“BROKEN!”

 Psalm 51:16-17                         (ESV)

    “[16] For YOU will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

        YOU will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 

    [17] The sacrifices of GOD are a “BROKEN”spirit;

        a “BROKEN” and contrite heart, O GOD, you will not despise.”

The following devotional was shared this morning by a fellow BELIEVER:

“”God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to produce rain, broken grain to give bread and broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is the broken Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever” (Anonymous).

The little boy gave his lunch to Jesus, who blessed it, broke it, and used it to feed the five thousand men (Matthew 14:18-22).  When we allow ourselves to be broken for Him, God is able to use us.

GOD, break us, mold us, and make us into something usable for You. Amen.””

“When we allow ourselves to be “BROKEN” for HIM, GOD is able to use us” is a concept that might be extremely difficult to understand and implement.   Prior to July 09, 2007 I was living life at such a pace that I was unable to SEE life passing me by!  After being placed in a drug-induced coma for almost three weeks, I was awakened on July 29, 2007 with my Brain healed from the “BROKEN” blood VESSEL in my brain, but my thoughts were moving as though they were in molasses.  

In the 15+ years since, GOD has displayed to me that HE is more satisfied with PRAISE than any service we can offer!  However, HE had to have me “BROKEN” for me to be able to SEE this!  Humanity needs to be “BROKEN” before we SEE the need for a SAVIOR!  ONLY JESUS can cure for our “BROKEN” lives!!!

“HEAR ME!”

 Mark 7:14-21                         (ESV)

What Defiles a Person

[14] And HE called the people to HIM again and said to them, “”HEAR ME”, all of you, AND UNDERSTAND: [15] There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” [17] And when HE had entered the house and left the people, HIS disciples asked HIM about the parable. [18] And HE said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not SEE that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, [19] since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus HE declared all foods clean.) [20] And HE said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. [21] For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, [22] coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. [23] All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

As my life matures past the Brain Hemorrhage of 15+ years ago, I often find myself thinking about how the remnant I am now has changed from the “pre-stroke” vessel I previously was? Before the Brain Hemorrhage I was very vocal about making sure that people heard what I saw as truth, regardless of whether it was uncomfortable for them to accept it or not!  My delivery was BOLD and DELIBERATE, sometimes to a fault, delivering what I felt needed to be said regardless of how it was received.  

In stark contrast, in the Scripture passage above JESUS was trying to relay to “the people” gathered that what was coming OUT of a person DISPLAYED what was on the INSIDE!  HIS disciples even had to “HEAR ME” AND TO UNDERSTAND that GOD needs us to be OBEDIENT, not to take the easy way out of a situation that we find ourselves in! 

Since JESUS is GOD in human form, HE needs to be listened to with more intensity than any other human vessel.  We need to SEE that displaying JESUS through our lives is our chief responsibility, not saying what we think is the easiest thing to say.  As humans, we don’t possess the ability to UNDERSTAND that we REQUIRE a Savior.  The ONLY WAY we are able to be delivered from the penalty of sin is to be CHOSEN in HIM before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4)! 

Is JESUS saying do you “HEAR ME” calling you???  

“GOD GAVE GIFTS TO MEN!”

 Ephesians 4:1-16                        (ESV)

Unity in the Body of Christ

“[1] I therefore, a prisoner for the LORD, urge you to walk in a manner WORTHY OF THE CALLING to which YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the SPIRIT in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one SPIRIT—just as you were called to the one HOPE that belongs to YOUR CALL—[5] one LORD, one FAITH, one BAPTISM, [6] one GOD and FATHER of all, WHO is over all and through all and in all. [7] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of CHRIST’s gift. [8] Therefore it says, 

    “When HE ascended on high HE led a host of captives,

        and “HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN”.”

    [9] (In saying, “HE ascended,” what does it mean but that HE had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? [10] HE who descended is the ONE WHO also ascended far above all the heavens, that HE might fill all things.) [11] And HE gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of CHRIST, [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the SON of GOD, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of CHRIST, [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into CHRIST, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

We are ALL descendants of our CREATOR (Colossians 1:16), although some of us reject being apart of HIS CHOSEN race.  We who have been CHOSEN by our CREATOR (Ephesians 1:4) are NOT perfect or complete.  Why else did “HE gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of CHRIST”?

Know that you have been given “tools” to enhance the lives of others and to BUILD UP the body of CHRIST…not to enhance yourself!  “HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN” that will GLORIFY HIM!  Some are assigned jobs that require characteristics that they haven’t developed yet, but “HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN” that HE has to bring out in HIS DIVINE PLAN!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

 Finding the words to properly enunciate your thoughts is difficult for many, but a hemorrhage located in the “word recall” portion of your brain causes some of us to THINK about what you are saying more completely before voicing your thoughts!  

