Something Old, but Not Really Because There is Nothing New Under the Sun…

Homemade sourdough bread

I was thinking about the prosperity gospel that is often preached for the sake of the accumulation of wealth for greed. “You can have your cake and eat it too… Life is supposed to be a walk in the park and a bed of roses…” Such preachers forget that too much sugar rots teeth, parks are not always safe havens and roses have thorns. 

Since we are being formed into the image of Christ, then the idyllic picture of prosperity that is often painted in sermons, is not the whole truth. Romans 8 speaks to the Good News and the walk of a Christ follower: verse18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us… 21 Because the creature, (us), itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, (this would be the sin nature and death), into the glorious liberty, (freedom) of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation, (this is everything created from the Genesis account),  groaneth and travaileth in pain together… 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, (pains, problems, issues, setbacks, etc. - you know what I mean - weaknesses, stuff of this life that has the potential to break a person), for us with groanings which cannot be uttered , (sit with that one for a minute or two)… 28 And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, … PLEASE READ ALL OF CHAP 8  

Colossians 3:10 …And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him…  Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. 1 Corinthians 15, (another good chap to chew upon but…) verse 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the Heavenly. 

So what is this image of Christ? Isaiah 53:3-6 “He, (Jesus) is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. 4 Surely, He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

This is a paradox. We do have the joy and hope of what’s to come because of all that Christ endured - the suffering; surely it was no bed of roses - but a crown of thorns. Prosperity - yes, but the cost is not free and as easy as some preachers present and the prosperity is not of this world. No, God does not want us to be in bondage to sin, nor to debt… both of these are choices… Yes, there are abuses of wealth. I look at the corruption of many governments who have not released resources to their countrymen. I look at the corruption of large companies who abuse their workers to the point of enslaving them in this 21st century. I look at the choices of people choosing to live beyond their means because they believe they should have all that they want - now - and so become enslaved to credit card debt or worse, they use people to get their cake, to eat now.

Sigh!

My point with this thought/question: As Christ followers - what are you expecting that walk to be like, especially when Father God’s Word states clearly we are to be transformed into the image of Christ?… That Image, (Jesus), knew sorrow, but also JOY because of what was set before Him - the  cross and what IT meant - Glory, Heaven, for us - sinners who reject Him going and coming, dropping our cross daily… 

Father God gave me a lesson, so here’s a little story:

I’ve had opportunity to do services, things; for someone who has absolutely no appreciation for what I’ve done, (it’s a bit like being a parent, because sadly, children rarely have an appreciation for what is provided until they become parents and/or simply mature - whichever comes first). But this someone is not a child of mine… just a person. This person seems to intentionally turn a blind eye to services I provide and oftentimes seems to hold me in utter contempt and disregards me. I continue to provide services irregardless, because others benefit as well - there is a bigger picture and I know this, so I continue to do as I do… And for those wondering, “Well if others weren’t benefiting, would I continue to serve?” Yes, until Father God says to stop, because I know He does not call us to throw our pearls before swine, Matthew 7:6; and “…there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, (read it, please).

Father God gives us all resources to use for His Kingdom. And resources aren’t just treasured - time and talents are surely undervalued and overlooked resources - these are indeed precious commodities. Give them.

The Lesson: This is being conformed into the image of Christ. Because it does hurt being not appreciated, nor regarded and dare I say hated… With tears I say, beloved, we, (me too), do this to Jesus everyday.

Taking up the “The Cross”, our cross, everyday, submitting to being conformed into the image of Christ, 24/7; is not easy. There is suffering in the cup, there is bitter gall in that cup, (I once was so ill because of gallstones, so I’ve literally tasted this bitterness). This is what Christ followers are called to: See others through the eyes of Christ and so serve and walk as Christ did: JOYFULLY FORWARD INTO HIS KINGDOM! 

Soli Deo Gloria

Nina        

Something New for July - But Not Really

 Remember this is just me thinking aloud. I am not the authority on much of anything… Although, my sourdough bread has improved a lot… I do read Father God’s Book daily… I’m learning to simply chew on bits and sit with it more than usual… Like my sourdough bread making… It has to sit, then stretch and fold and then sit and stretch and fold again… before the bulk rise… and then longer fermentation later. Such are my readings… 

In my personal study, I’ve been through Psalms a few times… This time way slower, making notes on top of notes - I even bought a translation with Hebrew, (No, I don’t read Hebrew), but the translation is even more so than my KJV - which is right beside me most times… BUT, my point: I’m not an authority nor even consider myself a teacher in Bible studies… I’m just sharing my thoughts as Father instructs and it is HE that does what He may with these words and thoughts He gives me… It’s like He’s tossing a ball with to me and says, “Try…”. He never tires of my mess-ups and often fills in the gaps for you that I miss. 

