**EDIT**
Hey All,
I wanted to share an update on our kids. Some of you may be wondering how they are doing in Mexico..
Sean and I are really proud of them and praise God on how well they have been doing with such a drastic change in their lifestyle. It hasn't been all that easy living in a country that is not rich and comfortable like America, where everything "works" well. Living in Mexico made us realized how rich we were though the American standard would only consider us middle class. Yeah, right! We were spoiled!!! Even the poor community in America have it better!
We arrived in Mexico in January. The coldest month out of the year. In Mexico a lot of people do not have a/c and heaters and the walls of the homes are like concrete so it traps in more cold and makes it feel like your in a cave. Yeah, it was so cold that I felt like crying sometimes, but the kids were just great! You would think kids will complain a lot, but our kids didn't which amazed me! I complained more than them! They were telling me that it'll be o.k...that its really not that bad. It was really comforting to me to see God comforting them through many trials.
Our kids had been sick so much since being in Mexico. They've had a very bad case of strep 3 times and throwing up and diarrhea because of their bodies are not yet use to the bacteria here. One time Hadassah's stomach was in great pain that she cried out to me to come and pray for her. So we prayed and God healed her! It made my heart melt to see Hadassah turn to the Lord in her trial and not man! Through all the sickness they never complained and begged to go back to America!
Now its getting hot here so it feels like your in an oven because there is no a/c. Remember, the walls are like concrete so it traps in heat and humidity. There were times that it was so hot that I felt like I couldn't breath and the kids were sweating a lot that I had to constantly put cold water on them, but again they never cried or whined about the heat and wishing they were back in America.
Our kids made a few friends here. Though they can't speak to them they really enjoy playing with the kids here. They just met a boy who can speak both English and Spanish. Hannah says that the little boy is their translator and helps them speak with other kids. They have learned lots of Spanish words by just playing with the kids here. They really love speaking all the Spanish they know and Hannah has gotten really good at pronouncing the Spanish words that she sounds Mexican at times!
The friend's mother that lives below us favors Hannah a lot. Hannah seized the opportunity to try her best to share the gospel with her(we didn't even ask her to do it). The mother speaks very broken English. Hannah ask her dad for a gospel of John to give to the mother and we printed up some tracks for her to give also that Sean and Joseph wrote and translated to Spanish. The mother told Hannah that she will read it. It was really neat seeing the joy in Hannah of wanting to share Jesus with our neighbor!
There were times at first that they missed living in the states. They realized how great they had it, but Sean and I would always help them to understand what it means to follow Jesus and share many testimonies of the disciples in the bible and missionaries lives who left everything because they truly believed and saw this was not their home, but a much better home is awaiting them in heaven! They really see how evil and corrupt this world is and agree that they don't want to make a home here too. Being out in the mission field has truly helped our kids to see that we live in an evil world and not wanting to be part of this world. When we lived in the states it really shield our kids from reality. They were so comfortable and spoiled that they didn't desire heaven, but more the pleasures of this world.
God has truly use Mexico to prepare our kids because at first, they were scared hearing the gunshots, seeing soldiers everywhere and police men wearing ski mask and carrying assault rifles. They thought a war was coming. Seeing such things brought reality to them about many things that Sean and I have shared with them concerning the cross we must all carry and how many disciples have lost their life for Jesus, but praise God, the Lord has made them stronger through their weakness. This kind of life has become normal to them that it has taken a lot of fears away and now they are excited about the next place God will send us..........which will be more dangerous than Mexico!
God is so faithful in preparing us in all that He calls us too! The reason why so many Christian do not see His faithfulness in carrying us through the cross is because they won't even take that first step! To forsake all!
Will you please meditate on Hebrews 11 with me?
I would like to encourage and exhort all who claim the name Jesus. It's a very short exhortation. I pray that this exhortation will move you to meditate on Hebrews 11, allowing His word to examine you and spur you on.
Every time I read Hebrews 11 I get so deeply moved with such great love and encouragement on hearing of the Elect's faith in God. Godly men and women who have forsaken all because they truly believed in a better reward that's in Christ Jesus! Their life shows they BELIEVED IN HIM.
