From Jamie's Heart

AVON!

Thoughts and Stories from
Jamie West

Rahab's Story

Last updated on 09/16/2009

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5/12/2006

The Powerful Word of God... More from Beth Moore

You, O God, will never leave me. Never will You forsake me. (Heb. 13:5) You are the only absolute guarantee I have in all of life. Help me cling to the one thing I can never lose.

What an amazingly powerful word. There is a lot in this world that we try and cling to, but none of those things can hold us up in a storm. God is the one absolute we have and if we will hold tight to Him, He promises to never let us down.

We often see ourselves as fragile, breakable souls. We live in fear of that which we are certain we can't survive. As children of God, we are only as fragile as our unwillingness to turn and hide our face in Him. OUr pride alone is fragile. Once its shell is broken and the heart is laid bare, we can sense the caress of God's tender care. Until then, He holds us just the same.

I am so thankful that God holds me no matter what. He is there through the good and the bad and carries me when I just can't stand.

If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared. I wait for You, Lord. My soul waits for You, Lord, more than watchmen wait for the morning. With You, Lord, is unfailing love and with You, Lord, is full redemption. You Yourself will redeem me from all my sins. (Ps. 130:3-8)

What are you waiting on? God is wanting so badly to fellowship with your heart right now. Today is the day of decision. Choose to wait for Him, and He will make a way!

Have a blessed day.

In Him,

Jamie

4/5/6

GOOD MORNING!!!!!!!!!!

Truth: I love Spring Break!!!!

I hope that this email finds you all doing well. My church is involved in revival this week and God has really been doing some amazing things. We still have tonight and tomorrow night, so please be praying for us and all that God has planned for us.

It is really awesome to be standing on the brink of something amazing, please pray that we as a church are willing to take the next step and be obedient to what God has for us.

So often what keeps all of us from taking that next step is fear. I know that fear is one of Satan's greatest tools against God's people. My question is what are we afraid of? Why as Christians when we know how amazing God is, do we fear taking steps of obedience.

One of the things that God revealed to my heart is the trick that Satan used in the very beginning. He planted a seed of doubt in Eve's heart. He caused her to believe that God was keeping something good from her, he caused her to fear missing out on something. Instead of seeing God as a God that gives, Satan caused her to see Him as a God that either keeps good things hidden or takes them away.

How often do we hold back because we are afraid God is trying to take something away from us. We're afraid of what He is going to ask us to give up. Our God is not a God that takes, our God is a God that gives. He has so much that He wants to give us and whenever He does require something of us, it's because He has something even better waiting to take its place.

So, we need to stop being afraid of what God wants to take from us, we need to stop believing the lie that God is holding out on us. HE'S NOT!!!! Jesus said, I have not come into the world to judge it, but have come so that you might have life and that life to the fullest!!! Jesus offers us abundant life, and anything we have to leave behind to have that life is worth it.

Awesome God, Your Word says that knowing Christ Jesus my Lord is so wonderful that I can consider everything a loss compared to its surpassing greatness. Help me to consider anything rubbish that I have to lay down in order to gain (more knowledge and a more abiding presence of) Christ. (Phil. 3:8) Beth Moore's Praying God's Word

May our Lord bless you and keep you. May He through His loving presence, show you the abundant life that is available in Him. Don't be afraid!

In Him,

Jamie

3/25/2006

More from Praying God's Word by Beth Moore.

Father God, I ask You to lead me when I'm blinded by ways I have not known, along unfamiliar paths please guide me; Lord, turn the darkness into light before me and make the rough places smooth. I pray these are the things You will do; I know You will not forsake me. (Isa. 42:16)

Lord God, I am hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, by not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. I always carry around in my body the death of Your Son, Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in my body. (2 Cor. 4:8-10) Lord, help me always to remember that if I am truly crucified with Christ, I am also raised to resurrection life! Help me never to forget that the purpose of crucified life is to walk in the power of Your resurrection. (Gal. 2:20)

O, Lord, cause my soul to yearn for YOU in the night and long for You in the morning. (Isa. 26:9) Please transfer my yearning and longing to You because I can have You to my fill! You will never be a detriment to me!

