WHEN GOD STEPS IN

"If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" Romans 8:31

Sometimes when you do what's right and you meet tons of resistance you are baffled at how a good plan can get so off track. But thru it all, as the song says, God makes it happen. Resist the habit of rehearsing what caused a disturbance, and embrace God's victory on your behalf. Speaks these word audibly, "To God be the glory!" You and God won, mission accomplished! It's history baby.

"What is man at his best, but a breath." Psalm 39:5

FLOWERCHIC

WALK ON IN HIS GRACE, CHILD OF GOD, JUST KEEP WALKING.

"God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way." (Matthew 5:9-12 NLT)

Walk on child of God. They'll be times when we will walk, talk, and act like imitators of Christ in doing good for someone else, and because we don't "do" like the world does, people who are used to drama, will think we've done them no earthly good. Well, remember this, at the final end, God's the only one in charge of the lasting Book of Deeds. So as long as your God gives you credit on that account, don't you worry your pretty head about them giving you a discount on your good deed. God knows. That's all that matters.

FLOWERCHIC

STUDYING THE BOOK OF JOB, AND DETANGLING THE OLDEST TRICK IN THE BAG

Still in the book of Job. Here Eliphaz makes a judgement against Job that is groundless. It is a trap for believers in Christ. It is assuming that a person is facing difficult circumstance due to some sin committed, when it may be a result of sin that has NOT been committed, and is an attack of the Devil to cause setback and havoc. There are consequences to our sin, that can be traced back to our sins. But, I have learned that anytime God disciples me in my sin, He does so in a way to bring me back to Him. That is always His purpose. The sooner I stop, the quicker it's over. Job like all of us knew/knows when we've sinned. That's why Christ left us with the Holy Spirit. We also know when we are accused of sins we've not committed. Some times it's best to speak the truth and speak no more about it. Sometimes it's best to let the lie drop, and not defend yourself. God is now teaching me not to be so breakable, meaning, I am learning, (it's not easy,) to let a lie drop and not defend myself. To do this, you have to trust God more than you trust the power of a lie. Whatever we are led to do, we must turn the situation over to God. He will most certainly settle the matter, because he loves all parties, and His goal is to disciple all parties. Yes, there is a difference between being discipled by God and disciplined by God.

"Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: “Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him? Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous? Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect? Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you and brings judgment against you? No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins. “For example, you must have lent money to your friend and demanded clothing as security. Yes, you stripped him to the bone. You must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry. You probably think the land belongs to the powerful and only the privileged have a right to it! You must have sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the hopes of orphans. That is why you are surrounded by traps and tremble from sudden fears." (Job 22:1-10 NLT)

IT WAS A HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

As for the Crossland family, we had a great Christmas. We were finally able to shut the door and lock it firmly on the past Christmas' of sickness! Both mom and dad are in great health. All their test results came in last week with an A+! To God be the glory! Sometime early this year, Linda and I got serious about dotting our "I's" and crossing our "T's" in regards to claiming, and decreeing God's Word over ourselves and our family. We call each other out when casually speaking of defeat. We continued daily as usual, renewing our minds in His Word, and praying in faith. We've stepped out of the box of our comfort zone, and stood at the very edge of the end of our ledge, till Jesus showed up to deliver us. We learned no matter how far out of our normal faith zone we got, He would show up faithfully. Each time we did this, we pushed back darkness that much farther, and increased our boundaries of where we walked as faith warriors. The end result? We were able to firmly shut the door on sickness and the stress of dealing with it closed during the Christmas holiday, and the days leading up to it. Now that, is one heck of a praise testimony I am happy to report. What have I learned to do and put into practice? I've learned even more, to a greater degree, to open my mouth and roar like a lioness with confidence, what the Word of God says I can claim for myself and my family. When Satan tries to roar back at me, I advance forward and I roar louder than before with more faith and no fear like David did. To Satan it's a mighty roar. To God it's a simple prayer in faith. It's then that my God, Jeshua, and a whole host of heaven's angels join forces with me, that we together roar like a pack pushing back darkness, and lock the door shut on defeat.


http://youtu.be/ghC3gqNQJPQ

IT'S IN THE DETAILS AND ITS ALL THERE

I just read 2 Cor 5:10, then I read Rev 19:7-8, and lastly I read Rev 22:12. Now is that not cool? That book of deeds was throwing me. I got it though. I'm rather excited!

We will all be judged, both the righteous (those who have repented and made Jesus their Lord and Savior) and the unrighteousness (those who never repent and make Jesus their Lord and Savior), by God based on (2) books; The Book of Life, and The Book of Deeds, but not altogether at the same time.

There are 2 groups of righteous judged at two different times. The first group at the Rapture. The second group at the First Resurrection. Both group's names are written in The Book of life, and both groups receive their white linen robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. The white linen robes are a judgement of their deeds, as determined in The Book of deeds.

So at these 2 different times the righteous are judged. Therefore, neither group fears the Second Death.

The third and final group, the unrighteous, who never repent and make Jesus their Lord and Saviour, are judged based on the same book that is referred to by Paul in the book of 2Cor. 5:10, along with The Book of Life.

See, I thought without study, that God would line us all up at one time and judge us altogether. But after carefully studying the Second Coming/Rapture (and as Oral Roberts would say, "Not to be confused with Second Resurrection) and the book of Revelations, I found that assumption not to be true on my part.

Studying the Word is not boring at all!

THE THORN

I love this passage below ( 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NLT.) The "Thorn" was always an attack FROM Satan against Paul, it never originated from God. 

