Tag Archives: freedom

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I Am Weak

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II Corinthians 12:6-9a “Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.””

Paul had a “thorn in the flesh.” He describes this thorn as a “messenger of Satan” to keep him from thinking too highly of himself. I think we need to point out that the thorn was not from God. It wasn’t something pleasant. It came from the enemy.

Paul asked God three times to take it away. God’s answer was that His grace was sufficient and that His “power was made perfect in weakness.” Paul goes on to say in the last part of verse 9 and all of verse 10, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Let’s be clear about something, Paul is not saying we should go around bragging about all of our shortcomings, faults and issues. We don’t glorify our problems. What he is saying is that when we allow God to use us, in His strength, we can boast or brag about His power and His ability to bring us through.
When we admit to ourselves, and to God, that we can’t do it on our own, then allow Him to work in us and through us, He gets the Glory, not us.

So are you feeling weak today?
Let God strengthen you.

Be joyful! For the joy of the Lord is our strength!
Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV) “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

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Book Review for “Matched”- YA Fantasy/Dystopian

Just loved book one! I can’t wait to finish up the series. If you liked “Hunger Games” you will love this one. Future society where they tell you “who to marry, where to work, and when to die.” Great characters, wonderful love story…and very revealing about todays society. I give it 5+ stars! I can recommend for Jr. High and up. No swearing or sexual content.

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My Never Again List

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Let me first start by apologizing for being away for so long. My computer was in the repair shop and I just couldn’t get the hang of typing on my kindle!
Next let me say this list is not of my own making, but I received permission from our Senior Pastor at New Testament Church, Dr. William Hohman to use his compilation.

“My Never Again List”
Never again will I confess “I can’t”, for “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Never again will I confess lack, for “My God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Never again will I confess fear, for “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Never again will I confess doubt and lack of faith, for “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).

Never again will I confess weakness, for “The Lord is the strength of my life” (Psalm 27:1). “The people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32)

Never again will I confess supremacy of Satan over my life, for “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).

Never again will I confess defeat, for “God always causeth me to triumph in Christ Jesus” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Never again will I confess lack of wisdom, for “Christ Jesus is made unto me wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Never again will I confess sickness, for “With His stripes I am healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus “Himself took my infirmities and bare my sickness” (Matthew 8:17).

Never again will I confess worries and frustrations, for I am “Casting all my cares upon Him, who careth for me” (I Peter 5:7). In Christ I am “care-free.”

Never again will I confess bondage, for “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Never again will I confess condemnation, for “There is therefor now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1) I am in Christ; therefore, I am free from condemnation.

Never again will I confess loneliness, Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20) “I will never leave thee, nor forsake the” (Hebrews 13:5).

Never again will I confess curses or bad luck, “Christ had redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us…that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ: that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14)

Never again will I confess discontent because “I have learned, in whatsoever state (circumstances) I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11)

Never again will I confess unworthiness because “He hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:12).

The confession of our mouths will eventually bring forth the things we speak.

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Moving Forward Through Adversity

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Job 23:10-11
“But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come for the as refined gold [pure and luminous]. My foot has held fast to His steps, His ways have I kept and not turned aside.”

Poor Job. There his is minding his own business, being a witness, doing good, praying for his kids…and then the enemy enters the scene. With God’s permission! His world tumbles down around him, literally. He is tried and refined in a way that most of us wouldn’t wish on our worst enemies.

Why did God allow it? (He is even the one who pointed out Job to the enemy to begin with!) Job figured it out. After self pity, after anger, after getting rotten advice and false counsel from three so-called-friends.

Only the fire can refine precious metal. Only great pressure can make a precious stone.

We go through what feels like Hell. There is a saying, that I particularly like, and have quoted, “You may have to walk through the valley of death, but you don’t have to set up camp there!”

What would “setting up camp” entail? Self pity, anger at God, SITTING DOWN, or just plain giving up. Don’t drive in a single tent stake. Job said he stayed on the path, that means he kept moving forward. Command your feet to hold fast to HIS path. It leads to life, to righteousness, to Love. Don’t let Satan distract you. I know, Job went through big stuff! But ultimately it was all just meant for a distraction. He was trying to force Job to take his eyes off of God, and put them on his circumstances.

