Month: November 2008

90 Days with Jesus Bible Study

Day Eighty-Two

A. Knight

Read Luke 22:63-71
The rejection Jesus must have felt is heartbreaking. Maybe He had healed some of their own family members, and yet, here they are spitting on Him, slapping Him around. The shame of all the mocking. . . . Thinking on these things reminds me again of the love He truly has for us. This was only the beginning of the suffering we will be studying. The story we know so well is painted again before me today a-fresh.
Beth reminds us that our Lord and Saviour is the “King of the mountain.” I remember that game, too, as a child. No matter if you are on the mountain or down in the valley, He is there. I read one time about mountain climbers and all the enormous amount of stress a person puts their body through just to reach the top. Climbing up, they risk falling and injuring themselves. As they climb, the altitude changes making the air thinner and harder to breathe, therefore, they could possibly even suffer a collapsed lung. Climbers, sometimes lose a finger or toe due to extreme temperatures dropping to frigid levels. Recovery time from the mountain experiences could be difficult, also. Climbing a mountain is very hard work- however, being on the mountain does have some rewards. The view is awesome! The feeling of accomplishment would be felt, but the climber can never stay long- can’t live there, but must either come down and work on climbing another or stay in the valley most of the time. I heard someone say recently that it’s in the valley where we grow and our roots grow deeper.
Beth comments of Jesus being our “Bright and morning star, the Lily of the valley, beloved son of God, the Alpha and Omega, the Prince of peace, King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords!” Who is He right now for you? No matter what mountain you may be facing…”He is the King of the mountain!!!”
When I read of Jesus responses to His taunters, I think about what response I would have probably given: “You touch me again and I’ll call fire down from Heaven!” -or- “I’m telling my Father on you buddy!” He had the power to make them all stop, but He chose to take all the suffering for us. I’m trying really hard not to get ahead, but it’s so hard when I know the rest of the story. I’ll stop here and just say…..He loves you!
Dear Lord, thank you for loving us when we were the ones that hurt you. Thank you for loving us today when we still hurt you or let you down. Remind us today of who you are- our King of every mountain. Wherever our sisters are living or whatever they are facing be near them. Bless them all I pray. Cover them, and help them today see you in everything. Touch them, by once again reaching your hands of mercy out. In Christ Jesus’ name I pray—Amen.
Love all you sweet sisters. Be blessed! And Keep climbing!
Keeping the Faith,
Aimee
90 Days with Jesus Bible Study

Day Eighty-One

A. Knight

Luke 22:47-62

My heart is purely breaking. Right now at this point, I can identify with Peter. I can see him in my minds eye…because I can relate his circumstance to places in my life. Long Distance Christianity. Let’s follow, but not so close as to be noticed. Let’s make sure that we still have the “look” of the world, so as not to be confused with those full of religion.

That’s sort of like going to Sunday School and Morning Worship but only because it is our “habit“, not because it is a desire or love. The message of the morning may make it all the way back to the car you drove in on….or perhaps, maybe even back to your kitchen sink. But somewhere along the way, life will eventually happen and, ooops! We find ourselves acting and reacting just like the world. I should know. It’s been my tale.

I concur with what Beth said, “in me dwells no good thing.” And for that reason, I have had to make serious adjustments in my life. Otherwise, flesh rules. I told Jeff sometime in the week after Wanda’s funeral, “my life will never be the same. There will be some changes. Things you may notice, or not notice. But I will never be the same.” I reiterated that to him on Wednesday night before church over a “diet coke” at McDonald’s.

Life is about to get harder for everyone. No one will be exempt from trouble. (John 16:33) Buckle your seat baby, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

Christ wants a Bride that is daily and continually preparing herself for HIM. There is a couple that is planning their wedding in the early part of next year. Aimee and I are close to them, and we have discussed their actions and how sweet they seem. I reflected on the actions and adoring glances of the bride to her groom. How she conducts herself, and the anticipation of the wedding for them. The daily preparations. The care and attention given to each detail. WE SHOULD BE AS SUCH FOR OUR GROOM!

“When we tiptoe to keep from being too obvious —or to obscure ourselves in safe places and remain unidentifiable, we are already bounding toward denial.” Beth hit a sharp place with that statement. But true.

