Bible Journaling and Adult Coloring, 1 Corinthians 10:31

I saw a post a friend shared about "adult mandala coloring books".  (small case deliberate).  As I was reading the post, I was thinking that I knew there was a reason I didn't care for those patterns and now I realize it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me.  I agree that the patterns and books promote mysticism.
I do, however, love to journal and I love to color.  There is a somewhat new concept going around using pictures and coloring to study God's Word.  Painting, coloring right on the Bible pages, a lot of times covering the actual words.  That is something that I cannot do, I use a separate book for my journaling.  I do write in my Bible, I just can't bring myself to "deface" the pages, no matter how pretty the artwork.  Somehow to me, that seems to defeat the purpose!!
I love to journal, I love to write, God gave me a gift of writing many, many years ago and I am so thankful, I do not take it lightly.  I am a Bible journaler, have been for years.  Writing things out myself helps me to remember them.  I also like to record prayers and see where God has moved because so many things happen we tend to forget what we have prayed for at times (at least I do).  It's also a good testimony and ministry tool.  Recently I have begun writing out Bible verses and illustrating the page with pictures and coloring.  I find that coloring the words and the page is a good memorization technique for me also.  
Here is what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me about journaling and adult coloring:  1 Corinthians 10:31,  "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  Let EVERYTHING you do be to the glory of God including journaling AND coloring!  My coloring is nothing elaborate, hopefully, it is pretty and pleasing to God, but if I try to make some elaborate picture with lots of concentrated drawing and coloring, where is the glory to God in that?  Yes, I want God to be pleased with it BUT am I really doing it for God's glory or my own?  I do it to help commit verses to memory, it is relaxing also.  
I am not saying it is wrong but if I do it to excess then I am concentrating more on my own work than God's.  My thoughts are more on how to make it look more appealing to self, others, maybe than to God.  I want it to be pleasing to God and for my mind to be totally on committing the verse to memory.  I don't repeat the verse as a mantra over and over as I'm coloring, however, I do read and reread, that is a study technique the Lord gave me years ago when I was younger and in school to help study.  I don't concentrate on the coloring, I concentrate on the Word and the Author of the Word.
There is nothing wrong with journaling, there is nothing wrong with coloring.  But, in all you do, do it to the glory of the Lord.  He doesn't care if you color inside the lines, He doesn't care if you accidentally get outside the lines, in coloring, He cares that you are spending time with Him and in His Word.
I journal after I have prayed, spent time in God's Word and with God to record what He has revealed to me through scripture and where He has led me through His Word to teach me.  I color to help me remember and it is, for me, another form of praise, to God, not self.
Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock, and my Redeemer."
Psalm 139:23-24, 23Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

Don't Shoot the Messenger

2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I have to say, it's not easy preaching and teaching the truth!!  I see friends on facebook growing in their relationship with the Lord, learning the truths of the Bible and throwing out the teachings of man that they have grown up with their whole life and I am so THANKFUL.  I thank God for each and everyone that will pray, study, fast, read and pray some more for God to reveal the truth to them and then accept it when HE does!!  Many times God plants a seed through some small something that another person says or HE plants a thought in our minds.  Because of free will, it is then up to us to do something with it.  My heart breaks for those who follow after men, whether it be t.v. Evangelists or their own church Pastor, OR their dad or granddad or uncle etc.  No one, let me repeat, no one will make it into the Kingdom of God based on their relationship with their pastor or any other man.  You cannot follow man and God, you can learn some things from man but if it doesn't line up with Scripture, it's not correct. 

Here is why the title says, "Don't Shoot the Messenger":  When God lays it on someone's heart to pray and search the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit teaches them something, IF they obey God, they do not keep that information to themselves.  IF they have the love of Christ in them, they do not keep that information to themselves.  IF they are truly concerned and love their neighbor as themselves, they do not keep that information to themselves.  They are a messenger, they are the person at that moment that the Holy Spirit has pointed towards truth.  Our job is not to immediately discredit them, slander them, destroy or expose them, etc.  If we are truly a Child of God, we will search the Scriptures, pray and ask God if it's truth, not toss it out because our Pastor doesn't agree or didn't preach it.

