Pleasing God Chapter 5

On to Chapter 5! For the rest of our Book Club study I am going to be doing one video per chapter or a typed review. Right now I am currently working and focusing a little more on my music which is why I haven't been up to date with the blog!

Three things I want to point out in this chapter WALK WITH GOD...

1. FAITH
Kay talked about our faith and how without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Where does faith come from? GOD! She writes, "Isn't it beautiful that the very thing God desires from us, He gives us?" Ephesians 2:8 tells us faith is a gift of God.

How does our faith increase? "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Romans 10:17
We need to be in God's Word! Has your faith been weak and your walk been weary? Have a Bible around and throughout the day read and meditate on the truth of Scripture. You will find your faith strengthened and your walk more alive. The Word of God nourishes you and keeps you and your walk with God alive.

2. WALKING WITH GOD
Being AWARE of God's presence throughout the day. Talking to Him, acknowledging Him, thanking Him, praising Him, laughing with Him. I know we all want to do this more and more and so often we get through our day and realize we didn't pay much attention to Him.

3. IT'S YOUR CHOICE
She says, "The choice to have intimacy with God is yours." James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
God so greatly wants you to draw near to Him. He is waiting for you to make that decision...

Your Desires

What are your desires? Bring them before the Lord. Talk them over with Him. Your desires can be a dangerous thing if not placed in the hands of your loving God. Prayer. It is in prayer that you pour out your desires before Him. It is a place of reality. A refuge from falling into dillusionment. God is reality. Let Him be your greatest desire and you won't wake up feeling so disappointed. I promise you if God is not your greatest desire you will be disappointed. Jesus, it's all about You.

Hello!

Hey Everyone! Sorry for such a long wait! We have moved into a new home and are still settling in. The blog will be on hold for a couple of weeks longer. God Bless you and will keep you posted!

DEPRESSION

Here is an excerpt taken from the CHEQUE BOOK OF THE BANK OF FAITH, a daily devotional book by Charles Spurgeon.

May 4

Victory in Reverses

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. (Micah 7:8)

This may express the feelings of a man or woman downtrodden and oppressed. Our enemy may put out our light for a season. There is sure hope for us in the Lord; and if we are trusting in Him and holding fast our integrity, our season of downcasting and darkness will soon be over. The insults of the foe are only for a moment. The Lord will soon turn their laughter into lamentation and our sighing into singing.
What if the great enemy of souls should for a while triumph over us, as he has triumphed over better men than we are; yet let us take heart, for we shall overcome him before long. We shall rise from our fall, for our God has not fallen, and He will lift us up. We shall not abide in darkness, although for the moment we sit in it; for our Lord is the fountain of light, and He will soon bring us a joyful day. Let us not despair or even doubt. One turn of the wheel, and the lowest will be at the top. Woe unto those who laugh now, for they shall mourn and weep when their boasting is turned into everlasting contempt. But blessed are all holy mourners, for they shall be divinely comforted.

Don't Forget

"And He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while'" (Mark 6:31). Have you gotten to a quiet place with the Lord lately? Just you and Him? "And they all ate and were satisfied" (Mark 6:42). Have you eaten of His Word until you were satisfied? If you've been down and discouraged or feel like you are far from victory, the FIRST thing to ask yourself is...have you spent time with Jesus? Real time. Time in His presence where His Word jumps off the page and into your heart?
If you feel far away from the Lord right now, remember... "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You" (Psalm 86:5). Call upon the Lord...be refreshed in the REALITY of His presence! The more we live day by day apart from experiencing His presence, the more we live weak and hungry lives. We all are going to find a way to meet our souls needs somehow...let's not turn to idols but to the true and living God!
If there is one MAIN THING the enemy goes after...it's your time spent with the Lord. Remember that...

The Right Kind of Fear

Proverbs 15:33 "The fear of the LORD is instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility."
Proverbs 16:6b "And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil."
Psalm 85:9 "Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land."

What does it mean to "fear the LORD"?

