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Sunday, April 23, 2023
Fear Not, He Stands Beside Us
Thursday, April 20, 2023
The Power of Intercessory Prayer, Written by My Husband and Me
The Power of Intercessory Prayer, Written by Both My Husband, Mel and me, Julie
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Treatment Plan
I originally wrote this in 2021, but with my upcoming surgery (on April 27), it seemed appropriate to post again. I can easily apply it to my need for surgery, being a bit afraid to go through with it, and yet knowing the necessity and importance of having it done. Here is that blog from 2021:
I have been having difficulty breathing lately and I could tell from past asthma attacks that what I was experiencing was not typical asthma; I knew the sensation in my lungs was different, and possibly even worse. Therefore, I knew I had to see a doctor in order to get help. I was diagnosed with pulmonary hyperinflation, or in other words, lungs that are over-inflated. The doctor had prescribed medication and further testing. But what did I do? Did I thank the doctor for his help? Nope! I chose not to take the medication as prescribed because I do not like that type of medication, and I initially refused to let him refer me for pulmonary (lung function) testing. After the doctor explained that I need to take the meds twice a day and not just once, and why the testing was so vital, I finally relented to taking the medicine, and let him send in the referral.
The reason why I am sharing this information is that I can see how my stubbornness against medical treatment is a perfect illustration for how we respond to our spiritual doctor, God. When we are suffering spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, or even financially, we beg for help. We ask God to fix our circumstances. We say we will do whatever He asks of us; take whatever medication He prescribes. Yet when God's treatment plan says we need to give up a particular sin or sins in order to be set free from bondage, we balk.
We try to justify our actions. Some might say, "I know if only I would give up pornography, You would heal my marriage. But God, find another way to help. I know Your word says that looking at another woman with lust is cheating on my wife, but my wife... Well, God, You know." (But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:28)
Or some may try to bargain, "God, I know if I gave up the demonic influences of television and movies that my depression would decrease, and I would see more answers to my prayers. But can you quit mentioning that 'touch not the unclean thing,' scripture verse? Surely that verse has nothing to do with modern day times anyway. If You can give me more proof, other than what the Bible says, that Hollywood is harmful to my soul, then I will give it up." (For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18)
Or some may just ignore God altogether, "God, you expect me to give up alcohol? But then how will I cope with all the pains in my past? You need to help me deal with my problems another way; I will not give up drinking! If I quit going to the bars with my buddies, they will not understand." (Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1)
In essence we have all been guilty of saying, "God, You are not enough for me. I know I am begging and crying for You to help me, but if you expect me to give up what the Bible says is unclean, then You don't love me at all, You just want me to be bored and miserable. I do not trust your treatment plan for health and healing in the Bible that tells me to give up my sins. If you love me, You will simply grant me a miracle." (When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Mark 2:17)
So what happens next? Just as if I had first disregarded the doctor's orders and did not take my medication as prescribed, I found no relief from my symptoms, and they even became worse. And if I had refused the further testing, I would not have the answers I am hoping to find to see just how far my lung disease has progressed and figure out if I need different treatments. It is the same with sin. If we refuse to repent and cast sin away, our lives will not improve and will have the potential to escalate to the point of non-repair. If we do not allow God to test us and get to the bottom of why we sin and why we are so stubborn in giving it up, we will never get the relief for are begging for. (Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me. Psalm 139:23-24 & Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7)
Remember, I am writing this from the perspective of one who has asked God for help, and then refused His council. Whatever God is asking you to give up, be it pornography, Hollywood, alcohol, an affair, false religion, bad temper, argumentative attitude, etc. then you need to follow His will and let go of your own stubborn pride, or you will remain in darkness. (If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:6-8)
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
I feel as if there is more I could say, but I will end with a better writer than I am, and end with Paul's words from Romans 6. Prayerfully read his words and let them sink in and when you ask God to help you, truly mean it and give up whatever sin He asks of you (in doubt, read the Bible) you so you can be set free. (I suggest reading all of Romans chapter 8 as well.)
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein...
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him... For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness...
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:1-23
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Where will you build your house?
Matthew 7:24-29 (posted at the end) paints a picture of two different types of houses during a storm. It is clear Jesus was speaking of our spiritual lives. No one is exempt from the storms of life. We will all face hardships. It is during those life-changing moments when it matters most where you have chosen to build your house. Faith in Jesus Christ, the rock, is a wonderful start. If you are angry with God and refuse to cling to Him in your time of need, you are on shifting sand and are sure to wash away with the debris brought by the storm.
I want to take this theme a step farther from the lessons were taught in Sunday School. (Remember the song, "The rains came down, and the floods came up," and doing the hand motions up and down?) For starters, many only call on Jesus and claim Him as their rock when the storms come. We need to go beyond the hard days and focus on every day! As I mentioned above, I felt the need to move and shift while standing in the waves to keep from falling. The waves of my analogy now represent temptation. Standing in shifting sand will not do you any good, you will still keep sinking as long as you stay put. You need to get out of the sand (move away from your sinful lifestyle) and get to Jesus the Rock!
The last time my hubby and I waded in the waves, another angle of this theme occurred to me. I can stand on all the rocks I want, but if I'm in the middle of the ocean when the waves hit, I will still be knocked over. You cannot simply stand on the rock; you must abide in the house on the rock. Does that make sense? In other words, you must remain grafted together with Jesus, you cannot make it on your own.
The best way we can remain in that safe house on the rock is by having a firm, solid faith and a sound doctrine. Just as we can choose to walk out the door of any house, we can choose to walk away from Jesus. If you do not pay your mortgage payment or rent, you could end up homeless. You need to keep living a clean life and ask for victory over habitual sins to keep abiding in Jesus. Do not walk away from the house on the rock and go to the house on the sand by believing you are eternally secure. That doctrine will wash you away with the incoming tide.
The book of Jude, written by one of Jesus' brothers, warns us that the grace message will be skewed and misrepresented, verses 3-4 say, "Dear friends, I’ve dropped everything to write you about this life of salvation that we have in common. I have to write insisting—begging!—that you fight with everything you have in you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish. What has happened is that some people have infiltrated our ranks (our Scriptures warned us this would happen), who beneath their pious skin are shameless scoundrels. Their design is to replace the sheer grace of our God with sheer license—which means doing away with Jesus Christ, our one and only Master." (the Message version) Sadly, this is too true. People have exchanged the Truth of God's grace when we repent (the rock), for a lie that says grace is an excuse to sin without repenting (the sinking sand). This false teaching gives people "sheer license" to do whatever they want and never worry about the consequences. (What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:1-2)
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. Revelation 20:12
Think of it this way: When you have a job, do you just stay home, or do you go to work to earn a paycheck? Have you ever called your boss and said, "I really don't feel like working, can you do all my work for me and still give me a paycheck?" Of course not, you would be fired! Then why would you believe Jesus' righteousness alone is enough to join Him in Paradise? Do you really think Jesus will do all the work for you and still let you into His Kingdom? Even parents give their children jobs to do in order to earn an allowance. Yes, the love and grace of Jesus and salvation are absolutely free gifts. Jesus will never stop loving us (Romans 8:39) but we can lose our salvation when we treat it carelessly. We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)! We must stand on the rock of Truth to keep from toppling over when the waves hit.