Tag: Bible

Posted in Bible Verses

Scriptures to Hide in Your Heart When Worried

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Let not your heart be trouble

Some of the scriptures that I meditate on when I am feeling overwhelmed by worry.  I have them written on notecards and read them aloud as many times and as often as necessary. The Word of God is alive and active and the Word will break the hold that the enemy has over your mind.  God has proven this to me time and time again. When you speak the Word, you speak LIFE!

Proverbs 12:25   Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:6-8  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Matthew 6:33-34  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Matthew 11:28-30   Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

John 14:27   Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Psalm 55:22   Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Philippians 4:19   But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

John 14:1   Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Luke 1:37   For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Colossians 3:15    And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Jeremiah 17:7-8   Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Psalm 94:19   In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

Isaiah 26:3   Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Psalm 23:4    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Romans 15:13   Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost

Proverbs 3:5-6   Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Colossians 3:2   Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

2 Thessalonians 3:16   Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

 

 

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Lessons Learned: Seeming Victory vs. True VICTORY

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Last night I was in prayer before bedtime and was praying for a very sensitive situation in my life. Suddenly I felt oppressed. I haven’t experienced that so severely in quite some time but found myself with one of those battles of the mind. I have fought them many times before and so they are familiar. I fought. It was very late so couldn’t really call up the prayer partners I have grown to depend on in these times at such an hour of the night. No one was on fb.

I started reading the Word. My choice was the Psalms and I figured I would just read them until…but it was difficult and after a while I felt so overwhelmed and so I said to God, “Father You are going to have to do something about this because I need my mind to settle and I need sleep!” I felt like I didn’t know what else to do. The Holy Ghost immediately reminded me though that I did know what to do.

Of course, He was right…so I started just saying the name of Jesus aloud and over and over. I can tell you with complete honesty that suddenly and briefly it was as though my spiritual eyes were opened and I saw the demons swirling around my face but then just as suddenly I saw them flee and disappear– with my own, natural, open eyes. I waited for a few minutes and read a bit more of the Psalms but then fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

He is faithful to His Word and His promises! I praise Him! I woke up this morning so grateful but with a couple important lessons that the Holy Ghost brought to my attention. Friends, I write this today to tell you this…the devil and his demons are real and they do what they can to try to thwart what God is doing in and through your life. Their goal is to take you from the will and arms of God so that they can take you with them to hell. They cause confusion, distraction and noise and unrest….but we have a God that is stronger.

Our amazing God, our Savior Jesus Christ is stronger than anything that can be brought against us. He lives in you if you are a believer, making you too stronger than the enemy and all of his demons. He is also stronger than our own flesh. He is the answer and He sent His own Son to die so that we might be saved. He has given you His own Spirit, the Holy Ghost, to help you, guide you and comfort you. He has given us the weapons to fight and He has given us His own strength to stand. He is the ONLY answer but He wants us to use what He has provided us and He wants us to grow up and into maturity in Him.

I/we must remember to use what the Father has provided and what Jesus Christ paid such a price for. And also is in my/our gratefulness regarding deliverance and in that time of peace that follows…not to fall for the distraction (and so even in seeming victory) letting the enemy win. Even though the enemy did flee last night, still he accomplished distraction. After I was delivered of the attack I should have gone back to the place that the enemy manifested and I should have stood in true VICTORY and continued earnestly in prayer for that sensitive situation. There at that moment of prayer… I was in God’s perfect will for my life, for that moment.

I am learning step by step. The Holy Ghost is the best of mentors. May we all yield to His perfect will in each moment of our lives today!

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Hiding His Word in My Heart Today

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

I am a huge supporter of the One Year Bible plans and such as that. Without these many would just flip open the Bible and while God can and does speak that way, many like myself need more order. Although I am opting for the year long plan so that I can dig a little deeper this year, my favorite plan so far is actually the 90 day Bible Challenge. I really enjoyed reading from the first page of the Bible all the way to the last page, although I do prefer to read in a translation other than the one they suggest. The 90 day plan is less distracting than other plans when it comes to seeing how things tie together in the Bible…book to book, Old Testament to New Testament, Beginning to End. 2012 was a year that the Lord told me to put aside all other books and read only His Word. I did and I truly enjoyed spending extended periods of time reading straight through several times. Granted my plan was more of the 120 day plan.

