Devotion

[~InHisHands~]

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:13-14

According to scripture, Joshua and Caleb were 2 of the 12 spies sent to the Promised Land to see if it could be taken as God had promised it to them. The others gave a bad report and instilled fear in everyone. But, these two men were the only ones out of an entire generation who were led by the Spirit of God instead of the spirit of fear. Are you led by the Spirit? Those who are led by
the Spirit are sons of God.

But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.
Numbers 14:24

Joshua and Caleb were led by the Spirit. Not by fear. We fail to enter into our own Promised Land because so many times we are led by fear. Fear keeps us from entering into what God has promised for each of us. God describes the Promised Land as a land of milk and honey. Our own is the same. We can't let fear be our guide. Regardless of the situation we must let the Spirit
lead us. If I had let fear be my guide, I wouldn't be the Christian that I am today. I could've easily let the fear of unacceptance take over and not gone to church or bible study or allowed myself to grow because of what my family and friends would've said. I've had to swallow many hurtful comments on my beliefs and how I've made others feel because of them. It isn't me that's
convicting them, it's God. But, I've had to take the verbal persecution for it. Stand with courage and let the Spirit be your guide. Do not let the spirit of fear who's leader is satan, get the better of you. He will fight to win and so should we. Put on the whole armor of the Lord and go into battle with a smile on your face and a song in your heart!

In Christ's Love

 

[~InHisHands~]

Hope you're doin' well little sister!

I'm doing well. I've been trying to quit smoking. I'm on day 7 with the patch. This weekend I'm starting to ween off of them. I'm hoping by mid-December to be an ex-smoker. I went to my parents house yesterday for Thanksgiving dinner and dad smokes. I was snarfing down lollipops like they were going out of style. ~Laughs~ Dad didn't much care for all the "slurping" as he put it. So, I spent most of my time "slurping" in the kitchen with my mother. ~Hehe~ Since it's been a week, I treated myself to a new coffee mug. ~Grin~ I have left overs for today for supper. I think I'm going to go up to work and have lunch with one of my co-workers. They're having chicken today. Plus, I need to drop off some stuff for one of the residents. She needed help addressing envelopes for Christmas cards so I did that for her on Friday night. I have 2 more movies to watch tonight. Last night I watched The Chronicles of Riddick. Tonight I have The Wild and Over The Hedge. Plus, I borrowed the Mr. Bean series again from the folks. Thanks for stopping in to see me. I hope all is well for you, too brother. ~Hugs~

 

[~InHisHands~]

This mornings sermon spoke on God's schedule in our lives. An example that was given was that your 3 yr. old son wants a pocket knife. But, any good father knows that this 3 yr. old isn't ready to handle a pocket knife properly so the dad will wait. The same thing happens in our lives. There are things we are not ready for so, God may wait before giving us things until we are ready for them. Just because we can't see God working in our lives doesn't mean he isn't working. When we get impatient and start trying to take care of things our own and on our own schedule we are no longer in the will of God because we are no longer letting him be in control. The pastor speaks of all the promises in the bible. Yes, we can open our bible...read a promise and claim it but, that doesn't mean it's going to be an immediate handout from God. He does things according to his schedule for us when the time is right. If we're not ready for it...we're not going to get it until we are. We may have to grow more before we are ready. He also spoke on dying. We are on God's schedule. If we've been diagnosed with something terminal and it's our time to die...there is no doctor, no surgery, no treatment, no other human being that will keep us from the death bed. As Christian's we have to surrender the control to the Lord. He can and will handle all of our needs and our lives according to his will and his schedule. We can't rush the Lord.

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
Isaiah 64:4 {NIV}

 

[HisBelovedMelody]

wow, sounds like a good sermon! thanks for sharing.

 

[~InHisHands~]

You're very welcome Mel.

 

[~InHisHands~]

Be back later today everyone. ~Hugs~

 

[Abigayle's Legacy]

Red sweetie happy you enjoyed the singing with your morning coffee....LOL .....I need to talk with you...about something, anyway we can arrange that even via pm is fine.
Please....thanks hon...no need to answer here just let me know.
G

 

[~InHisHands~]

~Sends a message to Gabs and stops in for a cup of coffee~

 

[~InHisHands~]

I think I'm going to have to stop using my patches. I think they are making me feel sick.

I'm going to go rest for a bit. Be back later.