In November 1621, just over 400 years ago, the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians gathered at Plymouth for an autumn harvest feast, an event regarded as America’s “first Thanksgiving” according to some.  Others say it began even earlier, but the thing that is vastly overlooked by most is that ALMIGHTY GOD has provided us with benevolent enough to bestow PEACE and SECURITY to us and some want to only PRAISE HIM one day a year for HIS PROVISION???

You might not have time right now to absorb Isaiah 42 entirely (25 verses!), but from what I remember of 2007 following the aforementioned brain hemorrhage, I had nothing but time to CONSIDER where I had been AND where I was going!  Our CREATOR has an unfathomable amount of ability to extend our lives, AND the same ability to end our earthly lives!  

We NEED to give HIM more than just one day of THANKS!  We should daily give HIM PRAISE and ADORATION for allowing us to reflect HIS GLORY in “this world”!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING should be celebrated everyday!!!

“YOU CANNOT COME!”

John 8:21-30                                    (ESV)

“[21] So HE said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek ME, and YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SIN. Where I am going, “YOU CANNOT COME”.” [22] So the Jews said, “Will HE kill HIMSELF, since HE says, ‘Where I am going, “YOU CANNOT COME”’?” [23] HE said to them, “YOU ARE FROM BELOW; I AM FROM ABOVE. You are of this world; I AM NOT OF THIS WORLD. [24] I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I AM HE you will die in your sins.” [25] So they said to him, “WHO are YOU?” JESUS said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. [26] I have much to say about you and much to judge, but HE WHO sent ME is TRUE, and I declare to the world what I have heard from HIM.” [27] THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND that HE had been speaking to them about the FATHER. [28] So JESUS said to them, “When you have lifted up the SON of MAN, then you will know that I AM HE, and that I do nothing on MY own authority, but speak just as the FATHER taught ME. [29] And HE WHO  sent ME is with ME. HE has not left ME alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to HIM.” [30] As HE was saying these things, many believed in HIM.”

For we who are able to SEE, it is plain to UNDERSTAND that JESUS was trying to explain to “the Jews” (v.22) WHO HE was, and that they SPECIFICALLY would not be CHOSEN (Ephesians 1:4) to follow HIM, but they would be left behind because “you are of this world”!

Knowing that you are not CHOSEN has to be sickening?  The EYE OPENING thing is, those who are not CHOSEN aren’t able to grasp what is right before their EYES, that TRUTH is available to them to avoid what is coming to them at THE JUDGMENT.  We must be grateful that our EYES can SEE our wretchedness, that we are UNABLE to live HOLY enough to satisfy our needs. 

I pray that you will not HEAR one day that “YOU CANNOT COME”???

“THE FALL!”

 Genesis 3:1-7                           (ESV)

“THE FALL”

“[1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD GOD had made. He (the serpent) said to the woman, “Did GOD actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”  [2] And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, [3] but GOD said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT EAT of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” [4] But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. [5] For GOD knows that when you eat of it YOUR EYES WILL BE OPENED, and you will be like GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL.” [6] So when the woman SAW that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and THAT THE TREE WAS TO BE DESIRED TO MAKE ONE WISE, SHE TOOK of its fruit and ate, and she also GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND who was with her, and he ate. [7] Then the EYES OF BOTH WERE OPENED, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”

Far too many times I let my “inquiring mind”lead me into an area where I am not capable of handling THE TRUTH!  This causes me grief!!!  I want to know everything there is to know about everything, but my infinite mind cannot comprehend or understand anything that my CREATOR hasn’t ordained it to SEE!

Adam and Eve were the CREATED by ALMIGHTY GOD.  The desire to KNOW what only comes from GOD can be confusing.  We can only SEE (fully understand) what our minds can comprehend.  From a Brain Hemorrhage survivor, this fact is vividly clear!  Knowing the “odds” were not favorable for survival, much less a recovery where I would be able to function without great assistance, is something that I am extremely BLESSED and GRATEFUL for.  

Adam and Eve didn’t have the SCRIPTURES to guide their lives, but that was part of HIS PLAN, not ours!   FAITH in ALMIGHTY GOD to LEAD us through this life is NOT something we earn nor are worthy of   We are CHOSEN as part of HIS PLAN.  We must understand that “THE FALL” is a part of HIS PLAN!  My Brain Hemorrhage was part of HIS PLAN!  The Pharaoh of Exodus 14 was a part of HIS PLAN!  There is evil that GOD uses for HIS GLORY!  “THE FALL” demonstrated that an ALL KNOWING GOD can provide salvation to we who have no intrinsic value other than HE CHOSE US!

