Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘bring that we may drink!’ (Amos 4:1)
This was written June 27, 2014 back when I wrote a thing called “Happy Post” for 365 days.
Happy June 27th
Day two … and I begin complaining. Turns out “My” plans were not my husbands plans for our 2nd day of travel on our vacation. I thought we could just wing it like many trips in the past and end up having the best time ever … it always seemed to work that way before, but NOT this time.
Then shortly thereafter I read this road sign that says, “When tempted to complain, Give thanks to God.
This morning when reading my devotional, as many times, the Spirit of God does much convicting and confirming on what I already heard or know.
Here in Amos (4:1) Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!”
Cows of Bashan refer to the sleek, fat, well-fed women of Samaria. The cows raised there were pampered and indulged and were thought to be the best Canaan offered. Amos was comparing Bashan’s pampered cows to the pampered women of his day. They not only were spoiled … they expected it … they looked on it as their due. They cared nothing for those around them and were only worried about getting their own needs and desires indulged.
I enjoy being pampered and I am certainly a privileged woman. I need to be careful not to think my husband owes me anything. May I always be quick to remember never to become selfish or self-centered enough to think it is my due. May I never resemble those “cows of Bashan”!
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
It’s 3:05 a.m. I’ve been tossing around in my bed for the past 45 minutes trying to ignore the wakening in my spirit to no prevail, so here I am. Yesterday was my first day back writing and well I guess the Lord is making up for lost time. I feel a couple things he is speaking to me about right now. One was the words I woke up hearing, “Blood transfusion” and secondly, “Giving permission to speak into my life.” Before I went to bed I spent a couple hours reading on the Lordship of Jesus Christ and what that meant. First I’d like to say, I’ll be studying this out further so hang in there with me on this one. Reason I am sharing this with you right this moment is because the words blood transfusion could only mean that my blood count is running low and I am in need of a transfusion, a spiritual transfusion. I need the blood of Christ to fill me up with His life giving power. I am pleading the blood of Jesus over myself right now as I type, I am renewing my mind to the things of Christ so that I can discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Though I am a child of God, saved by Grace, I also still live in the present world and I am still under attack by the evil one, so I have to resist its pressure by allowing Christ Jesus to Lord over me. Surrender all things unto Him.
Skipping to “giving permission for someone to speak into my life,” two weeks ago I joined a ladies Bible study group at my church and the topic was on community. The class had been in session for two weeks already, but my first night the leader touched on giving someone permission to speak into your life. You know not everyone has permission to speak into you? Nor should you allow just anyone too. Which obviously I do not have that problem because I prefer to solve things on my own and well I am not that good at it so I thought maybe I could learn to do this. So I came home from class and immediately told my husband he had permission to speak into my life. Yeah well that lasted about a day, then I took it back. I’m a work in progress! Life was getting rougher as the week went on and I was losing more and more blood “spiritual blood” that is, I was pulling away from my life line, my source. Why do we do that? We humans can be so dumb at times it’s no wonder we are referred to as sheep in the Bible.
Fast forward, I scheduled an appointment with a therapist, one I could trust to speak into my life. I was giving this person permission, because I knew I needed help and I was not going to get it on my own. Sometimes we have to admit where we are in life and get rid of that stink’n think’n and ask for help. Of course my first help came from the Lord Himself. It was the gentle urging to go to this group and allow others to help, after all He was putting these people in my path for a reason, that I might discern His will for my life through the renewing of my mind and through the topic … “Community.” We need people to do life well. Just as Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms when he began to tire, we need our people to hold us up, that we will be able to overcome and win our battles just as Moses did.
This thing about our mind, we have got to stop letting society mold our values and behaviors, we are called to resist them. In my reading last night I was so upset with myself for just letting myself go with the flow even when it contradicts my faith, the Word of God. Real life change doesn’t just come from trying harder; it requires an inward change. You “renew your mind” by replacing worldly perspectives with God’s truth, through prayer, scripture, teachings from leaders rooted in the Word, even Therapists, of course I suggest one that relies on the teachings of Christ. As our way of thinking begins to align with God’s, that’s when we will get that spiritual clarity and be able to embrace His plans, we can see then that God’s will is “good, and pleasing and perfect”.
So, if your feeling spiritually drained or disconnected check your vital signs you may need some spiritual healing through divine blood transfusion, the ultimate source of life, Jesus Christ. He will continually restore your peace, strength, and purpose.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14-17)
I have a hard time reading all the Father’s Day comments on social media that people write regarding their earthly fathers because I never experienced those things. Matter of fact until I met Jesus I didn’t think I was ever wanted at all. Truth …until just 3 years ago I still wasn’t sure God the Father really loved me either.
