Daily Pearls
Encouragement & Scriptures from our Lord Jesus
And Then There Was One…
What has happened to the Church Body?
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function; so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12:4&5
Being Believers we seem to have lost our focus away from defeating the enemy, into devouring one another at the hands of him who so desires to destroy. And I have to admit he is accomplishing this task at quite a rapid pace, with little resistance from those who honor Jesus with theirs lips. The very premise I would even attempt to bring into light some of our generous missteps as Believers, will call for unwarranted backlash from those of you who prefer to dine on my lowly attempt to call for repentance, in trade for a peek into your own very soul. Placing myself in the guided hand of the Holy Spirit I ask for more of Him and less of me as we journey on this quest of how we got deep into the muddy waters of believers, who look out for number one, and I don’t mean Jesus.
Anyone can come up with problems, however, it takes the guided hand of the Holy Spirit to form solutions ~ real and lasting solutions. Let’s get one thing straight from the get go. This is not about salvation, this is about living your life to the fullest, in the Body of Believers, walking out the calling God has placed upon your individual life. When reading scripture, it is important to note how frequently the disciples were sent to the various “Churches” to admonish and reprove their actions. For this reason, just as iron sharpens iron, we too, at one time or another have been either on the receiving or giving end of such scenarios. It is healthy for a fruit bearing tree to have its branches pruned occasionally, increasing it’s production into full harvest. Since God compares us to a tree producing fruit, it is actually wise to be open to receiving such pruning. As a matter of fact, avoiding such pruning, stunts one’s growth, leaving a weak, prone to disease tree, unable to produce the magnitude of fruit it was so capable of bearing.
No matter the root cause of the division, whether it be jealousy, pride, misunderstanding, dislike, unequally yoked, etc… God’s answer is simple – LOVE. Like most tests, easier said than done. I have found when I am struggling to walk like Jesus commands in a particular area, I talk about it more and do it less. Same goes for you, I bet? I believe this is so we feel a certain connection to the Father, however, faith without works is dead. There is that tree again… oh my, more pruning.
The Bible says in Romans 12:6-8, We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
So let us just rest in that scripture for a moment. In each passage, God states, “Let him.” How often do we become the very stumbling block to a fellow brother or sister who is simply walking out the calling placed upon them by the Creator, Himself?
If we are walking out the flesh, we do not have the spiritual eyes to see others in their unique calling, so we lash out at that we do not understand. In a sense, we kill the messenger, rather than embrace the message God has chosen them as the perfect vessel to deliver. Let me be clear, this is destroying the Church Body from the inside out. At times it takes thoughtful self-discipline to embrace the gifting’s of goodness God has placed upon another follower. Since God watches over His word to perform it, most of which is required is a humble searching heart, letting Him do the rest. Let us close this door to the enemy for good and edify one another in love, by giving a helping hand or lending an ear to those who contribute to the Kingdom of Heaven in a way different than our own. When the dawn of Heaven breaks upon eternity’s horizon, may the Lord find us together, in unity as one Church Body rather than as one, alone by oneself. I am praying for us all, His Saints, to rise up into the Kingdom, united as a force to be reckoned with, in the face of the enemy.
And then there was one… One Body, undivided and fully recognized as the Church she was created to be. ?
Father God, we thank You, that Your mercies are new every morning. We ask for Your grace and forgiveness during times we have attempted to mold others into our purposes, rather than Yours. Help us to join together in Unity to serve and further your Kingdom here on earth. Let us be as strong, fruit bearing servants loving and embracing one another, demonstrating Your goodness of gifting’s until the fullness of the harvest is complete. Amen.
Angela ~ Marked By Heaven
*Published on Beforeitsnews, November 5. 2012
???May the Lord infuse you with His love today and always. As you receive of Him and His love pours into you it is my prayer that you are enriched to overflowing JOY, PEACE & SERENITY. Jesus is LOVE and LOVE CAME DOWN for us all that we may have life and life more abundantly in the presence of His dwelling within.
Thank You Jesus for freely giving, in order that we may freely receive.
Have a Glorious Day ~ Love in Him,
?Angela
Crushed & Broken… He is there?
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 147:3
I am sure everyone is pretty familiar with the term, “Friendly Fire” or even knows all to well what it means to be, “Betrayed with a kiss,” just as Jesus, Himself was betrayed by Judas by a kiss, or rather a demonstration of affection, in order to reveal Who Jesus was so He could be taken captive.