Now listen to me carefully, please.  I am not saying that you should be "tossed about by every wind of doctrine".  I am saying that everything we have been taught from childhood is NOT necessarily the truth.  We HAVE to pray, search the scriptures and make sure what we are hearing or reading lines up with the Word of God.  IF what you are reading or hearing does NOT line up with the Word of God, then you can expose false witness, BUT be careful that you search the scriptures and make sure it doesn't line up with it.  Make sure you aren't kicking against something you've just "always been taught".

If we are going to get anywhere in our relationship with God, we have got to "come out of the world".  We have got to get out of doctrine and into God's truth.  We've got to stop believing everything we hear and read and study to show our own selves approved.  Sometimes learning the truth will also be backed up with other research materials, i.e. Sunday observation, where did it come from?, Easter, Christmas, The Pre-Rapture theory.  Not only are these NOT Biblical but you can find through History where these things began and how they came about being celebrated.  I am just listing those few but there are many more things we have been taught to believe come from the Lord only to find out if we study them out that they actually were created by man.

I am just a messenger, but shoot me if you must!  Until then I will keep revealing what the Holy Spirit reveals to me.  To those who are willing to learn, God bless you, continue your search and prayer.  To those who are not willing and get angry when the lies are exposed, I will pray for you and I still love you, so does God. 

All I ask is prayer, that I will continue to pray, fast, seek God and be led by the Lord and the teaching of the Holy Spirit.  Prayer that I will stand for the truth and not fall for anything!  I pray the same for you.

2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB) ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) ¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Love you all and God bless you all,

Another Messenger

Learn the truth, use the authority and break the bonds

BONDAGE:

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: Galations 2:4 (false teachers)

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 (think about that, if we are in bondage on earth, we are bound in Heaven also!!)

TRUTH:

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 (John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.)

AUTHORITY:

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19

When we know the truth, we can break free of our bonds (break out of bondage) using the truth and the authority that God gave us through Jesus Christ. Can I get a big amen :) That excites me. There is absolutely NOTHING that God did not make provision for us already!! Our God is truly morethan enough!!

Think of some of the synonyms for saved: rescued, delivered, liberated, set free. Can we add out of bondage after each word? Yes we can!

A true christian believes inwardly and outwardly that Jesus death has allowed God to offer them forgiveness and eternal life as a gift. They have "accepted" that gift through "faith" and are seeking (desiring - not forced) to live a life free of bondage and a life of obedient "gratitude" for what God has done for them.

Many are being led astray by every wind of doctrine and cunning craftiness of men.(Ephes. 4:14)

Mankind is in bondage. Some are in bondage to satan and thus to self and sin. Others are in bondage, held captive by the enemies lies because they don't know the truth. Still others are in bondage to the law or to a legalistic style of Christianity that snuffs the life and joy out of their walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.(excerpt, FREE FROM BONDAGE - GOD'S WAY by Kay Arthur)

Sin has everyone in it's grip. We are trapped (bondage) by sin, beaten down by past mistakes, and choked by desires we know are wrong. God knows we are sin's prisoners, and He has provided a way of escape - faith in Jesus Christ. All are caught in sin's grasp and only those who place their faith in Jesus Christ ever get out of it. Look to Him. He has already paid the price to set you free.

Don't be tossed around by "every wind of doctrine", don't be one of those who only wants to hear the good news of the gospel, don't be a man pleaser (another blog God is giving me). Pray, read, study to show thyself approved - to God, not man. Learn the truth, use the authority, break those bonds. Do not let satan dull your sword, it's your only weapon of defense, he would have you stay in bondage and the more you study and spend time with God, it's guaranteed the more satan will attack. He's had thousands upon thousands of years to plot and plan, compared to our 20, 30, 40, even 70 years some of us have lived. That's why we need Jesus, we need God as our refuge.

