The Warning

I am very fortunate to be blessed with a group of wonderful ladies who love to gather on Sunday evenings for Bible Study. Each is beautiful and unique and I thoroughly enjoy them all. Currently, we are in a study by Beth Moore called "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things". It deals with spiritual warfare and it has truly been an eye-opener. I have been encouraged to be alert at all times to the schemes and lies of the enemy who is roaming and roaring like a hungry lion to devour me - or more specifically my testimony. Here a the prin3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.ciple questions listed in the first week's homework under the title of: The Warning.

1. 1. What does 2 Corinthians 11:3 say Paul feared for the Christians of his day?

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your
minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to
Christ

Paul was concerned that the Christians of his day would be deceived by the serpent and led astray just like Eve was. It is important to note that Paul is taking about people who are devoted to Christ, not people who are living an ungodly life. We are all in danger of seduction and we must be ever watchful and alert.

2. What does Luke 10:18 suggest about Satan's present power?

He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Satan is the prince of this world. He is like a lame-duck president who has temporary authority but will give his power up Jesus returns. Satan is angry because he knows his reign is temporary.

3. According to 2 Timothy 2:26 what is Satan's objective?

and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will

Satan wants to make the clean feel unclean. He wants to take Christians captive to do his will. He does this through temptation and trials. We can fight against the influence of the enemy by choosing to behave out of what we know is truth rather than how we feel.

4. What does Hebrews 10:24-25 tell believers to do?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching

Many who report beging seduced by Satan describe feeling isolated and alone. Clearly the enemy loves isolation. He wants nothing more than to draw the believer away from the healthy relationships with other believers. Afterall, other believers might recognize the seduction and warn the one under attack of the danger. Hebrews tells us to meet together often so that we can encourage each other and cheer each other on. If we are involved with anything that is separating us from godly people, we must beware.

5. According to 1 John 5:18, how would you explain the difference between Satan's being able to attack us and not being able to grasp us?

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

A born again believer cannot continue in sin because the seed of God is in him (I John 3:9) The enemy and his demons can attack and have some temporary control but it won't be for eternity because God keeps his children safe. It is the diving presence of Christ within the believer that preserves him against all evil. The wicked one cannot grip, grasp, or lay hold of the true Christian.

Father I pray that I will always hang on to the simplicity that is in Christ who is the one ultimate influence. Keep me awake and watchful. May I walk continuously in prayer and daily surrender. Amen

The sunlight conquers darkness-gradually

Have you ever watch the sun come up? A sunrise is the most glorious if you are in the country or on the beach away for the light pollution of the city. Either way, it's an amazing thing to watch. It's interesting how the sunlight conquers the darkness little by little. It's doesn't suddenly become daylight like a switch being turned on. It's gradual. And, there is no doubt that the sun will shine. We don't have to stand at the window each morning wondering if the sun will come up; we have faith that it will. We expect it to arrive. You can go about your everyday life while the sun is coming up. You can fix breakfast, make your bed, watch the early news, take a shower - anything you need to do. It never occurs to us to "worry" about whether or not we will see sunlight.

That's the way it is with expecting change in our life. Most of the time, change doesn't happen instantly. You can't lose 20 pounds by snapping your fingers (though I wish I could). You can't improve your relationship with you husband or children in one day. After all, such problems usually don't develop in just one day. Most change takes time but that time is wasted if it is spent worrying about whether or not the change is coming. Also, that time is wasted if you just sit and do nothing while you're waiting for it. Go ahead with your responsibilities, recreation, work, worship, day-to-day life. Change will happen when you seek God and his will for your life. Your relationship with the Creator of the universe becomes deeper gradually. Be patient. God will answer your prayer. Happiness and joy will arrive - in God's time. After all, the sun comes up little by little every morning, doesn't it?

2 Corinthians 3:18 (The Message)
And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

The Gardener

I love gardening. More specifically, I love flower gardening. I enjoy most elements of the process - the tilling of the soil, enriching the earth with nutrients, planting the seeds, checking faithfully for any sign of growth, pulling weeds, spotting a bud getting ready to bloom. Then comes my favorite part - the explosion of the flower! What a great reward!

No one makes me garden. I choose to do it. I have a friend who doesn't understand my joy of getting my hands in the dirt at all. She says she'd rather mop a floor 10 times than to put her hands in dirt. I offered to let her mop my floors, but she declined:) She doesn't understand the joy I have and the emotional attachment I feel to my living and blooming friends.

However, I know someone who totally understands how I feel about gardening. Actually He understands in an infinite way - He's God, our Creator. In John 15:1 Jesus states "I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener". Jesus goes on to say that if we remain in him as a branch of his vine, we will bear much fruit. This means that God is the gardener of every Christian.

So what does it mean to have God as my gardener? It means He chose to create me.It means He prepares my heart to receive the seed of His salvation. It means He takes joy in providing the sun, water, nutrients and ammenities I need to be successful and happy. It means He is always doing what is best for me. It means He pulls out the weeds that try to choke me. It means He enjoys every minute of my life process and rejoices when I bloom. It means His love for me is unending.

Thank you God for being the Gardener of my life. Thank you for loving me in a hands-on way. Thank you for getting Your hands into the dirt and creating me!

So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27

The pattern of life

Life has a pattern to it that was demonstrated by the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. That pattern is this: TRAGEDY - DARKNESS - TRIUMPHJesus death was a tragedy to all who loved him - his mother, his siblings, his disciples, his friends. After he died, these people lived in darkness in the following days. You know the feeling. You're confused, sad, depressed. But then the resurrection occured. Jesus conquered death and demolished the lie that Satan had been telling everyone that death was the end. Jesus was victorious and triumphant.
This same pattern is the template of our life. Tragedy in inevitable. Life is full of heartache and disappointments, grief and dispair. After a tragedy, the normal human response is to go through a dark time. It's nothing to beat yourself up over - God created us as beings with emotions. So go ahead and feel sad and depressed. Grieve the loss you have had in your life. It's OK. But look at the pattern! After the darkness comes triumph! Yes, one day before you know it you will feel the beginnings of healing of your pain and despair. Jesus came to give you hope. There's one key however. You have to trust God to walk with you through darkness. He won't force Himself on you. In fact right now he's patiently waiting for you to open the door to your heart so he can come in. He's the one who will show you triumph and will draw you closer to him as a result of your walk of faith with Him. So don't give up hope because your Savior has not given up on you! Remember Jesus died on a Friday and rose from the grave on a Sunday. It may be a Friday in your life right now, but Sunday is coming!!!!!!!

What has praise and worship brought to your life?

In one of Beth Moore's devotions from her book, "David," she asked the question: "What has praise and worship brought to your life?" I grew up in a church was wasn't very demonstrative during the worship service. We sang the old hymns which are beautiful but sometimes felt routine. But I really latched on to the song "How Great Thou Art". My heart would soar when we sang it. It remains very special to me to this day. Many years later, my husband and I visited a different church and I was truly blown away by the worship service. There was an emphasis on praise in the music and in the attitudes of the people. I realized what I had been missing for so many years! It was the kind of praise and worship that can make my heart blaze with emotion because it reminds me of who God is! So to answer the question "What has praise and worship brought to my life?"...the answer is SWEET PEACE. I feel peace because I realize how small my problems and worries are compared to His majesty and power. Lord, help me to always remember the words of Job: "Your mysteries are higher than the heavens, deeper than the depth of the grave, longer than the earth and wider than the sea." How Great Thou Art!