Tag Archives: Christianity
Consider others with Love
Do you really understand what tenderhearted really means? Please see this video…
The Way of Man II
(#147 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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A man and his wife enter the church. After the worship, the pastor begins to preach. The wife is fully engaged while the husband dozes off. He tries his best to stay awake. She nudges him when the service is over. They rise up and leave. For many weeks, this same pattern continues. The pastor notices the husband’s tendency and labels the man as disinterested in spiritual matters. He wonders why the man even comes. Others in the congregation have noticed and wonder the same.
Several weeks pass since the last time the man and his wife attend when she appears alone at a service. Afterwards, she finds the pastor and asks him if she could speak with him. The pastor willingly agrees and quickly discerns the meeting will be about her “disinterested” husband. He is ready to minister to her heart as needed.
As the meeting begins the pastor says, “I have not seen you in church for quite some time. How have you been?”
The lady, with tears streaming down her eyes says, “It’s my husband.”
“Yes, I figured that,” the pastor replies.
She continues, “You see. He has cancer. He is dying. He takes his medication and it makes him very tired and sleepy. He was embarrassed about coming and falling asleep so we’ve just stopped coming. He does not seem to have much time left and he wanted me to tell you something. He said that it made him so happy to be able to come and see you, to listen to you preach. You are his favorite teacher. He asked me to thank you.”
Never judge loved one. Never think you know what’s going on within someone, just by the external appearance of things. Caring takes time, and if you are willing to ask yourself the tough question, do you struggle with caring for others? Healing comes from a mind, spiritually redeemed, that can admit, “I don’t really care about other people as much as I should; help me Yahshua. Give me a heart (mind) that cares for others more than it cares for myself.”
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13)
The Word Of Yahweh Is Living!
The Way of Man
(#146 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
Scene: Two men stranded on an uninhabited island.
One man says to the other, “We are never going to get rescued from this island.”
The other man replies, “Don’t worry, I tithe.”
“What?” says the first man. “What does tithing have to do with us getting off this island?”
The tither then explains; “I make a hundred thousand dollars a month.”
Perplexed, the first man says, “So since you make a hundred thousand dollars a month, Yahweh is going to rescue us?”
The tither, looking amused, says, “No, my pastor will.”
Think about what perceptions this gives you. What, if anything, is healthy in any of the mindsets portrayed in the above conversation? Pray and seek wisdom about the true way of the Father.
For the word of Yahweh is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Who Is Blessed?
Break it Down
(#143 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
Note from the editors: take a breath; clear your mind; and enjoy the ride!
Psalm 84:5-7
Blessed [favored] are those [the ones who follow the pattern] whose strength [power, provision, purpose] is in You [Abba], who have [without guessing, moving forward] set [like in concrete, steadfast] their hearts [minds] on a pilgrimage [advancing, moving, no rust, no moths]. As they pass [yes, they leave and move on] the Valley [low places] of Baca [weeping], they [the ones operating in Abba’s power] make it [create a new thing] a place of springs [life, abundance, real reality]; the autumn [falling] rains [Spirit outpouring] also [as well as, doubly] cover [sustain] it [the mind in the valley] with pools [abundant blessing, overflow]. They [the blessed ones] go [keep moving] from strength [trust in Yahweh] to strength [more trust in Yahweh, closer to perfection] till each appears [kneels] before the Mighty One [Yahweh] in Zion [un-obstruction, perfection, a pure mind].
Here is a powerful paraphrase for your edification:
Favored are the ones who follow the pattern, whose provision and purpose are in the Father, who move forward without guessing and with steadfast minds advance. They leave the lower place of weeping by operating in Abba’s power and create something new, a place of abundance; the Holy Spirit pouring out in double portion is what sustains their new thinking with abundant overflow and blessings. These blessed children of Yahweh continue to move from trusting in Yahweh to even more trust in Yahweh as they approach perfection, until each kneels before the Mighty One with a perfect, un-obstructed, pure mind.
A Slave To Yahweh
No Options
(#140 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
One option! That is all you have. Freedom is having no other options. Is this not the true freedom I have for you? You have one choice, and that is to obey My commands! How quickly you test Me. I can hear your thoughts. “If I choose not to do Your will, then I can simply make my own choices, right?” It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But, you would never think like that, would you? Yes, My child, every day; every day you say this to Me. Your disobedience says it all. The death of My Son says it. What do you think the shed blood was for?
Fill in the blanks in the scripture I have given you. Are you ready?
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient [____________], you are [____________] of the one you obey—whether you are [____________] to sin, which leads to death, or [____________] to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)
Yes, slaves, slaves, slaves, and slaves! Read it aloud to Me. Fill in the blanks and read it over and over.
Because I know you and because I created you, I offer this consolation. My slaves are free! My slaves love! My slaves hope! My slaves grow! My slaves learn to adore their Master with all of their being! My slaves learn what freedom truly is! Won’t you come and learn from Me? Won’t you be My slave?
