Persecution

I would like to say thanks to the ones who have been reading this little blog that we have here. It's been a little over a week and I'm surprised at how fun and hopefully insightful this has become.

God's word always introduces light! Always. I am nothing special, neither is anyone else. God's word is the special one! His Word (Jesus Christ) is the sustainer! Thanks for sharing all of your insight and for posting what the LORD reveals to you all as well on your blogs! I do read them am and am tremendously blessed by them!


Now, today, I thought it would be a prime time to let you know about a passion of my heart. I feel somewhat guilty for calling it a passion, for I am not nearly burdened as I should be with it. What I am talking about is the persecution of the Christian Church.

It's with a heavy heart that I write this to you. I feel somewhat out of sorts, as I always do when speaking of this subject.

WE HAVE FORGOTTEN OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!!!!!!!

I don't hear talk about them! I hear how "hard" our life is here in America. I hear about all that we "endure" for Jesus when we only make $100,000/year instead of $1,000,000/year.

I understand that we do endure what we can. I understand that the sufferings of the spirit and soul and the afflictions of the body, when allowed by the LORD's headship for our good ARE tough to endure. I am not belittling anyone's struggle by any means!

I am heart broken that we have forgotten our brothers and sisters worldwide who endure all these things that we do PLUS physical persecution. My monthly Voice of the Martyrs magazine is in today and the front cover reads "Scars of Faith". It hit me pretty hard.

I have forgotten them! LORD forgive me! Please be with those faithful servants!

Voice of the Martyrs does an amazing work. Not all of us can afford to support them financially, but we all CAN afford to support them through prayer!

I can imagine how much pleasure the Father has in His overcoming servants who love not their lives unto death!

We think about Isaiah, who was sawn in half for His stand. How about John the Beloved, who survived being boiled in a vat of Oil? How about Righteous Stephen, who was stoned to death and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father in Glory?

When we take a stand for Jesus, He takes a stand for us!

Please, join me praying, and remembering them.

Thanks,

God Bless You All!

Demonstrations Part 2- Isaac

"And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham.

And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and I will bless thee;

for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of the heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the Earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."

Genesis 26:1-5



Continuing from yesterday's lesson on Abraham, may we speak a little bit about Isaac? This is a lesson most powerful!

We spoke yesterday briefly of Abraham's demonstration of complete Love & surrender to the LORD by offering his promised son, of whom the LORD gave him through Sarah, and annointed to to bless all people of Earth through, back to the LORD. We talked about us offering back to the LORD what He has given us & proving that we love Him all will love Him even without gifts in our lives. I encourae everyone to read that post (Obedience and Sacrifice) if you have sufficient time to do so.

Today, continuing on demonstrations, the LORD showed me about Isaac, and his demonstration of Faith & Obedience. Well. Isaac made many demonstrations & taught us many lessons, didn't he? I'm speaking in particular about the above text (rather, Isaac's obedience to it!).

God promised this land, the land of Canaan, to Abraham and his seed. But now, there was a famine. Isaac is seriously considering and moving toward going to Egypt. For Egypt seems to offer everything and God's promised land seems to offer nothing.

I'm sure we can all relate; Have you ever been at a place where God's promises and where He has sent you seems barren and where He took you from seems to have life?

God never lifts us up to let us down!

The fruitfulness of Canaan's land depended on the morality and integrity of it's inhabitants. God ordained it this way!

Isaac had to learn to first cultivate the field of his heart, then God would bless his natural fields. We break up the fallow ground of our heart through obedience to God's Torah truth!

Most of us know that the Law, God's word, is called "Torah" in Hebrew. The Torah is God's moral principles of truth. There were two sides to the Torah in the Old Testament. There was the Moral Law and the Ceremonial Law. Jesus Christ fulfilled BOTH sides- both the Moral Law and the Ceremonial Law.

Now, we no longer abide by the Ceremonial Law, which Christ swallowed up, But, we yield ourselves to Christ, so that He through us lives the Moral Law.

We walk in obedience to the LORD's Moral Law by obeying His commandments; His Moral-Torah.

The word "Torah" in Hebrew means, "running water". Can you believe that? Running Water. Is that not why HE said:

 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,"

Ephesians 5:26



God's word confirms itself over and over again!

So, how are we to cultivate the ground of our heart? With the water, Torah (running water) of the obedience of the word of God!