Like weight loss, exercise, and other things we try to begin in the New Year, people often begin their year so enthusiastic and determined to read through the Bible again or for the first time. It goes pretty well for a while and then you hit end of February and March and challenging books like the books of Leviticus and Numbers and some of the others of the Old Testament stop many in their tracks. With the 90 day challenge plans you are through these in a couple of days but with the year long plans unless you determine in your heart ahead of time to persevere when it gets tough…you probably don’t.

There is a great saying regarding what is going on in the world and regarding the Word and that is that, “We have read the end of the Book.” I have heard people say that a lot recently. It is true. If we know the end of the story then we know that Jesus Christ is victorious! Sad truth is though that many have not actually read the end of the book. They didn’t make it that far. Some are going totally on what they have heard from others rather than a true revelation that they themselves have gleaned from the Word. For some if they did read the end, they have only really just read the beginning and the end. They don’t have a grasp of what is in between Genesis and Revelation, save the Bible stories told to us as children and the Gospels that all churches focus on during Christmas and Easter. If the only thing you hear is the Gospel surely that is more than enough… but so many are missing so much that the Lord Himself has provided us that could help them tremendously to understand and to walk out this earthly journey until we do get to the end.

I find myself praying for those seeking a closer walk with God that started a One Year Bible plan on 1/1/13. I pray that they would do what it takes to persevere through the tough chapters. I know I have spent many a morning reading it aloud, reading it standing up, or both. I say, do what it takes. Get an attitude of NEVERTHELESS!!! His Word will not come back void, that is His promise!!! It is also His promise that you will be changed from GLORY to GLORY. Whenever you come into the presence of God through prayer, or service, or worship or the Word…you are changed. PROMISED!!!

You are in my prayers and I ask for yours as we all press on…

_________________________

and today through His Word in Numbers, Mark, Psalms and Proverbs – He spoke directly to me regarding issues of my heart and issues of the hearts of those I allow to speak into my life. Some of what is spoken are words of darkness (things like complaining and criticism) going into my ears and/or coming out of my mouth instead of words of light and truth and praise. Words that kindle His anger and grieve His Spirit instead of words that make Him smile and rejoice.

My prayers and meditations from today’s Word is:

Psalm 51:8 “Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bone which thou has broken may rejoice.”

Psalm 51:15 “O Lord, open my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.”

Well, probably should just read all of Psalm 51. It says so much…like Psalm 51:6

Numbers 11:1 – and when the people complained it displeased the Lord: and the Lord hear it; and His anger was kindled. Number 11:10 – Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly: also Moses was displeased. (complaining, whining)

Mark 14:4 – and there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said why was this waste of the ointment used?  (Criticism)

Mark 14:4-9 my thoughts – Then Jesus rebukes the disciples for their criticism.

This also struck me although off topic. In Mark 14:16 it says, “and he sought how he might conveniently betray him.”  That word “conveniently” made me incredibly sad. To be betrayed is one thing but conveniently betrayed. I wonder how often we conveniently betray or disobey or sin in any way?!?

Conveniently: ease in use, easy, comfortable, at hand, easily acceptable, hand.

Proverbs 10-11 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongues shall be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Froward: willfully contrary; not easily managed; obstinate, wayward, difficult, fractious.

Only God could have prepared such a feast for me for this morning.

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Help me oh Lord to apply this Word to my life today. In Jesus precious and holy and magnificent Name, I pray….AMEN!!

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My Inheritance

Posted on by Melissa Lynne
He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. Selah.”  ~ Psalm 47:4

The Lord has been so gracious to allow me to be in His presence in places where He has chosen to show up through His signs, His wonders and His miracles. I know I am blessed and that He has used these times and situations to increase my faith. I have seen miracles of healing, miracles of food multiplied, I have experienced and seen deliverance from depression and anxiety and addiction. I long for the day that those that are God’s own children will not be as those from Jesus’ hometown, expecting so little and so receiving and seeing little of God’s power in their lives and communities.

