#ScriptureReflection - 1 Corinthians 16:1-12 (3.18.22)

 VI. Conclusion

Chapter 16

The Collection.
¹  Now in regard to the collection for the holy ones, you also should do as I ordered the churches of Galatia. ²  On the first day of the week each of you should set aside and save whatever he can afford, so that collections will not be going on when I come. ³  And when I arrive, I shall send those whom you have approved with letters of recommendation to take your gracious gift to Jerusalem. ⁴  If it seems fitting that I should go also, they will go with me.

Paul’s Travel Plans.
⁵  I shall come to you after I pass through Macedonia (for I am going to pass through Macedonia), ⁶  and perhaps I shall stay or even spend the winter with you, so that you may send me on my way wherever I may go. ⁷  For I do not wish to see you now just in passing, but I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. ⁸  I shall stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, ⁹  because a door has opened for me wide and productive for work, but there are many opponents.

¹⁰  If Timothy comes, see that he is without fear in your company, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am. ¹¹  Therefore, no one should disdain him. Rather, send him on his way in peace that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. ¹²  Now in regard to our brother Apollos, I urged him strongly to go to you with the brothers, but it was not at all his will that he go now. He will go when he has an opportunity.

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)     

A Repost of 'In Due Season..... on 5.13.21' (3.17.22)

Good Morning Faith Family,
This was sent out some time ago but I am sending it out again because I believe that all of us need continuous encouragement.

We must trust in GOD's timing regardless of  circumstances happening all around us.
We must remember that satan and his people have no power over us; and they certainly cannot stop GOD's plan for our life.

Trust and believe, knowing that GOD IS going to do exactly what He Promised you; but in His timing.

No one or nothing is equal to GOD Our Father, or His Son, Jesus Christ. All power was given and release when Jesus died for our sins on the Cross and when He rose on the third day.  Always remember that GOD's Plans for you cannot be altered nor hindered by the enemy.

Keep the faith in our Lord Jehovah.

Thank God for what you have,
Trust God for what you need.
 ~ Marilyn 

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My Child,
I Know that some of you are experiencing hardships and trials that you’ve never encountered before.

You MUST hold on and have faith in My Word. 

Remember Who I AM.
I Am Jehovah Jireh.
Your Provider.
And I Will NOT fail you. 

Trust Me to see you through this.
Trust in The One Who delivered you
     from the hands of the enemy, time
     and time again.

Although some of you cannot yet, see a clear way out of the 'adverse circumstances' you face, I Can. I Know your ending from the beginning.  And I Say, if you trust in Me, and do not doubt; you will be victorious. Yes, I Know that for some of you, it is hard; however what you are going through is temporary, and it cannot compare to the blessings - My Blessings - that are waiting for you.

My Child, you are going to come out of this. 

Know this. 
Believe it. 
Receive it.
Dwell in this truth - My Truth.

Understand this Children, just because some of you don’t see the answers to your prayers with your natural eyes; that does not mean that I haven’t answered them.  Many of you already know this; but some of you are uncertain, struggling with unbelief or conflicted in your heart. 

To ALL My Children - those with fervent belief; those with wavering, lukewarm belief and those with absolutely no belief - to ALL of My Precious, Beautiful Children, do not stop storming My Gates of Heaven with effectual fervent prayers. Pray and pray and pray and pray.  And then pray, take action, pray, seek and speak to Me, pray, listen, discern, pray, read My Word, listen, pray, pay attention and pray - until you receive your breakthrough, in My Holy Spirit. 

Then SHOUT OUT with praises of thanksgiving that IT IS DONE.

Do it even though you may not see it. 
Do it even though you may not feel it. 
Do it when others tell you it's impossible.
Do it when you & others question and/or
     do not trust Me.   
Do it afraid. 
Do it while reading & immersing in My Word. 
Do it unsure. 
Do it afraid. 
Do it by faith.

Beloved, your prayers are not falling on empty ears.  Your prayers NEVER fall on empty ears. 

I Hear you. 
I Hear every word you say. 

And I Say to you, believe that it is done. 

My Word is true.
Trust in My Word.
Trust in My Goodness.
Trust in My Grace.
And believe, beyond any and all doubt, that
     you already have what you have prayed for.
That I have already brought it to completion.
That it is already on the way.

Dry your tearful eyes, My Beautiful, Precious, Brilliant Child.
And believe in Me again.

