HISTORICAL MOTHERS

"And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking He was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him. After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for Me?” He asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He was saying to them." LUKE 2:41-49 "There was also a prophetess Anna at the temple court, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." LUKE 2:36-38 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem." RUTH 1:15-19 ~ Ruth's loyalty to her mother-in-law after losing her husband is a testimony of faithful self-lessness. "And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” RUTH 2:2 ~ Ruth's obedience to her mother-in-law Naomi resulted in the FAVOR of our LORD. RUTH 3:10 “The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character." God sent His Kinsman Redeemer Boaz LESSON GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN John 12:1-11: Mary Magdelene humbled herself before the Lord Jesus and poured out her love and devotion for Jesus by giving Him the finest she had, before men. QUESTION: "Do I humble myself before the Lord and give Him my love in the presence of men without shame? Do I tend to want to go with the crowd, with popular belief? Am I willing to be set apart as an Ambassador for Christ and mocked? Like Mary Magdelene, as I have been forgiven MUCH, therefore it is my desire to love Jesus as much as I am able. “Go, look over the land,” He said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there." The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent." JOSHUA 2:1 ~ JOSHUA 6:17 --- Our Lord redeems the lost and His ways are NOT our ways. "Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth." MATTHEW 1:5 "In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?" JAMES 2:25 - GOD our Father covered our sins with the blood of Jesus and gave these Historical Mothers, the Samaritan Woman and all of us His righteousness.

Lucky in His Presence

When was the last time you felt the presence of God? Was it while you were alone in nature? As you prayed? Extended grace to another? While you were reading scripture? When you were shining your smile to cheer someone? When alone listening for His voice? Was it when you were broken, absolutely dependent on God? What was happening the last time God interrupted the moment and made Himself, His presence known to you? What emotion came over you? Lucky to know you are so loved? Lucky to be chosen? Tears of joy, gladness, peace, mighty assurance, needed confidence, a sense of safety, a shudder of goose bumps, or sweet comfort? When we ASK the Holy Spirit to flush us, to fill us, to give us comfort, and the wisdom to employ our application of scripture in a situation ~ He does. Asking the Holy Spirit to guide us, in that invitation is our willing surrender to His lead ~ we then must trust Him and obey, otherwise the communication was as if we defiantly "HUNG UP" on Him. Next time you sit intentionally stilled to be with God, ask the Holy Spirit to give you revelation of God's word. Then seek to feel the pleasure of God as you surrender to His will that we listen and obey the nudge of the indwelt Holy Spirit. Yes the Word of God is living and active and it is sharper than a double edged sword. He does not allow us to be double minded. The Person of the Holy Spirit delights in letting us know He is able to "enable us" to speak a word that will do His bidding ~ BUT do we maintain the required position of surrender to allow Him the pleasure of extending God's will through us?
God makes Himself known to us in unique and powerful ways...to encourage us, to energize us, to equip us to do that which we are unable to do without God, our Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Holy ALL in ONE. "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted ( Judas the fool doubted. Do ye ever feel like the black sheep amidst the mockers? Remember Peter denied Jesus when he was not in the presence of Jesus, but IN HIS PRESENCE, Peter's faith "ENABLED" him to walk on water) "Faith is being sure of what you hope for, and certain of what you do not see" Hebrews 11:1 --- Therefore, let us be CERTAIN of our FAITH in Jesus and that the ENTIRE Bible is the inspired Word of God. "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:16---Now without airplanes, the internet, cell phones, trains, or cars ~ some might think HOW did the eleven disciples teach all nations to obey what Jesus commanded? Each disciple had witnessed miracles, and had FELT the powerful presence of Jesus --- "some doubted" Jesus knew their hearts, their doubts about HOW TO REACH all of mankind about His birth, brutal death and miraculous return from the tomb. Jesus returned from the grave and spent 40 days with a group of about 120 disciples which included His mother Mary. "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26 Jesus made His Presence known to His disciples then, and today our Father, our Jesus, sent "another" just as He promised. The Person of the Holy Spirit makes His presence known to us TODAY when we invite Him to do so. God sent His Son to walk among us, to shed His blood, to make us holy, and to fill us with His beloved Holy Spirit ~ to change us, to polish us, to guide us, to use us to bring the lost back to Himself. His greatest command was that we love ourselves as we are loved, and to love one another. How do you describe God's presence? Is it in the kindness shown to you in that secret place within? Is it in that moment when you are able to forgive and let go? Is the evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in your life obvious by your changed character? The truth of God's redemption plan seems foolish to those without the Holy Spirit's wisdom, understanding and comfort. Jesus taught by His Word and His example ~ at the last supper when the disciples were too proud to wash feet, Jesus, the Son of God humbled Himself and washed their feet. John the Baptist said “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" Foolish people have too much pride to admit that they are not holy ~ even their unbelief is a sin. Jesus knew the hearts of his disciples were concerned about how they would be equipped to carry His mission of reconciliation to the world and He assured them "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—" John 14:16. So the TRUTH is that where ever we are, God is! By His word He gave us "another" Advocate, the Holy Spirit to help us and be "in" us forever. We are in His Presence, and He is "in" us waiting for us to invite Him to give us understanding, revelation, confidence and courage to stand up and speak that which He gives us to speak. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" 2 Timothy 3:16. Some folks say "I believe God is everywhere, and in everything. In the trees, in the ocean, stars, mountains, in the animals etc". God's word does not claim to be in everything. God the almighty Creator of heaven and earth is omni-present, which means everywhere is in the sight of God, or in His presence. God is in the body, heart, mind, in a very personal way, of those who believe in Jesus. He waits for us to turn to Him, to invite Him, to call on Him, to trust Him, to get to know Him. The magnificient mountains, the depth of the seas, the height of the stars are all exhibitions of God's power, His creation of beauty for His beloved to live in. God never intended to be unknown, NOT be found, NOT heard, NOT felt in the great out yonder somewhere. God desires to be in a personal, intimate relationship with us. God makes it most definetly clear in His word where He is NOT present. God does not abide in those who do not claim Jesus as the Lord. "The Lord is FAR from the wicked but He hears the prayer of the righteous. A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise" Proverbs 15:29-31 --- In the life, in the midst, in the heart of a believer of Christ, God is present, as He promised "I will be with you always, even till the end of the age." The wicked, the wayward, those who do not believe in God, those have no concept or desire to know God, those who deny He exists, those who deny the Truth, that Jesus is Lord --- The Lord is FAR from those that choose to NOT believe. "All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The Lord works out everything for His own ends --- even the wicked for a day of disaster. The Lord detests all the proud of heart." Proverbs 16:2-6 --- Those who know God, are delighted to obey God, enjoy tremendous contentment in God, show great boldness for God, have supernatural energy to do His will, and have Spirit filled conversations about God. Consider Paul's escape from Damascus, his time being shipwrecked, alone at Sea, in prison --- all the while He was filled with peace not fear as he praised God. Paul carried the word of God to far off places perhaps singing. "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And being with you, I desire nothing on earth...But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."
Psalm 73:25-28 --- Blessed are we who meditate day and night on His law! King Solomon wrote a majority of the Psalms and Proverbs. Halleluiah and AMEN ~ on this St Patricks Day we are indeed LUCKY to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit of the King of Kings, Jehovah God!

