Letter 12 – May 2, 2010

Dear Sisters,
Rom 8:1
[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Many people just quote the first part:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
That’s comforting. But what does it mean?

Then there are people like me, that want to take the whole word…and read the whole thing….and get stuck on “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

And those verses….
Matt 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
1 Pet 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Combined with:
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

And I get drug down by the truth…
The truth:
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
The warning:
Rev 21:8 But the fearful,
and unbelieving,
and the abominable,
and murderers,
and whoremongers,
and sorcerers,
and idolaters,
and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Rev 21:27
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth,
neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination,
or [maketh] a lie:
but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The truth is, if we have continual sin in our lives….our heart condemns us!
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
God KNOWS all about our sinful nature. It’s supposed to be dead, but that smelly rottin’ thing keeps on a’ kickin’!
On the other hand, if we have continual sin, do we have HIS word in us? Are we truly followers of Christ?

1John1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Dear Brother John is going to talk about our sin….THAT OUR JOY MAY BE FULL!!!
This is God’s Normal – that we know about sin, how to deal with it, and how to go to HIM for help!
It’s not God’s normal for us to wallow in sin, or to hide sin, but to confess our sins one to another that we may be healed!

1John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Walking in the light doesn’t mean no sin.
Saying we have no sin, makes God a liar, and we’re not in a good place!
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with the saints, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN!
How much sin? Just a little? Just one? Just the non political sins? No –
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from ALL sin!

Is it just past sins? Well, we’re walking forward…..and, if Jesus’s blood only cleanses past sins….well, everyone born since 0AD is out of luck!
If God is outside of time…then when Christ was on the cross, He bore the punishment for ALL of our sin…not just the sin up to the time we confessed Him as Lord.

When Jesus went to the cross, He knew He was going to bear the punishment of all sins of all men for all time. My sins are NOT a surprise. This is truly AMAZING GRACE!!!

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
And God’s people said: God forbid.
How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:2)

The true Christ follower will show by their heart that they do not want to profane that precious glorious gift of the stripes, blood and death of our dear Savior on the cross. Without believing in the payment for our sin, we have no basis for salvation, Without recognizing the price paid, we do not count the cost of being a follower.
1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
The truth is:
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I recognize the gift, and try to comprehend the enormity of it’s efficacy, but, I still sin. And my heart condemns me of that sin….what am I supposed to do?

When Jesus died on the cross….He broke the bands of the old nature…and set us free to live in the image of God.
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.

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
:13 Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.
:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

We are new…but we have to do the work to reckon ourselves dead to sin….not let it reign in our mortal bodies. We are to be led of the Spirit!
Gal 5:16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The battle is real:
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The victory is obtainable:
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
There are some lists of things to put off and to put on….that will help us to walk in the Spirit.
Eph 4:22-32; Col 3

God has given us ways to know that you are walking in the Spirit is that you are growing in the fruit of the Spirit.
Gal 5:19-23

To not press on to walk in the Spirit, is to grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30).

And then, we can rest in the verse:
Rom 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

And we can rest in the promise:
1John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

What things are pleasing in His sight?

1John 3:23 And this is his commandment,
That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ
and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him and He in him.
And hereby we know that he abideth in us,
BT THE SPIRIT which HE hat given us.

Jesus said it this way:
And he answering said,
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul,
and with all thy strength,
and with all thy mind;
and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luke 10:27

What does your heart say? Is this how you want to live day by day? Following God’s salvation way?

Condemnation = death pains → from the enemy
Conviction = growing pains → from the Holy Spirit.
It’s our choice….
Condemnation – go to Is 54:17
Conviction – go to Ps 51

There is no promise of perfection when we come up out of the baptismal waters…just the indwelling of the new nature at salvation, enabling to cast down the old nature, standing up to the enemy and walking on the narrow way, pressing on toward the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus.
Count it all joy….offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, be purified for Kingdom work, but walk as perfect as we can moment by moment…rejoicing that IF we sin, God has the advocate plan!

I pray that we will all learn to recognize condemnation and conviction, and the appropriate actions for each. Cast down every imagination and high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.(2 Cor 10:5-6). If we are told to do it, then we are empowered to do it, and must be bold to do it.

There is NOW, no condemnation to us, who are in Christ Jesus, as we walk not after the flesh…but after the Spirit. The issue is, in what direction are you walking?

In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi

bible verses from http://www.blueletterbible.org
© 2010 M.C.Wildman

Letter 11- May 1, 2010
Dear Sisters,

When there is disorder in a drawer, there is clutter.
When there is disorder in the house, there is chaos.
When there is disorder in the seasons, there is crop failure.
When there is disorder in the chemicals in the brain , there is mental illness
When there is disorder in the systems of the body, there is diabetes, RA, FMS and many others.
When there is disorder in a relationship, there is stress and strife.
When there is disorder in your spiritual life, there is fear, doubt, and deep sorrow.