If we say we believe in God surely it will show in our life. Just like Abraham who was called out and left his family, home, all that he was familiar and comfortable with to go to a place he's never been, not knowing from the beginning where God was leading him, but went anyways because he believed God's words. By faith Moses forsook the pleasures of sin, he forsook Egypt (the world), esteeming the reproach of Christ because he BELIEVED in Him who is invisible. By faith many disciples of Christ went through many mocking's, trials, imprisoned, severe persecution, wandering around in deserts, hiding in caves, being destitute, hungry, afflicted. Oh, they could have stayed comfortably at home, with their family, preaching a soft man pleasing gospel but they chose to take up their cross, to declare plainly that they seek a homeland that is in heaven, choosing to suffer the same reproach as Christ because they BELIEVED in a better resurrection! They were hated by the world because their speech and their lifestyle were contrary from the world. The world hated them but God was not ashamed to be called their God (Heb.11:16).
Tell me, do you believe God would say the same thing to you? That He is not ashamed to be called your God because your life shows that you believe in Him. Just like Abraham who left his home, Noah whom I'm sure was considered a mad man for building the ark, taking God's warnings seriously , Moses who left the pleasures of sin, Paul who endured much persecution and was greatly despised by his own.....? Tell me, is your faith like the Elect in Hebrews 11? Have you forsaken all, endured trials and mockings, fellowshipping in His sufferings because you believe in Him and are looking for a better reward that is in heaven?
Oh, if the professing church truly had faith like the Elect they would not care about the comforts of this world, nor look to please themselves on earth. They wouldn't care about making a nice comfortable home here, living the American dream because they see that their true home is in heaven! If we have faith like the Elect we would joyfully take up our cross, forsaking our comforts, family, friends, home, work (Luke 14:26-27, 33)..... whatever it may cost us because we truly believe in Him and a better ressurection. Oh, we would see that Jesus is worthy of all our lives! Our desires would become Christ like in that we would desire to see Christ glorified in us and Christ proclaimed here and through out the nations no matter the cost! Yes, to have faith of the Elect we would gladly take up the same cup as Jesus. The cup He said all His disciples will take (Mark 10:38-39). The cup of sufferings(lonliness, loss of reputation, despised, rejected, forsaken by friends and families, persecution....)! To have the faith of the Elect will bring us to the end of ourselves (our dreams, ambitions, reputation, comforts.....) and a life full in Christ(joyfully obeying Him and going wherever He leads us)!
Sadly today many professing Christian look nothing like the Elect in Hebrews. Many professing Christian churches have conform to the world and not to Christ. The churches today are conformed and depended more to the ways of the world because they believe in the world's principles (humanism) more than God's word to change lives. Many churches today have adopted and are deceived by humanistic teachings because they do not want to bear the cross and take up the same cup as Christ. Many do not believe like the Elect in Hebrews who looked forward to the rewards and home in heaven. But, many professing Christians are wanting the rewards now on earth. There life shows that they have made their home comfortably on earth. Many have not loss their life for Christ, but have saved it for the world's pleasures.
Brethren, let us meditate on Hebrews 11 and allow the word to examine us. Do we have the faith of God's Elect? It is the Elect who are chosen and enter into the kingdom of God.
2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.....
A topic you do not hear much preaching on is sexual lust.
I'm surprise that you do not find many preachers exhorting and warning
the church of this deadly sin. The world is evermore consumed by
sexual lust. One of the most wicked perversion is so plainly seen
everywhere that the world and the church has lost its ability to blush to it.
Sexual images and great perversions have been more expose (openly seen)
than in Jesus and Paul's days and even then Paul warned and exhorted
the church to flee from lustful desire (2Tim.2:22) and do not
fellowship with the sexual immoral who calls themselves
brethren(1Cor.5:11). How much more would Paul warn the church today!
Whats very sad is seeing so many people bound by lust in the church
and hardly anyone is giving them hope, helping them see that this sin
can be overcome through Christ Jesus. Most professing christians just
accept this sin as normal, thinking its a part of life, and that there is
no way you can have a clean mind free from sexual thoughts. That
thought is very contrary to the bible! For the bible says.....
