Hello to all my godly sisters around the world!
I hope all is well with you and most of all that you're striving on in Him! I'm going about my serving duties day by day here. And thankful for time in study of the scriptures and being able to share here too. So, I have many blessings to be thankful for. We all have so many! To God be the glory! In everything give thanks! One day our days will run out. I plan to keep striving to the very end!
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
There is nowhere else to go but to He who has the words of eternal life!
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.John 6:68
He is the way, the truth, and the life! I look forward to growing more and more in perfection for His glory and to be more like Him. There is nothing upon earth I desire besides Him and His holy ways. I hope and pray in ten years time I am more rooted and stedfast and unmoveable in the faith. I'm sure all my sisters desire the same and He can help us! He is our hope! We need to be ready for whatever trials may be in our faith walk. We need to be ready to be faithful unto death. Worthy is the Lamb and it will be worth it all! Strive on my sisters...looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith! Let us work with Him as He continues the work He has begun in us! We are His workmanship created unto good works! He gives us the Spirit as down-payment for what is to come if we endure!
I was thinking again about what they call 'devotionals'. And speaking about women's ones as I'm talking to women (but any devotional really). As we are to test all things, how can we test the author and all their doctrines and fruit of their lives to see if they are biblical? How can we find out about the woman's beliefs, how she lives her life etc. Very unlikely as unless we can go and visit them or they have a detailed website, we're not going to know much. So just on that point it would not be wise to take their writings or teachings. Plus writing books for money is selling the truth and are we supposed to do that or give freely?
We already know how perilous the times are and that even way back in Paul's day he said after he left heresy would come in. How do we think it wouldn't have multiplied enormously today. It has. We would all be better off reading only the pure milk of the Word.
And yes definitely a blog can be like a devotional I guess. But I am saying read the Word sisters and you do not have to read here if you do not want to or if you find any error in what I write or believe or how I live (I hope you'd let me know if you did see something wrong and then I would thoroughly test what you say to all the Word.)
I hope though that this blog is edifying...building up...encouraging you sisters to keep pressing on with zeal and joy after the Lord and all His holy ways! I hope it encourages growth in you and perhaps sharpens you somehow. You can test me to the scripture through all I have shared on this blog over the several years the Lord has allowed me to write daily.
For testing, you can find my 'About' page here; an explanation of the good news of Jesus and the path to eternal life doctrine I believe here; my testimony on audio here. And a page on some areas for women here. I walk in the light so you're welcome to ask any questions you have. My life is for God's glory and I want to be in all His ways so am always growing and learning and testing all things as you should test me too...to the Word of truth.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21
I was thinking about some simple tests for let's take Christmas as one example and let's start with the name. 'Christ'...nothing wrong with that. 'mas'...hmm what's going on there...sounds like pagan Roman Catholic mass to me? What comes to mind in general for Christmas...a huge holiday loved and adored by most everyone around the world. Hmm. Warning signs. Search in the scriptures...hmm no mention of it. Oh they say it's just Jesus' birth...December 25th. Um was He born on that date? And where do birthday celebrations come from anyway? And where did Jesus command us to practice this? "Oh we're loving Jesus so much by remembering His birth!". Didn't He say "if you love me keep my commandments"? This is not His commandment is it?
So what happens on this day in general...food/gluttony, drunkeness, partying, music (carols), friends, family, 'fun'/games, gifts/materialism/greed, false religious practices, many pagan practices (like trees, it's origins etc). (And if you go along with this you are like a partaker of these things.) This isn't looking good and godly at all is it sisters? Sounds like a human-centered worldly flesh festival which is an abomination to God to me. You test it yourselves. And everything else.
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.Luke 16:15
Just some points we can think about to test things. If those general points (not detailed) aren't enough to make someone dump it in an instant...they should check their hearts and see if they truly believe in the true Saviour and what He commands of us and that He is the truth and no lie. And we must count the cost to follow Him and lose/hate our own lives and what we want to do for Him. December 25th...just one more good day to serve the Lord for me, the same as May 25th or October 25th.
It does make me sad sometimes seeing all the time and effort and money and even stress involved in the preparation for such a day (and many such worldly vain things). And then it's gone...just like that. But praise God to be set free to have constant joy in the Saviour Himself and not joy in some short lived fleshly pleasures of a day while claiming to be about Him.
Yes I was there once. But then it was dawning on me..."What's going on here? This has nothing to do with loving Jesus. It's what people like not the narrow hard road after truth and crucifying the flesh and the lusts thereof". When people were having eating competitions to see who ate the most you knew something wicked was going on. Reminds me of this scripture...
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:1 Peter 4:3
Praise God when He opens our blind eyes and we repent of all things that are of the world. We cannot serve and love the things of the world and God.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:15-17
I was thinking how Jesus said we must be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom...
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.John 3:5
But He also said we must be converted and become as little children to enter the kingdom...
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 18:3
And that our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees...
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20
And He said this...
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
John 12:25
So just some necessary things for salvation, that as I mentioned the other day, I can't include on say my gospel card for lack of space but instead point people to the Word for the whole gospel message. We live by every Word of God. My gospel card is kind of 'incomplete' compared to the Word but just a tool to get people thinking and pointed in the right direction and with some warnings of the sins of our day. I don't want to see my cards as anything of equal importance to the Word at all.
Just some brief points to get people thinking...or convicted with the help of the Spirit. We are not the ones who change hearts. We can never force anyone to believe/obey. God will reward those who diligently seek Him!
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.1 Peter 4:15
Thought this was good to ponder on the definition of the word that is translated into 'busy body in other men's matters'...
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Matthew 20:25-27
Just the human nature to want to rule over others and yes I think we have all seen very 'bossy' women around in the world. But may we not be like that.
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.2 Corinthians 1:24
May we be humble and meek and have a quiet gentle spirit. Even our Saviour was silent at times. That shows great self control...which we hope to have too. But speak the truth in love and have our speech seasoned with salt.
Press on after Him sisters and I will continue to do so here! He is worthy!
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:11-14
Mercy and love be multiplied unto you,
Sister Chayil
Find the path to eternal life explained here.
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