I didn't know that Jude was most likely the half brother of Jesus Christ and the brother of James.
Why don't people ever talk about Jude? I wish I knew more about him...
Either way, he wrote this beautiful "Call to Persevere"
"But you must remember, BELOVED, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, 'In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.' It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, BELOVED, BUILD YOURSELVES UP IN YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH; PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh."
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
My bible says that praying in the spirit includes praying in one's own language as prompted by the Spirit (see Romans 8:15), praying with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26), and praying in a tongue unknown to the one praying (1 Cor 14:4, 14). It is only just recently that I have really begun to grasp what it means to pray in the Spirit. Usually now, before I begin, I will say out lout, "Holy Spirit, please lead me in all that I now pray." I also recently began speaking in tongues. I had been praying for the gift of tongues for some time, and one night, I was having trouble sleeping and I felt the Lord prompting me to open my mouth and start praying. What came out was "a tongue unknown to the one praying" but it was so beautiful and afterward, I slept like a baby.
Oh, the power of praying in the Spirit...it washes us and clothes us in Jesus!
KSW
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Pray & Watch
Matthew 26:36-46 gives an account of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. He purposely chose Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to go with Him in order to watch and pray as He spoke to His Heavenly Father.
As the story goes, Peter and the sons of Zebedee fell asleep three times! Jesus had to get up from where He Himself was praying to remind them, "Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Three times Jesus himself got up from such a serious prayer to Father God in order to walk over to where they were to remind them to pray! He was basically telling them that they were about to need it!
What hit me in a new way this time is that as the story unfolds, there are many opportunities where if Peter and sons would have prayed, they may have played a more victorious role in the story! Peter was the disciple who attempted to defend Jesus by cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant! Jesus had to reprimand Peter by saying, "Put your sword in it's place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
Later on in the story Peter actually Denies Jesus three times! The same amount of times that Jesus asked him to pray & watch.
Oh, the glory and victory and grace and miraculous wonders that may have taken place if Peter would have done as Jesus had suggested.
"Pray and Watch."
Lord, lead us by Your Spirit to understand the importance of prayer and to follow through as you have commanded us. It is only through prayer that we gain the wisdom, discernment and discretion you speak of (Proverbs 2).
KSW
As the story goes, Peter and the sons of Zebedee fell asleep three times! Jesus had to get up from where He Himself was praying to remind them, "Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Three times Jesus himself got up from such a serious prayer to Father God in order to walk over to where they were to remind them to pray! He was basically telling them that they were about to need it!
What hit me in a new way this time is that as the story unfolds, there are many opportunities where if Peter and sons would have prayed, they may have played a more victorious role in the story! Peter was the disciple who attempted to defend Jesus by cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant! Jesus had to reprimand Peter by saying, "Put your sword in it's place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
Later on in the story Peter actually Denies Jesus three times! The same amount of times that Jesus asked him to pray & watch.
Oh, the glory and victory and grace and miraculous wonders that may have taken place if Peter would have done as Jesus had suggested.
"Pray and Watch."
Lord, lead us by Your Spirit to understand the importance of prayer and to follow through as you have commanded us. It is only through prayer that we gain the wisdom, discernment and discretion you speak of (Proverbs 2).
KSW
Friday, February 12, 2010
Alexander McQueen's Suicide Wonderings...
The longer you live, the more people you know who have made the decision to end their lives which leaves us here to wonder, "What could have been so bad? Why didn't they ask for help? What were they thinking?"
The majority of the people that I know, both Christian and non-Christian, do not understand the reality of evil. They don't acknowledge Satan or demons or the spiritual realm of darkness, and yet when someone commits suicide or a brutal murder they are shocked and cannot wrap their minds around it.
It's not surprising to me that details surrounding death of this nature typically involve some sort of demonic worship or activity involved. There is a war going on around us. There is an enemy of our souls who doesn't just want to ruin our day, he wants to destroy us.
One of Alexander McQueen's last tweets said, ""been a ******* awful week but my friends have been great but now i have to some how pull myself together and finish with the HELLS ANGELS & PROLIFIC DEAMONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Satan is a disarmed and defeated foe. Christ's death took away his power over the earth. The only power Satan has, is the power that we give him by allowing him to control our minds and our thought lives.
