Being a life giver ~~~

September 11, 2021

While I was reading the Word today, I came across Matthew 13:32. It says, “The mustard seed, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” 

My notes in my Bible read, “So even the least of my words can blossom big for the Kingdom.”

You may feel like you have little to offer but if one word or even three or ten is given from you and you add your faith to that Word with love, you can minister greatly to anyone around you. You have no idea what that one word will do for someone. The reality of it is that it could change their life. It will certainly lift them.

Be encouraged in the work He has called for you. Smile at everyone you can and share with them even if it is one word of encouragement. Let God fulfill His promise as you apply faith knowing that not one word of His will return void. God says in Proverbs 18:21 that the power of life and death are in the tongue. Be a life giver everywhere you go. Even when you are faced with death, you can give life. Proverbs 10:20, “The tongue of the just is as choice silver.”

What a mighty God we serve! Serve Him well. : )))))

My first reaction from all I’ve learned through the decades is to answer, “Yes”. But I’ve decided to take a good look at what I’ve learned and to see a greater portion from what I already know, meaning, we all see and learn in part according to the end of 1 Corinthians 13. I want more!

Does it take just one man’s will to make the hand of God move? We see that all of the time, so why are we hung up over what has happened to the election process of 2020-2021? We’ve heard someone say that the elections didn’t go our way because God does not interfere with man’s will. Or, something like that (very close), was shared. How many wills does it take for God to move on our behalf? Yet, get to the end of the page.

Having read the Bible countless times, and am always in process of doing, I was going back through my memory of God’s hand when man didn’t will God to do things. First, I came to Moses when the Israelites were screaming in fear and terror and then started to mumble, groan, and complain of what they processed was the end of their existence and wanted Moses to give in. They were now wanting (yes, willing) to go back to Egypt and continue living there for fear was gripping their hearts. After all, weren’t the Egyptian soldiers in hot pursuit and right at their backsides even though they were held back by a pillar of fire? Now, that pillar should have been a clue to the Israelites as to Whom was really in control.

God didn’t throw His hands up in the air and say, “Well, that does it! I don’t have a majority of “wills” to line up with My will, so I won’t open the Red Sea and deliver My people!”

Daniel was certainly overwhelmed by the hundreds of wise men and magicians . . . not to mention the King! They all wanted Daniel thrown into the lion’s pit to be torn and eaten, no more to be seen. In this particular instance, the king didn’t want Daniel to die, but had to follow his given word. God looked at Daniel who willed to live while a multitude wanted him dead, yet God chose this man’s faith and delivered him from the lion’s den; and unscathed!

Joseph felt all alone having been sold into slavery, and even had to go to prison for a number of years. There was no one desiring him to get out except himself. But it wasn’t a matter of wills, for if it was up to the majority, Daniel would have died there. It took years, but it did not weary God in the least. God had a timing and a plan, and it all came together when it glorified Him the most.

King David ran around with his clan of men who were small of number compared to King Saul’s thousands and ten’s of thousands who wanted him seized and dead. David willed to live as he ran around the countryside fleeing from Saul’s threats, yet, God honored David you was in the minority.

Gideon and his small band of soldiers willed to live and save Israel from the hands of the thousands of Philistines. Whom did God honor?

Peter, Paul, Esther, Noah, and others too were thrown into situations where their wills were not the majority, but God intervened on their behalves. This is the God Whom we serve! This is the real God Who made each of us!

In my reading book after book in the Bible, I see it only takes one man’s will to turn the tide of events. In contrast, I also see how one man’s will (as being the only one at stake) does not want God to do something, that nothing will probably happen. Like, Naaman, found in 2 Kings 5, who wanted to be healed of leprosy and just about wasn’t, because his will wanted things to happen in a different way than the way God presented to him. Hmmnnnn….. Man’s will verses God’s will makes a difference if this is a ‘one-on-one’ situation. This makes ALL the difference. Still, I ask, has God yet moved above any one man’s will concerning that man alone?

That is another subject for another time. I revert to what I shared at the beginning of this article but I’m thinking that because nothing is impossible with God, that anything can happen anytime. What do you think?

Who is this King of Glory? It is Christ Jesus the Lord!

“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.” Ps. 24:8

Deuteronomy 4:34
“Or has a god ventured to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, just as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?“

I have always warned people who think they want the miraculous in their lives.  Believe me, I understand!  How exciting!!!  But there is just one thing . . . That means one has to be exposed to the impossible.  That means your understanding has to flee as well as you feeding yourself visuals (yes, that has to flee) of why something can’t happen by God’s outstretched arm.  It means that your thoughts and ways have fled you and there is no way out unless it is supernatural.