Betrayal is one of the most hurtful experiences we, as humans, have to endure here in this flesh body. Over the course of my life, in my physical body I have experienced great pain at times, especially during child birth, as many of you mothers can relate to or surgeries times 20 or two almost fatal car accidents and sepsis in my whole body requiring a 10 day hospital stay — But nothing and I mean nothing compares to the pain of a crushed spirit and broken heart, through friendly fire.
I call it, “Friendly fire,” because the source from which it originates you never quite foresaw as being a foe, as they embraced you often deceiving as a loved one. It stings as fire, because it sears the heart and soul and although Jesus, being all knowing already knew the, “One who would betray Him,” we most usually do not. And if the truth was revealed by the time, I am sure many of us would have prevented the beauty unveiled through such a crushing experience.
This is a beautiful and at times a painful process.
To be crushed & broken reminds me of the crushing of flower petals and how they excrete the most appealing aroma when crushed for usage in the selling of the finest of oils. That is you and this is me, as well. Although it is true a rose is beautiful at first glance, however, the value of roses exceed all expectations when crushed. It is only after the petals have been crushed that they can be used for healing, restoring and rejuvenating of greater usage.
I see this so similar to us in a wide array of variables. When we are crushed, we too exchange what was beautiful to behold by the eye into a handiwork designed to be used as a vessel of honor to assist another. Jesus also was crushed and bruised in such a way. It is an honor really to be used by Him, being one with Him. I am wondering right now if that is why He is often called the, “Rose of Sharon?”
All things are purposed under the Son. He is not some far and distant God that does not share in our pains and hurts. We can find great comfort in knowing that all we are going through – He went through, willingly sharing in our pain is such a way is unfathomable. In Him, we find strength to face another day and another trial. In Him, we take refuge as He binds up all our wounds, saving us when we are crushed in Spirit. Amen.
Thank You Jesus for being the most beautiful display of what it means to be crushed unto beauty. We trust You Lord to have Your way with us as we share with You in this process of being broken, only to rise again. We lay before You today all our burdens, all our sorrows and all the obstacles that are set to drag us down into despair and grief. As You perfect our beauty, we submit fully to Your will and in exchange for Your comfort. In Your Mighty Name We Pray. Amen.
May the Lord continue to bless each one of you in His never ending and perfection of LOVE ~
Angela?
?God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.
Knowing the Difference…
The Serenity Prayer is such a beautiful display of the laying down of one’s will in total abandon and trust to what the Father’s will would be for us individually. Would we choose this particular path we are on knowing the trials that come or would we choose the path of least resistance? I am sure I am not alone on this truth, in all honesty I would frequently pick the path of least resistance. It brings great comfort in knowing the difference and I thank Him that as we put our trust in Him, we are assured the path in which we are on forges a trusted relationship with Him.
He says in His Word all those who call upon His Name shall be saved. We are being saved, oftentimes from our very selves in what appears as a tribulation actually births a triumph.
When we cannot change something – He imparts within us His acceptance so we do not reject His perfection being established in our lives.
When something needs to be changed in our lives – He infuses us with His courage to make that change which is everlasting and eternal.
When we cry out to Him, asking Him to show us the difference between the two – Wisdom is granted and we are clothed in acceptance and courage to face the road ahead of us.
He is teaching us everyday to trust Him a little more through surrender and as we do, the difference between two paths merge together into one – the path to Him, in which we fully accept, with wisdom, His divinely etched plan in our lives. The guessing game of where to go is over as we let go and let God take the reigns of our hearts as He is leading us back to Him.
May He grant us wisdom, peace and rest today and release us from the burdens of this life. I thank Him for teaching us that He is the difference in our lives and with His constant hand of leading upon us, as the Author and Finisher of our walk, although the road may be hard at times, He is leading us right where He would have us to go.
As He leads we shall follow, making a difference in not only our own lives, but the lives of others, as well.
Let us go, in peace. Amen?
