Little Talks with Jesus: Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corin...

Little Talks with Jesus: Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corin...: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that y...

Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

I have heard this often along with, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).  

How on earth am I supposed to accomplish this?

As I was seeking the Lord on this matter He took me to the Old Covenant. by way of Hebrews 9:19-20 “…he (Moses) took the blood of the calves and goats [which had been sacrificed], together with water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and he sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant [that seals and ratifies the agreement] which God ordained and commanded [me to deliver to] you.” And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the containers and sacred utensils of worship with the blood.”

This sprinkled blood sanctified the temple and made it holy to be used in the service of the Lord. This is how we are made holy, by the blood of Jesus, our High Priest.

As we partake of Communion we are sprinkling the hearts and lives of our sanctuary, cleansing and making us holy vessels to be used in the service of our Lord.

In an article written by Andrew Murray he says, “"I must have the Holy Spirit sanctifying my whole inner life if I am really to live for God's glory." He goes on to say that we need to make a daily habit, to seek being filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Rapture Ready, Chapter 2)

In my time today I commit myself to being submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit, sanctified by the blood of Jesus, cleansed and made ready for service to my God. 

Won't you join me as we walk daily, cleansed and being ready to be used by the Holy Spirit  in the service of our Lord through the blood of Jesus? Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation...” (Psal...

Little Talks with Jesus: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation...” (Psal...: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:12 AMP) It seemed as if joy had left me. I ...

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation...” (Psalm 51:12 AMP)

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:12 AMP)

It seemed as if joy had left me. I was trying to work things out, and it just did not seem to work. Life was becoming drudgery.

I began to seek the Lord for answers asking Him to restore to me the joy of my salvation. While seeking Him, I was asking questions like, “What do I need to do?” “Are you through with me on this earth?” “Do you have a purpose for me?’ The more I asked, the more depressed I became.

Early this morning as I was listening to the Lord, He said, “It is a gift.”

Suddenly the depression lifted and joy filled my soul. Life was not about how mush I accomplished on earth. Despite the many sermons I have heard about “doing” and feeling guilty for not “doing” enough, joy and peace filled my being and transformed my whole perspective.

A gift is given to be enjoyed. When I give a gift, I do not expect anything in return. It is my hope that the person will enjoy the gift. The person does not earn it. That would be a wage. 

Life in Christ Jesus is a gift. “For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;” (Ephesians 2:8 AMP)

The Lord has been trying to get me to understand this for a long time. Praise God! I finally got it!

Now I can truly declare, “This [day in which God has saved me] is the day which the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Join me today and rejoice in the outstanding day the Lord has given to us to live and rejoice (enjoy) in it. It’s given to us as a child of God, no strings attached. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: “...God resist the proud, but gives grace to the h...

Little Talks with Jesus: “...God resist the proud, but gives grace to the h...: As I was growing up I often heard the scripture “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall” (James 16:18 ) ...

“...God resist the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

As I was growing up I often heard the scripture “Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before a fall” (James 16:18)

Pride was then interpreted as being conceded and that God really hated people that were conceded. This did not make a lot of since to me since I was also told that God loves everyone.

Then the Lord began to teach me that pride believes that one could do anything on their own. They did not need God or anyone else.

Then the Lord went on to show me that humility was just the opposite. Humility is coming to God, asking for His help, knowing that one could not do things in their own strength. In other words, pride is when one makes themselves their own god.

Here is where I had to ask myself, “How often have I thought I could do things on my own?” The answer was, “Way too many times.” I had to confess this and repent. Thank God for His merciful forgiveness.

Recently I heard an old preacher’s joke that told of a congregation that said, “Lord, You keep him (preacher) humble and we will keep him poor.”

Sadly this used to be the opinion of many churches. I do pray this is no longer the case.

Unlike many sermons I have heard, Jesus was not poor. He knew where the fish were. He knew how to multiply little to become more than enough. He and His disciples had enough money that they needed a treasurer. Remember Judas? When Judas, the treasurer, left the Last Supper, the disciples thought he was leaving to help someone. This was their norm.

So let us debunk the wrong teaching that Jesus was poor. Also, humble as we have learned, is not “poor, pitiful me.” It is, “I can do all things through Christ who strengths me.” (Philippians 4:13)

The great news today is that Christ is always with us. As we need help, He is ready, willing and waiting. We only have to ask.

I invite you to spend some time with the Lord today thanking Him and praising Him that because of His finished work on the cross, we have the privilege of coming to Him at anytime day or night to seek His face and ask for His help. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: “If My people who are called by My name…” (2 Chron...

Little Talks with Jesus: “If My people who are called by My name…” (2 Chron...: “If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then wi...

“If My people who are called by My name…” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

“If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”(2 Chronicles 7:14)

This morning as I was listening to the Lord I was meditating on the state of our nation. At this time we are a divided people who are being taught morals by Hollywood, distorted Bible through movies and Humanism through our schools.

Politicians spend their time trying to destroy the reputations of each other and sugar-coating real issues.  We are in a mess!

However; our God is able to change everything around us if we come to Him in His way, through Jesus. We are the ones who need to repent of our ways, change our own behavior and seek the presences of God Almighty. It is not about THEM. It is about US.

We are His people. His call is “come to Him.” Allow Him to show us the areas of our lives that need to be submitted to Him. As we surrender to His will, His Word, then He will change our nation.

So, if you are one of the many who sees our nation in trouble, join with me and seek God through Jesus Christ. Allow Him to change us and then the things and people around us will reflect it.

If you recall, when Adam sinned, God said that because you sinned, the ground is cursed. God did not curse the ground. I believe the same is still true. Our land reacts to our righteousness or our sins.

This is not a time of beating ourselves up. It is a time to confess our sins and be forgiven. Then change our ways and continually seek the God of our Salvation! Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen