Life or Death… Choose

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Janet

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV

This morning I am made keenly aware of the truth within these words. I have contemplated how often I have seen situations where the fruit of these choices are being displayed in my life and the lives of others. There is a blessing of life when we choose God’s Life. God offers us His spiritual prosperity, blessings, and enjoyment of Himself when we choose Him as our life. These blessings are poured out not only upon ourselves but on our children and their children and so on. BUT we must choose to pursue Life in a relationship with Him!

We have another choice which is death and curses. It is living our lives separated from the author and creator of life, God. This life is lived as we focus on ourselves- our wants, our desires, our ways- instead of God’s. It is a life with no relationship with God, apart from Him. When we choose that life, apart from Him, we live far from peace, joy, and love. We are in turmoil. Our emotions reflect that— anxiety, anger, bitterness, worry, etc. Our relationships with our family, coworkers, children, and spouses reflect that turmoil. When we choose our way instead of life we choose turmoil, and that turmoil will consume us and pour out on everyone we are around.

The question we need to ask ourselves is: What have I chosen for my life? God’s Life in relationship with Him or the death of choosing to not follow Him 💯, separated from Him?

Life or Death… Choose

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Janet

The question we need to ask ourselves is: What have I chosen for my life? God’s Life in relationship with Him or the death of choosing to not follow Him 💯, separated from Him?

Steal, Kill Destroy

Posted on September 12, 2023 by Janet

I had an awesome conversation with my niece Emily yesterday regarding evil. That conversation and a prayer request for a man who was contemplating and then eventually took his life yesterday has been on my heart this morning. So as usual what’s on my heart gets pecked out by my fingers in writing:

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

One of the biggest deceptions of Satan is to get us to thinking that he isn’t that big of a deal or that he doesn’t even exist. We need to be aware of his existence and we need to know his purpose!
Satan’s main purpose and goal is to steal from us, to kill the life that God has given us, and to destroy our lives. It is what occupies every thought in his mind and every action he takes. He hates God and since we are the ones God loves so much, he hates us!
We NEED to be aware that we have an enemy, and this enemy will go to great lengths to destroy our lives and to lead us to death, darkness, and destruction.
Satan is a liar. That is how he communicates. Nothing but lies stream from his mouth. His ability to lie is like none other, because he makes his lies sound like truth. He is the great deceiver His lies are believable. They seem like they are what we should be following. They appeal to our self- life, who we are without God’s new heart He gives us. His lies are a constant attack on the TRUTH. The Truth is the Word of God.
We will live our lives constantly beat up by his onslaught as long as we refuse to follow God wholeheartedly and we refuse to be in relationship with God through prayer and taking in His Word, the Bible.
Consider where you are in your relationship with God. Are you close to God? If you are not, you are susceptible to the attacks of the evil one. You will experience the loss caused by satan’s stealing from you. You will experience the death of goodness in the situations you come against. Your life will be destroyed.
Jesus offers us differently. Jesus said He came that we would have abundant life.
We choose.
(More on this later)

Help Me With My Unbelief

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Janet

“Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”” Mark 9:21-24 NIV

Jesus encountered a man with a desperate situation. His boy was demon possessed and was harmful to himself. There is an exchange between the father of the boy and Jesus, in this account, that stands out to me.

Jesus tells the man “Everything is possible for one who believes.” This man had the kind of belief that I have come to Jesus with so many times. I know in my head Jesus is good, He can do whatever He wants, He is all powerful, etc. but I haven’t truly believed or lived in faith. Faith is to the assent of the mind to the truth. Assent is the act of admitting or letting in. So often we hold God at a distance saying as the father did in this account, “I believe.” But we have not truly let the truth into our hearts. We have not taken in, grabbed ahold of it, or let God and His truth be a part of us. We are content to see Him at a distance and understand He is good and wants to help us, but we have not really believed.

Jesus said “everything is possible for the one who believes.” When Jesus is truly residing within us through the Holy Spirit and we have let Him into every corner of our lives; When we have ascended or admitted His Truth into our minds and we hold tightly to His truth clinging to it; it is then that God works the impossible in our lives.

Jesus wanted the father of the boy to see that he needed more than his son being well and in his right mind. The father needed to believe. He needed to admit and take Jesus into his heart.

