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God Touched Me

Posted in Bible Study, Devotion, Faith, Fear, God, Helplessness, Inspiration, Trust, Word of God, tagged , , , on April 7, 2009| Leave a Comment »

I had the opportunity of going to a Ladies Retreat this past weekend.  While I was only able to attend the first session on Friday night, God spoke to me.  One of the things that I think we all could use during the economic crisis and spiritual crisis in America is to remember that God is in control.

I am reminded by the scripture we find in the book of Matthew, Chapter 14. 

“That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it is already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the villages and buy some food.”  Jesus replied, “They don’t have to leave. Why don’t you give them something to eat?” But they said, “We have only five small loaves of bread and two fish.”  Jesus asked his disciples to bring the food to him, and he told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples, and they gave it to the people.  After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus’ disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftovers.  There were about five thousand men who ate, not counting the women and children.

Right away, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away.  Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there.  By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves.  A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples.  When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.  At once, Jesus said to them, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.”   Peter replied, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.  But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.  Right away, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don’t have much faith. Why do you doubt?”  When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down.   The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!” 

The guest speaker, at the retreat, used this story to show how easy discouragement gets into our lives and wrecks havoc.  We, as Peter, have a choice to take our eyes off of the circumstances and put them on the Lord.  Faith is vital as well as trust.  We trust the Lord with all of our hearts knowing that in doing so, the Lord will direct us.  However, when trials and discouragement enter our lives, we can chose to move forward trusting Jesus, not taking our eyes off of Him and trust Him with our lives or we can wander in despair.

I am like the disciples.  I see something God has done in either my life or that of someone else and then I forget what God did.  Just as the disciples saw how Jesus provided the food for those who were hungry, they too took their eyes off of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Maybe we don’t trust too many individuals because of past circumstances.  However, God wants us to learn to walk with Him no matter what the circumstances may be trusting that He does know what He is doing in our lives.

May you find your eyes on the one who holds the truth in His hands and allow Him to guide you through your life.

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Getting Dressed

Posted in Be all you can be, being successful, Bible, Bible Study, Blessings, Christianity, consideration, Defining Love, Devotion, Encouragement, favorite scripture verse, God, God's Will, Happiness, Inspiration, Love, Love and Conflict, Our Attitude, Promises, Religion, satisfaction, Scripture Promises, Servant, Trust, victory, Word of God on March 17, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Have you ever thought about when you get dressed in the morning for your day ahead. You always feel better when you’ve just washed and styled your hair, taken a shower/bath and put on your makeup, jewelry and your clothes.  I began wearing a casual necklace even when I am at home and style my hair as well.  One day last week I felt so bad I didn’t get out of my pj’s.  The next day I still felt bad, but I did something different.  I got dressed.  Even though I felt bad I, I knew at least I was up and dressed.  It does go along way in your self esteem.

Imagine doing that same thing spiritually and emotionally each day.  One of the scriptures I taught on many years was from the book of Galations and Colossians where we are told what to wear.  In Ephesians we put on the armour of God and in Colossians Paul encourages us to put on the greatest thing which is love.

Here are the scriptures for your consideration:  Try It, You’ll Like It!

Col 3:12  God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient.  
Col 3:13  Put up with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also should forgive.

 Col 3:14  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which ties everything together in unity.

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. For those of you want a further study – you will find the commentary quoted below:  (Don’t let the length scare you.)  lol

Col 3:12-17 – The apostle proceeds to exhort to mutual love and compassion: Put on therefore bowels of mercy, Col_3:12. We must not only put off anger and wrath (as Col_3:8), but we must put on compassion and kindness; not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well; not only not do hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. I. The argument here used to enforce the exhortation is very affecting: Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved. Observe, 1. Those who are holy are the elect of God; and those who are the elect of God, and holy, are beloved – beloved of God, and ought to be so of all men. 2. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to conduct themselves in every thing as becomes them, and so as not to lose the credit of their holiness, nor the comfort of their being chosen and beloved. It becomes those who are holy towards God to be lowly and loving towards all men. Observe, What we must put on in particular. (1.) Compassion towards the miserable: Bowels of mercy, the tenderest mercies. Those who owe so much to mercy ought to be merciful to all who are proper objects of mercy. Be you merciful, as your Father is merciful, Luk_6:36. (2.) Kindness towards our friends, and those who love us. A courteous disposition becomes the elect of God; for the design of the gospel is not only to soften the minds of men, but to sweeten them, and to promote friendship among men as well as reconciliation with God. (3.) Humbleness of mind, in submission to those above us, and condescension to those below us. There must not only be a humble demeanour, but a humble mind. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, Mat_11:29. (4.) Meekness towards those who have provoked us, or been any way injurious to us. We must not be transported into any indecency by our resentment of indignities and neglects: but must prudently bridle our own anger, and patiently bear the anger of others. (5.) Long-suffering towards those who continue to provoke us. Charity (love) sufferers long, as well as is kind, 1Co_13:4. Many can bear a short provocation who are weary of bearing when it grows long. But we must suffer long both the injuries of men and the rebukes of divine Providence. If God is long-suffering to us, under all our provocations of him, we should exercise long-suffering to others in like cases.

