#Isaiah 48:10

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Furnace of Affliction

Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. — Isaiah 48:10 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain Cross References: Deuteronomy 4:20; 1 Kings 8:51; Psalms 66:10; Isaiah 27:9; Jeremiah 9:7; Jeremiah 11:4; Ezekiel 22:18

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Isaiah 48:10 in all English translations (for comparison)

[hmdavis02]

A Theology Built on Suffering

My walk with the Living God is not your typical Southern I-was-raised-in-church story. Although I did attend church with my family as a child, I didn’t “get it.” Nothing in my childhood Sunday school classes penetrated to the core of my will and reason, and so I was unprepared for the inevitable hardships of life in a sin-wrecked world. I had no theology for suffering. As a teen and young adult,…

[tiand]

Today's Word With Joel and Victoria Osteen - Refined

Today’s Scripture Isaiah 48:10, NIV “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Today’s Word The Scripture talks about the “furnace of affliction,” where you could either give up and get sour or you can say, “God, I’ll show You what I’m made of. I’ll forgive those who hurt me. I’ll keep believing even though it looks impossible. I’ll stay…

[adventism-atheism-orthodoxy-me]

This seems appropriate to post at the moment.

In my mind, as I read the most recent blog post from Father Freeman, it reminded me of Father Farley's much older post.

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I’ve frequently said that I like Kalomiro’s River of Fire, and I get the feeling that many people assume that I advocate or desire for some sort of universalism. Yet what has always bothered me about the Standard Model as presented here in the West is not the separation of the sheep and goats, but our understanding of how that separation takes place.

And that’s where this post comes in.

Yes, Christ has done the work, and yes, to an extent our participation can be seen as the acceptance of that work. But that participation shouldn’t be seen as mandatory because of an angry God. Rather, it should be seen as preparation. Preparation for a life when the mask will be burned away, and I must live with whatever’s left.

Now, “by preparation”, I don't mean that some advanced degree program, or monkish apprenticeship need be pursued.

I merely mean that when all the masks are burned off, and there’s nothing left but me standing in the presence of the all consuming fire of God’s love, that my heart is purified like the gold in a refiner’s fire, and does not become black and ugly like the impure dross that’s drawn out and cast aside into the ashes of what remains. That when a friend might tell me, "to curse God and die”, that I will instead ask of God, “will you remember me in Paradise?”

So, today, I have said yes.

Ah, yes, right here, right now, I have. But right now it’s easy. I’m well fed, and slept warmly last night. In a year will I still do so? What about two years? Or maybe a decade? That is the preparation of which I speak – the abiding habit of saying “Yes” without even a second thought, no matter the circumstance. Also, the strength to stand up when I stumble, and to be (not act – that would be a mask) humble when others would boast.

[freebiblestudies]

Lesson 048: The Firstborn Isn’t Always the First Born

Genesis 48:19 - But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

Jacob blessed both of Joseph’s sons and gave them each an equal share of his children’s inheritance.  In essence, Joseph received the blessing of the firstborn - a double share.  Why didn’t this blessing go to Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son

Let’s read together Genesis 34:25; Genesis 35:22.

Reuben had sex with Jacob’s concubine Bilhah.  Even though Reuben was technically Jacob’s firstborn son, his immoral action disqualified him from receiving the blessing of the firstborn.

Simeon and Levi slaughtered the men of Shechem against the wishes of Jacob.  Even though they were the second- and third-born sons, they were disqualified from receiving the blessing of the firstborn.

Let’s read together 1 Samuel 16:11-13; Psalm 89:27; and Colossians 1:15.

The blessing of the firstborn does not always have to go to the firstborn son.  It is a blessing of preeminence.  David was the youngest of his brothers, but he was chosen to be the next king of Israel.  Jesus was not born or created because He is God.  However, the Bible calls Him the firstborn over creation because of His peerless superiority.

Let’s read together Genesis 48:14-18; Exodus 15:6; Psalm 16:11; Psalm 20:6; and Mark 14:62.

