Have you ever heard the 10 commandments of the laws of God described as the laws of love?
Maybe you understood when the son of God ( Christ Jesus ) answered in Matthew 22:34-40 this question;
“Teacher which is the great commandment in the law ? ”
He says you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Did you know the first four commandments are about loving God, and the last six are about loving your neighbor?
This is why the ten Gospels are also pointing to how all the law and the prophets are shared!
Most understand the gospel is the story of God, the message of God’s love.
The book I am linking here today is one I hope you will consider looking into today. It speaks to the truth of God’s Word and the whole matter like verses 40 in Matthew says.
“On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Studying this will help us in the battle for truth.
The final events in earths history is coming.
You will be more prepared if you would only seek the truth of God’s Word. His greatest desire is to write this law of love on our hearts and minds!
And did you know you in this very moment you could be fighting on the wrong side?
Why do I say this, because Jesus asked the Father in Heaven “forgive them ~they don’t know what they are doing”, as He was dying on the cross. Killed by God’s own people, not wanting to do the deed of crucifying Him, they turned Him over to the law enforcer of their time, Rome, which ridiculed Him.
And in that battle Jesus said forgive them.
Today I am convicted that I must share the reality on the subject of sin because all have fallen short of the glory of God, ALL.
Most do not understand that we are falling down on a spiritual battlefield, which is a war over our lives.
It’s the great controversy between Jesus and the Heavenly Angels verses Satan and his demons.
You see there’s a loud battle cry going forth from the soldiers of Christ, this battle cry is for our souls.
God would have not one lost, but He gives the choice over our own lives to us.
This is why it is not “predestined” as some would say. You get to chose.
The invisible battle being waged on ALL the children of God daily has been going on since the beginning of time.
In this present time where nation is against nation, and violence is the theme every day. We must battle for the truth, the Gospel of Christ must be talked about.
In 2 Timothy 3, we are told of dangerous times in the last days, which are even worse than the days of Christ and His apostles.
So how do we battle?
First we must know the Author and the Finisher of our faith. It is the difference between walking in darkness and having God’s light in the darkness.
You must look to whom this light is, it is Jesus Christ the Son of God, without His light you remain in darkness.
God‘s Word is the light that divides day from night.
This is meant to be understood both figuratively and literally.
The whole matter of light will be found throughout scriptures, all we have to do is seek out the Word, He will give you light to understand the truth of this battle of darkness and how to walk through it.
Secondly, your battle stance is not on your feet.
It’s on your knees. It is having a heart posture of humbleness towards the Lord and leaning on His Word, not your understanding.This is where God offers forgiveness and healing.
Give Him all that is yours, daily. Your cares, your troubles, your future and your past. Give Him access to your mind, your whole life. He will not trespass, He knocks on your heart and waits for you to let Him in.
Understand this , all your treasures and all your own ways belong to you until you give it to Him.
Once you surrender, you will learn how to wear His armor. You will become a soldier for Him. Unburdening yourself in surrendered service, means you will no longer fight alone or on your own.
To battle for the Lord is to share the truth of His Word.
It is to lay down your own version of right and wrong. It means giving our will to the Lord and choosing His ways in place of ours.
When we realize that we need repentance, He provides.
He gives grace and mercy.
Sounds like a lot, but it’s nothing compared to what He will give you. You will not out give the Lord, He is the ultimate gift giver.
His ways are higher and He plans good for us.
With Him in charge, there is no future of harm to us. He plans to heal us and to set us up to succeed.
Even though the darkness remains at this time, His light gives us a firm footing in the battle.
I will continue to share more battle plans, however right now look to Christ Jesus the Savior, give Him your heart, commit to study His Word. You will need to do this, in order to trust The Victorious Commander and Chief.
I’m going to describe the morning I wrote this post, and it is my hope that you will see the “intersecting truth” this is the message I hope to convey to you today.
When we look around at the scenes of life, the beauty of God’s love gets overlooked as the details of life are often distracting.