Was it not Peter who got excited in the moment, and dared to believe he too could walk on water as his eyes were fixed on Jesus walking on the water before him? Then he took his eyes off our King and beheld the disturbing waves about him and he began to fall.  His faith was great to believe, but short lived (as Jesus put it, “little faith”).

Where did the Israelites get their water when there was none to be found? God released water from a rock to feed the millions. Would you like to be thrown into the wilderness and have no water for you or your family and livestock?  Scary!  You see, it is easy to not believe, but that choice yields a ‘no miracle situation’.

Did not Abraham hear from God about Isaac being born (as yet, not named) but he and his wife could not wait for something supernatural to take place, so they tried to make something happen with their own understanding; as though God would quit being God for them (you know, the One and only One Who changes not).

And then Abraham was tested again, but this time he saw God had done the miraculous (oh the mercies and goodness of God) and had that remembrance of a seed coming from a dead (metaphorically speaking) body into a dead womb (with many other doings of God in His life). He now obeyed God, taking young Isaac up to the mountain to slay him. God’s Word clearly states that Abraham KNEW God had said Isaac was his promise and seed — to begin to fill the earth with millions of seeds to come.  He KNEW.  So, he expected God to raise Isaac from the dead!  He truly believed that!  What did God say after Abraham received the knife and positioned himself to slay his son and God called his name and had him stop? God said that HE knew Abraham truly trusted Him and knew who He was and that God could now truly bless him!  Actually, God said, “Now I know you love ME.”

Are we not being tested again this day throughout the USA and around the world at such a time as this?

How about being backed up to the Red Sea as an “out” from the enemy?  No one ever read about such a thing happening before those days, let alone hearing about such a thing.  Did not God wait until the last minute?  Was it the Israelites last minute?  No!  They started to complain and grumble over the circumstances of the Egyptian army piling up behind them. But Moses put himself into position to raise the rod as God led him to do, so that they may see their full deliverance.

Did not Rahab, the harlot in the fortress of Jericho, as in Joshua 6:25 hear the walls crumble with a mighty shaking and roar?  Did she choose to believe that she would be saved with her gathered loved ones with her; for her belief was true and sure?  How scary that must have been while in process!

Noah lived among hundreds, maybe thousands of people who thought he was absolutely crazy building a boat!  What is a boat?  Even more, it was an ark.  Remember, it had never rained before, ever!  Yet, God trusted Noah, for Noah trusted God every step of the process of the journey of faith. Noah waited a very long time to see the hand of God.  The Hebrew word for ark in this way is used twice in the Bible as “ta-va”.

Then there was the time Moses as a baby was sent down the Nile River (by faith)  in an ark of bulrush weeds to save his life, and was picked up by one of the wealthiest in the land; the very daughter of Pharaoh!  His basket or ark that floated his precious life was the other time “ta-va” word was used in Hebrew.  Twice God protected His seed through the treasure chest (ta-va means chest) He choose to use. 

            Why is it Called an Ark? – ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry

We have simpler miracles that had to be born because of an impossible situation; as even Jesus honored His mother, who wanted the hosts of a great wedding party not be shamed having run out of wine.  He gave a simple command and the next thing we know, vast pots filled with water now became vessels of the finest wine — saving the day!

God loves saving the day.  It’s what He does. 

Daniel, who sought God continually believed in the God Who delivers . . . not just once.  Daniel knew in his heart (and his mouth spoke what was truly in his heart) that God could deliver and bring about His purpose for the situations at hand.

Samuel, King David, Elijah and Elisha, Esther, Joshua, and many other names we read about in God’s Holy Word saw or were involved in many miracles.  God says nothing is impossible with Him.  He also says that nothing is too difficult for Him.

If God says such things, then we know for sure it is true and right.  That’s what I call “a for sure thing!”  Even in my life, I have seen many miracles!  That would mean I have been subjected to many impossible situations (and I mean many) and have seen God come through EVERY SINGLE TIME!!! I even have a book on many of my miracles.

Remember, Jesus was compassionate and cared for the great multitudes of people (thousands at one time) and did not want them to grow any wearier nor did He want them to faint as they went on their way, so He stepped into the situation and filled them.  The few loaves of bread and fish were enough (and not even necessary, but God loves a visual to throw our faith on) to feed a great multitude.  Still today, God gives us great men and women of God who feed us manna from His lips to our ears to encourage our spirits and souls so that we too do not faint.

Jesus could do few miracles among those who did not believe, as recorded in Matthew 13:58.  Faith must be exercised, which means there is a level of sacrifice involved.  Give up your unbelief and hardness of heart and fear and choose rather to believe, for God is on the move! 

