Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. (1 Corinthians 11:2)

 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.          (Psalm 119:105)

I turned on the news just as they announced the “royal birth.” It was a nice change of pace to see happy news, which is a rarity these days. Usually its a parody of evil and endless suffocating and heart wrenching scenarios. So, it certainly was a refreshing change to be pulled away from “reality” to go to a “fairytale” birth. A gift from God a baby…I pray the newborn be blessed with wisdom and compassion, and a strong countenance, which he’ll need in this world.  The traditions of the royal family is charming and interesting. The town crier announcing the birth, in traditional costume and bell was an historical sight. So everyone, regardless of being in the States or not, can appreciate that scene.

Tradition, there’s a lot to be said for some traditions.

 (1 Corinthians 11:2 )- I praise you that you keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. Divine tradition is teaching delivered from God through inspired men. Rather than opposing it, we must obey it as essential to our salvation.  The Word of God has been written through inspired men and is a a must for all His children to be familar with.

Spiritual guidance and discernment is a gift from God, as the Holy Spirit resides in us, we’re able to live a life of fulfillment according to the scriptures, and God’s divine and Holy Word.

The Bible should be taught according to His Word, not mans. The Traditions of MAN should not subtract or add to the word of God. A lot of people follow “man’s tradition.”  Often people follow religious practices that are nowhere found in God’s word. They are different from what God has told us to do.   People may argue that it’s okay because it doesn’t state in the Bible that contradicts their “traditions of men.”  The Bible teaches us otherwise.

Jeremiah 10:23 states that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Since we don’t think like God does, we can’t possibly know God’s will unless He reveals it (1 Corinthians 2:10-13). Knowing this, God completely reveals His will in the Bible, and He warned us not to follow human wisdom.

Galatians 1:6-9     I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.   This is a specific and clear statement of warning, not to turn from the gospel, or the original Word. This is self-explanatory. I don’t need to go any further with this.

Revelation 22:18,19 –  Follow His word and refuse to add to or take from what  He says. Trust in Him and His word without changing the word and abide in His ways.  

If we’re asked to partake or believe in something, we should ask, “Where in the word shows this as acceptable?” If  it can’t be found  in God’s word… then we should refuse to acknowledge or participate in it.

So we must as children of God be aware of what is God’s word versus man’s traditions. We have to be aware and astute to ascertain what is the practice of man versus the practice of God’s word.  

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:8 KJV)

Christ and His Doctrine are the ideal and divine inspriation of which we as Christians build our faith and our lives. Christ and His Spirit and His wisdom are what filters our minds and infiltrates our souls.

So, while certain traditions, such as the “royal birth” are interesting and happy news….or a bride throwing her bouquet of flowers during the ceremony is an acceptable and happy practice, neither one will inflict upon our quest for eternal salvation.

However, the foolish traditions of men and pulling away from the Word in terms of “adding or subtracting” and making up ones own traditions thereby blocking out Christ and His Doctrine, well that is tampering with one’s own salvation.

After all, man is  man…and the world is a symbol of something other than God. If we want to exist in this world filled with much angst, and  joy (such as the birth of the royal baby and babies in general)  we need to put on our full Gospel Armor from head to toe. When we’re equipped with the Word, we can never be fooled or pulled in by the traditions of man. We will be wise and alert and on guard, and protected by His hands of grace.

 Because as it is written:   You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  ( 1 John 4:4 KJV)

 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?   (1 John 5:1 -5  KJV )

 (C) CD Swanson 2013

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 11:42 KJV

The story of Martha and Mary blazed in my mind and heart this morning. Every Christian is familiar with the famous passages in  Luke 10:38-42. Where Jesus entered into the village and Martha received Him into her house.  She and her sister Mary lived there, and while Martha was busy doing all of the preparations for the houseguests, Mary was sitted by the feet of Jesus. She was taking in His presence and learning and listening to our Savior.  And, when Martha approached Jesus in indignation about her sister Mary, stating, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:38-42)

It was Mary that had Jesus’ favor, for she wasn’t distracted by the world, or encumbered by her duties. Mary’s highest priority was learning from Jesus.  Her sister Martha on the other hand, was distracted from what should have been her most treasured and highest priority…Jesus.  Although at that time,  it was the women’s role to serve men in that setting. And, so Martha was full of care and extremely troubled by all the household chores and functions she was undertaking.  She was irritated by Mary’s actions, ignoring her and not helping.  However, when she complained to Jesus, He made her realize that Martha’s focus should be identical to her sisters. Mary’s discipleship,  was eternally commendable and the right  choice that will never be taken away. Hence the eternal  rewards immeasurable.