Obedience To Yahweh
Choose This Day, or I Will
(#139 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
Please read Deuteronomy 28:1-12 before you continue:
If you fully obey Yahweh your Mighty One and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, Yahweh your Mighty One will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey Yahweh your Mighty One:
You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
Yahweh will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.
Yahweh will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. Yahweh your Mighty One will bless you in the land He is giving you. Yahweh will establish you as His holy people, as He promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of Yahweh your Mighty One and walk in obedience to Him.
Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of Yahweh, and they will fear you.
Yahweh will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land He swore to your ancestors to give you.
Yahweh will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.
You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.
If you fully obey…
Blessed above all nations.
Blessed in the city.
Blessed in the country.
Blessed in your womb.
Blessed with your crops.
Blessed with your flocks.
Blessed in your basket.
Blessed in your coming and going.
Blessed in victory over your enemies; they will flee from you, in seven ways.
Blessed in your barns.
Blessed with your hands.
Blessed in the land.
Blessed in holiness.
Blessed with prosperity.
Blessed from the heavens.
Blessed in lending.
Blessed as the head.
The key phrase among all these blessings is, “If you fully obey!” Do you see the beauty of it, the “it” being your obedience? Doesn’t it sound abundant? Yahweh says, “I have a special plan for you, a plan to bless you. I only want goodness for you.
Doesn’t My Son’s death prove that to you? I desire and I will have your obedience.
If you would you like to see how adamant I Am about blessing you, read about My curses for disobedience in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
Yes, I will make sure you get your blessings. Soon My child, pleasing Me will be your only desire.
Yahweh Wants Your Heart
I Cry Out For the Little Ones
(#138 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” All men are like grass and their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of Yahweh blows on them. Surely people are like grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the words of the Mighty One endure forever. (Isaiah 40:6-8)
Your Word shall endure forever Father. Yes, You have said to me, “Those who hope in Me will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
I listen to Your whisper Abba; You say, “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths; I will guide them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)
My soul clings to these words, these words of life, these words of redemption. I too am a dad. I need Your atonement so that I might return to my young ones. As I need You, they need me. As You are teaching me to need only You, I too will teach them that they need only You. So many things You need to teach my soul. So many things I need to teach theirs. As I finally come to You in a truly authentic way, a way like never before, bring me back to them to show them how to also be authentic before You. I know that You know what it means to be a Father who gives the only kind of love possible, the love that never fails. How will the little ones know what it looks like lest their dad teaches them? Because Your love never fails, I know that You will allow me to teach my children what that looks like. I rest in that.
Inner Peace Acting Out
Inner Peace, Acting Out
(#136 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
Am I not He who guides and protects you? Did I not appoint Malakim (mind messengers) to minister to your going out and your coming in? (Hebrews 1:14) Let Me be perfectly clear with you. I will work on everything on the outside, while you work on the inside. “Seek first”, My Spirit has spoken to you (Matthew 6:33). Am I not your Almighty Father? Is My strong arm not sufficient to cast away all of your foes? Am I not adequate to orchestrate the outcome of every situation on your behalf?
Listen to Me child! Your decisions; your acting out; and all the things you do to influence outcomes on your own; are evidence of a lack of faith. You attempt to control relationships, dreams, business deals, and the results in all situations and circumstances of your life, shouts so loudly that you cannot hear Me saying, “Be still and know that I am the Mighty One.” (Psalm 46:10) How quickly you act and react. “Please let this (whatever ‘this’ is) fall into place”, you beg of Me, before you even seek My will. All the hopes, all the efforts, “all the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied.” (Ecclesiastes 6:7)
Here is another unchangeable pattern for you. Listen closely! I will work on outside circumstances; you work on the inside. Synchronicity is what I desire. If you believe that I have all things in My control, then you have but one duty. Find out where I Am leading you and follow. I Am talking about inner peace, peace in all your decisions. Will I not tell you all things to come (John 16:13)? Am I a man that I should lie? Let inner peace be the language between us. How quickly you’ve run off without Me in the past. When you get ahead of yourself you are really only wandering away from Me. I Am the source for all good things in your life. I have the answers for all of your desires.
Synchronicity! Slow down and listen for guidance. Only after you hear My voice should you act. When you have My peace, then must you go.
When We Lift Our Hands
When We Lift Our Hands
(#134 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.Sufferwell.org
When we lift our hands to You Abba, what do we really intend? Are we worshipping? Do we really mean it? Is it possible to be filled with fears and doubt, and yet worship? Do You receive the worship of doubting people? How can we say we worship and adore You, but not trust You?
