Wonderful Jesus!

Tag: word of God

• God, the Sovereign Lord!

  Posted at 8:40 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on July 9, 2020

  Deuteronomy 3:24 – “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?” NIV

  I was reading in a theology text about the sovereignty of God. In the conclusion, the author wrote that God is sovereign, meaning He is in control over all that has happened or will happen, and over all individuals. He further stated that God has the right and the power to do whatever He wants. Where I agree on some levels, I disagree on others. Let me explain!

  God is sovereign. The Hebrew word for sovereign is “pantokrator” and it simply means, the all-ruling God, as in absolute and universal God. The word Almighty and omnipotent is associated with this term. The prophet Isaiah declared, “Our God reigns!” And it is echoed throughout His word. He reigns Supreme over all the earth. I am in complete agreement with this truth! God is the all-ruling, Almighty God!

  Moses declared in our text that there is no other god in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works that He does! Which brings me to the second point. He’s all powerful, and there is no one like Him! He can do anything. We see that also portrayed throughout scripture starting with creation. Everything God does is a demonstration of His power. He is all-powerful! He can mimicked, but not duplicated!

  God is also omnipresent! David wrote in a psalm that there was nowhere he could flee from the presence of God. Nowhere! And it’s the same for us! God is everywhere, at the same time, all of the time. Nothing and no one escapes Him. He’s not waiting on a taxi to get to you and your situation, He is already there!

  And God is omniscient! He knows everything, about everything, and anything! There is no revelation that He needs to have! He already knows it all! Not only does He know everything, He knows how to operate wisely with that information. He’s awesome and truly amazing! He’s God, the Sovereign One!

  The part that troubles me, as a Believer, is attributing everything that happens to God. I don’t agree with this for a number of reasons:

  • Just as we know there is God, we know there is the devil. He has been given authority, by Adam, in this natural realm, and constantly keeps things going. When the sea was raging, while Jesus and His disciples were in the boat, Jesus rebuked it. Why would He rebuke what God was doing? The devil creates all kinds of havoc in this world, and people are quick to blame God. God may not stop it, but that doesn’t mean He is responsible for it! Let’s learn to ask Him what’s going on, so that we are attributing His works to Him, and the devil’s work to the devil.
  • We are told to pray! If God does what He wants to do, irrespective to mankind, then why do we need to pray? If things are just happening around us and we’re just puppets on a string, doing His bidding, then what need is there to pray! I can tell you this, I have seen God’s hand move in numerous situations, and I know that prayer brings changes in this earth realm. We don’t change God, but we can definitely call out to Him to change situations and circumstances. And He not only promised to answer, He answers!
  • He knows what we are going to ask, say, or do, before we do it. Again, He’s omniscient! That doesn’t mean He’s writing the playbook of our lives to the tiniest details. For example, as a teacher, I know my students pretty well. If I offer them free time, I can easily tell you what they will do. (This is by no means to say that I operate to the same degree of the Father, just an example!) In knowing this, I do not make them do a particular activity, I just know that they will. Free choice is what God has given to us! For Him to overrule our free choice, with His choice, is a violation of what He promised. (Can He overrule? Yes! He is God!) I asked for His guidance in choosing a mate, and He led me to my husband. But there were other men in my acquaintance. I could’ve chosen another! My life may have been miserable, and definitely a lot different than it is, but it was my choice! So while He has the right to do what He wants, He doesn’t!
  • And yet He does! When He wanted a virgin to conceive, He overrode the natural course of things! When He wanted to raise Jesus from the dead and allow His Blood to cleanse us from our sins, He did what He wanted to satisfy the payment for sin. When He decided that we could only be saved by believing in Jesus and what He did at Calvary, that’s just the way we are reconciled to Him! When He said that if we die in our sins, we will go to hell, it will happen as He said. When He said a display of love towards Him is measured in our obedience, He set the standard! What He has determined through His word, is so! He is sovereign, and His will, and His way, will be yardstick by which we are handled by Him! Period!

  When our oldest child was born, she was diagnosed with abnormal seizure disorder. We agreed that wasn’t God! We asked everyone we knew to agree with us in prayer that she would be healed. She was declared whole by six months! Not a single seizure since we prayed. Did God give her seizures? No! I’d say it was an attack from the pit of hell, before I attributed that to God! But He sure did heal her!

  I was told by a well meaning pastor, when I asked about divine healing, that God is sovereign and I have to trust Him. He was absolutely correct, while he was absolutely wrong! He was saying that I needed to trust God with the prognosis over my daughter because it was His will and that’s why she was like she was. However, I came to understand that it is His will to heal, and because He has all power in His hand, He had the ability to change it! So the Sovereign Lord God healed all of our children from one thing after another, because we dared to believe Him.

  Here’s what I have found! Don’t get mad with me, get mad at those who desire to teach us error! Those who accept this que sera sera gospel have not been taught the gospel of Jesus Christ with accuracy! They haven’t prayed and seen mountains moved. They haven’t believe for a change and seen it come to pass. They haven’t expected divine interventions and rejoiced over them! Because if they had, they would never again buy into this “God’s in control, so we just have to accept it” doctrine ever again!