I love God's response to Satan's attack against Paul! Basically, it's like this, 'This Satanic attack against you, it ain't no big thing to Me, I AM has got this...you hear Me? I AM has got "This" and your back. They'll be no enduring lacking My abundant provision. Call on I AM, and I will be there, wherever, whenever you need Me to provide.'

Don't you love this about God? I do. I serve a big, big God!

"even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NLT)

I especially like the last sentence-one word in particular, "Then!" That's where Paul called on God, and I AM (AKA Big Daddy) showed up BIG!


WOW! I have been gone awhile! But I'm back blogging again. Hope you enjoyed the above post.

Written by FLOWERCHIC

Thoughts Fresh Out Of The Valley

Receiving is a process, it's not about tears, or wishing, it's all about faith. But it's not about faith that God exists, but faith that He will deliver your Jeremiah 29:11 Plan, and incorporate your wants as well. You speak your faith in what you ask for, as though you believe God has already delivered, then He takes it from there, and does the toiling for you.

Renew your mind daily in God's words and learn His character, and what His voice sounds like. When He tells you to move, don't think twice about it, just move. If there are challenges that try to sabotage you along the way, imitate what Christ would do, and wait the devil out in the will of God. Your obedience at this stage is very important.

Don't freak out if you Jeremiah 29:11 Plan is a 2 or 3 fold plan. Trust God, and step on out in faith. Remember, the logistics are not yours to toil.

Your journey out of the valley will be less stressful if you will remove these words, "How, why, and when." Our job is not to make anything happen, so as to help God along, it will only extend your journey. When God gives you an assignment in the process, only do what He says, even if it's just a teeny-tiny action on your part. Resist the urge to hit a home run out of the park, and don't try and save yourself. This sounds so crazy, I know!

Remember, its not about your actions, or other people's actions, or Satan, it's only about God's grace and His mercy.

OMGosh, this part is so important, do not look at your circumstances! When you are at the brink of your break through, Satan will throw everything including the kitchen sink at you, it's true what they say, you are almost ready to fly butterfly. God is the whisper in the wind, upholding your wings. Speak these words, "I am a righteous child of God, there is no God as mighty as my daddy-God, IN THE NAME OF JESUS I AM FLYING AGAIN! When you hear His voice say, "NOW!" charge forward! The next thing you'll know, you will no longer be where you were before, but headed straight into your destiny with God!

FLOWERCHIC

IF IT DOESN'T RESONATE WITH YOUR SPIRIT OR THE WORD OF GOD, ONE CANNOT ACQUIESCE TO APPEASE, BUT INSTEAD FOLLOW THE ONE TRUE CREATOR GOD

"This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." (1 John 1:5-10 NLT)

Twice I have heard these above scriptures and others used to validate a viewpoint of once saved always saved, and taking things one step further, that we as Believers in Christ once we are saved do not have to repent of any subsequent sins we commit, because all sins committed after our prayer of salvation are covered under the one redemption of sin by Jesus. The first time someone tried to teach this viewpoint to me, I rejected it. Because my Holy Spirit just did not resonate with what they were speaking. Now I was on board with once saved always saved for me, because I do not fathom how I can unbelieve Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins, nor can I ever unbelieve that He was raised from the dead on the third day, any more than I can unbelieve in the Holy Spirit, or that Jesus heals, and delivers me, or that when I do sin, an uneasyness in my true Spirit convicts me, so that I personally feel compelled and convicted to confess my sins to Jesus.  I am no great scholar of the Word. I am a student of the Word, and I am teachable, but whatever I hear or read contrary to what I presently know must line up with the Word of God as a whole and complete teaching, and it must resonate with my Holy Spirit, which is an extension of my God. 

The second time I heard this taught, they even threw in some Greek words. So I followed along, and vowed to find what missing "aha" scripture still was not resonating with my Spirit, with what I did know. I prayed, and I dissected every sentence in the above passage, and I got nothing like what they were believing. Then I sat back and reviewed in my mind all those I had been taught under. How is it possible, that I sat under their teaching and missed this understanding? Then I thought of my personal interaction with them inside and outside the Church setting. Nope, nada, zippo did any of us not repent of subsequent sins. 

In each case of this new belief, both considered the subsequent confession of sin as a religious practice. Really...hum. How many have noticed that disdain of organized annointed religion is the new trick of the devil to keep saints from learning and growing in their walk with God? I'm not one of these people that can at every turn of a conversation quote scripture; chapter, and verse. However, I do know how to use the tools God gave me to find what I am looking for. 

"My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did." (1 John 2:1-6 NLT)

The apostle John is not talking to unbelievers, but believers in Christ. He calls them, "My dear children."  John is advocating how not to sin, in that when we do sin, we are to go to our advocate-Jesus who does plead our case before the Father. 

So, teaching that we do not have to ask for forgiveness after receiving the grace of the cross that Jesus bore on our behalf, is in itself a sin, and therefore this new "mentality" can be considered as sin teaching. Beware of the wolf in sheep's clothing. How do we do this? By renewing our minds in God's Word daily, praying, committing His Word to our hearts and minds, and learning the character of the Trinity. In a nutshell, know your Word and know your God. That, and put everything that passes thru your ears, in front of your eyes, and knocks on the door of your heart to the test of the Word. If it does not resonate with the Word of God, or your Spirit, and prayer brings nothing but void, reject it until God speaks to you to receive it as His. God does not lie, and the Holy Spirit will not lead you astray, nor will it allow any other spirit to. 