Please study and seek after Father God - especially if you’ve come across these writings, (not by accident - nothing is by accident)… Maybe these are the impetus to get you seeking more and Father is tossing the ball to you…🙂

  

Philippians 2:12 -Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

This is NOT a suggestion from Paul to the Philippians to throw Father God’s Grace to the wind… Nor is it about the doing of “works” that earns points with Father God …. having the attitude, “Look what I did God - for You!” We can never do enough to earn our way into Heaven - in fact I often look at the thief on the cross… We know very little about his life other than he took what wasn’t his, once too many times, and got caught. He was sentenced to die a horrible death for his crimes, but Father God… had purpose for him, even in his sinfulness, (Remember, “…yet while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8). This thief saw the sacrifice and humility of Jesus and was moved to understand that this Man dying at his side, was way more in this life and so saw the potential for something more, to come, and asked humbly -to just be remembered “…when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom.” Luke 23:42. This thief did nothing, but received the grace afforded to him through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection.

The thief did not have the opportunity after this divinely appointed encounter to “take up his cross daily…” Although, he did follow Jesus into Paradise that day, but this scripture from Luke 9:23 is an admonition for those who literally and figuratively follow Christ daily, to remember the burdens, the cost of carrying the cross - the sacrifice and also the power of the cross, that the wiles of the devil can not prevail against. More importantly, the devil can not win against the very name of Jesus! It is unbelievable that such a simple name, (but, God’s Son’s name - Jesus), carries such power. In the words of Martin Luther’s hymn, A Mighty Fortress; “One little Word can fell him…” The cross - an instrument of detestable punishment commandeering such attention that it is used to identify ones allegiance. Unbelievable… but, it is. A transformational paradox. It’s like suffering, (for some and at some-times); it has the potential of touching the heart and so changing it.

We are all works in progress - even those on the other side of our beliefs. The believer is simply working out their salvation, taking up their cross - daily. It varies for all believers, but whatever path Father God has for each of us - it is surely intentional - it is purposeful. Nothing is ever wasted. No suffering, no tears, (Psalm 56:8). To this point, look at King David, who was broken in spirit at the illness of his first born child with Bathsheba. For seven days King David fasted, wept and prayed for a healing, but the Lord did not heal the child’s earthly body. “…Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me”. 2 Samuel 12:22,23. 

Likewise, “Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him… When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, … he went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” John 9:1-7 

In both of these accounts where babies seemed to suffer, (according to our perceptions), because they were conceived… it seems tragic, but is it? The greater lesson… King David’s first son brought about a deeper repentance…and he, King David; had the Hope of Glory, (“I shall go to him.”). The man born blind, had a life. We do not know if it was good or bad, (he begged), but his parents were with him and were responsible parents until he became of age… And He was healed, by Jesus as an adult. He was grateful, worshipped Jesus and believed Jesus as the Son of God. John 9: 35-41.

Both babies had purpose. Established by Father God before conception. They had work to do - totally unbeknownst to them of course - once accomplished… They either went Home to Father God or lived out their lives, then went Home to Father God.

Oddly, suffering begets a deeper understanding and walk with Father God that we can not often acquire when life is relatively good, (it’s funny, but not, how that works out that way). Sadly Father God shouts at us in our complacency - because we are easily lulled into slumber, but He whispers tenderly and consolingly in our pain and suffering. Too many people, believers and non believers alike - don’t listen for Father God’s voice in any instance.

And some of you are saying, “… But want a minute - God sacrificed those children and their lives and purposely gave them what seemed to be way less than ideal lives…” 

Yes He did.

And Father God IS good.

He is Father God.

And Father God IS good.

He sees the BIGGER picture.

And Father God IS good.

We do not.

We are finite - super tiny, minuscule! dust!

Father God is Infinite. Way beyond our understanding - ever.

And Father God IS good.

    Please - just stop trying to fit GOD into your tiny box. He i s  n o t  l i k e  u s.

    Just STOP! 

    No, I don’t have it figured out. Yes I do get angry, (mainly at people - like me), at what I see daily, 

    but GOD -  i am not!

You as believers, do realize that Father God sacrificed His ONLY SON for you? Jesus, GOD’S ONLY SON took the punishment for your despicable sins, (mine too)… just so I can take His BLOOD GIFT and so be covered - atoned for - so I get to be adopted as a daughter of Father God. 

When was the last time you took a punishment for someone? The death penalty?

And what about the millions of babies sacrificed on the altar of convenience… of an unplanned pregnancy?

Not throwing rocks here… Some of you have buried yourselves under boulders of guilt and shame… I’m throwing nothing -nada.

But…

Those were innocent babies - not just products of conception, tissue, a clump of cells … sacrificed so you could go on - seemingly, with what you thought was your life! Men and women participated in this…

But God…says… “You will go to that baby…” 

Hope of Glory! Heaven…

The baby aborted…

The baby that lived 3 days…

The baby who grew up to live 44 years and had such a full impactful life and then a mis-diagnosis… and she’s gone - Home…

So many babies that lived in this broken world… (We were all babies, once upon a time…)

All jobs complete… Jobs well done… Father God called you Home, (it’s so close…now…you can see the veil moving…blowing in the gentle breeze…), and those left behind… 

…will go to you… 

Lord Jesus… Your ways are unsearchable. They make no sense to me so much of the time… and to so many, but I have faith. I have a Hope. I have Jesus and His cross - nothing more do I cling to.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Nina

Home! So close…

While we wait: Romans 12