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Truth or Fiction

Posted in Bible, Devotion, Faith, God, Inspiration, Word of God, worship on January 28, 2009| 2 Comments »

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I have been asked did I actually believe that the Bible was really true.  I wasn’t raised in a Christian home and the first time I was exposed to ‘heaven’ or ‘hell’ was when I was a teenager.  I asked my Dad about eternal life and he told me as long as I never did anything bad enough to go to jail, I would be okay.  Before my Dad had full blown Alheizmeirs, he was telling my husband how bad he felt about how he treated us as children, and he wished he could do it all over.  He said he felt like he had failed me and specifically mentioned me by name.

My husband told my Dad he could do something about it and told him about Jesus Christ’s life and death and how he could be forgiven for every thing.  My husband lead my Dad in prayer.  I believe my Dad already had Alhezimers beginning and many in our family did not believe he had really become a Christian because he was cussing and acting badly.  Yet, I remember his calling my husband to tell him how he had bought all these little Bibles and were passing them out every where.

My Dad did not believe the Bible and did not posses the faith when I was a teenager and yet he realized the truth before he passed from this life.  Certainly now we know that medically a person with Alzheimers does exhibit bad behavior.  However, even if my Dad did not have Alzheimers I don’t believe individuals should judge ones decision.  My Dad lived all of his life without Christ so I should not be judgmental if his life did not drastically change over night. 

Is the Bible truth or fiction?  I believe if you look at the lives of the many who have had faith to believe God’s word has experienced a great change in their lives.  I have faith to believe and I pray that many more will also.

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Church

Posted in Devotion, Encouragement, Faith, God, God's creation, God's Will, Our Attitude, Religion, Word of God, worship, tagged on January 27, 2009| 6 Comments »

There are so many different types of churches with a variation of basic beliefs.  It is hard for many to recognize what is wrong or right.  Now that I am older and have studied for many years using Bible Commentaries; I recognize that many individuals have taken scripture out of content and used it for their manipulation of others rather than work the Bible together as a whole.

It is very easy for someone to fall for the wrong truths when they have not been exposed to anything spiritual at all.  It is no wonder that beliefs get so turned around like they do.

What I can tell you is that each person seeking spiritual truths should not just listen to what a person says – it is vital that each one study the Bible without preconceived ideas.

Keep an open heart and respect each other.  True Religion is kind and loving.  The greatest commandment is ‘To love one another.”  I have to admit that some personalities rub me the wrong way and I want to say something back but I also realize that we as  Believers want to glorify God and not pay back someone’s unkind words.

Be patient with others and God will bless you.  Faith comes by the Word of God and believing in what we cannot see but what we know by experiencing God’s Word by belief.

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Our Actions, Our Attitude, Our Reward

Posted in abuse, Anger, Anxiety, Be all you can be, being successful, Bible, Bible Study, Blessings, Conflict, consideration, counselors, Depression, Devotion, Encouragement, Faith, favorite scripture verse, Forgiveness, freedom, freedom from guilt, Friends, Getting to know me, Getting to know you, God, God's Will, grief, Guilt, Happiness, Healing, Helplessness, Hope, Hurting, Inspiration, Loneliness, Love, Love and Conflict, memories, New Life in Christ, Our Attitude, Pain, Praise, Prayer, Promises, Religion, satisfaction, Scripture Promises, Sinning as a Believer, Suicide, taking a life, Tragedy, Trust, Uncategorized, Who do you aspire to be, Word of God, Wounded, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 13, 2009| Leave a Comment »

I subscribe to a free devotion from Charles Stanley.  I copied today’s devotion below.  I also want to share a scripture in the book of Matthew:

 A good tree produces only good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces.   Your words show what is in your hearts.  Good people bring good things out of their hearts, but evil people bring evil things out of their hearts.  I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken.  On that day they will be told that they are either innocent or guilty because of the things they have said.