My “inquiring mind” will never understand why a HOLY GOD would put up with a vessel that a vessel that is so deformed?  But GOD CHOSE me before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) to LIVE for HIM, for HIS GLORY!  HE uses we who have experienced “THE FALL” to be IMPUTED with the RIGHTEOUSNESS of HIS SON!!!

“THE TRUTH!”

John 14:6                               (ESV)

“JESUS said to him, “I AM the way, and “THE TRUTH”, and the LIFE. No one comes to the FATHER except through ME.

Recently I was exposed to a story of a retired military officer and he was quoted as saying “I call it a war of narratives where there is distraction. There’s deception. There’s truth.  There is some physical aspects of it.  “Smart generals over the history of time have always used distraction, deception, untruths, and mixed with some truth.”  This military man spoke what he observed as true, but the dissemination of TRUTH wasn’t something that he speaking about.

JESUS had just washed HIS disciples feet, an act of servitude that was usually reserved for servants!  Yet THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES subjected HIMSELF lowering of what HE knew about HIMSELF and serving the needs of HIS followers for the Glory of HIS FATHER!  While it is accepted that the disciples were CHOSEN, ALL of them were flawed, some to a great degree.  Why did the CREATOR OF ALL THINGS (Colossians 1:16) bow to washing the feet of the disciples shortly before HIS crucifixion?  

Shortly thereafter, JESUS spoke to them “I AM the way, and “THE TRUTH”, and the LIFE. No one comes to the FATHER except through ME”!  A few days later JESUS was crucified on Calvary, something that HE knew would bring separation from THE FATHER!  Yes, JESUS had never experienced being alone from GOD THE FATHER until HE was on the cross of Calvary.  “THE TRUTH” is that this sacrificial offering had to be paid in order for my wretchedness to gain salvation from the punishment I deserved!  And THAT is “THE TRUTH”, no matter how many times we humans misuse the word!!!

Jeremiah 17:5-13 (ESV)

 Jeremiah 17:5-13                             (ESV)

   “[5] Thus says the LORD:

    “Cursed is the man who trusts in man

        and makes flesh his strength,

        whose heart turns away from the LORD. 

    [6] He is like a shrub in the desert,

        and shall not see any good come.

    He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,

        in an uninhabited salt land.

    [7] “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

        whose trust is the LORD. 

    [8] He is like a tree planted by water,

        that sends out its roots by the stream,

    and does not fear when heat comes,

        for its leaves remain green,

    and is not anxious in the year of drought,

        for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

    [9] The heart is deceitful above all things,

        and desperately sick;

        who can understand it? 

    [10] “I the LORD search the heart

        and test the mind,

    to give every man according to his ways,

        according to the fruit of his deeds.”

    [11] Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch,

        so is he who gets riches but not by justice;

    in the midst of his days they will leave him,

        and at his end he will be a fool.

    [12] A glorious throne set on high from the beginning

        is the place of our sanctuary. 

    [13] O LORD, the hope of Israel,

        all who forsake YOU shall be put to shame;

    those who turn away from YOU shall be written in the earth,

        for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.”

“THE JEWS GRUMBLED ABOUT HIM!”

 John 6:41-44                     (ESV)

“[41] So “THE JEWS GRUMBLED ABOUT HIM”, because HE said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” [42] They said, “Is not this JESUS, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does HE now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” [43] JESUS answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. [44] NO ONE can come to ME UNLESS THE FATHER WHO SENT ME draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

“THE JEWS GRUMBLED ABOUT HIM” speaks very vividly about the ones who were finding fault with JESUS.  One dictionary says that those who GRUMBLE have a “discontented or dissatisfied mood”.  Apparently “the Jews” EYES were not OPENED to SEE JESUS as the SON of the living GOD?  How could anyone observe GOD IN FLESH and not be able to SEE that HE was of DIVINE origin???

“THE JEWS GRUMBLED ABOUT HIM” because they could NOT SEE WHO HE was, and HIS DIVINITY was totally beyond their comprehension!  They “thought” they were absolutely right, but they were as far from TRUTH as they could possibly be!  THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES was in their midst and they were unable to recognize HIM!  HE WHO was giving them the breath they breathed (Isaiah 42:5) was speaking to them and they wanted to question WHO HE was?

