The Worship of Heaven

Revelation gives us a glimpse of the worship in Heaven:

Revelation 4:10-11
“the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Revelation 5:8-10
“…the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb,…And they sang a new song, saying:
You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:11-12
“…and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Revelation 5:13
“And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Revelation 7:11-12
“All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Revelation 11:16-18
“And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying:
We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Revelation 15:2-4
“…and those who have the victory over the beast,…They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”

Revelation 22:9
“Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

Amen

One Day Ladies, one day, we will join our voices with those of the elders and angels and worship Him, forever. Let’s make certain we have lots and lots of practice.

Diane

Under the Influence

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When someone is “under the influence” it’s not usually a good thing. But as Christians we should be under the influence….of the Holy Spirit that is!

What a comfort and what a joy when we are filled with the Holy Spirit! We have hope, we have power, we have peace and we have joy available to us though the Holy Spirit. What a shame that so many of us try to manufacture all those qualities on our own. The sad thing is no matter how hard we try, we can never accomplish any of this on our own.

In Romans 8:14 Paul said, “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” Being under the influence of the Holy Spirit also means we can rely on the Him for decisions we need to make in our lives in general. We don’t have to go it alone. God has given us His Spirit to help us along life’s pathway.

Wouldn’t it be great if people could point to us and say “Wow, look at her! She’s under the influence!” and they knew we were filled with the Holy Spirit! That is something we would never be ashamed of!

Mary Ann

Redeem the time

There are 1440 minutes in this 24 hour period.
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend thinking about yourself?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend thinking about money and bills?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend thinking negative thoughts?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend thinking about things you want but do not have?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend worrying?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend gossiping?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend grumbling and complaining?

How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend serving others?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend loving others?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend being kind to others?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend being a doer of the word and not a hearer only?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend obeying God?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend walking by faith and not by sight?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend believing God and taking Him at His word?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend resting in the care of God?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend living as if you are in Jesus Christ rather than in the world?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend living in resurrection power?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend meditating on the Word of God?
How many of those 1440 minutes will you spend worshiping Jesus Christ?

At the end of the day will you have spent more time living for Jesus Christ or for self?

Ephesians 5:15-16, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Diane

What do you do with the WORD?

James 1:22- 24 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, (she) is like a (woman) who looks at (her) face in the mirror; for once (she) has looked at (herself) and gone away, (she) has immediately forgotten what kind of person (she) was.”

As a counselor I see many people that claim to be Christians yet continue to live defeated lives. As a Christian there are times I struggle with the same syndrome as Paul – doing that which I don’t want to do. Do you sometimes feel like changes aren’t really happening – that you are not really experiencing all the blessings and victories God promises? I’m going to ask you the same question I must face myself… Am I truly “doing” the word? Am I really applying scripture to my life, or am I just reading and proclaiming it without living it? Below are some verses that if we really “do” them we will find Victory. When you read these verses – ask yourself… what am I really doing with these truths?

God’s mercies are NEW every morning: Lamentations 3:22-23 We are more than Conquerors: Romans 8:37-39 God is in CONTROL: Jeremiah 31: 11 We have a Spirit of Power: 2 Tim. 1:7 Our Flesh Crucified: Gal. 5:24 Sins are no longer Remembered: Isaiah 43:25 I Forget that which is Behind: Philippians 3:15 The battle is God’s: 2 Chronicles 20: 15 I will fear no evil: Psalms 23: 4-6 Christians are VICTORIOUS: 1 John 5:4-5

That’s just the start – there is so much more. My prayer for you is that you (and I) will each day learn how to truly TRUST IN THE LORD. (Prov. 3:5-6)

LDJ

What is Truth?

