Greetings striving fellow sister soldiers!
I trust you are stedfast today! And that your heart is fixed on the Lord and living out all His ways.
God blessed me with another day to come back here to edify you best I can. I try anyway and I'm sure His Word is edifying which I share a lot of here!
I saw this scripture so looked up other words about 'pity' and similar.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psalm 103:13
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 5:11
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 Peter 3:8
We are to model our Lord! He is very pitiful (sympathetic/compassionate)...so let us be also!
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Matthew 18:27,33
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Mark 1:41
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
Luke 7:13
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1 John 3:17
God is good and His ways that He teaches us are too! Let us strive to follow after them the best we can in these earthly tents!
Sisters...if you have or know of any spiritual leaders...whether they be husbands or elders or teachers etc...pray for them as we know the responsibility of leadership is very great and also the condemnation is greater if something is wrong. To be honest, I'm glad I'm not in such a high position and although we all are 'teachers' in ways and need to be blameless as best we can...that is one blessing of being a woman I guess! Let us care for all the souls God has put in our path. And we sisters sure can pray even if we can't do much else to help in leadership.
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
James 3:1
And let us be good examples of godly women ourselves and be the best helpers we can.
And you wives...I know you have a divided focus...one on the Lord and one on pleasing your husbands. It's your reasonable service so do your best without compromise, having Sapphira as a most fearful example for us of God's judgment for one sin...including as an example for me of course if I compromise for any spiritual influence in my life or in any way. We see God's mercy at work in that we all are not dead...because we all fail at times but...hopefully...repent quickly.
This scripture should also put godly fear in each and every one of us...
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:21-23
Let us put all our faith and trust in the Lord to perfect all things in us and reward us as we diligently seek His will. No matter how many wonderful works we may do in His name...if we keep sin and are not known of God...we will be sent away on that great day. Reminds me of that scripture in 1 Corinthians 13 about doing many wonderful things without love...it profits nothing.
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:15-17
If we love one another, we will have actions of good works that fulfil that won't we sisters. How can we know about a sister who may have a more important spiritual need than physical and not help them? Ponder that. We know we sisters can be lost so let us care for one another best we can. Help press each other on and encourage each other to be strong and keep going! My sisters are those who don't want to compromise and who are striving on in all truth best they can.
If you're feeling drained from one spiritual battle, sisters...get ready for the next one even if that is daily endurance! We shall have divers trials on this earth...but they work patience. Our Lord is worth doing it all for! He did so much for us...because of love.
While it may be nice to be free from people who are causing confusion in your life (honest fact is that all people do at times unless you are keeping yourself distant from them)...we do not want to be selfish do we sisters. One day we can be set free completely from all issues if we endure and we shall be with the One who is the source of all truth and good! Let those of His family dwell peaceably with one another but sin always causes issues if not taken seriously and dealt with. But there is always hope for the humble! Let us have respect and honour to all who are striving and not treat them, humans who have been made in God's image, redeemed by the precious blood, in any way contrary to the Word. The Lord help us in all these things! There sure is much to put into practice but as we know Jesus said it was summed up in loving God and our neighbors!
Let us be on guard as we all could be blinded to something in us, myself included. Let us fear and be humble. This scripture came to mind...
Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
Proverbs 30:20
Such a picture of pride. We don't want to be flippant and say or have the attitude of 'I have done no wickedness' if we have or to think that we couldn't possibly have some still in us. Lord help us all. We want to have the attitude of the publican who said "God be merciful to me a sinner". Let us walk in holy ways, leaving all sin that we know of searching for any we can't see and asking the Lord to show us.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Let's keep beating our flesh into subjection sisters...being submitted to the Word. Examining our lives always as hypocrisy can be very hard to see if we are not careful. But let's do our best in everything just trusting in the Lord to help us, not trusting in our own strength. Let us cast all our care upon Him!
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
Matthew 15:25
I love that! Let that be us sisters too!
I can't help keeping loving this scripture...
But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8
And seeing how good God's ways are but yet so sorely lacking in today's world. I long to comfort any of my sisters who repent as we know there is great joy in heaven over one sinner that repents! It is indeed a joyous thing when someone's eyes are open to their sin and they humbly repent and seek forgiveness.
My little dishes washing 'helper' strapped on my front...
Provided a little fuzzy warm head to kiss and to keep reassuring him:-) It was a little challenging but free hands when you have many little ones around is a great blessing! Then I wandered around the house with him working on my post here...redeeming the time:-)
Sharing a few older scripture pictures from my stash to encourage you...
I love that...THY WILL BE DONE!! Do I hear an amen, sisters?!
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luke 22:41-43
That's encouraging to remember.
Very much packed in this scripture to ponder deeply...
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Proverbs 25:17-22
In fact, I think every single verse sums up my day in some kind of way sort of though not exactly of course! Interesting.
Yes that first verse...you can come to my blog whenever you feel like it...or not...and I don't have to worry about 'overstaying my welcome' so to speak or something:-)
And we want to try our hardest not to bear false witness against anyone...at least to the best of our human knowledge. Just be very careful sisters.
Yeah you can't put confidence in the unfaithful. Rare to almost non existent are the faithful ones in these perilous times. Only God can do that really in the end but we can try our very best but are so limited compared to Him! I strive to do my best here but compared to Him I am nothing. Let us be faithful to God best we can most importantly.
Singing songs to a heavy heart...we all can have heavy hearts at times...but the Lord heals them over time for sure! Hey I just thought of this scripture on the garment of praise! Ask the Lord for that sisters!
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:2-3
Though there is a place for heavy hearts as it is part of being a partaker with Christ through many trials...through which we are to rejoice. And there is a place for mourning, searching of hearts, and grieving over any sin. There should be. If people take warnings of sin so flippantly...beware. We don't want to be like churchianity who glories in sin.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James 4:8-10
Back to the Proverbs scripture though. (Other good scriptures coming to mind that I just had to share!) That's a high calling of doing good to our enemies...or anyone we are having issues to deal with. The Lord will reward the good we do to others who do not treat us right. Know He sees sisters. Let us humbly go forth knowing we are all capable of failing and that draws us together...it will for those who humbly acknowledge this to each other and who submit to one another in the spirit of meekness. We never want to think 'I am holier than thou'.
We can get many talking points from our days...some days more than others. There are always new things to ponder in His Word or things to learn and such like. I always see trials as being times of much thought and pondering and digging deep in your heart and mind to diligently follow His ways.
I thought of this about perfecting that which is lacking in our faith. Praise God for all the opportunities we ever get to do that!
For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Awesome scripture.
Let's trust this truth, sisters who love Him...
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Remember Joseph sold into Egypt, then cast into prison. God turned it for good. We might not see it right away or ever but let us trust and have FAITH. Faith is about the unseen isn't it.
I leave with this encouragement...
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Revelation 3:11
Hold that fast which we have sisters! That no man take our crown. Hold on tight. Strive on!
Love and sister hugs in Christ,
Sister Chayil
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