Following Him at a distance, as to not be noticed by others, may keep us from being noticed by Him. What do you think? I told Jeff during our conversation over cola’s, in looking back over the past 5 to 10 years of our lives, the feelings I had held onto with a bulldog fierceness, had the Lord Jesus descended the heavens during those days, may have very well left me sitting right in my place at my own dinner table, rather than the marriage supper of the Lamb. I was determined to be mad. I was determined to hold on and not allow Christ to heal the hurt I was feeling toward some that had inflicted pain on dear family members.

We must turn EVERYTHING over to HIM. Not just parts. We cannot afford to follow Him at a distance. We must give Him our all…and do all we can for Him! Time is running out. And I don’t mean in just this Bible Study. The rest of my days will be lived for Him. Doing all I can, acting on His instruction as best I can, serving Him. No more long distance relationships. It must be all or nothing. If we are lukewarm…you’ve read it yourself (Revelation 3:16), “He will spit us out of His mouth.” Spit us far from Him—as something with a bad taste! The NKJV says “vomit“. The epitome of nasty, that is for sure!

I don’t know about you sisters, but I am listening and looking! I told mother this week, in discussing some “family issues”, we must be as in Nehemiah’s days, working with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. This life demands it!

My Christian walk requires structured study. Like we have participated in. I MUST have it. I can’t just be like, “I’ll read a bit here…a bit there”…while that can be fine for some, I must have things structured. I have grown more in these past 90 days than I ever imagined. I intend to keep growing!

Father God, I count it a privilege to live and serve You! I am honored to be Your daughter! Keep my life in line with Your word! May You find me working diligently when the trump is sounded! Ready to go! That is my desire! In Jesus holy name~Amen.

Let’s begin our day with an old song that has such sweet words, and many of the pictures in the slideshow are the very ones that we used!

Keeping the Faith,

Angie

Sisters, have a blessed, joy-filled day in Christ! We love you! By the way, join me in wishing our sweet Denise a very Happy Birthday! If you have time, pop over to her blog for a visit! You will be blessed!

Thankful Thursdays

Thankful Thursday and Happy Birthday Denise!!

A. Knight

Thankful Thursday is a special day! It is incredible what God is doing among us!

My heart is overflowing with His goodness! I choose to seek Him—and leave the problems. I choose to celebrate friends and their encouraging ways…I choose to seek Him in His word! I choose joy—in the midst of problems—I choose Christ.

A message and cake for Denise of ShortyBear’s Place…
You are a treasured friend…

A blessing to hundreds!—Thousands!

I am blessed to know you! I pray that the Lord fills your day with delights, surprises, joys and healing!

Ladies, I have to tell you again, if you have the opportunity to get the Bible Study book, 90 Days with the One and Only, get it. Do the study on your own. I cannot express how it has affected my heart and life in these past 81 days. We’ve not many more to go. I am looking forward with GREAT anticipation to what HE guides us to next! You will find me on the Sisters of Faith site today—Thursday.

Be encouraged sisters, when the news spills it’s gloom and doom of the day…look toward the sky, push the hair behind your ears to hear better….is that Gabriel beginning to blow?

I love you all! I look forward to a great reunion in heaven….a special time of gathering for those blogging hard for Christ Jesus!

Thank you Iris for taking us to the place of testifying for Christ! Visit Iris for more thankful hearts!

He is MORE than enough for ME! Praise Him today—on this Thankful THURSDAY!

90 Days with Jesus Bible Study

Day Eighty

A. Knight

Read Mark 14:32-42

Here they are now in the garden of Gethsemane, praying- supposed to be watching and praying, but it looks like they’re sleeping. They’ve sung the song, now it’s time to pray. Jesus prayed. Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to “watch and pray” in vs. 38, “lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” Ever felt like that? I have. Sometimes my alarm goes off in the morning and I remind the Lord that I’m still tired and I don’t feel like I’ve had enough sleep, but when I go ahead and get up I’m blessed, but when my flesh rules, I’m rushed and my time with my “Abba” is cut short. He waits patiently for me at our “meeting place,” which is a little peach-ish colored chair in a corner of my dining room. If I’m late- he is still waiting, and I lose that precious time in His presence. Help me Lord, give more time to you! I want more of you time and less of me time.