It’s a hectic world in which we live. Some people have twenty irons in the fire at a time with hardly a chance for a small break. Obligations such as  job, family and other constraints stop many idividuals from focusing on God, which is exactly what they need in order to take on the”world” as it were. It’s good times and stressful times that we need God. In other words, ALL THE TIME.

When we divert our attention from God by taking our eyes from Him, trouble will invariably  enter into our lives. It’s when we lose focus on Him, and when we stray from His Word our situations can abruptly explode in our faces, causing anything but a peaceful lifestyle.  When we let go of our purpose and our focus of God, we can get sucked into self-condemnation, depression, or going off on a pity-pot of woe is me.

God is the GOD you go to…He is our main focus and should remain thus. In Jesus’ own words to Martha, He warned that Mary was doing the right thing, in His eyes.  That He shoud in fact be the basis for our life and everything else will fall into place nicely.

When speaking with friends it’s so natural for me to incorporate God into the conversation. Either by a scripture quote, or example…it’s so a part of me that I hardly realize I’m doing it. The Bible, I cannot say it enough…is God’s way of communicating with us today to HELP us. Everything you need to know is in there. The best advice…Godly counsel, it doesn’t get any better than that my brothers and sisters.

Now, consider all of the above and then throw into the mixture getting to know Him personally, His character and attributes. It truly will be a rewarding experience, and the best relationship you’ll ever have in this lifetime, I assure you.

There are many who go to church and read a passage or two, and feel something is missing, yet feel it’s enough,nothing more required of them as Christians.  But then, they want to know “why they haven’t been blessed, or feel something more.”

The reason is the disconnection.  As Jesus said, “Focus on Him” learn from Him, love Him, worship Him….And, soon the void will be overflowing with His living water in which we’ll thirst no more. And, His word will be written in your heart protecting you and bringing you through life in a rewarding and fruitful way. So rewarding that if anyone says something negative to you, it won’t have a significant impact on your life…because you will be connected to Him in the Spirit and  see things on a higher level.  Therefore, you’ll put your life’s lessons taught by Christ into play…and with His Spirit abiding in you, no man will or could bring you down.

When you connect with God intimately you’ll know as it’ll be reflective in your actions, your thoughts…and your heart will be bursting with love, bringing peace within your soul. You won’t be vexed or troubled, in its place will be tranquility, an amazing phenomena that cannot be explained until you experience it.

Troubled?  Something missing in your life?  Sit at His feet and worship Him. Believe in Him fully and bask in His glorious light in which darkness runs from. Connect and refocus your thoughts and action, and before long you will be filled with a higher realm of understanding and a more fulfilling life~

As for me…I will sit at His feet and worship Him always…Amen & Amen

 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die: Believest thou this?   (John 11:25-26 KJV)

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever beliveth on me shoul not abide in darkness.  (John 13:46 KJV)

My Sheep hear My Voice and I know them, and they follow Me:    ( John 10:27 KJV)

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God speaks to all of His children, but not all of His children can necessarily HEAR His voice.

Some of us develop a fervent desire to know Him better, and develop a higher hunger than the rest in search of His character, and to know Him intimately. To hear His voice is to be blessed beyond measure, and there are so many ways in which to hear our Father’s voice.

The Lord has used various ways in the Bible to get His children’s attention, and to make an impact in what He needed to say.  Our Father is amazing and creative in how he communicates with us.  He’s used many ways to get His message across.  With Daniel He spoke to Him through visions, with Balaam through a donkey, with Peter an example by a rooster…and with Moses out of burning bush.  He is a God who has consistently said, “Listen for my voice”

Sometimes if we’re too busy the world can congest our hearing capacity.  Silence is when I personally hear Him the loudest when I remove myself from the congestion of the “world” and break communication with the outside and listen from the inside out for the voice of God.

You know a friend gave a great example about God’s voice. She said she had a birthday party for her son and invited twenty children to the function. While she was inside making preparations to bring out the goodies the children were talking and laughing. At one point they were all speaking and laughing at the same time, but she clearly heard her son’s voice above all the others.  She was able to discern her own child’s voice because of the bond and connection.

With God, it’s the same thing. When we have the ultimate bond and search and seek to know Him, not just His word, but truly know Him, we’ll be able to hear His word, and His voice. No question about it. We’ll be able to hear Him above the roar of a crowd,  through chaotic surroundings, and beyond any circumstance in the foreseeable future.  Like the mother with her son, a connection and bond exists so she was able to hear her son’s voice.  So, too will we be able to hear Father’s voice when we bond and connect with Him and His character and get to know Him.