The picture window I’m sitting at this morning is presenting a new day dawning. The scene is full, life is happening. The birds are flying from limb to limb in the tall trees, the branches are swaying in the wind. Below those trees are neighboring homes which start to become vividly contrasting in the light of day. One home looks like it’s well cared for, maintained from what I can see on the outside, and then there’s the neighbor next-door which appears like it struggles. Projects piled up in the yard, maybe they ran out of time or energy. Maybe they were more concerned with the chores inside. I don’t pretend to know, this is just an observance, a small part of the bigger picture.
While in the background the sun is rising in slow procession upwards, its rays are breaking through the fabric of the clouds. And as the light travels out in each direction it gives more light with each passing moment bringing with it warmth.
I observe the wildlife continue to hunt for their breakfast, while keeping watch for harm. The grass is receiving its morning dew drops and the sun continues to cast rise upwards with with it the wind moves around, in response the tree branches become subject to the sun’s presence in the air. And the rest of nature plays out to the changing of the day.
All that I witness is because the sun gave light. Without the illumination of this light from the sun, we would not experience the picture before us.
Without light, we would remain in darkness.
Nothing would be seen that is seen, just as it is, with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1: 26- 31 says only when we seek to know the Lord, will we be able to see his glory ( His light) this is how we become believers. He chose us to see Him.
We did not choose Him.
He gives light that He may be seen, revealing that He is the truth. It is how we learn. It is how we become partakers of the truth of His Word.
God is not the author of confusion, He paints with perfect strokes the picture of completion each new morning. He designed it so that all who look will see and be acquainted with Him the perfect Creator.
It is the very same in that those who seek to study the Bible will know the will of the Heavenly Father.
He gave men the pure word of prophecy, angels to help guide and even more His son who is God Himself in flesh, which made what would come to pass. The Gospel message. The God – story. The Good news. The message of Salvation.
Salvation is not a mystery, the Word of God studied plainly with a prayerful heart will reveal what is to come and how we must work with Him to store up in heaven our treasures. Just like the morning picture.
Only when we surrender our worldly plans for the cares of our Redeemer we will want to invest in the work purposed for us, His will. Revelations 1:3
Blessings will come to those who hear and keep His word.
But to those who, instead stay invested in this world, who buy silver and gold, which will corrode. Those who refuse and remain unrepentant, living unrepented lives, they are treasuring up for themselves wrath in the day of judgment. James 5:2-6
Since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen and understood. Romans 1:20
No one denies the suns shining presence when seeing it rise each morning.
It is the same with God. We only need to be willing to abide in His will as children, to be patient and surrendered to His leading so that in the day of His coming, we will stand unashamed and ready to meet the Savior.
One day Jesus will return to get His loved ones, whom chose Him and served Him only, don’t be deceived, give your life and every new day to Him that you may be saved.
Lately I’ve been watching a lot of body cam videos on law enforcement officers. I’m sure I have only scratched the surface of what happens but I have seen enough to spot the character differences of those who are rebellious and those who are humble. This is not about the justice system but about the citizens reaction towards it.
The common thread of the rebellious citizen is that most are not law abiding; they are quick tempered and most of the time will try to lie their way out of a situation and act as if they are entitled.
Their attitudes are hostile even at the onset, when others are using common courtesy. I understand good manners don’t make up for stressful situations, however it should deescalate any type of defensive attitudes. But this is not the case with a rebellious attitude, which seem to behave ugly in nature, and most often abusive. It makes perfect sense as to why there’s so much lawlessness and aggravated events.
And even before the law is involved these rebellious characters are subjective and demanding towards the public in their nature with irrational attitudes which cause unrest and disrupting the peace.
These are those who have no regard for others, and no respect towards civility in the law of the land. They want all the considerations, and are unwilling to be humble.
The other side is this, those who confess and admit to wrong or foul play. They are better able to listen, their behavior demonstrates they made a bad choice but it doesn’t define them.
In every situation if we handled ourselves in humility we would deescalate and attract better outcomes. A lesson I am learning.
The problem is we are quick to anger, quick to speak and slow to listen. We believe the lie in our mind that says we will be treated unfairly unless we control of the narrative.
