Pray for Me

Ex. 17:10-11

“So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat upon it, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

This was a holy war. You can go back and look at the principles of a holy war in Deu. 20:1-20. We see two fights going on here, the physical fight by Joshua, and the spiritual fight by Moses. Both were needed. In this fight we fight both are needed. Sometimes we are physically engaged, sometimes spiritually engaged for another. At all times we are in prayer. 

Moses had family around him as they held up his arms. We must take care who we have around us. In a war armies fight to win. We don’t fight for the victory, we fight from the victory already won by Jesus on the cross.  I hear Hezekiah Walker, “You pray for me, I’ll pray for you, I love you, I need you to survive.” enough for now

Let it Go

Acts 5:1-11

This is the story of Ananias and Sapphira who lied about the money they received from the sale of property pledged. The main thing here is not that they lied about the money but that they lied to Holy Spirit. They could have not pledged the land, but they did.

It’s easier to be truthful than to lie. The lie kills us, little by little. And lying to Holy Spirit destroys. We want to live a life not divided within ourselves with lies that destroy. Go back and read. It was too long for me to place here. And let’s start right now- releasing any lie that we have believed, and lie we have told. Let Holy Spirit show you the lie, and then the truth. The truth is always stronger. enough for now.

Wait

Acts 1:4-5

“And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 

This was just before Pentecost. Go back and read Acts 2. Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise. We have received the promise and what we can do each day is wait on Holy Spirit to receive guidance, and power to witness through our actions. We wait to get direction. We wait for clarity. We wait, and watch what God is doing. Blessings on Pentecost! enough for now.

Be Filled

John 4:13-14 NRSV

“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.””

Go back and read verses 7-30. There are some things we do over and over because we must, in order to live. We drink water, we eat, and as my son, Marq, will say, “it’s what and how we eat.” But today I say that where we get our nourishment. 

There is something about going to God and receiving. Not going to God to receive something in particular, but to receive what he has for us at that moment. And yes, we go over and over again- to go deeper and more profound in what he shows us, in how he grows us. He fills a thirst that society cannot quench. 

And from that our actions show that we have been filled. Oh we don’t do it for that- but we do it because he offers a new filling over and over again, which rejuvenates, restores, resurrects, transforming us more and more into who we really are in him. enough for now.

Growing

Proverbs 27:17 (NRSV)

“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.” 

Another proverb. I suggest that you find one that you can hold on to and go with it. I think we have lived in this proverb since a child. Our parents, aunts, uncles, neighbors were always giving tidbits of wisdom for life. Quite a bit I held on to and passed on. And you- you are learning and growing and will pass on. 

Yes, there are times that you have shared with me what you have learned - that’s what it about. It’s sharpening one another. 

Momma and Daddy used to say: “Leap from our shoulders.” We did, and our children have.

Yesterday a friend shared something: “The things I have not done are the things I have not tried to do.”

And one more from Doc to me long ago: “Don’t let anybody out you you.”

We strengthen one another. enough for now

Be Your Best Self

Proverbs 27:19 NRSV

“Just as water reflects the face, so one human heart reflects another.”

There is an exact corresponding between the inner self and the outer self. If you have integrity inside, you will have integrity outside. Unfortunately many people try to show a false self not realizing that the true self will come through to others. And so they end up only fooling themselves.

Two thoughts:

One should learn how to read people in order to learn who to trust. There is a saying, “when someone tells you who they through their actions, believe them.” 

And 

One should always be in touch with self through God in order to be the best self that God has intended. That’s being more contemplative. enough for now.

Hang On

Matthew 15:21-28 NRSV 

“Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”

Look at the way this woman held on to what she needed from Jesus. Her daughter was tormented, and she knew she couldn’t help her. Although she was Canaanite, she went to Jesus. Although the Jewish people called them dogs,she went to Jesus. 

This woman did not let anything stop her from getting help for her daughter. That’s love. To know when to get to someone outside of you to get the help you need. Jesus saw her great faith and her daughter was healed. The key is faith. We must have that faith that does not stop us when others try to derail us. Faith in what God will do. 

Happy Mother’s Day! enough for now.