The father spoke words to Jesus that are beautiful. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” If you find yourself distant from Jesus, this is the place to start. Jesus, I open my heart to you in belief. Help me where I am unbelieving.” We can cry out to Him and ask Him to change our hearts. In fact we need to ask Him to do just that. Hebrews 11:6 says this:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV

We need to live in faith! It is impossible to please God without it, but this Faith is more than simply saying “I believe.” It is deep within us and it will be evidenced by what we do and what we say. If we are just living our own way, apart from that faith, we cannot please God. True Faith will be evidenced by us seeking God earnestly, following Him. It is not simply believing God is out there somewhere as we do whatever we want, when and how we want to.

He Knows Our Hearts

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Janet

Jesus knows what is inside of us. He knows our hearts. He knows if we truly desire to go in His ways, and He knows if we want do to our own thing.

In John 2 there is an account of Jesus when He was in Jerusalem for the Passover festival. He performed signs so that people were believing in Him. But there was a statement made that has been heavy on my heart today.

“But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all [men]; And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man [needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself knew what was in human nature. [He could read men’s hearts.] [I Sam. 16:7.]” John 2:24-25 AMPC

What a sad course of events. Jesus did not have any confidence in the people who were believing in Him because He knew their hearts. He could not allow Himself to be close and intimate with them as a friend. He knew that their hearts were far from Him.

These were people who saw the wonderful signs He performed. They stood in awe of what He did. They believed in His name…But He knew what was inside of them.

How often we come to God believing He is there, but unwilling to have a heart that is given over to Him entirely, totally, and completely! There are so many times we desire to have the benefits of believing God without the surrender of our ways to Him.

My Bible reading today was in Mark 8. Jesus described the one who truly follows Him.

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” Mark 8:34-35 NIV

There is no way around it. If we want to truly know Jesus, if we want Him to entrust Himself to us, our selfish ways, our selfish wants, our selfish desires must be denied. That is so we are consumed with Jesus’s ways, wants, and desires. We must stop pursuing our self-centered life and let it die. It is only then that we gain Jesus and all the wonderful that He is. It is then that He “entrusts” Himself to us. Because He sees our hearts (what our mind thinks about , what our will chooses to do, and what our feelings reflect in our emotions) are not our own. They are His!

Grandma’s Song- “Still Small Voice”

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Janet

(Originally written to my nieces)

Grandma used to sing a chorus to you all when you were little, “Still small voice I hear you whisper. Still small voice I won’t be the same. Still small voice He’s reaching out to you. Still small voice calling my name.” The words are so very true!
But what is the still small voice of the Holy Spirit calling you for? Why does He whisper, reaching out to you, calling your name?
He is calling because He desires to be one with us. He wants to fill us entirely, totally and completely with Himself. It is what we were meant for, relationship of oneness with God. He calls desiring that we respond.
In order for us to go God’s way and to obey that voice, we have to leave our way behind. We cannot have both. Our way of our self-life only leads to death, darkness, and destruction because our way is not God’s.
Ephesians 1 talks about God’s way the still small voice has called us to. It is a life of spiritual blessings, becoming like Him- holy and blameless. It is a life of redemption and forgiveness from our sin. All of this accomplishes the one over arching purpose, He wants us to be ONE with Him!
We do not understand this because all we have ever known is separation from God. That is why the still small voice is calling to us. He wants to show us this oneness. We must listen to the voice. We must respond to the call! We must obey!!

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

No Longer Adrift: Connected to Him

Posted on August 18, 2023 by Janet

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV

The feeling of disconnection from God is miserable. I have lived there more than once in my life. It is like being adrift in a boat on a sea of turmoil. The winds and waves of life stir fears within your heart that are paralyzing.

I also know how it feels to live connected to God. The peace, security, and love that overflows in your heart. Storms are simply storms. They have no power over you when you know you are held closely and connected to the One who with the words “Be still” can calm any situation that comes.

This morning when I read the words of this verse the last section lit up inside of my heart, “Be reconciled to God.”

To be reconciled is to be called back into union. It is to be reconnected to God.

Why live disconnected and adrift when God holds out His hands welcoming you in? Why allow the storms of life to paralyze and plummet you?