Relationships can be hard at times for all people. There are so many types of relationships, some come natural and easy while others are a struggle and you find yourself in a constant battle trying to figure out how in the heck Jesus did this and how can I even come close to imitating Him in this area. I felt God must have been thinking that about me for years. Like, “what on earth is wrong with this girl? I know I don’t make mistakes, but …really? This girl, I have to question myself, what was I thinking when creating her.” But like I said 3 years ago I come to know God as my Father, the One TRUE Father. The one that loves unconditionally and without a spirit of shame, doubt or question. He knew exactly what He was doing when He created me and He said it was good. I am made in His image, so therefore I must be some kind of good, just saying.
I had been feeling less than adequate as a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, servant for God and a whole lot of, not the daughter I needed to be. I absolutely couldn’t take what I was going through a minute more. I didn’t go to church last week because of everything I was going through, actually I ended up going to therapy, two different times. Let me say right quick, therapy is okay. There was a time in my life I kept everything in and when it did come out it was like dynamite in a landmine. Today I wasn’t feeling like I wanted to be around a lot of people yet, so going to church wasn’t something I really wanted to do, but I knew I would only make matters worse if I didn’t go and I am SOooo glad I did. First the friendly faces and kind words from my church family was much needed, but then during worship, when I began to sing, the lyrics rose up inside of me lighting the fire, causing the flame to burn higher and hotter, for I was now back in relationship with my Father and I didn’t want to be anywhere else. See I had been writing a blog everyday since I began the breadandwater blog, but the last one I wrote was June 13th, eight days ago, which actually seemed like a month. I wasn’t feeling my Father’s love, hearing His voice, feeling His touch, so I couldn’t write. I chose to isolate. I did my daily chores and slept the rest of the time, until today. It’s Father’s Day and I am grateful I have a Father.
Now I would like to wish all the fathers out there a very Happy Father’s Day and even more so, a Happy Father’s Day to my Father, Abba! Father!
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (Ja. 1:2-4)
When we are going through a trial in our life the first thing that comes to mind is not usually joy. Scriptures tells us that “Joy in trials,” are designed to produce spiritual maturity. The testing of our faith, it’s intended to make our faith genuine, which then results in steadfast, a life of faithful endurance while going through the troubles and afflictions. Now verse four says steadfastness leads to perfection. We believers grow in holiness but are not perfected in it, until Jesus returns.
I struggled in school with retaining knowledge that was being taught to me, it seemed very difficult. It always seemed like the teachers were talking some foreign language. If it was a subject that I didn’t get, I really did not get it. My home life was not a place I felt compelled or comfortable about going to for help. Though my dad only had an 9th grade education, he was pretty intelligent and my mom was not educated to the point she could be of any help with homework. My dad was also a perfectionist therefore he expected nothing but the same from me let me just say, he was the last person I wanted help from. Most times when a test was coming up, I was not properly prepared and I would fail or barely make the passing grade. I’m going to share something just to make a point. My parents had very high expectations, all A’s and B’s anything but, was going to be quite costly if you know what I am saying. I feared my parents wrath for not being able to comprehend what was being taught. They did not instruct, instead it was just the opposite. When you have that kind of pressure on you, there is no way you can receive anything good from that. God is not like that, as a matter of fact when He sets test before us, his intention for the test is for a positive outcome. Through our spiritual tests God’s desire is for us to learn. In the above scripture I’ve been referring to is a lesson to learn on unwavering faith, endurance and how to handle the afflictions of life, He/God does not put afflictions on us, unlike the way my parents were teaching me. How many times were you given a test in school to do over? Probably not many, because we were expected to study for the test ahead of time and be prepared to pass it. God gives us instructions to help us pass the tests in life, but when we don’t pass he is gracious enough to give us chance after chance after chance to get it right. His goal and desire for us is to learn, and grow from what we have learned.
In our continual do-overs we learn very valuable lessons in life. Everytime I fail a life test the next time I attempt to take the test, I do it with much more knowledge, understanding and wisdom. I have learned how joy fits into the equation. I have learned patience with myself because my heavenly Father has shown patience with me. It has helped build my character, I no longer feel like a failure, instead I am more than a conqueror, I see myself as my heavenly Father sees me. I now have that unwavering faith God teaches us about through His spirit of kindness and gentleness. We are able to pass the tests, we just need to take instruction from our loving Father. And continue to remind yourself your still working on perfection, but He who started to good work in you is faithful and just to finish it.