What is Truth? In this Twenty-First century we hear it all the time “All truth is relative. What is true for you isn’t necessarily true for me.” In our politically correct society each person’s “truth” is to be respected and accepted as “truth”. But how can this be? How can I, as believer in the One True God and in Jesus Christ His Son, accept all other so called “truth” and remain silent when I hear the lies of Satan or when my faith is challenged?
I don’t know about you but I grow weary with all this politically correct “truth”. I either have to reject the Truth of the Bible or accept it….it’s all or nothing. Jesus said “I am the Way the Truth and the life. No one comes to the Father accept through me.” John 14:6. I can’t comprise or pick and choose the Scriptures that I think God “really intended” for our modern day. The Bible leaves no room for compromise of Truth.
2 Timothy 3:16 tells us “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Peter 1:21, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is God’s Word given and preserved for us so that we would not have to guess what Truth is or be easily led astray. We don’t have to guess about the character of God. We don’t have to guess about what God expects of us, the way of salvation and eternal life. It’s all in there…in the Book. When I think about the Bible I’m truly in awe of it and of my God. God inspired men to write (40 different authors) at different times in history, over a 3,000 years plus time period, and yet the message remains the same. Who but an eternal and all knowing God could do this for us?
If I truly believe this, I would never sit back and keep silent. I would never use politically correct language but would say along with the Apostle Paul “I am not ashamed of the gospel…” (Romans 1:16) I pray for strength and courage for me and for you that we might always stand up for Truth and never compromise our faith.

Mary Ann

A Moment Frozen in Time

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24, NIV).

We recently visited Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, the home of the late Elvis Presley. He died on August 16, 1977.

While we were there the unveiling of the special edition of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle was unveiled. The special, limited edition of thirty bikes was presented to help raise money for diabetes research and to commemorate thirty years since Elvis’s death.

The man who purchased the first bike of the limited edition was present at the ceremony. He paid $60,000 for the bike and donated $40,000 for diabetes research. He spoke very briefly, but I will always remember what he said. “On August 16, 1977, as I walked into the house, I found my mom who has diabetes, crying. When I asked why she was crying, she told me ‘Elvis is dead.’ That was a moment frozen in time for me. Today, I have bought a moment in time.”

Most of us have moments frozen in time. For me, now I know I am revealing my age, the moments started when FDR died, when Kennedy died, when MLK died, and many more. Of course the deaths of my boys, Jimmy, Nathan, and Ethan, will always be frozen in time, but there is one more moment, even more special, I trust we can all remember.

Can you remember when you received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If for some reason you don’t remember; perhaps you have never actually invited Christ into your life, or you just can’t remember for sure when it actually happened, make that moment right now. I was only four years old. That is more than 65 years ago, but I still remember kneeling with my mother in the hallway of our home. That is a moment most definitely frozen time, and I didn’t have to buy it. That moment is free.

“Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2, NIV).

Marilyn Heavilin

Sticks and Stones

It’s all about sensitivity. Remember the old phrase we used when we were kids: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” But in fact names DO hurt us, and sometimes much more than any broken bone ever could. You see, broken bones will mend with time, but words spoken in anger or frustration sometimes leave scars that never heal. Oh we may say we are OK, or all is forgiven, but many times those scars run very deep and often rise to the surface in times of yes – anger or frustration.

And, of course, leave it to us human beings to be sensitive to all of the things that don’t matter for eternity. Yes, the unkind words hurt, the thoughtless comments wound, and we agonize over those things. But what about our sensitivity to our Heavenly Father? How careful are we that our thoughts, words, and actions don’t wound and grieve our God, who continues to forgive – and forget – time after time. We allow ourselves to hold on to those old feelings and nurture and feed them until we truly have made mountains out of molehills. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12).

Think about it – as far as the east is from the west. A space that cannot be measured, a space that is limitless – and that is how far our sins are taken away from us. Talk about “out of sight, out of mind.” When God looks at our sins, all He sees is the blood of His beloved Son covering every part of them. Nothing is left to stick out and
mar the view of our sinlessness before our God.

So the next time you are tempted to give in to the sensitivity and hurt feelings game, think about what God has forgiven you. How He looks at you and only sees you as spotless under Christ’s blood. That should cause us to forgive and not dwell on the perceived wrongs that have been done to us and rejoice that because of Jesus’ sacrifice all is truly and forever forgiven.

Lynn R.

Happy 2nd Anniversary to our Victory Call team!!!

The Law of Love V

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13

I know this week of Victory Calls have been straight forward talk on a sensitive subject. I need to warn you today’s will be the toughest yet.

For many of you reading this, the topic may be foreign to your thinking but I assure you it is a very real issue. I want to talk today about the power a woman has via her body.

Some women dress sensually to attract attention. For a few, it may be perfectly innocent but I am going to suggest (and you may choose to disagree) that for the majority of these women they are dressing with intention. I don’t mean that every day they get up and say, “Today, I’m going to turn heads”, but rather the selection of clothes in their closet betrays their heart.

