Fight, my brothers and sisters, for your purity!!!!!

Joel 2:13 and 14 says this, "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God."

These verses were talking about Israel right before it was taken into captivity. Israel was in a state of religiosity. The people would say they believed and followed God with their mouth but not honor Him with their words or actions or most importantly with their hearts. America and many other countries are doing the same thing. We proclaim that we are Christians but we live sinful lives! Sin is gross, nasty, disgusting. God is not ok with it.

Why did Israel go in to captivity? It was because of sin. I ask you if God sent the Israelites out of the land because of sin what might happen to American or any other country because of their sin? America or anywhere else is not more important that their sins would be over looked.
Even as believers we will still be punished for the nasty sins in our life. Do not become passive about the sins in your life my brothers and sisters. We have to do something about the sin in our life.

This passage of scripture, is to a church, the people of God that already believed in Jesus as their messiah. Put aside the theology for a moment, the puzzling idea of whether we can or cannot lose our salvation. Read this:

Revelation 3:14-16
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Webster defines lukewarm as “1 : moderately warm : tepid; 2 : lacking conviction : halfhearted.
God will weed out those who are lukewarm. DO not be lukewarm

Also found in revelation written to another church, body of believers is Revelation 3:1-2
"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.”

Are you asleep? Are you ignoring your God? Are you allowing the sin that are in you life to rule? It does not matter how small there are get rid of them.

What are sins? What does God hate? These are a few verses that give the idea.

Corinthians 6:9-11. It reads as such: “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 offender’s nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.”

Galatians 5: 19-21 which states, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God,” then that person is in a place that requires correction."

If there is any sin in our life to any degree, get rid of it! We serve a Holy, sinless God. He can not stand Sin! Fight, my brothers and sisters, for your purity!!!!!

"lukewarm." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010.
Merriam-Webster Online. 8 May 2010

GOD’s love language

That statement just makes me smile. Humans are created with a love language. There is a way that we best except love and a way we best give it. So the 5 love languages are: quality time, gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, touch. Do you know what your love language is? How do you best give love to someone else? How do you best receive it?

Within the past couple of weeks I have realized that God knows our love languages. He tells us He loves us through them. Sometimes it is other people that God use to tell us that He loves us but if we listen HE uses his own voice to express the pure joy He finds in us.

I LOVE getting flowers!!! I remember one Valentine’s Day my dad sent flowers to all the girls, my mom and two sisters and I, in his house hold. I was so excited. So during this past week God remember the pure joy that I get from getting flowers. This past week I was having a really rotten week. There were many things that I could not physical control that were very hard and on top of that I was sick. Almost every day that week I would find the most beautiful flowers right outside my back door. They would be laying on the ground to obvious for me not to notice. I would always find them when I would return from a really hard day and there they were waiting for me. The collections of flowers were my favorites. One day I found roses, another day this brilliant red flower. The list goes on and on of the unique and beautiful creations I would find outside my door. Each day I got something different each day something stunning. The cool thing was that they were not just flowers that had fallen of the tree in the area. NO, they were flowers I had never even seen in the general area. Every time that would happen. I would say to my roommate GOD is sending me flowers.

My love languages, that I best receive love in, are: physical touch and quality time. In my little mind a God who is never seen and not someone we can physically touch should have a problem expressing love to me in my love languages but it is so amazing because HE always find a way to express it to me. At times I will be doing every day things like riding on the bus, or eating dinner and I can feel my father in heaven stoke my hair. The first couple of times that this happened I thought it was someone behind me so I would turn around to see who it was but no one would be there. Abba has a very gentle, very soft touch; I am starting to realize when it is HIM.

There is one way that He tells me He loves me that sends shivers up and down my spine. That is when He uses His voice, audibly. Have you ever heard that? I am sitting there again just doing every day activities and He comes and says, “I am pleased with you”; “I hear you when you speak to Me.”; “KIMELA, I love you.” It makes my soul want to sing. My body just wants to jump up and dance.
The KING of the universe loves me. He is not some heavenly being that made me and forgot me. He takes pleasure in me and finds way to express His love to me!

Song of Solomon 2:4
“He has taken me to the banquet hall,and his banner over me is love.”

Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

I thought the difference between love, honor and respect enlightening. the context of verse is also very helpful.


Love-
1.
a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

2.
a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

3.
a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.