God gives us the authority through Jesus to fight the good fight, to overcome and to claim victory, over sin, over death, over bondage. All we have to do is learn it, use it, believe it. Have faith.

Learn the truth, use the authority, break the bonds. In Jesus name.

until next time

His servant

Lord give me an "attitude" of "gratitude" in Jesus name. Amen

And that's the Truth (Or is it?)

A perversion or twisting of the truth is more difficult to spot than an outright lie. That's why satan when he sets out to deceive will even quote you scripture. Take it straight to the Word of God and as the Bible says, try the spirits. We live in a time when many who profess to know Jesus really don't hunger and thirst for sound doctrine. In 2 Corinthians, Paul warns that satan masquerades as an angel of light. He (Paul) invokes a curse on any angel who spreads false teaching, actually on anyone!

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

How can we tell when people are twisting the truth? Before accepting any teaching, find out what they teach about Jesus. If any teaching does not match up with the Word of God then it's false. InJohn 17:17, Jesus prayed , "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

When people think of satan, they see the character drawn in story books and depicted in pictures of an evil looking character with horns and a sharp arrow like tail carrying a pitchfork. Because satan is evil this might be a good example of his character but the Bible says he was one of God's most beautiful angels. Those who know God also know satan for what he truly is. However, if we don't put on the whole armor of God daily we are just as susceptible to satan's pillaging as anyone else, maybe more so because when he is trying to turn a child of God away from God, he is much more subtle. He is an eloquent speaker, pleasing to the eye and the senses. He is evil, but he doesn't appear evil, quite the contrary, he tries to make evil look good. The Bible says he can quote scripture. You know why? Because he was an angel, he knows God's plan and he knows he is going to lose, he doesn't care about winning the battle, he cares about taking as many of God's creation with him as he can. Using someone to twist scripture, bringing doubt in your mind about your faith, using your past against you are just some of the tools he will use to bring about his plan. Satan will use scripture to bring doubt into your mind, he will use scripture to destroy your faith, he will use scripture to justify a wrong, again he will use whatever he can to make evil appear good.

He knows our weaknesses. He will bring up the past, not to rebuke you but to cause the flesh to rise up and want to do things of the past that we've already been forgiven for. Remember if you are being tried, rejoice as Paul did. The bible says (paraphrasing) trials and tests of our faith produces patience. If satan isn't tempting you or attacking you, he isn't worried about you. You are no threat to him!!

If you are no threat to satan, you are no good to God! Don't misunderstand what I'm saying,God loves you-you are His most beloved child. However, satan should tremble when your feet hit the floor (not the other way around). Resist the devil and he will flee. If you aren't resisting him you aren't helping/serving God. Choose ye this day......

That's why it is so important to know the truth, to search out the truth on your own as well as being taught. Effective fervent prayer is communication with the Lord. He will show you the truth, all you have to do is ask.

Again, try the spirits, God will show you the truth in His word and the Holy Spirit will reveal it to you in your prayer life. I pray constantly for God to give me knowledge and understanding of His word for myself and to share with you. I know the seriousness of misleading or teaching someone wrong. As this battle rages my favorite verse always comes to mind. Phil. 4:13.

God provided for us in this war. He has given us the whole armor, all we have to do is put it on. What is the first piece of armor mentioned in Eph. 6:10-19? "Having your loins gird about withtruth."

