all stirred up

Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood and the adventures they had together. When those kids got together they stirred each other up to do and say things they would never have said or done alone, often that was dangerous.

When my kids were little, I found when they got with certain others the same thing happened.

But that isn't just true of kids, often in times of difficulty and hard situations people gather and to relieve the stress and emotions they are feeling and they talk and talk and talk. They tell and retell the same things over and over and over, hoping for some small clue of an answer. But what often happens, that instead of gaining helpful insight they end up stirring up one another: inciting angry or fearful emotions that trouble them increasing their stress even more.

That I think is why GOD tells us to go to JESUS 1st with all our thoughts(1) to go 1st to HIM not other people for counsel (2) and to acknowledge HIM in everything (3) HE promises peace if we will do just that (4)

Jesus addressed this in John 14:1. "Don't let (allow) your heart to be troubled (stirred up by another), neither let it be afraid. You believe in GOD, trust also in ME. "

The words that follow are really a comfort right now since Pat has chosen to withdraw from medical help. John 14:2-6 "There are many mansions in MY FATHERS house.. and I am going there to prepare a place for you... when everything is ready I will come and get you so that you will always be with ME where I am. You know where I am going and how to get there... Jesus said, I am the way the truth and the life. No one can come to the FATHER except through ME."

This morning memories flooded in as I read those words. I can still picture Pat sitting in his and Janet's living room zestfully singing, " I've got a mansion right over the hilltop in that grand land where we never grow old... and someday yonder, I will never more wander but walk the streets of the purest gold. "

Right now Pat can't walk but:

Isaiah 26:19 "We have this confidence, those who belong to GOD will live and their bodies will raise again. Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and (dance and) sing for joy!"

(1) 2 Corinthians 10:5 take all your thoughts to JESUS...
(2) Isaiah 30: Woe to the rebellious children who take counsel but not of ME and carry out a plan that is not MINE.
(3) Proverbs 3"5-7a Trust in the LORD with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct your path. Be not wise in your own eyes...
(4) Philippians 4:6,7 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell GOD (how you feel &) what you need, and thank HIM for all HE has done. If you do this, you will experience GOD's peace, which will throw you beyond having to understand. HIS peace will guard your hearts and minds ...

the light came on

Sitting wrapped in a blanket this morning, I talked with the LORD about the 3 ring circus we have been in that would put the soap opera to shame. All of a sudden a light clicked on in my head and I realized (duh!) how the devil loves to bombard GOD’s children with one thing after another (as seen in Job 1,2) but how GOD uses them each for an end result of good for those who love HIM and are the called according to HIS purposes (Job 42, Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28)

I looked down at my open Bible lying on the chair in front of me and for the life of me I do not know why it was turned to James. I am reading elsewhere. But I looked down and read, James 5:11 NLT We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From this experience we see how the LORD’s plan finally ended in good for GOD is full of tenderness and mercy.

Hugs
Sharon

split personality

I don’t like someone controlling me. Do you?

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things... Romans 8:5

So as I was reading in Romans, that word dominated struck me almost as a slap in the face. It made me think of the study in Daniel and satraps= petty tyrants. A dictionary description of a tyrant is a cruel, oppressive ruler who has seized sovereignty illegally.

And that is what this verse is talking about.

Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The work is known for its vivid portrayal of a split personality, split in the sense that within the same person there is both an apparently good and an evil personality each being quite distinct from the other.

There is also the cartoon notion of a demon whispering in one ear while an angel whispers in the other ear.

Both fiction concepts have an element of truth in reality. For those who have come to JESUS actually do have two very different natures residing within themselves.

Two natures:
When we reach out to JESUS and accept HIS gift of forgiveness and eternal life by believing that HIS death on the cross paid for our sins and are born into GOD’s family, our spirit becomes alive.

From that time on we have 2 natures living within us: the old nature fomerly controlled by the god of this world (1) and the new nature=our spirit= that part of us that communicates with GOD.

When we believe in JESUS we also get a down payment of all that JESUS promises. That down payment is the Holy Spirit: (2) the third person of the GODHEAD; who is co-equal, with GOD the FATHER and JESUS, GOD the SON and is exactly like them in HIS power and nature. One of HIS Biblical names is the mind of Christ.(3)

Can you imagine? GOD lives in us? He has come to be our teacher, comforter, our interpreter, explaining the things of GOD to us. (4)

As long as we walk in tune with the SPIRIT= listening to and following the HOLY SPIRIT, our old sin nature is dormant=inoperative, inactive.(5)

But when we listen to the subtle lies of the evil one, like Eve did in the Garden of Eden, he catches us in a trap (6), by tricking us (7) he illegally overstepping his boundaries and becomes a petty tyrant in our lives since we have given him a foothold=place to operate in our lives.(8).

I have found keys to know who is in who is in control of me. Normally, they are negative things. If I catch myself not loving, if I am not kind, if my thoughts are not those that please GOD, I know without a doubt that I am walking in the flesh and dominated by the evil one.

If you ever find yourself there, cry out to GOD, HE will deliver you. But remember the one you listen to is the one who controls you!