My earthly father was not around very much, while I was growing up. As a matter of fact, rarely, but my Heavenly Father is near me everyday. I loved Beth’s insight for us on the word “Abba.” I’m so thankful I can call Him- my “Dear Father.” As I read today’s devotion, I couldn’t help but think about my own son and how much I love him and how it would hurt to know, if he were in desperation calling out to me and I had to let him suffer to save someone else’s life. Jesus loved us so much, He pressed forward to the will of the Father. He asked to let the cup pass, but yet He remembered us and His Father’s plan for us and was willing to give His life. Thank you Lord!!!

Vs. 39 says: “And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.” That lets me know, there is nothing wrong with repeatedly making our requests known to the Lord. If we have to pray about something everyday until the victory comes, it’s okay. I have a tendency to want to talk about something until I wear it out so-to-speak. But, the whole time I’m talking about it, I’m letting go of some of the worry. Maybe this counts for prayer, maybe I should spend more time praying about it and less talking and the worry would be less and less. My husband would probably fall out. I’m going to work on this!

Dear Father, thank you for sending your only son to die on the cross for our sins that we could live in Heaven someday. Thank you, that His life does not end on the cross but He rose again and lives today! Please, bless our sweet sisters that have joined us on this 90 day journey. I’ve been blessed and every day it seems to get richer. I pray the remaining days will be the miracle days for us all in this study as we draw close to your side. In Jesus Holy Name–Amen.

Keeping the Faith,

Aimee

Picture from: http://www.my.homewithgod.com/israel/jesuslife/

90 Days with Jesus Bible Study

Day Seventy-Nine

A. Knight
Eleven days left…what are you going to do at the end of the eleven days? Mark this off as another chore done? Aimee and I have discussed that very thing. Not marking it off, but continuing on …in a deeper walk with HIM. What about you?

Will you lengthen your stride as you walk on?

Our Scripture reference for today is found in Psalm 116, the entire chapter. In reading this chapter, I did some studying in the JewishEncyclopedia.com and was amazed at all the traditions—that I know hardly anything about. Let’s stretch that a bit further. I know practically NOTHING about. There are some very interesting facts though. I encourage you to read up a bit when you have time. Beth mentions the possibility of Christ actually singing the song of the 116th Psalm. Do you think when you are singing a song—specifically TO HIM—that He may even sing along with you? That thought makes me smile.

Going back to the weekend reading you will remember that what they (Jesus and the disciples) were doing, was tradition. Strict tradition. If you can remember reading back when Moses lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and the ecstatic joy of being set free experienced by those in the caravan of followers, the dance and song lead by Moses’ sister, Miriam, that too became tradition for the Jewish people.

But here was Jesus—as Beth stated “with the clock ticking toward the cross” and He was singing. Part of me wants to say, “How could He?” While the other part of me knows, “How could He not?” His journey was coming to a close on this earth. He had taken the little band of followers as far as He could. The rest of the journey would be by faith. Even more faith for us today, for we have not seen, nor heard His voice, yet, we have unimaginable faith and trust in the God of all.

I join Beth in wondering exactly what He felt when He sang the words from the Psalms. Tradition says that these words were sang or recited. I love verse 2 that says: “Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath!”

How beautiful! It reminds me of a song we sing, “As long as I have breath, I will praise You Lord.” That was a song that we sang around Wanda’s bed as she began her departure from this life, and her body was readying itself for the next one. Each of our lives has had a song at one point or another—what’s your song?

Right now—and for the rest of my days my song could be sung, “I Give You My Heart”.

The words of that song take my focus off of me…and place them firmly at the foot of the cross. I see a clear picture of what He sacrificed for me when I close my eyes and sing that song.

As we end today, I am closing with the lyrics of that song. Let’s worship Him together today. As you go about your daily—reaffirm to His heart that WE belong to HIM and WE will live FOR HIM.

This is my desire, to honour You
Lord with all my heart I worship You
all I have within me
I give You praise
all that I adore is in You

Chorus:

Lord I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for You alone
Every breath that I take
Every moment I’m awake
Lord have Your way in me

This is my desire, to honour You
Lord with all my heart I worship You
all I have within me
I give You praise
all that I adore is in You

That is indeed my complete desire. To know HIM more—to LIVE FOR HIM.
I love you ladies…every single one.
Keeping the Faith,


Angie

Lyrics: LetsSingIt
Hillsong United–Lord I Give You My Heart

Country Life Messages, Life

Tuesday–Close off his Access

A. Knight

I am sitting on ready….for what God is going to do! What I mean is—there are things on the horizon in EacH of our lives…are we looking toward what He is about to do…or are we concentrating on the gloom and doom that the Wall Street Journal keeps predicting?