Disorder can cause dis-ease in many situations.
God is a God of Order….He created Order out of disorder and nothingness.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

The first job He gave man was responsibility to tend(keep order) in the garden.
Gen 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Our world tells us we need order:
“A place for everything and everything in it’s place” from the 17th century
“things left to themselves tend to disorder” paraphrased 2nd law of thermodynamics
CHAOS (Can’t have anyone over Syndrome) – FlyLady
“God’s in His heaven — all’s right with the world” Robert Browning, Pippa’s Song
Mentally Ill respond to routine and responsibility – Bill Gotherd
Creation Order Genesis 1&2,
Responsibility Order Ex 20
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

God’s word tells us to do things in order:
Ps 90:12 So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom.
Is 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Professional Organizers can tell us how to bring order to our homes.
Family Counselors work to bring an order to handling conflicts.
Medical Doctors give us meds to bring some order to our disorders.
And God gives us an order for how we can overcome in the midst of storms of trials and tribulations.
James 1:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
3 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
4 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

1 Pet 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.

The JOY in the trial is that we can choose to be growing. We can rejoice that we are children of our Heavenly King, being prepared for His courts. We are working out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We can acknowledge that the purpose of the trial is not to tear us down, but to build us up like orderly exercise breaks down muscle so that the muscle can be built up stronger! What JOY!

The Exercise Plan for our ordered life:
2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue:
and to virtue knowledge;
6 and to knowledge temperance;
and to temperance patience;
and to patience godliness;
7 and to godliness brotherly kindness;
and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Don’t quit – the rewards are way too wonderful!
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Phil 3:12-15 press on toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus!
2 Tim 3:14-17 that the man of God may be perfect…….
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect…..

There are two kinds of pain, and we can choose which one we dwell in.
There is growth pain, which is just a sign that we are growing.
There is death pain, that just shows we are dying.
“Buttercup: You mock my pain.
Man in Black: Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.”
–The Princess Bride

You, I, WE CHOOSE what effect that pain has on us!

The order of God’s plan for us is joy and peace, not sorrow and fear.
Fear and sorrow bring disorder to our lives.
If you’ve ever watched the TV program “Hoarding, Buried Alive” on TLC you would notice that people that suffer from this disorder have had a deep wound, sorrow, and are afraid to let go.

Jesus dealt with similar disorder:
Luke 8:27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in [any] house, but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
This man had lived a life of disorder…..and Jesus brought order to his life.

What areas of our lives are in disorder?
Do we really want order in our lives?
God has given us the answer.
Just as the Gadarene Demoniac, we need to cry out to Jesus to deliver us from the natural, base manner in which we deal with things.
Trials – complain and argue or sacrifice in praise
Hurt – anger and revenge or forgive and peace
Fear – tremble and hide or embrace the truth and be set free

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

We have the promises discussed previously….that if we CHOOSE to count it all joy when we enter temptations, trials, and the testing of our faith…..God will bring forth our righteousness as the new day!
Ps 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.
Ps 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
(Micah 7:9)

God is NOT going to let us irreparably fall!
Ps 37:23 The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24Though 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.

So, lets make a choice, and start taking steps to push forward towards the prize!
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.
(2 Cor 9:24, Phil 3:14)

I pray that you are encouraged to take a step, even a baby step towards choosing joy. I pray that you are encouraged that your trials can be turned to gold…that your sorrows can be turned to joy, and that your fears can be turned to power, love and a sound mind. God is not a man that He should lie! He has said it, therefore He will do it!(Num 23:19)

In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi

Bible references from http://www.blueletterbible.org
quote everything in it’s place origin from http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/14400.html
quote from FlyLady – http://www.flylady.net/
Bill Gotherd’s response to mental illness – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4gieCr-YRk
Hoarding, Buried Alive – http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/hoarding-buried-alive/
Hoarding definition – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsive_hoarding
Princess Bride quote – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/quotes

©2010 M.C.Wildman

Letter 13 – May 3, 2010

Dear Sisters,
This morning I was awakened with thoughts, and the song:
Lord, You are more precious than silver,
Lord, You are more costly than gold,
Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds
And nothing I desire compares with You.

I sing this and sing this and sing this…..but, does everything I desire pale in comparison to Jesus Christ?

What about this song? Does everything really fade?

When I look into Your Holiness,
When I gaze into Your loveliness,
When all things that surround,
Become shadows in the light of You.

When I’ve found the joy of reaching Your heart,
When my will becomes enthralled in Your love,
When all things that surround
Become shadows in the light of You.

CHORUS
I worship You, I worship You,
The reason I live, is to worship You.
I worship You, I worship You,
The reason I live, is to worship You.

