What do we do with those ‘In want of discernment’?

Today [and many others] I’ve found myself wondering and praying about this subject… Not only because I am the one standing in need thereof on occasion, but also because it concerns me when I see those I love standing in need… And as such felt strongly impressed to write on this topic:

“”When we see a brother or sister doing/saying something that’s just Not quite rite: Mercy/Love? Mentor? ‘Sincerely’ pray for them? 1 Cor. 9:22″”

I’d been praying about this also because it pains me to see the way “we” [yes, me too] can be so quick to judge and spit out a little quaint/crude statement… not seeming, at that moment, to care about the ensuing ripple effect it creates. We are, both in the heat of the moment and sometimes still afterward, often just hard heartened and self righteous about it because after all [s]he are wrong! They shouldn’t have done or said that! After all we are right and they are Not…etcetera, etcetera. And that’s just that! Therefore, our behavior is justified.

I often wonder WHY pray tell, for the love of peace and our precious Christ Jesus whose name we are suppose to embody, whose name we have claimed because He has claimed us, we do not try to go to these folks and ease into mentoring or helping them to see a better way… to walk along side of them… IF ONLY for a brief while… In His love…………

And frankly as it pertains to my own self, my family, and my community of faith I’m more than woefully disappointed when I act or hear or see anything short thereof… My heart literally aches over our momentary lack of compassion for others; which sometimes can cause more than a momentary stumbling block and emotional pain to another.

People are both seeking and hurting in large numbers these days and that includes the Saved and Un-saved, as well as those inside and outside the church. Many of them did not grow up with the guidance, favor, or blessings that others of us were privileged to… And we really cannot judge a book by it’s cover to know who these very wounded souls are. Thus, in their efforts to fit in, or to do good, or in other cases in their effort to find freedom from deep, ’seemingly’ unspeakable, [soul] wounds, they sometimes get confused and might respond or react without Godly counsel or much thought… and maybe more than once or twice when we refuse to reach out to them.

If each of us set about the notion, with justification that our plates are full, that someone else will step-up, it’s most likely no one will and their process of trial and error will continue for some time.

If we are Christians, we cannot and must not hold these happenings over their heads for life or even for a day… We are Not entitled to hold a magnifying glass [especially one that we could not and would not be able to stand-up to, let alone live under our own selves] over their lives, their every statement or their actions friends; our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said Not. I recall something to the effect of “Let He who is without sin cast the first stone.” And He said that over a much more serious offense, an absolute disobedient act to one of God’s covenant commands, than what we tend to get hung up on in our daily lives as it pertains to others.

Today God lead me to this Scripture, and although I’d read Corinthians before, this is the first time I actually “saw” it! Ah, Who doesn’t love the Scriptures given St. Paul of God? He gives us several important principles for ministry:

“”To the weak (wanting in discernment) I have become weak (wanting in discernment) that I might win the weak and overscrupulous. I have [in short] become all things to all men, that I might by all means (at all costs and in any and every way) save some [by winning them to faith in Jesus Christ]. 1 Corinthians 9:22 (Amplified Bible)”"

“”(1) Find common ground with those you are in contact with. (2) Avoid a know-it-all attitude. (3) Make others feel accepted.” (4) be sensitive to their needs and concerns. (5) Look for opportunities to tell them about Christ.”" — And I paraphrase by adding: Look for opportunities to help your sisters and brothers, including the less mature, and/or those who err [intentionally or not] to aide them in understanding how to be more Christ like. — “”These principles are just as practical and important for us as they were for St. Paul.”" [NLT Life Application]

And this prayer was by chance one for the day:

“”Father God, the creator and preserver of all, we humbly beseech you for all sorts and conditions of people; that you would be pleased to make your ways known unto them, your saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please you to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.”"

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Again, I too have been guilty of this on occasions, but with Gods help will continue to not only forgive and grow in Christ, but to also apologize and repent when called for as well as resist getting entangled in such behaviors/sentiments, which is nothing short of a ploy by the adversary to conquer us individually and then the majority by dividing up the Body one by one.

Father God, Please give us — give me — ears to hear and hearts of obedience. And once again I say Amen.

In closing this states my intentions herein much better than I:

“A servant of Jesus Christ,” [writes this] “to those who are called (chosen), ‘dearly loved’ by God the Father and separated (set apart) and kept for Jesus Christ:”

“”Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you . (Jude 1:1-2)”"

What’s On Your Bucket List?

Just felt inclined to post my bucket list today… So, without further a do:

Top 12:

1. Remember daily to completely and totally trusting “everything” to God. a.) be able to Reflect upon my greatest weaknesses, and realize how they are can also be my greatest strengths/assets because they draw me nearer to God.

2. (learn how to) Evangelize for Christ in my community and maybe one day nationwide. a.) Learn to use a microphone and to speak (effectively) in public.

3. Fall as deeply in love – as one human possibly can another – with my husband.

4. Become the type of Mom that helps her children and family to make life-time memories, which make them look back at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 etc. and smile in happy reflection of days gone by.

5. (Save money to) Take our children to Disney World.

6. (Save money for) A Missions tour for Christ in another country.

7. Have a portrait painted of Juan and me – oil painting family heirloom style.

8. Be able to plant and grow a beautiful garden.

9. Be a mentor to young women ages 18-25 years old.

10. Teach illiterate people to read — what would life be like without the joy of being able to read a book? I can only imagine!!

11. Be able to give to charity abundantly – anonymously.

12. Get physically into optimum health & shape.

Not particularly ordered but still important to me:

~ Re-Learn to play my saxophone with some degree of skill.

~ Learn to sing in tune.

~ Read & Complete one book every 2 weeks.

~ Learn how to take a compliment.

~ Overcome fears of failure.

~ Accept self for who I am… who God made me to be.

~ Send mom a dozen white roses for Mothers Day each year.

~ Look into my children’s eyes, see myself, and smile.

~ Visit the Holy Land.

~ Masters degree.

~ Send a message in a bottle.

~ Learn to ballroom dance properly.

~ Attend at least one major sporting event: the Olympics, the U.S. Open.

~ Continue my language studies — Learn to speak Spanish and/or Arabic with better accuracy – fluently.

Now then that’s mine…… What’s On Your Bucket List?

Can You Sing at Midnight? Part II

This particular message was intended to remind us not only to praise Him during times of trial but also it spoke to me that God does not intend for us to be “happy plastic people” tucking it all “privately” away……… I personally suffered “privately” with grace [not] like any decent saint would — HA! sarcasm — for far too long over and over again before I realized that is the most assured path to insanity in which one could take, not to mention probably a kin to purchasing a ticket to hell.

So, regardless of my happiness Or lack of I reach and I share and I’m jest about over “worrying” what the “perfect” among us think of it or me… More than likely they are far too busy being perfect to even think anything of it or me in the 1st place any whom. Hence we can reach and share and be strengthened as well as strengthen others like the disciples did or we can suffer every small thing solo and sentence ourselves in our own insecurity and paranoia.

One commentary that I have suggest that it is believed the disciples were signing either Psalm 17 or 86. If one were to take a look at these words they were not just shouting Alleluia! to The Lord God Almighty, they were publicly crying out to the Lord and in the process it brought comfort to others who were suffering…

I’ve often found, based not only from public comments in forums but also private communications, that if a song, prayer, or message ministered to an emotional, spiritual, intellectual, [etc.] need of mine that it does the same for others when shared… it aides in strengthening our brothers & sisters again I say [at the expense of being redundant] when shared…… We all need to know [from time to time] that others are having or have had these same feelings or issues. It often helps everyone to grow even if it is just ever so slightly.

Can You Sing at Midnight?

Recently I heard a sermon titled “Can You Sing at Midnight?“  I would like to share my notes and the insights I gained from it.

The sermon was from these scriptures:

“And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.” Acts 16:22-28 (King James Version)

These Are My Take Away Notes — Although “not”  nearly  “exact” quotes:

The words of Paul stayed the would be suicide’s hand… The jailer And his household were brought to Jesus and although the Scriptures do not tell us rather the other prisoners came to Jesus or not we do know one thing for sure… there was a change in their lives otherwise they would have not remained if their lives had not been changed……

The Scriptures tell us without a doubt that Paul and Silas had been beaten without mercy… Their wounds were raw, throbbing, exposed and had not yet been tended to, let alone healed… Therefore, one must wonder how it was that Paul and Silas were still able to Sing at midnight [and at a time that might have been considered as one of their darkest hours]?

1. They remembered who their Father IS.
2. And that HE IS In Control.
3. They remembered that they were servants of “THE Most High.”
4. That they were “Partners in Hope.”
5. They recognized that they were a part of Something MUCH bigger than themselves, bigger than Any event and bigger than Any moment in life [this too shall pass]…

So, this singing was Not only a Comfort to the suffering servants, their singing was a comfort to the pain of others, to All who could hear them that night… And it brought “THE Comforter” not only to them, but to others also that night, to this dark and filthy place, which was filled with lost people, pain and suffering!

Their singing brought once lost souls home to THE Kingdom…… One cannot deny that as these hurting Disciples sang “through their pain” — yes, publicly for all to hear and see — that they were ministering to “their needs,” that it was pleasing to God and that it was then that their cups began to “overflow from their relationship with Him.” They sang… They ministered to their wounds and to others during and through their pain… AND GOD Showed Up in a mighty way… providing the overflow.

