Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Offense

I have been reading John Bevere's book The Bait of Satan.http://www.amazon.com/Bait-Satan-Anniversary-Devotional-Supplement/dp/159185413X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314711279&sr=8-1  This book has been opening my eyes to so much stuff!  It has humbled me greatly.  I really encourage everyone to read this!  I want to quote some things out of it for you.  The book talks about Joseph being sold as a slave by his brothers.  His family!  And then being put in prison for something he didn't do.  He really was treated  unfairly.  He had a great attitude through all of it though.  He became 2nd in command only under pharaoh.  Their was a famine and his family came to Egypt to get food and Joseph so could have gotten revenge.  But he was nice to them and gave them the best in the land.  Also David was hunted down by Saul.  His leader and father in his eyes.  Twice David could have killed Saul and chose not to.  He became king later.  But he allowed God to defend him.  He didn't defend himself.  John Bevere points out that in Joseph's story that Joseph said "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.  For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.  And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So now it was not you who sent me here, but God." Genesis 45:5-8  Also Psalm 105:16-17 "Moreover He (God) called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread.  He sent a man before them-Joseph-who was sold as a slave."  Wow! So this is saying God sent him!  God knew what was going to happen to Joseph and David after all the things they went through.    The book states after a long discussion on these stories and many others this.  Nothing can get you out of the will of God! Only you can.  By your attitude.  The book also makes the point that if Joseph was let out of prison and he had bitterness and offense and killed his brothers he would have killed the heads of the tribes of Israel.  One being the lineage of Christ! Whoa!  That is just amazing!  Ok so the book also says Many people have been serving the Lord fervently and have come into difficult life situations because of being mistreated by either wicked men or or carnal Christians.  The truth is that they have been treated unjustly.  But to become offended would only fulfill the enemy's purpose of getting them out of the will of God.  If you stay free from offense you will stay in God's will.  If you become offended you will be taken captive by the enemy to fulfill his own purpose and will.  Take your pick.  It is much more beneficial to stay free from offense.  I have a problem with offense.  I get offended easily sometimes.  So reading all of this and much more stuff I have had a new desire set in my heart by God to not be easily offended.  I want to pursue peace.  I want to have the right attitude even if I have been mistreated or if I just think I've been mistreated when I really haven't.  That can happen too! I don't want to give God's will over to satan.  I want to stay in God's will.  Only You can get out of God's will by your choices.  I urge you not to become easily offended.  I know it's hard.  I hope this has helped someone.  Those were just a few things that stuck out to me a lot.  God wants us to live at peace with each other.  God is so good you guys!  And He wants to love you so much!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

God's Love

A song I've been worshiping to this morning has summed up my feelings today.  Hillsong United's King of All Days.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-pgiUt9eUA  Without God my world does slip away and I'm so glad He gave me another chance.  I've been trying to dive deeper into Him and His love for me.  I'm so glad He longs for me.  He longs for everyone more than anyone can long for Him.  We can lay our burdens at His his feet.  Walk with Him today.  Let His love cover you and all you've done.  I love Jesus so much!  He is so awesome!!  What got me in this thankful mood to start with was just thinking about what He did this weekend.  One thing was He blessed us majorly with our car.  It died. Then we got it to the Toyota dealer for free and it ended up being a recall part that cost a lot of money.  But since it was a recall it was  a free fix! We had it fixed by Monday morning early!!   He takes care of us!! God is good!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Music

Ok I feel like I need to post again. :)  I just finished reading another chapter of The Bondage Breaker and something really spoke to me.  This is going to be a lot so bare with me.  Here is the excerpt from the book.  This is the easiest way I know how to explain.  It just got through talking about the evil spirit from the LORD terrorizing King Saul after the Spirit of God departing from him.  Here is what the book says - It is interesting to note that whenever the evil spirit came upon Saul, David (the heir apparent to Israel's throne) would play his harp and the evil spirit would depart (1 Samuel 16:23).  How pathetically unaware we are of the biblical prominence of music in the spiritual realm!  When Elisha was about to inquire of God, he said, "Now bring me a minstrel.  And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him" (2 Kings 3:15).  During the reign of David, over 4000 musicians were assigned to sing in the temple night and day (1 Chronicles 9:33; 23:5).  It is the mark of Spirit-filled Christians to sing and make melody in their hearts to the Lord and speak to each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:18-20).  Ok that's the end of the piece in the book.  This spoke to my heart.  I use to listen to worship music all the time and the last year or so I haven't a lot.  Just a few minutes ago I decided to turn on some worship music and pray.  When I turned it on I instantly felt different.  I instantly felt a connection to God.  That's why I decided to share this with you.  I'm not attacking anyone that listens to secular music.  There are some good songs out there that have nothing to do with God but are good clean music.  Just please take advantage of worship music helping you in your walk with God and guard your heart from things that may hurt your walk with Him.  God is so amazing in giving us His wisdom.  I love how He speaks even through books you read.

Good Book!

Ok I've been reading this book by Neil Anderson called The Bondage Breaker.  It's absolutely amazing!  It has helped me realize who I am in God, how we are to operate as Christians, being aware of the spiritual realm, and also things that hinder you from God's best.  Like unforgiveness  hindering God's blessings in your lives or keeping you from moving forward.  The book also goes into detail about how certain physical or mental things may be spiritual attacks.  If you have been struggling  with any of this stuff read this book!  I'm only half way through and it has been such a help.  At the end it has steps to freedom in Christ to help become free!  Hopefully this book will help you like it has helped me!