GOD'S ANTIDOTE TO BETRAYAL

GOD’S ANTIDOTE TO BETRAYAL

Betrayal has unfortunately been a player in most people’s lives. Devastating when it happens to us, it can devour parts of our soul, and our bodies over time, if we don’t handle it properly. How many of us, upon recalling a time when a family member, a spouse or friend betrayed us, respond inwardly with anger, confusion or outright bitterness? How do we get to the place we feel nothing, or maybe only pity for the person? We see in the lives of Joseph and Jesus, two important aspects of betrayal’s antidote. One is time, and the other is mercy.

We read in Genesis 37 of how Joseph had a dream of being a leader, respected by his brothers. He told his brothers about this dream and his other dreams of grandeur, and His brothers hated him for it. They were so jealous and angry, they planned to kill him, but instead, he was sold into slavery in Egypt. Time passed, and we never hear about Joseph being burdened by anger or bitterness over the wrongful treatment by his brothers. He went through some trials in Egypt, but then God blessed him so much, he spent his time in authority and abundance.

Joseph didn’t go back to rail on his brothers or try to change their minds about him. Joseph just moved on with the blessings God put in front of him. Joseph was only 17 when his brothers betrayed him. He was 39 when he saw his brothers again. That’s 22 years. Time can definitely be a factor in healing the bitterness of betrayal.

Over time, we get involved in the things of God, and we get so busy in other things and other people, that we just don’t have the extra time or energy to mull over old betrayals. The Lord doesn’t want us to feel bad if we’re having a hard time getting over the hurt. God gave us the lesson of Joseph. We do the next thing the Lord puts in front of us, with all our might. The more time that passes, the less the hurt is going to affect us.

Then when there was a famine in Israel, Joseph’s brothers went down to Egypt for food. They had no idea Joseph was the overseer of all that food. Joseph was fully able and willing to show them mercy.

Jesus Christ was betrayed by so many people in his lifetime and is still being betrayed to this day, but Jesus is a master of mercy. He was able to say at his crucifixion, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). When Jesus was betrayed, He didn’t need time as a healer like most of us do, but He showed us a second great part of betrayal’s antidote: giving mercy.  When we hold onto anger or bitterness toward someone who’s betrayed us, we use the weapons of our emotions, thoughts, and words to stab at the person. We want to wound them and make them suffer as much as they as they made us suffer.

But Jesus showed us that instead of harming them, we should show them mercy. It’s supernatural, and it works wonders. Jesus’ way is to release the betrayers to God. We follow Jesus and do the same. It’s an amazingly powerful way to deal with betrayal. I’ve done this and found that when we release them to God, they become a blank to us emotionally. The only thing left is pity and the love of God. It sets us free and them too – good for everyone.

God’s answers to life’s traumas and emotional upsets are all in the Bible, and we are so blessed to have it in our world.

Love, Carolyn

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WINGS: A Journey in Faith from the Earthly to the Heavenly is a compilation of stories—revelations and guidance gathered from my experiences living as a Christian in Las Vegas.

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CREATIVE MIRACLES

 

CREATIVE MIRACLES

Psalm 105:15 says: "Touch not my anointed; do my prophets no harm." But verse 17 reads: “Joseph was sold for a servant, whose feet they hurt with fetters: his soul came into iron.”  A contradiction? Nope. Verse 19 tells us: “Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.” Timing is a vital part of what we need to understand about how God works. “Time” in the original text means the “certain time, the proper time, the fit time,” and “word” means “the answer, the promise, the notable deed.” There is a certain timing for every answer, every promise to come to pass, every notable deed. Receiving new body parts and healing old ones are notable deeds.

I've never been in a service where a person has received a new body part; never seen for myself a hand grow, or an eye develop where there was none before, but I believed it. Yesterday a trusted friend, Dr. Paul Norcross, said that he sees it in his ministry and I trust that others of you have also witnessed this. Then I recently found the scripture I believe tells us the answer to this great creative kind of miracle.

It's in Psalm 139:16: "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."

The King James Version has a note that is so remarkable; no other translation even comes near: for "in continuance were fashioned" the note goes: "Or, what days they should be fashioned." 

God already saw the end from the beginning, and in His sight, the part was already there, but in our time, not necessarily from birth. Just like Joseph was in prison for a while, people who are missing body parts, or missing a healing they need, are in a type of prison as well. But in God's sight, there is absolutely a day for the unperfect to be perfected. God always knew what He had for Joseph.

Joseph's trust and faithfulness sustained him, and God was able to bless Joseph and turn around satan's plan entirely, at the right time. 

The older I grow, the more peaceful I am with God’s timing, and the more aggressive I am with the devil. Trusting the Lord’s timing for our personal word, i.e., our notable deed, to manifest, can keep our hearts healthy and at peace so that we can present now a stronger warrior than ever before. 

Every one of us wants these notable deeds to happen while we are here on earth. But honestly, if they don’t happen here, they will in heaven. That’s not just wishful thinking; that’s the truth.

                                                                                                                                         

Love, Carolyn

FREE THRU TUES: WINGS: A JOURNEY IN FAITH    Part 4

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This section of WINGS: A JOURNEY IN FAITH is PART 4 and contains 15 chapters opening your awareness of how to apply Christian principles to everyday life and see the miracles that take place when we make room for Christ in our lives. The chapters include: 

SATISFIED FROM THE INSIDE OUT
MIRACLE OF BETTER EYESIGHT
LENDING MONEY TO JESUS
DIG AND DUNG
THE LORD OF SABAOTH STILL ROARS!
BOISTEROUS WINDS AND ROARING LIONS
WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG
JEHOVAH-NISSI TO THE RESCUE
FIGHTING NEGATIVE ANTICIPATION
GENERATIONAL CURSES
SPEAKING OUR FUTURE
GOSSIP AND HEALING
HOW FAST CAN YOU OBEY?
A DIFFERENT TAKE ON ANGER AND FORGIVENESS
I LOVE YOU, NO NAGGING NECESSARY

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REASON TO CELEBRATE

REASON TO CELEBRATE

Every day we have a reason to celebrate. I watched a video of a woman 101 years old who is doing marathons. She races against others who are at least 100 years old as well, and she’s a winner. Minded, their “running” is a fast walk, but how many of us could even do that much?! Applauding what we do well is one way to stretch ourselves out to be able to do more. Daniel 11:32 tells us: “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

Accomplishment is part of our human makeup. My mom was recently in the hospital for a seizure. They didn’t find any specific cause, but they gave her a medication and now she’s home and back to normal, as if it never happened. I told her she’s doing great and she told me, “It’s wonderful to hear that you think I’m getting better. It gives me a reason to keep going.”  My mom is 88 years old, and sometimes forgets things, so to get confirmation on how well she’s doing, how smart she is and kudos on small accomplishments means a lot to her.  

God tells us: “Every man should enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God” (Eccles. 3:13). How often have we not taken the time to do this? We don’t have to wait for others to tell us we’re doing well. God tells us we should rewarding by enjoying. Enjoying is a state of mind that can influence the well-being of our hearts. God wants us to have a good healthy self-image. And when we’re doing our best to do those good things from the Bible, then we have plenty to celebrate.  

Let’s think of one thing we did well yesterday. Whatever it was, God says we need to take the time to CELEBRATE. It’s His gift to us. The Lord wants us to say: “Hey, I did pretty well at that. Great job! I did it!” The Lord wants us to be blessed and this is just one way He’s given us to put a little more joy in the day.

Proverbs 17:22: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”

Love, Carolyn

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SHAKING OFF THE GRIT

WHAT IS THE “BLESSING?”

NIT-PICKING

STOPPING NEGATIVE ANTICIPATION

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WONDERFUL CREATIONS

WONDERFUL CREATIONS

Up at mom’s I have a lot of time to just sit at the window, observe and contemplate. We’re both fascinated by nature and like to study up on whatever bird, animal, or plant we’re looking at. To think that God created every type of living creature so long ago is amazing. The habits of the acorn woodpeckers are so different from the hummingbirds or the turkey vultures. They all came from the very first creation of their kind. And yes, the chicken did come before the egg. God created the first man, Adam, from the earth, and Eve from Adam. Then every person ever to exist came from the union of those two.

The makeup of a human being is so complex, intricate, detailed and still not totally understood. In Psalm 139: 14 David says: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works.”

Then he goes on to say in verse 15-16a: “My body was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance.” I believe this is talking not only about being in the womb, but also that when God created man from the lowest parts of the earth, He already knew that each of us was going to be born and He loved us.

As important as we are, we are only one of God’s many amazing creations. We could never fully comprehend His magnificent creative genius. Scientists and nature lovers alike are continuing to learn more and more about the brilliant conceptions of our creative, imaginative, spectacular loving God.

David goes on to say in verse 17: “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:”

What is innate in the behavior of an acorn woodpecker? A turkey vulture? A patch of lichen or a poisonous hellebore? Spending time up at mom’s, where my television is the back yard, I am having the wonderful opportunity to observe, enjoy, and contemplate some of these other marvelous imaginations of our God’s creation.