This never works out – and it’s actually the scheme of the devil to cause this kind of stinking thinking which causes division. James 4:7 tells us.
While those who are humble minded will submit to God’s will – in that they can resist the devils lies and he will flee.
We are told to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. That’s the fruit of humility. James 1:19
And most of all God is a shield to all who trust Him.
This is why I need to give my battles to the Lord, you should also.
And let’s be mindful to pray for those whose jobs it is to keep the peace, it’s a hard job to keep balance, they are faced with more then you could imagine. Without law, we have no order.
I am guilty of looking at and listening to misinformation, scrolling along I’ll give a few seconds to platforms that continue to give their opinions of what they perceive as truth in the times we are living in.
Some even sound legit but then I’ll hear or see something that registers as an untruth and I’ll know it is time to move on.
Those of you who know what I’m talking about. Even if you are not well studied in the Bible, in our little understanding we know because of the we are given spiritual discernment, which the Word of God gives to those who accept and read it. Proverbs 2
The same happened in the days of Noah before the great flood, you see a message was sent from heaven to the world in Noah’s time, He shared it and listened to God about building an ark to save that which God appointed. The creatures, and those who would respond to the message. Their salvation depended upon how they accepted it, yet only Noah’s family escaped because the rest of humanity rejected the warning of God. Gen 6
The Spirit of God was withdrawn from the sinful race and they all perished. By choice.
The same happened again in the days of Abraham who pleaded for Sodom.Gen 18: 16 Only three survived. By choice.
The same fate is true for those in the days when Christ comes back again. Those who do not have the love of truth, but reject Christ Jesus the Lord and Savior, who delight in unrighteousness.
Matthew 23:37 is how Jesus expressed His lament over Jerusalem’s rejection. Continue reading through 24 and you will see what He says about His coming.
Those who reject the teachings of His Word. God will have no choice but to withdraw His Spirit and leave them to the deception which they love.
Friends, the way we spend our time is showing what we love.
Let’s purpose to put down those things that distract us from learning the truth of God’s love towards us.
Let’s ask God to help us learn to put away foolishness and instead nourish our minds to have the love of the truth.
According to Romans 6 ~ I am no longer a slave to sin.
Living as a new creation saved by grace through Jesus Christ.
Sin shall have no dominion over me because I am no longer under the law but under grace.
To be obedient to this word so I may be lead to ” right living” righteousness. My life – body – mind – spirit needs to be a willing vessel to right living, instead of wrong living which makes one under the penalty of sin.
By grace = saved through faith not of myself but a Gift from God, not by works. However created new in Christ for good works which God prepared beforehand that I should walk in them.
The end is near ( at hand) therefore I need to be serious and watchful in prayers.
When prompted to pray..do it.
And above all things have love for one another for love will cover a multitude of sins. Love of family in their weakness – love of friends in their own “lost sense” because we know love heals.
This a foretaste of Heaven, if love was used this way.
Be hospitable towards others without grumbling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just shared the working out of the scriptures in study. Did you notice how one layer of truth builds upon another and another giving a firm foundation? This helps us to understand better the way the Lord is wanting us to walk.
This is why it is so vital to study to understand. Acts 17:11
The only way I can speak about the Word is by the ability He gives me in bringing it forward to my mind, my part is to study to put it there so that I will be able to see and testify to His glory.
In this, He creates within us the gift of life to share with others freely. Being tender hearted, compassionate and courteous, this is what He calls us to do so that HE may be blessed and seen.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecc 7:8
I encourage you to journal your study times to see how He leads you in understanding, it only takes willingness.
5 years ago, I was all over the map and here’s more of my journaling from that time. This is what helps me to experience a better life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will trust in the Salvation of the Lord! Psalms 13
Again I turn the pages of the Bible and there’s another gift of scripture written out on a piece of paper from an earlier time at worship service.
Mark 13:33 ” Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is ..”
I’m lead to read 1 Thess 5:5-6 “you are all sons of light and sons fo the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ”
My heart cries out what do I say, what do I pray Lord?! I want to say the right thing?! But the Spirit of the Lord says:
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Be still meaning- get in the Word – to get knowledge/ wisdom from God.
