He Has Called

2 Timothy 1:9

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

What a blessing it is to know that God hasn't called us because of what we have already done (none of us would be worthy if that was the case!), but according to His purpose and His grace. Also, He called us before we were born--before the world was even created. It is not of anything we have done or could do!

Profitable Scripture

2 Timothy 3:1-17 

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

Father & Son

Continuing with the book of John and the importance of a personal relationship with God.

Christ is the Door

Live Justly

Hosea 6:6

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

God would much rather have us live as He has called us to live over asking for forgiveness for breaking His commands. How can we keep from breaking His commands? We need to know them; we need to have the knowledge of God.

Grab His Word and study it! Seek His knowledge!

Return to the Lord

Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 

Hosea 6:1-3

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

I believe this scripture fits well with America. We are being destroyed because we lack true knowledge-the knowledge of God's ways. We have rejected Him and His teachings.

However, if we return to God and seek His knowledge, He will heal us! If we follow Him, He will restore us.

The Ways of Death

Healing on the Sabbath

The Same

Fish and Loaves Experiences

John 6:9-13 

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Have you ever had a fish and loaves experience? I have multiple time.

A recent experience happened just last week. A friend brought a meal for my family to help out after my baby was born. She had asked about how many chicken roasters my family would need. I told her that I usually cook a 5-6 lb whole chicken for us. She was amazed as her family of 5 (with 3 small children) eat a 3 lb roaster. Well, she cooked two, 3 lb roasters for us and it fed everyone and we had leftovers.

I guess I had never thought about how little a 6 lb chicken seems to be able to feed a large family, but God has always made it enough for us.

I would love to hear your "fish and loaves" experiences! Share below in the comments!

Watch the Father

John 5:19-20

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

How do children learn? Many learn by watching their parents (or those around them) and mimicking their actions.

My son is a prime example of this. Before he was even two years old, he knew how to turn on the tractor and how to move the 3-point hitch. Were these things my husband taught him? NO! He watched my husband do them and then did them himself.

Christ was the same way, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do." If that is what Christ did, then we, as children of God, should do the same. "Watch" what the Father is doing and do it ourselves. When we see God working, we should ask to join Him in His work!

Long Distance Relationship

Extreme Faith

Daniel 6:10 

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Daniel knew the consequences of continuing to pray to God, but he went ahead and prayed anyway. Not only did he continue to pray, he didn't even attempt to hid it. He prayed with the windows wide open for anyone to see. He also didn't decrease how often he prayed; he continued to pray three times a day.

Daniel knew that God was in control and that no matter what happened to him, it was God's plan. That is extreme faith!

Taking the Time to Pray

Daniel 2:16-23 

Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.

Daniel was in a situation where his life depnded on whether he knew the answers to the king's questions. He did the wise thing by asking for time and by asking his friends to join him in prayer. Proverbs 24:6b says, "and in multitude of counsellors there is safety." Proverbs also says that wisdom comes from God. Daniel was searching that wisdom by praying and asking God to bestow it upon him.

Wouldn't we be wise to do the same?

Commonality

I was taking my oldest daughter to the airport Sunday morning so she could fly across the ocean for her first mission trip. Someone else recorded the message at church. I'm not sure why there is so much extra noise, but please try to ignore it and listen to the message. It is a good one and I am thankful someone still recorded it so I could hear it myself.