God offers us connection to Him. He desires for us who have been far away to become close. But we must be willing to allow Him to draw us in! He wants us united to Him, but we must be willing to give up our own way for His. Remember…our own way stinks!

Be reconciled to God! Be reconnected to Him!

The Jesus Way: Mark 8:1-21

Posted on July 16, 2023 by Janet

Jesus once again feeds a large crowd with few loaves of bread and a few small fish. Then He sends the crowd away and gets on a boat. When he gets off the boat the religious leaders, the Pharisees, come to Him demanding a sign.

Keep in mind that the healings, the miracles Jesus had done, the teachings He spoke were all done in the open. The Pharisees knew about them and yet that was not enough.

“He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.”” Mark 8:12 NIV

A little later Jesus warns His disciples.

““Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”” Mark 8:15 NIV

Watch out for the influence of the Pharisees and of Herod. Yeast influences. It works it’s way through the flour and effects the way it acts. It causes it to change. The influence of the Pharisees teachings of salvation through works, following the law, and dependence on self was everywhere. Then there was Herod who did whatever he felt like another bad influence. Both groups lived their lives for self and self preservation. That was their example to their world. It is what worked its way into the very fiber of the Jewish culture. That is why the Pharisees wanted “a sign.” Jesus threatened their way by doing things God’s way. He followed the way of grace, forgiveness, love, and mercy. This was not the way of the Pharisees. Jesus challenged their realm of influence.

Our world is no different. When we come face to face with Jesus we must choose. Do we follow His way or do we go our own way as the Pharisees and Herod did? Who is your influence over your life yourself and your ways or Jesus and His way?

May we choose the Jesus Way!!

I want to encourage you to listen to this song. More than once. Close your eyes and contemplate what it means to choose the Jesus way.

Where is My Faith Placed? Is He King? – Mark 6:1-28

Posted on July 12, 2023 by Janet

This morning as I have been praying I was thinking about how God has changed my heart. When I read our passage today there were a couple of things that stuck out to me that I could have related to when I lived with a heart that was divided and not fully given to Jesus.

One… the unbelief of Jesus’s home town. They heard Jesus speak and they were amazed, but they couldn’t get over the fact that they had watched Him grow up. They lacked faith and wouldn’t believe. I’ve thought I had Jesus figured out and I wanted Him to fit into my image of Him. But He is God and He is beyond what I want to make Him into. That is why I need to totally submit myself to Him, totally obey Him, and totally depend on Him.

Two… King Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist, who he ordered killed, raised from the dead. He was intimidated by the thought. Jesus didn’t fit into Herod’s lifestyle. Herod was used to having his own way. When you are king and you are faced with the King of Kings you have a choice get rid of that king or submit to Him. I have been “King” of my heart. If it had a throne in it, I was sitting on it. But there can only be one King on the throne, me or Jesus. I cannot make Jesus fit into my lifestyle. I have to fit into His ways through giving my whole heart to Him. That is the only way to be at peace when you see Jesus before you.

May we live with Jesus as King of our hearts and faith fully in Him!

Pentecost in Acts: Acts 4:1-22 Filled With Boldness!

Posted on April 18, 2023 by Janet

Peter and John were arrested and out in jail for preaching Jesus and His resurrection power. The religious rulers could not have them spreading the good news. It threatened their power. After a night in jail Peter and John were brought before the religious rulers to be questioned. They did not cower in fear!

Verse 8 says that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit when he replied to their questions. The word says they were bold! This was a testimony that they knew Peter and John had been with Jesus!

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 ESV

Life can throw circumstances that seem insurmountable. But through the power of the Holy Spirit we can be bold to face them! This will be a testimony to all those who are around us that we have “been with Jesus.”

The Holy Spirit that came at Pentecost comes to us still today to fill us full of Him so we can be bold and show the world Jesus to those around us!

Holy Spirit fill us with boldness!

Your Love

Reflections on God’s goodness in my daily journey

Category Archives: faith

Life or Death… Choose

Life or Death… Choose

Steal, Kill Destroy

Help Me With My Unbelief

He Knows Our Hearts

Grandma’s Song- “Still Small Voice”

No Longer Adrift: Connected to Him

The Jesus Way: Mark 8:1-21

Where is My Faith Placed? Is He King? – Mark 6:1-28

Pentecost in Acts: Acts 4:1-22 Filled With Boldness!