Lo and Behold!

"I don't build no heathen temples/Where the Lord has done laid his hand."--James Taylor

Have you ever heard the trite saying that "your body is a temple"?  Many people reference this "saying" to encourage and justify their self-obsessed vanity.  Do you realize that this is not merely a "saying," but a revelation from the ONE and TRUE God?  In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul admonishes the church and its people, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body."  When we dissect and study this verse, we come to realize the gravity of this command.  In Romans 10:13, we learn that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  Romans 8 discusses the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives, provided that we are made new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).  We are no longer bound to sin (our flesh), but by the Spirit of God that lives in us (Romans 8: 9).  We must heed Paul's words concerning the TRUTH that our bodies are not our own.  We were bought for a very precious price, and we must honor God because of His willingness to separate Himself from His son and allow Jesus to be a scapegoat for the sins of ALL mankind, past, present, and future.  God loves us so much that He sacrificed His only Son for us (John 3:16).  Hebrews 12:6 reminds us that "the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."  Treating our bodies as temples is a command not a suggestion. 

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." (Galatians 5:13)

Our souls are like gardens.  They must be tended properly, checked often for weeds, dead roots, and bad fruit; they must also be fertilized with good soil.  When we give our lives to Christ, we are no longer to live for ourselves, but instead we are to live for HIM.  We are to fulfill God's purposes with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  As James Taylor once sang in his song, Lo and Behold, "I don't build no heathen temples/Where the Lord has done laid His hand."  Be careful of what you let into your body, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  You MUST guard your heart, because it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23).  Glorify the Lord with your body in action, thought, and word.  As you continue in this purging process, you will become holy, set apart, sanctified in the name of Jesus.  1 Peter 1:13-16 urges us to "prepare [our] minds for action; be self-controlled; set [our] hope fully on the grace to be given [us] when Jesus Christ is revealed.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires [we] had when [we] lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called [us] is holy, so be holy in all [we] do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  Now, that is a TALL order, but it's possible with Christ (Philippians 4:13)!  Pursue righteousness and be comforted in this:  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).

Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!

Defeet Illness with High Heals

"The same power that conquered the grave lives in me."--Dave George, Grant Vater Pankratz

Do you believe in miracles?  How many times have you asked someone that question?  How many times have you been asked that question?  You must be willing to suspend your unbelief!  When you ask for anything from God, including healing, you must NOT doubt like a wave in the sea that is tossed about by the wind.  Should you be double-minded, you will not receive anything from God (James 1:6-7).  God requires faith on our part to trust Him with our problems.  Don't you want your significant other, sibling/s, child/children, etc. to trust that you will come through for them when necessary?  Well, God wants the same thing from us, His children!  Through Him, ALL things are possible, but what seems the hardest part sometimes is for us to actually BELIEVE that what we are praying for will indeed occur (Philippians 4:13).  Now, understand that if your request is not in line with biblical teaching or God's Will for your life, He will still answer you!  It may not be the answer you want, but God knows what is best for your life!  His plans are for you to live abundantly and with hope (Jeremiah 29:11)!  If you are seeking God first and truly believing Him to be all that His Word says He is, then many things will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).  His Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11).  He is not a liar!  The Lord knows what we need before we even ask Him (Matthew 6:8)!  Isn't that so awesome?!?  Well, in March of 2009, I had two hardcore women on fire for God lay hands on me and pray for a miracle.  And, guess what?  I got my (really, God's) miracle!

Named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, who first described the disease in 1932 along with colleagues Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon D. Oppenheimer, Crohn’s disease belongs to a group of conditions known as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. (www.ccfa.org)

In 1984, at the age of four, I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease.  I battled mightily as a child until I was about 15.  From the ages of 5 to 15, I took a daily dose of Prednisone (different dosages depending on the level of severity), a medical steroid, used to treat inflammation for patients with Arthritis, Crohn's Disease, sinus infections, etc.  I was finally well enough to get off of the medication for almost a whole year while still in elementary school and felt very defeated when my doctor advised that my colitis needed some medicinal treatment again.  A few years later, I was able to get off of the medication when I was a sophomore in high school.  Upon graduating from high school, I had a colonoscopy to make sure things were still legit.  Everything looked okay, and I went off to college.  Fast forward 10 years.  I finally had a big girl job, and with that came insurance!  I decided to secure an appointment with a gastroenterologist as I had not been seen by anyone for my Crohn's in 10 years!  He scheduled a colonoscopy and discovered that I was battling mild to moderate colitis.  He advised me to get on medication as a preventative measure and to reduce inflammation.  I want to make it clear that from the age of 15 until 2009, I had a very asymptomatic case.  Even when I was having a flare-up, I had no symptoms!  Praise God!  I just happened to find out through a routine colonoscopy that I was having a flare-up while planning my wedding.  Go figure!