Do not allow the enemy to cause you to turn away from Me.
Do not let him win.

I Promise that I Will come through.
I Will NEVER fail or disappoint you. 

Nothing is impossible for Me. 
I Will deliver.
I Will.
I Will.

And it will be - I Will be -
     right on time.

 

Read and Meditate on God's Word

Leviticus 26:3-4 - If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Isaiah 40:30-41 - Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 - For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 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 temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

1 John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

 

#ScriptureReflection - 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 (3.16.22)

Seek the Good of Others.

²³  “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds up. ²⁴  No one should seek his own advantage, but that of his neighbor.

²⁵  Eat anything sold in the market, without raising questions on grounds of conscience, ²⁶  for “the earth and its fullness are the Lord’s.” ²⁷  If an unbeliever invites you and you want to go, eat whatever is placed before you, without raising questions on grounds of conscience. ²⁸  But if someone says to you, “This was offered in sacrifice,” do not eat it on account of the one who called attention to it and on account of conscience; ²⁹  I mean not your own conscience, but the other’s. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience? ³⁰  If I partake thankfully, why am I reviled for that over which I give thanks?

³¹  So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. ³²  Avoid giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, ³³  just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved.

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)  

Release What Does Not Bless You.... (3.15.22)

My Child,

Do not hold on to the ashes of yesterday,
     they will spoil your tomorrow. 
Release the hurt and disappointments,
    because they cannot bless you.

Holding on to pain will cause bitterness to take root in your spirit. There were some lessons you had to learn from the past; but do not bring that hurt and that pain into your future. Nothing has happened to you that I Am not aware of; and that I cannot heal. Not even one sparrow falls to the ground without My Approval.

Please release what no longer blesses your life. 
Release and forgive what has happened.
And lay hold to a brighter future.

Seek Me for directions. Talk to Me.  I Am listening.  And then, listen to Me.  Yes, listen. Be still before Me, so that you can hear what My Holy Spirit is saying to you. I Know what it takes to bring you into the place I’ve Prepared for you. Although you may not see it or even feel it, I Am always working on your behalf.  Watching and intervening in ways (and often at times) that you cannot, or do not, even realize.   

Right now, turning the ashes of your past into a beautiful future.

I Am pouring My Anointing, My Oil of Gladness, over your spirit right now, right now, RIGHT NOW - to heal, restore, and build you up.  I Love on you mightily, My Child. 

And My Love will lift you up to heights, levels and into seasons never before seen.

Therefore, you do not need to bring anything that is not blessing you, into your future; for I’ve Provided and made A Way for every thing for The Vision that lies ahead.

 

Read and Meditate on God's Word 

Isaiah 61:3 - To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 

Philippians 3:13-14 - My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of GOD in Christ Jesus. 

#ScriptureReflection - 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 (3.14.22)

Warning Against Idolatry.

¹⁴  Therefore, my beloved, avoid idolatry. ¹⁵  I am speaking as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying. ¹⁶  The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? ¹⁷  Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

¹⁸  Look at Israel according to the flesh; are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? ¹⁹  So what am I saying? That meat sacrificed to idols is anything? Or that an idol is anything? ²⁰  No, I mean that what they sacrifice, [they sacrifice] to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to become participants with demons. ²¹  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. ²²  Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger? Are we stronger than he?

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)     

#ScriptureReflection - 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (3.13.22)

Warning Against Overconfidence.

¹  I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, ²  and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³  All ate the same spiritual food, ⁴  and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ. ⁵  Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert.

⁶  These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. ⁷  And do not become idolaters, as some of them did, as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.” ⁸  Let us not indulge in immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell within a single day. ⁹  Let us not test Christ as some of them did, and suffered death by serpents. ¹⁰  Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. ¹¹  These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. ¹²  Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. ¹³  No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)   

Keep Your Eyes on God, and TRUST (3.12.22)

My Child,
Keep your eyes FIXED on Me. 

Do not look at the circumstances surrounding your situation(s); instead, look to Me, The Author and Finisher of your story. Do not judge your situation as if you are losing the battle; and do not judge your situation(s) by your feelings. Because right now, some of you are feeling as if you won’t overcome. However, I Created you to be more than a conqueror, through Me. Things are not always what they appear to be. Remember, you must walk by faith, not by sight.

I Know that it may not seem like it right now; but all things are working together for your good, and they are working because you belong to Me.  I’ve Ordered your steps, Child; and I Will not allow your steps to slide.

Be at peace. 
Do not allow what you see,
      to worry you. 
Be anxious for nothing. 
In all things ask of Me.
I Will reply graciously. 

However, remember that all things are done according to My Timing.  Have faith, persevere, and you will see the answers to your prayers. 

My Child, refrain from murmuring and complaining - and start counting your Blessings. Do not allow the enemy to rob you of your joy by focusing on the "negative."

Count your blessings and be grateful.

I Am your Loving Father, and I Will supply all your needs. Look to Me, and not to your own strength, to endure; for I Am stretching you and preparing you.  Keep My Word in your heart, and stay before Me in prayer, always.

Do not let the enemy, or your feelings, or others, or yourself, convince you that you aren’t overcoming.  Do not look at the circumstances; because things are not what they appear to be. Remember Who I Am....  and let Me be in control. I Keep My Promises.  For all My Promises are 'Yes & Amen.'  And I Will always cause you to triumph over the enemy.  

Now, look to Me.
Be obedient to My Word.
And Blessings will come to pass.  

Read and Meditate on God's Word

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

Romans 8:37 - Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

2 Corinthians 5:7 - (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Psalm 119:133 - Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Psalm 18:36 - Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

Philippians 4:19 - But my GOD shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Deuteronomy 28:2 - And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy GOD. 

2 Corinthians 2:14 - Now thanks be unto GOD, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

#ScriptureReflection - 1 Corinthians 15:50-58* (3.11.22)

The Resurrection Event.

⁵⁰  This I declare, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹  Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵²  in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³  For that which is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality. ⁵⁴  And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
⁵⁵  Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

⁵⁶  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷  But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)  

Reflecting on Mark 1:35 by Karen Woodward (3.10.22)

Good Morning All,
This was written by Karen Woodard. I often experience what Karen has so beautifully expressed in this passage, so I wanted to share.

~ Marilyn Chaney

~~~~~~~

This has long been one of my favorite pictures of Jesus, getting up early and embracing solitude. I too also love solitude, though getting up early has been more challenging for me!

In this passage, the word “solitary” means deserted. No distractions. Peaceful and quiet. Dark.

It was a long while before daylight. Had it been a short night’s sleep for Jesus? What was on His Mind? Some have suggested that He had an important day of ministry before Him, so He wanted time to clear His Head before starting a busy day. Or did He have concerns from the day before that had awakened Him?

Perhaps He had left the house where He and His Disciples were staying. Being outdoors in GOD’s Creation was a great place to worship in prayer, to commune with and to lift requests to His Father.

What do you do when you wake up during the night? (Last night, I woke up at 1:45 am, tried to go back to sleep, was able to sleep till 2:45 am, but then got up.) I have found it good to use these early morning wakeful sessions to search my mind and soul to see what is keeping me from sleep, to pray for family members who are struggling, to talk to GOD and let Him know that I do really need Him to get through the coming day’s challenges, and just give Him all my worries.

~ Let Us Pray ~
Father GOD, 

Please meet me today in a solitary places and take my burdens from me.

Give me Your Love, Your Grace and Your Power to replace the things that I worry about.

Thank You Father GOD, for sending and giving us Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Please help me to remember that You Lord are in control of all things.

Amen

~~~~~

Throughout This Day: Try to find solitude in your day, even though it may be hard. Be open to getting up early, before the break of dawn, and even walking outside in the wee morning hours, into GOD’s Creation, to escape all distractions. GOD will meet you there!

#ScriptureReflection - 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 (3.9.22)

 C. The Manner of the Resurrection

³⁵  But someone may say, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come back?”

The Resurrection Body.
³⁶  You fool! What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies. ³⁷  And what you sow is not the body that is to be but a bare kernel of wheat, perhaps, or of some other kind; ³⁸  but God gives it a body as he chooses, and to each of the seeds its own body. ³⁹  Not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for human beings, another kind of flesh for animals, another kind of flesh for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰  There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the brightness of the heavenly is one kind and that of the earthly another. ⁴¹  The brightness of the sun is one kind, the brightness of the moon another, and the brightness of the stars another. For star differs from star in brightness.

⁴²  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible. ⁴³  It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious. It is sown weak; it is raised powerful. ⁴⁴  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one.

⁴⁵  So, too, it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being,” the last Adam a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶  But the spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiritual. ⁴⁷  The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. ⁴⁸  As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. ⁴⁹  Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)