Hand in Hand
I’ve been thinking of 2 sides of the same coin and how important loving GOD and The Great Commission is and what GOD calls Pure and faultless.
Then I read the blog post below from Kim Petitt from her blog Beyond My Limitations
She inspired me to write more about what I’ve been thinking and meditating on. Thank you Kim!
We can come to know GOD’s will and heart for us in following JESUS with our lives…
So, if we think of 2 coins that go hand in hand:
First coin in one hand:
1st side is Love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, soul, mind and strength toward fulfilling The Great Commission of sharing the Gospel
2nd side is Love your neighbor as oneself which can become an action of providing for the poor and needy especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ
Second coin in the other hand:
1st side is that Pure and faultless religion is this to care for the orphans and widows in distress
2nd side is Keep oneself from being polluted by the world
So I agree that evangelism and meeting needs go hand in hand is truth… And we must also practice purity in our personal lives…
We can often forget about the importance of purity, but there is great reward when we focus on praying to be pure, thinking pure thoughts, being pure in our actions with others, knowing the benefits of being pure, and trusting that HE purifies us…
Prayer to Be Pure
Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Pure Thoughts
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Pure Actions
1 Peter 1:22 English Standard Version (ESV)
Psalm 24:3-5 ESV
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
2 Timothy 2:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
1 Peter 1:22 ESV
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
Benefit of Being Pure
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God“. Matthew 5:8
Hope in HIM to Be Pure
Hebrews 9:14 English Standard Version (ESV)
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
1 John 3 English Standard Version (ESV)
3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[a] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
We can have faith without deeds or deeds without faith. Both ways are lacking.
However, faith in action (with deeds) should be a priority and an essential part of the mix for others to find HIM faithful, to realize HE’s true to HIS nature/character, and to discover HIS authenticity/reality…
JESUS wants to save/forgive and provide for one’s needs… When we read about HIS life, HE did both simultaneously…
The early church also had to focus on the priority of prayer/preaching of the Word and taking care of needs… It would reconcile to do both…
The Choosing of the Seven
James 2:14-26 New International Version (NIV)Faith and Deeds14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. |
Sharing faith, Shining faith in Hope, and Showing faith with Love
Hebrews 10:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,…
Prayer For Healing
If YOU want to heal through me
I need my request received
I know YOU care
Hear my prayer
And heal my precious wife
That she may partake of life
That she may participate by my side
That she may pray too for strength day and night
For healing to take place indeed alright
To keep up pace in this race contrite
To continue to praise YOU on High
To continue onward count to pay the price
To continue to pave the way in the fight
To continue to meet needs of orphans and poor provide
For us together make a difference far and wide
For us together will shine YOUR light so bright
For us together forever YOUR Name will we magnify
For us together healing is solidified
For us together our voice one song for YOUR glory is amplified
For us together touch of faith, hope, and love is applied
For us together YOUR will and promises cannot be denied
For us together we stand strong and soar above on Heaven’s heights
For us together with YOU always will abide
For us together YOU’re our Tower of Refuge in which to hide
For us together finish the race as one in HIM with grace, mercy, and compassion arrive
New Year 2020
Notice I didn’t include in the title “HAPPY” New Year. I do want you to be happy, but I know and understand many are not for they are dealing with difficult things even extremely severe pain/despair/loss, suicidal thoughts, and/or mental illness. You are not alone… I thank all of you who have followed this blog and I’m here for anyone who needs support, encouragement, and care… Reach out to me anytime!!…
JESUS understands all about whatever you’re facing and HE desires to be there for you in it, through it, and on into new life…
It is officially 2020 and what comes to mind is 20/20 vision which is considered good eyesight for humans to have… How is your vision now?
Do you look on with faith, hope, and love or doubt, anxiety, and fear?…
If you have faith, hope, and love in JESUS (looking to HIM for your help) despite what circumstances you’re dealing with, you’re trusting HIM through it all no matter what so you can move forward along your journey…
If you have doubt, anxiety, and fear in yourself or others; the circumstances you’re dealing with become overwhelming and make one feel stuck…
What do you want your vision to be this year in 2020?
Can it be directed upward to whom your help comes from ultimately?
Can it change from despair within yourself or from mistrust in others?