“THE JEWS GRUMBLED ABOUT HIM”, but are we any better?  We claim to be CHOSEN to serve HIM, but do we serve HIM every opportunity we have, or GRUMBLE that everything is less than perfect in our journey?  FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause me to always SEE where “I could be” without YOUR intervention in my life!  My JOY doesn’t need to be overshadowed by “THE JEWS GRUMBLED ABOUT HIM”!!!

“THE ONE THAT IS LOST!”

 Luke 15:3-7                      (ESV)

“[3] So HE told them this parable: [4] “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after “THE ONE THAT IS LOST”, until he finds it? [5] And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ [7] Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Repeating the same MESSAGE over and over can be extremely frustrating.  But knowing that  our CREATOR (Colossians 1:16) says that going after “THE ONE THAT IS LOST” and leaving the 99 (with the HOLY SPIRIT to keep them) should make us extremely grateful??

One would think that we who have been “rescued” by THE LORD should have a desire to be mature enough to struggle through a brief period by ourselves???  But like sheep, we tend to wander at times in a path that is not always the right way to go!  I was “rescued” on January 08, 1977 and my evaluation of my growth was pretty positive (for the most part) as I sojourned through “this world”.  But when I “experienced” the Brain Hemorrhage fifteen years ago I was able to SEE a few years later that I was NOT in control at all, and was extremely grateful that HE was!!!  Even controlling my breathing while in the coma wasn’t in my control!  A machine had to assist me with that.  

When you SEE that you are NOT in control of anything, only then can you fully understand that HE IS IN CONTROL!  When you are the one who is seemingly “LOST” with no clear direction to sojourn, it could be that THE CREATOR is leading you on a PATH where HE will be GLORIFIED by your journey???  KNOWING that HE IS FAR MORE CAPABLE of leading us is something that is a difficult thing to accept, but liberating as well!

The Scripture above has been made known to me since I was a child, but I would never say that I have LEARNED the lesson from it completely.  Maybe I need to yield to HIS LEADERSHIP in my life (as in the 17 day coma!) as “THE ONE THAT IS LOST”???  HE has a PLAN, and I need to be submissive to HIS WILL for my life!!!

“PROVIDED WE SUFFER WITH HIM!”

 Romans 8:14-17                        (ESV)

“[14] For ALL WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT of GOD are sons of GOD. [15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the SPIRIT OF ADOPTION as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” [16] The SPIRIT HIMSELF bears witness with our spirit that WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, [17] and if children, then heirs—heirs of GOD and FELLOW HEIRS WITH CHRIST, “PROVIDED WE SUFFER WITH HIM” in order that we may also be GLORIFIED with HIM.”

According to those who claim to know, the world population is currently approximately 8 billion people. Of these multitude of people, our CREATOR has only selected a certain ones to CHOSEN to “suffer” for HIS GLORY.  In writing to the Roman church the Apostle Paul identifies these Believers as SPIRIT OF ADOPTION in the focal passage above.  To be ADOPTED in a society could grant the said child full rights of inheritance!  

It is difficult for this finite mind to grasp that a person can be CHOSEN “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4), especially when the subject is according to Romans 3:10 “None is righteous, NO, NOT ONE”!!!  Why would THE CREATOR divinely select me out of all of HIS CREATION to sacrifice HIS SON so I could spend eternity with HIM in HEAVEN???  The only way to fathom this is to accept HIS AMAZING GRACE and be forever grateful for HIM!

As humans, we have NO intrinsic value in our earthly lives.  If we are CHOSEN, we need to prepare for times that we are subjected to persecution.  “PROVIDED WE SUFFER WITH HIM” isn’t a veiled threat, it is what comes before “in order that we may also be GLORIFIED with HIM”.  Most want to “be GLORIFIED with HIM”, but we try to ignore the “PROVIDED WE SUFFER WITH HIM” that precedes it!  REJOICE when “PROVIDED WE SUFFER WITH HIM” is exhibited in your life, because that is followed by “that we may also be GLORIFIED with HIM”!!!

“WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST!”

 2 Corinthians 5:17-21                    (ESV)

“[17] Therefore, if anyone is in CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATION. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. [18] All this is from GOD, WHO through CHRIST reconciled us to HIMSELF and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] that is, in CHRIST GOD was reconciling the world to HIMSELF, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [20] Therefore, “WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST”, GOD making HIS appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of CHRIST, be reconciled to GOD. [21] For our sake HE made HIM to be sin WHO knew no sin, so that IN HIM we might become the righteousness of GOD.”

Trying to negotiate an outcome of a situation is something that we humans tend to default towards.  When we do not see the hope for a “good outcome” we tend to begin negotiating for a lesser outcome, which humanity seems to accept as best the way out of hopeless position.  

