"THINK" SERIES: PART 3 - "CONSIDER"

GOD'S PROVISION:

In the greatest sermon ever preached - by the real KING of Preachers - Jesus, said the following in the Sermon on the Mount: "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Matthew 6:25-29).

The word that Jesus used for "Consider" in the original biblical Greek is exciting for us to ponder as Christians and Believers. However, Jesus always means business and there is a level of accountability associated with His choice of this word, as there is, as one of His Disciples. The Biblical Greek word is "katamanthanó" and it means to observe carefully, to consider, to understand thoroughly (Bible Hub). It is not your "easy believism" surface-deep Western version of Christianity. 

The word "consider" appears 108 to 200 times in 29 of the 66 Books of the Bible, depending on your English translation. Like this passage from Matthew 6:25-29, many passages with the word "Consider" are familiar.

This call to consider implies that it will be not only to our benefit to take a serious look at how our Father in Heaven supplies the needs of the birds in the air; the fish in the sea and the cattle on a thousand hills, but He is true to His Promise to never leave or forsake, even those who are NOT called by His Name (i.e. non-Christians). Why is this significant?  It is so, because Life is full of more valleys than mountain-top experiences, regardless of human efforts to recreate and manufacture past exciting moments.

PERSEVERANCE:

The half-brother of the Lord, and the natural son of Mary - the human mother of Jesus - James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit told us to " Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" (James 1:2-3).

The Biblical Greek word here is different from Jesus' call to consider. James used "hégeomai" which exhorts us to be of the opinion or THINK (the title of this series) that we should look at the trials/tribulations and testings of this hard life, to be the fulcrum of Joy! This is counter-cultural stuff!

And this is the thing. The Christian walk is diametrically opposed to what the world considers the norm. 

We rejoice in trials, not because we love pain.

We rely on our Great God and Savior not because we are dumb sheep like those who are following the god of this world into hell. We rely on Him because He has been found faithful and true, FOREVER, in His Promise to never leave or forsake us.

We revere, adore and magnify His Holy Name because He is worthy of praise.  His Word is written forever in the Heavens.

As Psalm 8, verses 3 and 4 declares "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?"

PRAYER OF GRATITUDE:

Who are we, Lord, that YOU would even consider sending the Eternal Creator of ALL THINGS - the Lord Jesus Christ, down to earth, that He may suffer and be humiliated by those in His Creation, all for the cause of restoring the broken relationship that occurred in the Garden of Eden when the first Adam sinned? Father in Heaven, we do NOT deserve any of Your consideration but You gave it to us anyway. Many have taken the Graces, Gifts and Goodness of God and walked away from You, seeking their own pleasures, agendas and more. But we, oh God, who are called by Your Name, stand strong in the Faith, because we have both considered Christ and then the alternative, and chose Christ as our Lord and Savior, not for just being the Way to Heaven and Eternal Life, but because we LOVE Jesus and love Him with all our hearts, minds, bodies and souls, now and forever more, in His Name we pray, amen.

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

Some years ago, the Lord showed me a vision of a beautiful, grassy mountain with plateaus at different levels up the mountain. I saw people filling each level, as many stood around talking to each other.

BY LYNN MOSHER

Some people climbed the stairs that ascended up the mountain. The steps at the bottom were steeper and harder to climb; the closer to the top, the smaller and easier to climb they became. The stairs were concrete-hard with a golden handrail up the middle. As some climbed up the stairs, they yet went backwards, not even realizing it. All kinds of people filled the top of mountain: short, tall, young, old, children. Adults held babies as they stood looking at the beautiful glow above the top of mountain.


Then, the Lord said...


“When you step out to enter My pathway to heaven, the path of the Christian walk, it is not an easy walk. The early steps seem difficult to climb, but the higher you rise, the easier it becomes. The stairs are hard as concrete, not at all pretty. The way is difficult but do-able, because I am there.


“Sometimes you will back down the stairs, not turning around to see where you are going but backing down sometimes in disbelief, doubt, worry, sometimes in disobedience to the call of the next step and you may not realize it. Be sure you keep your focus on Me. You may at times even slip and fall, but I am there.


