Spiritual Steak...

God, in my car after my doctor appt. you gave me the daily bread...as I pulled the little book out of my purse the page was folded back on Nov. 16th. The card the doctor had just written me for my next followup was Nov. 16th. Coincidence? I think not. So I begin to read the Nov. 16th entry. The top of the page says BEWARE! It is about false teachers. It was perfect! More than you know! The timing...

So John (in 1 John 2) warns us, as believers and followers of Christ, against these false teachers. In the end times, there will be (and are) many among us. The daily bread compares it to counterfeit money; which is quite apropos considering the money scandal in San Francisco. It said that, when distinguishing counterfeit money from real money, one must look for the DIFFERENCES, not the similarities. As the enemy will lace things with truth. Little grains of truth will be strategically placed, just enough, throughout the teaching that it will "seem right & good." This is highly dangerous. The point is to draw the faithful away from Jesus. Not outrightly and obviously, no of course not. That would not happen; but subtly, without really knowing. This is the cunning baffling thing about the adversary. By warping truth just enough that it is not glaringly obvious. Twisting this, mixing that, deviating here just a little. You have to be on your guard and clear-headed, prayed up and connected to THE source. The indwelling Holy Spirit will give you red flags and warnings. But it is up to YOU to search out those warnings, to seek that Truth, to dig in, to press in...press into God and His Word. The similarities will make you believe that it must be "right" Thinking to yourself, "well he preaches Jesus, he loves Jesus, he quotes scripture." But John warns us not to look at the similarities. Look at the differences. The differences are what makes ALL the difference. The slightest difference changes the WHOLE BIG PICTURE.

It is so crucial, now of all times, that we are mature and spiritually discerned, testing the spirits and being a tester of metal. Don't let what "seems" right and good, fool you or lead you away from the Truth, from Jesus. He IS the Truth. The ONLY way to come to God the Father, is through His son. God makes it very clear in His Word, and anyone or anything that says otherwise, is opposing God's Word and warping His Truth. Forgive them Father, they know not what they do. Forgive us Father, we know not what we do. God is the only one who truly knows and makes all things right. There is no need to fear, our Shepherd will never let His sheep out of His sight. He is the Ultimate Authority and I thank Him for warning me and for being my constant guide.

Every painful lesson we go through is worth it. God uses it to equip us with discernment, empathy, Godly wisdom and so much more. "What was intended to destroy you, God is using for good, for the saving of many lives"-Gen.50:20. God shows me again and again why that is my life verse. Maybe this was all to prepare me, so that God can use me when others are being led astray by false teachers and heresy.

Read 1 John 2:18-27. It is a heavy topic, a meaty chunk of scripture...meant for our maturity & growth in Christ.

Trust. Timing.

Waiting

To wait for God is never a waste of time. Wait on His timing, it's perfect.

Patience is not the ability to wait, but how you act while you're waiting.

"Beware of your knowledge of God outpacing your character of God. Truth should never travel faster than Love." ♥
God is LOVE.

1 Corinthians 7:35
"I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord."(NIV)

"I am saying these things to help you. I am not trying to keep you from getting married. I want you to do what is best. You should work for Him without other things taking your time."(NLV)

"to secure your undistracted and undivided devotion to the Lord."-1 Cor.7:35 (AMP)


How long will you wander, my wayward daughter?
God will create something new & different to happen:
A transformed woman will embrace the transforming God!"-Jer. 31:22
In another version of the Bible it says "A woman will court her suitor"...wow! God is our suitor, pursuing our wandering, wayward hearts. In Hosea 2 God says, "She will call me her husband"

But then I will win her back once again.
I will lead her into the desert
and speak tenderly (words of comfort) to her there.
I will return her vineyards to her
and transform the Valley of Trouble, a door of hope.
And she will SING there as she did when she was young (NLV)
when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.
When that day comes,” says the Lord,
“you will call Me ‘My Husband’-Hosea 2:14-16 (NLT)

"I will promise to make you Mine forever. Yes, I will take you as My bride in what is right and good and fair, and in loving-kindness and in loving-pity. I will keep My promise and make you Mine. Then you will know the Lord."-Hosea 2:19-20

