Testify

“For by thee, I have run through a troop and by my God have I leaped over a wall.” Psalm 18:29

As I was reading this verse out loud, I stopped and said, “This is so true.” My troop and wall was a heart attack 2 years ago. During this time my blood sugar and A1C was so high and had been for.awhile, I left the hospital with having to give myself insulin injections everyday.

I was praising God because I had left the hospital alive. But I also was fighting to continue my faith with the insulin and so many medications I had to take. I had moments of crying out to the Lord. 

What I also left with was shame! I wanted to be embarrassed of not taking care of myself as well I as I should have. I was alive and rejoicing, but I also had recovery and I knew I needed God and Jesus desperately to help me recover, I needed THEIR recovery!

I began by creating for myself a healing journal. I studied and found scriptures that I read, said, prayed and believed every day. Still there were moments of discouragement. The enemy of our soul never stops. I also journaled my journey with these scriptures, how God gave them to me and how He gave me understanding and wisdom with each one.

What began running, and running through a troop, and then leaping over a wall.  The Doctors had prescribed a blood pressure pill even though my blood pressure wasn’t high. But my blood pressure has been constantly good and in some cases low 96/116 or 95/110. Until they told me to cut it in 1/2 the dosage is the minimal they can give. Which is great!

Then after probably 6 or 7 months, my doctor took me off of insulin. No more injections. One day when I was down I cried out to the Lord and He spoke one word to me, “temporary.” And I went to my Bible and looked up temporary and found a verse to confirm that word.  

2 Corinthians 4:`8 - While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

This one word from God gave me such peace and faith, that I began to read and declare this verse every day out loud and in my mind. And then I don’t know how much longer but my doctor instructed me to stop the insulin. Glory! Hallelujah!

That was a wall with Jesus I leaped over.

Then I went to my Cardiologist, after a year of taking this one medication and doing what he told me to do regarding my diet. At the time of my heart attack when I left the hospital, my heart was functioning at 35% which they told me that most people are not at 100% but at 65%. But after a year my heart was functioning at 63% glory to God.  And the heart medication he had me taking I was able to discontinue. 

This was a troop God and I ran through and a wall we leaped over. To God be all the Glory!

There are new challenges, the enemy never stops. But it’s just another troop to run through and another wall to leap, and a testimony of the goodness and greatness of our God. But we must do our part and BELIEVE and obey where He leads and do what He tells us to do.  He told me “testify” so I am! 

 

Is My Faith Genuine? Is Yours?

 So that (the genuineness) of your faith (may be tested, (your faith) which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. (This proving of your faith is intended), to rebound to (your) praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (The Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed. 

1 Peter 1:7

My faith is more precious than gold. The trials, the tests, the all out battles all that I have gone through has been to prove my faith. Not for my glory here on earth, but for my praise, glory and honor I will receive when Jesus Christ (The Messiah, The Anointed One) is revealed. 

Doesn’t this make you see and look at your test, trials and battles in such a different way? I know it made me see the things that I have experienced and that I have come through (that’s the key word - through), still standing, my faith even sharper. 

During these times, talking to God, and listening and hearing direction on how to handle this trial, test, or battle,  peace always comes,  and then victory, the promise of God. Nothing is automatic, and somethings are not suddenly, most test, trials and battles are a season, and sometimes more than a season or seasons. But if we keep the faith and let our faith be refined and not  give up, don’t stop studying the Bible, keep praising and worshiping, keep going to Church, keep speaking the Word instead of the problem. All of that makes the difference. Then the trial, the test, the battle will just refine your faith like gold. When you see Jesus He will praise and honor you for your faith is more precious than gold.

Buy Gold Tried With Fire

 “Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, That you may be (truly) wealthy, and White clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.”

Revelations 3:18 ampc

This is where this study began. With this verse. I always have felt intrigued about fire in the scriptures. Jesus said this to the Lukewarm Church.

Vs 17 - For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked.

Then Jesus goes on to say,  

Those whom I (dearly and tenderly) love, I tell their faults and convict, and convince and reprove and chasten (I discipline and instruct them). So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repentance (changing your mind and attitude).

I pulled out my iPad and googled “Buy gold by fire” scriptures. And an abundance of scriptures came up. What I have found is there are threads throughout the Bible of things God wants us to find and follow throughout so we can get a broader and more concise view of Who He is, but also of Who He has chosen us to be.  

There are various threads such as the scarlet thread, I recently found the vine, vineyard, grape thread, which I am doing a study on, and now this gold refined by fire. I pray you will come along with me as we follow this thread and discover and learn what God wants us to learn. 

The Lord is My Light and My Salvation - Whom Shall I Fear?

 

Just returned from a 2 week vacation and truly am so thankful to the Lord. To California and back to Michigan. Peaceful, joyful trip. So beyond my dreams. I was able to see my son, daughter in love, and my 3 precious gems.  Disneyland, just surrounded by favor and blessing. Camping and even though it was cold and I was fighting a cold it all was so good. 

Spending time with the Lord and just enjoying His presence. We moved to Michigan on December 19, 2021, and the trip was to pick up some things we had left behind. But the trip was so much more. I opened one box and it was one of my favorite books - like an old friend I hugged it and thumbed through the pages. 

As we arrived back to Michigan and pulled into the drive way, I just wanted to cry out of thankfulness to the Lord. He took us and brought us back safe and sound. Nothing missing and nothing lacking. 

When you truly make the Lord your light and your salvation. When you trust Him, and depend on Him no matter what, blessings come.  Yes, before the blessings come much trial and tribulation. The part of the verse that says, “when the wicked came to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.”  Yes, the wicked one comes to eat up our flesh with sickness, disease, and falls, and pain. If we allow the Lord to be our Light and our Salvations (health, safety, protection, peace, provision, wisdom and understanding), He will be.

The wicked one has come to eat up my flesh but everything he has brought against me Jesus and I have conquered, persistent coughs that would not leave that finally left, knee pain so sever no sleep for a few weeks to healed, an attack of an itch all over my body itch so sever for a year of just itching and trying to find what it could be various medication that didn’t work, BUT GOD gave me wisdom and understanding and a scripture which I would continually cry out sometimes yell, “The Lord has restored health to me and  has healed all my wounds.” Jeremiah 17:30.  To falling and shattering my right knee, no work, temporarily could not do anything for myself. To healed, walking, driving, cooking, cleaning, caring for my granddaughter. To a cough that I am currently battling - but I know I am already healed. My inheritance is health! Jesus defeated the enemy for me and you, so we can be more than conquerors.  So this cough cannot stay, it cannot torment me.  

I am free - the wicked one may have come to eat up my flesh, but he has stumbled and fallen, not me!

 

The Just Shall Walk By Faith

The Just Shall Walk By Faith

The just shall walk by Faith. This life of faith is it easy, absolutely NOT! To walk by faith is to walk in the present, to walk in the circumstances, to walk in the trial and to walk in the attack knowing that you win. 

The just shall walk by Faith, to declare and say what God's Word says, instead of saying what is. 

The just shall walk by Faith, every day until the end of this life, never drawing back, never backing off. 

Is it easy, No! But as you do what Faith demands, like anything you do over and over again, it becomes what you do, and it becomes how you respond to the circumstances, the challenges, the trial, the attack. 

I was thinking about this scripture, "The Just shall walk by faith." and was thinking how it is not an easy way of life. But then I thought about my neighbors whose home is full of chaos and fighting, yelling and just such an ungodly atmosphere. Although I may be going through one of the greatest tests or battles of faith gone through, I have peace, I have joy, there is love in my home. I pray for my neighbor. I call laborers  to cross their path, the right one they may listen to, because it hasn't been us. They need Jesus. 

A flicker of hope, this neighbor will turn her back if we go outside. She will avoid any contact with us. Today I had to take my husband to work earlier than normal. We were getting into our car and I looked up and she was walking to throw something in her trash, and she waved to me. I waved back. I drove away thinking, Lord, Your light has penetrated her darkness in a small way. I will continue to pray.

The just shall live by faith! What a great life to live by faith. Knowing no matter the trial, the test, the attack you WIN! You will be victorious, you will overcome, you will have a trophy!

Don't quit, don't back off, don't give up. Keep saying what God says about your situation. Thank Him, continue thanking Him. Especially when your head and emotions are screaming to give up to give in. DON'T!

You don't have to beg God. He's has given you everything that pertains to life and Godliness 1 Peter 1:3, so as your thoughts and emotions want to get the best of you, open your mouth, and just begin to thank Him, even if all you say is "Thank you Jesus" and you say this over and over again.

THE JUST SHALL WALK BY FAITH!

ARE YOU A BEE LIEVER??

Jesus died for us and has risen from the grave. What happens now? Jesus has risen, so what do we do now? Do our kids know? We started this quarter of Oasis Kids with What Happened After Jesus Died and Rose from the Grave? Based on the book of John, then we will go into Acts.

We picked up our story line, the disciples are scared and locked in a room, and suddenly even in a locked room, Jesus appears. He reminds them "Remember, I gave you My peace."  Just a few days before He was crucified, Jesus had told them what was going to happen and they were not to fear, "My peace I give you, don't let your hearts be troubled."  

When Jesus visited the disciples in that locked room, one of the disciples was out,
guess who? You guessed it THOMAS. He wasn't there when Jesus suddenly appeared, and when he returned and was told by the disciples that Jesus had appeared, yep, he wouldn't believe it.

He goes so far, as to say, "Unless I see the nail prints, put my finger in them, see His side, and put my hand into it, I will not believe it."

The Bible says about 2 weeks later, again the disciples are in the upper room, locked inside, but this time they are not afraid. Jesus, suddenly appears. Immediately He addresses Thomas and says, "Here Thomas, look at my hands, go ahead and put your fingers on them, here look at my side, put your hand in my side." Thomas says, "My Lord." Jesus looks at him and says, "You believe because you see, but blessed are those who believe and have not seen." THAT'S US!

How do you prepare a lesson for ages 3-5, and 6-10. Well, I read this story in various versions of the Bible, and then just prayed and rested in the goodness of God.

Side Note: We are teaching our 6-10 group how to use their Bibles, to become familiar and confident in their Bible skills, I created a fun Who What Where Why How Worksheet called, "Bee Lieve" Each child picked a scripture from John out of a paper bag, found the scripture in their Bible, and then completed the answers to the worksheet.

Little Trivia: Do you know in John's gospel he writes "Believe" 99 times. Do you think God is trying to get us to get it about believe? I think so.

The group loved it, they were diving in, and asking questions, "how do you spell...." it was so wonderful watching them learning about God's Word and searching the scriptures. This took some time because all children are not at the same skill level.  Three of our kids finished quickly, we had planned for them to get into small groups, and share their findings with one another. Only 1 group of 3 children were able to share their answers. It was a wonderful time for them, they were hands-on working with their Bibles.

GROUP 3-5: THOMAS - WOULDN'T BEE LIEVE!
Our 3-5 gathered in their circle time, and our "Littles" teacher began to tell them the story. After they chanted 'I Am Blessed Cause I Bee Lieve". They moved to the table and they made a BEE out of the letter B,  printed on yellow card stock, they glued black paper strips, added the "antennas" and the wings which have the word "Believe" on them. Our "Littles" loved it, once their "B" was done, they flew their "B's" around the room saying, "Buzzzz, buzzz. I believe In Jesus!" It was so much fun!

You can download the Believe Lesson along with craft page by clicking here.I Believe Lesson & Craft

Making Sunday Church one of the best times in their lives is our goal.

DAUGHTER!

I have an assignment to read and study the miracles of Jesus, to watch how He operated and healed. I began with Mark's gospel.

What I've noticed in my study, Jesus walked, lived, and conducted Himself in such authority and power. Even greater is what propelled this authority and power was love! Compassion!

Chapter 5 - I've heard it preached so many times and have read the story countless times, but today regarding the woman with the issue of blood, my eyes saw somethings for the very first time. My pastor always tells us never to look at scripture with the attitude, I know that story, read that before, to always look at the Word of God with fresh eyes, with a fresh attitude. God's Word is alive, it is fresh, those things we have heard before even a thousand times, read again, and see if God doesn't open your eyes and heart to something new, or even a reminder of what you may have let slip or have forgotten.  I would encourage you to open your Bible and put your eyes on these verses, you learn more when you look at them.