  Let me reiterate! I believe in the Sovereign God! His Son is Jesus! He is absolutely amazing and does wonderful things! His love and mercy is boundless towards us! No one can match Him and everyone and everything falls short, in comparison to Him. Way short! But He has given us access to Him, to His throne, and to power through the precious Blood of Jesus! We don’t have to settle, accept, or get over anything that is contrary to His Word! We just need to recognize this Amazing God we serve, is willing to be amazing for us! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in God, sovereign God | 2 Comments | Tagged God, Healing, obedience, sovereign God, sovereignty, supernatural, trust, word of God

• Where Did You Build?

  Posted at 3:49 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on June 13, 2020

  Matthew 7:24-27 – “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” ESV

  

  Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount with this parable. It’s actually a very fitting ending to a remarkable teaching to His followers about life in the Kingdom of God. The hearers in the audience were raised in Judaism, whose ancestry went back to Abraham, and they were very familiar with the Law. However, in this sermon, Jesus doesn’t stress the importance of following the Law, but the importance of a sincere heart of obedience towards God.

  This parable is short and to the point and needs little interpretation. The message of this parable, is powerful and life changing, and as applicable today as when He first spoke it.

  There are two builders. One is wise and one is foolish. The wise man builds his house on a rock, and according to Luke, he dug deep into the rock to lay his foundation. The foolish man built his house on the sand, without laying a foundation at all. The storms came upon both houses, but the house built on the rock, with deep foundations, withstood the storms, while the house on the sand was destroyed.

  I read in a commentary on Matthew, that the land of Palestine required that one should be careful about where he chose to build a house. In some areas, the land was filled with gullies, or ravines created by water. In the summer time the sandy hollows of the gullies looked like a great place to build, because of it’s flat surface. However, if you chose that area upon which to build, in the winter you would have raging torrents of rushing water to deal with. If this were to happen, it could literally destroy your house.

  Imagine you built your house in a gully thinking that it’s a great place to enjoy the sun and sand, and maybe even the waterfront. You have easy access to the life you enjoy and all is well in the land. Then one day the heavy winds and rain come along and you have to get out as fast as possible to not be carried away with the house. Life isn’t fair! How could God let this happen to you?

  Your neighbor, on the other hand, built his house on the hill. When the storm came, he and his family were quite safe in their home. They continued on as usual because their sturdy house, that had it’s foundation in the rock, was secure. Again, you think, life isn’t fair! God loves your neighbor more than you! Does He? Or is there something else going on?

  Jesus says it clearly, the wise men is the one who hears His words and does them. The foolish man is the one who hears His words and does not do them. One person is living a life of obedience and the other person is not. Both of these people heard Jesus, but only one of them obeyed Him. Yet, people easily become embittered over a situation of their own making, blaming God, because someone needs to take the blame, other than them!

  In the Church, we have both types of people: wise and foolish. They both attend church, read the Bible, memorize scripture, attend conferences, and buy Christian literature. They both look the same, like strong Christians! But when the storms of life hit, they reveal the truth about each and every person. Both had the appearance of a solid Christian faith, because they both heard the word, but only one was able to withstand the storm. The one that withstood the storm had laid the foundation of his house on the Rock; while the other one only looked like he had.

  Jesus’ parable is touching a place where we don’t want to go. He lets us know that an intellectual knowledge of Him and His kingdom principles will not sustain you in the tough times. Nor do they represent a commitment to Him. Looking like you are alright, when you are not, will one day expose you for the fraud that you are. It is a life of obedience and heartfelt worship and service that keeps us anchored to the Rock! It is obedience that is the proof of life surrendered to Christ!

  The apostles continued this teaching when James wrote that we are to not only be hearers of the word, but doers also. John furthered this teaching by saying we are liars if we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness. Interesting to note, there was no third house mentioned. You know the one, the house of the partially obedient person?

  If I tell my child to clean the kitchen, and she only washes the dishes, did she obey me? If I tell my student he can go to the bathroom, but he also went to his locker and got some water, did he obey me? If Jesus tells me that committing adultery is wrong, and I’m not having an affair but I love pornography, am I obeying Him?

  Jesus introduced, at the close of His sermon, a radical new way of thinking. He actually revolutionized what following God was all about. It’s not about getting caught up in the rules and being able to recite them, but demonstrating absolute obedience to Him and His way of doing things. Remember, the wise man’s life was secure in Jesus and protected from the storms, while the foolish man’s life was headed for sure destruction. Are you being wise, or foolish? Only you really know the answer to that question! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in hard times, obedience, Parable of Jesus | 0 Comments | Tagged Christian, God, Handling difficulties, hard times, Jesus, Jesus as teacher, obedience, parable, protection, Victorious Living, word of God

• The Christian and Social Justice

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on June 2, 2020

  Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin [focusing on minor matters], and have neglected the weightier [more important moral and spiritual] provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the [primary] things you ought to have done without neglecting the others. AMP

  

  All around America, and in other parts of the world, there is an outcry of racial injustice. People of every ethnic group are crying out for something to be done to balance the scales of justice for people of color. I mentioned before that I am not blogging for political reasons, and so I tend to not touch the issues surrounding our nation, but this time, I must blog because our lives, people of color, Black people, matter!