I think so many think of God as sooooo familiar. Meaning they think they know all there is to know because they have sat in church and think they know all the stories. The Bible says though that the stories could fill volumes though so no way we could know them all. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. John 21:25. Yes, in many ways God is familiar but in many, many more ways or probably most ways, He is a God that we can not define or put into our little box or our little human minds. He is infinite and yet reachable. He can reach out to the most scholarly yet has made His gospel simple enough for a very small child. He is a mystery and yet tells us He wants to be known. He is magnificent but humble; the Lion and also the Lamb.

After a wonderful Sunday where God moved through our pastors to give the Word, I am pondering today His call on my life and how to apply His Word. I know in part what God can do and am confident in the Word and that He can do infinitely more….but there are times when I wonder how it will all come to pass since I wasted so much of my life and talents and resources on temporal things and the roadblocks seem endless. Will I go to my grave reminding myself not to look back with regret? Will these roadblocks turn out to actually be the steps to what has been prepared?  Though I am a person that is pretty focused and committed still I wonder sometimes. I was thinking along these lines this morning and I felt my Father pose a question to me. He told me upfront that it was hypothetical but He told me to take it seriously nonetheless. The question was this…Excluding praise and worship, reading my Bible and prayer and excluding all otherhuman opinion, if I could do only ONE thing of service for Him all the rest of the days of my earthly life, what would I do and why?

It was early so I had the time at 4:30am to ponder these things, but it wasn’t necessary. I immediately knew my answer. If I could only do one thing of service — I would feed the hungry.  I know you think now I am talking feeding the hungry physically and spiritually but I am actually mostly talking in the physical.  I would feed the hungry real solid food and pray that God, in His mercy, would give me also opportunity and ways to feed them spiritually as He saw their need and mine.

Why?

Because long before He told me to preach or pray, He told me “you give them something to eat” from Matthew 14:16, Mark 6:19, and Luke 9:13. When God spoke this to me, it was one of the first times I ever heard God speak directly to me through His written Word. It stuck with me. On looking over these last years, I have found that from my obedience to“you give them something to eat”  has come most of the miracles, signs and wonders that I have been allowed to see and from obedience to that command, I have been given opportunity to share the Word and pray with people and I have been able to see people saved. Real true lasting fruit. From obedience to that command I have met people that live in their cars and in the woods and I have also met hungry ministers. I have been allowed to minister to those that have given their lives for the Gospel but found themselves being fed through my hand but in that moment of divine appointment (and I believe that is what it was), I found them there feeding me in such beautiful ways. Truly I tell you, from obedience to that command “you give them something to eat” I, myself, have been fed and sustained by God and have felt the presence and LOVE of GOD HIMSELF through them toward me. It was never just me allowing the love of God through me. He gave me love through them. 

I find myself now in a season where I am removed and separated at least for a time from that kind of ministry and there are days I grieve. Not because I miss a ministry but because I miss the people and what they brought into my life. I miss the faith that desperation brings into a people. I miss the mutual need. God transformed my heart of prejudice and gave me love and acceptance and compassion. He gave me understanding. In return so many of the people also accepted me and loved me back. For so many once a month I was friend or mama figure or prayer partner. They were daily in my prayers and that prayer created a bond. I look for them always when I drive the streets of Gastonia. I am so hopeful when I don’t see them out there. I made it a point to know their names and their children’s names and their situations and their hearts. I miss their hearts. I miss their hugs. I miss their stories. I miss how they bonded to others and how they helped their neighbors. They grabbed the concept we know as “church” so much better  than most. They were rich in ways I think few know. 

A verse that struck me this morning during those early hours with the Lord was this: Psalm 47:4, “He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. Selah.”  I have always loved that promise. I have always asked the Lord for the nations but my inheritance is His choice. When someone leaves you an inheritance it is their choice as to what they leave each person. The poor and the poor in spirit are my inheritance…this I know though I can’t fully explain all of what that means yet or how my wonderful Father wants me to take care of this precious gift he leaves me.