Therefore, should any “Child of  THE Most High”  believe that [s]he, while being filled with the same Spirit of the Lord, is capable of any less?

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The following is from “A Popular Commentary” on these Scriptures:

Ver 23 they had laid many stripes upon them to beat them with rods The with the Romans to inflict the blows upon the naked body In his sad the sufferings he had endured for his sake 2 Cor xi 25 Paul relates he was beaten with rods.

This was one of the occasions He endured here we are told maпу stripes there the stern Roman practice no such as that existing in the law of Moses the Jews five times received I forty one 2 Cor xi 24 and see for the Deut xxv 3. Hurried and by the popular tumult the arrest punishment and subsequent rigorous imprisonment was and carried out with such haste and passion the plea of Roman citizenship urged with force by the prisoners on the following day not listened to even if made…

Ver 24 Thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks In Roman prison there were usually three parts i the communiora where the bad light and fresh air 2 the interiora shut by strong iron gates with bars and locks 3 tullianum or dungeon The third was a rather of execution or for one condemned to die.

The prison in which Paul and Silas lay that eventful night at Philippi was probably a damp cold cell from which light was excluded The stocks alluded to was an instrument of torture as well as confinement This instrument was a heavy piece of wood with holes into which the feet ere placed in such a manner that they were stretched widely apart so as to cause the sufferer great pain Eusebius E vi 39 writes of the noble Origen’s sufferings when under an iron collar and in the deepest recesses of the prison for many days he was stretched to the distance of four in the stocks i Xs Lat nmz ia

Ver 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and song praises unto God sleeps in prison between the two soldiers and Silas sing in the stocks they cannot their hands or bend their knees in prayer they can lift up their heart and voice to heaven. Such is the power of joy in the Holy Spirit… Wordsworth suggests the prisoners were singing one of psalms which are entitled a prayer of David the 17th or 86th The Greek verbs in this verse are in the imperfect and the literal translation brings the scene that night more vividly before us thus:

Paul and Silas in prayer were singing hymns to God and the prisoners in the outer prison were listening to them when the earthquake happened

Ver 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake — Vain attempts have been made for instance by Baur and Zeller to explain away the miraculous aspect of this event — But the simple words of the narrator can only be understood as an account of a miraculous interference on the part of the King ruling in heaven in behalf of His persecuted servants. The earthquake never loosed the prisoners chains or opened those close barred and chain protected doors the Divine power which commanded the earthquake loosed the chains and opened the barred up doors

Ver 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open he drew his sword and would have killed himself supposing that the prisoners had fled. The jailer or governor of the prison seeing the doors open naturally concluded that his of whom no doubt a considerable number were under his charge and some doubtless on capital charges had fled and then that if such were the case a sure death him under the stern Roman law determined by self murder to anticipate his doom Howson remarks that Philippi is famous in the of suicide and quotes the examples of the numbers of voluntary deaths after the great of Philippi had destroyed the hopes of the republicans Niebuhr relates how the majority the proscribed who survived the battle of put an end to their own lives as they of being pardoned Among these were and Cassius Self murder among the in the first and second centuries of the era was fearfully common It was even of in Stoic philosophy Many of the of the Romans ended their days in this It was in fact the common resort in and in extreme danger and was not unknown even in cases where satiety in all life’s pleasures had induced the not uncommon feeling of utter weariness of living

Ver 28 We are all here The prisoners we are especially told had been listening to the sweet solemn Hebrew hymns of Paul and Silas when the earthquake and its accompanying marvels took place I hen feeling that what had happened was supernatural and in some measure connected with those eastern strangers voices they had been listening to that solemn night with such rapt attention they made no effort to escape

In the Presence of Jehovah

Last night I went to bed late, about 3:30AM, I was studying some marketing topics that I just cannot seem to grasp well enough to be “effective” in my efforts thereof… …even though I have taken courses on them and so, as I laid down I asked (among many other requests and laments) “Lord please do not let me sleep too late; I’d like to blah~blah~blah today Abba, please…”

At 9:15AM this morning I awoke to an utterly “angelic” voice singing this song to me “In the Presence of Jehovah.” At first the voice sang ever so softly, but slowly building volume, it became louder and louder until I rolled out the bed singing too and saying thank you Jesus; thank you Father! …just in case your wondering No this was not coming from the radio, television or an alarm. I had asked Him to wake me because I could not change the alarm clock since it was set for my husband to wake up for work and my children often sleep in also… God IS So Good!

Briefly after I woke up [because of this song] I was led to this Scripture, which is not one [for today] in the daily reading that I follow:

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” John 16:33

…and I have shared this because I thought someone else may need hear this today also.