Why was Joseph unhappy with his father placing his right hand over Ephraim?  The right hand symbolized preeminence.  Joseph wanted the blessing of the firstborn to go to his firstborn son.  Manasseh was Joseph’s firstborn, so Joseph thought his father made a senile mistake.  

Let’s read together Genesis 25:13; Genesis 27:1-40; Deuteronomy 33:17; Isaiah 7:8, 7:17, 11:13; and Jeremiah 31:9.

Jacob had a prophetic vision that the tribe of Ephraim will eventually become greater than the tribe of Manasseh.  This is why he gave the greater blessing to Ephraim, despite Joseph’s protestations.

Let’s read together Romans 9:6-13.

We do not have to be literally the firstborn child in our family or even descended from Abraham.  We can all receive God’s blessing as His children and become a spiritual child of Abraham.

[graceandpeacejoanne]

Revelation 21: God's Glorious City

For this city was made entirely of the purest gold and shimmered with every hue of gem and pearl. In fact, each of its portals was carved from one voluminous pearl a piece. The sentries were angels. Every part of the city was foursquare, infinitely stable

[cod-dump]

sorry if you get asked this alot but what is everybodys ages in the teen!ghost au?

In order from youngest to oldest

———

Roach: 10

Gaz: 15

Soap: 15

Horangi: 15

Ghost: 16

Rudy: 16

Valeria: 16

Alex: 17

Alejandro: 17

Farah: 18

Price: 37

Graves: 42

Laswell: 45

Nik: 48

—

(Canon characters’ oc family members)

-

Soap’s family:

Andy: 16 (sister)

Carol: 18 (sister)

Eve: 21 (sister)

Isaiah: 54 (father)

Muriel: 56 (mother)

Emery: 76 (grandmother)

-

Alejandro’s family:

Leon: 46 (father)

Lola: 50 (aunt)

-

Horangi’s family:

Iseul: 14 (sister)

Eun-Ji: 17 (sister)

Seo-Ah: 18 (sister)

Sun-Ju: 45 (mother)

Sukja: 78 (grandmother)

-

Alex/Laswell family;

Annie: 40 (mother to Alex, wife to Laswell)

———

Valeria and Rudy’s families will be/are mentioned but they won’t make any appearances and their ages don’t matter (this of course may change lol)

[girlbloggercher]

how to read the Bible

this is in order!

1. John

2. Mark

3. Matthew

4. Luke

5. Genesis

6. Exodus

7. Leviticus

8. Numbers

9. Dueteronomy

10. Romans

11. Galatians

12. Colossians

13. Proverbs

14. Ecclesiastes

15. Job

16. 1 Peter

17. 1 Corinthians

18. 2 Corinthians

19. Ephesians

20. Philippians

21. 1 Thessalonians

22. 2 Thessalonians

23. 1 Timothy

24. 2 Timothy

25. James

26. 2 Peter

27. 1 John

28. 2 John

29. 3 John

30. Jude

31. Psalms

32. Joshua

33. Judges

34. 1 Samuel

35. 2 Samuel

36. 1 Kings

37. 2 Kings

38. 1 Chronicles

39. 2 Chronicles

40. Ezra

41. Nehemiah

42. Jeremiah

43. Lamentations

44. Ezekiel

45. Joel

46. Amos

47. Obadiah

48. Nahum

49. Habakkuk

50. Zephaniah

51. Haggai

52. Zechariah

53. Malachi

54. Micah

55. Hosea

56. Luke

57. Esther

58. Jonah

59. Song of Solomon

60. Acts

61. Titus

62. Philemon

63. Hebrew

64. Isaiah

65. Daniel

66. Revelation

[gsirvitor]

I trust you better than I trust google and Wikipedia. So, where oh where, did Silver come to be holy? it can't be Christianity, because we use Gold (and our bodies). or is it just an out cropping of Silver used a money? or am I over thinking it and Silver is holy because it is pretty?

No clue, I'd guess it comes from the fact it's a very pretty and rare metal, and the fact it kills parasites, fungi, viruses and bacteria, or as it says in myth, it is so pure it wards evil.

In fact, silver, due to its rarity, was often used to back currency more than gold, depending on the period and region.

Many medieval economies were silver backed, being later replaced by gold.

