MORNING GLORIES AND THE MORNING STAR

MORNING GLORIES AND THE MORNING STAR

Every day when I come home from work, I need to go outside and water my morning glories. In these over-100-degree temperatures, by the end of the day they are sagging, the leaves wilting and generally looking pretty sad. But about a half-hour after giving them water, they perk up. I need Jesus at least as often as my morning glories need water.

Psalm 42:1 says: “As the hart [deer] panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” I’ve certainly felt that way lately.

So many distressing things in the news these days. I wake up in the night, crying out in my mind: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” I long for His intervention, His answers, His presence. Just calling out His name, I have comfort and know He’s there, and I go back to sleep easily.

With the many disturbing, confusing, and crazy things going on in our world and even in our private everyday circumstances, it’s perfectly okay to cry out for our Lord Jesus. Quantum physics has proved that an atom, not part of the atom, but the whole atom can actually be in two places at once. If a physical atom can do that, what about God Almighty or our Lord Jesus Christ?

The Psalmist asked, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Ps. 139:7-8).

If you need Jesus and I need Jesus, and 150,000 people need Jesus all at the same time, and He’s also sitting down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2) at the same time, how do you think this happens?

One reason God invented quantum physics is so that He and Jesus can be anywhere and everywhere they need to be. What an awesome thing that is!

Jesus has already experienced every stressful, confusing, awful situation we encounter, and He can and will help us.

I didn’t even realize until writing this article that my crying out for Him, just even saying His name a few times in my mind, really works. I don’t have to say a big long prayer or anything like that. Whether I’m just bored or worn out or stressed or disturbed when I call His name, He’s there, and I’m okay.

My morning glories wait for me to come home from work and give them their much-desired water. A deer pants for the brooks and I call out for my Jesus. Revelation 22:16 says Jesus is “the bright and morning star.” He has really been that for me in these recent traumatic times, and He will always be there for us. Call on Him whenever you want. He can be in a lot of places at once!

Love, Carolyn

(second picture is a painting-collage I did of a friend’s daughter looking up at the morning star)

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In this sample book, I’ve chosen 7 chapters specifically about point of view. The true stories show the DIFFERENT WAYS GOD SEES THINGS compared to how we sometimes perceive them.

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Chapters included are: DANGEROUS ILLUSIONS, DEFERRING TO THE SPIRIT WITHIN, CHANGING DOUBTFUL PRAYERS, INFORMATION VS REVELATION, MAMMON IS A LIVING BEAST, I’LL JUST IGNORE IT – NOT! and APRIL FOOLS

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HEALING TO OUR SOUL WOUNDS

HEALING TO OUR SOUL WOUNDS

I used to steal things. I took small items from work, items like paperclips, a roll of tape, a writing pad. And don’t act so shocked. I know many of you have done the same. My rationale was that I’d used my supplies from home sometimes, so the company owed me. But stealing is stealing. Why was I tempted to take things that didn’t belong to me? Where the heck did that come from? Definitely a glitch in my soul.

When we get tired, stressed, or feel needy, we fall into old traps that we know aren’t good for us. We spend too much money; we drink too much; we tell lies; we take things that don’t belong to us; we fall prey to pornography, etc.: all the things that God has lovingly already told us are dangerous to us and harmful to others. Why is it we desire to do those things that aren’t good for us?

Romans 7 tells us the dilemma and the answer. The dilemma is that even though we received a perfect Spirit when we got born again, our souls weren’t made instantly perfect. Our soul consists of the way we think, our emotional responses, and the decisions we make daily. The healing of our souls is a miraculous process, not an instant thing. Even though we are Christians and have asked Jesus into our lives, we come to the table with many soul wounds that need healing.

For me, the temptation to steal came from when I was a teenager. When I started at a new school as a seventh-grader, most of the girls had more than I did. I never felt poor growing up until I compared myself to these new girls. I started stealing coins from my dad’s change dish.

Then Sheila, also poorer than the other girls, showed me how to steal makeup from the Woolworths’ store. It made me feel good. We’d steal clothes too. But when I stole four bikinis and hid them under my bed, my mom caught me, and I had to personally take them back to the store and tell them I’d stolen them. It was devastating, and I stopped stealing for a while.