Psalms 51:10 “create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.. “
Words from book of Daniel and Psalms ~ Your domain is everlasting from generation to generation. All nations before Him are as nothing. You do according to His will in the army of Heaven – whatever You please You do.
And you, He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins. (Col 2) He made me alive together with Him ~ Christ Jesus forgiving me all my trespassing (Col 2:14)Having wiped out the handwriting against my sin!
Nailed to the cross. No longer held to the standards of this worlds power – not a statistic!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am sure that this is what the scripture means when it says :
How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth. Psalm 119:103
I have always had a sweet tooth but I asked that the Lord make it so I crave His Word instead. To get understanding..
I have another testimony that this journal entry has reminded me to share. I’ll be posting it next “eternal forgiveness” if you are interested in reading a supernatural experience make sure to subscribe.
This devotional post today is about a journal entry I wrote five years ago.
I was prompted to share by a gift of envelopes with the words “Open When you want a devotional prompt..” so when I opened it up and it read:
“How my spiritual life was 5 years ago compared to now and what changed ? “
What a great question and as you will soon learn timely also.
I hoped to be able to look back at my journaling to find something recorded. I went in search of my old journals and found one dated January of 2021. Truthfully I got excited because I wasn’t to sure I was actually writing during this time.
It gets more interesting, I had only done 14 days of entries that month and the the next entry was in March 21, 2021. So now I’m very curious what was going on then.
And here’s what I learned, it was the day I started writing and didn’t put it back down again for any stretch of time.
It was actually the year I picked up the sword “the infallible Word of God.” and started working with it to cut away fears and doubts of my faith. He became my shield because I purposely through prayer and study started to trust Him.
The Lord walked with me through many paths of uncertainty and here’s what I wrote about that started it all.
______________________________________________
All over the map..
You wake me with the words “Pray..pray.. “
I heed Your voice looking to say that which is pleasing and You provided the Word, reminding me that:
“No weapon formed against you will prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the hertiage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me. says the Lord.” … And their righteousness is from Me.”
I watch my kids drive all over the map(on Life 360)
I pray for their safety every day. For the Lord God their Father to protect and guard them from harms way. Your Word gives me comfort to know You will and have!
I pray for protection against the evil and harm the enemy seeks to do – and know that this is only possible if it is Your will Lord – but also there comes a time according to Your Word where Your arms are shorten because we choose to turn away, Numbers 11:23 :( – I seek to change this !!!
Even now You provide my own hearts cry?!
I find a note from my daughter stuck inside my bible just for this moment. THANK YOU!
Psalms 13:5 ” But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Please be near Hunter..
________________________________________
I just shared with you the very intimate moment when I realized I didn’t want to shorten the Fathers arms towards me any longer. Because we have “free will” this happens as a result, not because He doesn’t’ hold out His arms, No, it’s because we limit Him with our free will.
We struggle and try to do everything ourselves and even at our best this is a pride and sin problem.
This is why Jesus said dying on the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” because we continually live in sin and don’t even know it.
He has always provided for my needs, He knows my hearts desires. He will never leave nor forsake me, I may be all over the map but He is not.
He is the only right direction giver, He is the true North.
Pray continuously for the Lords leading – give Him first place every day, while you walk, when you sit or lie down – take hold of His hand and let Him lead you all the way.
You can trust Jesus, He is the Son of God and all power and dominion was given to Him, He is The Alpha and Omega, The Word and The Final Authority over all things. This is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No other like HIM.
While you learn to abide in Him – your life will never be the same.
He will reveal to you all truth – you will learn to trust Him.
He will never leave you nor forsake you – He is able to do more then you could ever ask or imagine.
He is the only way – to eternal life. No other way but Jesus Christ.
Friends take action today, give Him your life completely. This is where I was five years ago today, uncertain and scared. Today I have this hope that burns within my heart, hope in the coming of the Lord I am loved by Him and I am assured of His promises. Friends one day soon He will come again and He wants to know you and receive you into His Kingdom. But the choice is yours.