My natural father did teach me a very valuable lesson though. Near the ending of my school years he would say to me, “you’ll never learn from school what you’ll learn by experience.” That has definitely proven to be true.
“Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.” (Gen. 6:14)
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember amateurs built the Ark, Professionals built the Titanic.
Noah’s most critical skills for building the ark were his unwavering faith, obedience, and project management. He could not rely solely on what he knew, it required a divine blueprint. The construction of the ark was not a one man job, Noah relied on other men and his family working together. Noah needed practical intelligence, tools, certain type of wood, a construction site. It would take all of this and more to build a vessel this size. There were so many particulars that most people would have given up at the first glance at the bluesprint, but he didn’t.
In (Genesis 6:14-22) we see God’s direct command and instruction, guiding Noah, helping him to perfect what there is no way possible for him to do on his own. Noah didn’t fear what he didn’t know, at least we know he didn’t let it keep him from what he was called to do, instead he relied on the One who gave him the ability to do the task set before him. Verse 14: God commands the construction. Verse 15: God specifies the dimensions. Verse 16: God orders him to put in the window, door and decks. Verse 17: God announces the coming flood. Verse 18: God establishes a covenant with Noah and his family. Verse 19-21: God instructs Noah what to bring into the ark. Verse 22: Noah obeys and completes everything exactly as God commanded.
I have let many opportunities pass me by in my life due to fear of failure. I know for a fact there were things I could have accomplished if I would have taken my eyes off of me and put my trust in God, He would have made a way for me to achieve those things. Age is a funny thing, the older I get the less I rely on myself. I find myself trying new things for the first time, or hearing God speak to me about doing specific things that I wouldn’t have even attempted to do in the past. But, before doing it I am also seeking God for guidance, direction, and instruction, how will this best serve Him and whoever it may involve. I have always been a little OCD and perfectionism has been a bad habit, which is another reason for not trying things in the past, can’t fail, right?! Well you also cannot learn if you do not try. You cannot move in the direction God is leading you if you do not obey. Obedience is the greatest tool if you are being obedient to the One who is Perfect. None of us are or ever will be perfect while on this earth, sorry to those who thought they were. We are all amatures until the day of perfection. When Jesus Christ returns and believers enter heaven.
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? (Mark 2:9)
It’s easier to say the words, “Your sins are forgiven,” because that’s something invisible and impossible to disprove. But it’s harder to say, “Take up your bed and walk” because, if the man does not get up, then the one who said the words would look like he didn’t have any power or authority to heal. On a deeper level, it is harder to forgive sins, because only God can forgive sins-at the cost of Christ’s death on the cross. So the logic here is that, since Jesus can do the visible miracle (heal the paralytic), this is evidence that he also has the power to do the invisible miracle (forgive sins).
Mark 2:10-12 goes on to say, But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins-he said to the paralytic- “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose immediately picked up his bed and went before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Jesus’ healing of the paralytic verifies that he also has divine authority to forgive sins.
Which is what brings me to this part. The salvation message, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life in heaven, an eternity with Christ Jesus and our Father God. We can’t see Jesus with our natural eye, the Holy Spirit is (the invisible) active force that convicts us of our sin, reveals Jesus, and draws us into salvation. It begins with him convicting us, making us aware of our sin and our need for a Savior, opening our eyes to the reality of Jesus. He gives us understanding, allowing us to comprehend and believe the truth of the Gospel, our hearts become pliable, instead of being hard. Then He seals and secures us the moment we receive salvation. He takes up residence in our lives as a “seal” or guarantee of eternal relationship with God. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven “like a dove” and rested on Jesus when he was baptized by John the baptist. (Matt. 3:16) The Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on the followers of Jesus as a rushing wind and tongues of fire. (Acts 2:1-4) Also read (Acts 16:5-15).
If reading this has caused a tugging in your heart knowing there is a need for change in your life, that is evidence of the Holy Spirit speaking directly to you and there is a prayer you can say to assure your eternal relationship with God.
Jesus, I am a sinner in need of a savior. I believe in my heart that you are the Son of God who died on the cross and rose from the dead that I may be forgiven of my sins and have eternal life with you. I turn from my sins and invite you into my life, I confess You as Lord and Savior. Thank you for convicting me, saving me and giving me eternal life, In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
When we read Hebrews chapter 11, it defines biblical faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. The definition of Faith: The Greek word for assurance implies a title deed or tangible proof of ownership.