Matthew 1:21
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name
JESUS, for He will save His people FROM their sins.
Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is
impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.
Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to
God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
For the bible also says that those who PRACTICE sin shall not enter the kingdom.
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery (lust),
fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and
the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in
time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3-5
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even
be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness,
nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but
rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator,
unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
2 Timothy 2:19
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal:
"The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the
name of Christ depart from iniquity."
By thinking that sexual lust cannot be overcome many professing
Christians are saying that this sin is bigger than God. That the
power of lust is stronger than the power of God and God cannot deliver
us.
Will you believe men who are known to be liars, knowing they are not
perfect, or God's word which you say is perfect and holy? Will you be
those who Jesus says draw close with their mouth but their hearts
are far from Him? Will you be like the Israelites who died in the wilderness?
Though they claim God's name they died in their unbelief, never
believing in God and His promises in their hearts.
If we would stop looking unto men for answers,wanting to be led by
them, and our emotions, and looked to Jesus only... then we would believe.
Or will you be like the Israelites again and cry out for a "man" king
because you do not want God to lead, but man! This is the stumbling
block to many professing Christians and explains why they are still
bound in sin! They want man to guide and lead them to God instead of them seeking God for themselves. Many have fallen prey to wolves in the pulpit
and deep delusion because they desire to hear from man about God
instead of diligently seeking God themselves. For man can only show
you the way but it is you who must draw near to God and God Will draw
near to you. It is you who must knock and the door will be open. It is
you who must direct your cry to Him and He will be faithful to answer.
That is His promise! Will you continue to follow after man who cannot
set you free or will you look to Christ who is able to fully deliver
you from ALL bondage?!
So many profess Christians wonder why their minds are so defiled and
why they cannot overcome lust. But then they are the very ones who
will not spend time with God. Instead, they busy themselves with all sorts
of things, and find themselves weak and being lead by the flesh. They spend
their time watching all sorts of ungodly shows and movies, flipping though dirty magazines, and allowing their eyes to gaze upon harlotry fashion that is
in ungodly magazines. This leads many to adopt those styles and brings
upon them a desire to lust and to want others to lust after them.
How bad is this sin? It has born many pedophiles, molesters, perverts
and murderers. Many of these people have confessed that they are bound by
pornography and sexual lust. Sexual lust has been a major part of
destroying lives, families, bringing upon much violence and anger, and
causing all sorts of deep perversion.
How bad is this sin? Jesus says if your right eye causes you to
stumble cut it out. Not that you literally cut your eye out because
lust has to do with the heart. The verse is showing us how serious the
sin is and that we must do all we know to do in order not to be bound
by this sin. Jesus tells us to watch and pray, like his disciples, lest we enter into temptation (Mark 14:38) . We cannot overcome without a relationship with Jesus and obeying what He says. When we are in prayer (communion with God) it will help us to be watchful, not allowing things in our lives that will weaken us and lead us to put away all the things we know that weakens the flesh. It is better to throw away your computer or t.v. that may weaken you now then to take it with you to hell.
I have been very grieved for a long time seeing many people in
church bound by the sin of lust and hardly anyone in the church is
exposing this sin, giving them hope TO SEE and KNOW God's word that this sin can be easily overcome through Christ Jesus.
This sin has consumed many churches. Even the lost can walk in many
churches and see it is consume with sexual lust. My husband was
sharing the gospel with a Muslim and he told Sean "why should I go to
Christian churches?" Christian churches have many women dress like
harlots." What the Muslim said was very true. Many pastors allow the
sin of lust to invade the church, not exhorting and warning the church
of this grievous sin that destroys lives, families, friendships, and
above all defiles God's name! They fail to encourage men and women to dress modest and fear God like Paul did. Many pastors and leaders have
fallen prey to this sin themselves and thats why they are not able to
give their people hope and exhort them to stay away from all forms of
evil (1 Thes.5:22, Col.3:5) .
Do not be deceived by your pastors and think this is a light sin or
this is normal. What does the bible say? Jesus says if you look at a
woman with lust you have committed adultery in your heart (Mat.5:28).
Those who practice adultery (which is lust in the heart) will not
enter the kingdom. (Gal.5:19-21)
I am telling you men and women who are married and bound in this sin
that you have committed adultery. Husbands, because of your lust you
cannot love your own spouse as Christ commands. Your mind is defiled
by these lustful images and it causes you to greatly stumble in your
marriage with your spouse and Jesus where you are not able to love
your wife as Christ loves the church. And wives are not able to
respect and love your husbands. Not only are you lusting, but also in
covetousness, desiring someone else besides your mate!
I am telling you single people that are bound in lust that you too
have committed adultery in your heart though you are not married
physically. You do say that Jesus is your God which makes Him your
husband. So you too have committed adultery. We must understand that
God is a jealous God. He is jealous for His people.
James 4:4-5
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with
the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend
of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the
Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns
jealously"?
Yes, lust is the same as being friends to the world because all forms
of lust are from the world.
Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous for you with GODLY jealousy. For I have betrothed you
to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
I use to be one who was bound in this sin. Yes, a pharisee who was
clean on the outside but filled with wickedness inwardly, just as
Jesus told the pharisees.
Luke 11:39
Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the
cup and dish clean, but your INWARD PART is full of greed and
wickedness.
I too thought this sin was too big to overcome, a normal part of life,
seeing that everybody around me was bound by the same sin. I saw no
hope UNTIL I truly read my bible and stop listening to men and their
traditions that are according to the basic principles of this world
(Col.2:8) and started looking only to God who has made us complete and all
equipped IN HIM (Col.2:9-10)! Now I can say with confidence, and am
not lying, I am free! I do not boast in myself, but only in the Lord,
who is the One that set me free! I am no longer bound by lust and my
mind is clean. The truth does set you free (John8:32)!!!
Through looking to Jesus, by seeking Him with all my heart, in
meditating on His word, and obeying it God granted me faith to Believe!
The word says that faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of
God(Rom.10:17). If we would draw near to Him with all our heart He
will give us faith to believe all His promises to live a holy life,
giving us grace to overcome all thats in the world through faith! (1
John5:4, 2Peter1:9)
What quenches the fiery darts that comes at us? FAITH! Believing in
Him and His finished work on the cross! Understanding that through
His Ressurection we have been given life and divine power to overcome
ALL forms of lust that are in the world and live a life of godliness (2Peter1:1-8)
Ephesians 6:16
16 ABOVE ALL, taking the shield of faith with WHICH YOU WILL BE ABLE
to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
We cannot produce faith ourselves. It is a gift from God. Only God
can grant us faith to believe but His word does promise us that if we
would draw near to Him He will draw near to us. Faith comes by
hearing the word. So what must we do? Feed on His word! As the Lord
told Joshua to meditate on His word day and night. Come to Him, to
know Him, with all your heart and He will not deny you but will grant
you faith to believe which produces grace to overcome and strengthens
the INNER MAN (Eph.3:16-19).
So little do we hear from pastors and Christian leaders the hope that
is in Christ Jesus. Reminding us like Paul did of the precious promises that
Jesus came to set us free from all bondage to sin and give us life.
Reminding us also who we are in Christ. That we are not children
bound by certain sins as many preach today but we are new creations.
The old man is dead and buried and we are made new, being Ressurrected in Christ. That Jesus has truly set us free from all sin and not just one or two sins. For sin has no dominion over you because you have died with Christ and have been Ressurected into a new creation (Rom.6:6-11)! His word says that those who are truly born of God will overcome (1 John 5:4). Do you
believe that? If not then you need to stop listening to men and draw
close to God and read the bible.
Oh that the church would be like Job a mere man like us who had a
desire for purity and was able through his relationship with God to
overcome lust.
Job 31:1
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
Dear ones who are struggling with sexual lust. I want you to know that
this is a serious sin so that you may be spurred to draw close to God
before its too late. I am sick of pastors deceiving God's flock by
making the sin of lust seem light and too big for God to deliver you.