Father, God, I love You and praise You. You are the most High God and the only God in my life. You are the great I Am and I'm so thankful You have made provision for me, for all of us. You are my comforter, my protector, my guide, my ever present strength in the face of danger and trials. Forgive me today for anything I have done or said that was not in line with Your word, or was/is displeasing to You. Help me likewise, to forgive those who have wronged me. Lord I pray today for myself and all those reading, that you help us put on Your whole armor. To choose today to serve You. Help us to be strong in the power of Your might. Help us to stand against the wiles of the devil, whatever he may bring against us. Help us to resist the devil so he will flee from us using the power You have given us through Your Son Jesus Christ. Help us Lord when all else seems to fail to remember Your armor. To stand with truth, righteousness and Your gospel. Above all, to hold up our shield of faith, wear our helmet of salvation and carry our sword of the Spirit so we are covered from the top of our head to the souls of our feet with Your power and might. Though satan rages against us, we are assured victory. Thank You Lord for Your armor, thank You for Your might, thank You for Your power and protection. Most of all thank you Lord for saving us, for adopting us in to Your family. Though the storm rages we are safe in Your care. Open our ears and our hearts to Your truths Father. Be with us and give us boldness in spreading Your gospel. Help us to realize the seriousness of the battle we are facing and give us a true heart for the lost. When Your Son, Jesus cast out demons He did not ask them quietly or timidly to leave the people alone, He used one word, "Go", using that same power and authority that You have given us as Your children. Help us to be able, knowledgeable, wise and available soldiers in this battle and we give You all honor and glory and praise, Heavenly Father, You are worthy. In Your Son Jesus, precious Heavenly name. Amen

God bless

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

His servant

God has a plan

Luke 23:44-46 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45) And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple wast rent in the midst. 46) and when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this He gave up the ghost.

What love. What total selflessness. What a mighty God we serve. Each time I read about Jesus crucifixion, it breaks my heart. What He did is beyond words, beyond what my mortal mind can truly comprehend. When we think of Jesus and what He did for us, we need to remember that although He was God, He went through all of that as a man, just like one of us. He was born, lived and died as a man. However, at any given moment He could have said stop! He could have said, "I don't want to do this? They are not worth it, they don't care what I'm doing for them." And, beloved, He would have had every right to do that. Even then most didn't believe who He was. Even in those days they did not accept Him for who He truly was and is. You know why God sent His only Son? God has a plan.

It was never His intention for man to be lost. At the risk of repeating myself, God cannot lie. His word says He will always give us an escape from temptation, that began with His sending Jesus to die for our sins. He was/is our escape from sin and temptation. If we fix our eyes, heart, mind on god - He will deliver us from temptation. He says it in His word, He has to do it, He cannot lie!

I am not writing to those who read this, again, every word of this is for me. I am compelled by the Spirit to share this with whomsoever will read it. I need what the Lord is saying just as much IF NOT MORE than those of you reading right now. The devil tempts and attacks me continually and sometimes I stumble, sometimes I fall down and fail miserably. I am NOT giving up. That is the lesson I have learned. Don't give up. God has a plan.

I have been accused of thinking I'm perfect and that my life is perfect and everything goes my way. All I can say to that is far from it! Do I strive to be perfect? Most definitely. Do I succeed? Most definitely NOT.

Do I have trials? Yes! Right now I'm going through a painful divorce, I have severe financial difficulties, my car needs an oil change and freon, my kids have problems (and any parent knows your kids troubles ARE your troubles also lol). My life is far from perfect. I claim His promise, He will provide. If I didn't have God, I shudder to think where I would be or what I would be doing. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be here to write this blog. I get angry, sometimes I allow myself to worry, I say things I shouldn't and then I have to repent. To be honest, sometimes that might take a day or two until the Holy Spirit shakes me up and reminds me where I came from and what can happen if I don't let things go and let God take care of them. I have to pray it through and like a rebellious child sometimes I don't want to! My life is a journey, not perfect but I've learned, most (if not all) of my problems are from trying to do things my own way my whole life, without waiting on God or asking His will. Now, in all truth and honesty, I'm reaping what "I" have sewn. But, God has a plan.

He could make my life perfect, He could clear up all my problems without blinking an eye but then what would that teach me. Just like a child, I must learn lessons from my mistakes. As I write this, I know He is working everything out. I know He is providing all my needs and even some of my wants, I have to wait on Him and I have to keep my faith in Him. How could I learn to depend on God for my every need if satan were not attacking me and I wasn't going through trials. God has a plan.

Now is the time -- for all of us. There may not be another day, or even another breath.

If you are facing trials and temptations, turn to Him. If you stumble or fail miserably, as I do daily, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, ask God for forgiveness and guidance and try again.

God has a plan.