The amazing, awesome, total power of God's word!!!!!

May these prayers be a blessing to you.

In Him,

Jamie

3/20/2006

More cool stuff from Praying God's Word.

You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for You, my God, Your way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. You are a shield for all who take refuge in You. For who is God beside You, Lord? And who is the Rock except my God? It is You, God, who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. You make my feet like the feet of a deer; You enable me to stand on the heights. You train my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me Your shield of victory; You stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not turn. (2 Sam. 22:29-37)

Bottom line, I either trust Him or I don't. I either believe in Him and who He is, or I don't. If I want certain victory, there is only one choice, I have to believe. When I believe, then He will stoop down to make me great. As I looked over these verse, I noticed a reoccurring theme, it's all about Him. It's all about what He wants to do in our lives. He is so willing to go the distance for us. The question is, are we willing to go the distance for Him.

I pray that our God has blessed you this day with His presence, His joy, and His peace.

3/6/2006

More from the book Praying God's Word!

My Name is Pride. I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny... because

you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment... because you

"deserve better than thins"

I cheat you of knowledge... because you already

know it all.

I cheat you of healing... because you're too full

of me to forgive.

I cheat you out of holiness... because you refuse to

admit when you're wrong.

I cheat you of vision... because you'd rather look

in the mirror than out a window.

I cheat you out of genuine friendship... because

nobody's going to know the real you.

I cheat you out of love... because real romance

demands sacrifice.

I cheat you out of greatness in heaven... because you

refuse to wash another's feet on earth.

I cheat you of God's glory... because I convince

you to seek your own.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

You like me because you think I'm always looking

out for you. Untrue.

I'm looking to make a fool of you.

God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry...

If you stick with me

You'll never know.

Worry is a kind of pride. When we worry, essentially we are trying to find a solution to our own problem. A like of anxiety shows that we have humbled ourselves before God, and have put confidence and faith in Him.

That's why I like this particular prayer.

Father, according to Your Word, in his pride the wicked does not seek You; in all his thoughts there is no room for You. (Ps. 10:4) Please help me to always make room in my thoughts for You, God. Don't allow me to continue on in pride that stops me from seeking You.

02/11/2006

Hi to everyone. I pray that this email finds you all knowing how much you are loved by God.

I've just finished the Unbelief Chapter in Praying God's Word. There are some amazing prayers in that chapter. Unbelief stunts our growth as Christians. Where God would have our faith grow, so that we can mount up with wings as eagles, we hide behind unbelief and doubt. The prayers in this chapter are awesome, and I still recommend the book to everyone. Here are just a few that God really impressed upon my heart.

Remember that the word of God is sharper than any double edged sword, able to divide soul and spirit, joint and marrow. It will show us the motivations of our hearts. As you pray, expect God's word to be put to the test and grab hold of the fact that God will do all that He has promised to do.

Dear Jesus, You told Your close followers, who were taught how to seek the Father's heart, that whatever they asked for in prayer they were to beleive they received it and it would be theirs. (Mark 11:24) O, Father, help me to know Your heart intimately so that I'll know how to pray, what to pray, and believe in advance that I will recieve it!

Father, Your Word says that if Your disciples believe, they will receive whatever they ask for in prayer. (Matt. 21:22) Lord, as you mature my faith, also teach me how to pray and what to ask of You in prayer. I have so much to learn. Keep teaching me, Father.

Father, in the parable of the sower, You teach us that the seed of Your Word that falls along the path represents the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe. (Luke 8:12) Lord, please help me to actively receive Your Word into my heart upon hearing it so that the devil cannot come and take it from me before it has had time to take root.