God's refining of the hearts of people is likened to the refining of silver (Psalm 66:10, Isaiah 48:10).

The words of truth that come from the Eternal are said to be like this metal refined seven times (Psalm 12:6).

While pure, and revered in Christianity, silver is also a damning metal in the Bible, those who placed a higher value on things made of silver rather than repentance were condemned.

Judas was paid thirty pieces of this precious metal for betraying Christ (Matthew 26:14 - 16, 27:9).

The prophet Zechariah prophesied that silver would ultimately be used to buy a potter's field (Zechariah 11:12 - 13).

Silver was so great in ancient times, that many rulers made plates, jewelry and entire pieces of furniture from the metal, or at least coated furniture in silver plating.

Precious metals, like gold and silver, are more corrosion resistant, had a high lustre and were rare, thus making them an ideal material for currencies, jewelry and idols.

For instance, in contrast to this, while Roma has a coin currency, they often paid their soldiers in salt, it was difficult to obtain and was used for many purposes, including food preservation, and seasoning.

This made salt an ideal currency in Rome, salt was a vital commodity to the Roman army, in fact the word "salary" comes from the Latin word for salt.

Damn my autism, I went off on a tangent.

[artsymumof5]

A LETTER FROM YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER! The following words come from the heart of God. After all God loves you, and He is the Father you have been looking for all your life. This is His Love Letter to you! My Dear Child, You may not know me, but I know everything about you. (Ps 139:1) I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Psalm 139:2) I am familiar with all your ways. (Psalm 139:3) Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-30) For you were made in my image. (Genesis 1:27) In me, you live and move and have your being. For you are my offspring. (Acts 17:28) I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5) I chose you when I planned the creation. (Ephesians 1:11-12) You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. (Psalm 139:15-16) I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. (Acts 17:26) You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) I knit you together in your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13) And brought you forth on the day you were born. (Psalm 71:6) I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me. (John 8:41-44) I am not distant and angry but am the complete expression of love. (I John 4:16) And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. (I John 3:1) Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. (I John 3:7) I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Matthew 7:11) For I am the perfect Father. (Matthew 5:48) Every good gift you receive comes from my hand. (James 1:17) For I am your provider and I meet your needs. (Matthew 6:31-33) My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalm 139:17-18) And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) I will never stop doing good to you. (Jeremiah 32:40) For you are my treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5) I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. (Jeremiah 32:41) And I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jeremiah 33:3) For if you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. (Deuteronomy 4:29) So, Delight in me, and I will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) For it is I who gave you those desires. (Philippians 2:13) I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) For I am your greatest encourager. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. (Psalm 34:18) As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. (Isaiah 40:11) One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. And I will take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4) I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. (John 17:23) For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. (John 17:26) And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. (2 Corinthians 5;18-19) His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. (I John 4:10) I gave up everything I loved so that I might gain your love. (Romans 8:31-32) If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. (I John 2:23) And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. (Romans 8:38-29) When it’s time for you to Come home I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. (Luke 15:7) I have always been your Father, and will always be your Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15) My question is….Will you be my child? (John 1:12-13) I am waiting for you. (Luke 15:11-32) With Love, Your Father, Almighty God

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

It Is Time to Seek the Lord

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. — Hosea 10:12 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain Cross References: Proverbs 11:18; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 48:18; Jeremiah 4:3; 2 Corinthians 9:10; James 3:18

Read full chapter

Hosea 10:12 - Bible Verse Meaning and Commentary

[writing-whump]

