Christianity Oasis Forum

[Tam]

Mr son, the father said, you are always with me, and EVERYTHING I HAVE IS YOURS
Luke 15:31

[kimberly]

When my heart showed signs of damage during a hospital stay for pneumonia, I asked God to guard my heart. During that stay the hospital reverend visited me and left me a scripture card.

After he left, I read the inscription on it. It said this:

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

So my heart confession is:

"Thank You Father, Your peace guards my heart and mind in Jesus Christ."

And from then I realized, my heart health was related to my thoughts, and to receive the protecting peace of God meant staying close to Jesus.

[comfy]

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart,

with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,

which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

If in our hearts we have the "gentle and quiet spirit" of God's love . . .

this "gentle and quiet spirit" is "incorruptible" > with

God's own immunity almighty against fear and the abuse of worry
and frustration and loneliness and boredom and depression
and hurts and unforgiveness and bitter and raging reacting.

"You prepare a table before me
. . .in the presence of my enemies;"
. . . . . . . . . . . . (in Psalm 23:5)

In the presence of my enemies, God prepares a table before me.

I understand this means that I can be in the presence of any enemies, at all,
and have all that God has for me, of His own table >
an enemy can be any dangerous person, at all, and I am safe.
Enemies can be how I have failed in the past,
how I still can fail and give in to how Satan would effect me,
and my enemies can be memories of past hurts coming back.
But God can keep me from being effected by these enemies,
including how I can be my own worst enemy (o: > > >


in His protection almighty of His love's
"incorruptibe beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" >

I am safe, plus this beauty makes me pleasing to God.

beauty of the lilies
and the daisies
wedding-light

kissing mist
upon the waters
of the harbor

filtered sunshine
sharing caring
warmly daring

glances of the
dancing waves
washing in the foam

t - i - c - k - l - i - n - g
. .bubbles
in my troubles

"in the presence
of my enemies"
I have this table
before me

[Tam]

37 In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

[kimberly]

Comfy, that's beautiful. Thanks for posting that insight.

Tam, that's a mighty, mighty, powerful statement we all need to grasp hold of.

My confession today echoes the Psalm Comfy talked about:

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack." Psalm 23:1

The first 5 words of this verse are the key to the rest. Once I made the Lord my shepherd and began to understand what that meant, He provided for me.

It was tough to give up myself as my own shepherd. I had done it for years....but with poor results. Once I decided He was my Shepherd, and practiced allowing Him to lead and guide, my whole existance began to change.

[comfy]

and not trying to be anyone else's shepherd . . .
I can be critical, and micro-judging . . .
but this is not caring and having compassion in prayer *for* people.

Yes, Tam . . .
"Yet in all these things we are
. . . . more than conquerors
. .through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)

We are more than the conquerors of this world. We do not use the methods that conquerors use; and God's ways get us more than the methods of conquerors get for them.

"It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
.Since any fool can start a quarrel."
. . . . . . . . . . . .(Proverbs 20:3)

I get from this that it is saying any foolish person can start an argument or a fight. So, arguing and getting into wars is not even challenging, if fools can do this. The challenge we need to deal with is how to personally relate with God and share with Him and submit to Him, and find out how to love each and every person. No other challenge can keep us alive spiritually.

[Tam]

He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8


Thank God that no matter where we go ....He is with us. What a comfort to know that he is always by our side.

[kimberly]

Today, all the people I know who are suffering are on my mind. Their pain, whether physical, mental or emotional, or all of those, concerns me.

This is the scripture that comes to my mind:

Psalm 138:8
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever--forsake not the works of Your own hands.

This is what I confess:

Thank You Father, for perfecting those whom I'm concerned for. I'm thankful for Your mercy and loving-kindness towards them. You created them, and you will not forsake them. In Jesus name, amen.

[Tam]

Listen, O Daughter , consider and give ear; Forget your people and your father's house. The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. Psalm 45:10-11

This tells me that I am beautiful. This is my confession today.

[kimberly]

Isaiah 61:3
...and provide for those who grieve in Zion  to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

I like God's exchange program.

"Thank You Father, You provide the answer to grief, mourning and despair. As I read Your Word, You plant in me beauty, gladness, and praise, so that my spirit proclaims Your splendor and righteousness."

[kimberly]

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Hebrews 2:11
Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

"Thank You Father, Jesus is my brother and friend. He came to save me from sin and death, and is a very present help in times of trouble. I am grateful each day for Jesus' love and compassion towards me."

[Tam]

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Fathers house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3