Psalm 27

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seekHide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

:|:|:Taking the Step for His Names Sake... part 2:|:|:

I mentioned that yesterday that the LORD wasn't done with me yet...and He wasn't done with me yet today either... so I got a few more insights. (I used the picture above because of the path!)


Psa 25:8-128.Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9.The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11. For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12.What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
I liked the contrast  of verse 8 and 9. If you notice, in verse 8, it says, "...therefore will he teach sinners in the way." Notice the word "in."    The sinners, the Hebrew word meaning "guilty, offender," (not under the blood) will be convicted in the way. "In the Way" in it's original Hebrew means life's journey, a path,  a mode of action, a course of life. It's not meaning he's going to show them his will for their life as you would think when you read it, it means that He's just going to convict them somewhere in their life of their sin.
But Verse 9 says that he will teach us his will. We are only teachable if we are meek, as the verse implies. The same word is used for both verses, that is significant to add. But as you study the word sinners, you will notice that the LORD is not meaning the exact same thing. (is this making ANY sense???)
"Teach" are different in both verses. much different! "Teach" in verse 8, means "pointing out, lay out." The LORD will lay out before the unsaved that their ways aren't working. The LORD will point out to them that what they are doing they are going to have to answer to someday
However. In verse 9 it means "instruct, teach." The word Rod is used as an incentive. So... If we are not willing to go do what the LORD wants us to do, The LORD will find a way to help us! And we're much better off doing it the first time!


         Yesterday I mentioned that when we do not follow the LORD will, the unsaved will count that against us. Those were my words, but this morning I found a verse that backs that up in Ps 115:1-2
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
  
And here are some more verses that I happened upon (ok. I dont really believe I happened upon them. God gave them to me!)

Psa 85:13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps. Psa 31:3
Psa 31:3   For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

The LORD obviously stresses that it's not just for us. Its for his name's sake. There seemed to be a direct corrolation between these words:
• path
• steps
• righteousness
• his name's sake

Alright... until next time... 

Taking The Step- for His Name's Sake

   Have you ever been reading your Bible Saturday and the next day you'll hear a sermon preached exactly on that? Or maybe some type of problem in your life that was brought to light during the week is touched on Sunday? Well, its happened to me lots of times... and this Sunday was just an example. But on this case, what Pastor preached on Sunday directly correlated to what I read the next morning. He preached on "Taking the Next Step in Your Life."
  The text was Jeremiah 10:23- "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. "
  These are his points:

1.  God really, really cares about you. Because he does, he wants you to take the next step because he knows whats best for you!Eph 2:4- But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, and the whole cha. of Psalm 139! A serious love chapter! God put you here now because you are playing a key part of history. (HIS STORY)
2. God put you here because you are a key part of history.
3.  The fullest, most meaningful life you can live is the life God has for you! there is no such thing as an easy life! Have you ever heard of the Psalm: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD and he delighteth in his way?" The man (you) have to step first- and after that first step, you can delight in it. You can delight in what God has done in your life. But you have to take the step first- or you won't be able to get to the point in your life where you can say, "Wow LORD. Look what YOU have done in my life! Look what you have accomplished! Look how much has happened since that first step." 
4. The only way to get from here to your life purpose is by taking the next step God has for you to take.

   I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.  Prov 4:11-12
   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. Prov. 3:5-6
   For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48:14
  The next step might not be easy. It could be rather difficult. But you  can't take step no. 2 before you take No. 1. And God is very strict about the order of things- you can't (shouldn't anyway) get baptized before you are saved. So step No. 1 in your life may not be easy, but when you look back you will delight that you did! A Key verse for this is Psalm 119:105: "Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." You may not see the reason for this first step. But God will give you direction. You may not see how this may change your life; but the verse says a Lamp unto my feet. Just enough for that one step you need to take- then the next one- and so on.

        5. Satan doesn't care what step you take as long as it isn't the step God has for You!

        6. If you spend you life worrying about what steps other people are taking- just worry about yourself!
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. John 21:21-22

        7. Take the next step no matter if it's dangerous or disturbing.

        8. Regardless of how many steps you've missed or messed up, God has a next step for you today!
       This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lam. 3:22-24

                                            

    That was his sermon.  The next day was the 23rd, and I opened my Bible up to Ps 23. I thought, "Oh boy, gonna get a lot out of this one..." mostly because I thought that I knew that chapter so well, would I get anything out if it??? But I did. I read it, then went over it again several more times trying to find something that would be different, something I haven't really noticed  before. All of a sudden, the words, "...He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" leapt out at me! I thought "Wow! 'He leads us in the paths of righteousness' is close to what Pastor was preaching yesterday, and he leads us through those steps, through those paths- not just for us, not just for our good,  etc, but for his own name! For himself! So you yourself can say, 'Praise the LORD" and so other believers can taste and see that the LORD is good- and then follow him! And Unbelievers, too, they will see the mighty work of the LORD in our lives and spirit, and they will believe in HIM!" How marvelous is our God!