After these two women laid hands on me in March 2009, I was super excited to get my next colonoscopy.  Sounds a bit strange, I know!  Anyway, my doctor decided to move by annual colonoscopy up from late 2009 to closer to mid 2009.  I was so excited!  I went in for my annual scope in 2009 and 2010, and my doctor said there was only scar tissue but no evidence of disease.  Last October, I told my doctor before being anesthetized that he was not going to find ANYTHING!  Guess what?  I was right!  I had been believing God for several years to prove Himself, and He did!  My doctor said that my colon looked like a normal, healthy colon!  Psalm 103:3 says that the Lord heals our diseases!  Psalm 30:2 says:  "Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me."  Reader, there is power in prayer!  The Lord bends His ear to the prayers of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29).  Believe the Lord to bless you abundantly!  With obedience comes blessing and favour.  Remember not to be double-minded as the book of James reminds us.  We serve an Awesome, Almighty God!  Start believing God for some Awesome, Almighty healing!

Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!

The Sound of Silence

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29)

There are 2 types of silence that are necessary in our Christian walks:  1. The silence (absence) of noise so that we can hear the Holy Spirit's voice; 2. The silence (absence) of anything that may come out of our mouths that does not produce edification of another.

1. The Silence of Noise:  Can you effectively listen while talking at the same time?  You may think you can, but you are definitely missing out on important information if your full attention is not devoted to the speaker.  Our faith is strengthened when we are still.  "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).  Be still so that you can know God (Psalm 46:10).  We make sacrifices and compromises every day when we are in relationship with people; we must apply the same formula to our relationship with God.  In Proverbs 9:13, we learn that, "The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge."  With silence, comes the voice of the Holy Spirit.  If we are still, we can learn discipline and wisdom, through the Holy Spirit's impartment.  These two qualities are vitally important in the character of a Christian.  Finally, get rid of the noise!  Fast from anything that is keeping you from spending time with God.  Be careful NOT to create your own noise.  "God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him" (Proverbs 28:9).

 

2. The Silence of the Tongue:  We've all heard the saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all."  This is actually a biblical principle!  From the overflow of our hearts, our mouths speak (Luke 6:45)!  This is another reason we need to be STILL.  Being still promotes faith, discernment and purification!  When we are pure, our hearts are pure, which means our words are pure!  Be careful what you say, because "death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits" (Proverbs 18:21). Proverbs 27:1 says, "Do not make a noise about tomorrow, for you are not certain what a day's outcome may be."  Our words carry tremendous power, and with anointing, can bring healing and peace.  However, without the blessing of the Lord, our words can bring death and chaos.  Certainly, death and chaos (the absence of peace) are not of God.  As Christians, we should aim to fulfill the command of 2 Timothy 2:16-17, which says the following:  "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene."  As believers in Christ, let us edify one another and avoid grieving the Holy Spirit.   

Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!


**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine.  For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com.  If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**

Get Your Mind INTO the GUTter

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely haste leads to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5)

Have you ever gotten yourself into a situation that you felt unsettled about, but did not have enough confidence in yourself to trust the warning signs?  Well, recently, I got myself into one of the biggest pickles of my life by ignoring a host of foreboding signs because I lacked confidence in my judgment and in the strength of God's voice within me.  Through this experience, I realized that discernment AND diligence must be cultivated in our lives daily so that we can know what our gut is telling us.  Discernment as defined by dictionary.com is:  acuteness of judgment and understanding.  Diligence as defined by dictionary.com is:  the degree of care and caution required by the circumstances of a person.

By pursuing God consistently and committing His Word[s] of wisdom to our memories and hearts, we are being transformed into His likeness daily (2 Corinthians 3:18), thus pursuing righteousness, ultimately leading to discernment and diligence.  God hears the prayers of the righteous (John 9:31)!  His clarity and peace surround the righteous!  After all, righteousness and peace kiss one another (Psalm 85:10).  When you are in God's Will, your spirit promotes confidence within your being.  Your spirit, your heart of hearts where Jesus lives, is where your gut feeling can be heard.  This is the place in which the Holy Spirit speaks into your life His will for your life.