  Jesus spoke some really harsh words to the religious leaders of His day. He told them that they were majoring in the things that were minor, while ignoring the things that are important, and justice was the first thing He mentioned. In other words, He commended them for their religious duties, and rebuked them for not dealing with issues of justice.

  Justice means to “make right”. It is a relational term about people living in right relationship with God and with one another. Justice is rooted in the very nature of God Himself because He always does what is right! He is known to be faithful and just! Our very Constitution’s backbone is based on His just laws. And every thing that He is, love, holy, just…He expects from us!

  I have taught the Constitution of the United States in my classroom. As a veteran of the United States Navy, I have sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, understanding that, if need be, with my life. But I am also a Black American! When I see what is happening to the greatest nation on the face of the earth, where we will spend millions for the right to bear arms, and ignore our pledge to “ensure domestic tranquility”, it’s disheartening. For domestic tranquility, peace in the land, can’t happen when it’s peace for some of the people and not all of the people.

  Christians fight against abortion, we fight against gay marriages, and we fight for our religious freedoms, and all too often, many of those same Christians will reply to “Black Lives Matter” by saying “Blue Lives Matter” or “All Lives Matter”. It’s insulting to think that in the slogan Black Lives Matter, there is a suggestion that, no one else matters, when in essence, it’s really saying: We know all lives matter, and we know the lives of policeman matter, but when are you going to start realizing that our lives matter, too!

  There is undeniably a set of rules for Whites, and another set of rules for everyone else. As of 2017, Christians make up over 31% of the world’s population. We are the largest group of people in the world, and yet, racism is still an issue in our world. We have yet to affect enough change upon our laws to ensure that Blacks, and other people of color, have the same protection and value for our lives as our white counterparts.

  The Christian is taught to love as Jesus loved us. We are taught that when we come into the kingdom, we are family. We are taught that greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. And yet, racism is still a major problem in the world. 1 out of every 3 people profess Christianity, and yet, people of color are still seen as substandard, expendable, human beings. This is hypocrisy at its max. And I know that Jesus is not pleased!

  Amongst the anguish, the riots, the looting, the pain, are the voices of some really great people of all color crying out against this injustice. Not just for George Floyd, or Christian Cooper, or my daughters’ classmates whose car windows were broken out while they were tazored repeatedly by the cops; but for all injustices that we, people of color, deal with on a daily basis. It’s just getting so old!

  Here’s the funny thing. I didn’t want to blog on this. I thought, “My readers are all over the world and several of my followers are white people. I am called to teach the word, not to be political, that’s my assignment.” And yet, this is the word, spoken clearly by our Savior! We are not to ignore justice!

  Until we can demonstrate our love for every nation of people, and have the same laws apply to us all, and stand against the injustices of humanity, irregardless of the color of our skin, then we are not demonstrating the values that I see in Jesus and His word. And if you find this offensive, then I would really rather not be followed by someone who sees me as okay as long as I am quiet about my race and the injustices that we have to deal with, day in and day out! Because for me and my family and loved ones, this is a matter of life and death. And we cannot afford to ignore it!

  If you are a Christian who truly believe the Word, then you cannot be passive about social justice. And neither can I! It’s time to pray for racism to be revealed and dealt within our society. It’s time to ask God to help us be a part of the solution, and not a part of the problem. If there is to be peace in America, then it’s time for there to be peace for all Americans! If there is to be world peace, it’s time for it to be available for everyone. We are His hands extended to a lost and racially biased world, and to change it, maybe it’s time for us to change! Wonderful Jesus!

  Note: This is my blog and I fully support the ideas and thoughts expressed in it! I also completely disagree with the violence and looting that is going on and am praying that it cease.

  Posted in Christian, Jesus, Social Justice | 9 Comments | Tagged Christian, George Floyd, hypocrisy, Jesus, love, protection, racism, Social Justice, Tithing, word of God

• Breakfast With the Savior!

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on May 28, 2020

  John 21:12 – “Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.” NIV

  

  Breakfast is said to be one of the most important meals of the day! I know people who wouldn’t dare start their day without breakfast, although, I have done it many times! One of my favorite pastimes is getting together with a friend over breakfast! We laugh, talk, and laugh some more. And we leave refreshed, encouraged and ready to return to the “normal” activities of our day! My favorite breakfast of all, is the one my husband makes for me: French toast with syrup, grits and eggs! I’m making myself hungry thinking about it! I’m sure the reason I love it so much is because he prepares it!

  Recently, I heard a message, given by Pastor Eugene Cho, taken from John 21: 1- 14. I was blessed by his insights into this passage, and I decided to share some of it with you, with a little personal spin.

  Pastor Cho shared that in the beginning of this chapter, Peter announces that he’s going fishing. Several of the disciples were with him and they decided to join Peter. This fishing trip wasn’t about making money, as much as it was about the utter discouragement that they were all experiencing. And therefore, discouraged and disillusioned, they returned to what was familiar, fishing.

  Remember, Peter had promised Jesus, that even if every one left Him, he never would. Jesus told Peter that not only would he deny Him, but that he would do it three times before morning. As passionately as Peter proclaimed his dedication to Jesus, he denied Jesus with even more passion, to point of cursing! Peter’s heart was broken over his denial of Jesus, and so he wept bitterly. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Peter and the disciples were still disappointed, discouraged, and lost. They wasn’t sure about anything in their lives at this point, but they knew how to fish. So off to fishing they went!

  Although they fished all night, they caught nothing. As morning was rolling in, Jesus stood on the banks and called out to them. “Friends, haven’t you any fish!” They replied no, and to this, Jesus responded with a miracle. He told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat and fish started hopping into that net. Of course, when their nets were filled with fish, they recognized it was Jesus speaking to them. They knew He had risen from the dead, but He wasn’t hanging out with them any more. Can you imagine spending all that time with Jesus and then you don’t see Him anymore? Of course, when we have a little dry spell in Him, we begin to panic. So I think you get a slight indication as to how they were feeling. At this point, any opportunity to see Him was an exciting opportunity, I’m sure! So what does Peter do? Peter jumped in the water to swim to shore, while the others stayed on the boat. When they arrive to shore, Jesus has fish cooking, but He told them to bring some of their fish, and He invited them to eat breakfast with Him. Here comes the good stuff!

  Jesus knew their state of mind. He knew they were discouraged. He knew their flesh was shouting to them, to give up on all that He had taught them, to return to what they knew. Just like people we may know today, or maybe even us. They hit a wall in their faith. A church member betrays their trust, a spiritual leader does the unthinkable, someone dies that they feel God should’ve healed, tribulations are overwhelming…I don’t want to depress you, but things happen! As things had happened to Peter and the disciples to bring them to this point. It is knowing this, where they are spiritually and emotionally, that Jesus comes to have breakfast with them.

  Jesus offers no rebuke! “What are you guys thinking? Why are you out here fishing? Have I wasted the last three years of my life with you? Was it all for nothing?” Nope! None of that! He enjoys breakfast with some of His disciples. The fellowship that refreshes, strengthens, and make you glad that you stopped and spent that time with a friend. But this breakfast was about more than friendship, at this breakfast He offers grace and restoration. Especially to Peter. He asks Peter, do you love me, and Peter has a chance to reaffirm His love to Jesus, to His Savior. He had already seen Peter’s tears of repentance. He knew that Peter was disgusted with himself for what he had done. He still had a work for Peter, for His disciples. They needed to be whole and know that He still loved them and believed in them. And so He comes and extends grace and restoration. Then He recommissions Peter and the others for the work of the kingdom. And the rest, as we say, is history!

  There are times we all get it wrong! Times when we desperately want Jesus to truly throw our sins as far as the east is from the west. Times when we are confused, hurt, and vulnerable to the attacks of the devil. But these are the times, that we need to get before the Lord, and dine with Him! Not a literal breakfast, but to feast on His Word, to feast in His Presence, to allow Him to restore to us the joy of our salvation, so we can get back in the race!

  He’s not ready to kick you to the curb! He loves you! And He will give you the opportunity, just as He did with Peter and the disciples, to renew your love for Him, to reaffirm your commitment to Him. There’s no time like the present to “have breakfast” with Jesus! Grace and restoration is available for you!

  Well, this isn’t exactly how he preached his message, but this was my “take away”! I was blessed by it, and wanted to add my two cents! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Discouragement, Forgiveness, Grace, Jesus | 2 Comments | Tagged encouragement, fish, Forgiveness, hard times, Healing, Jesus, love, Peter, restoration, Sin, trust in God, victory, word of God

• A Prepared Table

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on May 14, 2020

  Psalm 23:5- “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” NKJV

  

  Years ago, I was stationed in Italy, while in the Navy. I lived on base and I had my own room. In the room I had a set of bunk beds, a table, a couple chairs, and a refrigerator. I didn’t do a lot of cooking, but I had set my table, prepared at any moment to eat alone, or with a guest. After washing dishes, they would go back on the table and I would be ready once again. I’m not sure where I got that from, but I’ve always loved looking at a table that was set for company or a special meal.

  As I mentioned before, the 23rd psalm is a favorite of mine. I remember a few years ago that I was invited to God’s table, prepared just for me. Here’s how: I was in the midst of some challenging situations and I was spending hours in prayer to keep from walking in my flesh! As I would read the word and pray, I would always find myself hovering around this psalm. Then one night as I slept I had a dream!

  In the dream, I was driving down a street when I saw a man standing on the steps of a church. He began waving at me to come over. I stopped and walked to the church. As he ushered me in the church I realized that I was in a fellowship hall. There was a long beautifully set table. I was escorted to the table that had looked empty when I entered, but was now heavy laden with all types of bread, freshly baked bread. A chair was pulled out and I was invited to sit. It was just me at the table with all this bread. And I knew in my spirit that a table had been prepared for me. Peace flooded my soul and I woke up. Nothing had changed in the natural, but I had a peace that God had prepared a table for me and that He was pleased to my response to what was going on around me.

  God prepared a table for David and anointed him king. He was out in the field with the sheep and a banquet was going on to which he had not been invited. But they didn’t understand that the banquet was in his honor. God had sent Samuel for him, and as the banquet was being prepared no one knew it had been prepared for David.