Think about Jesus - what He did for all of us. Trying to live in God's will is not easy, no one said it would be, but the rewards are "out of this world". Don't expect to never see trials, troubles or temptations again, what would that teach us? We must keep our faith, stay in touch with God through prayer and His written word. Claim His promises, they were written just for YOU.

God has a plan, a perfect plan.

If you enjoy reading these blogs about what God is doing and has done, check out my friend Joseph's blog http://serious-things.com/

May God richly bless you,

his servant

pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps. if you are not willing to move your feet.

Walking on Egg Shells

We've all had to do it at one time or another. You have a boss, a friend, a co-worker, or maybe even a family member that you have to watch everything you say or do around them for fear of facing their wrath or hurting their feelings. Walking on eggshells gets tiring doesn't it? Sometimes you would just like to say, "look, this is how I feel or this is what I think", and just let the chips fall. But then what happens? What can they do? Kill you, eat you? I think that's against the law. While we should never be tempted to bring someone to wrath or cause them to stumble (hurt their feelings), we have feelings too. Is that person worth your time? What are the consequences of NOT walking on eggshells? Is it worth your mental well-being? Who suffers the most from you walking on egg shells? I'm not a psychiatrist, however, from personal experience I can tell you that you are the one that suffers the most. In my experience, most of "those" kinds of people have the type of attitude that they can say what they want but if you react in like manner, they get mad or get their feelings hurt, not considering your feelings to start with. (See my earlier blog about narcissistic personalities). In some cases as your boss or co-worker there might be an easier way to deal with the problems if you have time to think before you speak. What happens though when it's family or friends, people you really don't want to lose, people you love and who supposedly love you. They avoid you, they talk to other family or friends about you. Somehow you come out the bad guy. THAT is what causes us to walk on egg shells. Our own fear of repercussions. But now, what do we do about it.

You should always strive to keep peace and harmony but never at the risk of your own mental health and well-being. If you are having to walk on egg shells around someone YOU need to realize that it is THEIR problem. If you crack the shell and say something that does upset them, keep in mind that it is their personality, their problems, their perceptions that caused it. No one should have to walk on egg shells. You should guard the words of your mouth according to the Bible and not deliberately provoke or hurt, but that is different than having to guard every word that comes out of your mouth because of fear. I use fear because it is a fear, it's a fear of making that person mad at you. Generally when you have to walk on egg shells around a particular person it is more because of their temper than hurt feelings.

The Bible says the tongue is a mighty member in James 3:8, "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison". That is a totally different matter. That applies also to the person you are talking to. The tongue is a two edged sword, it can lift you up or it can tear you down. Don't let it tear you down. Remember having to walk on eggshells is not YOUR choice, it is not because of something you have done, it is because of the person you are dealing with and their problems and perceptions. Which brings me to the next thing I would like to mention.

When you are walking on egg shells, do you have to stray from the truth to please that person? You should never ever have to lie to appease another person. There are times that you can say nothing at all or direct the conversation in another way or even reword what you might want to say so it doesn't sound harsh or cause problems. But again I repeat, you should never have to lie. The Bible says in Proverbs 12:22, "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight". Don't ever compromise YOUR walk with God no matter who you are dealing with.

I'm probably mostly talking to us women here because most men don't worry about walking on eggshells lol. But I'm going to use a few minor examples: if a friend asks you how you like their hair, if you don't like it, don't tell them its beautiful! Why? Because no matter how small , a lie is a lie. You can, however, still answer that question without hurting their feelings. Example: I really really like it the way you wore it yesterday (if you did of course) or its so flattering on you when you wear it the other way etc etc. You see what I'm getting at. Don't deliberately hurt someone's feelings but don't compromise yourself. I told you it would be a minor example.

Back to walking on eggshells, you should respectfully state your mind, don't be crude or cruel to the person you are talking to but God does not intend us to live in fear of any kind. Walking on egg shells is a sense of walking in fear. Keep God in your heart, then let the words from your mouth come from your heart. Rely on God to take care of the rest. And most of all, pray for the person you are dealing with.