As my friends know, I’m rarely at a loss for words.
As my closer friends know, I’m rarely at a loss for words to speak about the Lord and what He has done in my life.
Today – I’m at a loss for words. When I think of what God has done in just a short year…to enlarge the borders of my tent with mobility, strength and energy…I am at a loss for words.
I am blessed by all that the Lord has done. He has made this lame woman walk ‘on the water’, by the water, on the sand.
These photos are not so good…but this is my praise dance in the water, on the beach at Galveston:
So, here I am, thrilled that I could walk long enough to get a blister.
So, here I am, thankful that my Heavenly Father has a plan for me.
I may love to walk in sand, but my feet are planted on the Solid Rock.
I hope yours are too.
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
Sometimes stretching yourself, to do the things that you don’t think you can, are a little painful at first.
a new workout
a new diet
a new job
walking on the beach after years of ankle problems!
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
In the last few years…like, oh, 40 years…the falls I’ve been taking have been physical! There have been so many times that I’ve fallen and gotten hurt, and turned around and said that God had shown me something I needed to change. At one point, it was a joke in our family that I should just stay down, get the lesson, and maybe we could save the medical bills!
Just because a fall can teach you a lesson, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have sinned. BUT, OUR Father is so busy helping us to grow into the fullness of Christ, that HE allows us to fall, so that we can turn to HIM to pick us back up.
This weekend, that is what happened. I got to enjoy God picking me back up, after all the surgeries of 2010. And I am exceedingly grateful!
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
Today, I read something from a friend of mine, Chuckie Daniels.
He has struggled with the idea that God wants him to write as much as I have. He inspired me to create a blog. He says I inspired him to revive his blog.
Today, I’m going to share a little of his insights, about what keeps us chained to the I-Can’ts.
Our grandson, Brayden, just had a tonsillectomy today. He’s had years of earaches and sore throats and it was keeping him from doing what he needs to do. He has a job to do. He’s a 3 year old. He needs to be playing to learn! If he can’t play, it’s harder for him to learn! So, the doctor said:
CUT THEM OUT!
Years ago, a friend’s son got sick. He didn’t get better. They took him into the doctor, and he rushed him to the hospital…his appendix had ruptured, and the doctor said:
CUT IT OUT!
Twenty-one years ago, I was minding my own business, sitting down on the edge of my bed when something went pop in my knee. When I got to the doctor, he said my meniscus was torn, and the only way to relieve the pain was to:
CUT IT OUT!
Twenty-two years ago, I was in so much pain with cramping that the doctors had me on narcotics 24/7. After a month or so, I asked the doctor what we could do to cure the endometriosis, and he said:
CUT IT OUT!!
Jim’s grandmother couldn’t see – cataracts. When she saw the doctor, he said:
CUT THEM OUT!
One of our daughters found lumps in her breasts. Praise God they were not cancerous, but to make sure the doctor said:
CUT THEM OUT!
Everyone of us, after having the surgeries, were more capable to function. If we had not cut off the troublesome, infected, blinding item, life would not be the same moving forward…if there was life at all.
Matt 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Matt 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.
I like my right eye – especially since I am an artist. I like my right hand – especially since I am right handed! So, they don’t offend me at all!
NKJV takes my excuse away:
“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”Matt 5:30 NKJV
Jesus talked about the eye causing you to sin, following his dissertation about seeing a woman and lusting after her. Body parts can’t cause us to sin…but IF you have a problem lusting after what you see – cut out your eyes so that you will not have that temptation. If you have a problem with taking things that are not yours – cut off your hand so that you will not have that temptation. That used to be the Muslim way of handling thieves! In some areas, they still do!
CUT IT OUT! CUT IT OFF!
Matt 18:8“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.”
Matt 18:9 “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”
This past summer, I had three surgeries on my right foot/ankle. I ended up actually walking, with out a boot, about 4 to 6 weeks from May 5 through October 30. I spent most of the summer in a wheelchair. I was not able to drive or take myself to my doctor appointments. I was at the mercy of anyone that was willing to help me out. I like my right foot. I like my left foot. Two days ago was the first day I’d been able to walk on the beach without a boot of some sort.
I just walked a mile, Barefoot on the Beach!
I've completed 2 miles in the sand
A wonderful cold walk in the water!
Today, I walked on the beach barefoot.
Today, I skipped on the beach, barefoot.
Today, I waded in the water, barefoot!
