Project devotional, so I’ve been thinking about my verse.

Luke 21:19 says, “By your patience, possess your souls.” It is a simple instruction, but a hard one to live. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. Therefore, it is borne when we are yielded to the Holy Spirit’s control. Impatience is fruit of the flesh.

Psalm 27:14 is a great heart-governor verse. It says, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Waiting is a trial that reveals the hidden dross of impatience. Proverbs 19:2 Amplified says, “Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overly hasty is to sin and miss the mark.”

Have you ever bought something on impulse and regretted it later? Regrets come from haste. We can speak hasty words that wound. We can act out of impulse and error.

Moses forfeited the opportunity to enter into the promised land because of his impatience with the people. Numbers 20:8-12 says that he was to speak to the rock, but in his haste he struck it.

Wholly
Absolutely
Intentionally
Trusting

Impatience impairs good judgment. Think of how many times someone has passed you on the freeway because they were impatient? Impatience is a mental dialogue against what we perceive is blocking our goal. Therefore it is fought though our thoughts, bringing them back into focus on the Lord.

Impatience is noisy and persistent. Psalm 131:2 says, “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.”

The fruit of waiting is that God will act on our behalf (Isaiah 64:4). Isaiah 30:18 says, “Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you…” We miss His grace for our situation when we react in our flesh.