In the original Hebrew the word for fear is "yir'ah" -it is a word that means "moral reverance"

The word study in the back of my Bible defines it as this...
"A feminine noun meaning fear. The word usually refers to the fear of God and is viewed as a positive quality. This fear acknowledges God's good intentions (Exodus 20:20). It will motivate and delight even the Messiah (Isaiah 11:2,3). This fear is produced by God's Word (Psalm 119:38; Proverbs 2:5) and makes a person receptive to wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). It is even identified with wisdom (Job 28:28; Proverbs 15:33). The fear of the Lord may be lost by despair of one's own situation (Job 6:14) or envy of a sinner's (Proverbs 23:17). This fear restrains people from sin (Genesis 20:11; Exodus 20:20; Nehemiah 5:9); gives confidence (Job 4:6; Proverbs 14:26); helps rulers and causes judges to act justly (2 Samuel 23:3; 2 Chronicles 19:9; Nehemiah 5:15); results in good sleep (Proverbs 19:23); with humility, leads to riches, honour and life (Proverbs 22:4). The word also refers to the fear of briers and thorns (Isaiah 7:25); and the fear of Israel that would fall on other nations (Deuteronomy 2:25)." -taken from "The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Key Word Study Bible"


I love it! All the wonderful benefits from fearing the Lord. The Holy Spirit has been pressing this on my heart the last few days. God has shown me specific areas where I am not fearing Him. What areas of your heart are hard and in your rebellious flesh you don't care to fear God? Ask Him to show you and put a little fear in you. The truth will set you free. Let's be on a pursuit after God's own heart!

Your Reaction to Temptation

The first video for the Book Club will be posted on Tuesday...just to give you all a little more time who are in the process of getting the book. If you get it later then we started, no big deal...just go back and watch the previous videos to catch up! Again we will only be going through one chapter a week.

This morning this scripture stuck out to me. Be greatly encouraged by it!

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it."

What is the thing you turn to in your flesh when pressures arise? Does the enemy have a "temptation button" in your life that he can push to guarantee a trip up? Do not be alarmed as if this was only happening to you. We all are tempted and battle specific faults and failures. But please do not settle there. Recognize an area of temptation where the enemy always has victory. Search out the scriptures concerning it and cry out to God. He will break down the stronghold. Be persistent and persevere. Train your mind to turn to the scriptures instead of your fleshly reaction. I have a feeling the enemy will reconsider tempting you in that way when your every reaction is prayer and the Word. I know he doesn't want you to do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He Remembers No More

Hello Hello!
I hope you have ordered your book for the book club if you are planning on joining up because we will be starting next week! Here's a little devo taken from today's reading in Charles Spurgeon's Chequebook of the Bank of Faith

He Remembers No More
For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:34) 

When we know the Lord, we receive the forgiveness of sins. We know Him as the God of grace, passing by our transgressions. What a joyful discovery is this!
But how divinely is this promise worded: the Lord promises no more to remember our sins! Can God forget? He says He will, and He means what He says. He will regard us as though we had never sinned. The great atonement so effectually removed all sin that it is to the mind of God no more in existence. The believer is now in Christ Jesus, as accepted as Adam in his innocence; yea, more so, for he wears a divine righteousness, and that of Adam was but human.
The great Lord will not remember our sins so as to punish them, or so as to love us one atom the less because of them. As a debt when paid ceases to be a debt, even so doth the Lord make a complete obliteration of the iniquity of His people.
When we are mourning over our transgressions and shortcomings, and this is our duty as long as we live, let us at the same time rejoice that they will never be mentioned against us. This makes us hate sin. God's free pardon makes us anxious never again to grieve Him by disobedience.

Book Club Introduction

Okay so we'll add a little Magnify Him Ministries Book Club to the blog! Get ready for a good read!