Fic Masterlist 1-90

1. Sick and hurt Matthew, Isaiah and reluctant Seline help

2. Matthew defends Seline and gets sick

3. Matthew helping sick Isaiah

4. Matthew helping sick Isaiah p.2 (Isaiah's pov)

5. Matthew with stomach flu + caretaker Seline

6. Seline sick with Isaiah on the road

7. Seline sick p.2 + Isaiah and Matthew

8. Food poisoning Matthew + caretaker Isaiah

9. Isaiah poisoned at an event p.1 + Sonny and Matthew

10. Isaiah poisoned p.2 + Seline and Matthew as caretakers

11. Recovering Isaiah, panicked Matthew, moving in together idea

12. Sick Seline with a headache + Isaiah

13. Matthew mixing milk with bubbly drinks + Seline as caretaker

14. Matthew sick from roller coaster ride + Isaiah as caretaker

15. Isaiah stress sick during a movie night + Seline as caretaker

16. Hector with a broken leg + Isaiah reluctantly helps

17. Late night visit with bleeding hand Reuben + Isaiah angsting

18. Caleb sick from fear + Seline + Matthew

19. Seline crying + upset sick Matthew + Isaiah as caretaker

20. Hector sick from Seline's protective wards

21. Isaiah sick from a nightmare + Seline

22. Matthew sick from hiding an infected injury + Seline + worried Isaiah

23. Matthew with a stomach bug calls Isaiah to pick him up + awkward comfort Seline

24. Isaiah catches Matthew's bug + Seline + bellyrubs

25. Seline with a cold + Isaiah + fluff

26. Flashback: upset 18 years old Isaiah can't stop throwing up + crying + reluctant caretaker Sonny

27. Feverish Matthew + backstory reveal + Isaiah and Seline for comfort

28. Arnie with ear infection + Isaiah as caretaker + brotherly reunion

29. Isaiah + heart episode + sick at night + Matthew for help

30. Flashback fic: 17 years old Isaiah, abusive father, Reuben as prisoner

31. Drunk sick emotional Arnie + angry worried Hector

32. Emberassed in denial Isaiah sick from a gory movie + worried angry Matthew

33. Hector with food poisoning + guilty anxious Arnie + calling Isaiah for help

34. Hector recovering from food poisoning + emotional talk with Isaiah

35. Hurt Matt + Hector helps + brings him to Isaiah

36. Seline crying and stressing over trains + Matthew with a concussion for comfort

37. Isaiah comes home to find Seline and Matt huddled together in bed

38. Isaiah with a high fever and a nosebleed + calls Seline to come home to help

39. Hector with bruised ribs + Arnie sick with the flu hiding from he so he doesn't catch it

40. Part 2: Isaiah helping sick Arnie and hurt Hector

41. Seline with upset tummy + Isaiah gives her bellyrubs + fluff

42. Matt sick with heatstroke + Isaiah for comfort

43. Isaiah with heart episode at an event + meeting Matt's sister + Hector trying to help

44. Part 2: Isaiah with heart episode + Hector + Matthew argue

45. Burpy with little indigestion Isaiah + Seline fluff

46. Hector claustrophobic and motion sick on the subway + meeting Olive

47. Flashback: Seline and Isaiah first meeting + magic emeto

48. Hector and Arnie find out the truth about Isaiah + stress sick Hector + Arnie for comfort + angst

49. Feverish Seline cuddling with the boys

50. Stress sick Hector talks with Isaiah about the revelation

51. Arnie with a migraine at night from the revelation + Hector caretaker

52. Isaiah breaks down after the reveal + Matt and Seline for comfort

53. Hector invites Isaiah for breakfast with Arnie + emotional whump + crying + comfort

54. Seline argues with witches + gets attacked by their wolves + Isaiah for rescue

55. Cinema motion sick Matt + Seline + Isaiah

56. Hector gets sick + appendicitis + Arnie for comfort

57. Hector after appendicitis in pain + Isaiah + Arnie

58. Hector with appendicitis part 3

59. Isaiah overeats while visiting Seline's parents + Seline for comfort

60. Isaiah finds Matt coming down with something after the trip

61. Matt gets super sick and emotional during the night + Isaiah for comfort

62. Dylan meets Rip + sick from a hit to the stomach

63. Dylan with a cold + meets Isaiah + caretaker Seline

64. Sick Seline and Isaiah with Dylan's flu + Matthew caretaker

65. Hector + Arnie in a car accident

66. Arnie with stress migraine after the accident + Isaiah

67. Stress sick Isaiah angsting over the accident + Seline

68. Hurt Hector calls Isaiah for help in the middle of the night

69. Hurt Hector part 2: Isaiah, Matthew and Seline help

70. Seline emotional angsting + Isaiah mild food poisoning