WOW! I could write an entire novel just on these verses from Hosea & Jeremiah...the thing is...there are SO many more. His Word is so alive. He has been speaking to me about being His bride since before my baptism and He keeps revealing more and more to me. Hosea 2:15 He says she will SING there as she did when she was young. After He freed her from captivity. I can really relate to these verses. He is wooing me and calling me back to my first love...to HIM. Calling me back to singing to Him and for Him. He reminds me of all He has freed me from and all He has rescued me from. When He recalls to my mind & heart, all of the mercy & grace He has had upon me...it makes me want to SING for Him. Shout for JOY, sing from the top of the rooftops about how good He is. You see when you experience a LOVE like God, you want to tell the WHOLE WORLD about it. You can't help but tell them, sing about Him...you are bursting at the seems with His love! He is so jealous for us. For our love, affection, attention. For our first and our best. Because He loves us that much and He wants to give us HIS first and HIS best!

LOOK UP

“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.” -Abraham Lincoln

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Daily Inspiration and Truth

‎Some must read quotes for today:

”Prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12). You have no choice in whether you meet him. Only whether you are ready. - John Piper

Lord God, as I read the stories of the Bible, I see again and again that You call Your people to do things that, at the time, don’t seem to make sense. I also realize that the reason Your will didn’t make sense to Your people is that their vision was limited—they couldn’t see the ends You had in mind. Show me in my mind and heart that I cannot know what my best interest really looks like, because I would need to know the future, and only You know that. Because my own perspective is limited, may I learn to trust You and do what You tell me, because it will always work out to my greater good. Then trust will overcome fear, and I will risk everything on Your character and live into the purposes You have ordained for me. As I embrace a biblical perspective, may it change my priorities and my practice. [Ken Boa]


So long as breath remains in our lungs, untapped POTENTIAL lies inside us, waiting to be released. The reason we are still alive is that we are carrying something inside us that this generation NEEDS. That’s why we’re not yet in heaven.
– Wayne Cordeiro

He's not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles means little to him.Those who fear God get God's attention; they can depend on his strength.-Psalm 147:10-11

On a good day enjoy yourself. On a bad day examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days So that we wont take anything for granted-Ecc 7:14

Rise up & shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you. Let your light shine for ALL to see-Isaiah60:1

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. Mother Teresa



*Mind you that when I post quotes and verses, I never claim to have these down 100%...these are things that inspire me that I want to share. Things that I try to do and aspire to DO, with Christ's help. To not only be a hearer of the Word but a DO-ER. Not preaching at or to anyone. I am in the same boat as you. Just doing the best I can to follow His Word, one day at a time*
Not Perfect, Just Forgiven

Iron Sharpens Iron

Santa Cruz last night....God's skyline!!!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Had the most amazing night with my little sister Kelsey! She posted this while I was sleeping last night "You know you have an amazing best friend when every conversation you have is about how wonderful God is. Love you Malorie Mckenna!!!!"

"If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm' though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hands." Psalm 37:23-24

Wow!!!! All the glory to GOD for that!!!! Everytime I share my testimony, I'm reminded of how amazing God is & all the He saved me from! Humbled & grateful! Never forget.
Last night was an ~iron sharpening iron, fellowship, testimony share, worshipping the Lord and getting filled UP~night!! I felt like I had a little Santa Cruz vacation with the Lord and my sister. God never ceases to amaze me through my friend's love & the friendships He has blessed me with! We talked from 5:45 to 2 a.m. about God. I mean I just love how we can't stop talking about Him. I love how we want to stay up all night and read His Word and talk about Him and learn from Him and worship Him. Worship and fellowship are literally crucial to my survival. They help me thrive...it's where God fills me up so that I can overflow His love & goodness onto others. It is where I am changed & transformed & renewed by Him.

As I recalled everything in my testimony and all of His goodness. I saw so clearly my Father's hand in everything and His fingerprints running through my whole life. I just felt even more alive. We overcome by the word of our testimony. And of course, His blood! It was so awesome to remember how God connected me and Nichole and ALL He did through her in my life and still does. And then how He connected me & Kelsey through Nichole. I really believe I will eventually meet my husband through Nichole. God has connected me to so many amazing people and given me countless priceless friendships through her. She is a Jesus networker and connecter. I love it!!!

I still cannot believe that Nichole and I met in a bar four years ago when she was cocktail waitressing. Now fast-forward and we are fired up, sold out, Jesus freaks, and sisters in Christ. I could go on and on about the many miracles God has done in and through our friendship. I can never thank God enough for loving me so much to give me such amazing sisters!!!