Biblical faith isn’t blind optimism; it is the absolute certainty that God will fulfill His promises.
The Evidence: Faith functions as the spiritual lens that makes the invisible realm real to believers.
True faith always results in action: Abel & Enoch (vv.4-6): Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice because of his heart attitude, while Enoch is commended for walking closely with God. Noah (v.7): Built an ark for a flood he had never seen, acting in reverent obedience. Abraham & Sarah (vv.8-19): Left their homeland for an unknown destination and trusted God to provide a child in their old age, proving that faith believes the impossible. Moses (vv.23-29): He chose temporary mistreatment with God’s people over temporary pleasures of Egypt. Chapter 11 ends with the triumph of endurance (vv.33-40). Endurance through suffering. It honors people who were tortured, mocked, and martyred but they refused to abandon their hope in God. All these heroes died without seeing the fulfillment of the ultimate promise (the Messiah).
In 1998 My husband I took a leap of faith in a move from Texas to Arkansas. Like Abraham & Sarah we were leaving all our family, trusting God to provide everything we would need to make that move. We didn’t have the money for the moving truck, yet when we went to close out our bank account we found out that we had an extra $500 in our account from a mistake I supposedly made …really? I don’t think it was a mistake, I believe that was God’s provision. That $500 was the exact amount we needed for the moving truck. My husband had just started working for Walmart and he asked for a transfer to a location here in Arkansas, but was told he would have to be on the job for a minimum of 6 months to get a transfer and there was no guarantees’ of that then. He got the transfer …coincidence? I don’t think so, God’s provision once again. Now we were on a timeline to get here to start the new job, but we had no place to live. When we got a call from my husbands 93 year old great aunt that heard we were moving here. She had called the banker in her little town which was in the vicinity of where we were planning to live and he had a little one bedroom farm house, I mean old, it had an old skeleton key for the lock on the door which he would not be home when we got here so he said he would leave the key under the doormat and when we got here just come in and if it would work for us just go ahead and move in and he’d see us in a few days. Mind you we had no extra money so this was going to have to be a really good deal on top of everything else. The rent was $275 month. I hadn’t paid that kind of rent since I was 18 years old …favor of God. Moving forward without all the other details because there is so much more, we made the move on the absolute certainty God was going to provide everything we needed even though we could not see how. We have been here for 28 years now and this would literally turn into a short story book if I continued telling you of all God did and all the promises we have seen since that day. I just really want to encourage you today that whatever your believing for, but you say it’s so far off, I can’t see that, I don’t have the faith for it. Never stop Looking for what’s not there. I wrote a blog May 16th Titled: Faith Born Out Of Fear; “Sometimes faith will make you look stupid; until it starts to rain.” -Noah
Don’t fear what you don’t know, what you can’t see. Keep Looking for what’s not there, have faith.
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” (John 7:37)
There is a song I really feel fits this topic by Jessy Dixon; Fill My Cup, Lord. The lyrics go like this: Like the woman at the well I was seeking for things that could not satisfy and then I heard my Savior speaking “Draw from My well that never shall run dry” Fill my cup, Lord I lift it up, Lord … Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me ’til I want no more …Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole. There are millions in this world who are craving the pleasures, earthly things of gold, but none can match the wondrous treasure that I find in Jesus Christ my Lord. Fill my cup, Lord I lift it up, Lord …come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me ’til i want no more. Fill my cup, Lord fill it up and make me whole. Here’s my cup, fill it up and make me whole.
Sometimes we need to have our cup filled back up. We find ourselves going along day by day pouring out of our cup and then suddenly one day we realize that our cup it empty. Maybe your running on empty or life just hit you with some news that requires a big drink from that cup, but when you reach for it there is nothing left. Have you ever been dehydrated? Completely depleted? You know that feeling? I do. In the summer especially when outdoors working in the heat, if I am not replenishing what I am using I will become dehydrated I will soon have a headache and become weak in my body. When we are spiritually dehydrated we also become weak. Weak in our minds forgetting what the Word of God says, how we are mighty warriors, we are more than conquerors, we are overcomers. We don’t have the ability to continue being those things because we need His strength, we cannot do these things in our own strength, it only comes from being filled with the living water, Jesus Christ.
If you are feeling weak, depleted, thirty and cannot go any further you need to ask, fill my cup, Lord. Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He promises that anyone who believes in Him will have “rivers of living water” flowing from within.