PLEASING GOD by Kay Smith

Click here to purchase the book

Click here to purchase the journal

A Miracle is Bound to Happen

Not cleaver enough? Don't worry about it! I remember going out witnessing in South Florida on the beach with friends late one night a few years ago. We would always run into endless debates about God's existence with so many people. I recall trying to convince a man how God wasn't "in" the rocks and the trees. Hahaha! Anyway, I left that night and God impressed on my heart..."Rachel, you didn't share with him the gospel." Oh yea! Duh! That's what I was supposed to be doing right?
Okay so this is the verse I'm getting to. It's 1 Corinthians 1:17 "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void." Sounds good to me! After I realized how I neglected to communicate the exact message I had purposed to go share, I then made it my goal to not get into an endless debate without sharing the Good News. So, the next day a conversation came up and this individual began to share his "personal beliefs" about God and...guess what? I did it! Hahaha! I shared the GOSPEL. (I don't know if you are aware, but the message of Jesus loving us so much that He took all our sin upon Himself and went through an excruciating crucifixtion to unite us to the Father will make anyone's spine tingle and cause the hair on their arm to stand...whether they receive Christ or not).
In that moment I think the temperature in the room changed. All the "personal opinions" of God ceased for the moment and the direction of the conversation made a U-turn. This person then became contemplative of a love they hadn't quite grasped and a truth that they had to face. God loved them incredibly. Did they really know that? Did their distant perception of God hit a wall? Their intellect was interrupted by their beating heart and desperate need.
Was it me? No...it was the gospel. Just the gospel! Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." The power of God...
Isn't it great how what is the most powerful thing about God, in my opinion, is His love? What a great God. Want to see the power of God in your life? Share the gospel. If you need to, share it with yourself first. Read it out loud if you have to. A miracle is bound to happen. Never heard the gospel? Let me share it with you...

http://www.blueletterbible.org/knowgod.cfm

A Quiet Strength

1 Peter 3:3-4 "And let not your adornment be merely external -braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."

Quiet. Let that word resonate in your mind and heart today. There is a powerful strength to a woman who has a quiet spirit. A gentle and quiet spirit should come from a submission to the Spirit of God and a sensitivity to His activity. A woman of real strength does not have to pour out words of anxiety and fear...she is too busy meditating on the truth of scripture that allows her to trust in God and be at peace.


A woman of God does not have to prove herself with what she knows and how she can handle things...she just IS. She is refreshing to be around. She does not bring tension into a room...she knows her place.
Proverbs 27:2 "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your lips."

A woman of God does not have to try so hard. What comes out of her life is simply an overflow of hours spent in the presence of God. She naturally shares with others what she herself is learning as she abides in Jesus.
John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."

A woman of God does not create problems and thinks she has all the answers. The fruit coming out of her life is that of a peacemaker. She doesn't meddle in situations and spread herself out but is an anchor in the home and is faithful with what God has entrusted to her.
1 Timothy 5:13 "And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention."

Maybe you feel you have to work really hard to be what God has called you to be. Let that burden escape you today. God is calling you to walk in the Spirit. This is the way of the New Covenant.

Galatians 5:22-26 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another."

An Abomination

Hey Everyone! I read a proverb this morning and just thought it was awesome. It put a little fire in me. It's Proverbs 29:27 and it says, "An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked." AMEN! I want to be ABOMINABLE to the wicked! I want the enemy to be afraid and scramble. My God is SO powerful and mighty. He "gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist" (Romans 4:17).
We naturally use our reasoning to talk ourselves out of a life of faith. Why don't we take the truths of WHO GOD IS...think about it, He created the universe with His words...and use our reasoning to talk ourselves INTO a life of FAITH! It is illogical to doubt and not believe God. Really...that's why Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
Lord help us today to have FAITH and use the brains you gave us to meditate on WHY we believe you. If we would love God with all our heart, soul, MIND, and strength (Mark 12:30)...we leave little room for a defeated day. Walk today in the "upright way" and be an abomination to the wicked. To God be the glory!