Matthew 5:44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 22:39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Mark 12:31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
John 15:13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 12:9[ Love ] Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
1 cor. 13:4-8a
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails.

Honor-
1.
honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions: a man of honor.

2.
a source of credit or distinction: to be an honor to one's family.

3.
high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank: to be held in honor.

4.
such respect manifested: a memorial in honor of the dead.

Proverbs 15:33The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 21:21He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
Romans 12:10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves
Hebrews 13:18Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

Respect-
1.
a particular, detail, or point (usually prec. by in): to differ in some respect.

2.
relation or reference: inquiries with respect to a route.

3.
esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for her judgment.

4.
deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect's right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly.

1 Thessalonians 4:12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Ephesians 5:33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
1 Peter 2:17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
1 Peter 3:7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 3:15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

Psalm 23 is written by King David. The whole Psalm is written from a shepherd's point of view. he drew a connection between a shepherd and God. Last week I wrote a paper on Psalm 23 and this part was very "wow" to me.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul;” Psalms 23:2-3ish

“The strange thing about sheep is that because of their very make-up it is almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless four requirements are met. Owing to their timidity they refuse to lie down unless they are free of all fear. Because of social behavior within the flock sheep will not lie down unless they are free from friction with others of their kind. If tormented by flies or parasites, sheep will not lie down. Only when free of these pests can they relax. Lastly, sheep will not lie down as long as they feel in need of finding food. They must be free from hunger.” (Keller 35.) Sheep are very easily frightened animals. With such a worrisome constitution the sheep need the shepherd to provide the constant safety in life. If a sheep knows that the shepherd is near then there is peace. Not only does the shepherd provide peace for the sheep when it has to do with safety but also He provides peace for the sheep within the herd. Sheep as dumb as they are, create strife amongst themselves. They try to claim the position as top dog. However when the shepherd is there with the sheep all of the ladder climbing ideas quickly disappear in the sheep’s mind and there is peace among all the sheep.
Sheep are constantly attacked by bugs. There are many different types of instincts that love to drive the sheep crazy. One little insect constantly gnawing at the inside of the sheep’s little heads is enough to make the sheep beat its head against a rock or something hard in order to get rid of the annoyance.
The last reason mentioned above is the fact that sheep will not lie down unless they are free from hunger. This is psalm was written based on the shepherding in Israel. Israel’s terrain is different than other countries terrain. It is rough, hard and rocky it does not grow much grass. Then on top of all of that it does not rain but two times a year, make the abundance of grass even less then his it rained all year around like in countries such as Ireland. Therefore for an Israeli shepherd to find grass enough for his whole to be content, and now that they will not hunger is quite a task.
Water is mandatory for life. Clean water is a must. Dirty water can cause major problems there are so many types of illnesses that a sheep can get. “When Sheep are thirsty they become restless and set our searching of water to satisfy their thirst. If not lead to the good water supplies of clean, pure water, they will often end up drinking from the polluted pot holes where they pick up internal parasites as nematodes, liver flukes or other disease germs.” (Keller 50.) Sheep, like stated above, are very jumpy animals and still water is a must for these skiddish animals. They will not drink unless it is still because of their fear of movement. Just the idea of still waters sounds peaceful. The shepherd has brought them to a place that they can be at rest.
As the Good shepherd the Lord always provides for his children, so much so that they can be at peace. It not just the barely getting by amount either it is the amount that says “because I am God I provide.” The Good shepherd will prepare more than what anyone can ask for or image. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9) He is the Good shepherd that owns a cattle on a thousand hills. “For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” (Psalm 50:10) He provides for his children’s food and water needs to the point that they can live in tranquility because of the extreme amount that they have been provided for. Besides the physical providing for basic needs of His children; the Good shepherd provides for the spiritual food and water of his children. He makes sure that the spiritual life will be full if the people draw on him for their spiritual strength. The Good shepherd has created a peace for environment for them to live in not only from predators but also from each other.

obsessed with God

I want to be obsessed with You, Lord. I see the terms such as: infatuated, lovesick, smitten, preoccupied to be not such good terms when talking about a human to human relationship. I have those friends that when they meet a boy become infatuated with him. I think that everyone can become this way; different people show it in different degrees. They will not talk about anything but him. They think about him all the time. They are always with him.
What would happen if everyone that said they were a believer did that with God? They were obsessed with God. What would the all sinful world look like? Even with sin in it, it would be beautiful.
As I write this I am reminded of the story of Job.
Job 1:1-5
Prologue
“In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.