71. Isaiah meets with Levi + Rip sick from nearly drowning + Dylan

72. Isaiah hurt hand + sick from pain + Matthew caretaker

73. Matthew with a brutal stomach bug + Isaiah

74. Isaiah violently sick with Arnie part 1

75. Isaiah super sick + Hector part 2

76. Isaiah sick part 3 + stress nauseous Hector + Arnie with a headache + Matt and Seline help out

77. Rip with a silver knife wound to his stomach + Dylan for help

78. Rip silver knife wound part 2: Dylan and Seline for comfort

79. Rip hurt part 3 + Dylan + Isaiah + Rip's backstory

80. Arnie with concussion + Hector and Isaiah angst/fluff

81. Matt sick from his shadow + Isaiah for comfort

82. Seline with period cramps at cinema with Isaiah + Hector and Arnie show up

83. Rip with a stress headache after a fight with Dylan + Isaiah

84. Matt passes out in the park + Hector + Olive

85. Matt fluff and comfort with Seline and Isaiah

86. Fluffy Isaiah and Seline date + slight overeating

87. Isaiah collapses from heart attack + Matt and Seline at the hospital

88. Waiting at the hospital Sel + Matt angst

89. Isaiah wakes up after the operation + nauseous Matt + Seline

90. Isaiah more coherent after surgery + super nausous + Matt

[bibleversegarden]

Holy, loving, faithful, gracious, compassionate, merciful, longsuffering God, is righteous, just and true, and so are all His judgments, in all the earth.

Thus says the Lord God: "I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain. On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell."

"And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it." (Ezekiel 17:22-24)

"Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested." (Revelation 15:3-4)

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions

Related Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 32:1-4; 1 Samuel 16:6-7; Psalm 19; Psalm 23; Psalm 75; Psalm 89; Psalm 105; Psalm 145; Proverbs 14:34-35; Ezekiel 31; Isaiah 46:12-13; Isaiah 61:8-11; John 7:24; Acts 10:34-48; Revelation 19 and further study Revelation in its entirety.

View Related Devotion

[bearterritory]

PALO ALTO – California track & field ended its regular season in tremendous fashion this week, picking up a more-than-decisive victory on the men's side at the 129th Big Meet by demolishing Stanford at Cobb Track and Angell Field by a margin of 114-48, its largest point differential since 1992. The men also picked up two meet records courtesy of NCAA leader Rowan Hamilton (hammer, 74.46m/244-3) and the 4x100m relay quartet of Chase Williams, George Monroe, Mason Mangum and��David Foster (39.46); both were previously owned by the Cardinal, with Hamilton's surpassing Dave Popejoy's 1995 mark by over four meters.   The win from Hamilton capped off the Golden Bears' first podium sweep of the day, which included Ivar Moisander's second-place mark of 68.29m (224-0) and Michael Gupta's third-place 64.57m (211-10); the latter, a personal-best, moved Gupta up to No. 7 in program history. Cal also scored all nine points in the men's pole vault thanks to Will Siemens (4.77m/15-7.75), Parker Terrill (4.77m/15-7.75) and David Brok (4.47m/14-8), then repeated that feat in the discus, where Justin Wirtz's third-place 52.53m/172-4 followed massive personal bests from Nick Godbehere (53.85m/176-8) and Charlie Dang (53.58m/175-9). The decathlete trio of Seth Johnson, Luke Buddie and Riley Knott also went 1-2-3, in that order, in both the 110m hurdles and the javelin; in the hurdles, Johnson's victory came at a time of 14.86 to Buddie's personal-best 15.12 and Knott's 15.16, while the javelin contest resulted in 54.57m (179-0) for Johnson, 52.48m (172-2) for Buddie and 51.51m (169-0) for Knott. One final men's sweep came in the 100m, where Foster (10.25) led Williams (10.39) and Monroe (10.39) to another nine points for Cal.   Other wins for Cal's men came in the long jump (Mangum, 7.66mw/25-1.75), the high jump (Jai Williams, 2.07m/6-9.5), the 400m (Isaiah Shaw, 46.76), the 800m (Iyan Godwin, 1:54.26), the 400m hurdles (Aiden Baker, 52.97), the 200m (Foster, 21.16 – PR) and the 4x400m (Shaw/Godwin/Johnson/Josh Keller, 3:13.23).   In the women's competition, the Cardinal broke a three-year Cal winning streak, taking the win with a score of 90-72. Senior Amari Turner earned Cal's third meet record of the day in the pole vault, surpassing the 2011 mark set by Stanford's Katerina Stefanidi with a winning leap of 4.35m (14-3.25).