Today I could stand because when my doctor looked at my ankle on the MRI, he said “we need to cut out the bad stuff, and graft in good stuff.”
Cut out bad stuff so that it can be replaced with good stuff.
I had horse heart grafts in my ankle for two different shredded tendons.
I had shots in my knees to replace the torn, shredded miniscus.
Jim’s grandmother had lens implants that helped her see.
Our daughter has peace that she’s not going to have to fight breast cancer.
My friend’s son had antibiotics to help fight the infection. He did not die.
Brayden will be able to function. He will be healthy.
As a Christian, we are told that if something is causing us to fail, we should cut it off.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:25-27 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.
Col 3:8-9 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
God intends for us to be separated from our sin…
Heb 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
We don’t have to cut off our feet, hands or eyes. God’s point is that sin is so detrimental to our relationship with Him, that it would be better to have the sinning part cut out. Of course, we know that it is the heart that is deceitfully wicked….and that our heart motivates our hands, eyes, and mouth.(Jer 17:9)
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
When the surgery healed for my knee, I had to go through rehab…I had to believe that I had a ‘new’ knee.
After Nana’s surgery – she had new sight.
After the horse grafts in my ankle, I have a new ankle.
After Brayden’s surgery, I pray he will have new health.
After choosing Christ, and turning away from sin, we are new creatures.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And God does His part, as the great surgeon:
2 Cor 5:18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Heb 12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
And then we have the duty to do the rehab:
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Eph 4:23 – 24And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Col 3:10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Infections can kill, breakdowns can lame, lumps can cause fear, malfunctions can immobilize, but God has provided medical knowledge to remove these, fight these.
Sin maims, lames, immobilizes us as Christians. There is a passage that even indicates it could keep us out of the Kingdom.
Rehabilitation doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey. I had to learn to walk with my new ankle step by step.
As Christians, we have to learn to walk as Jesus walked, step by step.
Gal 5:24-25 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gabe and I were here!
Even in our walking – we are NOT ALONE!
Ps 37 : 23-24 The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.
Is 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Some will say that life is a beach…and I say ‘bring it on’….I pray that I will walk each day of the rest of my life walking with Jesus!
Thank you for joining me in my journey!
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
100 days challenge – moving – check- 60 minutes, 2 mile walk on the beach
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – check-I’m in Deuteronomy-will catch up with CDs on the way home.
50 days T-Tapp – check – I did SATI walking – WITH ARMS!
21 days Fasting for Food – check? I have to compromise a little, but I’m staying as total as I can.
I am at Galveston State Park. Early this morning, we took a walk on the beach.
Early in the morning - Galveston Beach - 15 Jan 2011
I woke up thinking about sand, and how it just blows around – wherever the wind blows it.
Galveston Sand Dunes
Sand does not CHOOSE where it goes…it just goes. If it isn’t the wind blowing it, it’s the water moving it.
waves laying down the sand
Sand Ripples at Galveston Beach
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
As we were driving around the Beach area of Galveston…I saw a construction company sign named “SandCastle Construction.”Really? With the evidences of Hurricane Ike every where, someone would advertise building sand castles! Unbelievable!
Matt 7:26-27 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
The foolishness of the world…this beach that I’ve walked on was twice this size before the Hurricane. Here is a photo view of what happened.
Interestingly enough, the Bishop’s Palace and the Moody Mansion, in the middle of Galveston, have withstood many Hurricanes. Why? THEY HAVE A FOUNDATION! And they are made with stone.
We are building a ‘house.’ It will be tested in the end.
1 Cor 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
So, we ought to build it RIGHT! Starting with the foundation.
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
And use the best materials –
1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Because the building is going to be tested…by fire…..and the test determines the reward.
1 Cor 3:14-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
But if the FOUNDATION is right…even if we mess up, we will be SAVED!
1 Cor 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
JESUS CHRIST – He is the foundation for everything. He is the ROCK.
Matt 7:24-25 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
He was there at creation, as the spirit that moved over the face of the waters Gen 1:2
He rides upon the storm…he dwells in the clouds…he rides the wind…just read about it in Ps 18:1, Ps 93
With a foundation like that…who can fall? The building we are building is the temple of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor 3:16
The truth is, we will all fall, somehow. We will all use some wood, hay and stubble, somewhere in our building. And when the tests come…when the winds and storms blow, those parts will not stand. But if we have used more and more of the good stuff – gold, silver and precious stones – and we have based it, rooted it, in the one foundation, we will stand. The promise is we don’t have to do it alone.
Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
And if we mess up:
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24-25
God, through the power of Jesus Christ, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, chooses to help us…if we just ask.
No matter what comes at us….
God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; [Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Ps 46:1-3
The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.Ps 46:7
When the wind, and the rain, and the lightening, and the thunder pass by, there are treasures to be found in the wake.
Washed up Sea Shells
Thanks for joining me in this journey!
foot prints in the sand
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
100 days challenge – moving – check- 30 minutes+ on the beach
Another blast from the past ~ Sept 14, 2009 ~ “BE STILL”
~ M. Christine Wildman
Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Ps 46:10
The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand. Ps 37:23‑24
Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Is 41:10
Each one of these has a song to it from my past ‑ but these are the things the Lord woke me up with. These, and this:
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Lk 10:41‑42
I was reprimanded for worrying about things of this world, our finances, screen doors, winterizing, toilet paper……and these 2 verses came to me as if the Lord were speaking them directly to me ‑ Martha, Martha ‑ you are worrying about many things, but Mary has chosen the good, and it cannot be taken away from her.
Then, I was told to be still and know that He is God……so, I worked hard to sit quietly in His presence. That was VERY hard!!! I had to take thoughts captive and throw them out for later! Thoughts such as what I am going to do today…..and what exercises I would do….and other things, that were NOT bad thoughts…but it was not being still and knowing that HE is God.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord ‑ if I stop to listen.
HE delights in HIS way ‑ it can be read either way as far as I’m concerned ‑ God delights in my way, and I delight in His way ‑ because they have become one and the same.
I asked what is a good man….perfect? holy? keeping the law, or Sermon on the mount?
Though He fall, though he fall, THOUGH HE FALL, HE SHALL NOT BE CAST DOWN! A good man is not a perfect man…..just a repentant man, being still before the Lord.
though he fall He shall not be cast down, FOR THE LORD UPHOLDETH HIM WITH HIS HAND!
My goodness, my success in God’s eyes is held in HIS hand!
And then, as I came to share this with my friends, I was wondering ‑ HOW.
Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Is 41:10
What more can I ask for to help me to be successful. My delight is to be a delight to my Father through my Savior Jesus Christ by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. And God says HE will uphold me with the right hand of HIS righteousness. That is how I can be a good (wo)man, so that my steps are ordered by the Lord.
I hope this blesses you as much as this blessed me!
In His hands (hallelujah!) and under His wings (dwelling in the secret place),
Christi
(c)2009 M. Christine Wildman, all rights reserved. You may copy to share with quotation and links, but you may not sell this in any way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Christi here, in 2011~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recently, a dear friend gave me a verse that follows up with this:
Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
With all these promises, and with this ‘new’ one, what do I have to lose? If God is holding my right hand, and saying Don’t worry about it, I got this…I’m gonna help you!” – then who am I to say “I can’t?”
I listened to this song today…and though it doesn’t quite fit…It’s my prayer – may we learn to be still, and wait – but continue while we wait.
I have so many things to do today. I have to do things that I have not stacked together in a long time. Sometimes life is like a storm, with all sorts of responsibilities.
Martin Luther said, as quoted in Good Reads, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”
I admit, I am not spending the first three hours in prayer…though, I am convicted to go spend more time in prayer.
In October, 1997 I wrote about being still. And that message rings true today. Enjoy.
I’m a simple Jew, raised in the simple Jewish ways…….but I get sort of fired up at times. Let me tell you a bout a few of those times.
One day, my friends and I were sailing across the sea of Galilee. We were on our way to the other side. Our Lord had just gone up into the mountain to pray, and we were going on without Him. Suddenly a storm came up, and the boat was tossed to and fro. I know what these storms can end up as and there we were, tossed back and forth, waves crashing around up, up and down with the water, rain everywhere, thunder crashing and lightening flashing…….and then we saw a ghost coming on the water right at us, I thought I was going to die and the angels were coming, then I heard “Do not be afraid, It is I”. In the stillness of that voice, I knew it was Jesus, my Lord. His still voice gave my heart peace, and I knew this was my God, and I said, call to me and I will come out on the water to meet you! And His still, quiet voice said, “come” and I came! I was walking on the water, looking at His calm and quiet face, full of peace! I was walking on the water…….in the midst of a storm…..THE STORM! It was all around me, lightening flashing, thunder rolling, water splashing and down I went!