When the impossible is thrown into our realm it is the perfect time to really bless God by giving Him sacrifices of praise (which catapults you into seeing things through His eyes) and by believing for His hand to intervene and turn things around.  Faith is precious and little exercised.  God keeps giving us everyday types of trials from time to time so that we may build on that faith as we exercise it.  Faith only sees the outcome spiritually until the day it manifests.  In other words, you cannot see the promise with your natural eye. Faith is something hoped for, not seen. There is no faith otherwise, and God clearly states that without faith it is impossible to please Him.  Wow, that is such a biggy! 

If you pray, God hears your prayers (and there are conditions to that found in the Bible), but it is your faith that moves His hand.  Gird up your faith and give God your all!!!  Praise Him continually!  You will see the great outcome!   You will see many great outcomes!

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

Matthew 2:11

 I remember decades ago when I learned about the history of Christmas and was very dismayed. I read many other things about Christmas through the years and its history and what it has become and why. Not all of it was dark. I love to research and I listen with ears wide open.  I have to know that I know that I know. I’m wired that way. It is the way of integrity and solely the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

I know that you too are a person of integrity. I want to share with you what God has given me all these many years as I took it all to the Lord those many years ago and have done so on occasion since then but have at long last have put it to rest as my heart is pure in this area. So is our growth in the Lord. I get various answers that all end up similar answers from Him. I can boldly say it is Him I’ve truly heard. 

The hang-up ~~~

There is a time that Christmas did not honor the Lord Jesus as it should have.

The challenge ~~~

Even in this I do not want my brother or sister who do not believe to celebrate this holiday to stumble because I believe in honoring God’s child, my Saviour, each year by celebrating His birthday. I have a friend who has decided it isn’t right for her. I do not flaunt this in her face. I’ve explained once how I feel about the holiday and why I believe it is God, but I leave it there.

First of all, I was raised to honor Christ above all at Christmas time so I was blessed to have a pure heart over this holiday. The very fact that “Christ” (The Lord) and “mas” (all people) is honoring in itself. Each Christmas morning, my Mom and her Mom and hers would bring out the angel food cake and we sang to Christ, “Happy Birthday”. Nothing happened any Christmas until we honored Christ and showed Him from the depths of our heart that He was and still is first in our lives and that was what the holiday was all about. I have passed this tradition on to my children and their children. Of course it isn’t like that in other families. It doesn’t matter. But for me, it is essential.

Christmas…… A gift from Almighty God for us to celebrate. I believe it hurts Him for us to not want to celebrate His only begotten Son. Love came down to give us life, to give us hope. It isn’t the particular date Christ was born but that He was born to give us the greatest celebration of all, and that is the promise of our knowing our real Dad and Heavenly Father, and that ~~~ forever……

Where I shop is just important throughout the year. I would like to avoid all of the stores (99%) of them because they are not Christian owned. There are companies I would like to not deal with because the owner or originator is not a Christian. I could choose to not watch TV ever because the devil uses it so much. I say the same thing about beds, computers, food sources, and clothing items. I can’t research them all and know too much about several. I had thought once to not play with a deck of cards because of its history. But God told me when I was a child that the motive of my heart was the key to all things I do. Hence, I’m writing a book that covers that entire subject since it is God’s heart from cover to cover in His Holy Word, the Bible.  I play with cards to this day and never yet pay homage to the devil.

The treasure ~~~

I love how the colors red and green are the primary colors for this blessed holiday. Red is our Saviour’s precious blood He shed and green is the like the evergreen trees and more for the everlasting life He has offered us who believe. 

I love how people everywhere are open to the gospel more than other times of the year. 

I love how God softens men’s hearts at this time of year and people reach out to each other more than usual. I have been in several lines the past week or two and have prayed for several people who are eager to receive God’s healing and blessings. 

I love how the unity of believers becomes ever stronger throughout the world. Yes, God is sovereign and in control of it all. Even non-believers find themselves singing about Christ, and what makes that so exciting is that God’s Word never returns void! It is one of the most powerful times of the year just because of this odd unity God designed.

I love how some of the most inspired music from God’s chosen (oh He wanted to bless it!) was written for this birthday celebration. 

I love how that music is in the air and all throughout the spirit realm praising God and the Lamb of God!

I love how, just like the Sabbath, according to Colossians chapter two says, regardless of the day we honor the Sabbath, be sure to do it, but don’t get hung up which day you choose.  Who says the Word of God isn’t for every century and up to date? So, Jesus was born in September (very possibly). But we celebrate it in December!

