Blessings from Barb...

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by Barb

Today I was standing at my workbench thinking about the goodness of the Lord and His mercy that has been manifested time and time again.

As I began to reflect, I thanked Him for looking beyond my fault and not just looking over my fault.

People do that sometimes, especially parents. They will often allow their love for their child to cloud their judgment.

Though I do not have children of my own, I understand this emotion. I have nieces, nephews, and godchildren, whom I love more than I am able to say.

I am sure it is easy to pretend that all is well when it is OUR child. We will appoint and promote, even when it is not the will of God, and for no other reason than we love.

However, when an individual is able to look, not through the eyes of the heart, but through the eyes of the soul and the Spirit, seeing their child as God sees them, that is rare, indeed.

I have been blessed down through the years with family and friends who looked beyond the rubble to see what I could be...to see me as God saw me.

Recognizing this, I have endeavored to extend the same graciousness to others.

You see, God never looked over or made excuses for my wrong doing or lousy attitudes, but saw beyond the mistakes and loud talk a heart that longed to find a place of usefulness and peace.

Christ never gave up, even when I wanted to...when I thought I had really botched it and it was all over, He never gave up on me, but saw what I could be.

And so He looked way beyond the junk, through the years and years of messing up, to a time when I would yield.

He saw a heart for His people...He recognized a gift that had to be shared...He heard a word fitly spoken...

He saw me....the real me.

He didn't see me through eyes of shame and blame, but through His Blood.

He saw me.

That is why He gently nudged me along, allowing people to cross my path to bring a word in due season.

Every event in my life has been orchestrated by the Master to bring me to this moment in time...a time when I could willingly follow His guiding hand.

I haven't 'arrived'...I still blow it sometimes, but it is then that I am reminded that His grace is sufficient and He is yet looking beyond my fault and daily making provision.

Sis. Barb,

This is truly beautiful! I feel this could be many of our testimonies! Have

you heard Bro. Murrell Ewing sing, "He Saw Me"? It is such a wonderful

song, the words really speak to me.

Thank you for your thought provoking post!

Blessings,

Falla39

[Barb]

For the last several hours I have been hearing those words ringing in my spirit...the value of a soul.

Who would dare to put a price tag on that which will live forever?! And yet the Lord asked if a man gained the whole world and lost his OWN soul, what would it profit him...what would he give in exchange for his soul?

The riches and reputation of this world cannot be measured in the same balance with the soul, however, attitudes and opinions, unforgiveness and bitterness, judgmental and ridiculing hearts are displayed at the expense of a soul.

And just what did Christ mean when He said "lose his OWN soul?" Is it just possible that what I say or do I can have an effect on YOUR soul?!

I have often run the course of my life without a thought of my own soul, let alone someone elses, but I am committed in these closing moments of time to treat that which will last forever with the respect it deserves, understanding that it's value is far greater than rubies or diamonds.

I want to guard my heart with all diligence...may I regard yours as highly.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Falla39

Sis. Barb,

This is truly beautiful! I feel this could be many of our testimonies! Have

you heard Bro. Murrell Ewing sing, "He Saw Me"? It is such a wonderful

song, the words really speak to me.

Thank you for your thought provoking post!

Blessings,

Falla39

Yes and I have the Gaither DVD also where he (Bro. Ewing) sang it...great song!!

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Barb

For the last several hours I have been hearing those words ringing in my spirit...the value of a soul.

Who would dare to put a price tag on that which will live forever?! And yet the Lord asked if a man gained the whole world and lost his OWN soul, what would it profit him...what would he give in exchange for his soul?

The riches and reputation of this world cannot be measured in the same balance with the soul, however, attitudes and opinions, unforgiveness and bitterness, judgmental and ridiculing hearts are displayed at the expense of a soul.

And just what did Christ mean when He said "lose his OWN soul?" Is it just possible that what I say or do I can have an effect on YOUR soul?!

I have often run the course of my life without a thought of my own soul, let alone someone elses, but I am committed in these closing moments of time to treat that which will last forever with the respect it deserves, understanding that it's value is far greater than rubies or diamonds.

I want to guard my heart with all diligence...may I regard yours as highly.

Your post brings home the fact that words can be very very cheap.

We say we love God. We say we love the lost. We say we love each other. But like you said ....... "attitudes and opinions, unforgiveness and bitterness, judgmental and ridiculing hearts are displayed at the expense of a soul."

So true. Words are cheap - very. Un-thinking people don't even realize what they're doing and then even worse, on top of the offence, they'll justify it.