Samaritan's Purse

Sunday March 13, 2011 a volcanoe erupted in Japan. The BBC reports that this was the largest volcanic blast in 52 years. It has caused widespread destruction and agitated panic through out the nation of Japan. Hundreds of people fled the area as the volcano spewed debris, including hot ash and rocks, more than 6,000 feet in the air, according to BBC reports. The Nuclear blast at Dai-ichi Unit 2 followed two hydrogen explosions at the plant — on Monday March 14, 2011 authorities struggle to prevent the catastrophic release of radiation in the area devastated by a tsunami.Friday March 11, 2011 JAPAN shakes! At least a million households without water and four million households remain without power since the quake struck. 9,500 people in one town were unreachable and nuclear workers suffered radiation exposure as the concrete plant exploded and collapsed. Japan has asked Russia for power. Nuclear mist above the plant first were thought to only emit minimum amounts of radiation, now Japan struggles with the reality of a Chernobyl disastor. The apocalyptic images on TV of debris-filled waves, uncontrolled fires and a ship caught in a massive whirlpool resembled scenes from a Hollywood disaster movie. Hundreds of souls were carried away on land, at sea, with ships, cars and homes. Widespread fires remain burning out of control. The quake sized at a magnitude of 8.9 triggered a 23-foot tsunami and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks. Saturday March 12, 2011 in Japan a magnitude-6.7 earthquake struck the central mountain part of the country. A reported 300 souls lost in the city of Sendai. Japan lies on the "Ring of Fire" — an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones stretching around the Pacific where about 90 percent of the world's quakes occur, including the one that triggered the Dec. 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami that killed an estimated 230,000 people in 12 nations. A magnitude-8.8 temblor that shook central Chile in February 2010 also generated a tsunami and killed 524 people. Oceanside cities in California and Hawaii were evacuated as a safety measure. Cities and villages along a 1,300-mile stretch of coast, including Tokyo, all hundreds of miles from the epicenter shook in fear and shock! The government of Japan ordered about 3,000 residents near a nuclear plant — in the city of Onahama — to move back at least two miles from the plant. The reactor was not leaking radiation but its core remained hot even after a shutdown. The plant is 170 miles northeast of Tokyo. Large fishing boats and other vessels rode high waves ashore, slamming against overpasses or scraping under them and snapping power lines along the way. Upturned and partially submerged cars bobbed in the water. Ships anchored in ports crashed against each other. Even for a country used to earthquakes, this one was of horrific proportions because of the tsunami that crashed ashore, swallowing everything in its path as it surged several miles inland before retreating. Japanese automakers Toyota, Nissan and Honda halted production at some assembly plants in areas hit by the quake. One worker was killed and more than 30 injured after being crushed by a collapsing wall at a Honda Motor Co. Japan's nuclear safety agency said pressure inside one of six boiling water reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant had risen to 1.5 times the level considered normal. Hours after the evacuation order, the government announced that the plant in northeastern Japan will release slightly radioactive vapor from the unit to lower the pressure in an effort to protect it from a possible meltdown. FUKUSHIMA, Japan – Radiation leaked from Japan's earthquake-crippled nuclear plant on Saturday after a blast blew the roof off, and authorities prepared to distribute iodine to people in the vicinity to protect them from exposure. This earthquake was the fifth most powerful to hit the world in the past century. It surpassed the Great Kant quake of September 1, 1923, which had a magnitude of 7.9 and killed more than 140,000 people in the Tokyo area. The disaster struck as the world's third-largest economy had been showing signs of reviving from an economic contraction in the final quarter of last year. It raised the prospect of major disruptions for many key businesses and a massive repair bill running into tens of billions of dollars. Lord Jesus ~ may this world news cause a pause in the daily plan of each soul ~ to seek You, to ask for the Holy Spirit to compel us, to propel us with emboldened courage, strength and resources to assist those in need of more of Jesus in the midst of this Apolcalyptic history of man.