PS the longer you willingly stay in the enemy’s camp the stronger the hold he has on you.

(1) 2Timothy 2: 24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

(2) Ephesians 1: 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory

(3) II Corinthians 210but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?"[But we have the mind of Christ.

(4) Above verse and John 14: 15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth…. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

(5) Galatians 5: 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law…

(6) 2 Timothy 2: , 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

(7) 2 Corinthians 2:11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

(8) Ephesians 4: 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

stubbed toe

Stumbling and falling happens and can really be very dangerous. You and I can even cause another to stumble if our actions encourage another to do something he personally feels is wrong.

Romans 14:13,14 Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.

The Greek word for “stumble” here gives the sense of stubbing one’s toe.

Have you ever stubbed your toe? duh! Painful huh? A sharp blow to a sensitive part of your body can bring tears, but the dangerous thing is that it catches us off balance and may cause us to fall.

I love to walk but some of the sidewalks around here are uneven and I have stubbed my toe several times and nearly fallen...in fact I did fall last time I walked to church and ended skinning my knee. It all happened because my mind was elsewhere and I was not watching where I was going.


The whole situation with Pat losing 1st two of his toes and then part of his leg all started with a simple stubbed toe... look at where it led. (Update follows devotion)

A spiritual stubbed toe can be just as serious, leading to falls that damage or weaken our faith. Therefore we are forbidden to do anything that may cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stub their toe, spiritually speaking.

So let us be alert, watching out for those around us as well as ourselves.

hugs
Sharon

Updates:
The city lift bus is something we are considering if we get to bring Pat home so Mac (70yrs) wouldn't have to lift a wheelchair all the time for Pat needs to go to dialysis 3 times a week. Well tomorrow is the trial run.. pray for strength and peace for Pat and all concerned. It will determine if he gets to come home.

Zachary had another emergency trip to the Children's hospital in Denver today then the one cutting off his bright red casts accidentally knocked out the pin in one of his legs. The doctor took the other pin out and now his legs are merely wrapped in ace bandages. They said, try to keep him from walking (LOL) but if he walks despite the pain, oh well. They are faxing a script to the Colorado Springs Prosthetics place and he should be fitted for his prosthetics within the next few days. It is still up in the air if Zachary will need to get more casts in a few days. I will let you know. Please pray for him and for my Shirley.

And watch where you are going!

Thanks again, hugs
Sharon Manning

causes

Causality is the relationship between an event (the cause) and a second event (the effect), where the second event is a consequence of the first.Life is not always what it seems. You must know the context- the cause.

Look at the pictures and the three true statements below. Then search the next few paragraphs to find the cause and fill in the blanks.

Cause:
Effect: I held Zack

Cause:
Effect: Zack could walk even before his wounds healed.

Cause:
Effect: a black eye

Sometimes we see an effect and conjure up all kinds of scenarios, mere speculations and make judgments without any real basis in reality.

Was I holding Zack still?
No! Zack was terrified and screaming uncontrollably and I held him as close as I could to comfort him while they sawed off his casts
… We will know more tomorrow how things are going for him when he goes up for x-rays. We are hoping the pins (to hold the bones together for fusing after the amputations and bone surgery) will get to come out. But hope the removal of his casts for x-rays is not as traumatic for him as the sawing off his casts Friday... it petrified him plus the casts had become like friends for him cause they enabled him to walk and climb while the wounds were healing.

What about the black eye? Did someone hit her… well in a way, there was a car wreck and the other car hit her car. But some actually thought domestic violence lol!

We all know the term cause and effect but often we see an effect and come to conclusions that have no basis in reality. Like the one who wondered about domestic violence.

I would like to share something that the LORD highlighted to me as I read HIS word today seeing the word because several times. Since the word because is a connecting word used to link the cause with the effect, whenever you see the word because check the context closely to determine what is the cause and what is the effect.

fill in the blanks
Daniel 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Cause:
1-
2-
3-
Effect: Nebuchadnezzar praised, exalted and glorified the King of heaven (note the name the earthly king Nebuchadnezzar called GOD)


Notice the 3 reasons why Nebuchadnezzar praised and exalted and glorified the King of heaven.
1-everything HE does is right
2-all HIS ways are fair
3-HE is able to humble those who walk in pride.
***(notice the great earthly King Nebuchadnezzar’s name for GOD was King of heaven)
***

Ezra 7:6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, because the hand of the LORD his God was on him.

Cause:
Effect: the king granted Ezra everything he asked for.

Ezra 7:9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, because the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10Because Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Cause: because
Effect: Ezra arrived safely in Jerusalem

Cause: Ezra had devoted himself to study, obey and teach the word of GOD
Effect: therefore


GOD’s gracious hand was on Ezra and because of it the king granted him what he asked for and because GOD's gracious hand was on Ezra. he was protected from dangers and delays on his trip to Jerusalem. Why was GOD’s gracious hand on him?

Does GOD play favorites? Vs 6 and 10 show us the reason. Because Ezra turned to GOD and devoted himself to learn (study) and obey GOD’s word and then teach it GOD in turn put HIS gracious hand on Ezra.