Yes, you can change course by bringing everything you are to JESUS who will daily bear your burdens and give your soul rest… then onward, pressing on, to moving forward with HIM as HE leads you into new life…
There is available to every one of us a more perfect vision that is spiritual and action oriented…
I call it KING Vision 17/17…
It is a way of looking at our life in HIS love, through HIS love, and with HIS love for GOD and for others to continually pursue in order to know, to grow, and to show…
JESUS is the KING of kings…
Vision is viewing life with purpose on mission…
17/17 is inspired by Proverbs 17:17 which states firstly “A friend loves at all times…”
JESUS is our friend that is able to love us at all times…
Knowing this helps us love GOD and others at all times…
How about adopting KING Vision 17/17 in this year of 2020 that is better than 20/20 human vision?
At 2 years old, I had a very high fever that wouldn’t break. I was taken to the hospital and the doctors couldn’t get it down either… I ended up having seizures and was placed in an ice bath with hopes of bringing the temp down and not succumbing to an early death. This experience may have contributed to me having a crossed eye and loss of vision. At 4 years old, I had surgery on my left eye to shorten the muscle so as not to have an extreme cross eye. I have not had unaided 20/20 vision since… I needed corrective lenses to help me see better and obtain as close to 20/20 vision as can be had.
If I could have glasses/contacts made that help correct my vision by an optometrist, then wouldn’t it be possible for GOD to correct our spiritual vision in a greater way? HE has done it for me… HE can for you too!!… Nothing is impossible for HIM!!!
Today is the first day of the new year 2020, so many choose to make new year’s resolutions which can lead to positive life-changing results. More often than not, many resolutions fall by the wayside.
With GOD however, HIS mercies are new every morning, HIS compassions fail not…
You need to know this, so that when new year’s resolutions are met with adversity or failure you may still have hope each new morning… Yes, today is 1/1/2020. Yet, remember GOD gives each day as a new start and HIS compassions for you will not fail even when you do fail…
Does your vision for 2020 hold on to only what you’ve done today, for days in a row, for this week, or for even this whole year?
Would you rather have KING Vision 17/17 where love is available at all times and every day is a new start to accept change, accept healing, accept forgiveness of self/others, accept new life each and every day and accept new endeavors meant for you to be a part of one day?!…
New life is found in JESUS for HE is the Way, the Truth, and the Life… HE changed water into wine… HE can renew your mind with peace to not resign… HE can repair your broken heart to be one of a kind… HE can recreate a pure heart for new innocence to find… HE can restore your despairing soul with peace to realign… HE can redeem your wounded spirit with new found freedom in HIS love forever remind… You can remain in faith, hope, and love eternally within HIS grace, mercy, and compassion with new beginnings to brightly shine…
Treasures
Orphans until found
Treasures that abound
HIS crown jewel
With HIM find renewal
Apple of HIS eye
Always in HIS sight
Engraved on HIS palm
Remain in HIS love calm
Tower of Refuge & Strength
Hide in HIM no longer shake
With HIS life bought with a price
HIS grace will suffice
Under HIS wing
HIS praises to sing
In HIS Truth
HIS embrace in the Spirit given proof
Where the Spirit of the LORD is aware
There is HIS freedom from burdens HE bears
To HIS throne upward go
HIS mercy and grace to know here below
In HIS blood forgiven
HIS Great Commission the vision on mission purpose driven
High Priest, Who understands, intercedes above
HIS defense for us against the adversary is enough
In HIM moving, breathing, being
With HIS new life walk agreeing
By HIS stripes when kneeling
Come unto HIM find healing
Prayer lifted up to HIM appealing
HE gives Heaven’s wisdom revealing
HIS living treasure become
Receive from HIM faith, hope, and love beyond measure that victoriously HE won
HIS cross to die only momentary, 3 days buried, risen again extraordinary
Deny oneself necessary, pick up your cross to carry, all for HIM now primary, like a missionary, no longer to tarry, and wait on HIM to renew strength when wary…
Alarm
Alarm heard around
The world
Afar off is the sound
Does skirl
Arm oneself in love found
To unfurl