But the trauma had already made such a wound in me, that if the right circumstances came up, the scab was torn off and the wound opened up. It hadn’t really been healed. The hurt and the feeling of lack was not resolved. When I felt deprived or cheated, it was a trigger that tempted me to take something for myself, “because I really needed it.”

I am totally healed of that now and let me tell you how so that you can begin to get relieved of some of those soul wounds too—those things that the Bible says are not good, but you do them anyway.

The answer is in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection” (Phil. 3:10).  The miracle-working power is already in us, but we need first to know what it is, and then we can know how to let it heal our souls. The word “power” in Philippians 3:10 is translated from the Greek word, “dunamis.” The definition of “dunamis” is “power for performing miracles, and moral power, and excellence of soul.” It is also the root of the word “dynamite!”

It takes a dynamite miracle from Jesus to totally heal our soul wounds, giving us the ability to not only make good moral choices but also to be able to continue to make the right decisions every time, until excellence of soul becomes our new normal. Everyone knows that as hard as we may try with our five senses to stop a bad habit, it will eventually stick its ugly head up again and again.

This dynamite moral power doesn’t happen automatically. The ability to exhibit excellence of soul is a gift from God. We can only have it by letting Christ Jesus heal up those old wounds that still make us act specific ways that aren’t good for us.

Once a wound is genuinely healed, it’s like a scar. If we poke at scar tissue, there’s no feeling. We may have the memory of the source of the original trauma, but the hurt is gone. When a soul wound is healed supernaturally, the consequential inappropriate actions don’t happen anymore either. 

After I was healed, there were still times when I got tempted to take something that didn’t belong to me. But Jesus told me (and I told myself), “You don’t need that. You don’t need to steal. God will give it to you. You’ll have the money to buy it.” And it worked.

The dunamis, dynamite power, worked in me so that I never felt like I had to steal anything again.

Read these scriptures describing what dunamis power is, and you will believe for your soul wounds to be healed just like I did.    

·         Luke 24:49: “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

·         Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

·         Acts 4:33: “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

·         Acts 10:38: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

·         Romans 1:4: “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

·         Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

·         1 Corinthians 6:14: “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”

·         2 Corinthians 4:7: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

Love, Carolyn

QUESTIONS AND EASY CHALLENGES

1. What three things make up a person’s soul? Does the soul automatically change when a person gets born again?

2. Name one soul wound that still nags you. Do you know the source of that wound? If not, have you asked Jesus to show it to you?

3. What is the definition of the Greek word “dunamis”?

4. Can we heal our souls by trying hard to be good? How do our minds, emotions, and decisions get right according to the Bible?

5. Cite two scriptures that use the word “dunamis” for “power” and tell why they are meaningful to you.

PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN

PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN

Current events are opening everyone’s eyes to human trafficking. Just think, children who were taken when they were babies or three or four years old never even got to find out what a real family is. Their lives were taken over by deprivation, torture, and slavery. Rescue missions are saving hundreds and thousands of children who have been so brutally oppressed by these depraved human monsters. The kids’ bodies will be rescued, but their minds and hearts will need tremendous healing. We definitely need to start praying for them now. Secondly, we need to pray that God will work in people who are in the medical fields, that they will be inspired to get the right training to help with the recovery process of these shattered souls.

If you have children, I know you pray for them daily, probably at least twice a day. Keep it up!

I know my mom, at age 90, still prays for me. If it weren’t for her prayer and believing, I probably wouldn’t have made it this far. She told me that when I was little I once followed a dog down the street and she had to call the police to help find me. Then another time I drank a bottle of her perfume, and she had to rush me to the hospital. When I was older I put my mom through even more drama. I remember a time when I was freaking out in an old downtown building in Chicago, and my mom drove her VW Beetle forty miles in a snow and ice storm to get me. My mom has always been a big one for prayer and trusting God.

I want to relate another story about a mother who trusted God. Her name is Hagar. We find her story in Genesis 16, 20 and 21. Abraham was married to Sarah and Hagar was Sarah’s maid. When Sarah couldn’t conceive she came up with the idea that if Abraham could impregnate Hagar, somehow the child would be considered hers. I don’t get it, but that’s what they decided, and it caused significant problems. As soon as Hagar got pregnant, Sarah was jealous and outraged and treated Hagar horribly. Hagar fled, but on God’s urging, she went back and submitted herself to Sarah’s domination. Relationships may have improved slightly, but there was still bitterness and strife in the household.

