Sad Day

     This will be short. Yesterday I received news that my mother had passed away a couple days ago. After dealing with with the police at her apartment, making phone calls and waiting as the body was released to the right people, we were still looking for some of her paperwork. I thought to myself, 'I am an orphan now" because my Dad had passed away in 1995. Quickly in my spirit I heard, "I have not left you an orphan", (Jh. 14:18) The Lord is right of course. I am not an orphan. My Mom and Dad on this earth are gone, but the Creator of us all, and my Father remains with me. And He will never leave me or forsake me. (Hb. 13:5)

     We will be making arrangements today. I take comfort in my Lord now and remember His goodness. It was just Sept. 1 when He poured His peace and love into me and changed how I related with my Mom. (post here) Such a blessing. I am so thankful to the Lord. I'm overwhelmed, I'm overwhelmed by You!

     Needless to say, I will be taking a break... again. Be blessed. And may the God who never leaves us or forsakes us shine His light continually in your life.

Thoughts:
Call your parent often.
Visit and laugh with them.
Make the time to quickly do what is important to them.
Try to leave no regrets...

My People are Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge- Part 1

     Last I saw, the church pews were filled with all the same people I’m used to seeing, so they haven’t been destroyed yet. What on earth could this be about? Reading one verse at a time in the Bible can be dangerous because you might think it’s about one thing when in context it is about something entirely different. Take care to read the surrounding verses.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge*. Because you have rejected *knowledge… Hs. 4:6  (…knowledge of God... Hs. 4:1)

     *H1847- daath- knowledge, perception, discernment, understanding

     *H3988- maas- reject, despise, refuse

     So we see here the people are God’s people (specifically Israel) who are going to be ‘rejected’ and ‘forgotten’ by God because they have done the same to Him. They didn’t know and understand God enough to truly understand just how vile their lifestyles of sin were to Him- or they wouldn’t behave that way, right? We don’t behave sinfully, do we…

All of our spiritual lives are destroyed when we lack/ reject knowledge of God. Here are some common beliefs many have wrong:

Jehovah is God, Allah is God, they are the same God.

     LIE!

Allah cannot be a father and cannot have a son: he shares his name with no one. Jesus was created by Allah, was his messenger, and did not die on the cross. All good Muslims know these things as fundamental to their faith.

Christianity is: Jesus is God in the beginning, is also God the Father’s Son in the flesh (Jh. 1:1,18,29) Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1Cr. 15:3,4) and only through Jesus can we have eternal life. (Jh. 3:16; 14:6)

(Jesus said) that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. Jh. 17:21

(Muslims will never use Jehovah or Jesus to call on their God.)

As long as I believe in Jesus, do good things and/ or go to church I’m a Christian.

     LIE!

We are all sinners, none are righteous or good, and for that we all deserve death. God loves us enough He sent Jesus to die for our sins, therefore we must confess Jesus as our Lord (Master), believe God raised Him from the dead, and call upon His name which will lead to repentance. (Rm. 3:23; 10-18; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9,13; 2:4)

(Jesus said) If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Lk. 9:23

Therefore by their fruits you shall know them. (…love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control… Gl 5:22,23) Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works? And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness! Mt. 7:20-23

I Am So Hungry!!!

     Day thirteen of my detox and despite eating the allowable foods today, I am so hungry! Hungry for something BESIDES the raw fruit, veggies and cooked fish I've allowed myself. See, I was eating very unhealthy food last December and this July so I thought I'd better detox. Plus, I wanted to see if I could increase my energy levels with a mostly raw diet---fail.  I've definitely learned that I do need to eat more raw veggies as opposed to my preference of cooked though.

     My biggest hunger is for ice cream bars covered in chocolate, but I am also craving my favorite cereal; maybe my husband's cooked potatoes or a cheesy omelette with salsa and cooked veggies... Breathe,  One more day- only one more day... I can do it, maybe? I'm really glad these cravings didn't start until yesterday. It is difficult to fight cravings though- don't you agree?

     Giving in to my hunger for unhealthy foods caused me to gain weight, crave even more high calorie foods, and feel worse body wise. Dressing became difficult as I only had 2 pants, and 3 shorts left that were comfortable. It was harder to deal with all the stress I was dealing with. My mind was definitely foggier. Now that I am eating better things, I have lost all that weight, my clothes fit again, my brain is not so foggy.

     In the past, I have craved television, logic puzzles, computer games, reading, and I'm sure there are more I can't remember right now. Those cravings were just as unhealthy for me all around but especially mentally and spiritually. Now my biggest craving (usually) is to know God better. I'm not satisfied yet. Not until I know Him and can interact with Him like I do my husband. 

     The best way I can achieve that goal is to spend more time in the Word than in other things. A lot of what I used to do just muddled my mind, numbing it to things of the Spirit- which led to being even lazier at reading the Word. For many years I just didn't have a desire to read the Word so I asked the Lord to give me one. One day I decided to read in between commercials and when going to the washroom. The more I read, the more I understood and the more I wanted to read.  Now I read Scripture more than those mind numbing things. It sure helps me keep focus on Him instead of on me.

     Lately a friend is struggling in her life. I told her how Jesus made life easier to bear, and of the peace and love He has to give us which helps in those trying times. When she commented that she thinks of God all the time and what more could she do, I said, 'If you had a spouse who said they loved you but ignored you, never spent time with you or got to know you better by communicating, would it be good enough that they just thought of you all the time?' Of course she said no. 

   The single best way of getting to know Jehovah God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is through the Word of God which He gave to man. That should be our craving. He should be our greatest desire. Standing before the throne of God at the end of this age, will you be glad you spent all that time watching tv, playing games and doing your own thing, or will you wish you got the know the Judge sitting in front of you better? 

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness... Mt. 6:33

What do you crave?