Pleasure in our weakness

When I was playing the trombone I noticed that I am only hearing well from one ear, and yet God gives me grace to play in my older years and I truly enjoy it. My eyes are dim now, but using glasses I can see God's creation and marvel at all he has done. By faith I can marvel at his promises and all he will do, not by my power but by his grace through faith.

2 Cor 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

When we are weak and trust in God, then we are truly strong, under the anointing of the spirit, by the grace of God. We prepare by filling our hearts with God's word and promises. 

Heb 13:5... for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

infirmities...weaknesses, distresses, As a dear friend says: short is the suffering, eternal the joy.

reproaches, insults,

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

necessities, needs, and we know that God meets all our needs.

persecutions,

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

distresses, calamities and difficulties

1 Pet 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

When we are at our weakest, we acknowledge we are only strong in the Lord. We give up our flesh strength and give in to God. Only in Him can we truly be strong. Flesh can not even be accounted for when one walks in the Spirit. When we are sick we cry out to the Lord, when we are distressed we cry out to the Lord, when life becomes difficult, we cry out to the Lord, when calamity hits home, we cry out to the Lord. It is in the suffering for Christ we are able to submit and draw on His strength to sustain us in our weak moments. (Camille)

We are not alone, Jesus is with us in the Spirit that dwells within. Living by faith is trusting in God's strength in us to enable us to be triumphant Christians. Thank you Jesus.

Not I

We have heard of soul mates. I see the soul as the persons self, the flesh and the lusts of the flesh. The soul seeks another soul to control or to have it's needs met. The Spirit of Christ in us, seeks the things of God and is selfless. The mind of Christ seeks to do the will of God. I see that often there is a conflict between soul and spirit. 

Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

Our soul is who we are, but we are not all carnal, fleshly, the spirit seeks God. Jesus makes soul and Spirit one in him. Thank you Jesus for saving me from myself.

 

The mind of Christ in us, is good. We seek His thoughts, we read the Bible, we meditate on it, we do good things; but Paul says in the flesh there is evil. When we give ourselves over to the flesh , then we sin and sin by the law brings death. The bottom line is that the law is holy and good, but our flesh brings sin and death. The good news is that in Christ we are forgiven and we receive his grace. The mind of Christ is all powerful, but the flesh is weak and lazy. Again, we overcome the flesh by faith.

 

 Romans 8 gives us the way of victory.

 

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The Spirit requires us to walk by the will of God, he directs our lives and he loves us. Thank you Jesus.

Randy

Do you remember Randy?

 The Goose with a broken wing at the park? 

 It has been two years and he and 

his mate are still there.

Gen 1:20  And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

I saw this interesting vine on a walk.

3Jn 1:13  I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: 

3Jn 1:14  But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name. 

Applying a photoshop filter and rotating it and it spells a name: JOE. Who is Joe?

Isa 62:2  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. 

Meet Joe, the Praying Mantis. 

He was still on the rose bush after three days.

1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 

Mighty Joe, the young 1.5 inch Praying Mantis. How much greater are we who were created in the image of God?

1Jn 5:9  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 

1Jn 5:10  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 

1Jn 5:11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 

1Jn 5:12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 

Strength through faith

My folks retired and moved from the suburbs in Southern California to a 10 acre farm in Northern California. I remember how fearful my mom was of this move, but my dad was right at home. He was forced to leave a farm in Arkansas during the depression. He and his brother ran the farm that included a herd of  prize Jersey cattle. They had to quit school when their father died. My father only went through the fifth grade. His sister lived in Lancaster, a hot area in Southern California and she assured my dad that there was plenty of work out there. He loaded up his belongings with his wife and two kids and made the move. When he  arrived in a hot area of California where his sister lived, there was nothing but hard labor. He bucked hay and my mom cooked for 20 ranch hands and they lived in a chicken coup.  He found a job in a better climate in Ventura County as a nursery tree pruner and caregiver. The Bible calls this in the KJV, a husbandman. My father was a very hard worker and a good husband. I was born about this time. My father had various jobs but worked and saved money owned a home and when he retired he left all to move north. It was like returning home to my father. He raised cattle and had many fruit trees and a large garden. My mother was always cooking good things. They would come to visit and bring all kinds of produce to their children who had also moved north. My mom was not very big, but a hard worker. My dad was a big strong man and she always depended on him who could do anything. Old age came and my father was the first to get dementia, he no longer recognized his family, but he remembered some of his past. Mom cared for him, was given strength that she never had before. Strength in her and wisdom from God. The LORD was with them and they survived another five years until she died. Even though my dad did not know us, he had a smile and when we would take him to church and he heard the hymns , tears would come from his heart. They are both with the Lord now and we have lots of good memories of them.  Changes will come to us all, but God will be our strength so do not fear. He promises to be with us always.

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

This part I wrote last night... When I see preachers on the TV using their talents to convince others to give money, using smooth words and deception I see that they have stepped out of God's anointing. Some anointed men of God are following the Spirit, powered by God to do his work. But there is a danger with success and prominence to step away from God and to do a ministry in the "self" abilities. This happened to Moses, a servant who was known by God and who spoke face to face with him . In a moment of anger he disobeyed God's will by striking the rock twice, instead of speaking to it. God still honored Moses by sending forth water to feed his people, but this kept Moses from entering into the promise land.

Two men of faith believed God and obeyed him; Joshua and Caleb. These two went into the promise land. The promise land is a picture of God's coming kingdom. You can only get there through faith. Faith in Jesus, the rock that was stricken once for our sins.

In my personal life I sometimes feel fear when new challenges come my way. God knows our circumstances and he will give us his strength and wisdom. I trust in him and he is my strength. He gives  me the strength to serve him, but not to serve my  own pride. Too many are motivated by self, pride, power, being important, no, we are to lose ourselves in Christ Jesus. He is to work in us and through us, his good pleasure. He is our strength and he cares for us always. Do not fear.

Help for the Weak

Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Rom 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Rom 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Infirmities; of error arising from weakness of mind.

We are to bear with people with weak faith or lack of understanding. Some who continuously seek help for the same things may often not want to hear what you have to say, they just want to dump their problems in your ears. But, we are not to please our self only, but be there to help them. Our goal is to edify others, not to tear them down. We see a lot of denominational fighting and we see a lot of people in battles that they seem to be losing.

Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Often someone will come looking for sympathy, but they will leave when you tell them the solution to their problems. Jesus is all we need; hear him and obey him.

Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Are you saved? Are you knew in Christ? Then renew your mind in his word.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rest in his peace, for he is our rest.

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Your help comes from the word of God, worshipping with thanksgiving and praise; let a song go out of your heart.

Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Do these things and you will be strong in the Lord.