Abraham’s entourage traveled through the deserts together as a group for the next thirteen years. By this time Sarah had conceived and given birth to Isaac. All of them lived together in the same group of tents: Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar, and Ishmael. (Do we really think our “complicated” family dynamics are so modern?) As we’d expect, there was more drama brewing.

One day when Ishmael was fourteen Sarah overheard him making fun of her son Isaac. It must have been the last straw because she threw him and his mother out. Hagar was devastated. Back then if you were thrown out it wasn’t like you could just go to stay with a friend. These people were nomads. They lived in a tent city, traveling from place to place according to the water supply. There was harsh desert all around them. So when Sarah threw Hagar and her son out, they had to find a way to survive in the wilderness, or they’d die. Abraham was able to sneak them one bottle of water and some bread but when that was gone life was over. Hagar wandered in the desert desperately looking for help. But a person can only last about three days without water, and there were two of them. They’d come to the end.

“When the water was gone, she left the youth in the shade of a bush and went off and sat down a hundred yards or so away. ‘I don’t want to watch him die,’ she said, and burst into tears, sobbing wildly.

“Then God heard the boy crying, and the Angel of God called to Hagar from the sky, ‘Hagar, what’s wrong? Don’t be afraid! For God has heard the lad’s cries as he is lying there. Go and get him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.’

“Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well; so she refilled the canteen and gave the lad a drink. And God blessed the boy, and he grew” (Gen 21:15-20).

Hagar knew God. She prayed to Him and cried out to Him. She taught her son to do likewise. God “heard the lad’s cries” and saved them both. To parents, relatives, and guardians, this should be a great comfort. When you’ve done your best, you don’t have to be afraid that you haven’t done enough. God thinks you have, and He will be there to step up directly for your children when you can’t. GOD IS THERE FOR THEM.

Love, Carolyn

(pict. is of me and my mom in March 2018. She’s 90 now.)

HOW TO MAKE EVIL GATHERINGS INEFFECTIVE

HOW TO MAKE EVIL GATHERINGS INEFFECTIVE

In Las Vegas we’ve noticed that when certain events come to town, they can have a bad influence on the spiritual atmosphere and it starts to affect us. When lots of people come together to participate in something contrary to God’s Word, their demons get stirred up, and they like to extend their influence into the community at large. I know you’ve seen this kind of thing in your own cities, and communities. But the Lord has given us revelation on how to make these gatherings ineffective.

Sometimes we don’t recognize the influence of gatherings such as witches’ covens and Satan worshipers on full moon nights, or gatherings of terrorist pods, or the aftermath the morning after a considerable hedonist party in town. We tend to take things too personally. And often when we feel bad, it’s not even us; it’s demons in the atmosphere pushing at us.

Some weekends here, we can feel the agitation in the air, and it makes people drive especially dangerously. Sometimes the atmosphere feels overly heavy and oppressive. I’ve had mornings I didn’t feel like doing my hair, didn’t feel like writing, and my brain was foggy. It just wasn’t like me. At first, I thought it was me, but the Lord showed me what to look for, and I’ve learned that most of the time I’m just reacting to the group of demons come to town.

God gave me a revelation on this by reminding me of Nimrod. In Genesis 10:9, we learn that King Nimrod was “the mighty hunter before the Lord.” When it says “before the Lord,” it means he was in His face, against the true God. Nimrod got the people together and “they said, ‘Let us build a city and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make a name [for ourselves]’” (Gen. 11:4).

“And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. And the Lord said, ‘Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech’” (Gen. 11:5-7). When the people were together, they were united in the words they spoke. It’s like when you agree with someone, and you say, “You’re speaking my language.”

The remarkable thing here is that when the Lord God confounded their literal language, they couldn’t communicate with each other. When people can’t communicate, especially when it comes to getting a project done, they can’t agree, and that brings envy and strife. James 3:6 says: “Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

So the Lord showed me that we could pray for this to happen with whatever demons had come to town. I prayed that God’s strong angels would surround them and that the agitation, the envy, the strife, and the confusion would stay within the confines of the group, and not able to penetrate beyond. It’s putting those devil spirits in detention so that they couldn’t get to us anymore.