Ephesians 1:18-19 says, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power"
In Christ, we have spiritual power and authority over and against the Kingdom of Darkness. I wish that Alexander McQueen and many of my friends & family members would have known their spiritual power and authority.
Christ gave us the answers in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
What does that look like on a day to day basis for a follower of Christ? It's easy! You have to be very conscious of the thoughts running through your mind. You see, not every thought is your own. Satan is able to lie to us (one of his names is "The Father of Lies"). That's why, when a thought enters your mind that does not line up with scripture, we are to speak out lout, "I take my thoughts captive unto the obedience of Christ."
Try it next time! Next time a lie comes to your mind like, "I'm going to fail. I'm a failure. I'm depressed. I'm worthless. I'm unloved. I'm unacceptable. I can't do anything right, etc." choose to take THAT thought captive unto the obedience of Christ and then claim biblical truth over yourself. Truth such as, "I am a child of God. I am chosen and loved by God. I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength!"
You will be so surprised at how great you feel afterward. If our thoughts are not based on truth, than our feelings are not based in reality. It is so sad to me that there are people who take their own lives and the lives of others because they do not understand the spiritual power and authority that are available to them in Christ.
I pray for the fashion industry. It's Fashion Week here in New York City. Mr. McQueen was scheduled to show his collection yesterday. There are so many people with so many questions as to how someone so young and talented could have taken his own life. I pray that their eyes would begin to open to the truth of God's word and His deep, divine and glorious love for them!
-For more on the spiritual battle and how to gain victory over the darkness, visit the Freedom in Christ website at http://www.freedominchrist.com
KSW
The majority of the people that I know, both Christian and non-Christian, do not understand the reality of evil. They don't acknowledge Satan or demons or the spiritual realm of darkness, and yet when someone commits suicide or a brutal murder they are shocked and cannot wrap their minds around it.
It's not surprising to me that details surrounding death of this nature typically involve some sort of demonic worship or activity involved. There is a war going on around us. There is an enemy of our souls who doesn't just want to ruin our day, he wants to destroy us.
One of Alexander McQueen's last tweets said, ""been a ******* awful week but my friends have been great but now i have to some how pull myself together and finish with the HELLS ANGELS & PROLIFIC DEAMONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Satan is a disarmed and defeated foe. Christ's death took away his power over the earth. The only power Satan has, is the power that we give him by allowing him to control our minds and our thought lives.
Ephesians 1:18-19 says, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power"
In Christ, we have spiritual power and authority over and against the Kingdom of Darkness. I wish that Alexander McQueen and many of my friends & family members would have known their spiritual power and authority.
Christ gave us the answers in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
What does that look like on a day to day basis for a follower of Christ? It's easy! You have to be very conscious of the thoughts running through your mind. You see, not every thought is your own. Satan is able to lie to us (one of his names is "The Father of Lies"). That's why, when a thought enters your mind that does not line up with scripture, we are to speak out lout, "I take my thoughts captive unto the obedience of Christ."
Try it next time! Next time a lie comes to your mind like, "I'm going to fail. I'm a failure. I'm depressed. I'm worthless. I'm unloved. I'm unacceptable. I can't do anything right, etc." choose to take THAT thought captive unto the obedience of Christ and then claim biblical truth over yourself. Truth such as, "I am a child of God. I am chosen and loved by God. I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength!"
You will be so surprised at how great you feel afterward. If our thoughts are not based on truth, than our feelings are not based in reality. It is so sad to me that there are people who take their own lives and the lives of others because they do not understand the spiritual power and authority that are available to them in Christ.
I pray for the fashion industry. It's Fashion Week here in New York City. Mr. McQueen was scheduled to show his collection yesterday. There are so many people with so many questions as to how someone so young and talented could have taken his own life. I pray that their eyes would begin to open to the truth of God's word and His deep, divine and glorious love for them!
-For more on the spiritual battle and how to gain victory over the darkness, visit the Freedom in Christ website at http://www.freedominchrist.com
KSW
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A New Name
Isaiah 62:2-4
"The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed forsaken, nor shall your land any more be desolate, But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you..."