  It is said that eating and drinking at someone’s table creates a bond of mutual loyalty and could be a culminating token of a covenant, as in the Passover meal that Jesus had with His disciples. It is also said, to be an invited guest of the Lord’s is to suggest that you are more than an acquaintance for a day for it is an invitation to dwell with Him. (Logos)

  David had been talking in metaphorical language about the Lord as his shepherd. Now he is referring to the Lord as his friend. It is an honor to have Jesus as your shepherd, for as such, He provides protection, provision, and healing. To have Him as your friend is an even better position. Friends share with one another, what they wouldn’t just share with everybody. Friends like just being together. Friends are hard to separate, hard to break apart. Friends can be closer and tighter than family. The Bible talks about a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Every one needs one!

  In that difficult season of my life when I was really going through, He invited me to sit at His table and enjoy fellowship with Him over bread. He is the Bread of Life, and bread represents life in dream symbols books. He also told us to pray “give us this day our daily bread”. And here I was at this challenging place in my life and I am being offered bread at a table that has been set, just for me by my Friend.

  Life isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always easy; but Jesus makes it worth the living. He knows what we need and how to provide it. I could not have articulated what I needed at that moment, but He visited with me in a dream that felt so real I smelled the fresh bread. It was as if He had taken leave from His seat by the Father and come for a visit. It was beautiful!

  I have had so many times in my life when I have had similar experiences with Jesus. I get David. His relationship wasn’t about doing stuff as much as it was about time with Jesus. This pandemic has put all of us in a place where we can develop our friendship with Jesus. We certainly have the time! It may start off feeling a little funny, or even a little forced, but the more you take the time to be with Him, He will make the time to be with you. This dream has been on my heart this week and I thought that I would share it with you. My prayer is that you are having these special times with Him already; but if you are not, then I pray that you will begin to pursue that relationship with Him. And one day, you will be invited to sit at the table that has already been prepared for you. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Fellowship with God, Psalm 23 | 4 Comments | Tagged bread, David, encouragemnt, God, hard times, Jesus, love, Prayer, protection, provision, Psalm 23, word of God

• Get a Picture!

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on April 18, 2020

  2 Corinthians 5:7- “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

  Coronavirus is ongoing! Some have perished, and hundreds of thousands are sick with it. And there’s no cure in sight. As a matter of fact, I heard on the news that they are not expecting to have a vaccine until 2022. What are we to do? I believe that this is the time to learn to trust God like never before.

  I like to read the classics, and one of my favorite is, “Christ, the Healer” by F.F, Bosworth. In his book he wrote, “Walking by faith is walking by sight of a better kind…We see with the eye of faith the glorious things that are invisible to the natural eye. Faith is the most rational thing in the world, because it is based on the greatest of facts and realities. It sees God; it sees Calvary, where disease and sin were canceled. It sees the promises of God and His faithfulness.”

  Years ago, when I was a youth minister, one of my teens was involved in a terrible accident. Her skull was cut up to relieve swelling, and all kinds of things were going on. But when we went to visit her in the hospital, her mom had a picture of her posted to her hospital machines and she said basically, “That’s who I see. My daughter completely whole.” I want you to know, that’s what she got! Her daughter completely whole. She refused to believe what she saw in the natural as the end of her daughter’s life and embraced what she saw by faith!

  Dr. Sandra Kennedy shared a similar testimony on Sid Roth. She said her dog accidentally bit her in the face. I don’t remember all the details, but her face was not normal and her speech was impaired. She placed pictures of her smiling face every where in her house and decreed that she was completely restored. And one day she was!

  We did a similar thing in our own life. Our daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis. She was even placed in a body brace to correct it. But then we placed her X-ray on our refrigerator so that every time we say it, we would say her spine was straight, in Jesus’ name! Or we would command it to be straight. And she went for a check-up and the doctor said it was straight. Glory to God!

  These are serious times. They are challenging all of us in ways we couldnt’ imagine, but God was not caught off guard and neither is He worried! He said the just shall live by their faith! Even in a pandemic!

  I like how John Osteen explained the walk of faith. He said basically that you don’t deny the facts of what is happening because they are real. You just choose to agree with what God has to say about things. That’s walking by faith!

  I think about the woman with the issue of blood. She went to see Jesus that she might be healed. I don’t think the Bible tells us all of the details, so let me just add what I think could have happened. When she got there she saw the crowd, and actually heard Jairus ask Jesus to come and heal his little girl. He’s leaving, what will she do now! At that point she could’ve said, it is just not for me to be healed. But she didn’t. She had come to be healed and she was going to be healed. So she said within herself, if I could just touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed. He doesn’t have to see me, He doesn’t have to talk to me or lay hands on me. If I can just touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed. So she pressed through the crowd until she got near enough to touch His hem, and she reached out with the hand of faith, touched it, and was made whole. She saw herself, in her mind, touching the hem of His garment and being healed. And so she was.