With this scripture in mind, I would like for you to read the devotion by Charles Stanley:

 It’s not my fault” is a prevalent attitude in our culture. To avoid responsibility for their own actions, people blame others: “I wouldn’t yell at my kids so much if my own mother had loved me more” or “I wouldn’t speak unkindly about my boss if he showed me some respect.” Resentment wells up until the victim is blind to everything except how his life is impacted by someone else’s hurtful deeds. Then casting blame is easy. But God has a challenge for believers: Forgive those who wound you.

The Lord’s Prayer mentions several of God’s duties but lists only one for believers: to forgive debtors (Matt. 6:12). The metaphor of debt describes sin well. A wronged person often feels that the responsible party owes something, such as an apology or compensation. But by showing mercy to one who has sinned, you stamp his or her obligation to you “paid in full.” Reparations and retribution are no longer required.

Sometimes our wounds are so deep that forgiveness does not come easily. Remember that Jesus bears the scars of others’ sins, too, and His Holy Spirit enables believers to carry out this difficult task. While your debtor may have done nothing to deserve grace, choose to give it anyway, just as Jesus did for you

When God forgives, He remembers wrongs no more (Jer. 31:34). That doesn’t mean that a transgression magically never happened. Instead, the Lord refuses to use past wrongs as a reason to punish His people. He set the pattern of debt cancellation. For the good of our spiritual life, we must follow His example (Matt 6:15).

God spoke to me this morning regarding how important it is for us to have our thoughts centered around the things that are true.  Read Phillipians 4:8.  This verse tells me if I am on the right track or not.

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Joy

Posted in Devotion, Faith, Inspiration, Jesus, Uncategorized, Word of God on December 31, 2008| Leave a Comment »

You are able to get daily devotions from Charles Stanley and others via the Internet.  Today I was looking at a devotion written by Charles Stanley for December 24th.  In it he speaks about having joy in our lives regardless of our circumstances. 

My friend and I were discussing things that we were hurt about.  The sad thing is that we were discussing things that happened many years ago.  For me, something happened in 1984 and I still feel the pain today.  I began to wonder if I am harboring resentment and pain in my heart toward the one who caused the pain.  Then I read Charles Stanley’s devotion and realized that we as Believers need to turn all the pain and circumstances.  The following paragraph is a direct quote from Charles Stanley. 

“Joy will increase when we follow Paul’s example and fix our attention upon Jesus rather than upon ourselves or our circumstances.  The more we abide in Him, the greater our spiritual happiness will be. Our initial reaction to hardship may be discouragement or overwhelming pain.  But if we focus on Him and commune with His Spirit, our sense of peace will return.  Remember, the Lord promised that His joy would be in us fully when we rest in Him. ”

 John 14:27 I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.

I want to in the New Year be more Christ Centered and not self centered in my life.  Have you ever had a pain or experience that seems to never go away?  What I did was go to the person and discuss my feelings about what happened.  Please feel free to leave a comment and thank you for visiting my blog.

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Float your Boat

Posted in Always tell the truth, being successful, Bible, Bible Study, Christianity, Conflict, Devotion, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, freedom, freedom from guilt, God, God's Will, Inspiration, Jesus, Love, Love and Conflict, Our Attitude, Questions to answer, Religion, Salvation, satisfaction, Scripture Promises, Sin, Sinning as a Believer, Teaching Material, Temptations, Trust, Uncategorized, Word of God, tagged , , , , , , on December 3, 2008| Leave a Comment »

Maybe you have used the phrase “Well, if that floats their boats, thats okay.”   I know I have.  But should we?  In situations where right and wrong exist, I do not believe we should have that type of attitude.  Now, you may disagree with me but I am reminded of several scriptures that I will put at the end of this post. 

One concern I have is that we can fall so easily into the wrong hands of individuals who do not clearly know the scriptures.  We are told to beware of false prophets which come into this world.  We are to use the Bible to see if he/she is correct in their statements of faith. 

I have known of individuals who have followed a person instead of God.  They were so busy trying to please the pastor that Christ was left out.  He was great in getting individuals into following Him and yet in his own personal life he greatly sinned against God by getting involved with women who trusted him. 

Another case scenario is where a youth pastor was having oral sex with the girls and had them sworn to secrecy.  He was caught and was sent to prison.  Thankfully, he admitted what he had done which kept the teenagers from having to testify.  Now, I am acquainted with both situations and I can tell you that so many of these individuals who were hurt are no longer seeking God in their lives, they have been deceived and hurt.  When the Bible speaks about the truth shall set you free – it means just that – it must be the truth.  You can’t have truth and sin occupy the same space and believe it to be correct.  The Bible speaks that there are ways which seem right to men, but they are wrong.  Look around you. I would not be surprised if you wouldn’t find many people who are hurting and need a touch from you. 