“The beautiful mountain is calm and serene, yet raging all about it are the storms of life. If you shift your eyes from the way before you to the roar around you, you will fall. The winds may even blow you off course and try to loosen your grip.


“Keep your eyes fixed at the top of the steps, from which comes the source of the golden glow, the throne room of the great I AM.


“The higher you climb, the purer the air becomes as you rise away from the stench of earth. Those standing at the top have reached the gate to heaven. They are standing in awe of the glorious sight they have been afforded.


“The babies being held by others have died or been aborted. They are welcomed into loving arms by those who have never known the love of a child, and by those who have had children die. The babies await the parents who will join them.


“Those standing on the different plateaus are waiting further instructions. Some need a rest. Some are truly weary and must pause for refreshment. Others are just listening in patient stillness for their next orders.


“Strive always for courage and strength to reach the next plateau. Always wait for My instructions before taking another step.


“Hold onto My handrail that stretches out like a golden thread beside your path. Keep a firm grip. It is My constant hand steadying you and helping you up when your trip or miss a step.


“Keep your eyes focused on the view at the top. Breathe slowly and deeply. Keep your feet on the path. All is in My safe-keeping on My mountain.”


The promise of heaven’s eternal resting place is for all, for all of us “whose names are written in heaven,” who have been “made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ,” “that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance,” “an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.” (Heb. 12:23 NLT, Rom. 3:22 NLT, Heb. 9:15 NKJV) (1 Peter 1:4 NLT)


But are you sure of that eternal resting place? You have been “invited [as you are] to belong to Him.” (Rom. 1:6 Amp) Have you said “No thanks” to Christ’s gracious invitation? Have you said “Yes” but are unsure of your eternal home?
    
Peter pleads with you, “So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, His choice of you. Don’t put it off; do it now. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter. 1:10-11 Msg)


May you cling to that hope of a promise, as Abraham did, who “was completely sure that God was well able to do anything He promised.” (Rom. 4:21 TLB)

VISIT LYNN'S BLOG HERE: "HEADING HOME"

Image Credit: photobucket

MINISTRIES OF MEN

by Crystal Banks Tait(Bankie)

CRYSTAL BANKS TAIT

2 Timothy 2:4 "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer."

That verse came to me when I saw a new ministry within a local church.  Do not involve yourself in ministries of men.  Stay with the ministries of God which please HIM.  That is how I knew I shouldn't be involved in that ministry.  It got me to thinking though.

I have quite a few things on the go.  My first blog is this blog, Love4AMAZED.  I meant for it to be a parenting and family oriented blog because I have a  big passion for families, including my own :)  If what we go through can encourage and help others I really want to be able to do that. I started blogging on MSN Live Spaces and carried the blog over when Spaces closed down.  Love4AMAZED is likely the only thing I do that wasn't "Inspired".... directly anyhow.

I then started God's Word for 365 in the summer to blog about and read God's Word Daily and be held accountable via blog.  I just started blogging that on my Love4AMAZED blog to keep things simple.  But I found that intertwining the two was difficult because I had family and child revelations that I wanted to share that didn't really fit in with my GW4365 that day or what have you.

Most recently I have started Eating4God, a record of my journey in eating as a way for honouring and worshipping God, feeding our spirit instead of feeding our flesh.  A vision started this blog as well... my first vision in a dream.

BUT.  My FIRST BIG passion is ACTION..  :)  I didn't know it at the time but ACTION. was my first vision.  That explains why it all seemed to real... it's kind of funny to me know that I know what it is that I jumped so quickly on it.  ACTION 2.5 years after the vision isn't even really on the table.  But I still have a phone line, fax line and web domain for ACTION.! lol  The vision was so real to me that I know it's going to come to pass, I'm just waiting for God's timing :)

That is alot of things on the go isn't it?  Some people might think it's too much on the go if you add in our 6+1 children to the mix :)  I would agree with those people likely... but since I am the one that have started all of them and now I sit wondering how to juggle all of them, I have to disagree :)

I have tried with all of these mini ministries to gain "friend" support or family support to no avail.  I mean obviously I have a few family members that support me but when I have over 100 family members on facebook and the ones that have spend the most time with me don't support my mini ministries it's difficult.  I have tried to get my church peeps support or church support to no avail.  There is really nothing that I have tried to start that has gone any where... and yet here I sit continuing to "start" things.  Some people would wonder why I bother since clearly nobody I know is intending on supporting me in my efforts.  And THIS blog is the answer.

