MY HEAD TALKED TO MY SOUL

Tired and almost ready for bed, would I take it in? But Psalm 103 said something new to me tonight. It told my head to talk to my soul: 

Psalm 103 A Psalm of David. 

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them that fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 

As I did talk to my soul, the response of “all that is within me” brought my spirit and soul and body to agreement. What a privilege you and I have who have accepted the gift of God which is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our LORD. What a powerful Creator, Father we have who understands us and removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west.

If we think about it, the inspiration and thoughts in our head is beyond “brain matter”. It is a mysterious spiritual gift … given to every person: a mind to think creatively, love, pray. Genesis tells us that we are created in the image of God, which is only one reason that Genesis in the Bible is utterly important to read and think and meditate on.

FOOD AND FAITH?

 From my early teens, I became a “health nut.” Homeschooled, my education was primarily the Bible. My parents read the Bible three times a day, aloud, with their eight children. It was how we learned to read.

I knew that the Bible emphasized health: spiritual, physical, and emotional. I took it for granted.  "Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes on Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35). The Bible often uses Spiritual and physical truth, one to explain the other.

The Creator’s design for us is for our well being. It’s what the Bible is about. And he created within the natural world natural nutrition.  "Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfies not? hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." (Isaiah 55:2)’ “Fatness” here is health.

When His people would not choose well, they hurt themselves.  "He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied you." (Psalm 81:16).  "O Israel, you have destroyed yourself; but in Me is your help." (Hosea 13:9) "He makes peace in your borders and fills you with the finest of the wheat." (Psalm 147:14)

His people went astray and he invited them back to Him using their health and beauty as an incentive: "And you were adorned with gold and silver; and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered work. You ate fine flour and honey and oil; and you were exceedingly beautiful." (Ezekiel 16:13)

In the store what is labeled “Whole grain, multi grain” may not be what they seem; they may have bleached, white degermed flour for a longer shelf life.  The manufacturer has unchecked leeway to mark things deceptively.  This Link clarifies the differences: https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/difference-whole-grain-whole-wheat/

Things grown, as fruit, vegetables, nuts, natural olive oil, grassfed beef, milk, cheese, and natural honey. (Exodus 3:17). These God fed his people. The best protein is instituted by the feasts and sacrifices described in the Old Testament.  Health again instituted for their spiritual and physical wellbeing. 

Food and Faith? Could this be a key to physical health? My thinking process turned to logic: our Creator has given us food grown from the earth, mined (salt) from deep in the earth, fished from the sea, protein from grazing animals.  For those who pay attention!

As we read through the Bible this time, Eric, my husband and I noticed this amazing rundown for health

"He made him ride on the high places of the earth, so that he might eat the increase of the fields. And He made him suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock, butter from cows, and milk from sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the sons of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat. And you drank the blood of the grape." Deuteronomy 32:13,14. 

The physical truth morphs into a deep understanding of our loving Creator’s care. "And Jesus answered him, saying, ‘It is written, ‘That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’’" Luke 4:4. 

WE TURN OUT SOMEHOW

 People, friends, antagonists, not so friendly friends, brothers, and sisters (reared exactly like we were ) “walk” through life, and we turn out to be who we are. Every person’s way of living, thinking has gradually “grown” to the present. What is mysterious is that in those continuous conscious and unconscious thoughts and decisions we become who we are; we “turn us out”.

 

If we believe Scripture and are faithful to reading it, seeking the truth and wisdom of it, we grow wise. If our mind and heart is continuously influenced by secular thinking, doubters, deceivers that is how we will “turn out”.  Pro 23:7 for as he thinks in his heart, so is he…

 

I have decided to believe the Bible, to mull over what I do not understand, to act on what I do.  It is an exciting adventure to think Biblically. My Dad was a Bible fan:  I cannot thank him enough for making sure that all his family, he, Mom, and eight of us children read the Bible aloud together three times a day. Yes, three times for 30 minutes after breakfast, dinner, and supper, as they called it. He planned this time into our day because he could. He was an evangelist, and his family was his first mission field.

 

The doubters of Scripture are missing profound growth and wisdom. Here is the point:  The Bible says that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the (person) man of God may be (complete) perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

 

Jesus words (from Mark), “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away…”

 

When heaven and earth passes, and there is a Day coming when everything will change … for good, we can be ready. The One who keeps your heart beating, the One who hangs the world upon nothing, the One Who came down here to this sin filled world and died for your sins and mine to save us…He is coming again. 

Just after He ascended to Heaven, after His death and resurrection…The stunned disciples stared up into the clouds where Jesus had ascended back to his Father in heaven.  Angels appeared to them. "Two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Act 1:11)

 

But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father. 

Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is. (Mark 13:31,32)

AVOIDING (THE WRONG WAY)

2 Timothy 3, vs 1-7 speaks very well of the current day people who are in the church but are really wicked. It seems to me the list can apply as well to lofty Legalists as the flamboyant Charismatics. The aberrant Charismatics* are more open and easy to see than those who have the “form of godliness, but deny the power thereof”.

We avoid them by:
- - Continuing in things learned and assured (proved).
- - Learn things that come from good sources
- - Lifelong learning from the Scripture..

This we get through:
- - Doctrine, systematic way of teaching, thinking. First, we must know the basic truth.
- - Reproof, “you are wrong, stop, repent”. We must stop the wrong activity.
- - Correction, “you are going off course, this is what you must do to correct”. We must show where and how we are getting off course.
- - Instruction in righteousness, describing and demonstrating what are the right actions and thoughts. We must show what is the right way.
Parents play a first, primary and major role in accomplishing this..

*Not the good ones, but the aberrant ones.

 

BY ERIC

POSTED, PUBLISHED ON BUILDINGBYLIZZIE OCTOBER 12, 2021

BE SURE YOU FIND IT!

Maybe it’s because I’m nearing eighty, but I’ve been thinking about these words of Jesus more deeply, seriously, “Go in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who go in through it. Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13,14

The narrow Way that leads to life is Jesus.  He warned us that it is narrow because of obstacles standing close about.

 

“Jesus said…, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.” John 14:6 

 

“Then you shall call on Me, and you shall go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you shall seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. ” Jeremiah 29:12-14

 

Then Scripture assures us, “And I will be found by you.”

 

I’m on “the Way”…are you? 

 

Jesus loves you.  He proved it when he died for your sins and mine.  ”For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17 

YOUR CONVICTIONS ABOUT THE BIBLE...FROM DR. CHARLES STANLEY

 

BUILDING BY LIZZIE

"Let your light so shine..."

 Just a few minutes ago, September 14, 2021, I took these notes as I listened to Dr. Stanley on YouTube.

I trust him because of my own journey in Scripture all of my life.  He "speaks the truth in love."  When you listen to, study the work of any human being, know their agenda, understand their motives and scrutinize them by Scripture.  Over and over in Scripture there is warning of deceivers; but we will not be deceived as we stay close to the Word of God itself, and search the Scriptures daily.

Here is a List of reasons that I believe the Bible (almost exact from In Touch)

THE BIBLE IS:

1. Timeless

2. Infallible 

3. A trustworthy Guide

4. Pictures the consequences of sin

5. God's unconditional love is clear

6. Contains all of the history of redemption

7.How Jesus paid our sin debt in full

8. Explains why He was born of a virgin: so He had no sin.  He was absolutely pure.

9. It describes Why He died on the cross...Old testament lambs and sacrifices were a symbol of the perfect Lamb of God.

10. Leviticus: a Book with many symbols

11.  His resurrection ...God in human flesh...He was dead and resurrected.

12.  Now Jesus is Seated at the Father's right hand.

13.   We know how to respond to temptation.

14.  The Holy Spirit seals you when you are a Believer

15.  The Holy Spirit: Dwells within every Believer forever...Helper, Comforter, Teacher: 

John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

16.  How to face trials ... look at Paul.

17.  The Word of God is sharper than a two edged sword

18.  It is difficult sometimes to understand the Bible..."As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." God.  We go again and again and the Holy Spirit is there.  It is profound so that we will keep coming back and back.

19.  If we confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9.

20.  It explains what happens at death...what do you think will happen to you?

21.  The cross took care of our sin debt in full...absent from the body, present with the LORD.

22.  It promises future rewards to those who believe in Him. John 14.

23.  Warns of coming judgment.

24.  Judgment for Believer is reward.

25.  Judgment of unbeliever: eternal punishment

26.  Matt. 24.

27. Isaiah 40:8.

28.  What will be more valuable on your last day of life...all your money or eternal life?

29.  For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast.

30.  You cannot find errors in the Bible.  Holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

31.  Everybody has a choice.

 

2Pe 3:9  "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. " 2 Peter 3:9

 

LEAVING FEAR BEHIND

 To us who believe, have received Him, Jesus is with you and me through the fear and uncertainty in our country.

Isaiah 41:10 "Do not fear; for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will make you strong; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness." When Scripture tells us, "Pray without ceasing" now is the time to put it into action, God is All Knowing, Everywhere Present and All Powerful. There is no prayer too small; none too trivial, that He does not hear. When our hearts are humble and repentant to our Heavenly Father the LORD will hear...this is where I am! Let's repent as a Nation. Let's "Trust in Him at all times; you people, pour out your heart before Him; God is a hiding-place for us. Selah." Psalm 62:8

 

The key to leaving fear behind is opening our hearts to Jesus Christ and His amazing plan of eternal life offered... "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name..." John 1:12

 

Let's believe, lets receive, let's open our hearts and be vulnerable to the Creator God, who loves you...