Love, Carolyn

FROM LO-DEBAR TO THE KING'S TABLE

FROM LO-DEBAR TO THE KING’S TABLE

God chose David when he was but a shepherd boy and ignored by the rest of his family. His father and brothers didn’t think he had the makings of a warrior, much less a king. But God saw it differently. God chose David, who others discounted, and David never forgot it: “Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Ps. 136:23). If you’ve been snubbed, ridiculed or dishonored, don’t worry. God wants to take you from Lo-Debar to the king’s table. Look at 2 Samuel 9.

David and Saul’s son Jonathan became great friends, so when both Saul and Jonathan died, David wanted to bless their family. He asked, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Sam. 9:1).

“David called in Ziba, one of the servants of Saul’s family. David said, ‘So you are Ziba.’ ‘Yes, Your Majesty, I am.’ David asked, ‘Are any of Saul’s family still alive? If there are, I want to be kind to them.’

“Ziba answered, ‘One of Jonathan’s sons is still alive, but he can’t walk.’ ‘Where is he?’ David asked. Ziba replied, ‘He lives in Lo-Debar with Machir the son of Ammiel.’ David sent some servants to bring Jonathan’s son from Lo-Debar. His name was Mephibosheth, and he was the grandson of Saul. He came to David and knelt down. David asked, ‘Are you Mephibosheth?’ ‘Yes, I am, Your Majesty’” (2 Sam. 9:2-6).

There are two hidden secrets in the above passage that will amaze and bless you. The first is the fact that this man lived in Lo-Debar. I looked up the meaning of this word. “Lo” means “no, or without.” The word “debar” comes from two words. One translates as a “pasture, or a flock or fold, as in a sheepfold.” The other is “dabar,” meaning “word, answer, speaking, teaching, and communicating.” Lo-Debar was a pastureless place, a place with no flocks, no answers, no teaching, no communication. Why is this important? You’ll see in a minute.

The second hidden secret in this passage is the meaning of the man’s name, Mephibosheth. This name translates as “exterminating the idol.” This poor man was a child of our God, stuck in a low place, Lo-Debar; a place where he couldn’t operate his God-given specialty. God gave him the distinct ability in his name: to exterminate idols, but he was spiritually imprisoned in a place where there was no one to listen. There was no pasture for the Word of God. It reminded me of when our Lord Jesus went back to his town of Nazareth and “he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt. 13:58).

God didn’t want this man in a place of spiritual bondage, and He doesn’t want you in one either. God sent David to bring this man up out of Lo-Debar.

^“David said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I’ll be kind to you because Jonathan was your father. I’m going to give you back the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. Besides that, you will always eat with me at my table.’ Mephibosheth knelt down again and said, ‘Why should you care about me? I’m worth no more than a dead dog’” (vv. 7-8).

We see from this passage that Mephibosheth’s self-image was terrible. He was dejected, miserable, downcast. People will always lean towards depression and despondency when they feel they can’t express who they really are.

Through David, God rescued Mephibosheth from bondage to freedom and delight.

“David called in Ziba, Saul’s chief servant, and told him, ‘Since Mephibosheth is Saul’s grandson, I’ve given him back everything that belonged to your master Saul and his family. You and your fifteen sons and twenty servants will work for Mephibosheth. You will farm his land and bring in his crops so that Saul’s family and servants will have food. But Mephibosheth will always eat with me at my table.’

“Ziba replied, ‘Your Majesty, I will do exactly what you tell me to do.’ So Ziba’s family and servants worked for Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was lame, but he lived in Jerusalem and ate at David’s table, just like one of David’s own sons” (vv.9-13).

There are many other examples in the Bible of God delivering His loved ones from prisons of all kinds, bringing them from low places to high ones. See what the Lord shows you this week.

Love, Carolyn

FREE   THROUGH   Tuesday

WINGS PART 2

This section is PART 2 and contains chapters 10-23: 

10. PAY ATTENTION!
11. SPEAKING FAITH INTO EXISTENCE
12. HISTORY IN THE HEAVENS
13. THE MISSING MANUAL
14. PRAYING AND SINGING IN TONGUES
15. POWER-PACKED BLESSINGS
16. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
17. PREACH YOURSELF HAPPY
18. PAYMENT FOR SIN
19. CALLING THE DOG
20. THE ADVENTURE OF PLANTING SEEDS
21. FIXING EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
22. NIT-PICKING
23. THE QUEEN OF SHEBA HAS ARRIVED

Reading each chapter will give insight into the spiritual forces behind everyday decisions and explore the key ingredients for empowerment. Answering the questions at the end of each chapter will help you to locate where you are on your spiritual journey and to make action plans for going further and higher.

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GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS

GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS

I was sitting in my living room early in the morning, and I heard flapping in my chimney. I knew a bird got caught and I prayed it would somehow get out. When I was praying, I listened as the Holy Spirit told me to put some bread in the fireplace so the bird would come down and be free.

My actions showed that I was in doubt because I went off to work, automatically leaving the door open so Snowy our cat could get into the living room. When I got home, sure enough, God had answered my prayer, and the pigeon was sitting on the mantel. It was bedraggled and shivering as Snowy prowled around below it. I picked Snowy up and put him in the bedroom. Then I gently clutched the frightened bird and took him outside where he flew away to freedom.

The next day I was at a garage sale and found a plaque of the same type of bird God saved for me. I hung it up on my bedroom wall to remind me that God always answers my prayers.

There’s a story in Acts 12 like mine, where people were praying but still doubting at the same time. Their actions showed they didn’t expect God to answer their prayers, BUT God knew their hearts, and He did answer. This is the story:

Peter got thrown into prison and Christians gathered at Mary’s house to pray. The Bible doesn’t tell us what they were praying about, but we can pretty much assume they were praying for Peter’s release. God answered their prayer miraculously by sending an angel to lead him out.

Peter showed up at Mary’s house where they were praying, and Rhoda answered the door. She saw him and was so excited she ran in to tell the others and forgot to let Peter in. She told them Peter was there in the flesh, but they said she was crazy and decided it must be an angel. They believed in angels, but they failed to really believe God was answering their prayer for Peter to get out of prison.

Peter kept pounding on the door and finally they came to the door. They were astonished and must have all been talking at once because Peter had to quiet them down to tell the story of his escape (Acts 12:1-17). 

Even though I prayed, I didn’t fully believe God would save the pigeon, and these people didn’t fully believe God would save Peter. My experience with the pigeon was a turning point for me. It showed me that if my heart is right when I ask something in prayer, God will ALWAYS answer. It’s not always in the way I would expect, or even in the time frame I would like, but He does always answer.

We can trust that He will do it every time. Jesus always tells the truth: “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24). Notice He said “when” you pray. So at the very time of praying, we need to also truly believe we’re going to receive God’s answer. But, because God loves us so much and He is a merciful God, He even answers when we retain some doubt. Thank God He always sees our hearts and doesn’t just react to our unbelieving actions!

Love, Carolyn

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DAVID PRAYED IN THE MORNING

DAVID PRAYED IN THE MORNING

Many are familiar with Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” But what about when joy doesn’t come in the morning? Did God lie? No. We just didn’t read the next verse. It says: “And in my prosperity I said, ‘I shall never be moved.’” What was the prosperity David declared would never leave him? It was the Word of God that he knew and loved. Why would David receive joy in the morning? Because he claimed the goodness of God and said it out loud. His action is confirmed in Psalm 5:3 where David tells God: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” It’s so important to start our day like David did, looking up to God, and claiming His goodness. When we don’t have joy in the morning, we’ve got to make ourselves say what the Word says, to get that joy. We know in our hearts it doesn’t come automatically.

I live in Las Vegas, a 24-hour city, so everyone’s morning can be different. But no matter what time it is, whether 4 a.m. or 11 p.m. when we start our day, it’s time to pray. We can get the very best preparation for our waking hours by praying first thing.

Even when David had complaints, he started his day with prayer. Psalm 88:13 is one of those morning prayers: “But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent [go before] thee.” In this passage, David goes on in the next five verses complaining to God of the terrible things that have happened to him. We all need to do that: let our complaints out to the only one who can truly help us. David protested: “Lord, why castest thou off my soul? Why hidest thou thy face from me?” (v.14).

But then when he’s finished with his honest griping, he begins to praise God, saying: “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, ‘Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens’” (Ps. 89:1-2). And David continues through the next 27 and more verses to speak what God says about His relationship with David. And David is built up and confident once again.

These are a few of the truths from God’s Word that I pray every morning:

“Bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me” (1 Chron. 4:10).

“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15).

“Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).

Find your truth from God’s Word and let’s start our mornings like the great King David, who God called “a man after mine own heart” (Acts 13:22).

Love, Carolyn

FREE THRU TUES:

WINGS: A Journey in Faith from the Earthly to the Heavenly is a compilation of stories—thoughts, musing, insights, revelations, and guidance gathered from my experiences living as a Christian in Las Vegas.

This section is PART 1 and contains chapters 1-9:

1. FILLING VACANCY WITH JOY
2. CAN'T STOMACH IT? LET IT GO
3. JESUS GETS TO THE ROOTS
4. WHAT'S IN A NAME?
5. INFORMATION OR REVELATION
6. TIRED OF WAITING FOR ANSWERS?
7. NO MORE TOIL
8. MONEY - TRUTH VERSUS TRADITION
9. GOD LIKES TOO MUCH

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