Within minutes of praying this, my mind was totally clear, and I had plenty of energy to get going on my day. The difference is astonishing, and it works every time. It will work for you too. It’s our job to catch the demons of the group and arrest them as soon as we become aware of their presence. The minute we know a group is gathering, a group that is against the principles of our God and His Bible, we need to take action in prayer immediately.

We find another Biblical example of this in Second Chronicles 20. It’s the story of Jehoshaphat and his people. Three different nations came together for a type of convention or event in the wilderness of Tekoa: It was called war! They all got together to take what Jehoshaphat had. But Jehoshaphat and his people prayed and “when they began to sing and to praise [for the victory they anticipated], the Lord set ambushments.”

“For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another” (2 Chron. 20:22-23).

When Jehoshaphat and the people came to see what was going on, “behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped” (v. 24).

That’s the thing about some demons; they are so stupid, they start to fight each other and kill their host!

So if you sometimes feel the pressure or heaviness of the spiritual atmosphere, or you sense an intense agitation, don’t automatically think it’s something wrong with you. Ask the Lord what’s going on. It could very well be that there is some kind of gathering near you that you can spiritually confine and keep at bay.

Though we would love to deliver everyone from the demons that manipulate them, it’s not always possible. But it is possible to detain the demons, confine them to specific areas and prevent them from affecting us. Through Jesus Christ, we have that authority and ability.

Love, Carolyn

USER-FRIENDLY BIBLE PRINCIPLES FOR EVERYDAY LIVING: real-life stories of how GOD works to make ordinary life extraordinary.

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ADMITTING MISTAKES CAN TAKE US TO A BETTER PLACE

ADMITTING MISTAKES CAN TAKE US TO A BETTER PLACE

Valerie was in town for work and came by the shop to see Donna and me. She broke down in tears as she told us she had to leave her children with her alcoholic ex-husband while she worked here. When Valerie spoke with him on the phone, she could tell he’d been drinking, and she was terrified for her children. She worried about paying her bills too. Her world was falling apart, and what did I do?

I was caught off guard and didn’t do the right thing. I was swirling in her downhill spiral and felt a little overwhelmed myself. Donna and I said we felt so bad for her and we would pray. She left, and I felt this emptiness as I saw her walk away. I prayed for Valerie that night, but I still had a niggling feeling that things weren’t quite right with how I handled the situation. Somehow, I had missed something.

I didn’t realize the answer until three days later. Jesus told me what was wrong. I should have taken her outside away from where all the other people were, and prayed right there. That was when she really needed it.

Jesus let me know that I’d messed up big time and I needed to repent, which I did. I felt terrible, and I had to apologize to Valerie too. I’d lost the opportunity to minister to my friend at her point of need.

I was reminded of James 2:15-16 where it says: “If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and you say to that person, ‘God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,’ but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing.” As it says in Hebrews 1:1: “NOW faith is,” not later when I get around to it.

This experience was a great wake-up call for me. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. But Jesus has given us the ability to overcome indecision. My strength is in my writing. My weakness is in thinking on my feet and acting immediately. But I’m determined to change that, “redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16).

I don’t want to be “unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake” (Rom. 13:11). “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong’” (Joel 3:10). I still mess up plenty, but I am getting quicker at recognizing when I can help someone, and I’m more eager to jump right in.

Have a great week.

Love, Carolyn

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HUMAN KINDNESS

HUMAN KINDNESS

As Jane approached the intersection, she saw that the car next to her was slowing down, so she slowed down too. Three elderly people were standing on the island in the middle of the road, looking frightened, as they were caught in the middle of a busy street. Both Jane and the other driver stopped, and since there weren’t any other cars coming, they motioned for the people to go ahead and cross. Jane said the three people were so delighted, they were all waving and smiling at the two drivers as they scurried to the other side of the street. This incident is just one example of human kindness exhibited, not because of race or political preference, but just because God created us to be kind to each other.

We’ve all heard the Bible story of the Good Samaritan, but it’s a good reminder and worth reading again every so often:

“And Jesus answering said, ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

“And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

“And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him’” (Luke 10:30-34).

God put the capacity for compassion in us all when He created us. Kindness, decency, and respect are not lost virtues. They abide somewhere within each of us. We need to flame the fire and do our part. Where we live, and where we work, and where we play, we can make a difference, and even if it’s a small one, it counts big with God!

Jesus said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

And Paul tells us to stir it up: “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee” (2 Tim. 1:6).

An onslaught of human kindness, decency, and respect can change lives, neighborhoods, and way more. These human virtues that God instilled within us give proof of a loving God, and they give true hope to humanity.

Love, Carolyn

I think you’d enjoy reading one of my books: They’re all available on Amazon. Here’s the link:

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HI EVERYONE

Just last night I got a message from a friend on WordPress who happened upon my Ordination Photo. I responded just now.
“Hi Rob. Today is my 40th anniversary of being ordained.

“I'm no longer with the Way Ministry but I am still preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. I put up a blog on WordPress every Wednesday and Sunday, as well as on FB and Blogger.

“Thanks so much for this timely message! It reminded me of how the conviction to serve our Lord has been with me since I was 8 years old and the Lord has never forgotten about me and I have never forgotten about Him. I'm not always right in my thoughts and actions, but I do always try to follow His truth and guidance, no matter what. God bless you and thanks for listening to the Lord and that He showed this picture to you and you let me know.”

And to everyone out there who I've had the privilege to help in any way: God bless you. I love you the best I know how with all my heart.

Love, Carolyn

FAITH FOR VICTORY - MOSES AND JEHOSHAPHAT SHOW US HOW

FAITH FOR VICTORY – MOSES AND JEHOSHAPHAT SHOW US HOW

Before I got out of bed in the morning, I used to pray, “Lord, with You, it’s going to be a great day.” Then I hit some hard times, and my prayer became “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, help me, help me, help me.” Not that it’s necessarily a bad prayer, and of course I do need His help always. But this new prayer was motivated more by the dread than hopeful expectation. So when I realized what I was doing, I stopped and changed my prayer back to the “It’s going to be a great day” prayer.

The Bible tells us we should always expect a victory of some sort or other if we are walking in alignment with God. And if something isn’t going to be good for us, He lets us know and shows us the way out, around, through or over. And in the end, we still get the victory with Him.

One of the names for God in the Old Testament is Jehovah-nissi, “the Lord our Banner.” The victory banner is what we are to hold up BEFORE going into any battle. Moses and Jehoshaphat show us how to do this. Exodus 17 gives us a great example of how Moses claimed God’s triumph before and during the battle.

The Amalekites came to attack Moses, and God told Moses to go and take the same staff with him that he used for parting the Red sea. The staff represented the presence and victory of God. Moses had faith in God’s presence. Whenever Moses held up this rod, he had faith that God was there to give him victory. Holding up this rod, Moses absolutely believed he already had the sure triumph of God, even before anything happened.

The Amalekites came to attack Moses and God’s people. “And Moses said unto Joshua, ‘Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand” (Exod. 17:9). Moses had faith before the battle even started that with God on his side, he would win. 

“So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.  And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed” (vv. 10-11). Right here is an amazing lesson for us: Keep lifting the rod of God; keep saying, “I have the victory.” Even though we may get weary, we hold fast to the conviction that we are going to be winners. We can’t let dread get the best of us. God says: “I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Is. 43:19).

“But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” (v. 12). Another great lesson: Lots of times we need help to keep our faith for victory its strongest. We don’t have to always do it by ourselves.

“And Joshua discomfited [overthrew and flattened him] Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi [the Lord our banner]” (vv.13-15).

By faith, we go into every battle shouting the victory from the beginning, and seeing it manifest in the end.

We find another great example with Jehoshaphat in Second Chronicles 20. In this record, three different armies collaborated to defeat Jehoshaphat and his people, and take over their city and all its profits. The enemies even brought much wealth with them in the form of jewelry and other riches, probably intending to bargain after overthrowing Jehoshaphat. They would split up the spoil and sweeten the pot with their own riches if they wanted something specific.

But they weren’t going to win. Jehoshaphat got the people together, and they prayed to God about what to do. They acted on their faith.

“Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go ye down against them” (v.15-16). “And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa” (v.20).

Then look at this amazing act of faith. Before they even started the battle, they began singing and praising God. They had faith that they would win, and they began to sing about it and praise God for victory. And look what God did:

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten” (v.22). This is awesome! The people didn’t SEE what God was doing; they had faith He would do it. They praised Him for the victory BEFORE they saw any evidence. And it was at the moment of their pre-evidential praise, that the Lord ambushed the enemy. And look how He did it:

“For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another” (v.23). Wild, huh?!