We live in a fallen world, with a real enemy seeking who he may devour. Bad stuff happens to good people. But continue with Jobs story. His ending was better than his beginning. He came out better! Stronger! And he came out Praising God!

When you come out of the other side, when the valley is behind you, tell someone!

Are you going through something hard?
Here are some resources I found helpful (after the bible)
“What To Do When Everything Falls Apart” by Van Crouch
“Throw Yourself a Party” by David Duell
“The In-Between” by Jeff Goins

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Fairy Tales and Super Hero’s

Ok, so I love both. I grew up on fairy tales, being a lover of books and stories. My fondness for superhero’s came much later. Some people think me crazy or living in a fantasy world, but I beg to disagree. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and so many other fantasy writers take what we loved as children in the classic happily ever after fairy tales and shown the dark side of man, and the love of God. Good versus evil, never gets old, especially when good wins out every time. I think the longing in us all to be saved, to save, to be part of something bigger, to have a purpose is why I love those stories. Almost every superhero story starts out with a flawed individual who ends up doing good, putting the needs of others before themselves.

Jesus told stories to get his point across. I think modern day story tellers can do the same. Unfortunately, our society seems to like the dark, satanic stories of torture and torment. Sometimes I even hate walking down the isles of the local movie rental place, the covers themselves enough to cause nightmares. I have to thank those who continue to show that good is better than evil. That a story should have a moral and a point. There are even a few who are brave and take chances and risks. Ted Dekker is one of those authors who couldn’t find a publisher at first due to talking about passion, sex and intimacy. But he stuck to his guns, and his convictions and is a writer of renown, not just in the Christian world. I have had the privilege of reading a few good Christian fiction books lately that have the message that I think our world needs, and they entertain as well. I am giving you their links. Please check them out and support those brave men and woman who continue to press on!

From Ted Dekker:
The first book of his that I read and it got me hooked! http://www.amazon.com/Blessed-Child-Bill-Bright/dp/0739423231/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=
His fantasy that caught my heart! Passionate, romantic and full of God’s love!
http://www.amazon.com/Circle-4—1-Ted-Dekker-ebook/dp/B0052FTNJ2/ref=la_B001IODFIQ_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392491291&sr=1-2
My favorite Dekker books! http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Trilogy-Heavens-Wager-Thunder-ebook/dp/B005K0CM7O/ref=la_B001IODFIQ_1_19?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392491338&sr=1-19
Epic Christian books:
Francine Rivers, Mark of the lion series- http://www.amazon.com/Voice-Wind-Mark-Lion-ebook/dp/B0096W5GK2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=
Bodie Theone, full of history! Zion Chronicles (only one of many wonderfully moving series)http://www.amazon.com/Gates-Zion-Chronicles-Bk/dp/1414301022/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392491775&sr=1-1&keywords=9781414301020
New authors! Up and coming Christian fiction authors.
Guy Stanton- http://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Redemption-Warrior-Kind-ebook/dp/B00G72MF6M/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392491953&sr=1-1&keywords=9780991056507
Nicholas Downing- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GL4IOIE?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00GL4IOIE&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
J.J. Herbert- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098196480X?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098196480X&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
Tracy Groot- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098196480X?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098196480X&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
Ronie Kendig- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616265949?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1616265949&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
Renee Riva- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1589190912?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1589190912&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

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Book Review for “A Warrior’s Revenge”-Christian Science Fiction

I was given a copy of “A Warrior’s Revenge” by the author, Guy Stanton III, in exchange for an honest review. This is the last book of The Warrior Kind series. I loved them all! This one was no different than the rest in the fact that it is unapologetically Christian, has a ton of romance, fighting, science fiction, fantasy and strong morals. Did I mention I loved it? I give it five solid stars. Since reading the first book, I see some improvement in grammar and editing in this one. Mr. Stanton is one of my new favorite authors. I put him up there with Ted Dekker. I can recommend this book for Jr. High and up. There is some fighting and violence. Sad to see the series finish up, but will be moving on to his other work.