How quickly when things are going along well do we become complacent.  I am tired so tonight instead of reading my Bible, I will just watch TV while falling asleep.  We find ourselves laughing at things which were we to think seriously about are really an offence to the name of Christ.  Or we may hear some giving advice on how to live  and think "that sounds good"; but is it? We are admonished to study the Word so that we might discern truth.  Are you? 

2 Corinthians 11:  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ…. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Our only defense against the lies of Satan is the Sword of the Word.  When we fail to continue in discipline of studying His word and spending time with God in prayer, we allow false doctrine to enter our minds and begin to grow. 

Hebrews 12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin…..

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

So, dear Child of God; set aside some time each day to study His word so that you not allow Satan to enter in through false doctrines being whispered into your mind.

"how content the devil is if he can but nibble at a man’s heart. It does not matter about swallowing it whole; only let him nibble and he will be content. Let him but bite at the fag ends and be satisfied, for he is wise enough to know that if a serpent has but an inch of bare flesh to sting, he will poison the whole. When Satan cannot get a great sin in he will let a little one in, like the thief who goes and finds shutters all coated with iron and bolted inside. At last he sees a little window in a chamber. He cannot get in, so he puts a little boy in, that he may go round and open the back door. So the devil has always his little sins to carry about with him to go and open back doors for him, and we let one in and say, “O, it is only a little one.” Yes, but how that little one becomes the ruin of the entire man! Let us take care that the devil does not get a foothold, for if he gets but a foothold, he will get his whole body in and we shall be overcome."  Charles Spurgeon  Sermon #322 (Preached April 22, 1860)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9k3LBgXK_4

Perhaps you have noticed that sometimes I miss sending you the messages on some Thursdays and Fridays.  The reason is that on those days I have the grand opportunity to spend with 2 of my grandchildren. What a blessing and also what a wonderful opportunity to tell my grandchildren about God.  Teaching a young child about God’s love does mean living out my faith in front of them, demonstrating to them patience and kindness, showing them how important they are.  When I am with my grandchildren, the remainder of the world stops and they become the only thing important.  This is something a grandparent can do; because you can ascertain that all the other duties are done on the days they are at home with their parents and that makes you free to ignore the phone (or in my case, I just let Aiden answer it for me)  The conversation goes much like.  "Hello.  Who is this? I love you.  Goodbye."  My house is now filled with a cardboard house that is being colored, a large slide, playpens, swings, toys, and a bouncing toy.  What better decoration could I have.  We pray, "heavenly Father and then proceed to just talk to God."  There are apps on my cell phone that help to teach God. And we watch ABCs songs on Youtube, or other songs that teach about God’s love like the ones I have placed below.  Haley is just 5 months while Aiden is 2 years old; so they keep me busy.  I am generally warn out when they do go home; but what a wonderful way to be tired.  The joy of a little voice excitingly welcoming you as “Grammy” is worth so much.

Proverbs 22: 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 17: 6 Children’s children are the crown of old men;

Psalm 103: 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

God has promised that He will shine forth His mercy upon my Grandchildren as I reverently follow Him, Obey Him, and rest upon His promise of future grace that extends to my grandchildren.  What an amazing God He is.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=31E7upBmKYY&feature=endscreen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R-AI4AvwiU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpYgYoNGM38

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owx3ao42kwI

Safe

Throughout the Storm

by Effie Darlene Barba

The storm was raging in the night

Our house in certain peril

The lightening flash, the only light

To break the darkest hour

The thunder roar enlarged the fear

The pelting rain and hail

Twas certain now, tornado near

No where were we to run

I felt the arms that held me tight

They carried me to shelter

I felt the strength, the love, the might

My father’s arms could give me

His shadow there, the door secure

Though raging winds pulled hard

He did not budge, His mission pure

To keep his children safe

There is safety in his arms

Those arms that hold me tight

So filled with love, so free from harms

It is his love, his gracious love

That keeps me safe throughout the storm

The storm was raging in my life

And darkness filled my heart

My hope was gone, my world was strife

Nowhere to run, depart

I had no strength to stand against

This whirlwind spiraling down

This heart of mine ripped ‘way each fence

I knew I neared to drown

And then I felt the arms of love

Enwrap me with His self

I could not feel the winds above

While sheltered in His arms

To think that God would love me so

To cry with each my tear

From there His throne to reach below

And hold me oh so dear

 

There is safety in His arms

Those arms that hold me tight

So filled with love, so free from harms

It is His love, his gracious love

That keeps me safe throughout the storm

Galatians 4: (KJV)

⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egar8wxmzFM

My Father was a man of few words; but demonstrated his love by working hard to provide and to protect us.  He had little education due to his plowing the fields behind the mules during farming season and the little one room school house he attended; yet, he was the best financial manager and demonstrated wisdom.  He could not read well and thus could not read the Bible; yet, as though God spoke directly to this great man, he demonstrated God’s mercy, grace, and fairness against all odds.  He left this world to go home to God in 1993, one day I will see him again.  For now let me say thank you Daddy.  My  Heavenly Father, God, thank you for letting Charles William Garner be my earthly father and thank you for being my Father as well. 

We have together explored the concepts of fighting for Joy in a World filled with sorrow; yet, you may ask so "Are you saying I am to be merry all the time?"  What about all the aching of my aging body?  What about all the annoyances that occur everyday in my life?  What about the distress we must face every day that we live?  From broken appliances in our home to dealing with bodies ravaged by illness.  Though the outward man may be battling with fatigue, pain, aging, frustrations, frailties, and vanities; the joy that under girds is a joy based on hope.  Like a steady flowing fresh water spring that hope  rises up within us, bubbling forth and lifting us to be able to step forth into today.  We are given the courage and the energy to step forth one more day into whatever world we must face today, marching forward to proclaim the name of Christ into a world plunging daily further into despair.  Much like Paul says in Romans 8.  Paul was imprisoned, beaten, cast down, and carried about with him a "thorn in the flesh."  We are never told precisely what that thorn was; but we do know that it was that which caused him pain and irritation. 

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

My Joy and my Hope rest fully upon a relationship with my Heavenly Father who knows my every frailty.  The more I know of His Love, the more I am aware of my own inability to love Him as I should; yet, I know one day I will.  The more I see His righteousness, the clearer I see the darkness within my own heart and groan of my ineptness; yet, I know and hopefully cling to His promise that one day I will look like Christ.  The more I see of His Glory, the more I realize my unworthiness; yet, I know His glory will reflect off my life like a mirror when I am emptied fully of my own selfish desires.  This Joy is not one of drunken merriment; rather it is one of steady hope; knowing that God has a plan.  Were I to be so fully comfortable with this life, would I ever seek Him?  Will not the pains, sorrows, frailties and afflictions that we face on the earth create within us a greater joy when we stand before Him one day?  Who would enjoy the banquet feast more, savoring each morsel–the one who eats to their fullest satisfaction every day or the one who has suffered hunger?

Luke 5:  30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

The self-righteous will never see their need of Christ and remain content with their counterfeit joys–thus never see or desire the true Joy (that steady ebbing flow that fills a heart that stands firm in hope and faith upon the Creator of this universe.)  One day their counterfeit joys will dissipate and they will spend eternity apart from the only true hope.  So let hope arise within you, sit in His presence for just a little while today and be filled with that Joy which He provides. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMWBx6vvJo

For the past two days I have written to you about truths within in the word of God as to how we might fight for joy in the midst of a world filled with pain and sorrow.  How do we cling to faith wherein we might experience His fullness of Joy while everything around us and within us is crumbling from pain and fear? If we look around us, we see only sorrow and frustration.  If we look deep within ourselves, we see failure and guilt. So how do we still fight for Joy?  Christ said that He had told us these things that our joy might be full. These things He spoke of were to abide in Him.  So, what does abiding look like?         

         So, abiding in Him is learning to rest in His Arms knowing that one day I will stand before Him and all Glory will be known.  I can trust that every time He prunes me that He does so with Love so that I may bear more fruit which Glorifies Him more; magnifying His Beauty ever more within my heart.  As I through contrition, praise, faith and obedience abide within His arms of Love; I bear more fruit.  That fruit Glorifies Him more, magnifies His Beauty and thus brings more joy and hope in my heart as I gaze upon His ever increasing, breath taking Beauty. To Abide in Him, we lay down everything to trust Him—no matter what.  Though my heart’s greatest desire is to be standing before His throne; I do not want to go without an abundance of fruit to lay before His feet.  For that reason, I must abide in Him by trusting Him with all my Heart and Soul.  When storm clouds crowd around me I must continue to battle for joy in Christ even while here upon this earth. I must revel in the moments that He does allow those glimpses of Overwhelming Joy and to see His great Glory before me.  I must hold tight to Future Grace which will continue to sustain me into eternity.  Trust, my soul in Him; rest my heart within His love, and forever let me seek His face with each step of this my life until my dying breath.   

            Abiding is trusting my heavenly Father is omnipotent and that He will not allow anything into my life that is not for my edification and for my ultimate joy.  He only removes those things which get in the way of my seeing Him.  Abiding is trusting my heavenly Father is omniscient and that He sees me as the Glorified, Justified, Perfect final product that He is molding.  Like the artist envisions the final portrait as he steadily adds, erases, covers and transforms the canvas into his final completed work; God also sees the completion of His work in me.   Abiding is trusting in the truth that my Heavenly Father loves me.  Abiding is trusting that He is able to speak and stop whatever storm may have arisen; yet, in love has chosen not to—so that I might be blessed and He might be glorified.  Abiding is casting aside all this pride which desires to show God that I can do it myself and realizing that I can only do it when He does it through me.   Abiding is acknowledging the truth that He is on His throne and rules over the just and the unjust.  Abiding is clinging to hope in Future Grace as He has provided.  Abiding is letting go of Counterfeit treasures that I might obtain the Greatest Treasure which is God.  Abiding is knowing that God gave His greatest treasure (His Son) that He might suffer, die and be risen so that a regenerate, guilty heart might be declared righteous and thus be able to share in the Beauty, Love, and Joy that is found in the Triune God.   Abiding is knowing that 2 Corinthians 4:” ⁶For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷But we have this treasure (the gospel) in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”  And abiding understands that in this world, we may have tribulations; but our joy flows only as we allow the life sustaining nutrients of the vine to flow forth through us.  2 Corinthians 4: “⁸We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;¹⁰Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. ¹¹For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”  (Excerpts from Ultimate Inspiration–God’s Plan of love)

I John 2: 12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

What is that will of God? I Timothy 2: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

So what if God allows my trials and tribulations so that I might present to you Christ and Christ Alone?  Then, wouldn’t it be worth every tear?  And to you who know Christ, remember, that no matter how long those deserts of your soul may be present, keep preaching to your own soul the truth of the gospel.  I know I must.

Isaiah 61: 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Do not forget to keep your eyes focused on Christ.  And remember as Johnathan Edwards,

“Christ is not only a remedy for your weariness and trouble, but he will give you an abundance of the contrary, joy and delight. They who come to Christ, do not only come to a resting-place after they have been wandering in a wilderness, but they come to a banqueting-house where they may rest, and where they may feast. They may cease from their former troubles and toils, and they may enter upon a course of delights and spiritual joys.”
Jonathan Edwards
The Works Of Jonathan Edwards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTlqY_ok8VY