So very few of Your children live a life filled with power and grace. Is this why they hold up hands to You? Are they trying to pull something down from You, something deeply lacking in themselves? I ask again Abba; how can we worship You, but not truly trust You? Find me the man who says he does. Yes, Your Son is our comparison. How many raise their hands begging for mercy? This seems an appropriate reason to hold up holy hands. Is that worship Father? It seems like desperation. Is desperation power Father? Do we really believe Yahshua died for us? At times, it ironically seems more tangible to believe it was for Abraham, Moses or even Paul. Is it really for us?
Where are the ones who are anointed by Your touch Father, the ones who have lost their lives and found You? There are so few. Why Abba? Why? Your promises are for all of us who say we believe, correct? Forgive us for the mixed message we send, as we raise hands with doubt in our hearts. Help us believe, to believe in Your promises through Your Son and Your Ruach (Spirit). Grant us the faith of a mustard seed Abba (Matthew 13:31-32, 17:20). Birth belief in us Father, true belief. Make it real to us so we can move mountains (Mark 11:23). Prepare our hearts (minds) to suffer well for it. Help us to die to “self” so that we might offer genuine worship, for worship’s sake, and also for those who wonder about the faith of all who claim to believe what they so passionately preach, and seemingly, so strongly affirm.
Faithfullness
Enter His Courts and Answer!
(#133 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
He [the one] who believes [clings to, trusts in, relies on] in Him [Yahshua] is not judged [rejected, condemned, damned], but he who does not believe [cling to, trust in, rely on] is judged [rejected, condemned, damned] already [sentenced] because he has not believed in and trusted in the Name of the only [just one] begotten [accepted] Son of the Almighty [Yahweh]. (John 3:18)
Is John addressing the believer or the non-believer? Is the believer not to be judged according to this scripture? Am I not deeper than your surface thoughts? Is this scripture only a warning to the non-believer and not to be considered by those who are redeemed to be saved?
Is belief a one-time event, and then it’s over? Is the need to continue believing irrelevant? I tell you the truth; you need to read John 3:18 again, and consider applying it to your daily life. Is your faith in My Son “finished?” Is it over; or do you need to continue to trust Him for everything? This Word is to be applied every day My child, every day. Every time you operate in fear, doubt, pride or rebellion, I judge accordingly. I said judge but do not condemn, and it is a judgment that is just and appropriate.
Have I not told you that I take no pleasure when my people shrink back? (Hebrews 10:38) Yes, I sit on the throne and you are accountable to every act, every word, and every thought. All of them are judged! This is the perfect pattern to draw you close. Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly (John 7:24). And to do so, judge yourself first. It may lessen the chastening that comes appropriately to all who follow Me. Believe My Son for all your needs, and remind yourself daily that all of your needs are geared toward the redemption of your conscience first, after which your physical needs are met. Each of your thoughts is measured against the sacrificial act of My only begotten. It is no small matter loved one; I take it very seriously. This is the way I planned it; do you believe?
Dying To Self
There are believers in Yeshua, and then there are make believers. Only true believers understand what it means to die daily and deny yourself. Please see this video so you can understand what that truly means.
Me Crucified
(#129 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
It is no longer possible for Me to have personal burdens; My resurrection granted Me the release from My own will. It is a burden for you, the one who still carries a stake that causes this moment in time for us. How many of you have missed what was intended when Shaul (Paul) proclaimed that one message mattered before all others; Me crucified? (1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2) And so I have watched for a couple of thousand years now, and the same story resonates throughout a body (congregation of thoughts) of diminished power and capacity. The promise was that you would do “greater works” than I (John 14:12), and you haven’t. I have come to lift this burden from you, so that we could prepare for a wedding that I long for.
“Me crucified” is not only about My physical death on a stake; it is about how I crucified My “self” will, which was not always immediately obedient to the Father’s will. Nailing My personal desire to the stake, and forsaking thoughts of Myself was a greater death than what I suffered physically. I had to learn obedience. Hebrews 5:8 makes this quite clear; “Though [I] was a Son, yet [I] learned obedience by the things which [I] suffered.”
Every day I learned to say “no” to the things I might have wanted that My Father did not. And also to say “yes” to the things I did not want; “Take this cup from Me if possible.” (Matthew 26:39) At each moment I had to choose to submit My will to My Father’s will. Why would that be needed if We did not have separate wills? Do you see? I crucified Myself, so that you would learn how to crucify yourself (your personal will). This is what I intended with My words, “Deny yourself and take up your stake!” (Luke 9:23) I showed you the patterns of the removal of your personal will, and with this process comes power to do those “greater works” I promised. Perceive everything I did with the understanding that the Father is “greater than I” (the independent self) (John 14:28). I made it very clear! Although We are One in purpose, that purpose is that His will alone be done, and not Mine. He is the One who commanded My death for you. My death is the pattern of how your ego is removed.
Your burdens are leaving and His glory is entering in. Me crucified—so you to could be crucified (Romans 6:3-7). This is the summary of all that needs to be preached.
For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. (Romans 6:6)