TIPS TO STAY ON GUARD:
1. Your ability to employ discernment and diligence is an ability that should not be taken for granted.  Your ability can and will get rusty if you do not properly attend to it.
2. Also, if your spirit is telling you something, and you ignore it, be prepared to suffer the consequences as I am doing right now!  Although the consequences can be great, the consequence of not following the Holy Spirit's promptings are even greater. 

Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives :)


**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine.  For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com.  If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**



 

Pants on the Ground? Tighten your Bible belt!

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."  (Ephesians 6:13)

Let's get ready to RUMBLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  What am I talking about?  I'm talking about arming yourself against the enemy with the Armour of God!  Spiritual warfare is very REAL.  "Our struggle is...against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).  Have you ever tried to get to church on time and caught a train?  Or tried to get to church without having an argument with your spouse, but you just lost it?  Guys and gals, Sunday is the Lord's day, and you better believe that Satan is pulling out all the stops to try and get you to make decisions based on how you feel rather than what God's Word says to do!  But, it's not just on Sundays that the enemy and his demons are trying mightily to get the Lord's children to submit to confusion--it's every day!

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:11)

Part of the scripture in Chapter 6 of Ephesians deals strictly with spiritual warfare, which is something we as Christians deal with on a daily basis, whether we realize it or not.  Do I want to go work out or do I want to stay on the sofa and watch TV?  Hmm, choosing self-discipline over laziness is not temporarily appealing, but it has long-term benefits!  So does learning the Word of God and following His instructions regarding the heavenly realm.  Why should we "wear" the belt of truth buckled around our waists?  Why should we "wear" a breastplate of righteousness?  Why should our feet be "fitted" with readiness that comes from peace?  Why should we "protect" ourselves with the shield of faith?  Why "wear" a helmet of salvation?  And why should we commit to our memory and hearts the Word of God?

1.  Truth:  If we hold to Jesus' teachings, "[we] will know the truth, and the truth will set [us] free" (John 8:32).  God's Word is truth (John 17:17).  When we are free, we are living in a state of "peace that transcends all understanding and are made privy to a guarded heart and mind in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).  We must guard our hearts, for it is the wellspring of life! (Proverbs 4:23).
2.  Righteousness:  In order to avoid confusion, we must strive for righteousness.  Psalm 85:10 says that "righteousness and peace kiss each other."  The very eyes of the Lord are focused on the righteous!  The Lord's ears are attentive to the prayers of a righteous man! (1 Peter 3:12).  In the latter part of Ephesians 6, we are implored to pray!  Let's be righteous, so the Lord will be focused on us and hear our cries!
3.  Readiness and Peace:  Can you wake up one morning and decide to run 4 miles without ever having trained in your life?  I'm guessing not.  Being prepared helps alleviate anxiety and confusion and promotes discernment and wisdom.  Every day is a gift from God; let us not waste it with idleness, which encourages gossip and nosiness (1 Timothy 5:13).  The Bible commands us to fix our eyes on all things noble.  His Word is the truth.  Knowing God's Word equips us with truth, which sets us free, and infuses us with peace!  The enemy cannot compete with God's peace.
4.  Faith:  We are to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  "To the faithful, [God] show[s] [Himself] faithful" (2 Samuel 22:26).  In Galatians 3:11, we learn that "the righteous will live by faith."  Basically, if you are pursuing righteousness already, then living by faith will fall into place.  Knowing God's Word and knowing your identity in Christ will increase your faith.
5.  Salvation:  Nothing I have written means anything if you are not born again in Christ Jesus.  Romans 10:13 says that if you call on the name of the Lord, you will be saved.  Once you are saved, all of the words on the pages in the Bible suddenly start to make sense--more so than ever before!  Your salvation is made possible by the grace of God.  You cannot earn it.  You just have to receive it.  When you value your salvation, you will begin to crave the Word of God so that you can be prepared to fight the powers of darkness that war against you daily.
6.  Word of God:  "The Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).  All the Holy Spirit needs is a minute portion of the heart to be softened, and the spirit can penetrate a person's life.  What better way to defeat Satan than planting seeds in a nonbeliever's life?  Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives :) 