In the bible, when God renamed a person, it signified a change in the purpose and destiny of that person.
I'll never forget the night that the Lord gave me a new name. I was in Rome, Georgia at a women's retreat. I was on my knees praying to God and I said, "God, I'm not leaving here until you give me my new name according to Your purposes for me." Seconds turned into minutes and pretty soon my knees began to hurt. I finally got up and walked out of the chapel.
It was a very foggy, rainy night and I couldn't see the path back to my room very well. Through squinted eyes, in the distance, I saw a lighthouse. Immediately I knew that the Lord have answered my prayer. I knew that my new name was "LIGHT" and I also knew exactly what it meant. As people were lost and weary, broken and discouraged, I was to shine the light that pointed to Jesus.
At the time I had been burned out by trying to be the dry ground that others landed on and pitched their tents. What the Lord revealed to me in that moment was that I was not the land but the lighthouse.
My purpose in this life is to be a tiny light in the distance pointing others to the one and only land that will save them.
KSW
"The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed forsaken, nor shall your land any more be desolate, But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you..."
In the bible, when God renamed a person, it signified a change in the purpose and destiny of that person.
I'll never forget the night that the Lord gave me a new name. I was in Rome, Georgia at a women's retreat. I was on my knees praying to God and I said, "God, I'm not leaving here until you give me my new name according to Your purposes for me." Seconds turned into minutes and pretty soon my knees began to hurt. I finally got up and walked out of the chapel.
It was a very foggy, rainy night and I couldn't see the path back to my room very well. Through squinted eyes, in the distance, I saw a lighthouse. Immediately I knew that the Lord have answered my prayer. I knew that my new name was "LIGHT" and I also knew exactly what it meant. As people were lost and weary, broken and discouraged, I was to shine the light that pointed to Jesus.
At the time I had been burned out by trying to be the dry ground that others landed on and pitched their tents. What the Lord revealed to me in that moment was that I was not the land but the lighthouse.
My purpose in this life is to be a tiny light in the distance pointing others to the one and only land that will save them.
KSW
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Swift to Hear
Swift to hear, slow to speak...I have been learning about this for the last two years. I started studying the desert fathers. They spent so much time alone with God and they spoke very little. They were so saturated in the presence of God that to spend time with them felt like you were spending time with God. They spoke very little but when they did, their words were wise and powerful and led by the Spirit of God.
At the time that I began studying these men and women, I was the opposite of a desert father. I was a rain forest mother. I was all talk and no listen.
James 1:19 says, "...let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath"
I believe that the desert fathers spoke very little because they were listening and praying.
How many tricky situations, blow ups, conflicts, conversations would be more fruitful if I kept my mouth shut, my ears open, and remained in prayer?
I am not there yet. There are still so many times when I speak and then regret my words. This is always a great way for me to tell if I'm "walking in the Spirit" as opposed to "walking in the flesh" as my mouth runs like a motor in the flesh but in the Spirit of God, my ears are open, my heart is in prayer, and my mouth speaks very little.
Oh God, may I be guided by you today and not carry out the desires of the flesh. Give me the grace and patience to be swift to hear and slow to speak.
KSW
At the time that I began studying these men and women, I was the opposite of a desert father. I was a rain forest mother. I was all talk and no listen.
James 1:19 says, "...let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath"
I believe that the desert fathers spoke very little because they were listening and praying.
How many tricky situations, blow ups, conflicts, conversations would be more fruitful if I kept my mouth shut, my ears open, and remained in prayer?
I am not there yet. There are still so many times when I speak and then regret my words. This is always a great way for me to tell if I'm "walking in the Spirit" as opposed to "walking in the flesh" as my mouth runs like a motor in the flesh but in the Spirit of God, my ears are open, my heart is in prayer, and my mouth speaks very little.
Oh God, may I be guided by you today and not carry out the desires of the flesh. Give me the grace and patience to be swift to hear and slow to speak.
KSW
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Minuet
The Minuet is a slow and graceful dance which is performed with palms facing upwards. The Minuet is a dance of surrender. This dance is the best way for me to describe my relationship with Jesus. I hope that this blog will encourage you in your dance...and that in Him, you will find rest for your soul. -KSW
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