I love how God loves us to celebrate. The Word of God is full of celebrations He has appointed for us and those to come after this world ends! I love how God highly honors those who celebrate the Saviour of the World and our most High God during this time!

I love how there are Christmas lights for people to enjoy, which is another sign of unity and honor to the birth of Christ. Only God could have put that in the hearts of man to get non-believers agreeing with believers one time a year! Such power in unity! Every discerning spirit can detect the lightness in the air compared with the rest of the year. That only comes from God.

I love how His birthday celebration for a few weeks lifts the heart of man. Again, that only comes from God Almighty. It’s His choice!

I love how many miracles occur during this time, for people are desperate and hearts are full of hope prepared by Daddy God at this time because we celebrate the birth of His Son.  

I love how people become generous in thought and also in their pocket books. We received a precious Christmas wish from a guy in Texas that Jonathan met at the University a few years ago. He had gotten our Christmas card in the mail and texted Jonathan a couple of nights ago saying that the greatest thing he had gotten out of his experience in the Northwest was knowing the two of us and our kindness and love in his life. That card touched him that deeply.

I love that it is the time of giving.

I love how people quit being selfish for however short the moment or time is, and give to one another. The ordinary days are broken up for taking time to honor our Saviour Who paid such a price to come down in the form of man to give us all hope and eternal life. The wise men came (ordered by God to give His Son honor) and celebrated God giving us life and hope, and gave gifts to Jesus at a young age.

Giving is honoring.

Giving is worship.

I love that although not everyone gives out of a pure heart or motive, there are millions that do. That’s unity. Unity is God’s heart.

I love how God pours out His mercies at this time of year. I love how people get to make extra money at this time of the year because of the demands in the world due to commodities being sold at record highs! I love how God wants to bless us all, all of the time, and at this time of year many reap His outpouring. His mercies precede His judgment. 

I love how kindness and love are poured out through people of all nations and creeds in extra measures at Christmas time. 

I love how people get to have days off to be with their families and how God refreshes families and relationships everywhere.

I love how people go out of their way to be with one another strengthening the bond of unity. It’s God.

I love how the story of God’s love gets shared throughout the world through churches, through the TV, through the Internet, and any way and anyone whom God uses. He uses the world and its worldliness in great ways at this time of year! I love that!

I love how churches are packed with stragglers and those dragging their feet toward the things of God but get closer to God anyway. 

I love how God moves on those people and us all!

I love all of the new-borns in Christ at Christmas time!!!  How about that! New born…..s

I love how everyone wants everyone to feel good and go out of their way to see that that happens.

I love how sweethearts say some of the kindest and most endearing morsels of love to one another all because of honoring Christmas and the love meant to be shared in an extra special way at this time.

I love how God spreads such joy and happiness everywhere. Joy opens the heart to Him.  Oh that God’s children would unite and strengthen the hand of God!

Unity is of God. It is His design and one way of Him to pour Himself out to those whom He loves. 

I know there are other things about Christmas that are wonderful and glorious. I listen to Christmas music starting October 31st until after Christmas day. My motive stays clear and clean. I reap joy and the glory of our Lord because of that. Many things in life I thought I couldn’t do, but if I changed my motive as God taught me how (I’m not talking about sin or darkness) I was released to glorify God in that thing.

There are Christians who have gotten so pious and religious that they think they are not supposed to vote as well as not celebrate Christmas. They don’t realize they break the bond of unity weakening the purpose of God behind it all. The same can be said about some Christians at Christmas time, don’t you think? Speaking of Christmas and its roots, what about the roots in your heart for Jesus? Perhaps you backslid but you are on board with the truth now. It always goes back to motive. What is your motive for celebrating Christmas? 

I look all around me and observe all that is going on at this time of year. Christmas may have had some weird beginnings, but actually, the beginning was the birth of the Christ child. That is the only beginning I look at. And that is all good, and that is what I will celebrate all my years. The true beginning is what ticks off the devil and he tried to make it something horrible to hang up God’s children. But God has turned it out for good and brought truth to those who will believe. It’s in the heart and it is always about the heart. Unity is God’s choice and desire, and how He loves Holiness! This is most certainly the most Holy time of the year! He really honors this day!

Give with all of your heart and let joy be spread ultimately and generously! Love is of God. This is all about His Love given to us all. It’s a good choice to make for His name’s sake.  “Come all ye faithful, Come and behold Him, born the King …”

In His great love for you,

Merry Christmas! Even if it is July or April or September!  Merry Birthday of Jesus to all!

“Oh come let us adore Him . . .”