Lord, if You speak to me regarding earthly things and I do not believe, how then will I believe when You speak of heavenly things? (John 3:12) Help me to believe You here and now and not just believe you in things concerning heaven. You are God of heaven and earth!

Lord, though I have not seen You, I want to love You deeply; and even though I do not see You now, I want to believe in You and be filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. (1 Pet. 1:8)

Father, I want You to be able to look at my life as You did Stephen's and be able to say that I am full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and that many people were brought to the Lord through my witness. (Acts 11:24)

O, God, how I thank You that a lack of faith will never nullify Your faithfulness. (Rom. 3:3) If I am faithless, You will remain faithful, for You cannot disown Yourself. (2 Tim. 2:13)

Lord God, You don't want me to be persuaded just by the wise and persuasive words. You want me to be persuaded by the demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that my faith will not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. (1 Cor. 2:4-5)

Lord God, help me draw near to You with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having my heart sprinkled to cleanse me from a guilty conscience and having my body washed with pure water. (Heb. 10:22)

Lord God, You have said that Your righteous one will live by faith and if he shrinks back You will not be pleased with him. (Heb. 10:38) Lord, I want to live a life that is pleasing to You. The life that pleases you is also a life that You so readily bless. (Heb. 11:6) I don't want to miss the great adventures You mapped out for me by shrinking back from a walk of faith.

Father, according to Your Word, faith is being sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see. (Heb. 11:1) Please increase my assurance and certainty of the things You've promised but that I cannot see.

Lord, please help me to be like Abraham who, by faith, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (Heb. 1:8) Help me not to miss future blessing because I refuse to go to a place with You that I've never been before.

01/16/2006

Hello to all,

A good friend of mine recommended a book to our Wednesday night study group. It's called "Praying God's Word" by Beth Moore.

Beth Moore says something in the first chapter that confirms something that God has been trying to teach me this year. God has given us weapons to battle the thoughts in our minds and the war that is being waged around us by the enemy, those weapons are His Word and Prayer. She describes them as two sticks of dynamite that we can lay at the foundation of any stronghold and watch the stronghold fall. So what she has done is put together a group of prayers based on scripture. God has given us His truth to battle the darkness and when we pray His word we release a power into our lives that we can't even begin to hope or imagine.

The first chapter is on idolatry and here are just a few of the prayers. I know that we are all facing difficulties in our lives or have friends or family who are facing difficulty. I would encourage you to pray these prayers over yourself and them, allowing God to shine His light into the darkness.

You, my Lord, are the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. You will not grow tired or weary, and Your understanding no one can fathom. You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but when I hope in YOu, O, Lord, my strength will be renewed. I will soar on wings like eagles; I will run and not grow weary, I will walk and not faint. (Isa. 40:28-31)

My God, since the creation of the world Your invisible qualities-- Your eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Rom. 1:20) O, merciful God, help us not exchange the truth of God for a lie, and worship and serve created things rather than You, our Creator-- who is forever praised. Amen. (Rom. 1:25)

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Your justice like the great deep. O Lord, Your preserve both man and beast. How priceless is Your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings. I want to feast on the abundance of Your house; I want to drink from Your river of delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light I want to see light. (Ps. 36:5-9)

My God, whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. (Ps. 73:25)

My Lord, where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. (Ps. 139:7-10)

My Father and my God, You are not a man, that You should lie, not a son of man, that You should change Your mind. I thank You that when You speak, You act. And what You promise, You fulfill. (Num. 23:19)

I pray that God can use these prayers in Your life to bring victory and draw you closer to Him.

12/28/2005

I love the hope that theses verses give.

Psalm 124: 1-8

"If the Lord had not been on our side- Let Israel say-

if the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away."

What a discouraging picture. Swallowed alive, flood waters engulfing. How often does it feel like that is exactly what is happening in our lives. Our circumstances or emotions, just become too much for us to handle and we feel as if they are going to burry us alive. We feel like there is nothing we could possibly do to stand against such odds. But the beauty of these verses is the word "if".

"Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

PRAISE THE LORD, WE HAVE ESCAPED. The verse before talks of if the Lord were not with us, but the truth is that God is with us, and He has provided a way of escape. The Psalmist talks of the bird escaping, to escape usually a bird flies. That is what God wants us to do, He wants us to soar. He wants us to fly. But to do that first we must see and understand that God has broken the snare. Nothing can hold us captive if we are a child of God. The Lord is on our side. What good news. What hope!

12/12/2005

"I lift up my eyes to the hills--

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let you foot slip--

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you--

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm--

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:1-8

I think that I will just let the word of God speak for itself.

I have a prayer request in regards to my family. I'm not going to go into a lot of details now, but just please be remembering my family.

11/21/2005

I have a confession to make. Lately I have had a lot on my mind and have been more than a little distracted. The reason for my distraction bottom line is worry. I have really been worrying lately about the future and a 100 other things.

The root of all anxious thoughts and worry is control. I want to have control so I meditate on things that are completely out of my control like that is going to make me feel better.

God gave me an amazing word last night and it was so cool I just had to share it, especially since we are going into a hectic holiday season when it is so easy to be busy and to worry.

"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread." Proverbs 30:7

Only my daily bread. This verse reminded me that God gives me enough joy, grace, patience, hope and courage to make it through today. My daily bread from Him is like the manna from heaven, He wants me to trust Him with my tomorrows, so He only gives me enough of what I need for today. I can't live on past manna but I can't live on future manna either. I have to take the manna for today, and live out that verse, "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." Bible

So for all of us worriers of the future this is my prayer for us.

"Be anxious about nothing, but in all things, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God will guard your minds and your hearts in Christ Jesus." Bible

10/29/2005

The Almighty Word of God, something so timeless and so beautiful, yet many people see it as just a bunch of stories about a bunch of people who lived a long time ago.

One of the things to me that is so amazing about God's word is how easily it applies to my life today. When I find myself in a stressful situation or I find myself forgetting who I am in Christ, God's word leads me back to where I belong. It really is the lamp unto my feet guiding me home.

No verses illustrate this point more than the verses from Psalm 119. From beginning to end all the verses outline the beauty and need for God's Word. I hope that these scriptures can bless your heart as much as they have blessed mine.

"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart."

Psalm 119: 1-2

We are all looking for a little more blessing in our lives. God's word in and of itself is a blessing.

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

Psalm 119:9-11

Purity of mind and purity of heart is a difficult thing to find in this world, but with the help of God's word purity is attainable. That which is inpure hinders us, but that which is pure sets us free.

"Your statues are my delight, they are my counselors."

Psalm 119:24

We make 100 decisions every day. Through the help and guidance of God's word it is possible for us to make the right ones.

"My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statues, O Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free."

Psalm 119:28-32

It's nice to know God has set my heart free. But the freedom comes only after the choice.

"Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness." Psalm 119: 39-40

More than anything in this world, I want to make a difference. I have one shot, one life, one chance. I want it to count for something beautiful. God's word and His righteousness in me, cause my life to be something beautiful for Him.

10/6/2005

Greetings from the home bound, on a rainy Thursday.

This is a long Psalm so I'm just going to let The Word do the talking. I will say that freedom is what Christ came and died for, so today if you are feeling a little bound, or a little entangled then let the word minister to your heart. If today you have come to a place where you are beginning to feel true freedom for the first time, then let this Psalm be your praise to Him.

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came upon me;

I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord;

'O Lord, save me!'

The Lord is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

The Lord protects the simple-hearted;

when I was in great need, he saved me.

Be at rest once more, O my soul,

for the Lord has been good to you.

For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stubbing,

that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

I believe; therefore I said, 'I am greatly afflicted.'

And in my dismay I said,

'All men are liars.'

How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant;

you have freed me from my chains.

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,

in the courts of the house of the Lord--

in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 116

9/24/2005

Life and the circumstances of life can make the existence of God a questionable issue. When life is tough it is easier at times to turn to the things that we can see and touch for comforter. That is why I love this Psalm. It reminded me of how real my God is. No matter whether I can see Him or not.

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we can not see." Hebrews 11:1

"Why do the nations say, 'Where is their God?' Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them." Psalm 115:2-8

WHAT MY LORD JESUS CAN DO

"They have mouths but can't speak."

Jesus speaks to us. He speaks to our hearts and to our lives. He speaks to our pain. We have a whole 4 books filled with words taken directly from His mouth, and everyone of them is just as vital today as it was 2000 years ago. Jesus speaks.

"Eyes that can't see."

Think of all that Jesus sees. He sees our hurts, both big and small. He sees our victories and rejoices with us. He sees the broken and weary. He sees his child running home. Too make it a little more personal, He sees the flooded homes and the ruined cities. He sees the desperate families. Jesus sees.

"They have ears, but cannot hear."

Jesus hears our laughter. He hears our singing. He hears us when we weep. He hears the angels singing, but would trade all that to hear the smallest of prayers from His children. He hears the damn busting and the water rushing in. Jesus hears us.

"Noses but they can not smell."

Jesus smells the bread baking, the coffee brewing and the flowers in the field. He smells the begger and the homeless and does not turn away. He smells the fragrant offering of our praise.

"Hands but can't feel."

Jesus' hands touched the eyes of the blind. Wiped the tears from a mother's eyes. His hands broke bread and gave thanks. And even now His hands are handing out bottled water and food. His hands are outstretched offering people homes. His hands bore the nails that set me free. His hands hold me even now.

"Feet that can't walk."

Jesus walked on water. He walked beside his disciples. He walked into the synagogues and into the houses of sinners. He walked into a garden and up a hill carrying a cross. Today he walks down flooded streets, and he walks with me through the valley of the shadow of death.

"Not a sound within their throats"

When I have no words to speak to express my joy or my pain, Jesus' Spirit intercedes with groans that words can't express.

Thank You God. Thank you for being more real than anything else I will experience.

9/5/2005

At a time when so many people's lives have been shaken and there is no lack of bad news, I thought these scriptures would be a blessing to our hearts.

"Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands." Psalm 112:1

When we have the fear of the Lord in our hearts, it will be harder for us to fear anything else.

"Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes." Psalm 112:6-8

What amazing promises and all this stems from fear of the Lord and trust in His commands. Imagine never being shaken, having no fear of bad news, going through life with a secure heart, and knowing that we will triumph over our foes.

I know what it means to be afraid. Sometimes I feel like I'm afraid of everything, but when I put my perspective where it needs to be; when I look into the face of God and give Him all my fear, then there is little room in my heart for anything else. So remember, blessed is the man who fears the Lord.

When ever you feel yourself growing afraid, return to His word and He will give you a heart that won't be shaken.

Have a great week!!

8/6/2005

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from the east and west, from the north and south." Psalm 107: 1-3

Sometimes life just feels scattered or shattered one way or the other. Like there are just little pieces of me everywhere and I'm constantly trying to gather them all up or put them back together, or even just keep them under control.

What I thought was encouraging about this verse is that no matter how scattered and stretched I feel, from north to south, from east to west; I serve a God who is able to pick up all the scattered, shattered pieces and keep me together.

The Psalmist uses the word gather. What a calm, gentle word. It is so nice to know that God gathers me in His arms. No matter how far I have stretched myself, no matter how far I have gone off the beaten trail, He is able to gather me from the north and south, from the east and west.

Praise Your Name Oh Lord, for the length of Your arms. Thank You for always being there to gather me.

7/31/2005

"Therefore the Lord was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance. He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them and subjected them to their power. Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin." Psalm 106:40-43

What was the end result of everything? After all that had happened from the Red Sea to 40 years in the desert to the walls of Jericho and then finally as we saw in the earlier verse, a nation who had chosen to worship other gods. Ultimately the nation of Israel returned to bondage, just a different kind.

Eventually if I continue doing things my own way I will find myself back in slaver and under oppression. God will hand us over to the consequences of our own sin. Which will lead to the enemy oppressing us and subjecting us to his power. This is not the kind of life I want to live.

What led to this? Grumbling and complaining, disobedience and unbelief. God does not easily give up on us and He does what He can to deliver us, but if I'm set on having things my own way then the outcome is unavoidable and sad, "they wasted away in their sin."

"But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive." Psalm 106: 44-46

One bright note in a very dark place. "He took note." After all they had done to deny Him, all they had done to rebel against Him, He took note. He heard, He remembered and out of His great love, He relented.

Thank you Lord for taking note of me. For remembering me and listening to me! Thank You!! Thank You for easing my suffering! Even in the midst of captivity You won't let us go.

If today you feel forgotten, don't. God has taken note of you.

7/26/2005

I wish that I could tell you that things got better for Israel once they entered the Promise Land but unfortunately that was not the case.

I wish I could say that this email was going to go back to the sweet mushy stuff and I believe there are a couple of hard truths God still wants us to learn.

I will confess that this is probably the longest and the toughest one yet.

"They did not destroy the peoples as the Lord had commanded them, but they mingled with nations and adopted their customs. They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood. They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves." Psalm 106:34-39

The vicious cycle of sin. What began in the desert continued in the Promise Land. There were just too many gods to worship and the people of Israel just couldn't keep themselves separate.

Sin never stops with just you. They mingled, then they adopted and finally they worshiped. And what kind of worship did they give the god of this world? They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.

If we are foolish enough to think that this can't happen to us our church, or our nation then we are blind. The slow progression of sin is evident and it all started with their disobedience. Instead of going in and taking the land as God intended they left themselves open by not clearing out the land completely.

So the question I ask myself is this. What am I sacrificing to demons in my life? I may not be building an alter and sacrificing children but what the Israelites were really doing, was sacrificing their future, their next generation. They were completely blind to what the enemy was doing. And that is exactly what I do when I'm not obedient. When I choose to believe that I know better than God.

They prostituted themselves. A prostitute sells what she has for what she needs. Am I selling myself out to Satan by the things I do because I don't think God can meet my needs? I have been given the abundance of Heaven. I should not live like a whore by worshipping and giving myself away to the god of this world by the things that I do.

Help me Lord Jesus. Help me to set myself apart. You have covered me with the blood of Your Son. You have given me all that I need. Thank You! Thank You!

7/22/2005

"Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord. So He swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the desert, make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands." Psalm 106:24-27

Imagine this: You're going on vacation. You've been saving for this vacation for along time. You load everyone into the car and head towards your destination. The trip doesn't go just like you planned. The kids were a little cranky and don't like the food very much, but you all persevere together and finally you make it to your vacation destination. Everything looks great. The condo is right on the beach. Everything is beautiful, but the kids just aren't happy. As a matter of fact they hate it. Their room's aren't big enough. The walk to the beach takes too long. They don't have anyone to hang out with. They begin to ask why you wasted your money and brought them on this dumb vacation anyway. How disappointing.

Now this might be a bad comparison simply because the Promised Land and a great vacation are on no where near the same scale but just imagine how disappointed God was, they finally made it all that way and then Israel just didn't want the gift He was trying to give them.

The progression of their behavior started them not being satisfied which led to unbelief. Even after everything they just didn't believe that God would keep His promise and so they began to grumble. So unbelief leads to complaining which then leads to disobedience. After they started complaining they decided to just not be obedient.

What was God's reaction? He had to send them back out into the desert until an unbelieving generation died out and one who was willing to follow had risen up.

