October 24, 2017

Greetings My Friend,

My read through the Bible study guide this year has me reading Ezekiel and Revelation together, which I find very interesting. Pastor Joe recommended that we get the Ryrie study Bible and since he preaches out of the KJV Bible I am reading this version for the 1st time. I have changed different Bible versions through the years starting with NIV, the Chronological Bible and the ESV. These different versions and now this particular study Bible has helped me grow in the Word a whole lot. I believe the Holy Spirit is the one teaching me the most though. Anyway, I often hear God say "They will be my people and I will be their God," each time I read these passages I sense God's longing for us to open our hearts to Him and to trust Him to lead our lives. As a mother, I have felt this longing when my children and grandchildren seem to decide they don't want my influence in their lives. It hurts. As a mother of fur children it is comforting when I come home from a few hours of shopping, running errands or whatever and the fur babies are excited beyond words. Our boxer generally hangs outside a lot so when we pull up she literally prances, jumps and bounces all over the place until we open the door of the truck. She is so excited to see us and we find it hard to not notice how much she loves us. Little Daisy the toy poodle we have comes running out of the doggy door to greet me and so it goes with each of our babies. I think at times this is what God is seeking from us, to want to draw close to Him to enjoy His presence, His love for us. So when I read in Ezekiel "Thus will I magnify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD." The day will come when "every knee will bow at the name of Jesus," because we will be invited to the marriage supper which I believe means we that have accepted Jesus will begin eternity with this feast. "And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." Along with reading the Bible I have been writing a journal of my thoughts, one of the questions I ask myself is "What does the Holy Spirit say?" In so doing I need to stop and listen to my internal voice and more often than not I find words coming to me that I write down. On this day I was being told again to stop worrying about what others think about me, my focus needs to be about pleasing God. This is a struggle for me because I always like being easy going and pleasing to others. I am getting better at pleasing God, even if others around me are put off with my "set apart" ways. The more I learn to live as God teaches me to live, the more I feel loved, wanted and accepted. Doing the will of God becomes 2nd nature for me and I find that I care deeper without regard to having a need met. I can give that piece of hard advice to someone out of sincere love for their well being. I am letting go of my enabling another person to stay in their dysfunction just so I feel needed and wanted. I don't beg to be loved like I once did because I know that I am loved and wanted and useful. I also know when I sin that if I am willing to take a hard look at that sin and ask God to forgive me, He will. I have to admit that I have sinned though, kind of like admitting that there is an elephant in the room. Growing up we had all kinds of hidden secretes that were not to be told. My problem was I never figured out what was a secrete so I wound up telling everything and making my parents very angry. My family did not like admitting the faults we had. Walking with Jesus teaches me to keep on top of my secrete sins and then He helps me let them go. As I walk more in faith I long for the day when all things will come to an end and eternity will come, the marriage supper of the Lamb (Jesus). My heart also wants to invite as many as I am able to join in at the table as well. The journey to this day is difficult but if I stay the course then one day I will be there. With the Holy Spirit's guidance, I know that I will make it. May God bless you and make His face shine on you. Love Janet