I choose to look for the beauty in what He is about to reveal! What do I see in the stolen computer? Well, a scared devil that thinks that I MUST be about to publish a BesT SelLeR! One that will reach untold sinners for CHRIST! Really? Well, it could happen. REalLy!

Let me share with you something from a book I am reading (yes, I am still reading some of the others…but this one keeps pulling me back!) “i am not, but i know I AM” by Louie Giglio.

“God is always looking for ordinary people to play significant roles in His unfolding story. And, given that He is GOD and supremely confident in Himself, He is free to choose the least among us–the slowest, the lesser-known, the last, the smallest, the poorest–to accomplish amazing, God-sized stuff.”

I mean, He is God after all. Right? Right. So here I sit. Waiting to see if He will fill the thief with remorse—-and give me the opportunity to share Christ…or possibly just by reading some of the stuff on the computer, maybe He will run as fast as he can to the nearest church. Or jail. Whichever—I pray he or she will find Christ.

One way or the other, God will be glorified. Maybe only by me not having a flailing fit and threatening to kill/clobber any suspect….God is glorified when we give our problems to Him to solve—we are releasing Him to crack His holy knuckles and show His stuff. AND while He is showing His stuff, we are showing what we are made of.

I WILL tell you that I did get mad. But I didn’t scream and holler. I wasn’t mad at Jeff, but at the thief. The one that had the audacity to open a door that was closed off to him—one that didn’t belong to him—and take what WaS NoT his.

Hmmm. Sound familiar? Sister—and any brother that might be reading…THAT is exactly what the enemy does to you and me EVERY SiNgLe DAY– when we leave things accessible! Yes, the door was left unlocked. But not on purpose. By accident. Jeff thought he locked it. Thought he’d pushed the button down to lock both doors.

If you don’t lock—seal tight—the doors of your heart and mind EVERY SINGLE DAY with the word of God—the enemy has access. Complete and total access. It’s not enough to just lock them once in a while. Just once a week. See, he is roaming the parking lot—looking for access. I bet you never thought of it like that. Neither did I. Until the computer went missing.

On Friday night, after Jeff went to bed, I went to the laundry room to pray—and cry—and whine (as I told you before)…but my prayer was, “Lord—get some glory out of this.” USE THIS. Well, it looks like He just did. I blogged it and applied to to our walk with Christ. There. He, Jesus Christ, just received glory for a crisis in my life. I was just able to use it to show myself and others that the EXTREME need in our lives is not for a makeover, but for a complete restoration of our hearts and souls! WASHING at the cross by the blood of the Lamb. The complete removal of the stains of our sins. And we are changed. No longer sinners and thieves, but now made new—white as snow. Freed from all charges against us!

Being all out honest, I will tell you that on Friday night….after the news was delivered to my pierced ears…I wanted to give that thief a piece of my mind….now, all I want to know is can I give Him Christ? Will he take Christ—as His Lord and Savior and turn from his thievin’ ways?

Let’s don’t pray for the return of the computer. Let’s pray instead for a thief to find Christ. Soon. Time is running out.

90 Days with Jesus Bible Study

Day Seventy-Eight

A. Knight

Read Luke 22:31-34

Have you ever went through a sifting? I remember as a little girl watching my Mamo make a cake and she would sift the flour with a cute little metal sifter. I picture this when I hear the word sift. All I remember it doing was taking the lumps out of flour and making it lighter or finer in texture. Maybe that’s what sifting does to us softens us and gets the lumps out of our lives and makes us “finer.” (I don’t know if that is a word but I just used it twice to mean different things and I’m going to keep it.) When someone ask you today how you doing, just say “finer” and watch their expression and see if you get a smile. (Okay, that rabbit was loose but I hemmed him up in the corner and I’m talking about “sifting.”) I have had trials that gave me the option either I’m going to continue to trust God no matter what, or give up. Some of the trials/sifting seem on-going, almost no land in sight, so-to-speak. Peter was warned of his sifting that was to come. Makes you wonder if under Peter’s big talk was a little boy possible shaking in his boots. Peter doesn’t seem to get it… Christ is always right. No need in arguing with God, He will get the last word!