As soon as Isaac watered his heart, his spiritual ground, God blessed his natural land. The Bible says that he reaped 100-fold in the land.

Now, the conclusion.

If where God has placed us seems barren and dry, let's follow Isaac's example & water our heart with the water of God's word, God's law! God will always water & bless our natural circumstances with fruitfulness if we are faithful to do this.

Let's start making a daily demonstration of Faith and obedience by watering our heart with God's word & our obedience to it!

Obedience and Sacrifice

Adapted from "True Worship in Demonstrations of the Spirit"
                         By B.R. Hicks
                         Christ Gospel Press
                         Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130
                         www.christgospel.org

"And it came to pass after these things,

that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him Abraham:

and he said, behold, here I am.

And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest,

and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering

upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."

Genesis 22:1,2

"And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father:

and he said, Here am I my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood:

but where is the lamb for a burnt offereing?

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:

so they went both of them together."

Genesis 22:7,8

What a story! What faith! Within this familiar story, I believe, is a lesson for us even today. We're talking about worshipping the LORD with demonstrations. What is a demonstration? Simply put, a demonstration is an example given to help explain a sometimes non-concrete subject matter. We make a demonstration to prove a principle.

When we make demonstrations before the LORD, we are showing on the outside, a tangible sign of what is happening intangibly on the inside of our heart! We make demonstrations like this all the time.

For instance, when we sing to the LORD, we are demonstrating, in a tangible form, our intangible love for the LORD and the joy with which we have been blessed with by the LORD. We can't help it! It has to come out.

When we weep before the LORD, we are demonstrating our brokenness, which, without tears, would be unknown to most of the outside world.

Even in a more elementary sense, we make demonstrations. We demonstrate we are angry when we clench our fists and tighten our face. We demonstrate our compassion whenever we soften our expressions and open our hearts to help someone in need.

We demonstrate our sense of responsibility and concern for our wives & families when we as men go out into the world and work! Holding down sometimes multiple jobs, just to make ends meet sometimes. When we do this in spite of obstacles that may make it hard and at times heart breaking.

Mothers demonstrate their unconditional love for their children by risking their own very lives and welfare, just to provide the best for their kids. Children, in turn demonstrate their love and appreciation for their parents by rendering due honor and respect and care for them as they age.

God demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish

but have everlasting life"

John 3:16

For God so Loved the world THAT . . . . this was the cause of God sending His son- LOVE. Jesus coming to save us was a demonstration of God's love!

Abraham made a powerful demonstration of love and obedience. After all of the years of believing, praying and waiting on God for this miracle child, he's instructed to offer him up to the LORD. After all, Abraham staggered not at the promises of God, so, he was not short on Faith!

This was not to prove whether or not Abraham believed God, for this had already been proven. This was not about building Faith, this was about proving LOVE!

Isaac was not just a mere son to Abraham. Isaac was the only hope of Abraham's seed being as the sand of the seahore. Ishmael had already been sent away. God was not going to allow him to take part in this inheritance. Isaac was the one. He and his children were the ones who would inherit the promised land.

Isaac represents in our lives, not only our gifts from the LORD, but the vehicle through which the LORD has provided to fulfill His master plan in our lives. This was big! It looked like, in the natural realm, that God had changed His mind about what He had promised Abraham. It looked as if Abraham's seed would have ended here! Yet, we don't hear any doubt in Abraham's words! No resistance or complaining. Nothing but surrender!

Do you realize that Abraham Loved the LORD so much, that he was not even going to let his promised child come between him and God! And yet, God never planned for any harm to come to Isaac.

Now, what about us? What about our ministries? Gifts? Talents? Are we letting them come between us and God? Have they become idols? Let's not be deceived into thinking that just because the LORD gave them to us, that we can't misuse them. They can be idols to us.

Let me make this clear once more, God never intended for any harm to come to Isaac. This was not about faith, but Love. Would Abraham love God enough to give back the gifts that God had given to him?

Are we willing to offer God back His gifts if He requires it? Will we still love and follow him without these gifts?

Let's make a demonstration of Love today by offering our lives to the LORD, our gifts, talents, ministries, everything!

Hallelujah!

Please comment! Share with me your thoughts!

God bless You!

Here's a song to accompany our study today:

 

Busy Day

Good Morning!

I will have to forego my daily post in its "usual" form, I'm a bit busy today. If the LORD is willing, perhaps I will be able to write later on. I will need prayer today, as I am in court for a ticket and I request the LORD's favor with the fine!!!!! I appreciate all of your prayers- according the the LORD's will of course!

Also, I finally figured out how to get this cool little song player on my site!!!!! Please let me know what you think of the songs- opinions and whatnot- it's my visitors who listen to it after all.

I also want to give a real big thanks to Sis. Rhonda at Joy of Denim and Lace for her generous referral! I hope all of you guys who came here because of her will enjoy this site as much as hers (well close to as much anyway!).  A big thanks to the folks who did visit, read and comment! Always so nice to have visitors! God is good!

One more thing, please remember to lift up the LORD's name all day today!

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help,

My Help cometh from the LORD which made the heavens and the earth."

Psalm 121:1,2

Amen!

I would like to leave a light-hearted clip, for those who have time to watch it!

God bless you all!



Isa. 53

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground:

He hath no form or comliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him"

Isaiah 53:1,2

It was definitly one of those days yesterday. You know, one of those days that push you to your limits! I guess the LORD really knew what he was talking about when He gave me yesterday's post! (If you're interested to know what I'm talking about- see the post entitled "Draw Me Close to You")

Yes, it was definitly a "Chamber" experience. I won't bother you with the details, but I will say that no matter what I did, I could not seem to shake my rebellion and attitude.

I lifted up the Name of the LORD 100 times. I prayed constantly for the LORD's forgiveness for my attitudes and dispositions. All these things worked, for I felt relief, but not ultimate relief. Does that make sense?

I would be delivered of what I cried out from, and then I would pick it back up, voluntarily, because I was still angry. How stupid!

Well, long story short, after a while of this, I couldn't feel anything spiritually. I was so carnally minded by the end of the night that I could barely bring myself to pray. But God is faithful!

I picked up my Bible while I was at work and asked the LORD to guide me. I always seem to end up in Isaiah 53 in times like this. Usually, a once over of the chapter cures me of my self-pity and attitude and reminds me how ungrateful I am.

Well, I still can't read it through with out crying, but the LORD hit me from a different angle this time.

He reminded me of the LORD Jesus Christ- God's humble, perfect and obedient servent! He reminded me that He grew up before the Father as a "tender plant and as a root out of dry ground". Isn't that powerful?

This goes back to the Acacia or Shitta tree. This tree is a special tree for it survives in the harshest of conditions. In the midst of a drought, this tree will flourish! There are too many special things to mention of this tree to mention all right now, but I would like to mention at least a couple.

This was the wood that the LORD specified to be used in the building of the Old Testament Tabernacle, which was a type and shadow to show in explicit, vivid detail, God's only begotton Son, Jesus Christ.

"Which was a figure for the time then present,

in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices,

that could not make him that did the service perfect,

as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in

meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances,

imposed on them until the time of reformation.

But Christ, being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater

and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say,

not of this building;"

Hebrews 9:9-11

There were seven pieces of furnniture to be used in the building of this temporary Tabernacle, and of those Seven pieces, only 2 of them were PURE GOLD, namly the the Candlestick and the Mercy Seat. The Laver was to be made of brass. All other pieces were to be made of Shittim or Acacia wood, and then overlaid with either gold or brass.

This wood would represent the LORD's humanity. This was to show that, just as the Acacia wood, the LORD Jesus Christ could survive in the dryest, most barren climate, for He was a root out of dry ground!

If we are to please the LORD, if we are to be like Jesus, we must not depend on our ground, or our enviornment of friends, relatives, circumstances, etc. Our roots must run all the way straight down, past all of these things, to draw life from the LORD and His word.

It goes on to tell us that He would have no form and no comliness. We always want to maintain our form and beauty. We want to form our image, yet, the precious Lamb of God had NONE!

If the truth is told, we have "bad" days when our form is disturbed and our image is disturbed!

I ended up pondering at the end of the day about what form I am trying to hold on to and how can I give it up! LORD, how I want to put my form on your altar, so that it becomes ashes- NO FORM!

If the LORD is willing, maybe we can have a part two to this, because we have just scratched the surface.

Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness to expose my forms of pride!

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Draw Me Close to You

"Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee."

Song of Solomon 1:4

Does anyone remember that there was a popular song a good while ago called "Draw Me Close to You"?

The Lyrics went like this:

"Draw Me Close to You

Never Let Me Go

I'd Lay It All Down Again

To Hear You Say That I'm Your Friend

You Are My Desire . . . Bring Me Back to You!

You're All I Want

You're All I've Ever Needed

You're All I Want

Help Me Know You Are Near"

Well, if those lyrics ring a bell, then it's probably because you've either heard it sung thousands of times or you've actually sang it thousands of times yourself! And, though I have not heard it anywhere for a number of years, I can't help but hear it played in my head every time I read this verse.

It is a somewhat familiar verse from one of the most misunderstood books of the Holy Bible. It is quite obvious to the reader and serious student of God's word that this book is a beautiful picture of the bridal relationship between the LORD Jesus Christ, and the believer whom is pressing "toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus".

This being understood, what a powerful thought! We have the espoused Bride of the LORD Jesus Christ, still in her immature state, yet crying, begging, pleading for Her King to DRAW HER!

Wow! How often do we and have we prayed for the LORD to draw us? I can speak for myself when I say that I have often prayed something to this effect:

"LORD, I need you! LORD, Please draw me!

I can't make it without you Jesus!

LORD I feel complacent, please draw me!"

This, being a sincere and honest prayer, the LORD has always answered it!

 My expectations were set, and I was waiting for a strong feeling of spiritual energy, the likes of which I had never seen, heard of or felt! This did not happen. I expected to all of a sudden, somehow, not be able to think of anything but God 24-7 - that didn't happen.

Our idea of "drawing" does not necessarily match the wise King's methods.

You see, the word chamber, here in this verse, is, in the rabbinical Hebrew tongue, the word: Kheh-der.

 חֶדֶר

This word signifies a Bridal chamber. So, let's re-examine this: "Draw me, we will run after thee: the King has brought me into His [Bridal] Chambers . . .".

A chamber is a closed, tight place. This speaks to us of a tight circumstance, if you will. A tight trial. And the espoused Bride said chambers. She signified that there would be many chambers. Many tight circumstances and trials.

Anytime I have felt isolated from the LORD, anytime I find myself lukewarm, I can always trace my steps back to a "Bridal Chamber", if you will, that I have avoided! The LORD's desire is to meet us in the chamber of the prayer closet. We do not want this. We feel that we do not need this.

We are blind to our need for more of Him, and thus, when we do make it to the prayer closet, it is often a shallow experience! We should ask ourselves, "was God pleased with our prayer time today? Did the LORD derive pleasurable experience?"

We feel isolated from the LORD because we are not close to Him. We then pray, "Draw me close to you!"  And in His faithful way, he will send us into a "chamber experience" to show us our need for Him. We draw close to him through our REALIZATION of our need. A circumstance that causes us to cry out to Him because we finally see, through the circumstance that, truly, "You're all I've ever needed!"

So, if we run into a situation today that was unexpected, let's pull back and say:

"Draw Me, We Will Run After Thee: The King Has Brought Me Into His Chambers . . ."

Don't be discouraged though, because another chamber means another experience of oneness with him, and another layer of revelation of our precious Bridegroom!

Comment! Post! Enjoy the LORD today!

God Bless You!



Welcome

Hello! Welcome to this little space in the LORD's universe! My name is Kenneth S. Veillon and this is my blog!

No Disclaimers! Everything here expresses my EXACT opinions and beliefs!!!!!!!

No, I am not a stubborn, hateful, mean or opinionated person. I welcome all people to visit and comment on this blog- regardless of your beliefs- of course respect is a requirement!

This is a Christian blog. You do not have to be a Christian to comment, in fact I always welcome thought-provoking (not STRIFE provoking) discussions. All are welcome as long as respect is shown.

I believe that a blog's purpose is for others to see and look into the author's life, thoughts and even soul and spirit.

Well, my soul and spirit and heart flows with Love for the LORD! To God be the glory! I will be posting regular things as well, such as life events and such, I'm sure, however, How could I possibly speak of my life without mentioning the LORD Jesus Christ?

Well, this is my introductory post, hope it interests you enough to check back, maybe even enough to stay tuned!

I love to hear from real people!

In the Love of the LORD Jesus Christ- Hope to see you again!