  Maybe it is time for you to get a picture. What are you believing God for? Is it healing, get a picture of you completely healed. Is it a spouse, get a picture of your honeymoon spot, or a wedding dress! Maybe it’s your finances-well get a picture of your bank book see a balance on it you want to see! Maybe you can’t get a physical picture, but you can see a mental picture of you working, of you pregnant, of you in your new home. Whatever it is, it’s time to look through the eyes of faith. It’s time to see God, to see His promises, to see His word come to pass in your life. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Faith, God’s faithfulness, Healing | 1 Comment | Tagged Believer, coronavirus, encouragement, Faith, Healing, Jesus, miraculous, provision, testimony, trust in God, word of God

• You Are God’s Garden!

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on April 16, 2020

  1 Corinthians 3:9 -For we are God’s fellow workers [His servants working together]; you are God’s cultivated field [His garden, His vineyard], God’s building. AMP

  

  The phrase, “you are God’s garden” has been turning over in my mind for the past few days; and you’ve guessed it, I had to blog about it.

  In verse 6 of this same chapter, Paul wrote, “I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but it was God who gave the increase”.

  Look at the image of the garden! It’s gorgeous! I wouldn’t want the responsibility of it, but I would love to view it every day. That’s an image of you, from heaven’s point of view. It’s how He sees you! Growing more beautiful every day, with vibrant colors, and a variety of flowers, you are a God’s garden!

  Who decides what is planted in this garden? Paul said that he did the planting. Paul was the one who sowed the seed of God’s word to the Corinthian believers. God’s word, His promises, are the seed for your garden. The planting in your garden is based on the word that you hear, read, study, or embrace. Although He sees the end product, beautiful, luscious, vibrant, and well groomed, ultimately, you are responsible for the seed that is planted in your garden. Remember, Jesus said that the seed sown was the word of God.

  Another important ingredient to the well being of a garden is water. Paul said Apollos watered. Apollos came after Paul and watered that seed that Paul had planted. This analogy was based on the ministry they were cultivating in Corinth; but for us, it’s about our own personal garden, our heart. So your garden needs water. This is where you allow the Holy Spirit to help you in the growth of the word. As you meditate on the word of God, rehearse, pray it, sing it, rejoice over it, you are watering your garden. David loved God’s word! He was always watering his garden with the word, “oh how I love your law, it’s the meditation of my heart, thy word have I hid in my heart, your word is forever settled in my heart.”

  When you plant God’s word in your heart, His promises, you need to water that seed to see it produce what you are expecting and believing Him for. The word for healing could be, “Father, you wounded Jesus for my transgressions and with His stripes I was healed. I’m so grateful for that. I rejoice in that truth and accept that truth over my symptoms! Thank you! Thank you for driving sickness and disease away from me. Thank you for saying healing is my bread! You are so wonderful to me like that! I receive your medicine, oh God, and I know it is done!”

  Then, God gives the increase! When we are cultivating the word of God in our hearts, and watering it with praise, thanksgiving, and meditation, that’s the end of our responsibility. Now, you trust God to bring increase into your garden. Healing, peace, blessings, favor, mercy, whatever you are believing for! He watches over His word to perform it!

  Right now, you don’t see the beautiful garden of your heart, that God sees. You may only see a dry and parched land. But it’s not too late to begin sowing seed and pouring water into your garden. Trust the Holy Spirit to assist you in the redesigning of your garden. Let Him help you pick out your plants: healing, peace, deliverance, love, joy, and whatever else that will cause your garden to be something that others will enjoy! That you will flourish within!

  You! Are! God’s! Garden! Work with Him to make you something that will last for all eternity! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Healing, the Word of God | 0 Comments | Tagged 1 Corinthians 3:9, encouragemnt, God’s garden, Healing, Holy Spirit, praise, trust in God, word of God

• My Favorite Healing Scriptures

  Posted at 7:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on March 19, 2020

  At first, I was just going to include a list of my favorite healing scriptures; but as I was editing them the Lord spoke to my spirit and told me to tell you why they are favorites of mine. He also reminded me that when I first started using them He had to teach me to use them, so instead of just a list, I will explain a few things.

  Exodus 15:26 – “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” NKJV -This is the scripture in the Word where God first reveals Himself as Jehovah-Rapha the God that heals. Knowing and using this scripture is a foundation for divine health.

  Exodus 23:25 – “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.” NKJV- I really like this scripture. I use it to command sickness to leave someone’s body, or my own, and I “see” God driving it out!

  Psalm 103:2-3 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,” NKJV- This scripture is foundational. It reminds us that the same Blood that purchased our salvation, purchased our healing. I did a blog called “The Children’s Bread” that explains our benefit packet of healing. Check it out!

  Isaiah 53:4-5 – “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” NKJV- This scripture is foundational also! We must realize that the Blood of Jesus purchased healing and salvation, and as simple as it is to receive salvation, it is just as easy to receive healing.

  1 Peter 2:24 – “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.” NKJV-This scripture is a New Testament confirmation of what Isaiah 53:4-5 shared with us about healing and salvation. It’s in our covenant!

  Acts 10:38 – “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” NKJV-Some say healing isn’t for today, but Jesus went about healing because God was with Him. And if we are His, and God is with us, we should be seeing the same things Jesus saw! Also, the devil is the author of sickness and disease, not God. (If you think God gave it to you, then don’t pray to be healed from it because you are fighting His will!) Go figure! He wants you whole!