I read a book one time, by Marion Bond West. I can’t think of the name of it right now, but it was a true story about her life, and she based the whole book on the scripture in Habakkuk 3:17-19 and it reads: Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield not meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. This verse carried me through some storms. Maybe if you are going through a trial, you need to write this out and place this verse somewhere you can see it everyday, or even write it on a business card and have it in your pocket to pull it out when you need to, all during the day. I do this sometimes, and I may give the scripture I have in my pocket away to someone that might need a verse of encouragement. I had to put myself in this scripture by changing the words at the beginning to fit my situation, for instance “Although my child is being rebellious, and the truck payment is due….” (you get the picture- put your situations there- make it personal)

Even though you may be going through a “sifting” time God is still faithful. Amen!!! I like ole’ Peter. He was real. Now some of the other disciples you couldn’t get to know like Peter. You always knew where Peter stood on things. I believe in vs.33 he thought he would withstand anything. He was talking real big, but I believe it was out of the love he truly had for the Master. This trial he went through brought him back to reality that he was still human and if not staying in prayer and on guard could slip into sin. The Lord gave him a clear warning, but he remembered the warning later. (I don’t want to get ahead, sorry Angie.)

Christ told Peter in vs. 32 that He prayed for him. I thought that was moving. Don’t it feel so good for someone to come to you and tell you they are praying for you. I always feel some immediate strength when I hear someone tell me they are praying for me. Spend some time this morning praying for someone and tell them you are praying for them, or drop them a card. It will bless them and you, too!

My husband went through a time of depression one time and that is what brought him out of it, writing notes of encouragement to people. Don’t turn inward when you are depressed, turn outward to help others. It will be worth the effort! God bless you and sisters I’m praying for each of you.

Keeping the Faith,

Aimee

Life

For everything God does…

A. Knight

The enemy of your lives wants to discourage you in your firm walk—your journey with HIM. On Friday evening when I arrived home from work…I discovered the home computer, which had just been taken to the “shop” for a repair, was stolen from our vehicle from a parking lot at the Vanity Fair Lee Jeans outlet. YUP. You read right. Small towns are not exempt from crime. From the enemy. The computer was not the big issue—it was the baby pictures that made me cry so long.

I didn’t sleep well on Friday night and went to the laundry room to pray and just “whine” about it to God. I have been His daughter long enough that I know that He can do ANYTHING. While I have no idea if His anything will involve enough remorse for the thief to return it…but what I do know—it did not catch God by surprise.

In the everyday of our lives, we are caught off guard by circumstances and situations continually, but God is not. As our days dawn and begin to unfold as a flower in the sunlight, our lives do as well—each taking on the fragrance of Him—when we live to serve Him.

As I told the ladies on Thursday night, Jesus said in John 16:33 that “in this world we will have troubles, but take heart—I have overcome the world.”—-so the troubles need not to surprise us…my Father knows all things we have need of.

Thank you all again for praying for me!

Christmas, Thank you

HE DID IT!!!!

A. Knight

WOW!! Can I just tell you that when you called on God for me…HE ANSWERED!!!

I have to say, last night was the MOST fun! I was only the teensiest bit nervous!

I arrived early, took lots of pictures and did much visiting with precious friends that are more like family. My sister Aimee surprised me, because she told me she couldn’t come to the service. When she came in I was headed to meet her and hug her sweet neck and I noticed she had on a shirt just like one I have! I told her so! Then I looked down at her feet. My shoes. She grinned and said, everything I have on is yours. She had left work and went straight to my house and changed clothes and hurried on over (about an hour drive)! I was thrilled!! God is good.

When my dear sister/friends, Susan and Kathy (a.k.a. my Pastor’s wife) walked in —it was like a visit from Wanda! I just cried! So, up to that point I was doing fine…(really it was okay)…but the LORD was so good to keep me calm!

THANK you dear friends. I had prayed so long about this and had so much stuff to share, but told the LORD that He needed to weed out what wasn’t necessary (I called it hogwash) and just help me deliver what was needed for the hour and for the almost 400 women who were there. AND He DID! We laughed and we cried—God is good. All the time.

I love you all. You are one incredible bunch of friends. If you read here—you are my friend. I appreciate you!

By the way, 24 Sisters of Faith shirts left for Africa this morning! HOW ABOUT THAT GOD WE SERVE!!! Isn’t He just amazing! Girls, if you allow Him full control….and are obedient….HE will BLOW YOUR MIND!!!

The slide show is of the “Tea” from last night! Enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf