#ScriptureReflection - Acts of the Apostles 7:1-10 (5.1.22)

 Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin

¹  Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

²  To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran.  ³  ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’  ⁴  “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.  ⁵  He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.  ⁶  God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated.

But God spoke to this effect, that his descendants would be aliens in a foreign land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. ⁷  But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.'  ⁸  Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

⁹  “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him  ¹⁰  and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

Source: NIV (New International Version)     

May / Easter Season (Continued) Cover Photo (2022)

 

#SteepedAndSpendingTime in the Book of Nahum #Nissan (4.30.22)

Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

The book of Nahum is one of the shortest books in the Bible.  With only 3 chapters, the Book of Nahum is a strong and mighty declaration.  

Shortly before the fall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, in 612 B.C., Nahum uttered his prophecy against the hated city.  It has been said that the prophet Nahum had an "exultant outburst of joy over the impending destruction" of Nineveh; part and parcel due to the savage cruelty of Assyria, which had made it the scourge of the ancient Near East for almost three centuries. The royal inscriptions of Assyria afford the best commentary on Nahum’s burning denunciation of “the bloody city.” In the wake of their conquests, mounds of heads, impaled bodies, enslaved citizens, and avaricious looters testified to the ruthlessness of the Assyrians. Just such a conquest was suffered by Israel, when its capital Samaria fell to the Assyrians in 722/721 B.C., and by Judah, when its capital Jerusalem nearly fell to invading Assyrian armies twenty years later.   In fact, Nahum 3:19 speaks directly to Judah joining in the general outburst of joy over the destruction of Nineveh!

And to be clear, Nahum the man, is not a prophet of unrestrained revenge.

Nahum asserts God’s moral government of the world. Nineveh’s doom is evidence that God stands against oppression and the abuse of power. Something that we must remember in our present day and age.  God will NOT allow constant oppression and abuse of power; and at the same time, we as Disciples of Christ (not just believers, but Disciples) are called and commanded (and God expects) to do our part, just as Nahum did.  We cannot be reluctant to speak up, to stand up and to show up with our faith as our armor and shield.  Nahum spoke boldly.  And we must as well.  We are called to be disciples.  We are not called to go to church every Sunday or Saturday.  We are not called to be in this group and that group; in this church ministry and that church ministry.  Now to be clear, all of those things (and more) are good and noble and there is nothing wrong with doing those things - but one of the most important things, that many Christians do not do - is to GO OUT AND BE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.   Many scripture verses speak to this.  Matthew 28:19-20 states “ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age; ~ and other scriptures speak to this mandate for believers followers of Christ, including Mark 6:7 ~ Luke 10:1 ~  Matthew 4:19 ~ 2 Timothy 2:2-3 ~ and John 12:26 to name a few.

And so, as you can see, we are called in this way - the same way as Nahum - to prophetically speak and warn of the impending consequences of particular actions.  That is our part to do.  And God will do the rest, as He always does.  Our job is simple, not to judge, not to enact and enforce mandates; but to warn, to speak unapologetically and unrelenting - and then let it go.  We are called, once we have done our part, to release the individual to their own choice(s), their own discernment, at that point, it is between them and God - and it is none of our business.  

The book of Nahum is the seventh book of the 12 minor prophets of the Hebrew Bible; attributed to the prophet Nahum & is believed to have been written in Jerusalem in the 7th Century BC.  This Book is valuable - for, like many of the books in the Bible, Nahum is a warning, a playbook, a lesson and an instructional correction.  

And because the ancient Near Eastern superpower, Assyria had terrorized its smaller and weaker neighbors, exploiting their economies and subjugating their people for its own ends; Nineveh’s demise is viewed as an act of divine justice, and it is greeted by the small, oppressed countries as a time of deliverance, as a moment of renewal, and as a message of peace.

The book is divided as follows:
I. God’s Terrifying Appearance (1:2–8)
II. Nineveh’s Judgment and Judah’s Restoration (1:9–2:1)
III. The Attack on Nineveh (2:2–3:7)
IV. Nineveh’s Inescapable Fate (3:8–19)

What a mighty God we serve!!!  This journey, like the previous journey's, has been an amazing reflection.     For your joy, soul/spirit/mind nourishment and your own reflection and refraction - all of the posts that have gone up during this #NahumSeason are listed below.  Refer back to it time to time, and we even encourage you to do your own reflection - pick a book of the Bible and dedicate to reading it a bit at a time, until you have read the entire Book.  For there are many things that we can do that pleases GOD, but spending time in His Word is one of the very best things we can do.