**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine.  For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com.  If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**

Mercy Mercy Me

Micah 6:8

"Mercy mercy me.  Things ain't what they used to be, no, no," Marvin Gaye once sang. Amen to that!  God has brought me so far in such a short amount of time.  God loves us the way we are, so much so, that He does not intend for us to stay that way!  Boy, do I love me some mercy :) However, notice that in conjunction with loving mercy, God commands us to act justly and walk humbly, as well.  That can be hard to do sometimes--a lot of times! But we can't expect to reap benefits without sowing some effort!  I like to say that God helps those who help themselves! For instance, you will reap the benefits of feeling better physically if you adjust your eating habits, exercise, drink water, have a regular sleeping schedule, go to the doctor when necessary, take your medicine/s as prescribed, etc.  If you do the same thing over and over again, but expect different results, you will surely go insane!  So, God guides His children by giving us 3 concise, simple to remember (notice I did not say simple to do) steps to achieve peace!  

1. How do we act justly?  Remain impartial and know that God is the ONLY judge.  He will "avenge the wrongs done to [us]" (1 Samuel 24:12).  Deuteronomy 32:43 says that, "he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people."  Romans 12:19 is my favorite verse concerning God's retribution for His children:  "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge: I will repay,' says the Lord." That makes me feel so loved, secure, and treasured.

2. What does it mean to "love mercy"?  It's a strange, very seldom heard mandate used in today's society.  Well, we know that God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).That means we are to accept His mercy, love, and forgiveness daily without feeling the need to produce works in exchange for his FREELY given gift that CANNOT be earned.  In today's world, everything seems to be give and take.  It's almost as if we have turned cold and selfish, feeling that we DESERVE things "just because".  I'm sorry to knock us off our soap boxes, but that just isn't the case.  The mere fact that Jesus died on the cross for us alone is enough to sustain us for the rest of our days on Earth.  Mercy is just a bonus!  So, be grateful and love mercy!  Don't ever be too proud to accept a gift from God, which leads me to my final point.

3. How do we walk humbly?  One way to start walking in humility is to meditate on the Word of God so that you can learn how to be more like Jesus.  God gives grace (another FREE gift) to the humble.  I don't know about you, but I really appreciate God's grace and mercy each day. Sometimes, these divine gifts are the only things that get me through the day.  Approaching God's throne of grace with a quiet confidence will provide us with grace and mercy to persevere and finish the race (Hebrews 4:16).  To approach any person of authority seeking grace and mercy, you must be walking in humility.  Pride brings forth disgrace, but humility brings forth wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).  The Bible says that the Lord knows the proud from afar (Psalm 138:6).  Great Scott!  That is a scary revelation! Instead, let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!

 "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine.  For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com.  If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**

Are You Offended by Easily Offended People?

"[Love] does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."  (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)

Okay, so I know that most of us have heard parts of the above verse and others in Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians read at weddings at least once, maybe a thousand times.  It is so over-recited that it has begun to seem trite, archaic, and melodramatically idealistic.  In fact, I went to a wedding three nights ago, and guess what verses were read?!?!  However, for some reason, it really resonated with me this time.  Why?  Maybe because I am coming up on my sixth wedding anniversary, and I have been sharpened (Proverbs 27:17) by my husband for almost 2,200 days now!  The "love" talked about in these verses is a relational love, but not necessarily a romantic love.  It can pertain to platonic and familial love, as well.  In the Bible, we learn that people will know that we are disciples of Christ based on our love for one another (John 13:35).  The whole thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians is about love! Verse 13 states, "And now these three remain; faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."  Don't misunderstand me.  Not for a single second am I saying that loving the unlovable is easy.  Loving the lovable is not even easy all the time, either!  But Christ does it with us--EVERY SINGLE DAY! 

It's important when trying to be Christlike in our every day lives, that we remember that God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23)!  We are not perfect and won't be until death.  However, we must "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:14). "God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but He gave us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7).  That means we need to make a very deliberate effort to love the unlovely!  How do we do this?  First, know who you are in Christ.  If you are confident in your beliefs, nobody can offend you!  If you are not offended, you are more likely to treat that person the way that Jesus would treat them.  Second, you must exercise profound self-control (a fruit of the Spirit), by "[demolishing] arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and [taking] captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Third, make it a point to stick with steps one and two NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS!  Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!

**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine.  For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com.  If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**