Selah! [pause, and calmly think of that]
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Abiding: Thoughts, Prayers and the Word of God

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

The warfare has been so intense these last days so I have planted myself in the Word of God and put my focus on Jesus Christ. Over the last couple of days I have meditated on this word – ABIDE. I am sure this will go further because it just is the way I am, but decided to type this out. I have kind of used it like one of my prayer/scripture cards. Maybe all of this will help someone else too.

Abide: To wait for, await. To endure without yielding, withstand. To bear patiently, endure. To remain in one place.

Synonyms for “abide”: To stay, dwell, remain. To hand around, stick around. Tarry.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:4-5 (one of my favorite scriptures)

Prayers from God’s Word to help keep me in the place of abiding

-Lord, have mercy on me

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Psalm 86:3

-Lord, impart Your thoughts to me

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.. Isaiah 55:8

-Lord, help me to take every thought captive to You

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5

-Lord, test and examine my ways

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40

I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:10

-Lord, make my desires Your desires

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4

-Lord, help me to be faithful in small things

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10

-Lord, show me which way I should turn today

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.Isaiah 30:21

-Lord, keep me in Your dwelling place

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! Psalm 84:1

-Lord, keep me on track today

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Phillippians 3:12-16

-Lord, give me Your mind

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16

-Lord, help me to set my mind on things above

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

-Lord, help my speech to be gracious

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.Colossians 4:6

-Lord, keep me in Your shelter and give me Your rest

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

-Lord, more of You and less of me

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

And when we have found our place of abiding with Christ, the fragrance of Christ is spread by us, for we are to God the aroma of Christ and we carry the fragrance of life to those around us.

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

 

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Hunger for the Word

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

I was just sitting here thinking about the greatest Bible study I was ever a part of. It was in the USA but with a Laotian community of believers. I was at a friend’s house for a Laotian birthday party. Suddenly right in the middle of it all, it seemed to come abruptly to an end because a majority of the people wanted to go and separate themselves to study the Bible. This majority was the Laotians. It would have never crossed my mind to study the Word at a party, I am sad to admit. I was invited by my friend to join them and very gladly accepted. We sat around a circle on the hard floor of an empty house that was being built next door. The Laotian minister gave each person a verse in a scripture passage that he had planned for their study that night. They came prepared to study the Word. They all had their Bibles. We prayed and then we went around the circle taking turns reading the scripture and then sharing what it meant to us. One interpreted so we could all understand. I believe we studied Ephesians. I don’t remember a lot about what was said that day but I remember the beauty in the hunger in these people and in their posture and reverence toward the Word of God. They didn’t take the freedom to study for granted. There was no hurrying. We sat there and studied for quite a while. I wonder that I have never seen that kind of hunger in any group of English speaking Christians that I have met. I have seen it in one or two people but never in such a large group. Surely it exists…I pray for that degree of hunger and that posture.

Posted in Journal

Contemplating what draws me

Posted on by Melissa Lynne
Contemplating how to answer the following two questions: What draws me closer to God? What draws me away from Him? My answers so far…going to have to think on this a bit.

1) What draws me closer to God?
-The Bible but most specifically Isaiah 58
-silence
-periods of set aside time for prayer/study of the Word
-well performed worship music (all types)
-early mornings
-eagles
-walking alone, especially on Hatteras Island in the Fall
-family reunions
-memories of my grandfather
-uncommitted hours with nothing to do
2) What draws me away from God?
-television
-noise (background noise) like to work in silence
-too much internet
-overeating
-busyness (will have to expand on that)
-too many plans
-shopping
-ruminations
Will update some later.

Posted in Journal

Distractions

Posted on by Melissa Lynne
Pastor Sammy’s sermon today reminded me of the following. I have this written in my Bible (don’t remember where I heard so I can’t document author/speaker):

“One of the hardest tests that we must pass if we are going to fulfill our ultimate calling is to not get distracted by all the other things that God is doing. God is doing many wonderful things today, but it is not possible for us to be involved in all of them. It is often difficult to resist joining another successful move of God, especially when well-meaning people often make others think that they are missing God if they do not join that movement. We must learn to give ourselves only to what God has called us to do.”

I am blessed to have women in my life that value accountability. Very, very often they remind me to avoid distractions, which come in many forms. To keep my eyes on the vision He gave me…not to look to either side, but just straight ahead.