When my children were in grade school, their cousins kept getting head lice from children living around an apartment where they visited their grandmother. Then each time they visited us, my children became infested. After my third trip to the … Continue reading
Engraved On His Palms
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Isa 49:16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
Scientists say nails in the center of our hands will not support the full weight of a body without ripping through the hands. In the time of Jesus life, people considered the ‘hand’ as including the wrist area and half the lower arm as seen in the above picture.
It is possible, the nails were driven through His wrists as some scholars believe. The word “palms” was translated from the Hebrew word, “kaph” which also means “middle”.
Completely Forgiven!
In Jeremiah 3, God called Israel a harlot and accused her of whoredom; He divorced her, but He also pleads with her to turn back to Him.
Jer 3:8-9 And I saw, when for all the causes for which backsliding Israel committed adultery, I sent her away and gave a bill of divorce to her, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she went and whored, she also. And it happened, from the folly of her whoredom, she defiled the land and fornicated with stones and stocks.
Then in Jeremiah 31, God calls Israel a virgin in declaring this prophecy to Jeremiah:
Jer 31:3-4 Jehovah has appeared to me from afar, saying, Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel.
He called Israel a harlot, because she turned from Him and worshiped other gods. Israel was not loyal to Him, but He says she will turn back (vs 9) and when she does He will forgive her. When He forgives, the sin no longer exists, therefore He can say of her, “O virgin Israel.”
Psa_103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.
A Lily, A Thorn, or a Sheep?
Songs 2, the King calls her a lily among thorns. This lily abides with Him in the secret place. He sends His flocks to feed among the lilies. Which are you, a lily, a thorn, or a sheep in the flock?
Weight Gain
I thought I gained 30 lbs. This morning I got brave enough to get on the scales… I only gained 13 lbs. Thats almost like losing 17 lbs!! (12-22-14)
Trials
“Now let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his high position, but the rich person in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of the grass. For the sun rises with its burning heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is lost. So also the rich person in his pursuits will wither away. Blessed is the person who endures testing…” James 1:9-12, AMP (Boast because He loves you enough to test you, therefore your position with Him is high.)
Prayer
There’s a much quoted saying by the late Myles Munroe, “Prayer is man giving God permission or license to interfere in Earth’ s affairs.”
If prayer puts God to work on earth, then by the same token, the lack of prayer rules God out of the worlds affairs, and prevents Him from working.
Love Never Fails
I was raised by my dad. A step mother came into the picture early in life; I was five years old. The older I grew, the more rocky our relationship became. The other day, in frustration again, during prayer I said, “God, what about my step mother? How do I deal with her?” He told me, “Just show her you love her. That is all she wants from anyone – to be loved.”
Not the first time, that was the answer God gave me in solution to a relationship problem, but surely it is the best answer, because, “Love never fails.” (1 Cor 13:8) 12-27/14
Condemnation
I’ve heard the enemy condemning me this week and forgot I’m not who I used to be. In taking a look back at who I was compared to who I am and Who I strive to be like, I remembered so much that I have overcome and the enemy’s condemnations are losing power. Maybe it is not only good to know who I am in Jesus Christ, but also to remember who I WAS before I became HIS. (11-16-14)
Holiness
Holiness is not contagious. Unholiness is contagious. If you are living an unholy life, your sacrifices are also unholy. Haggai 2:11-17
Tale of Two Dogs
An Eskimo fisherman came to town every Saturday afternoon. He always brought his two dogs with him. One was white and the other was black. He had taught them to fight on command. Every Saturday afternoon in the town square the people would gather and these two dogs would fight and the fisherman would take bets. On one Saturday the black dog would win; another Saturday, the white dog would win – but the fisherman always won! His friends began to ask him how he did it. He said, “I starve one and feed the other. The one I feed always wins because he is stronger.”
This story about the two dogs is apt because it tells us something about the inner warfare that comes into the life of a person who is born again. We have two natures within us, both struggling for mastery. Which one will dominate us? It depends on which one we feed.
Excerpt from "The Holy Spirit: Activating God's Power in Your Life," by Billy Graham (1978)
Sausage Bean Casserole
Preheat oven to 400 F.
1 can ranch beans
1 can pork & beans
1 can Lima beans
1 can red beans (or black beans)
2 ribs celery, chopped
6 oz bacon
1/2 lb hamburger
1/2 lb smoked sausage, sliced
1/2 onion
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 T mustard
1/2 cup catchup
1 T Worcestershire
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- Cut bacon into 1″ sections.
- Break apart in skillet while browning until crisp.
- Remove to paper towel to drain.
- Brown hamburger in same skillet and spoon beef into large casserole dish.
- Chop onion and saute in leftover hamburger grease with sliced smoked sausage.
- Spoon browned sausage and onion into casserole dish.
- Add cooked bacon to casserole.
- Open all bean cans and pour contents into casserole dish, including juices.
- Add remaining ingredients; Mix well.
- Bake at 400* for 35-40 minutes.
Harht to Heart 