They are liars who teach that lust is normal, for such practices will
damn you to hell(Gal.5:19-21). God is able to deliver you or else His
death was in vain. You say you believe in God then believe all His
promises too! Or is your belief like the demons(James2:19)? Like the Israelites in the wilderness? Who believe that there is a God, but do not believe IN Him to deliver? Oh, I pray that God will grant you faith like Joshua and Caleb who are examples of true believers that believe God's word. They did not fear the giants (representing sin), and did not see them as too big, but knew and believed that God would give them the victory!
The Isrealites are used for our examples in warning us to not become
like them in lusting after evil things (1Cor.10:5-11). They died in
unbelief. Not believing in God's promises for them they did not enter
God's promise land which is our rest in Him today. When we believe in
His promises it brings about rest and victory in our life. God did
not give the Isrealites the victory because of their unbelief. Do not
be like the Isrealites. God has given us the same promises
spiritually. Many promises that I have already listed. God's hands
are not short that He cannot deliver you fully. For we know the power
of darkness has been broken upon our lives because the death and
ressurection of Jesus Christ. If you are still in bondage to sin, it
is not because God is not able, but because of your unbelief in His
word (Psalm78:40-42)
Psalm 78:40-42
40 How often they provoked Him in the wilderness,
And grieved Him in the desert!
41 Yes, again and again they tempted God,
And limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember His power:
The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,
I am encouraging those who are weak today that sexual lust is not hard
for God to deliver you from. Yes, with men it is impossible, but with God ALL
things are possible!
Matthew 13:9
He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
Greetings to all,
I know some of you are wondering how I am doing with the recent death of my older brother Peter. He passed away in Federal Prison on Wednesday the 12th of March. He had just turned 36 in February. The Federal Prison told my dad that it could be sickness or murder. The body has been sent to my dad this weekend which tells me the autopsy is done but they told my dad there is further investigation and they cannot tell him how he died yet. I have a feeling that he was murdered. This would not surprise me knowing my brother, it could be gang related.
It was hard for me at first… thinking about his eternal state. I had a strong feeling when I first arrived in Mexico that my brother would die soon. It was like the Holy Spirit was warning me and preparing me. I asked myself, before his death took place, if it happens while I'm in Mexico what should I do? I pondered the question with the Lord and believed that I would need to learn to go on.
Praise God, He has given me the strength to go on. I know without Him I would fall hard and be lead by too many strong emotions. But the Lord helped me to run to Him immediately for comfort. I knew I had to run to Him or else my flesh would want to understand things that will not give me rest or could easily put the blame on someone, that would have blinded me to the reality of my brother's own wicked heart.
I tell you the truth, God is faithful to comfort when we direct our cry to Him. God has truly brought healing to me quick. We can let trials separate us from God or draw us closer to Him. I chose to draw close to Him, knowing He is perfect, holy, and righteous in ALL His ways.
It seems that I have gone through many trials in Mexico, but like Paul, I see that I needed them so that I would not trust in myself, but God alone (2Cor.1:9)! By no means am I saying my trials are like Paul's, but that God uses all trials to crush us and make us depend on Him. The crushing did not feel good at the time but what crushing does? But when I saw my own heart in light of God, I said "God let the crushing go on", knowing in me is nothing good. But Christ must be all in all!
The Word becomes so alive when we allow the cross to crucify us. I truly understand how trials do make His children more genuine in the faith (1Peter4:12-13). We need trials beloved! That's what crushes us from ourselves and makes us alive in God! If we do not allow the cross to have it's way with us then the self will not die.
I have been truly humbled since being here in Mexico. I have learned much about myself that I was blind to in Dallas. The Lord has been using the time here to break my heart, to expose me to much of my own heart that I was clueless of. I felt so weak, but it was good because it caused me to cry out and confess to God that I am so very weak and in need of Him.
It is so easy to get so prideful and self dependent and not realize it. Like Paul the Apostle, I see that trials are good and want them in my life to help me always see my need for God, reminding me of how weak I am, and seeing how faithful God is. If we would let the cross have it's way it would keep us humbled and always desperate for God!