Jesus came that we might have life and life to the fullest. That is not something that will start in eternity, it's already started now. Sometimes instead of heading into the Promises of God, into what He has called us to, we decide to stay in our tents and grumble. We become discontent with the way God has chosen to work in our lives. (God's taking too long, I never expected it to be so hard. Etc.) Then that leads to unbelief in what God has promised to do in the first place (finishing the good work in us, working all things to our good, giving us abundant life). Then we start to complain in our tents. The reason I think that tent is so important is because that is temporary. God wants to build something eternal in us but we would rather sit among the temporary things of this world and complain. Which will eventually lead to disobedience.

What's God's cure? The wilderness. Now I don't think we should see the wilderness as punishment. It is more like discipline. The wilderness is a place where we have to depend on God or we won't survive. It is also a place where the unbelief in our hearts can die, so that God can raise us up to be believers in what He has promised.

We all go through wilderness experiences in our Christian life and some can't be avoided. But this one could have been avoided if the people would have submitted and accepted what God was doing in their lives. Same is true of us. How much easier it would be for us to submit and believe instead of grumbling in our tents.

7/21/2005

"At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. So he said he would destroy them- had not Moses, his chosen one stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them." Psalm 106:19-23

Remember the part about the bad and ugly. Well things just kept getting uglier. Even after a ravaging disease (Numbers 11: 4-34) and an earthquake (Numbers 16:28-34) the people took it one horrible step further.

A theme that seems to run through most of Israel's history is idolatry. Not being happy with the God they have so they decide to simply choose a new one. And that's what they did in these verses. They gave up their Glory for an image that eats grass. What a sad verse of scripture.

How often do we as children of the living God give up our Glory for nothing? We just decide that the God we serve is just not working for us so we trade Him in for something else. It maybe a box that plays music, or a box that has pretty pictures on the screen. Maybe we trade God in for a game where men chase each other around a field or hit a ball. Maybe we trade God in for a human being, like our children or our spouse. Maybe for a desk and computer at work. Whatever we spend the most time doing whatever we put our time and effort towards, that is what can become our god.

We look at the Israelites and say what foolish people that they would worship an animal. How much more foolish are the things we choose to worship? We trade God in for something that we think can bring true happiness.

I don't know of anything that angers God more than idolatry. He is a loving God but we would not be seeing the whole picture if all we saw was His love. He is a God of wrath when it comes to sin.

This makes me even more thankful for Jesus. Because just as Moses stood in the breech, Jesus stands in the breech for me today, whenever I make the mistake of trying to serve another god, including the god of self. How awful it must be for those people who don't have Jesus to stand in the breech for them.

7/20/2005

One of the reasons that I enjoy sending out emails is because it is always nice to share what God is teaching me. It makes it more solid in my mind and it helps the truths to become more ingrained into my spirit.

I pray that they are also encouraging to the poor people who happen to be on my email list. I enjoy sending things that can uplift people's hearts and show them how much God loves and cares about us because it is so easy to become loaded down with the weight of this world, we forget that God lifts the weight. So I hope that what I send is in some way encouraging. I base whatever I write on what I read during my quite times. I've been reading through Psalms and that is what most of the emails have been about. Well the verses that I have been reading lately have pretty much outlined the good, the bad and the ugly about Israel, more emphasis on the bad and ugly.

Sharing the good stuff is easy, but sharing the bad and ugly can be a little bit more difficult. Still God has been teaching me things and I would like to share them but not without first attaching the above disclaimer. The next few emails I send will be the bad and the ugly and hopefully they will help us to not repeat the mistakes of the past. Hopefully they will help us see how to keep the bad and the ugly out of our lives.

"But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them." Psalm 13-15

The saddest part of this verse is the part about they soon forgot. God has done amazing things for us and how soon do we forget. We forget about how He provided for us that time when the money was almost gone. We forget how He worked all the circumstances to our good when all we could see was the problem. We forget and then after we forget we stop seeking His counsel.