  Romans 8:11 – “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” NKJV- I really love this verse. Since I am a believer in Christ, and His Spirit is on the inside of me, I fully expect His Spirit to quicken, or make alive my mortal body!

  Psalm 107:20 – “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” NKJV- God sent His Word, and the Word became flesh, and that Word is Jesus. Both scriptures and Jesus is where we find our healing and deliverance! God sent both! Or one and the same!

  Psalm 119:49-50 – “Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” NKJV-God’s word-Genesis to Revelation- is what I have come to hope on. Although portions of it are specific to different needs, I hope in His Word. But I always remember Exodus 15:26 and Isaiah 53:4-5 and this point! It’s what I am standing; that He is my Healer and it is my comfort and my deliverance when sickness attacks!

  Proverbs 3:7-8 – “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.” NKJV- Don’t think that you can live a life of sin and stand on the promises. God’s word, I say all of it, is health to your flesh and strength to your bones!

  Jeremiah 33:6 – “Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.” NKJV- This verse demonstrates God’s willingness to heal!

  Matthew 8:2-3 – “And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” NKJV-This is another verse that demonstrates that Jesus was willing to heal and He still isn’t. There is no verse that tells us that He changed His mind! Only verses that tells us that He wills to heal us!

  Matthew 8:7 – “And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’” NKJV-Jesus will heal!

  Matthew 14:14 – “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.”
  NKJV-Jesus heals the sick. His compassion never fails us! We can call on Him and He will respond.

  Mark 5:34 – “And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.’” NKJV-Faith is the currency of the kingdom. If you can believe it, you can receive it!

  3 John 1:2 – “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” NKJV-This is the sum of it all! God wants us to be in health as our soul prospers! Think of it like this, your mind has to be transformed to believe that you can be healed and as your soul receives this truth, your body will respond with health.

  Posted in Believers, Christian, Healing, Health, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, encouragement, Faith, Healing, healing scriptures, Health, Jesus, word of God

• Talk Back to the Enemy!

  Posted at 7:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 25, 2020

  Isaiah 36:7 – “But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar’?”’ NKJV

  I think I’ve mentioned before that this battle is one of the most detailed battles in the word, written in three different books of the Bible. The first thing I noticed, the first time I read this battle is that the Assyrians were nothing more than bullies! They spent the majority of their time throwing insults, hoping to intimidate the Israelites into submission. If there is one modus operandi of the devil, intimidation would get my vote as his specialty.

  Let’s look at a few of the insults hurled at the citizens of Judah:

  • What are you trusting in?
  • I heard you are making plans for a war, but they are mere words.
  • Are you trusting in the assistance of Egypt? He’s a broken reed and so are those who trust in him.
  • Are you trusting in God?
  • Didn’t Hezekiah take away His high places and altars and said you could only worship here in Jerusalem?
  • Come on, surrender and make a pledge and we will give you 2,000 horses, if you have men you can put on them!
  • Didn’t the Lord say to us, “Go up against this land, and destroy it!
  • Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, he won’t be able to deliver you!

  And the insults continued on and on, with one intent, to intimidate the people of God. And the devil has been using this form of attack on the people of God for centuries; often times quite effectively.

  Today he would more likely say things like:

  • Do you really think God will heal you? He didn’t heal Brother So and So. As a matter of fact, he died.
  • Do you expect Jesus to come from heaven and marry you? You will be waiting until eternity.
  • Do you really think that by giving that church ten percent of your income, you are going to make it to the next paycheck and have more than enough? Are you stupid? You can’t pay your bills now!
  • Why would God want to use you? There is nothing special about you. Get real!
  • Don’t you dare go over and tell that person that! That wasn’t God. He is not talking to you. That’s you!
  • You think because you said that prayer that you are saved. That is so not true. If that’s all it took, everybody would be saved.
  • You are a worthless, low down, dirty, rotten sinner, and that’s all you will ever be. God can’t possibly love you!

  And the list can go on and on and on. And some nights, and some times in your head, it does! And it seems as if you can’t shut the lying, hateful words up and so you begin to feel tormented in your mind and in your spirit. And when you start thinking like that, he is being effective against you!

  Hezekiah’s advice to his people was not to respond. This makes sense, because this was not an individual battle, but a battle against the masses. And maybe, just maybe, it is good advice when the devil is using an actual person. But generally, I would say that now is the time to go on the attack!

  How? The same way Jesus went on the attack! With God’s word!