So often we attempt to find a way out of our predicament with very little hope for a reprieve.  The concept of IMPUTATION is described as “the action or process of ascribing righteousness, guilt, etc. to someone by virtue of a similar quality in another”!  Our GUILT is IMPUTED upon CHRIST when we accept him as our LORD and SAVIOR!  But in the EYES of THE FATHER, the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST is also IMPUTED to us, not because we are worthy, but because HE CHOSE (Ephesians 1:4) before the foundation of the world!  

“WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST” and certainly I need to be ever more mindful of this!  The next point that is written is “GOD making HIS appeal through us”!  We are not left on earth to simply use the oxygen we are provided!  In HIS OMNIPOTENT wisdom, GOD chooses to make HIS appeal to others through the testimony others SEE in our reactions to the cares of “this world”!  

FATHER IN HEAVEN, USE ME to draw others to YOU because “WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST”!!!

“HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART!”

 Psalms 27:14                       (KJV)

“WAIT ON THE LORD: be of good courage, and “HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART”: WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD”.”

There are times (far too many!) that I find myself wanting results in this fast-paced environment where I find myself!  Is it possible that the place where I am is not where GOD’s PLAN would have me currently be located?  

KNOWING precisely what GOD has for our future isn’t as simple as one might desire.  HE may have us “get alone with HIM” and GROW a bit?  But for this “natural man” it is seemingly impossible to “get alone with HIM”?  We might need to get away from “this world” and BE STILL (Psalms 46:10)???

When we are facing “the enemy” and we KNOW that ALMIGHTY GOD is trying to SPEAK in HIS “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12), “HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART” might be our best option?  

“BACK TO EGYPT!”

 Numbers 14:1-4                                 (ESV)

The People Rebel

“[1] Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. [2] And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! [3] Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” [4] And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go “BACK TO EGYPT”.””

In Wednesday evening Bible Study last evening at the fellowship I attend we were led to the verses above, including several other passages of Scripture.  My mind could NOT FATHOM a people who were as BLESSED as the Children of Israel, who had lived through so many MIRACLES on their behalf and who were given a PROMISE from ALMIGHTY GOD would want to DOUBT HIS WORD and run from the PROMISE HE was about to give them???

But what about me?  ALMIGHTY GOD delivered a product of a single parent household, married to a beautiful young woman nearing 40 years, and father of two healthy sons through a 17 day coma and a two year hiatus from work and I sometimes wonder if HE has CHOSEN me!  Ten years later HE orchestrated quadruple bypass surgery for me and I was back at work less than two weeks later!  

The Children of Israel were NOT the only ones to forget about their JOURNEY!  Even though I have been DELIVERED so meticulously through the “valley of the shadow of death” on more than one occasion, I STILL need to be reminded that HE HAS A PLAN for me and I DO NOT WANT TO GO “BACK TO EGYPT”!!!  

“FORCES OF EVIL!”

 Ephesians 6:12                       (ESV)

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

“GRANTED TO US!”

 2 Peter 1:3-4                                     (ESV)

Confirm Your Calling and Election

“[3] HIS DIVINE POWER has “GRANTED TO US” ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE and GODLINESS, through the knowledge of HIM WHO called us to HIS OWN GLORY and excellence, [4] by which HE has “GRANTED TO US” HIS precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

The SPIRIT OF GOD directed me to 2 Peter 1 during this study, and the words “GRANTED TO US” kept leaping from the words of the Bible into my heart and began to speak to me.  Although the word GRANT is defined as “to give or bestow”, when one receives a GRANT it normally costs them NOTHING!  It is FREE!  

HIS DIVINE POWER has “GRANTED TO US” ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE and GODLINESS is what GOD was speaking to me through HIS WORD when I was searching Scripture recently.  Our HEAVENLY FATHER “GRANTED TO US” (or will) everything that is needed to achieve HIS PLAN for our lives!  The same GOD WHO orchestrated the Red Sea crossing for HIS CHILDREN known as the Israelites has “HIS precious and VERY GREAT PROMISE, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

When our EYES are OPENED to SEE the TRUTH being fulfilled in our lives, it is almost breathtaking, causing me to ponder what THE LORD is trying to accomplish in my Brain Damaged mind?  GOD IS ABLE, able to use even someone who has been in “the valley of the shadow of death”, to accomplish HIS PURPOSE!  HE has GRANTED TO ME life for over 62 years and I will serve HIM EVERYDAY HE permits me to breathe HIS oxygen!  When we FINALLY are able to SEE what has been “GRANTED TO US” by HIS DIVINE POWER, we have NO CHOICE but to serve HIM!!!