  Well, the LORD wasn't done showing me things yet that morning. I got done reading Ps. 53, 83, and 118, and I went to Psalm 143. Another thing awaited me there:

   v. 8: "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning..." I stopped there and thought, "This is why we search the scriptures in the morning!" and I read on... "For in thee do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." Oh wow, another one about walking, stepping, going in the way and will of the LORD! But he still wasn't done; I read on and got to verse 11.

    "Quicken me, O LORD, FOR THY NAME'S SAKE; for thy RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE bring my soul out of trouble." The LORD clearly emphasizes that not only do we walk/step in his will for ourselves- but for our Savior. For his names sake. We do the LORDS will because we don't want his name blemished. 

We don't want someone saying: " Did you see so-and-so? She got saved, was convicted to do this- (Anything- be a missionary, start discipling- or even little things- serve in the nursery, clean the church bathrooms... anything... you get the point!) "... and she didn't do it and left the LORD!" For shame, For shame! Unbelievers say, "Well, if that's what the LORD is doing in your life- I don't want nothin' to do with it!"  His precious name and his holy work will be blemished if you don't take the next step in your life!

   (Please let me know if this post made any sense!!! LOL! sometimes it seems as if it was just a bunch of ramblings on and on!!=D)

   

Delighting in HIM...

     I was challenged by this verse about six months ago and this is fully the reason for this blog. I was studying that verse...
I was sitting at my desk about ten or eleven pm reading, came across it , and was just thinking about it, when all of a sudden, I thought, " Ok. We have our desires answered when we are delighting in Him. But what does the Lord desire for us to desire??" I looked up all the references in the back of my Key Word Study Bible, (Except for one- about Samuel and David) and wrote all the references down, read them, and categorized them. Later, I got on e-sword and did a deeper search on the word desire. The Lord tells us what and what not to desire, and confirmations of right and wrong desires. This was one of my first really big rhemas.
One more truth about this verse is the fact that when we are delighting in the LORD Jesus Christ- he will replace our desires. We should notice that our desires and wants are no longer there. When our desires are replaced by what the Word says to desire, then we know we are Delighting in the LORD Jesus Christ! (I had originally posted this one on my A Girls Life In Jesus blog, but I changed the URL and made it into photography. So I just did a copy/paste thing!=D)

◊Desires◊
Did you know the God has some things that he wants us to desire? And things he doesn’t want us to desire? As well as promises of good things if we desire the right things?
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Psalm 37:4

Right Desires
• Desire the LORD.
Psa 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
Psa 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
2Sa 23:5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

• Desire the LORD's name.
Neh 1:11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
Isa 26:8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 24:1

• Desire the Law of the LORD
Psalm 19:7-10
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.


• Desire Wisdom
Proverbs 3:13-15
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

• Desire The Word of God
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

• Desire Mercy
Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

• Desire Spiritual Gifts
1Co 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

• Desire Fruit in Your Ministry
Php 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

• Desire to Pray for Israel
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

• Desire to "faint not at tribulations"
Eph 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

• Desire To Work
Job 14:15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

• Desire to Reason With The LORD
Job 13:3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

• Desire Heaven

Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.





Confirmations of Right Desires• Psa 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire
• Psa 145:16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
• Psa 145:19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
• Pro 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
• Pro 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
• 2Ch 15:15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.
• Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Wrong Desires

• Desire NOT to be covetous
Psa 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

• Desire NOT Revenge
Psa 70:2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

• Desire NOT not to work
Pro 21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

• Desire NOT the things of a wicked person
Pro 23:6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

• Desire NOT to be like a wicked person
Pro 24:1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

• Desire NOT to be first
Mar 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

• Desire NOT to be in bondage
Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Confirmations of Wrong Desires
Psa 112:10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

The Reservation

John 5:19-30
(19) Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
(20) For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
(21) For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
(22) For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
(23) That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
(24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
(25) Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
(26) For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
(27) And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
(28) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
(29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
(30) I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.


If your reservation is not in heaven, if you can't remember a time in your life when you haven't trusted Christ as your Savior, and recognized Him only as your way to heaven, and if you are not sure that when you die you will go to heaven, then you need to trust Him NOW!!!
John 5:28 says "(28) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,"
Do you know what hour that is? No one does, and that is why you can't delay now. You can't put it off till tomorrow, because in Proverbs it says that you know not what the day may bring forth.
Also, your good works can't get you to heaven. (Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.)
It is not of baptism:
Acts 8:36-39 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him, The ONLY thing that gets you to heaven is God's GRACE!
I pray that you acknowledge your sin, and believe on God, and his Son, Jesus Christ, whom he sent to earth to die for your sins. You simply could not make a better choice. All you have to do is BELIEVE! It's that simple! (Act 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...")
If you have made that choice to believe, let me know at rlyates@gmail.com ! And if you would like more information on growing in the LORD, go to http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/.
~Ashlyn
Ps...If you chose to reject Him as your Savior, then I must say that your reservation is for Damnation... which is HELL-A REAL PLACE!


   **** This is from a page on my older blog. I figured this would be a good thing to post for today!!!

My First Post! On April Fourth!

My New Blog... First Post!
   April Fourth is the date I got saved! The year was 2004, it was a Sunday Afternoon around Two or Three o'clock...