#1 means First Place, or having first priority – in this instance, in my life.
Ok, here’s a test for a priority:
Wake up in the morning, what comes first?
Praise the Lord – this is the day that the Lord has made
OR
Oh man, I have so much to do today….and I want to roll over and sleep another 15 minutes.

Sometimes, Sleep is more desirable than praising God, but here is the truth:
Ps 63:1 [[A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.]] O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Pr 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Pro 6:10 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Ok, Next test:
Come home at night, have supper, spend time with the family, and there is some time left before bedtime, do you:
Go to your room, remember what God has done, praise Him, and meditate on His word?
OR
Plop down in front of the TV to relax and unwind?

There are some spiritual examples that would differ with the ‘relax and unwind’ scenario:
Ps 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

2 Chron 13:11 And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also [set they in order] upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.

Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.

Ps 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me.

Ok, so I failed both of those tests.
I could go on with tests (and I’m sure God will be keeping these before my eyes) such as,
What do I do with my money? Tithe, or hoard; give or get; or is it even my money in the first place?
Mal 3: 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Would I rather sleep than go to church?
Would I rather fit in than speak up?
Would I rather look good or give to the needy?
Would I rather is a measurement – what I’d rather do shows me what is 1st place in my heart at that time.

What should be my first goal?
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

Oh my….God is meddling here. He’s getting quite personal!
1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

1 Cor 6:19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Here’s what God is talking to ME about in these verses….
When I’m stressed, do I….
Go to my room, kneel before the Lord, turn it over to Him and get His word of truth on it?
OR
Eat a bag of M&M’s while watching a sappy or funny movie?

True confession. I have a weight problem because I have a faith problem.
When things go wrong, or hurts from the past have come up, I have turned to food, or self harm, and sometimes the binge-ing falls into the self harm.

Faith doesn’t come by hiding from the problem.
David would never have taken down Goliath – in fact, Israel was hiding!(1 Samuel 17)
Moses would not have faced down the Pharoah! (Exodus 2 and following.)
Gideon would not have won the battle! (Judges 6-8)

In fact, the lack of faith IS the problem.
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Heb 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.

This is because the first gift we are given, even before salvation, is the gift of faith.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We can’t even take credit for being able to believe in order to make the choice to be a believer!
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

We can cause our faith to grow. In fact, we have a responsibility to do so.
1 Pet1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.

One of the fruits of the Spirit is faithfulness…a growing faith.

When I am stressed, disappointed, or even depressed – I can build up my faith by listening to the word of God.
Rom 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

But I always have a choice….and with those choices comes consequences!
God gave me a garment of joy to put on for the spirit of heaviness(Is 61:3)….do I choose that, or do I choose to wallow in heaviness?
And, if I choose the spirit of heaviness – I am putting that ahead of the Lord! Another spirit that is not God’s!

Through Moses, God had some very clear words about this situation.
Do NOT put other God’s before me…..Do not make graven images….
Ex 20:4 You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations.
1 Sam 15:23 – Samuel to Soloman: For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.

When we put anything above obedience to the Word of God, and knowing Him, and choosing to be in HIS presence, we are rebelling against HIM, and to not change is stubbornness.
Whether it’s waking up in the morning, spending time with Him at night, or turning to Him during the day for our strength – anything that comes BETWEEN us and God is an idol….because we made it that way.

Proverb 8:10 – 11
Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Psalm 19:7-12
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the sou8l.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Deut 28….doing things God’s way does have it’s benefits. But the first thing is having God as the number one priority…..and if He is the desire of our hearts….He promises to meet those desires!
Ps 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

If it’s a trial, we can choose to count it joy, because God is working our faith muscles, and making us stronger for the Kingdom work HE has for us. But there is no joy without Him, and it is HIS joy that is our strength.

After some repenting, Now I am ready to sing:

Lord, you are more precious than silver,
Lord, you are more costly than gold,
Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds,
and nothing I desire compares with you.

Additional lyrics:
Who can weigh the value of knowing you?
Who can judge the worth of Who you are?
Who can count the blessings of loving YOU?
Who can say just how great you are?

You are my everything, you are my all,
You are my everything, both great and small.
You gave your life for me, made everything new.
You are my everything, I worship you.

I pray that each person that reads these words will look at their lives and cast down idols that stand in their way of being totally devoted to God, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi

Bible references from http://www.blueletterbible.org
Music info from: http://www.higherpraise.com
“When I look into your holiness” – ©1980, Integrity’s Hosanna! Music Words and Music by Wayne and Cathy Perrin
“More Precious than Silver” by Lynn DeShazo http://www.lynndeshazo.com/©Public Domain Words and Music by Unverified
© 2010 M.C.Wildman