The Orange Leaf
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Friday, September 18, 2015
Pray in the name of Jesus.
Jesus said that no one comes to the Father except through Him.
(This statement sure puts a damper on religion and philosophies that are man-made...and there are many.)
That's because worthy is the Lamb that was slain. We read about that in Revelation 5.
As I watch the changing of the season, I am comforted in knowing He who doesn't change. God is our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer! His name is exalted throughout the Bible. 'How excellent is thy name!' It is declared in the Psalms...and everywhere in scripture and in creation!
And He gave His only begotten Son ...as we know from John 3:16. Jesus died for our sins. We have access to God through Jesus. We become children of God because of our belief in Jesus. When we pray in the name of Jesus, there is authority and power. Do I have any authority and power in my own name? No! I can assure you I have none. But Jesus has authority and power because it has been given to Him. He has been given the name above every name because He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:9).
Here are the words of Jesus:
Jesus said that no one comes to the Father except through Him.
(This statement sure puts a damper on religion and philosophies that are man-made...and there are many.)
That's because worthy is the Lamb that was slain. We read about that in Revelation 5.
As I watch the changing of the season, I am comforted in knowing He who doesn't change. God is our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer! His name is exalted throughout the Bible. 'How excellent is thy name!' It is declared in the Psalms...and everywhere in scripture and in creation!
And He gave His only begotten Son ...as we know from John 3:16. Jesus died for our sins. We have access to God through Jesus. We become children of God because of our belief in Jesus. When we pray in the name of Jesus, there is authority and power. Do I have any authority and power in my own name? No! I can assure you I have none. But Jesus has authority and power because it has been given to Him. He has been given the name above every name because He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:9).
Here are the words of Jesus:
John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in my name,
so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
You may ask me anything in my name,
and I will do it.
What a glorious opportunity! I like glorious opportunities!
Hallowed be thy name! The Bible is full of His glory and honor!
I am hoping you will catch an orange leaf this fall! Ask, in the name of Jesus, step out of the way, and let God intervene on your behalf as you pray and maintain your faith.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
God Knows
HAPPY SEPTEMBER 1st!
It wasn't too difficult to pick today's poem to post.
Yes, the September winds are kicking up! The beginning of Fall has begun. I have seen leaves fall and there's a yellow hue to many. Some leaves are already orange and red. I remember a forest friend explaining the sicker trees are often the first to turn. They're turning!
And my husband and I heard bluejays this morning, cawing through the woods. They were the only bird to be heard. It was as if they were giving the final call to "Leave...and head south, all birds who migrate!" (There are still hummingbirds at our feeders but they were quiet...and will one morning, not be there anymore.)
How do I tie in Forest Winds with a word about prayer? Here is my attempt:
God Knows. He knows who believes and who is deceived.
It is encouraging...it is comforting to know that God is not deceived. We, on the other hand, can become deceived. I think one of the devil's main jobs is to stick his foot out and cause us to trip. Lots of us are tripping!
HAPPY SEPTEMBER 1st!
It wasn't too difficult to pick today's poem to post.
Yes, the September winds are kicking up! The beginning of Fall has begun. I have seen leaves fall and there's a yellow hue to many. Some leaves are already orange and red. I remember a forest friend explaining the sicker trees are often the first to turn. They're turning!
And my husband and I heard bluejays this morning, cawing through the woods. They were the only bird to be heard. It was as if they were giving the final call to "Leave...and head south, all birds who migrate!" (There are still hummingbirds at our feeders but they were quiet...and will one morning, not be there anymore.)
How do I tie in Forest Winds with a word about prayer? Here is my attempt:
God Knows. He knows who believes and who is deceived.
It is encouraging...it is comforting to know that God is not deceived. We, on the other hand, can become deceived. I think one of the devil's main jobs is to stick his foot out and cause us to trip. Lots of us are tripping!
Here is 1st Corinthians 6: 9-10:
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards
nor slanderers nor swindlers
will inherit the kingdom of God.
AND verse 11!
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed,
you were sanctified, you were justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and by the Spirit of our God.
How do you know a line is straight if you don't have a ruler? What do we measure things by? What is my standard? Who is my authority?
There are many places in the Bible that talk about deceiving oneself. God knows we do it. Indeed, we have a disposition for it. Let's look at this command:
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
The Bible proclaims that Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins. Unconfessed sin is not forgiven by God. But confessed sin is, and becomes as white as snow. If one clings to her deceptions, she will have to face God alone. The Bible warns that no one will survive that. It makes me think of a little sea critter wanting to rule the world and the other bigger sea critters saying "good luck with that!".
So, my thought about prayer is that God knows. I don't have to know everything but I do know who does. He is worthy and I can choose to be obedient. God blesses those who listen to the winds of the Holy Spirit kicking up as they pray in faith.
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