When we turn to GOD, we will find HIS good hand upon us.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek ME and find ME because when you seek ME with all your heart. 14 I will let you find ME," declares the LORD,

you do the same things

Romans 2:1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

When I 1st began to see that truth I was horrified at it's implications. But now this verse is a tool. When I see something wrong in another I stop and ask how do I do this (not necessarily the same exact thing but the same kind of thing)

I remember when the LORD was began speaking to me about my stubbornness...
HE used Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

GOD was telling me that HE wanted to instruct and teach me, HE wanted to counsel and protect me, but I needed to learn to listen carefully and obey HIS instruction regardless if I agreed or understood why.

What came across were the words I have made bold. I saw that GOD was speaking of stubbornness. But I refused to acknowledge, even to myself, that I could be stubborn. Rather I reasoned, "I am not stubborn so this must apply to Mac cause he really is stubborn. GOD must want me to pray for his stubbornness"

Don't get me wrong, Mac was stubborn but GOD show me his stubborness so I would see how hateful stubbornness is. By neglecting/ refusing to check myself for stubborness and rejecting the entire idea that I could even be stubborn I delayed/ blocked my own growth in that area and also opened the door/ caused myself much hardship and many trials for GOD had to do things (control me with a bit and bridle) to get me to go the way I needed to go.

Praise the LORD for HIS gentle longsuffering, HE didn't leave me but stayed right by my stubborn side. Yet HE had to put restraints on me that would not have been necessary if I had listened to what HE was saying more clearly and examined myself.

So now when I see a fault in another, I obey GOD's command in Galations 6: 1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch(consider, check) yourself, or you also may be tempted.

1st I stop and ask GOD if that fault lies in me and where then and only then after I deal with the log in my own eye, I am able to help my sister remove the splinter in her eye.

hugs
Sharon

The devil made me do it?

I have this neat friend who is kind and giving. She is a fun person… maybe even a clown and gets people laughing and since laughter is a great medicine you know that is a good thing. My friend loves the LORD but has not studied the Bible much until the past year or so. She now loves Bible study. There is just this one thing I have noticed…. She can study and study and study the Bible and then the only thing she talks about from all her study is some obscure concept that has absolutely nothing to do with knowing JESUS or GOD the Father better or how to live right. Her bunny trails are like the proverbial controversy: how many angels can fit on the head of a pen.

Recently my friend confronted a loved one who used bad language but this time she used my name, saying that I say that the devil can give us thoughts…

Well, she was right on there… for our battle is in the mind (II Cor.10:3-5) and just like that serpent Satan whispered to Eve in the garden that GOD was trying to keep something good from her, so he whispers lies and puts words and thoughts in our minds. And I tell you, he can sound more like me than me.

But although he can put thoughts in my mind, I alone choose what I do with those thoughts or words.

Just like JESUS chose what to do with his suggestions in the wilderness.

I can remember clearly a situation many years ago when tempting thoughts hit so hard and it sounded so like me and you know what is the use of fighting yourself? … but from within another voice whispered, “It’s the battle, Sharon” I had to choose who I was going to listen to… GOD or the liar. If you can’t tell by content whose voice is speaking simply ask. For GOD promises that if we acknowledge HIM that HE will direct us.

Our teacher, the Holy Spirit will show us who is doing the talking if we will stop and ask.

Bill Crosby’s famous, “The devil made me do it” is a lie. The devil can’t make us do a thing. His power is simply in deception. He only has as much power as we give him.

My friend’s love one misunderstood what my friend meant and thought my friend had said she was full of the devil…(Boy how the devil can twist our words to cause division) and her loved one really got mad and won’t even talk to her now.

Of course my dear friend is heartbroken and I told her I would pray about it. After I prayed and went on to the task at hand. An answer began to surface. The answer was not to her problem with her loved one (but as it came into focus I could see they were directly related.) The answer was to a question I had been asking about my friend and the bunny trails she got on.

I had asked the LORD, why (when there was so much to see in a passage that showed us so much of the nature and dealings of GOD and showed us how it all related to us) all she seemed aware of was insignificant controversies like those we are told by Peter to avoid?

The answer to my question, was her answer to her loved one. Rather than to allow my friend to be drawn deeply into the nature of GOD, our enemy quickened her curiosity about insignificant statements to distract her from what GOD had for her in that passage and thus steal it from her.

For you see the devil comes not but to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10 and he will use anything he can to accomplish that purpose.

What a reminder for me to avoid that pitfall of being turned aside to bunny trails.
.
Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.(what is the goal? In my friend’s case; what is the purpose of her Bible study? Is it to learn of GOD and HIS ways or use human reasoning to satisfy her curiosity?)
Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe.
Don't get sidetracked; Prov4:25-27

What is your focus for today? Are you willing to focus your thoughts and energies on God's blessings and upon His will for your life? Or will you let the enemy distract you, stealing your attention from what GOD would show you?

The choice is yours.

Hugs
Sharon