If I had kept my heart quiet, and remembered my Lord, I wouldn’t have sunk.
Another day, we were all in the boat. Jesus was sleeping. Poor guy, He rarely got anytime to just rest, so here He was taking a nap as we sailed across the sea. Then the winds came up, the waves started beating the boat, water was coming in every side, rain was pouring and pouring, lightening was crashing all around, thunder pounding in our ears……How could He sleep! “Master, don’t you know we are going to die?” I screamed! He said quietly “Oh ye of little faith, Peace be still” and the storm stopped. All was quiet. All was peaceful.
If I’d been still and quiet, remembering my Lord, I wouldn’t have feared for my life.
Yet another day, I was with a group of people, they were all talking, yelling, and clacking like chickens around a fire…….Who is he, what is He, where did he come from, crucify him, kill him, and then to me “ aren’t you one of them?”
“No.”
“ Sure, you were with them”
“ NO”
“You’re a Galilean, of course you were one of the ones”
“ NO I DON”T KNOW HIM!”
Then it became deathly quiet, as I heard the cock crow three times, and I looked up and saw my Lord.
If I’d been still and quiet, I would not have denied my Lord.
Scriptures say, Be Still and Know that I am Lord, and through Jesus Christ, we are given the Peace of God which passes all understanding, and keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
When was the last time you and I were still before the Lord in order to be filled with His peace in the midst of the storms?
MCW 10/97(c)1997 M. Christine Wildman, all rights reserved.
Get up, wash our face, brush our teeth, get dressed, drink coffee, and go to work?
Get up, wash the children’s faces, make breakfast, dress the children…pick up dishes….get the children ready for school, make sure their teeth are brushed…then get dressed and maybe go to work, or go to work teaching the children at home.
I’m focusing on something that the government, society, and all the people that have tested our foods have said. Multi-Vitamins. Just google for “does everyone need a multi-vitamin?” and there are a lot of opinions. One thing is certain – everyone needs vitamins daily. That’s the whole purpose of food! And the government tells us what we should eat with the Food Pyramid and USRDA.
An interesting article on Discovery Health explains a bit about multi-vitamins. They have good points, and bad. The bad being, one can lean on the multivitamin, and become malnourished by not eating.
A vitamin A capsule cannot replace the benefits of a carrot.
A vitamin B complex cannot replace the benefits of whole grains.
A vitamin C tablet cannot take the place of a fresh orange.
They are for supplementing, because, it is hard to gather and eat enough food to provide the complete nutrition. They are to fill in the gaps between good meals and snacks.
God gave the children of Israel “manna” every day.(Ex 16)
Even as important as bread is, when Jesus was tempted after 40 days of fasting, he said “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt4:4)
I have a collection of Daily Vitamins of God’s word:
Some of my favorite things
Nuggets by Sylvia Gunter, Commands to Keep before Your eyes by IBLP, Prayer Cards by Stormie Omartian, Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore, and the little bible verse “credit cards” you can get at any Christian Bookstore.
These are daily vitamins. When I need some extra help, an extra reminder….here are a few more:
A few more of my favorite things
Those Truth Tags available at CBD are cute, and so easy to keep around. Put the little tag on your key chain, and you will see it all day long. The circle necklace is Ps 23, and this was a very special necklace that helped me to remember Ps 23 through a very hard time. The leather bracelet comes in handy when I am talking about salvation with someone. It keeps me focused on the plan of salvation. I also have a key chain that is an eagle, reminding me that if I wait upon the Lord, I shall renew my strength, I shall mount up with wings as eagles!
There are apps on the phones, FB and twitter that will send you a Bible thought a day. All of these are VERY good! These are like the Vitamin C that we take every day and the Zinc and the Echineacea that we pop when we are sick…these are hiding God’s word in our heart, as Ps 119:11 says:
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
These are like the flashlights we carry in our purses so we can see in the backseat of the car, find the door lock, or read the menu in a dark restaurant.
Ps 119:105 Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
It is a good thing to keep the Word of God before our eyes….but even better to keep it in the midst of our heart.
Pr 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Pr 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Pr 4:22 For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Which would you rather do at a restaurant dinner table?
Eat a great prime rib dinner, with lobster on the side, with a baked potato with sour cream, butter, chives and maybe cheese, perfectly cooked green beans on the side, and a huge portion of triple chocolate cake with fresh made ice cream for dessert.
A multivitamin, maybe some specialty vitamins, and a glass of water.
I think most would rather eat the meal. But so often, I get hung up on the little sound bites of scripture, that I get lax on the memorization. Sometimes I get so hung up on memorizing ONE passage(green beans), that I forget READING(the whole meal plus dessert).
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 24-25.
This is my memory verse for the first two weeks of January. I just flubbed it up, typing it into the computer. Today is the 13th. I’m supposed to be able to recite it on the 15th. This is a GOOD tool…keeping me active in memorizing scripture, but, this is the green beans!
A third option at that dinner table – just a menu.
All you have to ‘eat’ is the menu. Someone else telling you what the food has in it, and what it’s going to taste like. But you walk out, saying the menu says the prime rib is delectable…I’m satisfied that the prime rib is delectable…the menu knows what it’s talking about!
Did you taste the prime rib? No? then how do you KNOW the menu was RIGHT?
Do you read my blog, Beth Moore’s blog, or Billy Graham’s blog, and say “the Bible says this because Beth Moore says it does” or “I know that Jesus lives because Billy Graham’s book says the bible tells us so”?
That’s not nourishment – that’s vicarious – that’s like walking away with the menu…and saying the food was delicious.
Reading the Word is the meal! Faith is a muscle. It needs exercised, yes…but muscles also need to be NOURISHED!
Rom 10:17KJV So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I’ve heard this all my Christian life…hearing, and hearing…what?
Rom10:17 NIV Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Now, that makes sense. Hearing the message of the word of Christ.
A side note…I am so frustrated with the people that go to sporting events and hold up the sign “JOHN 3:16”. That’s like holding up a sign that says “I-10 W”. Only those that have been on I-10 have an idea where that is, but it doesn’t tell them much at all! THE CHAPTERS AND VERSES ARE NOT DIVINELY INSPIRED!!! They are NOT the Word of God!
Another frustration is those that do have signs that say “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”. This is scripture. BUT THERE IS NO MEAT!!! Someone sees this, and, so what? What does repent mean? Which God?
To me, this is like sitting down at that prime rib dinner, and letting someone sit at the table, and only giving them one green bean or giving them a piece of the menu! You have this huge, fantastic meal, and all you hand them is a green bean? They are going to starve to death…and you pat yourself on the back saying “I shared my dinner with them!”
But that is not my point in this blog. My point is are WE eating the whole meal? Jesus said man shall live by every word that proceeds from the fathers mouth. Mat 4:4
EVERY WORD.
The food pyramid falls apart if you don’t eat part of every section. That’s the point of the food pyramid, to show you what you need to eat in what proportions to get WHOLE nutrition.
The Bible falls apart, if you only take one piece, and then another – because you do not get the whole story.
2 Tim 3:16All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The word of God, in it’s fullness, provides, from Prov 4:22 and 2 Tim 3:16 –
Life
health(to all our flesh)
wisdom
instruction
Well, here, I’ll let God say it through King Solomon (Ps 19:7-11)
The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul
the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart:
the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever:
the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether.
More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
[and] in keeping of them [there is] great reward.
God has given us a buffet of wondrous words with which to nourish our spiritual selves. God has promised that as we nourish our souls, our bodies will see benefits.
We need the tools to remind us – they are like snacks that help us over difficult or rough times.
We need the tools to help us memorize – they help us build spiritual bones to hang our faith upon.
We also need to read the whole Bible – cover to cover, to get the fullness of the gospel of God. There is milk. There is meat. There is dry toast. And there is the water of the Spirit that will wash over us. It is all necessary.
There are several ways to start reading through the Bible.
Get a Daily Walk Bible – or
Through the Bible.
Daily Walk and One Year both have a Chronological Bible
However you choose to nourish your soul and spirit – just do it. A person that is dehydrated doesn’t register thirst – but they are dying all the same. Take time, 10 minutes, 15, 30 – whatever you have and just read the Bible. Your thirsting soul will thank you for it!
Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:31-34
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. …The Prince of Peace… Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Numb6:24-26; Phil 4:7; Is 9:6; Phil 1:6; Rom 8:38-39)
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I went to a conference and met a young man that is using his talents to further the Kingdom of God, and ministering to young people about courtship, and standing up for the unborn.
His family has produced this amazing music video. Please watch.
Abortion stops a beating heart.
I am ProChoice. Before the baby, it’s a choice. After the baby, it’s a responsibility.