~ Rachel Newman, WoGfT Team

~~~~~~~

Enjoy this "walk down memory lane" by revisiting and reflect on our blog posts from the Book of Nahum.  Bless!

Nahum 1  (10.8.19)

Nahum 1:1-6  (4.11.22)

Nahum 1:7-11  (4.12.22)

Nahum 1:12-15 (4.14.22)

Nahum 2:1-4 (3.27.22)

Nahum 2:5-10 (3.29.22)

Nahum 2:11-13 (4.4.22)

Nahum 3:1-10  (4.18.22)

Nahum 3:11-19  (4.19.22)

Bless and be a blessing.

Peace.
Love.
Joy.
Faith.

Child of God, Be a Doer of God's Word. Be Obedient to His Word. And Be Blessed! (4.29.22)

My Child,
Some of you feel that these trials and tribulations will overcome you and take you out. 
Some of you think that you may not make it through.

For those of you that feel that way, if you continue to allow these circumstances to control your thoughts; then you are correct in your thinking. As a person thinketh in their heart so is he.

Why do you think you won’t make it, when My Word says, you can do all things through Christ (My Son)?  I Have great plans for your future, My Child.  If I Have good thoughts about you, why are you thinking the opposite of what My Word says?

Please believe in Me.
And what I Am saying.
For you will make it through.

I Say to you, stop thinking about your circumstances more than you think about Me.

Keep your mind focused on Me and My Word.
Keep your mind focused on Me and My Word.
Keep your mind focused on Me and My Word.

Even though, for some of you, your faith is unstable; do not stop speaking words of faith.

It is what you confess, and believe in your heart, that will come to pass.  When you keep your mind focused on the things within My Kingdom, your mind and spirit will be filled with heavenly things; and there is not (and cannot) be room for doubt or despair.

My Child, the things that you occupy your mind with, and the words you speak are very important.

You can speak things into existence - good or bad. 

Beloved, be a doer of My Word.
Be obedient to My Word.

I Have plans to bless you, beyond anything you could ever imagine.

You will look back at this difficult time and rejoice at how you overcame the enemy; and how you won the battle.

Yes, you are going to make it and a Blessing Table - that I Have set & prepared for you - will be prepared for you in the presence of your enemies.  Especially your enemies who thought they would be able to rejoice over what you are going through.

I Will put them to shame.
In the matchless name of My Son,
Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

Who died on the Cross.

So that you, My Child - 

   may have life, everlasting!!

 

Read and Meditate on God's Word
Proverbs 23:7 - For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

James 1:22-24 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

#ScriptureReflection - John 16:16-24 (4.28.22)

 Sadness Will Be Turned to Joy

¹⁶  “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

¹⁷  Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? ¹⁸  And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

19  Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. ²⁰  I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. ²¹  It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.

²²  So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. ²³  At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.

²⁴  You haven’t done this before.

Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

Source: NLT (New Living Translation)

God is Saying, "It Is Already Yours...." (4.27.22)

Children,
Now is the time for My People to rise up, and stop looking down at their ashes while counting their woes and pains.

It is time to lift your head and look to Me.
Where does your help come from?
Your help comes from Me, The Maker of Heaven and earth!

I Am the One, Who has healed you.
I Am the One, Who has removed sickness from your midst.
I Am the One, Who has removed oppression from your life.
I Am the One, Who has brought you joy amidst pain.

And I am the One, who will do it again!

Some of you are asking, "When Lord?"
And I Am saying, "It is already yours. 

Believe, that you have received what you prayed for.  

I Am calling My People to RISE UP and continue proclaiming the truth of what is already theirs.  Do not allow the enemy to sow seeds of fear and lies into your lives; but SPEAK in faith to your circumstances. And do not stop speaking, when things don’t happen in your time.  Just be faithful in prayer, like Daniel; stay before Me; and watch the power of My Word change your situation.

Remember - that no hurt, harm or danger shall come to you.

Remember - no weapon formed against you shall prosper.
Continue standing in faith and do not allow fearful thoughts to enter your mind.  

Take every thought captive; and no matter how your body feels, and no matter how your circumstances look, STAND. 

Stand firm on My Word.
Continue to confess your breakthrough.
Continue to confess victory in the face of the adversary.

Your breakthrough is so close, Child.
So do not give up now.

The darkness has increased because a new day is dawning.

Step out of your ashes.
Step out of your ashes.
Step out of your ashes.

It is already yours.

And know that nothing can stop My Hand.

It is already yours.

Nobody.  Nothing.  Can stop Me from blessing you.

It is already yours.

It is already yours.

Meditate on God's Word:

Psalm 73

Psalm 121:1-2 - I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Daniel 10:12 - Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy GOD, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

The Bottom Line is This..... Trust God. (4.26.22)

Sisters & Brothers,
We must believe in our hearts that the Lord Jesus Christ Is with us; especially when we go through trials and tribulations.

Jesus Has promised to never leave us or forsake us. There is nothing taking place in our lives that He Is not aware of.  And remember, when it comes to God Our Father - our thoughts are not His Thoughts and our ways are not His Ways. Sometimes things happen in our lives that we cannot  understand.  And sometimes we start to think that the Lord has abandoned us, in the midst of our troubles. Always remember that God Is right there.  And He Can turn things around - in a split second - if it is His Will.

The bottom line is this, you have to trust Him.  Trust Him.  And trust Him. He will never let you down nor abandon you.  For this is His Promise to you and me.

The Lord never changes, He Is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. There is nothing or no one that Jesus has to compete with. He was given all power by the Father when He died and rose on the third day.

All power is in Jesus' Hands, regardless of what the enemy is whispering in your ear!!!! Rebuke the enemy in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and he will flee. The Name of Jesus is powerful and the enemy will flee at the mention of His Name. The Mighty Name of Jesus is a strong tower, that you must take shelter in when you come under attack by the enemy of your soul.

Finally, read God's Word and spend time with The Father, each day. When you search for God, you will find Him.  And when you find Him, you will also find Jesus.  And Jesus Will bring peace into your life that will surpass all understanding.

Just rest.  Rest in Our Father's Arms; and Jesus Christ, His Son, will give you peace.

  

#ScriptureReflection - John 16:1-4 (4.25.22)

 ¹  “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. ²  For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. ³  This is because they have never known the Father or me. ⁴  Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.

Source: NLT (New Living Translation)

God's Covering & Protection (4.24.22)

In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.
- Psalm 31:1-5 (NIV) 

Faith Believers,
It is important that we understand that our covering is from "On High."

The LORD GOD desires for each of us, on a daily basis, to spend time with Him in prayer and in worship.  Because by doing this, we are protecting ourselves from the fiery darts of the enemy. 

GOD covers and protects those that love, worship and obey Him.

The covering of the LORD also protect us from satan's sneaky, malicious attacks and his traps. Start your day by worshipping the LORD and spend time with Him in prayer.  These two things will guarantee peace and calm all day long, and know that whatever happens, the LORD has your back. 

Hallelujah!!!! 

The Lord GOD is our refuge and our fortress therefore do not let the wicked ways of this world cause you to be stressed. Take time  today to thank JESUS for His protection, covering and Peace.

Thank you El Shaddai.
Thank you Jehovah Elyon.
Thank You Jehovah Shalom!!!!!!

Prayer Still Works (4.23.22)

My Child,

I See that something very heavy, is on your mind.
Do not let these thoughts take you captive.

You must take control.
You must pray.
You must roll these anxious thoughts over to Me.

If not, worry and anxiety will affect your body and your spirit.

In no way is worrying beneficial.  It will not fix anything.

So, take your thoughts captive.  And turn worrying around, with prayer. Use those same anxious thoughts - and form strong prayers. Take what the enemy is bringing against you; and cause it to backfire on him.

Prayer is always the best defense to take.  Especially when anxiety enters your life.

I Know, Child.  Sometimes it’s hard.  However, for such a time as this; and in times like these - when it’s hardest to pray.... You must pray.

Offer a sacrifice of prayer and praise, when all around you dictates the opposite.

Take those thoughts captive, and turn to Me.

Reflect on the times past when you prayed, and things like this worked out for your good.

Prayer still works.
Nothing has changed.

 

Read and Meditate on God's Word
2 Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of GOD, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GOD. And the peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  

Luke 18:1 - And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 
 
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 
 
James 5:16b - The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.