  • Every lying thought needs to be cast down! You need to open your mouth and declare that “by His stripes you are healed!” That you will live and not die and continue to declare the works of the Lord! He is your healer!
  • You need to take a firm grip on the word that says, “It is not good that man is alone!” God’s idea, not mine! So He will work it out! And until He brings you together, you will use you time and talents to promote His kingdom and trust that your future spouse is waging war on him also!
  • Bring all the tithes into my storehouse, God said, and He will rebuke the devourer. So devil, you are rebuked in Jesus’ Name! Wealth and riches are in your house and you are blessed!
  • God has plans, a purpose, an expected end for you to get to, and God will bring it to pass! Therefore you can trust in Him to direct you, lead you, guide you. And you can become the enemy’s worst nightmare.
  • God manifests Himself, by His Spirit, to His people that they might be encouraged. A word of knowledge is a gift of God. And at the very least, you will encourage your brother, or your sister, so you will share what has dropped in your spirit and trust God with the rest!
  • All those who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved! You called! You are saved! You are redeemed of the Lord and are saying so, because He told you to!
  • You are loved by God! You are fearfully and wonderfully made. And equally as importantly, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, not a low down dirty sinner. Satan is a liar, and the Father of lies and you are to resist every negative thought and comment and hide under the shadow of the Almighty God! You are His sheep and you only listen to your Shepherd, now put the devil behind you!

  You cannot be silent when the taunting, tormenting, intimidating spirits of the enemy come knocking at the door of your mind or your heart! You must make a decision to attack him with the only think that works! God’s word! It worked for Jesus in the wilderness and it will work for you! This is your time for talking back! Get sassy with it! And let him know that you are not taking this mess anymore! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Battle plans, Believers, Christian, Spiritual warfare, Victorious Living | 2 Comments | Tagged Attitude, Believer, Christian, encouragement, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, righteousness, Sinner, Spiritual warfare, Tithing, Victorious Living, victory, word of God

• Torn Between Two Worlds-Part 2

  Posted at 1:00 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 28, 2020

  Romans 7:15 – “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

  Paul begins his discourse in chapter 7 referencing the jurisdiction of the law over a person for as long as he lives. He uses the example of a wife’s commitment to her husband until his departure as an example of the legal binding of the law. He continues by reminding the readers that if a wife was to become involved with a man while her husband is alive, she will be an adulteress. This principle is still in affect today!

  In verse 4, Paul tells the believers in the Roman church that they died to the Law through the crucified body of Christ, so that they might belong to Him and bear fruit for God. In verse 5, Paul tells them that when we were living in the flesh, (not our physical bodies, but our spiritually dead state), we were trapped in sinful passions, a fact that the Law made known to us. And because we were in that state, we were separated from God and our sinful ways led to our being spiritually dead.

  When we read verse 6, Paul reminds the Roman believers that we have been released from the Law and the penalty of the Law, to which we had been held captive, so that we could now serve God in the newness of the Spirit. Paul is warming up to his subject. He is getting ready to make a point, and in doing so, he is laying the ground work. Since he is probably talking to Jewish converts, (because he mentioned that they knew the Law) he is using that which they already understand, to help them to understand something equally as important. Their freedom in Christ Jesus!

  Looking at verse 7, Paul asks the question, “Is the Law sin?” Then, he answers it by stating, “Certainly not!” Paul goes on to tell the Roman believers that without the Law we wouldn’t know what sin is. In the Law we learned coveting was sin, because the Law told us not to covet that which belongs to another. In the law we learned that we are not to lie, to steal, or commit murder because it is sin, and therefore, when we do these things we sin. The Law taught us this! However, Paul states, that sin found an opportunity to make itself known by stirring up every sinful desire that the Law spoke against. Before the Law was given, we didn’t even know or recognize sin because it was dead to us; but once we understood the law, we died to it because it became alive in us.

  In verse 10, Paul again writes and says that the Law which was intended to bring life, actually proved to bring us death. Still, in answering his question, “Is the Law sin?,” Paul lets us know that the Law is holy, righteous and good! And that through the Law sin is revealed as sinful! Paul is making the point that he is not trying to say that Law is sinful, because it is not, but that the Law revealed that mankind by nature, is sinful.

  Now let’s just stop a minute and think about all of this. In order for any of us to become saved, redeemed, born again, or a child of God (pick your term), we must come to grips with the nature of sin that is within all of us before Christ. In verses 1-13, Paul is just breaking down for us the nature of sin as revealed through the Law. We understand that the Law is God’s word to mankind and as such is holy, righteous, and good. Yet, we also understand that before He gave the law and revealed what sin was, there was no accountability between man and God for that sin.

  Through the Law, God established a system, whereby His people were now made accountable of the things that they did or did not do. When they wronged another it was sin. When they lied, it was sinned. When they worked on the Sabbath, it was sin. When they worshipped another God, again, it was sin. Even today, before we can lead anyone to the cross for salvation, we have to help them to understand that their life prior to God was a life filled with sin. That God Himself declared that it was a life a sin, separated from Him, and that if we died in this sin, we would live a Christ-less eternity. All of this that Paul is teaching, would be a lesson or sermon taught to even new believers to help them to understand theologically their salvation.

  And with all of this revelation of what sin was came an understanding that we must pay for sin. God’s judgment is that the payment was death! Something or someone was to shed blood to cover the sin. Therefore, in the Law, where God revealed sin, He also revealed the method of dealing with sin. If you murdered someone, you had to die. If you stole, you had to repay. If you sinned against Him, you had to provide a sacrifice. All of this teaching that Paul is giving to the Roman believers is leading to a point. Join me next time, as I bring the point home. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, God, Romans 7:15, Sin, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, consequences, God, holy, Jesus, John 15:7, Salvation, Sin, word of God

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