Sweet Freedom

Thank you Lord! Oh the FREEDOM that comes with not taking ourselves too seriously! Hahaha! Let's take a break today from being overly introspective and examining ourselves WAY too much. Let's just take this day and enjoy the Lord. Take a deep breath. Smile. Relax. Pray. How sad it is when we forget to just love Jesus. Reach out to someone. Send them an email or word of encouragement.
Self-focus and self-absorption is death to us and those around us will suffer the consequences as well. Enjoy those relationships God has given you. Be thankful. Be still and know that He is God. We all aren't good enough, wise enough or qualified enough. But we all know the One who is. We all are saved by grace through faith and help us when we think otherwise!
Last night Luke was crying for me and I went up to check on him and found that his little, one year old chubber thighs were stuck in the crib. They weren't really wedged in, but he wasn't in a position to get them out. I then went back to bed and was trying to sleep but was suffering the consequences of magnified self-examination. Oh how I LOVE Colossians 3:2. It's the EASIEST verse to memorize and it immediately puts my mind in the right focus and perspective. It says, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth." I was feeling stuck and I just had to do the same thing Luke did, cry out for help. God was faithful this morning to give me those scriptures that cut to the heart...and though they are painful...they are life and liberty.
Jesus...YOU are awesome.

A Humble Opinion

Here is an excerpt from Thomas a Kempis that is very direct and challenging. I encourage you to read it thoughtfully and let it's message direct you into the reality of our call as believers.

HAVING A HUMBLE OPINION OF ONE'S SELF by Thomas a Kempis

Everyone has a natural desire for knowledge but what good is knowledge without the fear of God? Surely a humble peasant who serves God is better than the proud astronomer who knows how to chart the heavens' stars but lacks all knowledge of himself.
If I truly knew myself I would look upon myself as insignificant and would not find joy in hearing others praise me. If I knew everything in the world and were still without love, what advantage would I have in the eyes of God who is to judge me according to my deeds?
Curb all undue desire for knowledge, for in it you will find many distractions and much delusion. Those who are learned strive to give the appearance of being wise and desire to be recognized as such; but there is much knowledge that is of little or no benefit to the soul.
Whoever sets his mind on anything other than what serves his salvation is a senseless fool. A barrage of words does not make the soul happy, but a good life gladdens the mind and a pure conscience generates a bountiful confidence in God.
The more things you know and the better you know them, the more severe will your judgment be, unless you have also lived a holier life. Do not boast about the learning and skills that are yours; rather, be cautious since you do possess such knowledge.
If it seems to you that you know many things and thoroughly understand them all realize that there are countless other things of which you are ignorant. Be not haughty, but admit your ignorance. Why should you prefer yourself to another, when there are many who are more learned and better trained in God's law than you are? If you are looking for knowledge and a learning that is useful to you, then love to be unknown and esteemed as nothing.
This is the most important and salutary lesson: to know and to despise ourselves. It is great wisdom and perfection to consider ourselves as nothing and always to judge well and highly of others. If you should see someone commit a sin or some grievous wrong, do not think of yourself as someone better, for you know not how long you will remain in your good state.
We are all frail; but think of yourself as one who is more frail than others.

Esther

"Esther couldn't do everything, but she could do something; and what she could do, she did." -Warren W. Weirsbe

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established."

Proverbs 16:9 "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."

Is God Waiting?

Sorry I have a cold so my voice is a little funny :o)

CONTINUAL OR COMPARTMENTAL?

I hate it when I lay down in bed at night and think..."Oh Lord, I wasn't in continual communion with you throughout the day." I think of how my day could have gone much better. I think of the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit that I was not sensitive to. Why did I miss out? I compartmentalized my time with Him. I spent time with the Lord but didn't stay in fellowship with Him throughout the day.

John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."

How do you remain in Jesus?
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing;" -PRAYER
Psalm 119:97 "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day." -THE WORD
John 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love." -BE IN LOVE WITH JESUS

Abiding in Jesus is anything but compartmental. It's all about continual AND...this is a key to joy. Jesus says in verse 11 that He was telling them these things "that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." Wow! Joy...sometimes it may just seem so far beyond your reach and not something you are able to live in and live with but know that your Father LOVES you and desires for you to have joy. Please remember joy is NOT circumstantial. You may have everything you ever wanted...and still not have joy. When it comes to joy it's all about Jesus.

THE WAY OF JOY -these scriptures are awesome!
Nehemiah 8:10c "Do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Psalm 16:11 (my favorite) "Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever."
Jeremiah 15:16 "Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Thy name."
Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Sneak Peek

Have a sneak peek at my current CD project! Go to myspace.com/rachelpenna

Your Good Shepherd

I thank you all so much for all of your prayers! I am continuing to work hard...there are so many details involved. I pray you are all doing well and I really am so blessed when I get to see you in person...not via the internet! Anyway, I just wanted to encourage you today with what the Lord is speaking to me.