Every single thing that I have started, every facebook fan page, blog, flyer, handout, plan that I have started was given to me by way of a vision from God.  Do you know what that means?  It means that I didn't really start it at all.... it means that God did.  Now the revelation to this is that since all of these things are NOT mine and I am simply doing what I have been asked to do with them, I am not as disheartened when people reject them.  I see it for what it is, people rejecting God.  Which makes me sad on some other levels and yes I have to fight the devil about not getting any personal support but at the end of the day, ACTION., GW4365, Eating4God is all God's.

In the spring of 2011 I had a vision for a children's ministry outline.  Wow was I on fire for that.  I thought maybe God gave it to me to write curriculum or maybe God's intention was to send me down that path!  I was so excited for it!  I was laying in my bed trying to sleep and these thoughts and word flooded my brain and I knew what it was right away!  A vision for the kids ministry program!  I was so thankful I couldn't stop thanking God for the gift!  I can't remember the name that came to me for it now ... I still have the notes but I won't bother to go search them out now. 

I had SUCH a fire and an excitement and I was SO excited to share this vision with my church's kids ministry to implement!  I knew that THIS was God's vision for this church.  I shared my vision and my passion for this vision, I had a meeting and poured out all my ideas, inspirations, experience from Home & School volunteer time and at the end of the day I was politely told that after sharing this vision given to me and after the ministry was going to implement almost all of my ideas, that I was to longer have part in it.  Obviously the story is bigger than that but that is the condensed version.  Not that any of those details mattered then or now.  God showed me so much through that situation and it took me a long time.. okay like almost a year to see this for what it was.

The kids ministry program and outlines and ideas were a vision that God GAVE to me.  Most of it was implemented and I see the fruits of that vision today.  I'm not involved in it but God's will is being done.  At the end of the day that's all that matters.  I am very very happy that I was able to be used by God to help bring about some change that He wanted to show us.  It just took me awhile to appreciate the situation for what it was.  God using me. WOW :)  I like it :)  None of it was of me, it was ALL of Christ.  I was just the messenger being taught some lessons along the way.

ACTION. or GW4365 or Eating4God... are all visions that God GAVE ME.  As long as I am faithful in doing what he has shown me and asked me to do, THAT is all that matters.  I don't know how these visions will be used but I MUST be faithful in what God has asked me to do with them.  And I know it's going to be awesome!  Tomorrow I'm going to delve into some plans I have been inspired by for GW4365.  The reason I love GW4365 so much is because it has honestly changed my life.  

Reading the Bible now for almost six months everyday has completely and utterly changed my life.  I know why God lead me to this... it's His heart for US to be close to Him!  Everything becomes clearer, I know who I am in Christ ten-fold what I did before I started on my GW4365 journey.  Now I'm going to ramp it up!  & hopefully I'm going to share that with you tomorrow!

Until then God Bless you!  Be BOLD in the things that God has given you!  Even if you do it alone, DO IT.  If God is for you who can be against you?  

2 Timothy 2:4 "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer."

THAT is my main goal.  & THAT is why I do what I do and why I create blogs and record different journeys.... and throw ideas out to who I am told to throw ideas out to...  I want to please MY Commanding Officer :) The love of my life, Jesus Christ.

If you haven't had the pleasure of knowing Jesus Christ in an intimate relationship I urge you to Accept Jesus as your Saviour now, say that you believe He died on the cross for your sins and confess that you are a sinner in need of the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ :)  & start your journey in being a disciple of Christ :)

As always if you would like me to pray for you just let me know.  I don't need to know details.  God is a BIG God and the Holy Spirit will guide me in prayer.  :)  Just say "Yes! Crystal please pray for me!" :) & I will :)

All My Love in Christ!

DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS! :)

Remain faithful :) He remains faithful to YOU!

Crystal