Oh, if we do not see ourselves as nothing we will get easily prideful and self righteous! We must see that it is all God and without Him we can do nothing(John15:5). There is nothing to boast about in man, without God we would not even have such godly desires, nor pure love. Without the Lord we would still be in lust to the world, bound by sin. Oh saints, we have nothing to boast about in ourselves.. for if it wasn't for Jesus we would still be living in total wickedness bound by great evils!
Think about Paul's conversion. He was in the middle of persecuting the saints. Right in the middle of his hate for the saints God graciously wakes him up! I don't believe Paul was thinking about wanting to know Jesus when he was on the road to Damascus! He was burning with hate for Jesus and His saints then Jesus sovereignly awakes him right in the middle of his insanity. All of us who are His have the same awakening. We did not choose Him but He chose us. Yes, we may deceive ourselves and think we chose Him first because we had spiritual hunger experiences leading to our conversion, but the Lord was the one who gave us all those hungers!
For the scriptures says:
Rom. 3:11-13
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one."
13 " Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit"
John 6:44
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Oh, if we would ponder our old ways and look into our motives we would see how desperately wicked we once were; and if God didn't bring such trials into our lives today we would be consumed with self. This should show our need for continual dependence upon God.
I truly see I have nothing to boast about and that in me is nothing good, but the Spirit who dwells in me, and praise the Lord, works through me! It is God alone who deserves all the glory and praises. I would not be awakened to such purity, sound mind, self control if it wasn't for Him. I would not desire to forsake this evil world and set my mind on heavenly things if it wasn't for Him. I would not be able to go on and overcome all the trials and temptations from the world if it wasn't for the grace of God! No man deserves glory and praises. It is God alone who deserves all praises and glory! Even if He left me in my own wicked state He would still be Holy and Just!
One thing we must be careful of is brining God down to our own reasoning. He is not like man, He is God and does as He pleases and all His ways are perfect. It is a dangerous thing to try to understand God with human reasoning when we do not want to accept certain truths because it does not line up with our reasoning or experiences. What does God say when we bring Him down to our reasoning?
Job 38:2
2 "Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
Job38:4:7
4 " Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Romans 9:18-21
Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
Remember this and meditate on this:
Job 12:13-25
13 "With Him are wisdom and strength,
He has counsel and understanding.
14 If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt;
If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.
15 If He withholds the waters, they dry up;
If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.
16 With Him are strength and prudence.
The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He leads counselors away plundered,
And makes fools of the judges.
18 He loosens the bonds of kings,
And binds their waist with a belt.
19 He leads princes away plundered,
And overthrows the mighty.
20 He deprives the trusted ones of speech,
And takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 He pours contempt on princes,
And disarms the mighty.
22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness,
And brings the shadow of death to light.
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;
He enlarges nations, and guides them.
24 He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,
And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.
25 They grope in the dark without light,
And He makes them stagger like a drunken man
Job 39:16-17
(Concerning the ostrich, but makes it clear that God takes and gives as He please)
16 She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers;
Her labor is in vain, without concern, 17 Because God deprived her of wisdom,
And did not endow her with understanding.
Yes, God does have control of all and it gives me great peace knowing He is in control, the One who is Holy, Perfect, and Just!
God is God! Let Him have the praise and honor that is due Him, Saints! Let us humble ourselves and see we are nothing without Him. Praise God He has given His children life and that His ways are perfect even at times we do not understand all His ways in our lives, but we can know by His word that He leads His children in victory! Saints, many times in victories there is a death that has to come first! There is no victory, no power from on high without the fellowship of His suffering, being conform to His death (phil. 3:10). For there must be a carrying in our bodies the dying of our Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus will be manifested in our bodies (2 Cor. 4:10). The cross is the normal christian walk. Do know Saints, that when the sufferings of Christ abound in us so does His comfort(2 cor. 1:7)!
God is so faithful and will not forsake His people. Oh, to think of His love melts my heart. To taste of His comfort through times of trials makes me fall deeply in love with Him. Knowing He is not for our harm, but to purify us and make us like His Son!
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