Turner's result highlighted one of three podium sweeps on the women's side, with Kylie Hilton (4.07m/13-4.25) and Ali Sahaida (3.97m/13-0.25) rounding out the pole vault top three. Cal also earned that distinction in the 100m hurdles – with Jazlynn Shearer's 13.52 beating out a 13.53 from Jada Hicks and a 14.17 from Mari Testa – and the women's hammer, where Jasmine Blair's 60.47m (198-4) led Adrianna Coleman's 56.54m (185-6) and Destiny Okoh's 56.47m (185-3). Blair later picked up another win in the discus, where she improved her PR (and program No. 2 mark) by over a meter to 59.60m (195-6).   Cal's women took home three more field event victories. The shot put contest landed in favor of Caisa-Marie Lindfors, who posted a throw of 15.18m (49-9.75) for the win, while Myla Canty out-leapt the field in the triple jump (12.19m/40-0) and Carolina Visca out-threw her competition in the javelin (50.03m/164-1).   "I think all of our kids competed to the best of their ability," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Robyne Johnson said. "Credit to Stanford's women – they were the better team today. Our guys did a really good job, really showed up. I think we can do something special at the Pac-12 Championships."  

[steveezekiel]

THEY ARE HIS ATTRIBUTES AND NOT WEAKNESSES 2

7 THE LORD IS GOOD, A STRONG REFUGE WHEN TROUBLE COMES. HE IS CLOSE TO THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM.

8 BUT HE WILL SWEEP AWAY HIS ENEMIES IN AN OVERWHELMING FLOOD. He will pursue his foes into the darkness of night."

Nahum 1:7,8 (NLT)

• God purifies through the fire of Afflictions, the challenges of life. If you are being taken through a fire presently, do not be despaired, God is in the process of making you:

3 AND NOT ONLY THIS, BUT [with joy] LET US EXULT [glory] IN OUR SUFFERINGS AND REJOICE IN OUR HARDSHIPS, KNOWING THAT HARDSHIP (distress, pressure, trouble) PRODUCES PATIENT ENDURANCE; 4 AND ENDURANCE, PROVEN CHARACTER (spiritual maturity); AND PROVEN CHARACTER, HOPE AND CONFIDENT ASSURANCE [of eternal salvation]" (Romans 5:3,4 Amps.).

- God is stern, a disciplinarian, Who would not condone the flesh; carnal or fleshly manifestations.

- If you try to dodge, circumvent, or evade the purification process; you may end up being a vessel that is not fit for His Use.

- God is holy (1 Peter 1:15,16). He wants you to be perfect, that is, matured. He wants you to grow up in your walk with Him (Ephesians 4:15).

• God usually would start with you at the level you are in your growth in Him, and work on you to become the vessel He wanted to use.

- Whoever God wants to build, but refuses to cooperate with Him; would not receive the best of Him. In other words, God would not take lightly with whom He loves and chooses, but refuses His corrections, or rebukes, and the trainings.

- When you live in disobedience to God's Will, or instruction, you will see the other side of Him.

- After a person had known God, professed to be a Believer in Christ Jesus, but yet indulging in the flesh; such would be chastised by Him—God. Remember, God disciplines or chastises because He loves (Hebrews 12:5,6).

- Note: A person who is being purified for a particular purpose, but yielded not to corrections and would not want to change; God might decide to raise another person for the purpose which He intended to use the person for.

