Thursday, August 28, 2014

JOY to the WORLD

"But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy." Psalm 5:11 ~ "And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10 ~ BELLS and TAMBORINES RING with JOY!
"When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!" 1 Samuel 4:5 ~ "As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”” Matthew 1:20 ~ But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin." JOB 5:17 ~ "The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." Psalm 28:7 New LIVING Translation

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Want to Hear God's Voice?

Bring your bibles, a notebook and pen. It is NOT our aim to GET THROUGH the BOOK of JOHN, the DESIRE of our hearts this summer is to HEAR the voice of Jesus speaking directly to us. This SUMMER SEASON spent with Jesus will deepen our relationship with the One who loves MORE than we can handle! If you do NOT have Anne's book, PRINT this page so you don't miss a thing. Our quest, our thirst, our hunger for more of Jesus brought us together to pursue Him. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit long to speak to the hearts that passionately desire to hear God's voice. God had the plan, Jesus carried it out, and the Spirit of Truth is here to teach us what love, healing and depth there is in every Word of God. AMEN! It is the aim of this group to hear the authentic voice of our Shepherd. The STUDY METHOD Anne reveals in our first LESSON on June 9 - will be used throughout our HOT pursuit of Jesus.

Anne suggests the following to gain the highest benefit:
1) Set aside a regular PLACE and TIME for your daily Bible study
2) Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you thru His Word
3) In a notebook write the DATE + the paragraph of scripture
a) Read the paragraph. Then slowly re-read same paragraph.
b) List the FACTS verse by verse. Do NOT paraphrase.
Using Words of Scripture - Who, Where, Did What?
c) List the LESSONS for each verse.
(This journal will repeatedly bless you for years to come)
d) Formulate a question out of the LESSONS
* Is there an EXAMPLE to follow?
* What is being done that I should,
---or should NOT be doing?
* Is there a PROMISE to claim?
* A WARNING to heed?
* A COMMAND to obey?
"Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." Jesus said "Stop doubting and believe. --- Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed." John 20:21-30 ---The blessed TRINITY is revealed in what is recorded that Jesus spoke in John 16:15 "All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you. In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me." Jesus taught by example and if He were in Manteca, He could only stay a little while before flying off to another appointment. 1 John 3:1 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure...Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous." Then Jesus warned in JOHN 10:7 "Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Wolves in sheeps clothing are in the church, in the pen and they lead many sheep to slaughter. Jesus warns us to listen only to Him. There are MANY lessons in each bible FACT. All lessons are valued equally. With our group sharing we KNOW that God is listening, and that all points of VIEW will be treasured and add FLAVOR to our FEEDING on God's precious Words. EXAMPLE OF ANNE's effective METHOD of STUDY: Read LUKE 24:27-31
LESSON V27: At times we need someone to explain scriptures to us
Quest V27: Am I teachable? Am I looking for a fresh revelation?
LESSON V28: Jesus does not intrude on our comings and goings
Quest V28: Am I asking Jesus to be with me?
LESSON V29: Jesus gives more to those who ask
Quest V29: Do I ask Jesus for more time alone with Him?
LESSON V30: Jesus sat, gave THANKS to God, broke open the
Bread of Life, poured out His heart, and fed us insights that
satisfy our hunger for MORE connection TIME with GOD.
Quest V30: Do I come hungry to Jesus? Will He satisfy my longing?
LESSON V31: As we read Bible, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes
NOT just to info, but that we SEE + KNOW clearly the Holy truth
of Who Jesus Christ is.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

HE IS FAITH

When you look in the mirror do you see Christ? Do you believe that you were given the mind of Christ? God's love, wisdom, power and strength was given to us out of His love for us. A love so great that it is beyond our full comprehension. The book of proverbs was written to give His beloved direction. Our loving Father warns us to avoid fools, to not fellowship with those that deny God. His word instructs us to EARNESTLY SEEK HIM. You came to believe that Jesus is the Son of Man, you accepted HIM as your Savior - but have you earnestly spent time seeking HIM becuase you love HIM? Or do you just seek God when you are in trouble? What a delight to be in His presence and spend quality time with our Father, the King of Kings, the Creator of the universe, in His good and Holy book. RELATIONSHIP ~ God desires a CLOSE connection to us, a relationship with us. In order to GROW in our relationship and BUILD TRUST and FAITH ~ we MUST call on God, read His love letters to us, and WORSHIP Him for what He has already done! You can accept Jesus as your Lord easy enough, but getting to KNOW HIM takes time and HIS HOPE is that we will come to HIM willingingly out of LOVE, RESPECT and AWE! ASK the HOLY SPIRIT to reveal God to you. Then read any PSALM, the book of JOHN, and LISTEN to what the Spirit of God says to you. BETH MOORE is an awesome, spirit filled teacher and witness of God's word. All past guilt, fear, judgement of who we have been, all limiting thoughts have been dissolved by the Truth. Let us affix our mind on the truth, in God's word. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Me, or seen in Me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phillipians 4:8-9. Let this Truth abide within our souls. Let the violent voices of our parents, peers, or the world be turned off, that they have no more authority, no more rule, no more impact! Let us return to our childlike faith in God. Let us believe in His perfect design of our body and mind. Let us trust His awesome plan to prosper us in His love. Let us remain constantly filled by the Holy Spirit as we repent and turn away from the world and its knowledge. Let us listen to the Holy Presence within. Let us be thrilled to be used by God for His glory! Let us Sparkle for Jesus and allow His joyful radiance to shine through us as His seal of approval! Let us choose our thoughts and surrender our understanding and accept the whole Truth, from the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Precious in His sight, we are His beloved child, filled with His knowledge, His wisdom. We are called to love as we are loved! God sent His son Jesus to earth so that the lost could see, touch, feel, smell, hear the TRUTH. The Way was demonstrated, the Light was shown to us, then deposited in us, that we could return, as a child, void of reservations to run to the arms of Jesus. "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, heaven and Earth are filled with His glory!" (Isaiah 6) IT IS PRUDENT to take heed, and call on the Holy Spirit for understanding of every day matters. To listen before acting, and make wise choices. "Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud: 'To you, O men, I call out: I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness...Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and good judgement are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His work, , before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth, (Was it the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who gave birth to Wisdom at creation?)when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before He made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. (Does God refer to the Holy Spirit as the person of Wisdom on whom we must rely for understanding?) I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep His command, and when He marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was a craftsman at His side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His Presence, rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death." PROVERBS 8 --- Oh Lord Jesus, standing in awe, we give thanks to You, for we are wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works. Thank You for designing us with the same care and precision You used in creating the universe. You built us with specific capacity and You embroidered us with great skill in our mothers womb. We are greatful that our personality, ability and appearance fit into the picture frame that God fashioned so that He can pour out His grace, love and beauty to the praise of His glory. Let us rejoice in His faithfulness, that He gifted us with a special purpose. Thank God for calling us to wisdom, and for the ears He gave us to hear, to listen... and respond with a willing heart. It is wonderful to know that God's mercy follows us, that His wisdom goes before us, around, below and above what we think. His love dwells within, His strength holds us, and His Word is firmly planted in the fertile soil of a receptive heart. What we see in the mirror is a reflection of the Holy Spirit within. What is within our human frame, is His creation? It is soul enriching to embrace the truth of our Father's satisfaction in the talents He chose to give us. Our imperfect human nature is to think that what we can accomplish is worthy of praise. All honor and glory belong to our Father. His Holy hands created us as one of God's original masterpieces. It is our desire to worship Jesus as Lord with all that we have been given. "In Him we were chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will." Eph 1:11 "For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mothers womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it well." Psalm 139:13 AMEN

Friday, August 8, 2014

Adopted Royalty

ADOPTED by GOD: To take and rear as one's own child, specifically by a formal legal act. To make one's own by selection or assent. SANCTIFIED: To make holy; set apart as sacred. To impart religious sanction to; render legitimate or binding: to sanctify a vow. To entitle, to reverence or respect. We who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and King have therefore been adopted into His royal family. Jesus rejoices with His vow to preserve, honor and cherish us as His bride. The word adopted declares the truth of our inheritance. "You'll get a brand-new name, straight from the mouth of God. You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. Because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration. And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride, so your God is happy with you." When it was her time, the young woman Mordecai had adopted, boldly approached the king. Esther asked for nothing other than what Hegai suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her." Esther did not need to adorn her body with emeralds or rubies for the beauty of her pure soul was KNOWN by the King. So too, we His adopted children approach the King, our beloved heavenly Father sits in royalty and He rules over all kingdoms. "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." The One who is "in" us, the promised seal of our inheritance, the Holy Spirit, unites and gives us all the royal priviledge to approach our King with confidence. The veil is lifted from our eyes and we KNOW GOD as He KNOWS US. "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." Gladly we turn to our Lord Jesus, the Author of our souls, the Perfector of our faith and we trust His word, His will and His calling. "Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children." Our ineritance is the Name of Jesus Christ who gave His life so that we be made holy and purified before God. "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." We give praise to our Lord Jesus for all that we have been given by the legal act of His perfect sacrifice that we may inherit eternal life with Him. "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." Jesus gave His life that I may have life, that I may walk with Him, talk with Him and follow Him with confidence. "In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." God's Love letters, HIS promises were written to HIS ADOPTED children. Do you recognize Who walks with you, Who delights in you, Who wrote to you, Who longs to be close to you on the road to heaven? The gospel of Luke illustrates the incident that occurred as a couple of followers of Jesus walked and weeped. They were in shock, in mourning as their passion for Christ was shattered and their hopes of a Messianic kingdom ended on the cross. A man joined joined them on the way to Emmaus but they did not recognize the man who spoke with them was Jesus. Eventually all the three reached Emmaus and as Jesus was about to leave them, they told him to stay with them in Emmaus, so because He was asked to stay, He did. In the evening at dinner time, Jesus took bread in his sacred hands, blessed the bread and broke it for them and gave it to them. At the breaking of the bread their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus. ASK JESUS to come into your heart and STAY. Draw close to Him, and He will draw close to the child He adopted into His royal kingdom.
Isaiah 62:5 The Message
Esther 2:15
1 John 4:4
Revelation 21:7
2 Corinthians 3:16
1 Corinthians 6:11
Acts 4:31
Ephesians 3:12