And when the people came to see what happened, “behold, dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much” (vv.24-25).

Many other Bible records show the blessed results of having faith for our victory before we experience it. And like in the case with Jehoshaphat, it was AFTER they had faith for success and praised God for it, that God set up the ambush where the three armies killed off each other!

So don’t be like I was. Be more like Moses and Jehoshaphat. We can’t let dread get us down. Instead, let’s hold up that victory banner. God wants us to know He thinks of us as His champions every day.

Love, Carolyn

YOU’LL LOVE READING ONE OF MY BOOKS:

USER-FRIENDLY BIBLE PRINCIPLES FOR EVERYDAY LIVING: real-life stories of how GOD works to make ordinary life extraordinary.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=WINGS%3A+A+JOURNEY+IN+FAITH+

FAITH FOR VICTORY - MOSES AND JEHOSHAPHAT SHOW US HOW

FAITH FOR VICTORY – MOSES AND JEHOSHAPHAT SHOW US HOW

Before I got out of bed in the morning, I used to pray, “Lord, with You, it’s going to be a great day.” Then I hit some hard times, and my prayer became “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, help me, help me, help me.” Not that it’s necessarily a bad prayer, and of course I do need His help always. But this new prayer was motivated more by the dread than hopeful expectation. So when I realized what I was doing, I stopped and changed my prayer back to the “It’s going to be a great day” prayer.

The Bible tells us we should always expect a victory of some sort or other if we are walking in alignment with God. And if something isn’t going to be good for us, He lets us know and shows us the way out, around, through or over. And in the end, we still get the victory with Him.

One of the names for God in the Old Testament is Jehovah-nissi, “the Lord our Banner.” The victory banner is what we are to hold up BEFORE going into any battle. Moses and Jehoshaphat show us how to do this. Exodus 17 gives us a great example of how Moses claimed God’s triumph before and during the battle.

The Amalekites came to attack Moses, and God told Moses to go and take the same staff with him that he used for parting the Red sea. The staff represented the presence and victory of God. Moses had faith in God’s presence. Whenever Moses held up this rod, he had faith that God was there to give him victory. Holding up this rod, Moses absolutely believed he already had the sure triumph of God, even before anything happened.

The Amalekites came to attack Moses and God’s people. “And Moses said unto Joshua, ‘Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand” (Exod. 17:9). Moses had faith before the battle even started that with God on his side, he would win. 

“So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.  And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed” (vv. 10-11). Right here is an amazing lesson for us: Keep lifting the rod of God; keep saying, “I have the victory.” Even though we may get weary, we hold fast to the conviction that we are going to be winners. We can’t let dread get the best of us. God says: “I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Is. 43:19).

“But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” (v. 12). Another great lesson: Lots of times we need help to keep our faith for victory its strongest. We don’t have to always do it by ourselves.

“And Joshua discomfited [overthrew and flattened him] Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi [the Lord our banner]” (vv.13-15).

By faith, we go into every battle shouting the victory from the beginning, and seeing it manifest in the end.

We find another great example with Jehoshaphat in Second Chronicles 20. In this record, three different armies collaborated to defeat Jehoshaphat and his people, and take over their city and all its profits. The enemies even brought much wealth with them in the form of jewelry and other riches, probably intending to bargain after overthrowing Jehoshaphat. They would split up the spoil and sweeten the pot with their own riches if they wanted something specific.

But they weren’t going to win. Jehoshaphat got the people together, and they prayed to God about what to do. They acted on their faith.

“Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go ye down against them” (v.15-16). “And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa” (v.20).

Then look at this amazing act of faith. Before they even started the battle, they began singing and praising God. They had faith that they would win, and they began to sing about it and praise God for victory. And look what God did:

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten” (v.22). This is awesome! The people didn’t SEE what God was doing; they had faith He would do it. They praised Him for the victory BEFORE they saw any evidence. And it was at the moment of their pre-evidential praise, that the Lord ambushed the enemy. And look how He did it:

“For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another” (v.23). Wild, huh?!

And when the people came to see what happened, “behold, dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much” (vv.24-25).

Many other Bible records show the blessed results of having faith for our victory before we experience it. And like in the case with Jehoshaphat, it was AFTER they had faith for success and praised God for it, that God set up the ambush where the three armies killed off each other!