- Kindness and love are part of God's major attributes, but He could be severer when dealing with rebellion:

2 THE LORD IS A JEALOUS GOD, FILLED WITH VENGEANCE AND RAGE. HE TAKES REVENGE ON ALL WHO OPPOSE HIM AND CONTINUES TO RAGE AGAINST HIS ENEMIES! 3 THE LORD IS SLOW TO GET ANGRY, BUT HIS POWER IS GREAT, AND HE NEVER LETS THE GUILTY GO UNPUNISHED. HE DISPLAYS HIS POWER IN THE WHIRLWIND AND THE STORM. THE BILLOWING CLOUDS ARE THE DUST BENEATH HIS FEET" (Nahum 1:2,3 NLT).

• Note: to enjoy the good side of Him:

a. Strive or endeavour to know God through His Word that you might not offend Him or be living contrary to His principles (Psalm 119:11).

b. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

c. Be sensitive to know what He is saying, His leadings, and obey to the letter whatever you have heard Him say (Proverbs 3:5,6; Isaiah 48:17).

- If your ways pleased God, He would cause your enemies to be at peace with you (Proverbs 16:7).

- May you not miss your place in Jesus' name. And may your place not be given to another person in Jesus' name.

"WHEN A MAN'S WAYS PLEASE THE LORD, HE MAKES EVEN HIS ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE WITH HIM."

Proverbs 16:7 (ESV)

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

- Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare that you are healed in Jesus' mighty name.

- Affliction will not rise the second time in your life in Jesus' mighty name.

Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION

• Take notice of this:

IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).

a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).

b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).

c. Ask that your name be written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!

[albertfinch]

FREEDOM FROM THE PAST

We are entering a new season of a fresh start! We are in a divinely appointed time of refreshing and restoring:

"So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame" (Joel 2:25-26).

This is a new day in which you may boldly declare, "Old things have passed away!" (see Isaiah 48:6-7).

GOD FORGETS YOUR PAST

Through our repentance, God always makes a way to free us from our past. We take this encouragement to heart -- not letting our past failures keep us from experiencing our future victories!

We remember this vital promise:

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2 KJV).

The Lord has already lavished us with abundant, extravagant forgiveness and grace to empower us to leave behind:

every single past sin and failure, which includes -- the days of regret,

doubt and fear,

the many missed opportunities and failed relationships,

the seasons of backsliding and passivity,

the detours of the works of the flesh.

As we believe His Word of forgiveness and set our heart to seek the Lord, we will find overwhelming grace and mercies for each day (see Jeremiah 29:12-13).

AFFIRMATIONS:

I never give up.

I ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7) until I understand and implement God’s purpose for my life.

I never give in again to a mindset of guilt and failure (see Hebrews 10:35).

I was created to carry His glory and presence into a lost and dying world.

God has confidence in me as I advance His Kingdom by equipping others in the ascended life in Christ.  (see Deuteronomy 28:13, Matthew 6:33)

I am His choice (see Ephesians 2:10), chosen for "such a time as this" (Esther 4:14).

GOD REDEEMS YOUR WOUNDS

Truly, it was by the stripes of Jesus Christ that we were healed (see Isaiah 53:5).

Even the wounds that we have suffered will become great avenues of healing. Since we are healed from our wounds -- then we receive grace for healing others! We bring Christ's healing and comfort to others in the areas in which we ourselves have been afflicted (see 1 Thessalonians 5:11). This may include wounds from bad preaching and teaching that we have endured over the years that has not helped us understand our Christ identity, therefore, not being equipped for life. As a result we are sure to properly equip today’s generation of Believers.

GOD BRINGS BREAKTHROUGH

God is even now releasing divine favor to us for accomplishing great exploits for His glory. In Psalm 84:11 (NLT), we learn how He lavishes His blessings of grace and glory:

"For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right."

Matthew 7:8 AMP -- "For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened."

Even if you have not had revelation of God's CALLING on your life, do not lose heart! God is saying, "Try again!" It is time to regroup and try again, knowing that failure is never God's plan (see Jeremiah 29:11). You will see doors open that were closed to you previously. God is granting breakthrough.

You experience the overwhelming love and favor of God as you leave the past behind and boldly take hold of your Christ calling and begin bearing fruit that remains for His Kingdom.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY