A Lesson Of Mourning (Beatitude Series Part 2)

I have been studying the Beatitudes and am finding myself once again in awe at how the Lord uncovers His Word for our heart to take in and our life to breathe out.

"Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4

You gotta love when you see something as if it were for the first time. As I have read this verse before I have always taken it as anyone who is mourning. But there is more. Yes, with the Lord there always seems to be more. Don't you think? It's as though His Word is brand new each time I open His Word.

This verse takes us back to Isaiah 61:1-3. As I read these words, I am again seeing a Savior of love and hope. One who wants His children to feel His patient love.  

"The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of our God's vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead  of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify Him."

Isaiah 61:1-3

God takes suffering and brings restoration. We are set free when we surrender all to Him. He brings beauty from ash. Oh how sweet His grace is to those who love Him. We can find comfort in mourning. It is as though when we mourn our body is giving up what has been holding it captive.

Have you ever felt like a prisoner? Maybe the heaviness of chains has been holding you down. Our sin can do that. Sin holds us captive. It takes away and leaves behind a scar. We can be held in bondage for years by just one sin that we cannot let go of. One sin that cripples us for life. It could be one or many. Sadly, in life we tend to overlook our sin and get cozy with it. It's when we become comfortable in our sin, that Satan us right where he wants us. Soon we find ourselves asking, "How did that happen?" We must be careful of our comfort level and keep measure ourselves against the Word of God, not the standards of this world.

Maybe we have allowed sin to hold us under, but have asked for forgiveness and have moved forward from that sin to face it no more, but now years down the road we are face to face with the consequences. I have been there. I have moved passed my sin only to face it again as the consequences become real. We forget that each choice we make takes hold and touches another. Leaving behind a trail of idle gain.

This verse is speaking to those who are in mourning over their sin. Those who have come to Christ asking forgiveness and seeking a new found peace. Oh, how I have mourned over the consequences of a sin of the past. I have found forgiveness, but now am in need of restoration. God can do that. We were created to be blessed. We were not born to live in sin and find ourselves in chains. We are to be free in Christ Jesus who loves us. When we mourn our sin and consequences we have a humble heart. An attitude of repentance. This doesn't mean we dwell here. It means we see those consequences and we give it all over to the Lord. In Him we find strength. In Him we trust. In Him we believe that He will bring beauty from our ash. It is through Him that we can see past the sin and know He will bring about blessings as we seek His face.

"I assure you: You will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy."

John 16:20

"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

Friends, whether you are facing your sin today or seeing the consequences of that past sin, you can be sure that the Lord is with you. He sees your heart and knows your sorrow. Only He can remove the stain of sin and wash us white as snow. He will restore our mind, body and soul. Seek Him today and find His amazing grace. It is a treasure that makes life new. You will see His mercies brand new. Just simply surrender and He will cover you with a quilt of comfort. You will find yourself wrapped in His tender arms of love.

So what do we do with this new freedom? How do we keep temptation from becoming sin? We keep our eyes upon the Lord. We keep our focus steadfast upon Him. Keep reminders of His grace and mercy. Place His promises surrounding your daily life so that it will continue to give you strength as we face each day to come.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things."

Philippians 4:4-8

A Lesson On Being Poor In Spirit (Beatitude Series Part 1)

"The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs." Matthew 5:3 (HCSB version)

How do you read this verse? I think many of us have misunderstood this verse. First we must go back to the Old Testament and read Isaiah 61:1, "The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners."

Now lets take a look at Isaiah 66:2, which says, "My hand made all things, and so they all came into being. This is the Lord's declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at my word."

This verse isn't at all speaking about those who are whiny and complain constantly. It isn't speaking of those who hold their head down and say, woe is me. It's not having the attitude that the end is here and all is lost. It is entirely different. It's not speaking of lacking spirit or of a lesser value. It is in fact speaking of those who lifted their head to God and found His Spirit alive and well in them. It's not finding your value as less, but indeed of more, as Christ lives in and through you. We were created to be blessed. In fact in the Old Testament the poor were those who cried out to God. Those who surrendered all and looked to God for their every need. They were a humble people. We might look at the word poor and find the meaning to be broken.

So, what is it to be broken? Is it a bad thing? Not at all. It's humbling. It's finding that you cannot care for yourself, but must reach out for help. Think of these things:

The alabaster box had to be broken before the beauty was poured out.

The ground must be broken before the seed is planted and growth occurs.

The broken rose petal is what gives off a beautiful aroma.

A wild, untamed horse must be broken before he can be of use.

Meekness is not weakness at all.

There is much to this verse. It takes us back to Moses and his blessing. (Deuteronomy 33) Moses was blessing his people. The Israelites. It points not only to present blessings, but future blessings as well. When Jesus spoke the sermon on the mount He too was speaking to His people. I am looking at the scripture, "Is theirs", referring to being blessed. This isn't something that will happen. It doesn't says, "Will be theirs", it says, "Is theirs".

Maybe a few more verses will help us understand.

"He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble." Proverbs 3:34

"But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6

See the opposite of poor in spirit is proud in spirit.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30 This is coming from John the Baptist and he is speaking about our Savior.

Before we can be of use to God we must let go of our flesh. We must be poor and broken so that we can purely seek Him. In our humbleness we can find the mightiness of God. It's not giving in, as this world may have us do, but giving up everything to God. God brings beauty from ash. He takes the weak and makes them strong. He uses those who are usable and creates vessels in them for the Lord to shine through.

It is in giving of ourselves that we truly understand the will of God. It isn't going to be found in a proud and boastful heart, but one that is humble and pure.

In Luke 6:20 it says, "Then looking up at His disciples, He said: You who are poor are blessed, because the kingdom of God is yours."

You know in raising our hands it means to surrender. In raising our hands in praise to the Lord we are surrendering all to Him. We are trusting Him. We are believing in His promises. In our brokenness we can find great gain for the Lord and His kingdom. There is beauty in humility. Something that cannot be found in pride.

In seeking the Lord and trusting Him we can live in pure joy. Happiness is based on situation, but joy lives and is born in the heart.

Friends, whatever you are going through today, trust the Lord. Open your hands and surrender all to Him. Humble your heart and seek His face. In your brokenness beauty shall be found and it is that beauty that the Lord shines through to bring others to know Him.

Being poor in spirit is not walking in defeat, but the very opposite. It is trusting the Lord already has the victory. Walk in His Word today and you shall find victory.

Touching The Sky by Tracie Peterson

First I must say that Tracie Peterson is the queen of historical fiction. She does her homework and sets the scene for the story. She makes it real and vivid as if we are being given the gift of going back in time and being there in person.

The Civil War has touched the lives of everyone and has left a scar on every heart in some form or fashion. Two sides. Who is right and who is wrong? There is more than just standing for what is right in this story. It's heart against heart. Hate is alive and real. But God reveals beauty within these pages.  We find love and healing. We see characters that cling to your heart long after the story has ended. Why? Because of the message they give. To be yourself and to know your heart. To live faithful lives and surrender your anger for peace. Most of all we see growth. You either grow or stay stagnate and you sure can't touch the sky that way.

I loved all this book brought to my heart. The story is captivating, but it is hard. It's a time that seems never to pass fully. It's a time that is debated even today. But Tracie has brought the hearts of man to life. She gives us a glimpse of what has happened after the battle lines are drawn and shows us the battle within the heart. Forgiveness needs to happen. Sight needs to go beyond the color of skin and into the heart of man. Tracie has weaved a story within a story here and that is what is so grand.

This is book 2 of the Land Of The Lone Star Series. Book 1 doesn't have to be read first, but wow, you would miss out on another great read. This one was a superb read for me. Loved it!

This book was a gift from Bethany House for it's review.

Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over eighty novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling Heirs of Montana, and Alaskan Quest series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit Tracie's Web site at www.traciepeterson.com and her blog at www.writespassage.blogspot.com.

The Power of The Prophetic Blessing by Pastor John Hagee

Wow! Wow! Wow! Pastor John Hagee is a man on a mission. He is a man of God and He is spreading the Word of God quickly as He works to equip all with the wisdom and knowledge we need to be just who God created us to be. Prayer warriors! Prayer is power. Prayer is needed. Prayer is something we are lacking in as Christians today. We misunderstand the power that prayer holds when spoken in the will of God. Nothing is too big for our God. He is in total control and when in prayer we are meeting with Him one on One. It's personal. It's intimate and it's real.

In The Power of The Prophetic Blessing I learned a great deal. Each page and chapter was filled with great insight into God's Word. In reading this book it made me have a deeper passion for God's Word and I dove in with a great splash. This is one of those books that is timeless and perfect for us to have a deeper understanding of all that can be and all that we miss by merely limiting God.

This book was more than fascinating to me. It was spirit filled and powerful. It's one of those books that is great for study. Small or big. Sunday School or just an intimate time with you and the Lord. I have been over the top blessed by the words penned in this book. I don't think one could read this book and not have a better understanding of God and our relationship with Him.

Thank you, Pastor Hagee.

This was a gift from Worthy Publishing for its review.

John Hagee is the author of four New York Times bestsellers, in addition to Jerusalem Countdown, which sold over 1 million copies. He is the founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, a nondenominational evangelical church with more than 20,000 active members, as well as the founder and president of John Hagee Ministries, which telecasts his radio and television teachings throughout America and in 249 nations worldwide. Hagee is also the founder and national chairman of Christians United for Israel, a grassroots national association with over one million members to date.

Nothing To Hide by J. Mark Bertrand

The first book I read by J. Mark Bertrand was Beguiled in which he wrote with Deeanne Gist. I was hooked from the first page. I was then blessed to read Back On Murder. I was instantly captivated by Roland March. I have finished reading, Nothing To Hide and absolutely loved it. This is the third installment of the Roland March Mystery Series.

This is one of those great mystery reads that keeps you on your toes. Reading is at its best when I have no idea what is coming next or how the book is going to end. Bertrand is outstanding at bringing a story together. He weaves the plot with twists and turns that keep you guessing.

If your searching for a superb mystery I suggest you begin with Detective Roland March. As you read this mystery it's as though your right there on the scene and your learning as Roland is seeing everything happen first hand.

What I love is that as the mystery is being unfolded we are learning more and more about Roland. He quickly becomes one of those guys you want to hang out with just to dig into his brain to see whats ticking. This is one won't disappoint. Outstanding!

This book was a gift from Bethany House for its review.

J. Mark Bertrand has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. After one hurricane too many, he left Houston and relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota. For more information, visit www.jmarkbertrand.com

The Haven by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Stoney Ridge is becoming one of my favorite places to visit. It feels like home. What else can you say about, The Haven, but it's a gem. Suzanne Woods Fisher works wonders at the heart as you turn each page. This is book 2 in her newest series, Stoney Ridge Seasons.

Hope is alive in Stoney Ridge and we see God's amazing work as He brings people together. Isn't it beautiful to see His will come alive as He brings others into our path for a distinct purpose?

No one pens Amish Fiction like Suzanne Woods Fisher. The words flow and the story is presented in a real and powerful way. One thing I love is the fact that the characters are believable. I too love the title. The Haven has a meaning filled with hope. Although you could just pick this selection up and enjoy, it would be even better to pick up the first book in the series to get a gist of all the characters and just where they have been. This is surely one you too will enjoy.

This book was a gift from Revell for it's review.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, The Search, The Keeper, and The Haven, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Christy Award finalist and a Carol Award finalist. She is the host of internet radio show Amish Wisdom and a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

A Garden Visit

Lets go to the garden this morning. Jesus is there with His disciples. Can you hear their conversations? Can you see the love between these friends? Jesus knows the time is near. For Him this must be a bittersweet moment of His journey.

There is one who is missing, but is about to interrupt the conversations in the garden. Oh that Judas. Jesus loved him so. The thing that gets me is the fact that Jesus knew when He chose Judas that he would in the end turn against him. But, even though he knew, don't you think, He still held out hope?

See, before their time in the garden, they shared dinner. Jesus sat with Judas and Peter too, breaking bread. A treasured moment between friends. A moment that Jesus knew was bittersweet. Even though Jesus knew what was about to happen, He still broke bread with these men He loved. He didn't allow their sin to overshadow the love He held for them. How many times do we a persons sins to keep us from breaking bread with them? Too many times. Where is grace in our life?

I can't tell you how many times I have walked away from someone who has hurt me, afraid the hurt will cut again, but Jesus doesn't do that here. He even sees the hurt coming, but He chooses love over distance. He chooses forgiveness before the act. Jesus carries within Him a hope everlasting.

Praise Jesus, I am a work in progress. He hasn't given up on me and isn't going to any time soon. Sweet hope. I'm not that girl walking in the garden about to turn Him in, but are my sins really any different? My sins still bring shame to the One who stands for me.

Just makes me wonder how many times in my daily walk how far I really do walk away from Him instead of toward Him. How is it that I point out my Savior? Oh how sweet to walk side by side, but there are days I don't. I see His path before me and I choose to walk a different one. One that suits me for the time being. But there is Jesus. I hear Him calling. "Daughter, no. Don't go that way. Please...come with Me".

What do you think was going through the mind of Judas on this day? Do you think he was hearing the voice of God telling him no? We often wonder why others do the things they do. We see the wrong choice and try to discern the why, but all along we are forgetting our own steps are way off from the path that is chosen for us. But then again, there is that loving Savior waiting. Calling. Forgiving.

I'm sure Judas was forgiven before he ever pressed his lips against the cheek of Christ.  But see, that's the kind of God we serve. He is filled with mercy and grace. The same mercy and grace we are to behold. "The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss." Mark 14:44

What I see in this whole picture is something I have been missing all along. Jesus is here with the others. Judas comes with the soldiers. Many. We are not just talking a few police. We are talking a hillside covered with armed men. What did they expect? The thing that gets me is the fact that Judas had to point out who Jesus was. Could they not tell a difference? Did they not know which One was the Savior of the world? Jesus was unknown to most. But the moment that came when Judas kissed Him, something changed. At that moment they all knew. They all bowed to the Savior. This is one of those moments where I want to stand and shout!

But there is more. When Judas kisses Christ, what happens next blows my mind. It's the unexpected. His disciples leave Him. I would have thought they would have stayed to fight for the One who loved them so. The One about to give all. His life for theirs.  So the questions comes to my heart sharp as a knife. Would I have stayed? Would I have ran as fast as I could? "Then all His disciples deserted Him and ran away." Mark 14:50

Jesus has dinner with His friends and then He prays with them. Jesus says, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me." Mark 14:34 Oh, how many times have I caused Jesus grief? It's easy to look here at these who are close to Him and see the wrongs in their choices. But what about my own?

These men let Him down. They couldn't even stay awake long enough to watch over Jesus while He prayed. Have you been there? Have you heard Jesus calling you to move on His behalf and you just abandon Him? I certainly have. He has asked me to move and I have stood there in my selfishness and fear and simply said, no, not me. My prayer life needs strengthened. Oh, how sweet it is to raise from spending time in prayer with Christ.

I need to travel to the garden more often. I need to spend some time there letting go and raising my hands in praise for all He has done for me. I need to remember all that Jesus went through for me. I need to remember what led to the cross and all it held and what it holds no more! Each story. Each moment holds such tender life lessons for us. Jesus didn't pick perfect men to follow Him. He knew their lives. He knew the men He needed for the journey. He chose men we could relate to. He chose men willing to be His vessels. He didn't need perfection. He needed opportunity coming to life.

Friends, He is calling us. How long has it been for you since you have visited the garden? He is calling us to stand with Him. To be in prayer and to be His hands and feet to a world in need of love. He is calling us to live in hope. Don't forget the garden and all it holds. Take time and go there. Jesus is waiting to spend time with you today and fill you with an everlasting hope.

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance-an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see."

1 Peter 1:3-5

"But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more."

Psalm 71: 14

Song Of The Brokenhearted by Sheila Walsh and Cindy Martinusen Coloma

Wow! Wow! Wow! This was an unputdownable for me!! Yes, that is actually a word! This is a beautiful and powerful read. Superb writing!I instantly fell in love with this family. This book shows us that God brings beauty from ash. We often think just because we are Christians we are exempt from all harm, hurt and brokenness, but that just isn't so. In fact, it touches us just as it does everyone else. The difference? We have Christ to lead us. We have Him to hang on to for support and strength, but we often let go and walk away in pain and anger.

We have a front row seat in the journey of this family. I think this is a book that will hit home for many and bring blessings to all. We see how we can get off track and put this world and all it holds before God. Praise the Lord, His grace brings us back.

All the good deeds, all the church going and people pleasing doesn't give us a ticket out of despair. It is a fact. We are going to be touched by heartache and hit with temptations that will sometimes knock us off our feet. We see a family trying to protect one another, but in reality that just need to be honest and share the truths of what is happening in their life.

I simply loved this novel. It is one that reminded me of the importance of just putting God first always and trusting Him through all, no matter the attack.

This is a novel that will remind us to anchor our lives in Christ and trust Him when the boat gets rocky.

This book was a gift from Thomas Nelson for it's review.

The Prophecy Study Bible NKJV (John C. Hagee General Editor) Signature Series by Thomas Nelson

First I must say that Pastor John Hagee is one of the greatest preachers of our time. I enjoy his messages and I learn great wisdom from him. He is truly a man of God.

This is one reason I wanted to review this study Bible. It might sound funny, but this visual learner loves a great voice and he has one. As I read the commentary I can just hear his voice speak the Word of God.

Thomas Nelson publishes some of the best study Bibles I have read and this is one of them. This study Bible is just what it says, Prophesy. Pages and pages hold scripture where prophesy is proclaimed and then the scripture is added where it has been fulfilled. That in itself is a great study.

I reviewed the hardback addition and it has a beautiful cover.

There is an overview of each Book of the Bible that goes into great detail. The Book, the author, the time, Christ, keys to study and a survey. Each Book holds an outline which is huge help when your trying to understand the timeline of the Bible.

Something I love is how the Word of God is in bold red print. There are tables that explain the test of faith, characteristics of faith and the triumph of faith. One table that stands out to me is the salvation table. The salvation of the believer, submission of the believer and the suffering of the believer. Each of these is broken down into reference, division, topic, location and time.

This study Bible gives great focus on prophesy. Something many of us miss in our study. We are always looking for what is to come and we forget the prophesies that have already occurred. Which gives us great hope for the days to come.

My only issue, which really isn't an issue, but more so just what I like, would be more commentary from Pastor Hagee. Everything else is just fantastic. There are pages of the top 20 questions, and pages that hold evidences, which is super cool. Another fantastic attribute about this study Bible is that you can clearly see the Old Testament scripture, the subject and where you can find this in the New Testament. God's great promises are also highlighted. Again, this Bible is packed with great study material tools. This will be a great help in my studies. Especially when it comes to understanding prophesy.

This Bible was a gift from Thomas Nelson for it's review.

Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon

First, I must say, Irene Hannon ROCKS! If your searching for that perfect book for summer, friends, check out Irene Hannon and you will look no further. Man, can she pen a story. She has this gift of bringing a story alive and setting you right smack dab in the center.

Lethal Legacy is the third book in the Guardians of Justice Series. I have been blessed to review all three and they just get better and better!

The first two are Fatal Judgement and Deadly Pursuit. (Check out my reviews)

I opened these pages and didn't stop until the last page turned. Then I was left with wanting more. Praise the Lord, Irene Hannon has a new series coming in 2013 entitled, Private Justice, and the first installment is, Vanished! I'm already anticipating another outstanding novel.

This series in set in Missouri. St. Louis and the surrounding counties. My home town. Kelly Warren is one of those characters you just fall in love with quickly. She is strong and not willing to give up when she knows she is right. She carries a great faith and knows just where to find her strength and boy, does she need it. Her father has died and his death is investigated, but found to be a suicide. Kelly knows in her gut that is the farthest thing from the truth. She isn't giving up on the truth until it is uncovered. It is here the story begins and where it grows.

Intrigue, deceit, love, friendship, healing, forgiveness. This book has it all and more. The characters from the first two books are back, but it's Kelly Warren and Cole Taylor who take the lead in this story. Lets just say, Cole Taylor is that officer you want guarding your house.

You are going to love this book. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Happy Reading!

This book was a gift from Revell for it's review.

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of  Quantico Series, Fatal Judgement, and Deadly Pursuit. Her books have also been honored with a Carol Award, a Holt Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier award, and two Reviewers Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. She lives in Missouri. http://www.irenehannon.com/