HE IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD
Are you allowing the work of your Good Shepherd to be accomplished in your life? Do you remember what His work is? Isaiah 61:1-3 describes it.
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

Are you brokenhearted? Captive? Mourning? Depressed?

Take some time away and be immersed in the Lord and His presence. Allow the Good Shepherd to tend to you. Isaiah 40:11 "Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes."

Maybe you're always pouring out and neglect your time with Jesus. Is your cup overflowing? Psalm 23 gives very descriptive ways that the Lord tends to us. He makes us lie down and restores us. He leads us in righteousness. He comforts us. He anoints us so our cup overflows! If you feel like you're trudging forward...go to your Good Shepherd so you can live out of an overflowing cup rather than out of a dry and empty one.

Be Blessed
Love you!

Rach xoxoxoxo

Pray for Me

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you all know the reason why I have not been blogging as often as when I first started is because I have been working hard on making a CD! I use all the spare minutes I can, (ones I would otherwise use to write blogs!), to working on this project. PLEASE pray for me! During your time of prayer I ask that you would specifically lift me and this whole ordeal up to the Father. I truly believe this project will come into being through prayer. Every morning in my devotional time God has been specifically leading me concerning this project and it has been a joy to hear from Him and be directed by Him. But in all honesty, the unseen battle in the spiritual realm is pressing on me. If you could please pray specifically for...
*My time spent on it to be efficient and productive
*To be in the Spirit and sensitive to the Spirit
*For God to provide financially for the project
*To have wisdom and knowledge in the decisions we make concerning the CD

Relationships for the Glory of God

Here is a principle in scripture that if we would just grasp it and trust God by faith, we would all be a happier and more secure people.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 "But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away."
Colossians 3:2 "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

Do you live in light of eternity? This world, especially our culture, is absorbed in an "American Dream." They are living for materialism and for each other. God gives the blessing of human relationships but they are only able to be a blessing when the LORD Jesus Christ is sitting on the throne, in REALITY, in your life. You may think in your mind, "Yes, the Lord is on the throne." But is that the reality? As the time is short that we have on earth and the Lord's return is near, has the enemy deceived you and robbed you of labor in prayer, sharing with the lost and discipling others because you have become consumed with making life for yourself here on earth? Have you considered the people that God has placed in your life as people to minister to? Do you seek to get your needs met by them? You will only waste years of your life and expend energy trying real hard only to learn and realize God never created them to meet your needs. This verse in 1 Corinthians may seem radical to you, but let me suggest it to be more logical, practical and wise above being radical. By obeying this verse by faith and using your emotions and energies for the things of the kingdom of God, things that will not fade away, you will remove vast amounts of disappointment, sorrow and tension in your human relationships. Please do not misunderstand and take this out of context...what you sow into a relationship is what you will reap. Your relationships are to be a testimony and witness to the lost world around you. But do not believe the preaching of the world that you have to live like they do. You do not HAVE to be materialistic. You do not HAVE to experience all the joys this world has to offer. The world is living like this because they are seeking what we already have! They are searching for what we have found! Allow this teaching in scripture to FREE you and FREE your friends and loved ones. When conflict or trials come in a friendship allow it to deepen the friendship. God puts us in situations in relationships so we can learn how to live out our Christian faith. The deepest being that of a relationship with a spouse. How wonderfully sanctifying! How beautiful the process can be. When Billy and I were engaged, God very persistently gave us Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." God gives us what we need. He will not allow people and things to satisfy because God is into reality. Do not believe and illusion that we live this out perfectly, but by God's grace alone it is our goal. God alone can meet our needs and in His goodness He does not allow the things of this world to give us satisfaction to our soul. We have the choice to test God in seeking these things to satisfy, but we will be choosing to learn the hard way. Love others and put them before yourself. JESUS IS COMING! The time is short and He is returning soon! Are you ready?????