Help me Father to not be fearless but rather to fear and reverence You on a deeper level in Faith. Instill within me the knowing and wonderment of a true child in which I submit to the wholeness of Your Son, Jesus. Teach me the ways in which I am to go that is upright in Your eyes as I forfeit all pride in believing I can do the simplest of tasks a part of You. Father the World and many in Your church tell me to be strong, but yet I have no strength. I hear words of how Your love casts out all fear and yet I fear. I thank You for guiding me with Your loving hand back into Your arms when all I want to do is run away. Make me a pillar of Your strength and a light so bright all darkness retreats upon my waking. I honor You for Who You are and I give You all glory as You remove the mountains and stones set before me and when I cannot walk another step… You carry me through each trial, each day. Thank You Father for Your loving kindness that is always covering me and flowing through me in times when I need it the most. I trust You, I trust You with me when I cannot even trust myself. In Jesus’s Mighty Name I pray. Amen
FEARless…
We all have these moments in life where we feel as if we cannot take another step. Oftentimes, those who have gone before us will “Try” to help, convincing us that, “You can do this.” But in all honesty, no we cannot. We can do nothing. We cannot even have Faith if it were not granted. We pray The Lord’s Prayer, thy will be done and such… But when we begin to fall, time and again we go back to, “I can do this.” Falling back into…. If I just force myself to step again, I will find myself on sure ground, once again.
So today the Lord was showing me to not let go of all fear, but rather to FEAR – less. Some fear is conducive to the submission process we go through in learning the Father’s will in our lives. As we decrease, He will increase in us individually. Then it is no longer I that doesn’t fear, it is Him Who has no fear overtaking all fear I once held onto.
The Breaking…
We are all being broken at the moment. In this process we are learning to stop being harder on ourselves than He is on us and on one another too.
We set many standards for ourselves and other people that are not in line with the standards He has set. Given the fact we are all a work in progress, sometimes it gets messy to all but the One doing the creating. He sees the beautiful masterpiece at the end and as He molds and forms, to His eye no portion is left undone. To the observer the work is out of shape, chaotic and down right ugly at times. The beauty is surely in the eye of the Beholder – He is that Beholder and we are His creation, being FEARfully and wonderfully made into the Image of His Son, Jesus.
So we need to just trust Him to do His purposed job as the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
As He is forming every piece and perfectly fitting them together while we are learning every aspect of Him at the same time.
It is a beautiful work… A masterpiece, really.
So for today – Let’s just agree to FEAR less, knowing He’s got this and most importantly He’s holding you in His hands as He molds and shapes you into perfection into the Beauty of the Beholder – Himself.
“If we are truthful in how we look at ourselves and in the way we search out the Father then our fidelity to the Father will wash us and grow us to know truth when we see it and deception when we see it.”
Captain Stewie
Who’s Footprints?
Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom. Isaiah 40:11
Let not my heart be troubled, oh Lord… So simply said, yet not so easily attained for many of us, with the trials and tribulations we are facing in this life on a daily basis. When we reflect back on our lives we see trials of triumphs, through the truth of Who remained along the journey. It is so easy to capture at a glance, it was I who forfeited and He who carried me through each day, moment by moment and because He prevails, so did I. So today, facing what I am facing, why am I not able to trust just a little more He will remain and carry me? I suppose it has a little to do with patience and a lot to do with a lack of Faith regarding the will to surrender my all to Him, to be what He is purposed to be in my life.
I wish I had the fortitude to simply impart this truth into another and into myself for that matter, but unfortunately I do not. This life is a journey. It is a call to be chosen, to be His, fully without regret. Oftentimes, the only way we can overcome our will is by forcibly knowing without Him we can accomplish nothing. Who’s footprints do we desire to see in going forward etched in the sands of time? Jesus and Jesus’s alone.
I surely trust Him easily, it is myself I do not trust. He promises to gather and carry His own. All we need to do is call upon Him to be there for us during trials and tribulations. He shall have His way, so my prayer is that we learn to trust Him before the storm begins, rather than crying out for Him in midst of the torrential downpours flooding our souls. May we begin to walk as His creation through a more proactive Faith walk, rather than cascading downward in a reactive mode. This is my petition for you, for me and for all of the Church Body.
Reveal Yourself to us Lord Jesus as the Shepherd You truly are in our yesterdays, today and our tomorrows.
God Bless You In His Love,
~Angela
Footprints In The Sand
One night I had a dream…
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow You, You would walk with me all the way; But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why in times when I needed you the most, You should leave me.
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child. I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints. it was then that I carried you. (Author – Undefined)