More thinking people will stop and give pause and hold their tongues and watch their spirits. They're very aware and conscious of the fact that souls and hearts and spirits are affected by what they say and do and so will take the high road and crucify self or at least lay it down and suffer wrongfully knowing full well and confident that there is a God who watches and sees it all and will pay and repay as He sees fit. HIS judgement is perfect and perfectly righteous.

Jam 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

James also said in his letter, chapter 3 and verse 2 .......

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Everything we say and do has a ripple effect. Many people are just so totally uncomprehending. So we pray like Jesus did .......

"Forgive them, for they know not what they do."

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Your post brings home the fact that words can be very very cheap.

We say we love God. We say we love the lost. We say we love each other. But like you said ....... "attitudes and opinions, unforgiveness and bitterness, judgmental and ridiculing hearts are displayed at the expense of a soul."

So true. Words are cheap - very. Un-thinking people don't even realize what they're doing and then even worse, on top of the offence, they'll justify it.

More thinking people will stop and give pause and hold their tongues and watch their spirits. They're very aware and conscious of the fact that souls and hearts and spirits are affected by what they say and do and so will take the high road and crucify self or at least lay it down and suffer wrongfully knowing full well and confident that there is a God who watches and sees it all and will pay and repay as He sees fit. HIS judgement is perfect and perfectly righteous.

Jam 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

James also said in his letter, chapter 3 and verse 2 .......

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Everything we say and do has a ripple effect. Many people are just so totally uncomprehending. So we pray like Jesus did .......

"Forgive them, for they know not what they do."

This is great, Felicity...thank you...

I have been on this word thing for weeks now, trying my best to make sure my conversation and tone, be it in person or online, relative, friend, or stranger is that which is conducive to right Christian behavior.

Not always succeeding and have had to pull back and regroup, but I am working on it...

[Barb]

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms
(Deuteronomy 33:27).

[Barb]

His promises are sure…

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:
hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it
(Numbers 23:19-20).

There is nothing I can do to reverse what God has ordained for you and neither can you interfere in His will for me. Oh, we can try to and even unwittingly make a shambles of people’s lives and our own with our words or actions. Individuals may move and work in ways which seem to thwart God’s will and block the promise for a time, but they cannot curse you and reverse what Almighty God has commanded for YOU. If God has spoken a promise to you, all of the fires of hell cannot stop it from coming to pass. Keep in mind that the promise is not based on our lack of perfection or what man may think of us. It is based solely on the fact that He is a God of His Word.

Unmovable faith

Faith that cannot be shaken or moved is that which stands even when believing seems like the most ridiculous thing we have ever done. Abraham had faith and obeyed not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8), and when there was nothing visible to cling to…when he didn’t see anything to hope for, he “believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be” (Romans 4:18). Paul takes this a step further when he states that Abraham “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief” (v. 20). The Greek reads, “But he did not decide against the promise of God.” Father Abraham did not stagger or stumble over how it looked or seemed or what others may have had to say about it, but being fully persuaded that what God had promised He was able to perform (v. 21), he made a conscious decision to believe God. Standing at the altar of sacrifice, with hand raised to kill his son, God made divine arrangements to fulfill His Word, "that in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Genesis 21:12).

[Barb]

Ordinary people
God uses ordinary people
He chooses people just like you and me
Who are willing to do as He commands

He chooses people who will give Him their all
No matter how small you're all may seem to you
For little becomes much
When you place it in the Master's hand

Just ordinary people
God uses ordinary people
He chooses people just like you and me
Who are willing to do as He commands

He chooses people who will give Him their all
No matter how small you're all may seem to you
For little becomes much
When you place it in the Master's hand

Just like that little lad who Jesus all He had
How the multitudes were fed
With the fish and the loaves of bread

What you have may not seem much
But when you yield it to the touch
Of the Master's loving hand
Then you'll understand
How you're life could never be the same

Just ordinary people
God uses ordinary people
He chooses people just like you and me
Who are willing to do as He commands

He chooses people who will give Him their all
No matter how small you're all may seem to you
For little becomes much
When you place it in the Master's hand

Go on and give your everything to Jesus
Yes, little becomes much
When you place it in the Master's hand

[Barb]

Hope these words bless someone tonight as they always bless me...

Though men may strive to go beyond the reef of space
To fly beyond the distance shining stars
This world's a room so small within my Master's house
The open sky is but a portion of his yard

As winter's chill may cause the tiny seed to fall
To lie asleep till waked by summer's rain
The heart grown cold will warm and trob with life anew
The Master's touch will bring the glow again

How big is God
How big and wide His vast domain
To try to tell these lips can only start
He's big enough to rule the mighty universe
Yet small enough to live within my heart

He's big enough to rule the mighty universe
Yet small enough to live within my heart

[Felicity]

So beautiful!!