There are people who put their time and effort into getting to know “a friend” or a “colleague” and take the time to coordinate a date of mutal convenience. They’ll set aside a special time and date to understand or get to know this person better, or just to spend time with them to have a good time.  My question is: Shouldn’t we do this for God?  How much more important is our Father, our Abba Father who has created us, and loves us beyond all measure.

His voice is everywhere.  His Spirit is within and His light shines forth as we go through each day. His voice is in His Bible, He speaks to us there, He warns us, guides us, instructs us, and gives practical knowledge in which we are to implement daily.

His voice speaks to us when we know that something is “ultimately wrong” that we shouldn’t go forward with a  decision that previously sounded like the thing to do.  It’s that gentle urging that calls us and alerts us to “the danger” of a situation, it’s the discerning aspects of our everyday promptings.

His voice is encased in our heart and our mind as we sit in silence meditating. It’s His voice that will speak and quicken a word that suggests we “explore” and wait to see what His next word will be.

His voice is in our hearts, and His love surrounds us fully and completely, that’s His voice as well.

Get to know Him, take the time to sit with your Father. Enjoy His company, and drink in His essence…receive Him and know Him fully.  And, one day…like the mother with her son, you’ll hear His voice above the roar of a crowd, the same way you’ll hear it in the silence of your room…

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The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.  (Psalms 29:3 )

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The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” (Psalms 29:9)

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When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice  ( Deuteronomy 4: 30)

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only if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. ( Deuteronomy 15: 5)

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Today you have proclaimed the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice.  ( Deuteronomy 26: 17)

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But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’   ( Jeremiah 7:23)

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“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit is Power, and in order to receive and utilize His Holy presence fully it MUST be for all the right reasons with a heart of faith. And, most important, it isn’t US that has the power, but GOD who is releasing His power in us, it’s through His glorious name that things happen.

In Acts, when  Simon saw what was happening through the laying on of the spostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money. Stating, “give me the power also, that anyone on who I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:19) He thought that this gift from God could be bought with money.  He lost all sight of the reasons, the true meaning, the fullness in which His love means to express.  Peter quickly explained, most probably in gentle yet admonishing tones, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of GOD could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter for your heart is not right in sight of God.” Acts 8:20-21.

There are dozens of “Pastors” on late night television who for a “modest donation” promise healing and prosperity in the name of Jesus…I see it ALL the time. Just last night, one of these “show me the money” preachers was screaming into the television “Come on there is a healing for you and a blessing for you in the Spirit’s name, just send your contribution and it will happen, the Lord will pour out His blessings upon you.”  These preachers are capitalizing on people’s frailties and vulnerability as they seek “funds to release that power!”

The early church capitalized on “Merchandising” confusing the power of God with money.  1 Timothy states, “money is the root of all evil“ a passage that is totally misinterpreted so many times over. Money is not the root of all evil, but rather… LOVE of money is.  God wants his people to be blessed in all things, including being free of monetary debts. But, not to be IN LOVE with money.

As Jesus so clearly stated in Matthew 6:24 , “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and Love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. ”  Serve GOD and all the rest will fall into place, LOVE God essentially is what this is saying.  God must be first in your life, not money. All else is secondary.

Power in our life, the right kind of power God’s Spirit.  I want God’s power to be a witness for God. The Living Water…the real power.  The enemy comes around in many forms to masquerade,thereby fooling people into believing that his power is the right one, when of course it’s fake.  The enemy has a “certain amount of power in the world” and  uses subtle ways to entrap and get God’s children confused.  You know  lack of knowledge is trouble…When we aren’t equipped or aware of things, the enemy can slip in readily.

Sometimes, he is so subtle that people may think it’s harmless and get sucked in. Sometimes it can be something cute, and people haven’t any clue that its the enemy. So always be aware…for remember the roaring lion is wandering around seeking to devour you.  But, with God’s word you are more than equipped.  With His Holy Spirit you are able to take down any LION. Signs and wonders. The enemy loves to lie and deceive, and he’ll bring about many things, in various ways to fool and destroy. But, with GOD on our side, and HIS word, we are protected.

So the power of the Holy Spirit has been recorded throughout the New Testament, and Jesus said He’d never leave us…that He’s with us always even until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) How glorious is that? Praise God.

Peter went on to tell Simon, in Acts 8:22-25 “Repent therefore of this your wickedness and pray God is perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me. So wen they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”

God calls us to be His ambassadors in this world. We’re to introduce those who don’t know Jesus to His amazing love and grace of God available to them in Christ. We become truly effective and viable witnesses only through the power of the Spirit. And that is something that cannot be bought…that my brothers and sisters is priceless!

 “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”

(Matthew 28:18-19) 

 Outside picture courtesy of Scott Birge…as always, “thanks Scott.”