At the first part of this book this man is known as blameless and upright. I am reminded that this story is told before the sacrifice of Jesus; so job is blameless and upright on his own merit. He sacrifices everyday and even sacrifices for his children just in case, after they sacrificed for themselves. His desire is to honor God in all that he does. He is obsessed with pleasing the Lord.

In the end of the book after trials and tribulations come he has still not given up on pleasing the Lord. Even after he is corrected toward the end of the book his goal in life is to still please the Lord with all that he is. Just listen to the intent and the cry of his heart right after the Lord reminds him that the Lord is God and is in control.

JOB 42:1-6
Then Job replied to the LORD:"I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes."


I want to be in love with God to that degree. I want him to be all I talk about. I want His option to be the only one that matters. I want to fall hard for him every day. I want to run after God. I want to be obsessed with God.



One Pure and Holy Passion
Watermark (The Road to One Day Live)

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for me life
To know and follow hard after you.
(repeat)

(Chorus)
To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in the truth
This world empty, pail, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you

How beautiful are the feet

Romans 9:11-15 "And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

I am called to preach the good news of Yeshua!!! I get to tell others about YOU. It’s the greatest task in the word. How beautiful is that? To do something with my life that lasts for all eternity. It is not like creating a breakable castle on this earth. It is implanting the truth in the hearts of men and women. Humans are eternal beings. As C.S Lewis once expressed in his book “The Weight of Glory,” Humans are mere then just mortals… they are more than just bodies, minds or hearts. What I say what I do to others will be remembered forever. It will be recorded forever. They will, even after they die, last forever either in heaven or in hell. Nothing, but God and humans last forever. Even this very earth will die away.

Revelation 21:1 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.”

What I say what I do has a permanent mark on eternity. I want to make it count for something. I want to make it beautiful.

Hineni

Daniel 1:8-9 “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials…”

What does it mean that “Daniel made up his mind”? In another version of this verse it says, “Daniel purposed in his heart…” Daniel decided, Daniel selected; are all phrases of want and choice. In my life I wish I could say that when I make up my mind to do something then I am not moving. In daily life however I realize that is just not the case. I make up my mind to finish a book but two years later I still have not finished it. Why? Because other things have become more important so I changed my mind in reading the book. I say to people “I will help you; I will give up some of my time, but then substitute it with another activity.

And how many times have I done that with God? I made up my mind to do devotionals every day, but in reality I do not do them every day because I selected to replace devotional time with something else. How many times have I skipped going to congregation every week to sleep in; even though I determined as a young person to “go to church?”

Ok so I change my mind a bunch not only with people but also with God. I have termed that as unpredictable. Why is that such a problem? I find that unpredictable is also understood as halfhearted, fickle, and lukewarm. I do not want those words coupled with my relationship with people or especially God. Particularly because God has some pretty tough words given to believers that are lukewarm in Revelation 3:16 “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.”

I was recently confronted with a word in Hebrew that real fits with this idea of purposing my heart to follow God. The word is “הִנְנִי.” It means, “Here I am.” Now when I first read this word I thought, “Self, here I am means physical presents.” "Hineni" means so much more than that. What it really means is "I am here with all of my being, physically and spiritually, ready to do what I need to do and fully present in the moment." Do I mean that when I talk to God?

What would it look like if I said hineni? What would it look like if I acted Hineni?

Daniel made up his mind to follow the ways of God. He said, “Hineni” Even in the worst circumstances. He was in the middle of an enemy country. He could have been killed for going against the enemy. God however knew his heart and He gave him favor. “Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials…” It seems that it is always a positive outcome when you give all of yourself to God. When I write this my response is like “self, it does not always have a positive outcome what about the people that die for their faith? They died because they gave all they had to God. They died for their faith.” Daniel could have died, but wait if Daniel died it would have been a positive outcome too. He would have been with yeshua instantly and forever. That is really positive.

When I say “Hineni”, it will have a positive outcome. If I say “Hineni” to God, He can use me mighty just like in the story of Daniel. I would rather be used in a might way in God’s plan whatever the outcome then be lukewarm.