So don’t be like I was. Be more like Moses and Jehoshaphat. We can’t let dread get us down. Instead, let’s hold up that victory banner. God wants us to know He thinks of us as His champions every day.

Love, Carolyn

YOU’LL LOVE READING ONE OF MY BOOKS:

USER-FRIENDLY BIBLE PRINCIPLES FOR EVERYDAY LIVING: real-life stories of how GOD works to make ordinary life extraordinary.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=WINGS%3A+A+JOURNEY+IN+FAITH+

OUR NEW NATURE

OUR NEW NORMAL

My sculptor friend Evgeni wanted me to paint on the figure’s hand, but I wanted to finish what I was painting on the leg. My rebellious nature wanted me to argue and give the reason why my idea was better. But I didn’t say anything because something in me had changed. That rebellious nature I’ve exhibited since childhood has dissipated and I’ve watched myself take on a much humbler and more yielding attitude. It’s like being outside myself looking at a different person. The old nature is gone, and Jesus has given me a better way to react. Sometimes I hardly recognize my new normal.

In my last several jobs, I’ve found it easy to yield to my bosses and fellow workers. I’m more sensitive to their wishes. If they ask for a suggestion, I give it, but I don’t butt in with what I think. And the thing is, I’m loving it. It’s fun and peaceful and rewarding and most of all, it’s not fake! It’s my genuine new normal.

Only Jesus Christ could make that change in me so remarkable and permanent. And why it happened now instead of years ago, I can’t tell you. I’m just so pleased to see it.

I was a rebellious child, an even more rebellious teenager, and it continued in my personality over the years. I think most people have issues with rebellion of one sort or another. It’s because rebellion was inherited from the first man, Adam, and it was passed down through generations in the blood.

But the birth of the second Adam, Jesus Christ, changed the nature of human blood for those who receive Him: “The first man, Adam, became a living soul (an individual); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life]” (1 Cor. 15:45).

Once Jesus was born, there was one man with an uncontaminated, non-rebellious nature in His blood. That is a big deal; no wonder a multitude of angels showed up and were rejoicing at His birth: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men’” (Luke 2:13-14).

New blood and consequently a new nature was introduced on Earth. Jesus didn’t get His blood from His mother, Mary, but from God. Jesus’ blood was not prone to disobedience, rebellion, pride, or other human failings.

When people get born again, they receive that new nature of Jesus. There are at least 19 million cells in one square inch of skin, and each one is affected by DNA and blood. The pure lifeblood of Jesus impacts every cell in us.

The old nature begins to fade, and Jesus’ nature takes over. Some things may change immediately; others take time, but they will happen when we keep seeking the changes only He can produce.

Jesus’ meek nature was working in my blood for years until it just suddenly popped out as the new true me, and I’m so much happier now.

Jesus says this about being faithful: “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matt. 25:23).

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). He knows that if we continue to love Him, the gift of His son Jesus Christ will continue to bless us and change our very natures to be more like His.

Second Corinthians 3:18 tells us: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The word “glory,” that we change into is translated from the Greek word “doxa” which means “magnificence, majesty, brightness, personal excellency, dignity, and grace.” When we continue to read the Bible and apply it to our lives, we change from glory to glory, sometimes instantly and sometimes over a period of time.

God created us, every human being, with the ability to assimilate the spirit and nature of Jesus Christ into ourselves. We hopefully are willing to let God’s Holy Spirit filtrate throughout our bodies, minds, and emotions. The Spirit of Christ in us (Col. 1:27) can change us into the new and better version of us. We don’t want to ever give up on reading the Bible, praying, and doing our best to communicate with the Lord often. Stay faithful, because like me with the disappearance of a huge rebellious nature, we never know when those good changes will show up: Surprise!

Love, Carolyn

QUESTIONS AND EASY CHALLENGES

1. Name one supernatural change you’ve experienced in your life. What supernatural changes would you like to experience?

2. Where did Jesus’ blood come from?

3. How many cells are in one square inch of skin? Does the nature of Christ affect those cells?

4. Cite a verse where Jesus talks about being faithful in a few things.

5. What is the first commandment (in the New Testament)? Cite the scripture.

6. When we change “into the same image from glory to glory,” what is the Greek word for “glory” and what does it mean? What would that mean for you personally?