In Christ love, Amen
( The words in the picture) 5 years ago ..I started to journal about God’s Word. I have written many days of pages getting to know who He is and what I needed to do to be in one accord with Him.. today He reveals the reality of this walk with Him and His great LOVE.
The question is : How did you receive your name and what does it mean.
On the day I was born, my father went to call his mom on the hospitals payphone, ” mom it’s a girl!” the conversation was “a girl?! well what are you going to call her, you were going to name a boy after you son..?” he realized immediately that I was going to be called Dawn – because I was born at sunrise. He later told me it was fitting because it was a turning point in his life.
The name dawn represents the certainty of God’s mercy and faithfulness, often highlighting God’s rescue or the arrival of His light.
Psalms 30:5For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
The term is frequently associated with the resurrection of Jesus and the dawn of a new, redemptive era.
This was how my dad viewed this time in his life. Previous to my birth he was caught up in Vietnam right out of high school after serving in the Navy he came home to numb his mind and live his life how he wanted, he bought a motorcycle, grew out his hair and frequented bars where he eventually would meet my mom. A little while later there’s a picture of my mom wearing a lavender dress holding the hand of my older sister and about 9 months along with me.
Here’s the thing all of us have a backstory and even if our parents didn’t plan it, God did.
Why do I say this? Because the Word of God says so. He is the life giver. This is why we should never feel like we are not wanted.
The Lord doesn’t make mistakes. He gives life and He knows each life intimately. In Psalms 139 it says God knows everything about us even before we were formed. In other parts of the Bible records that those He chose and set apart He ordained for those jobs.
So looking back at the time it would seem I was an unplanned accident and those in their circle would agree this was the case, but not God.
Regardless of my beginnings my Heavenly Father had plans for me and gave my life purpose. I know my name is a calling.
Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you”.
But here’s another reason I believe this, one morning I was awaken to the words:
“You are called, you are set apart and you are chosen.”
I heard it so clearly that I knew it was the Lord letting me know He had a purpose for my life. Never have I ever felt so sure of anything. I begin searching the Word to understand what this would look like and here’s what I found:
It looks like surrendering your life, to walk with Him.
It looks like renewal, the leaving the past in the past.
It looks like being a vessel for the Lord to use whenever and wherever. Like a build board on the highway.
And it means having purpose and looking forward to the Kingdom of God.
So here a question for you, what do you think your purpose is?
If you have not accepted the invitation to learn from Christ the Lord, there’s no better way because His favor is forever and His joy truly does come in the morning.
We can list many examples of expecting something and it not turning out as we thought it would.
This is just the same with faith in Christ Jesus.
We know He is a Savior to all, He is. We hear that God is love and He is. But then like a teenager whose parents have always been there for them, we start to take them for granted that no matter how the teen child treats them they will be there.
However something changes and the parents can’t be there any longer. Have you seen this happen? It’s a shock to their system, they were not prepared for this turn of events. Their parents may have warned them and they didn’t hear them or just chose not to believe it.
Friends the Lord of heaven and earth the Creator God has also given us those same warnings.
In 1 John 2:3-6 we are warned if one does not walk with the Lord but exercises their own standards of living, they are without light.
John 15:1-8 says we are to be constantly connected to Him, abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life surrendered to Him in service.
Remember nothing good comes from us, but Christ – so just because we act good and giving does not mean we earn rights to the Kingdom – that’s presumption.
The channel of communication must be open continually between you and God. Just like that true vine that John writes about, so we are to cling to and draw “sap” from Jesus and in doing so we receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character. Colossians 1:23
This is how we are reconciled in Christ. This is what pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell and by Him be reconciled.
So we need to ask ourselves ” do I just assume knowing about Him and believing in Him is enough”?
Living in faith is good. Being grounded meaning living connected and steadfast is better, as we will not be moved from the hope of the gospel which we have heard. And it is fruitful.
Friends sit down put away all the distractions of this world, pray and listen to the Word of the Lord.
He is very much interested in meeting you daily to solve the problems and issues of your heart and yes this is what every teen needs to hear, please encourage them as well.