I gave very little thought to this whole area before I came to AK. Through the ministry to hundreds of wives, I have made some observations and offer this conclusion: Women enjoy the sense of power they get from turning men’s heads. It feels good to be noticed. Now, I’m not talking about all women, I’m talking about women in general. You may be quite offended by my conclusion but in the world of counseling I live in, it is very real.

Is there really power? Whatever you want to call it, men react to women. God made men visual. They are wired to be sexually aroused through what they take in through their eyes. But Satan has taken that which is good and twisted it so that men (in general) are confronted with the temptation to lust.

Let me share a quote from “Every Man’s Battle” by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker (this is written by men to men):

“Males Receive Sexual Gratification Through the Eyes: … We have our eyes and can draw sexual gratification through them at any time. We’re turned on by female nudity in any way, shape, or form. … We have a visual ignition switch when it comes to viewing the female anatomy. … Visual sexual gratification is no laughing matter in your fight for sexual purity. Given what the sight of nudity does to the pleasure centers of our brain, and these days it’s pretty easy to see many naked or near-naked women, it’s no wonder our eyes and minds resist control.”

As I am writing this the thought occurred to me that lust may look different in women than in men. I’m going to throw this thought out for your consideration. Is it possible that lust in women is manifested through their dress and the sense of power to entice? That sense of excitement that can come from showing a little skin. My sister shared an illustration with me from a trip to Wendy’s one afternoon. Standing in line waiting to order the young, well-endowed teen-aged girl in front of her discretely, but distinctly reached into her shirt and readjusted her breasts to expose more skin above her shirt line. This is what men and women alike are faced with daily.

Ladies, knowing that men are prone to lustful temptation, the law of love warrants that we as women, seek to love them by being mindful of our attire so as to be a blessing rather than a temptation.

Phew!! I’m glad this week is over.

Diane

The Law of Love IV

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13

As we have been focusing on modesty this week and seeking to love our brothers by not being a stumbling block to them, I can’t help but think we need to understand balance. Lest you think I am advocating a return to floor length dresses or face veils I want to communicate the heart of love not law. How do we balance proper dress out of love for our brother without becoming legalistic about it?

The difference is in the heart. There is a world of difference between being modest because ‘I gotta’, and being modest as an act of relational obedience and love for Christ and our bothers. One is a result of outward compliance the other the result of a heart of love.
I believe we are called by God to bring every area of our life under the authority of God. It’s not man’s rules or regulations that should be our highest concern but rather the expression of God’s heart in our lives.

Are you willing to take your wardrobe to the Lord with an open hand and let Him sort through it and discard those things you believe are not pleasing to Him? If you are holding on to your freedom to wear what you want with a closed fist…it’s time for a heart check.

We’re almost done, one more day on this very sensitive and difficult topic. Tomorrow is the hardest yet.

Your challenge today is to ask yourself if you are willing to change if God expresses His desire for you to do so. Are you willing or are you dismissing those nagging thoughts? Are you willing?

Diane

The Law of Love III

“You, my bothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”

This week we have been having a frank discussion (more like a monologue) about modesty. Today I want to briefly discuss the difference between men and women and the lack of understanding of each other and for each other. If you are single, hang in there because this is just as important for you to understand as for us “old married women”.

Men are visual. Women are tactile and relational. Men can be aroused by someone they don’t even know simply by the way she looks, dresses, and moves. Women are not so much aroused by the way a man looks but more by the way he looks at her. Sexual purity for men involves discipline with their eyes first and foremost. Sexual purity for women involves discipline with their hearts and emotions.

Ladies, we may not understand how quickly a man can become aroused, how quickly he can be drawn away and tempted to lust, but I believe Jesus calls us to have compassion not contempt. Our lack of understanding does not invalidate the reality of the struggle for men. I know if your husband is involved in pornography, this hurts. Perhaps we can “talk” about that another week.
How does this relate to our theme-the law of love? If we as women seek to understand and to be compassionate, I believe we would be much more mindful of our dress so as to not increase the struggle.

I don’t believe that contempt for people is ever the godly response. Let’s get angry at the culprit-Satan and pray for his failure in this area.

Your challenge today is to pray for understanding and compassion.

Diane