The Father of Lies & Master of Illusion

The devil is a lie and the father of ALL lies. We know this, we have read this, and again we know this. He is also the master of illusion which too is a lie, a trickery of the mind and eyes. He will have us believing something is when it isn't and, that something isn't when it really is.

Yesterday I posted about a thicker skin and thorns and today I wanted to follow up by adding that sometimes the devil will make us think we have a thorn when really and truly its not anything or it is of little significance. He will place thoughts in our minds to take our focus off of God and sometimes what we think is a fiery test is really and truly a figment of an illusion that we have allowed the devil to present to us. This is why we have to press to cast down every imagination, every thought, every thing that is not of God.

It is a MUST that we stay before God, seeking his wisdom and hearing his voice on everything that we are faced with. Just as Paul besought the Lord thrice, God was faithful to answer him and let him know that he was in a test, and that he would give him the grace to go through it he is faithful to do the same for us.

But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.Jeremiah 7:23

Tests, Temptations and Thicker Skin

Many times when we think of being tempted or temptations, we think of a big obvious pulling for us to do wrong, but I am starting to see that it is not always the big things that tempt us, but the little subtle temptations to not die out to our will that ends up being a big battle. For me lately I have had to stay before God and ask him to give me the grace to continue to remain in his will in dealing with someone who I feel is a thorn in my side. A very hurtful thorn that is just scratching away at my skin, which I now know is not as tough as it needs to be.

We know that as saved Christians we are supposed to show love to everyone at all times, even our enemies. Scripture tells us to heap coals of fire on their head and to love our enemies. If we know what we read, how then does it become a test not to and to do our will and retreat to our turtle shell of protection? Flesh by far does not like to be hurt, not even a slight nick or scratch, but our tests are only to make us stronger. If that is the case, we should be seeking for a total strength of our mind, body, soul, even skin. Just as the skin on your body is an outer layer of protection, so is your spiritual skin. If it is too thin, then it will tear and little infectious things will start to penetrate through and work on deteriorating your heart, and mind, and eventually your soul. If your skin is thick, then it will protect you from tears, and things will not be able to penetrate it as easily.

I was reading an article about temptation and how just as Jesus had only the word to use on the enemy, we too must use the word and the word only. We have to find those skin thickening scriptures and say them out loud at times in order to fight the hurt from those thorns that Satan uses to buffet us. Some thorns God may not remove, but I truly believe that as our skin thickens, the thorns buffet us less until eventually we will not even know they are there.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9
7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I STILL HAVE JOY

There is a song that I have on my favorite CD entitled " I Still Have Joy". I wanted to share the lyrics of the chorus as it is what is encouraging me and taking me through the day.
Chorus:

I still have joy down in my soul.

He promised that He wouldn’t leave me

He promised that He’ll take care of me

through it all, all of my ups and downs

I still have joy.

We have to keep our joy, no matter what because the joy of the Lord is our strength!

Be blessed and stay encouraged!

The Lord's Mysterious Ways Part II

I thank God for how he works in mysterious ways. Shortly afterI wrote my earlier post today, the Lord revealed something very mysterious to me in only a way that he could. I thank him for that even though the revealed something that I did not want to see that was hurtful and potentially detrimental. But I know that God is faithful in revealing the traps that the devil sets for me so that I would not be caught off guard, and I will forever praise him for that!!!! I want to share a scripture that I will be using to fight the devil with, because sometimes the best way to fight him is to fight him openly and to let him know that no matter what, my faith in God will not be moved! Proverbs 21:1The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Pray for me that I stay encouraged and committed to remain in the Lord's will at all times albeit good, or bad.

Thank you for your support, stay blessed and encouraged.

The Lord's Mysterious Ways

I was talking to a friend yesterday about how the Lord works in mysterious ways, and during this conversation we were expressing our specific knowledge of his mysteriousness. Later I decided to look up the word mysterious, or its root word mystery because those who know me know how my thought process works, and once I have a thought, I have to dig deeper until I have my epiphany- So here goes, Webster has plenty of definitions for mystery, but the very first one is what jumped out at me: a religious truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand.

Wow! Only by revelation!!! That really got my brain juices flowing! See, I am an avid mystery novel reader, I have loved sleuthing since I read my first Nancy Drew book, and normally I would figure out the "who done it" before I finished reading the book. However I have never and will never be able to figure out the Lord and his mysterious ways- why?? Well I am not supposed to, I couldn't even on my most genius day figure out the easiest mystery of the Lord. Isaiah 55:8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. He doesn't want me to know.If I knew then I wouldn't need to have faith in him.

The second definition of mysterious according to Webster is exciting wonder, curiosity, or surprise while baffling efforts to comprehend or identify. Which is exactly how the Lord wants us to be when he blesses us, or when we see the work of his mysterious ways. I mean think about it, how much glory would people give him if we could figure him out every his every angle, every move? It wouldn't be much fun to receive the mystery of his blessings!

When the Lord catches us off guard, he receives our true, most sincerest, most genuine praise. He normally catches us at our neediest, and the funny thing is, sometimes we don't even know we are needy, but he does and he delivers better than the USPS. The only thing we need to know is that he works, and that he is always on time which will forever be a mystery because again Isaiah 55:8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

I know we all know this but I just felt so encouraged to stop trying to figure things out and continue to relish the religious truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand and the exciting wonder, curiosity, or surprise while baffling efforts to comprehend or identify the Lord and his mysterious ways.

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Young Gifted and Trapped Part I

I wrote an essay a few months ago that I wanted to share on my blog in parts. Its entitled Young, Gifted and Trapped. I wrote this under a strong burden for those who are trapped or heading towards a trap that is blinding by denial. I will post in parts because as mentioned it was an essay and is pretty lengthy. Thanks so much for your reading and support.

1 Corinthians 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

note: My articles may be shared in part or in its entirety with permission from the writer and so long as the article is linked on your blog or referenced to the author.

Young, Gifted and Trapped

I was sitting here reading the news and blog’s about the recent decision for singer Brittney Spears to turn over her children to her ex husband and I could not help but to weep for her. I praise God everyday for being a saved mother; however this was not always the case in my life. When you are in the bondage of sin you become so blinded to the damage of your life style, that not even the threat of loosing your precious babies will snap you back to reality. Only God and true salvation can open your eyes to destructive lifestyle that you are living and how it is affecting your children.

I can specifically remember when I was not saved and my children were young being bound in sin and making decisions that at the time I could not see was having a detrimental impact on my young daughters. I praise God for the mercy that he showed me and the love and support from my parents urging me seek salvation and I thank the Lord for my simple life; I could not imagine the pain of my bondage on the front page of every newspaper and all over the airwaves. The sad thing is that there are thousands of young girls who look up to superstars and their seemingly fabulous lifestyle. Young people please do not covet their lives!! There are skeletons in every closet and so many of them are so unhappy and the devil is continuously whispering ideas of suicide in their ears.

If you have saved parents thank the Lord everyday that you have been sheltered from such a cold callous world. I was sharing with a saint recently that there have been so many miracles and testimonies in our lives that our young people should not want to run into the land that we have been delivered from, but yet they do and this is nothing but a spirit of covetousness, wanting what the world has, looking at the world through the dark tinted glass that surrounds it, but once you step inside those doors you become engulfed by the darkness. You walk around in a constant state of denial. You clearly know that a decision is wrong but yet you cling to the hope that Satan gives you that things will turn out differently for you. You have no clue how to maneuver around the territory of the world and all you have is the trust you put in someone that the devil sends your way to guide you through the territory that he has crafted for your demise. Eventually you become one of the statistics of what I call the “Young, Gifted, and Trapped.”