When we stop seeking the counsel of God we put ourselves in a very dangerous position. Because the next thing we know we have given into our cravings and we begin to put God to the test. So much of what I have seen in the psalms in progressive behavior that leads from bad to worse. Forgetfulness leads to self-sufficiency ( stop seeking God's counsel), which leads to giving in to our cravings and putting God to the test.

God's reaction to this behavior is as follows: He gave them what they wanted. Now it says that God sent a disease upon them, and I think the reason it says this is because nothing comes to us that doesn't pass through the hands of God. So He allowed a disease to come upon them and it killed many people. I found all this in Numbers 11:4-34. The people were not happy with manna so God gave them quail and a plague was sent among them. The plague killed the people who were not content with what God had given in the first place.

God does not desire to fight with us. He has given us all we have and need. Sometimes the biggest enemy God has to protect us from is ourselves. We think He is with holding something good from us, but His word promises that He will with hold no good thing. We have to trust Him. Because if we get the thing we think we want, the price that comes with it may be higher than we want to pay.

7/11/2005

I took this picture in my back yard.

I thought it was a really awesome reminder that God desires to meet all our needs. Not only does He want to but He is more than able.

Therefore I tell you , do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they? Who or you by worrying can add a single hour to his life. Matthew 6:25-27

7/7/2005

I know this may sound really simple but I love God's word and when I find something I love I just have to share it.

"Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise." Psalm 106:4-5

I am so thankful that God has remembered me. Just a passing vapor but God has made a way for me to enjoy some amazing things.

He has come to my aid through the blood of His son and hte indwelling of His Holy Spririt. I get to enjoy a prosperity because He has allowed me to be in the number of His chosen ones. Not prosperity like lots of money or giving me my every demand, but prosperity in love, joy, peace, forgiveness. All those things that really make life worth while.

I get to share in the joy of His nation and join in an inheritance. Not because of anything I have done. All this is given freely through Jesus.

Satan likes to bind us with feelings of not getting our fair share and we give into these feelings but feeling sorry for ourselves. We have so much to be thankful for. We have been given so much.

Don't short change yourself today by feeling like you have missed out on something. You are able to enjoy a prosperity, share in the joy of a nation and join in an inheritance. Claim it and walk in it!!!

7/2/2005

He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered. Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them. He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. They asked and he brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert. Psalm 105:37-41

The first thing I really thought was cool, was that when they left bondage they were loaded with silver and gold. That shows me that when we leave any kind of bondage there are things we can take with us.

Lets say someone has been bond to an addiction their whole life. When God delivers them from that bondage they have a right to take back peace, joy and self-respect when they leave. We shouldn't just settle for being set free. There are things that we can take back from the enemy.

Second, God will do miraculous things to provide for our needs. The bread of Jesus that He offers from Heaven will still meet our needs today.

Living water can flow from our hearts even when we feel like we are in a desert. Our God is a miraculous God.

Lets live today enjoying the bread of heaven and the water gushing like a river in the desert.

In Him,

Jamie

6/10/2005

Time on my hands. That is one of the wonderful things about summer. Being able to spend more time just getting to know God. He is available all year round, but with a little less to do, it's just easier to communicate.

Psalm 103:1-5

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not His Benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Sometimes I get so busy asking God for things, that I forget about the benefits He has already given.

#1 Forgives all my sins. Key word all. God is a god of completion and He forgives completely all that I have done.

#2 Heals all my diseases. Those things that people do to me that I have no control over. That is what I think of as a disease. Something Satan will try to use to rot my soul. But God completely heals!!

#3 Redeems my life. Takes something He has created and uses it to its fullest potential.

#4 Crowns me with love and compassion. Something that I am able to give to others. Not something that can be earned but something rightfully mine as an heir to Jesus.

#5 Satisfies my desires with good things. God knows what I need! He has with held no good thing.

When I remember all that I benefit by being God's child, then my youthful love for Him is renewed, which allows me to fly with the eagles.