Be blessed.~Written by FLOWERCHIC

Rivers and stones and the trees of the field, they sing in the night
And a thousand tongues lay deep in your lungs to raise to the sky
don't lie to yourself, o my soul—love your God.

Deep in your heart you feather and tar your folly and fear:
expose them for the fools they are, and the world comes clear.
Don't lie to yourself, o my soul—love your God.

Your worries will never love you
They'll leave you all alone
But your God will not forsake you
O my soul.

Deep in your heart you feather and tar your folly and fear:
expose them for the fools they are, and the world comes clear.
Don't lie to yourself, o my soul—love your God.

Your worries will never love you
They'll leave you all alone
But your God will not forsake you
O my soul.~Audrey Assad

The Hunter, & The Hunted. The Preyer & The Prey. Satan & His Influence.

Every headline in the news is either the result of good or of evil. For the most part, you can categorize what goes under which column. Humans are spirit led. Our inner spirit activates our soul to act in one direction or another, for evil or for good. Satan knows this. Satan's sole motivation is to kill, steal what's not his, and ultimately destroy us. And the thing is, Satan doesn't operate with a team mentality. If he can get two souls to take each other out, by either killing each other, stealing one from another, or destroying each other's lives, that's a 2-for-1, win-win gain for Satan. 

Take every negative headline in the news, and there you will find Satan at work. He finds a weak spirit of an individual, that he can influence, trick thru deception, pride, covetness, or love of foolishness, or some other sin, in order to kill, steal, or destroy not only that individual, but many more if possible. Satan can even get others to condemn, and turn on themselves to kill, lose what's theirs, and destroy their future.

Satan is elated when he can get two fools, that have allowed him to influence them to eradicate each other, after first using both to cause havoc on the lives of others, and then fatally turn on one another, destroying both lives for all intent and purposes, its how he rolls! Satan and sin are nobodies friend.

We in society call it racism, but it's Satan playing one against the other. We call it rape, but it's Satan using one or more to prey against the innocent. We call it human trafficking, but it's not. It's the sin lust and power overwhelming the weak to kill, steal, and destroy. We call it white color crime, blue color crime, we call it murder, but it's just another name for Satan, and what we allow him to talk us into activating our spirits to do to our own souls, and the souls of others. 

"MURDER!", "MURDERER!", "MURDERERS!" is yelled in the streets. What It really is, is the influence of Satan acted upon, to create death. It's a conscience decision on an individual to not say, "No," to the spirit. Instead, they choose to act in an unrighteous manner.

When we fail to acknowledge God in our lives, when we fail to accept Christ as our Savior, allowing Him to lead us, influence us, and act on our behalf, when we fail to renew our minds in His Word daily, we open the door to our inner spirit to be influenced into killing, stealing, and destroying not just our soul, but the souls of others. 

FLOWERCHIC 

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? WE GO WHERE OUR MINDS GO.

"According to infowars.com Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., rejected the now-viral image showing the late civil rights leader wearing a hoodie just like the one Travyon Martin wore the night of his death.

“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would very likely not wear a hoodie,” she said. “I can assure you he would not wear sagging pants.”~Your Daily Dose of Conservatism
****************************************************
I love pictures of Dr. King in a brown suit and his fedora. To each his own. The question is, "Who are you on the inside, not the outside, though it is nice if you look nice both ways. Then again, explain "nice." Nice to me? Nice to you? Nice to your teenager? Nice to your grandmother? Nice to someone who lives in France, or England, or South Africa, or Brazil, or someone living in the rain forest, the dessert, someone old, someone young... Is what we see fear, acceptability, disapproval, love, hate? A lot of things we need to check ourselves on. Fear, love, compassion, ego, bravado, stupidity, acceptance with ones own self, hardheadedness, can change what is, to what is not. The condition of our mind filters what we see. It can see clearly, or it can distort what simple is in front of us. Hum...just a thought. Be Blessed.

FLOWERCHIC

CRY OUT LOUD, "ABBA, ABBA!"

Hum...sometimes that's all you can say. This world is not our home. It is not a fair place to live. Nor is it a safe place always. It is not a place we can look for answers to our most heartfelt questions. It does not qualify as all wise, where wise decisions come from. The society we live in today, will break your heart, if your faith is in it, and it alone. To find peace, justice, a place to lay your weary head, your injustices, your broken heart...you gotta go elsewhere. Elsewhere is God. You gotta go deep, and you gotta go wide, into Jesus' embrace, where you can rest your exhausted soul and body at His feet. With a heartfelt cry, you cry out, "Heal me Lord. I can't carry it, nor can I contain it all within me, it's just too much to bear. My heart is in two pieces. Can You mend it for me, and while you do, can I just rest here for awhile?" "I'm a little weary right now. I need to steal away from this place." That's what we have to do sometimes. When it gets to be too much, we have to do like John did, and rest on Jesus' heart. We have to feel His heartbeat, His warmth, and let Him stroke our hair, like our mother did. We have to breath in sync with Jesus, and rest. And then you stay there. You stay there till you can stand again. Never on your own two feet, because that's not how we, the Redeemed roll anymore. We walk with Jesus, our Lord-with God. It's just sometimes we have to turn our back to the world, and face God for our strength. When we are ready again, we take His hand and we go out, out there, wherever He has led us, and we pick up our vow to lead other to Him. We share the gospel, we do our assigned "thing" and we go on about our business as we carry our cross. We do so in a restored strength, of One who knows how this world can be sometimes.