Encourage one another in love.  Be kind and tender hearted toward each other.  Not just at the Holiday Season but all the time.  You never know how just a phone call or a smile can mean to someone who has been traumatized or one who does not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Yes, I believe that their is one way to heaven and that is in believing in Jesus Christ.  John 14:6 records Jesus speaking and He said:  “I am the way, I am the truth, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”  So…maybe we need to think before we speak and say “Whatever floats your boat.”  Here are some scriptures that I mentioned:

Matthew 7     

Watch out for false prophets! They dress up like sheep, but inside they are wolves who have come to attack you.  You can tell what they are by what they do. No one picks grapes or figs from thornbushes.  A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit.  Every tree that produces bad fruit will be chopped down and burned.  You can tell who the false prophets are by their deeds.  Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.  On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, “We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles.”  But I will tell them, “I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!”

 

 John 14      

 Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.   There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you.  After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.  You know the way to where I am going.”  Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t even know where you are going! How can we know the way?” “I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father.

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Emotions – How would you respond?

Posted in Anger, Bible, Bible Study, Christianity, Devotion, emotions, Faith, God, God's creation, God's Will, Humiliation, Object Lesson, Our Attitude, Questions to answer, Religion, Uncategorized, Word of God, tagged , on November 24, 2008| 2 Comments »

I really believe that God does have a sense of humor of getting our attention.  Can you imagine having your car talk to you.  That is in essence what God did when he had Balaam’s transportation talk to him.  His transportation was a donkey.  Balaam had been asked to curse God’s chosen people.  On the way..well…I’ll let you read the story below:

Num 22         

So Balaam got up the next morning and saddled his donkey,then left with the Moabite officials. Balaam was riding his donkey to Moab, and two of his servants were with him. But God was angry that Balaam had gone, so one of the LORD’s angels stood in the road to stop him.  When Balaam’s donkey saw the angel standing there with a sword, it walked off the road and into an open field. Balaam had to beat the donkey to get it back on the road.  Then the angel stood between two vineyards, in a narrow path with a stone wall on each side.  When the donkey saw the angel, it walked so close to one of the walls that Balaam’s foot scraped against the wall. Balaam beat the donkey again.  The angel moved once more and stood in a spot so narrow that there was no room for the donkey to go around.  So it just lay down. Balaam lost his temper, then picked up a stick and smacked the donkey.  

 

 

 

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When that happened, the LORD told the donkey to speak, and it asked Balaam, “What have I done to you that made you beat me three times?”  “You made me look stupid!” Balaam answered. “If I had a sword, I’d kill you here and now!”  “But you’re my owner,” replied the donkey, “and you’ve ridden me many times. Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted.  Just then, the LORD let Balaam see the angel standing in the road, holding a sword, and Balaam bowed down.  The angel said, “You had no right to treat your donkey like that! I was the one who blocked your way, because I don’t think you should go to Moab.  If your donkey had not seen me and stopped those three times, I would have killed you and let the donkey live.” 

Can you imagine being so humiliated and angry that you loose your temper and you are going to act on that anger?  Do we do that to ourselves or those close to us?  God has a lesson by using this donkey.  Why do you think he used such unusual circumstances to get Balaam’s attention?  Do you think you would talk to a donkey?  Do we unjustly get mad or angry?  If Balaam had no right to treat his donkey like he did, do we have that right to take our frustrations, anger and humiliation on others?   I do talk to our dogs, and they seemingly understand by the way they hold their heads and other body-dog language; but I certainly would think I’ld know if they were talking.  What do you think? 

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Fire Extinguisher Religion

Posted in Be all you can be, being successful, Bible, Bible Study, Blessings, Christianity, Conflict, Devotion, Faith, Fire extinguisher, Forgiveness, God, Guilt, Happiness, Healing, Inspiration, Jesus, Love, New Life in Christ, Our Attitude, Religion, Salvation, Scripture Promises, Trust, Unbelieving Family, Virgin Birth, Who do you aspire to be, Word of God, Wounded, tagged , , , on November 17, 2008| 1 Comment »

crca_fire_extinguisherA.jpg

Most of us have seen our friends, families, and strangers come to church and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Many responded either privately or publicly to accept what they have heard.  Where are so many of them today? 

In studying the scripture I am reminded that God tells professing believers:  “Depart from me, I never knew you.”  At first that might sound very harsh.   If you study Matthew 7, Jesus said ‘You shall know them by their fruits’ (actions).  He also tells us that many false prophets are gone out into the world.  This chapter also tells us that while we are not to judge one another we do have the right to be fruit inspectors.

I am reminded by a family, who in time of great trial, turned to God for help.  Each one professed to be a Believer and trust Jesus as their own personal Savior.  However, today, they all do not believe the Bible to be the “inspired Word of God.”  They do not believe in the Virgin Birth or that Jesus was raised from the dead.  Now, I personally saw evidence in their lives that they meant business with God so how can they now turn their backs on the truth?  John 8:32 says:  “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”  Why is it in our society that we turn to God to put out a fire in our lives, but has their really been a true commitment on our parts to trust in Him?  I like the Amplified Bible, where it gives you the definition of words.  In John 3:16, Jesus said:  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (That is us) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  Believe means to ‘cling to, adhere to, trust.’  Do a word study on these words.  If we believe then we will be a follower of Christ.  We will do what God’s word teaches.  James 1:22 teaches us not to be just hearers but we are to be doers. 

We need to be clear that when we talk to others about believing faith that we include repentance.  I have no doubt that God does use circumstances in our lives to bring us to a saving knowledge of Him.  But we need to pray for the ‘fire extinguisher’ individuals who do not fully understand the gospel, that they would understand as well as accept, before it is to late.  Prayer changes lives.  What are your thoughts?

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Healing, part 3 Forgiveness and Victory

Posted in adultery, Alcoholism, Anxiety, Be all you can be, being successful, Bible, Bible Study, Blessings, Christianity, Conflict, Depression, Devotion, divorce, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Fear, Forgiveness, fornication, freedom from guilt, God, God's Will, grief, Guilt, Happiness, Healing, Helplessness, Hope, Hurting, Inspiration, Jesus, Love and Conflict, Murder, Our Attitude, Pain, Prayer, Prison, Promises, Religion, Salvation, satisfaction, Scripture Promises, sex outside of marriage, Sin, Stress, taking a life, Teaching Material, Tragedy, Unbelieving Family, victory, Word of God, worship, Wounded, tagged , , , , , , on November 6, 2008| 1 Comment »

When we are healing from something where we have done wrong; we need to be free from that guilt.  This is possible with God.  I know of a woman who was having sexual relationships with a married man.  She was almost driven to insanity by the guilt.  One day she heard the story of King David who pregnated a married woman named Bathsheba.  That caught her attention.  God also exposed her to the story where a woman was caught in adultery.  The Old Testament law taught that she should be stoned to death. 

After God brought these stories to her, she went to the Bible and read Psalms 51 and also went to the New Testament and read this story about forgiveness: 

John 8 1-12    Jesus walked out to the Mount of Olives.  Then early the next morning he went to the temple. The people came to him, and he sat down and started teaching them.  The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn’t her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd.  Then they said, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn’t her husband.  The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?”   They asked Jesus this question, because they wanted to test him and bring some charge against him. But Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger.  They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!”  Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground.  The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone.  Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?”  “No sir,” the woman answered. Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.”  Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”         
 
One of the very first thing Jesus told this woman was to “sin no more.”  That is repentenance, being sorry for your sins.  If part of your healing involves guilt from sin(s) you have committed you will first need to do as this woman had done.

If you will go to Psalms 51 you will find King David’s prayer to God after he had sinned against God.  Not only did David commit adultery with another man’s wife, he also had the man put in battle where he most certainly would die.  So David not only committed adultery but also murder.

This woman prayed Psalms 51 over and over.  This was her testimony how God delivered her from this sexual relationship.  The scripture is as follows: 
(For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)
You are kind, God! Please have pity on me. You are always merciful! Please wipe away my sins.  Wash me clean from all of my sin and guilt.  I know about my sins, and I cannot forget my terrible guilt.  You are really the one I have sinned against; I have disobeyed you and have done wrong. So it is right and fair for you to correct and punish me.  But you want complete honesty, so teach me true wisdom.  Wash me with soap until I am clean and whiter than snow.  Let me be happy and joyful! You crushed my bones, now let them celebrate.  Turn your eyes from my sin and cover my guilt.  Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again.  Don’t chase me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me.   Make me as happy as you did when you saved me; make me want to obey!   I will teach sinners your ways and they will return to you.  Keep me from any deadly sin. Only you can save me! Then I will shout and sing about your power to save. Help me to speak, and I will praise you, Lord.  Offerings and sacrifices are not what you want. The way to please you is to feel sorrow deep in our hearts. This is the kind of sacrifice you won’t refuse.
God grants forgiveness to anyone who asks Him.  We must have the desire within us to “go….and sin no more.”

To complete this devotion, I submit this prayer:

God, examine me and know my heart, test me and know my thoughts.  See if there is any bad thing in me.  Lead me on the road to everlasting life.  Psalms 139:23, 24
 

 

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