 

[HisBelovedMelody]

I think I'm going to have to stop using my patches. I think they are making me feel sick.

I'm going to go rest for a bit. Be back later.

do you think you will continue to stop smoking? Hope you don't go back to it.

 

[~InHisHands~]

do you think you will continue to stop smoking? Hope you don't go back to it.

I've been using the patch for a week now. I think if I just apply myself I'll be alright.

 

[~InHisHands~]

We don't hear a lot about the bond servant. A friend of mine pointed out one evening that books and things like that would never sell. He has a good point. Who's going to pick up a book on the 5 points of becoming a bond servant when they could pick up one about becoming a master preacher or one on releasing the leader in you? Not too many of us I suspect. We focus too much on the "me" in our society and not enough on Jesus. We don't see books with titles of "What You Can Do For Jesus." Instead we see titles like "How To Claim The Promise of Prosperity." It's not about us. It's about surrendering ourselves to the Lord and working for him. Not for gains and profits. When we work for the Lord we are working for others. We are not worrying for ourselves. Doing something for ourselves is easy. Doing for others can be a rough road to travel. Why? Because doing for others means we may experience some discomfort and experience something that may be unpleasant for us. But, stop for a moment and imagine what Jesus had to go through on the cross for us. And then stop and think of the outcome. A little discomfort or unpleasantness on our part seems a small price to pay when the outcome is for the glory of the Lord.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:25

Today's generation is more interested in filling seats and trying to sell the idea of Jesus than it is about actually working to teach us about Jesus and about being Kingdom minded. To become a bond servant is to lose sight of us and see only Him. It's not about worrying whether or not people notice us. We want people to hear, notice and submit to Christ. We're not going to save the world. That's the Lord's job. The hard part is getting ourselves out of the way so that he can teach, preach and lead through us. In order for the true body of Messiah to rise up and be that wife that prepared herself for her husband in the book of Revelation we must change and we must do so soon. Many of us just assume that we won't be here so, we need not concern ourselves with the book of Revelation but, it speaks to all who will still be here in the end. Since we don't know when the end is...we need to get busy and listen to the Lord and see to it that others know and are ready. Many do not believe in the rapture. That's fine. But, I personally would much rather be prepared for what may or may not come than be left standing there in utter shock when something happens and I am left behind. Instead of being concerned with the rule and the reign we need to be aware of the will of God and the Kingdom that is to come. We need to be less self aware and more Father aware. Are we living with the right heart?

"5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Philippians 2:5-11 {KJV}

Jesus took upon himself the form of a bond servant or slave to His Heavenly Father. His ear was only attentive to the voice and wishes of His Father, not those around Him. His ear was not nailed to the door-post of the Cross, but rather His hands and His feet. Although He is LORD, he came as a servant to do the will of His Heavenly master . . . Father God.
Paul stressed that this same mind-set should be within us. Think about how church would be if
everyone involved threw out their own agendas and struggles and hit their knees until each fully and completely submitted to the will of God and knew exactly what Jesus wanted in the church. Church would likely change drastically. Church today could be considered strong evidence that we have not become bond servants for Christ. We were slaves to sin. We were purchased out of that slavery through Christ's death on the cross in order to be permanently freed. We have been removed from one kingdom into God's Kingdom. In order to be the bond servant we must become Kingdom minded and become a shadow of Christ.

 

[HisBelovedMelody]

I've been using the patch for a week now. I think if I just apply myself I'll be alright.

wel, will be thinking of you for this. Saying a prayer!

 

[~InHisHands~]

Gonna need it Mel.

 

[HisBelovedMelody]

Gonna need it Mel.

Yep, you are...and that is what you have your friends for....you do know you are loved right?? Me for one, but I know Gabs loves you to pieces and so do a number of others!! Hang in there. HE will see you through...and with some help from your earthly friends.

 

[~InHisHands~]

~Smiles~ I have no doubt.

 

[HisBelovedMelody]

~Smiles~ I have no doubt.

GOOD glad to hear that. I don't want you to ever think you aren't loved or cared for.

 

[~InHisHands~]

Sometimes life just makes us feel that way.

 

[HisBelovedMelody]

Sometimes life just makes us feel that way.

Yep, you are right. BUT I just reminded you, that you are loved. When I need reminding, I hope I get a reminder!!

 

[~InHisHands~]

Mel if you weren't loved I don't think a certain person would've gone to bat for you.