FLOWERCHIC

GOD'S PAST JUDGEMENT, AND WHAT AMERICA HAS DO TO RECEIVE HER FULL BLESSINGS BACK

As I am studying 1Kings11 today, I keep going back to the book of Deuteronomy 11:26 & 30:19 as God judges Solomon for turning away from Him-God & His laws and begins serving and worshiping other Gods. In Deuteronomy, to the tribes of Israel, God had said, as Heaven is a witness, before you are blessing and curses, choose blessing so that you and your children may live a bless life. He says, I want you to choose blessings. In the book of Kings 11, Solomon had chosen curses over blessing by his disobedience. Solomon chose to turn away from God. As a result, God is faithful to His agreement to David and Solomon. In 1 Kings 11:14, 23, & 26 the judgement begins. God raises up adversaries against Solomon. He looses his hedge of protection that God had provided, enemies were allowed in the nation. God sends His Prophet Ahijah even to one of Solomon's adversaries, "Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten of these pieces, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten of the tribes to you! For Solomon has abandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of the Ammonites. He has not followed my ways and done what is pleasing in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as David his father did." (1 Kings 11:31, 33 NLT)

God is serious! God watches over His own Words and His covenants, & who He is in covenant with.

As Americans of this great country-The United States of America we have got to be careful who we allow to lead our country. This is why we cannot elect our President, or members of Congress based upon foolishness such as race, what the color of their skin is or is not, culture, gender, or based upon bitterness of the past, or whether they have too much money. Since when does a person's income as a leader trump their ability to lead?

For America and Americans to begin receiving her blessings back as one nation under God, we are going to have to turn around, and kick this "HOPE & CHANGE bill of goods that was sold to the majority,to the curb.

FLOWERCHIC

I SIN, YOU SIN, WE ALL SIN! LET US CALL IT EVEN, AND ABSOLVE OURSELVES!

When studying Romans 6 & 7, I learned some pretty awesome things regarding condemnation. One of the insights I learned is in regard to this mindset of, "Don't condemn me because I sin differently than you do," and how I feel about that excuse, because basically, that is what that statement is all about. It is a defiant, defense mechanisim for being caught in sin. For me, since meditating on condemnation as written by the apostle Paul, it's not just about me taking the beam out of my eye, and you taking the beam out of you eye, it's more than that, because we all do sin, and we all will sin, whether we are the Redeemed in Christ, or not. We don't want to sin, nor is it our goal to sin. But what we all have in common is, we are human, and humans will sin. Guess what? God the Creator knows this about us. It's nobody's dirty little secret. So why are we boasting about our sins, being different than someone else's sin?  Sin is sin! Accept you have been "busted" regardless of who by, and do something about the sin. Simple.

The 10 Commandments, and the laws of God's written Word are guides to our behavior and our lifestyle of how we are to live in right standing with God, and so as not to live our present life, or our eternal life in misery. If we are the Redeemed in Christ, that IS our goal, right? There is a difference between condemnation and conviction to the sinning person's ear. Condemnation sounds like, "You have sinned against the laws of God, and that's it, you've done it now. You or I may have sinned against the laws of God, and that in and of itself, may be a fact, but condemnation adds, that you, nor I will never recover. That is of the devil. The laws of God in His Word, and the 10 commandments will convict you and I when we have sinned, however they add, but by the grace of God, and thru the redemption of Jesus Christ, you and I can repent of our sin, and receive the forgiveness of Christ. 

So let us NOT go around boasting any longer, "I sin, you sin, we all sin." That mindset will not absolve you, nor I of our sin. The sin is a fact, and this kind of talk will not make it go away, plus it is a useless argument with God. As I believe the apostle Paul was trying to teach in Romans 6 & 7, the laws of God are good, they show us the way we are to live the good life God intended for us. We cannot live the laws without God, however, we are not allowed to go on sinning. It is because Christ is the antidote to sin that we can be granted forgiveness of our sins. So let us boast no more of our sin when brought to the light, instead, let us be thankful for the light, as we take our sin to Jesus-who is the light of the world. Be blessed.

FLOWERCHIC

THE SPLENDOR OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE

I've often wondered why the author(s) of the OT spent so much time describing in such detail over and over, book after book the building of Solomon's temple for God. I know now. We mean way more to God than wood and stone overlaid with gold. He's trying to drive home that point. If He'll fuss this much over detail for a building, think how much thought He puts into planning our lives. So from now on, I'm going to enjoy reading all the repetitive play by play descriptions of what Solomon's temple looked like. For we-our hearts are the temple of God. He likes places where He dwells to be spic and span clean, & full of excellence. Amen. So let us work hard, within God's grace to keep a pure heart for Him dwell within us, by renewing our minds daily in His Word.

In reading 1Kings 6, it took 7 years for King Solomon to build the temple of God. From the door post at the entrance of the temple, down to the floors were overlaid with gold. The tables were of gold, the doors even were of gold too. God's temple-the one He told David to prepare for and Solomon to finish was designed and made according to what was reflected in heaven where there was no lack. This temple was built as God instructed down to the most minute detail. God is not some shabby, do it just any ole way kind of God. When we bring our prayer request to Him, He's got it covered. So boldly approach His throne, and ask for exactly what you need. Cause whatever you ask is not got going be no big thing for God.

Listen to this. "Solomon also made all the furnishings for the Temple of God: the gold altar; the tables for the Bread of the Presence; the lampstands and their lamps of solid gold, to burn in front of the Most Holy Place as prescribed; the flower decorations, lamps, and tongs—all of the purest gold; the lamp snuffers, bowls, dishes, and incense burners—all of solid gold..."http://bible.us/116/2ch.4.19.nlt

"Then Huram cast a great round basin, 15 feet across from rim to rim, called the Sea. It was 71/2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference. It was encircled just below its rim by two rows of decorative gourds. There were about six gourds per foot all the way around, and they were cast as part of the basin." http://bible.us/116/1ki.7.23.nlt

"The Sea was placed on a base of twelve bronze oxen, all facing outward. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east, and the Sea rested on them. The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold about 11,000 gallons of water." http://bible.us/116/1ki.7.25.nlt

As the Redeemed in Christ, we serve a God of detail, who takes great care with all that concerns Him. We are more precious than gold or silver to Him, so much so that He sacrificed His son Jesus for our sins, so that we would not be bound by this world of sin, but receive our freedom through acceptance of Jesus Christ-a new life. A life where sin could be repented that is heartfelt, and forgiveness be given thru Christ. So when I read of the plans God gave to King David and to King Solomon for the building of the Temple of God, I see that the same care is given in the plans God has for me. I can trust that God is working all the logistics out for prayers that I pray, and for the life that He has given me to live. For my heart is the Temple of God too, and He takes great care with me as well.

FLOWERCHIC

Mother's Flower Pot Garden

Friday nite supper at the parents consisted of fresh picked green beans, boiled butter potatoes, fried catfish, and homemade peach cobbler! My mother threw down last nite! Nothing like fresh green beans! I considered growing green beans this year, but decided not to. Next year, it's on! Mom has 7 tomatoes! Yeah mom! One is almost red enough to pick. She doesn't work in the yard anymore, so she buys this huge commercial flower pots and grows her vegetables and flowers in the front yard. Among her actual flower pots you'll see her tomatoes, greens later in the fall, onions, and herbs. You'll never be able to get Brownfield out of her veins. When she bought her tomato plant at Wal-mart last month, it already has 2 tomatoes on it. OMGosh, it took her forever to decide on THE perfect plant! LOL! She did good. I drove by, but couldn't stop the other day, and dad was sitting under the Bedford pear tree, watering her flower-pot garden with the garden hose. I called back later, and he said he and mom had finished up working in the yard and he was her water boy. He used to not like gardening. He was the city boy and she was the country girl. He's enjoying himself now, cause he likes to eat out of Mother's flower-pot garden.

FLOWERCHIC

If God Doesn't Agree With It, Don't You As The Redeemed Go Off On A Limb And Agree With It

“I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. http://bible.us/116/mat.18.18.nlt
I love how Christ is always forthcoming, never mincing His Words, never allowing any grey matter in his speech in how the kingdom of God works.

The word permit according to the dictionary, means to allow access, to let thru, to send.

In recent weeks, the state of Illinois has been considering same-sex marriage, which as those of us who are of the Redeemed by Christ know, is not acceptable, nor sanctioned by God. God flat out does not mince His words in how He feels about homosexuality. In the months leading up to the vote, according to the secular media, the vote permitting same-sex marriage was toted as being a slam dunk, don't even waste your time praying against it. So much so, they almost had me convinced. But not so fast! Within my Spirit I was lead to pray against the passage of this law, because I read my Word, and God was quite clear where He stood, and where I, as a Redeemed follower was to stand with Him. So knowing His will, I prayed that His will be done in permitting the passage of this law for the people of Illinois. Not only did I pray, but a whole lot of Redeemed followers of Christ prayed God's will. Over and over again I read in the news how the vote would be overwhelming, only a few would vote against it. But you know what, one or two plus more prayed in the name of Jesus against this, and this law did not pass.

The word permit is a two-edged sword in God's kingdom. You can permit good in and you can permit evil in. In the passage above, You can also forbid good in and forbid evil in. Jesus Christ does not mince His words, which are the same as the Father's words. What we as the Redeem permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. We are the Redeemed. We are not sinners anymore. God has given us free will. If we choose to live with sin all around us as the Redeemed and do nothing about it, guess what? God will allow it.

But thank God for as Paul Harvey says, "...For the rest of the story! 

Matthew 18:19-20 New Living Translation (NLT)
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
A special note, it is always good to read the whole bible and have a relationship with God to where you can interpret from His word where He stands on all issues, because even though God hates a sin, He still loves the sinner. It is always God's desire that the sinner become the Redeemed thru Christ Jesus. Never expect to win God's approval of any sin under the sun, because it will never happen. For true happiness, leave the sin behind, and follow after God approval. 

FLOWERCHIC

FAITH IS WHAT CAUSES THE SHIFT

"Hear this, and just think about it, meditate on it. If God were moved by need, tears, or trouble, God would be running around the earth to and fro, without focus. He'd end up being like a worn out cheerleader from trying to encourage the discouraged throughout the entire world. What would happen is Satan would be successful in distracting both us, and God.  Instead, God has chosen to be moved by one thing-faith. Fear and discouragement do not change not one circumstance, but faith moves mountains. When we choose to operate in sync with God, our circumstances change, all because of faith, because that's what moves God"~FLOWERCHIC

COME HEAR WHAT I HAVE HEARD

Come hear what I have heard. For every crisis in America, God has been in our midst. Remember this, there are no secrets or hidden agendas from God. There is no hiding of sin. There is no running from sin. There is no fooling God. He is aware of it all. Do not be dismayed, for nothing is outside of His control. Nothing God has created can tie His hands or bind His feet from moving on our behalf, and God is the Creator of all things. For every crisis in America, watch and wait patiently for your eyes to adjust, so that you may see our Deliverer.

No President can override God, or veto God's Plan for America. No government body can legislate God out of anything God has created, and this nation was created by God.  So forever decree, "We are one nation under God, and no man or woman, nor their man-made gods can do a thing to change that fact." For every crisis that strikes, I will pray, and I will look for God-who is present with The Plan. My ears may not be adjusted to hear, and my eyes may not be adjusted to see The Plan of God right away, but never the less, God is speaking solution to the crisis.

FLOWERCHIC

THE SLIPPING OF OUR HEDGE OF PROTECTION

They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. Act 17:11 NLT


What happens when a nation's hedge of protection is removed? They are no longer hidden from their enemies. The eyes of their enemies are open to a breach in the nation's security. They are not given permission to enter in, it's just that what was once hidden from their sight is no longer hidden, it's exposed as it would have normally been, had there never been a hedge of protection.

How does a nation lose it's Godly hedge of protection? Easy, it pursues, goes after, a "New" god or gods. They, and their nation's leaders resolve they can do better. They look for new gods who will let them do what they want. They begin praying to their new gods, who will let them be free! For example, they create legislation overriding the Creator God's marriage law, for a new law where marriage is no longer between a man and a woman, but is instead legal between same sexes, not only is homosexuality a promoted sin against the Word of God, but it is a protected sin against the Word of God in their courts, the notion that an unborn child has rights in the womb is reviled. The people become their own little "gods" where the sanctity of the unborn life is considered inconvenient, and can be discarded like yesterday's trash. Sound and look familiar? We are indeed being led into a new era. But not all of us are deceived!

It is sad to watch others be deceive by Satan. I'm speaking in regards to the notion that if you don't like the way creator God does things, "I'll just find me a god that allows me to do what I want." The only problem with that is there is no other God, only false gods conjured up by Satan to lead you astray. Satan's goal? To keep you forever searching, and to keep you from accepting Christ. Satan is all about delays, and distractions. That is why I find it hard to agree with the President and some very prominent mega church ministers who join in ceremony in his interfaith prayer vigils. I'm like, "What are you thinking?" All roads do not lead to the same God. Each road leads to a false god, outside of the God of Jesus Christ. These meetings are different from denominational prayers where the Baptist pray with the Methodist, in which case all roads would lead to the same God. I'm watchful, I'm prayerful, and I'm conscience of the intermingling of the goat with the sheep. For it will only be by my own steps by the grace of God to renew my mind in the Word of God daily, that I will hear Him when His Spirit leads me to step aside from the others, and stay close to His-God's side. My hedge of protection comes from creator God, and not the gods of those being led to deceive, or who are deceived. The closer to the Word of God I stay, the less likely I can be led astray. Let us all turn to the God who keeps us safe!

God is our refuge and our strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude http://bible.us/116/psa.46.1.nlt

"Remember that the majority is not always right. Don't ever let what the majority is thinking or saying influence you to go against the Word of God."~Bill Winston Ministry

FLOWERCHIC

WHO COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED?

"Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us." AW Tozer

Who would have ever imagined we as a nation would go from one nation under God, to one nation under many gods, and the ring leader would be our own elected President in fostering interfaith prayer meetings of many gods, instead of the one Creator God, who has been the God of this country since it's beginning. The sad thing....is that we do know better. We know better, and we know the Word of God. Yet there are those that choose to follow with eyes wide open, but minds swayed by the secular world for a new thing, that is actually an old thing, that God has always said to beware of, for He is a jealous God.

Serve only the L ord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. http://bible.us/116/deu.13.4.nlt

FLOWERCHIC

What's Right? What's Wrong? The Question is Rhetorical, "What Does The Word Of God Say?"

"The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah 40:8 New Living Translation (NLT)

There is right, and there is wrong, based upon the Word of God. Otherwise we will have chaos in our world. We never have the authority to determine whether or not God's Word applies to us as human beings. His Word always applies to us. Did any of us create ourselves? Did any of us formulate The Plan of creation, or set the foundation of the earth, or how it all works? How can we as humans change The Plan of God and His creation, when we were created only to be apart of The Plan, not authors of The Plan? And how can changes be made to a plan that is not our own to begin with. None of us can save or destroy another's soul. The final destination of each of our souls however, is in God's authority, and His alone. The Judgement will come through His Son, Jesus Christ. You can speak against what is wrong according to the Word of God without being evil, but in love. That is the key. Speak the truth and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit and to God. But to speak the truth, you must not just speak the words, you must understand the truth. To understand the truth, you must study the truth, and have a relationship with the author of the truth. For a man or woman to just speak the words, but not have a relationship with Father God is where evil begins, and it is where the danger is of becoming one's own god. 

The relationship between Christians is to always interceded for one another. As Christians, we are to never allow Satan to lead us astray, or our bothers and sisters. We can speak up and speak the truth from the Word of God without fear of sinning. As fellow Believers of Christ, we are to recognize, accept, and obey the Word of God as final authority. We are not to plead ignorance of the Word of God, by avoiding studying and renewing our own minds in God's Word daily for ourselves. Nor are we to neglect the assembly of other believers in a church setting. Jesus Christ specifically speaks of His love of the church. Christ is not anti church, far from it. He has every intention of coming back for His church. 

We absolutely are not allowed to go off scripture and, "Do OUR own thing" or "Do whatever we want to do Our own way." And we should always be of a good heart to pray against whatever God's Word speaks against. And pray for whatever God's Word speaks support of. Don't let Satan confuse your mind, or tie your hands about speaking against what God says is wrong or is right. To not do so, is to turn our world over to Satan to reign. Satan's allowed, brief time to reign, before his final destruction has not yet come. Satan is NOT to rule our world. We as Christians have work to do-telling the Good News about our Christ, so as to lead souls into the Kingdom of God. We cannot tell our four and no more within our families. Salvation is for the masses, abundant living is for the masses, healing and provision is for the masses. We are to leave no friend, no foe, no family, no stranger, nor the bad, nor the good behind. We as Christ's disciples are to lead them to Christ to benefit as we do from the Father's Plan.

If you do not have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, I invite you to do so. He is awesome! To die on the cross for you and I, the way He did, so that we can have a relationship with His father, means He thinks His daddy God is like no other! God is the Creator of all things, and love is one of those things. You will never find anyone else that will love you more than the Creator of love. 

Salvation is very simple, "God I believe You sent your Son, Jesus Christ from heaven to earth to be born of a virgin, Mary; I believe He died on the cross, and was raised from the dead on the third day, with the sole purpose to save my soul from death, for which He took my place instead. I repent of, and am sorry of all my sins, and I give them to You, Jesus. Come into my heart, and set up residence there forever. Amen." Praying that is all there is too accepting Christ as your Saviour!

What is right? What is wrong? The answer to those two questions, will never be what I determine it to be. I can never do my OWN thing, my OWN way, if my OWN way and my OWN thing is in direct conflict with the final authority of the Word of God. If I do, I am no longer in the will of God. To be clear, what I would be is a disobedient, saved, Believer in Christ swimming in the same cesspool of sin with the unsaved. Once again, there is a way out of sin, through true repentance, or sorriness of sin before God as a Believer who has chosen to sin. Because we are saved by grace once, thru the repentance of sin, and have Jesus as our Redeemer, does not mean we will never again go to God to ask for repentance of our sins committed after becoming saved.

Forgiveness of sin will always begin on our knees at the feet of our Lord with repentance, for the saved and the unsaved alike.  

The Lord Has No Equal
Who else has held the oceans in his hand?
Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
Who else knows the weight of the earth
or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord?
Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice?
Does he need instruction about what is good?
Did someone teach him what is right
or show him the path of justice? Isaiah 40:12-15 NLT

FLOWERCHIC

From One Nation Under One God to One Nation Under Many Gods

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.~Isaiah 46:9


I was meditating on this scripture earlier, and later I was discussing it with a friend of mine. If you turn on the news any this week, you will hear a great deal about freedom of religion(s) in America, and the list of spiritual leaders to be on program for the Inauguration. For a very long time this has been a nation of One God, whose Son is Jesus Christ our Redeemer. It has only been in recent years that this nation, The United States of America has become a nation under many gods in the minds of some, including our POTUS. This is a new thing in America. For many years the tradition in our country was every Sunday, the media would show the President and his family entering a Church of their choosing for a Christian church service, where they received instruction from the Word of God, and their minds were renewed of God's promises. At the end of service they'd show the first family heading back to the White House to enjoy the rest of their Sunday, like most other Americans. But this is not so with this President. I will say, for I will be honest, I miss that. It speaks volumes. It speaks of who is really in charge in the heart and mind of a leader. 


Still focusing on Isaiah 46:9, there have been many prayers over the last four years in America. Within that period, we have gone from freely invoking the name of Jesus over our gatherings to being condemned for doing so, and the new move is to ban the name of Jesus, so as to not offend other gods worshipped by other religions. This so saddens me. What happened? God's Word has been quoted quite a bit recently in the past four years. Yet God's intent, and the circumstance in which they are spoken are totally different. For this, I am shocked, and dismayed. I read the same Word of God for myself as others do. Yet, how does this happen? The answer, in one instance the Holy Spirit watches over the Word of God, to bring redemption from sin, convicting the heart of mankind, and in the other instance, mankind disregards the Holy Spirit and attempts to mold the Word of God to approve man's sin. To me, this is dangerous territory to be treading for any man or woman, regardless of their stature.

The main thing that America loses when we forget we were created as one nation under one God is wisdom. Not just any wisdom, but Godly wisdom. Counterfeit gods have no wisdom. Only the Creator God of heaven and earth and all things has true wisdom. When we as acountry abandon this Creator, we settle for not second best, but nothingness. Man cannot solve his own problems. Neither can gods made of stone, or wood sitting on a shelf, crafted from the hands of man. For how can man who cannot solve his own problems, craft a god of wood or stone capable of solving that same man’s problems. Do they NOT know that Jesus Christ’s Father, our Creator; is the only god that is capable of creating something out of nothing? He is the only god that can raise the dead. Without God, no other god can be created! God says in His Word, “My name is the great I AM. God’s Word also says, He is a jealous God and will not share his glory with no other, except His Son, Yeshua-Jesus Christ.

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.~Isaiah 46:9

The last I will speak of, however there are many more losses that come from this new One Nation Under Many Gods, as opposed to One Nation Under One God is the loss of our blessings. God will not share His platform, planet earth, with any man made god, be it human or otherwise. Out of obedience to God’s spoken Words come blessings. Yes, God does extend His grace and mercy. But it is out obedience that comes abundant living. Right now, America is not experiencing abundant living. Granted there are many things contributing to this loss, however it is thru obedience, that we as a country will find our pathway to blessings, regardless of the challenges before us. 

"God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6 NLT)"  

I personally have vowed to be apart of that remnant that pledges it's allegience to God, God’s Word, and His principles. Together, we will be blessed, and be a blessing to others. A prayer without invoking the name of Jesus Christ is an empty, useless attempt at receiving anything from His Father-our Creator God.  This is Faith 101. Anyone who attempts to pray otherwise, simply does not know God, and has not read their bible; or they have chosen to DENY God.

"But now I find that I must write about ...urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted...to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ".http://bible.us/116/jud.1.3.nlt

Today, I have discerned two camps of the Redeemed by Christ. First, is the camp made up of those who try to follow Christ, but sometimes fail, but thru the conviction of the Holy Spirit repent, and carry on in their relationship with Christ Jesus. Second, is the camp of the Redeemed in Christ, who pick and choose, when and which written Words of God they will follow. Essentially, they have become their own god. They like to do things their way. They know what God’s Word says about moral, lifestyle issues, but they out of their own disobedience, choose a pathway opposite of God’s instructions. This is shocking to me. Where is the reverence to God?

What is my response to this new American way of One Nation Under Many Gods? God is Sovereign and on the thrown. America will find it’s way back to One Nation Under One God, one changed heart at a time. One by one, we as citizens will have to get sick enough of being our own little god, worshipping other gods, and of the abundant living that fails to come to pass. We will find our allegience to God, on bended knee in prayer, and thru repentance like the children of Israel on their way back from exile.

"Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name." Hebrews 13:14

FLOWERCHIC

LOVE PLANTED DEEPLY

"Love planted deeply becomes what it ought to be" ~Audrey Assad. I love that about what my love for God can be. I may be going thru some things at any one time in my life, but each time I overcome a situation with God by my side, my love grows as my dependence on His faithfulness grows. When you're in a relationship, and the circumstances of the life you are living together is a crazy mess, your love for one another is not always flashy with presents, phone calls, and an abundance of time together. Sometimes it's just that deep love you have for the other person that is conveyed in a meaningful meeting of the eyes, just as you walk out the door in a mad rush. Sometimes instead of a demand, or a command of something that one of the two of you must do, or it won't get done, that you say one word, "Please" in such a way that conveys, "I just can't go anymore, can you step in? "I know you are tired too, but I really am at my limit." Love planted deeply becomes what it ought to be when the other person simply, silently, does whatever is needed-out of sacrifice in their love for you. To me, that is what this songs means. When the words, "I love you" is known, but may not be spoken constantly, but is conveyed thru action, and is multidimensional is when love is planted deeply and does become what it ought to be.

In His love planted deeply for us, Jesus gave up all that was good, and perfect to become a human sacrifice for us. Think about it. He came in human form, became like us-but without sin, lived among us, in a non-perfect world, so that He could die in our place, allowing us to become one with Father God. Jesus was not made to do this, He agreed to do this. But to do this, He had to be around the stench of our sins. He loved us so much, that He stepped in and took our place once and for all, and pulled Himself and us out of the pit of sin so that thru Him, we would one day reign with Him and the Father! Now that, is "Love planted deeply [becoming] what it ought to be" is all about!

Can't nobody love you like Jesus!


FLOWERCHIC

STARTING THE NEW YEAR OFF STOCKING MY QUIVER

In raising my sister and me, my parents always encouraged us to try new things. When it came to new foods, it worked with me, but not so with my sister. We always went grocery shopping when Daddy got paid. Once in teaching us not to be afraid of trying new things and failing even, my mom bought a tiny jar of caviar. Now, one would think what a waste for a family with 2 small kids living off a plant worker's earnings, but not my mom. You see, my parents brought us up on life's lessons and new experiences. Some you lived thru yourself, and others you learned by watching others. Some result in successes and others in failures. Regardless, we were taught to never fear change, because change is inevitable.  I remember us all gathering around the kitchen table with crackers and small mounds of caviar on top. With the exception of sister, it was a hit! It was the only jar we ever bought, but it was a fun experience! I guess that's where my love of different foods came from, and my love of cooking. So today, us girls went shopping for the new year! I bought more octopus! I love it! They had gnocchi on sale, so in the buggy it went. I've always wanted to see what it tasted like. I got my chi tea concentrate. I have a recipe and I'm sure it would be best if I made it myself, but I decided to try the quick method. I may regret it later, I'll let you know. I found my favorite olive oil on sale. You may think that EVOO is EVOO regardless of brand name, but I beg to differ. My two favorites are STAR and Colavita. Especially STAR, makes a difference in dipping toast with parmesan cheese melted on top. I also used it for dipping a garlic spinach toast in too. Oh, la, la! It's simple, and went over big at a family dinner once. So good, my sister got up and a toasted another cookie sheet full. I had to remind them that I was serving dinner too! LOL. Oh, egg rolls-I got 2 boxes. I love egg rolls for lunch at work. Let's see, what else? Well the rest of my purchases were just good bargains. So I stocked up on them. SMH I almost forgot! The other day I threw together a spaghetti sauce that was out of this world! My best spaghetti sauce is made in the summer when I grow my herbs fresh, but this was a throw together, out of jars and tins! Parsley, oregano, nutmeg, sea salt, garlic, chopped orange peppers, mushrooms, black olives, tomato sauce, and ground beef. Parmesan cheese at the end, and it was heavenly! I was out of basil even, and it was still delish! Now what else? Oh yeah, I returned a Christmas gift and bought an 8 quart stock pot. I have needed one this size for cooking. I had a small one and a large one, but not a medium sized one. I all but skipped down the aisle with it nestled in my shopping cart.  All in all, my quiver is full of fun goodies, ready to be tried out for a new experience. What a fun way to begin the new year!~FLOWERCHIC