Only Jesus can quench your spiritual thirst. If you have been thirsting after something, yet find yourself never satisfied can I suggest to you right now to ask Jesus to give you the life-giving water (Jn.4:10) this is not water for your physical body, this water will cause you to never thirst again, it is life-giving water that will give you eternal life. (Jn. 4:13-14). If you will pray this prayer, you can have this living water.
Romans 10:9-10 tells us if we acknowledge our sins, believing in the resurrection, and surrendering to Jesus by confession of our mouths we will be saved from spiritual death.
Jesus, I am a sinner in need of a savior. I believe in my heart that you are the son of God who died on the cross and rose from the dead that I may be forgiven of my sins and have eternal life with you. I turn from my sins and invite You into my life, I confess You as Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me and giving me eternal life, In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38)
David wrote Psalm 51 for the music leader, when the prophet Nathan came to him, after David had sex with Bathsheba.
Here is the entire Psalm written in simple, modern everyday English:
Have mercy on me, God, because you are so loving. Because you are so merciful, please wipe away all my wrongs. Wash me clean from guilt and make me pure from my sin. I know exactly what I did wrong, and I cannot stop thinking about it. I have done evil, and I only sinned against you. You are perfectly fair to judge me for what I did. I have been a sinner since the day I was born. But you want truth and honesty deep inside my heart, and you teach me wisdom there. Wash me, and I will be cleaner than snow. Make me happy and glad again. Ignore my sins and wipe them all from your memory. Create a pure heart in me, God, and give me a new, faithful spirit. Please do not the throw me away or take your Holy spirit from me. Give me back the joy of your saving grace, and make me eager to obey you. If you do this, I will teach other sinners your ways so they will return to you. God, save me from my guilt, and my tongue will sing loudly about how good and right you are. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proudly praise you. You do not really want animal sacrifices, or I would gladly bring them. The true sacrifice God wants is a broken and humble heart. God, you will not look down on a heart that is sorry for its sins.
This is a prayer of forgiveness and repentance written by King David. In it, he asks God to wash away his mistakes, fix his broken heart, and restore his joy.
I know we read here about having the Holy Spirit taken from David, yet Christ had not come yet, therefore the Holy Spirit did not dwell within anyone at this point in time. What we have here is God’s anointing on David. Ps. 32:1 states, Forgiveness of sins anticipates the sacrifice of Christ as the ultimate basis of forgiveness according to, (Romans 4:7-8). Also (Ps. 51:7) Hyssop alludes to cleansing ceremonies that point to the final cleansing from sin through the work of Christ (Heb 9:19-28). Which now takes me to (1 John 1:9), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse of from all unrighteousness.” Now, thanks to Jesus dying on the cross, rising up from the dead and sending His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, we can have EVERYTHING God promised. One last, but not final scripture I want to share is (Romans 10:9-10), “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 with the heart one believes and and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved”.
Christ promises us the conqueror’s reward: communion with himself and the white raiment of victory. Our name is secure in his Book of Life, and he will confess our names before the Father, since we have confessed Jesus. (Rev.3:5)
With King David, he found forgiveness from the Father through his confession. With us we to have forgiveness through confession with the Son and eternal life.
If any or all of this resonated within you, you to can confess your sins and be forgiven. There is nothing like letting the past go and getting a fresh new life an everlasting life. Love covers a multitude of sins, and while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That’s unconditional grace my friends. You cannot earn God’s love by good behavior or human perfection, it had to come one way and one way only, through the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, a sacrificial love. He did it for me, He did it for you.
If my people who are called by name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
The word that stands out to me more than anything at the moment is: “IF”. If my people will humble themselves, seek, pray, and turn. This requires some heartfelt repentance here. This means there is going to be some deliverance, healing, restoration and going home. Most importantly a right relationship with the Lord.
We have got to be a people that acknowledges our weaknesses and submits to God’s authority. Take time to talk to God asking for his intervention. Desiring His presence and will, not just asking for His blessings. We need to stay in an active place of repentance, we have to consciously make a decision to stop sinning and start being obedient. We as parents don’t just keep blessing our children when they are doing the wrong thing, we make them earn it through respecting our authority over them, God does the same thing. We are trying raise obedient children and so is God.
God’s Promise, (“Then”) That’s when we receive the promise of His grace over judgment “when” His people return to Him. I know this promise was made to the ancient nation of Israel, but the principles apply to believers today to. God’s ultimate desire is restoration and forgiveness rather than permanent punishment. If we can do that we can have peace on earth.
Remember “IF” & “When” two very important words. If and when we will do it His way.
Bread and Water 