Armor wear surround
Give it a whirl
Fight for to crown
Freedom twirl
Forward toward abound
For every boy and girl
Face to face profound
Find treasure astound
Within forms a pearl
To express and expound
Truth with excellence hurl
To enter hearts compound
Encase faith, hope, and love will swirl
To embrace HIM renowned
As evidence of the eternal
Pure Strength
Pure strength
Sought deep within
The last frontier
Taught in the open
Savior’s blood
Wrought for us to be forgiven
Savior’s scars
Bought souls for HIM
Savior’s stripes
Brought healing to the broken
Savior’s crown of thorns
Blot out what left shame, regret, guilt ridden
GOD’s Word
Ought to warn us about what’s forbidden
Holy Spirit
Caught up into us all truth that we may listen
Abba, FATHER
Forethought gives us Heaven’s wisdom
High Priest
Fought to intercede until we’re awoken
King of kings
Allot to reign in HIM with sons and daughters once orphans restored for Heaven as treasured tokens
17/17 Vision
Starry eyes pierce
From behind
The night sky
Heaven’s eye witnesses
One of a kind
Wondering why
I look above
For HIS will to find
HIS Word below in front of me clear as day to try
If only I open my own eyes
See with faith aligned
Follow through to apply
Shines the Light
From HIS heart remind
Salvation from the Most High
Within Love’s letter
HIS SON provides
All that’s needed in life come nigh
Into all Truth Spirit will guide
On the heights may ride
Before I die
Stargazers stare
To find a sign
While I walk on by with an answer for what’s gone awry
Commanded to proclaim
Good News why HE came and died
Save souls as the only Savior reply
In the Light
In HIM delight
With Heaven’s wisdom and insight ally
Desires of my heart come true
When I pursue
HIS will to do comply
As HIS workmanship
Reach out in kind
Lives to match the stars descry
Pure and faultless religion
Is to visit the orphans and widows in their distress
And keep oneself from being polluted by the world so deny to walk on spry
With this focused vision
And this purpose on mission
Is the only decision that will fortify
Revisit to meet needs of orphans and widows
Forsake wicked thoughts and wicked ways
This is HIS will to further clarify
Orphans and widows are desperate to be heard
Will you let your heart come awake to HIS Word astir
And really choose to answer the cries they amplify
Stars in the distance for eyesight 17/17 vision correct
Are soul ties for instance broken and contrite listen to reconnect
Direct one’s attention to the Great Commission’s perfection imply until expectations defy on HIS mercy and grace alone rely as our only response that will justify for HIS desires to gratify, for HIS will to magnify, and for HIS renown to glorify
HIStory
Found each other in the Mystery
Now, today, and tomorrows we have a history
I live for HIM and HIM alone
HE gave me family to be known
Each child from the nest will have flown
Until they have a family of their own
Forever etched in the pages of Heaven
Never knew before there would be seven
Plus one adopted to also be with us
Must only believe to receive in trust
HIS promises to come true in our lives
Wait for when answers from HIS heart arrives
Orphans, widows, and believers in India a part of our story
From HIS heart known to live out for HIS praise, honor, and glory
Needs to Meet
Hunger in their eyes
Desperate
Renewing their minds
Increment
Feed their bodies
Resilient
Share faith’s Words
Evident
Thirsty for something more
Infinite
Saving their souls
Innocent
Give water cup overflowing
Implement
Share hope’s Light
Vigilant
Dependence of their cries
Diffident
Rescuing their lives
Imminent
Walk to reach out by HIS Spirit
Anticipant
Share love’s deeds
Visitant
When I Looked
When I was lost
I looked to faith and was found by HIM who will never leave
When I was alone
I looked to hope and found a Friend through my grief to bring within more peace
When I was in need
I looked to love of my Friend who set me free from fears that ceased
When I was desperate for change
I looked to mercy freeing from failure to be released
When I was growing
I looked to grace HE gives that lifted me above my failure to be in a family that increased
When I was helped
I looked to compassion from HIM within the family to give forward what I received
When I was newly open
I now look forward to a hope and a future conceived
When I was learning what was in HIS heart
I now look with vision of a future forthcoming where orphans find relief
When I was seeking HIS will
I now look with purpose forthcoming of Heaven filled with others who too believe