Verse 5:27: "When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment."

Verse 5:28: "For she said, if I may touch but His clothes, I shall be made whole." 
Whole - sozo = healed, saved, complete,

5:29: "and straightway, the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed. of that plague." 

Just meditate on that for a bit - "she felt in her body she was healed."

• She heard
• She said
• She did
• She felt
• She knew

Jesus knows someone "believing" has touched Him, has pulled on His power and authority. He stops and looks around. 

5:33: "Woman 

• fearing
• trembling
• knowing

fell at His feet, and told Him the truth." Don't ever be in fear to tell Jesus the truth.
She could have been stoned for being in public with blood flowing. She was unclean, yet Jesus knew that someone had touched Him with faith.

Jesus response is so amazing full of love and intimacy, Jesus says, "Daughter".  Her position changed in that instant, she went from being a certain woman to this endearment of daughter!

Daughter, her faith brought her to such a position of intimacy.

Daughter, she wasn't just a woman, her faith caused her to be His heir.

Daughter, her faith moved her up in position, beyond a disciple, she became part of His family.

Daughter, you are Mine! Her faith made her His daughter, part of His family. Born from Him, His seed. 

Do you know this woman was the only one Jesus ever called Daughter!

Have you longed for Him to call you daughter?

He usually said, sons, or son ship but He never called anyone "Daughter" until this woman of faith. We don't know her name, but we know Jesus called her daughter! We know her position, we know she was His daughter. Her name is not as important as her position, daughter.

Has my faith made me an heir?
Has my faith placed me in God's family?

We all need to periodically examine our faith. Set it before you and examine, is my faith changing situations? By faith am I healed? Am I listening and spending time in God's Word daily to build my faith? Are my prayers being answered? 

In every retelling of this awesome testimony in each gospel of the New Testament, the retelling is the same, "Daughter" she is called.

In Luke 23:28 "Many women had followed Him and were mourning for Him as He was walking towards Golgotha." Jesus calls them "daughters of Jerusalem."  This woman of Mark 5, he called "daughter."

"Is your faith producing?" This is what examining your faith means, examine your faith to see if it is producing.

HOW TO EXAMINE YOUR FAITH

1. Am I making myself available to hear the Word?
2. Am I keeping the Word of God going in my ears and heart daily?
3. Am I spending time with God, in prayer and His Word daily?
4. Am I hearing and hearing the Word so faith can come? (Romans 10:17)
5. Am I speaking the Words of God in faith, or am I just speaking because it's what I have been taught to do?
6. Am I speaking at all?
7. Am I saying what I have, or am I saying what God says I can have?
8. Am I doing the Word?
9. Do I sit in church, clock in and out and go about my business?
10. Do I allow the Word of God to correct me and do I adjust to the Word of God, or do I adjust the Word of God to fit me?
11. Do I put action to the Word I've received, or to my words?
12. Do I spend time praising and worshiping God?

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever."

Jesus is the same. I am like that certain woman, whose faith, of hearing, saying, and doing, hears just as this woman heard,

Mark 5:34 (amp) "And He said to her, "Daughter your faith (your trust and confidence in Me, springing from faith in God) has restored you to health. Go in (unto) peace and be continually healed and freed from your (distressing bodily) disease."

MY TESTIMONY OF FAITH

My faith (trust and confidence in Jesus) has restored me to health. I continually hear the Word daily, I spend time with God daily, praying in the Spirit, listening for His direction. I go and do, I make myself available for correction and I correct. Sometimes I don't know how to correct something He shows me, so I ask Him to show me how to correct it. As a Father would show His daughter how to correct or do something so my Jesus shows me.

Daughter, your faith (your trust and confidence in Me, springing from faith in God) has restored you to health. Go in peace and be free.

Jesus is never about legalism or religion. He operates in love and compassion. If He was about legalism and religion, He would have rebuked her for touching Him. He did the complete opposite, He called her Daughter!