July 2010 Newsletter
Posted By cathy on July 29, 2010
Victorious Christian Living Newsletter Welcome to the July 2010 Edition This issue includes: 1 Article From Me Something to Think About Interesting Bible Facts A Powerful Story Favorite Article from My Blog Links to My Other Sites Video of the Month The Awesomeness of the Holy Spirit This is not so much a Bible study of the Holy Spirit but a testimony of who He is and what He has done and is doing now in me. I had read John Chapter 14 about the promise of the Spirit and John Chapter 16 about the work of the Spirit many times, but one day everything clicked together and my life changed dramatically. It was that “light bulb over the head” DING!!! kind of moment when I realized that all the struggling I had done trying to find answers and direction could have been so much less stressful if I had really understood that I didn’t have to do it all on my own. I know that Jesus is talking to the disciples in the above chapters about things they were not able to understand at that particular time. He told them that new truths would be revealed to them as they were able to understand it, but the same thing is true today in our growth as Christians. If we are truly seeking God, we can look back over the last year and see that we have grown. We can read a verse we have read many times before and have new light shed into our hearts because we are in a place to receive that new truth. It is not new to everyone such as the truths Paul received in the New Testament, but it is new to us in our walk with God. I grew up in church, so I knew that the Holy Spirit is present in the life of every Christian and it is His job to guide me in the right direction and help me live a victorious Christian life. I just didn’t understand what a wonderful thing that is until the “light bulb” went off in my head as I read verses 13-14 of Chapter 16. “Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” Since the Holy Spirit is God living in me, He will always show me the truth and I will never go astray when I CHOOSE to follow His leading. The truth comes straight from God, so I don’t have to worry if I have made the right decision. I can follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and have total peace in knowing I am going in the right direction. The people who lived in Old Testament times could believe in God, but did not have the opportunity to have a personal relationship with Him. Only a very few ever got a visit from an angel or received a direct promise from Him, and they might have had to wait for years before they received what He had promised. They didn’t have the Holy Spirit there to give encouragement and comfort when they were going through a hard time or felt they didn’t have the stamina to wait any longer. How awesome that God loved us so much that He made a way so we won’t have to face each day totally alone and at the mercy of the world. If you have asked Jesus into your heart, you have His Spirit living inside you just waiting for you to let Him lead. God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for your sin, so He certainly has your best interest in mind for everything He asks you to do. You must know about the character of God to really trust Him to be the CEO of your life, so make it a priority each day to study the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you read. Faith will be a natural byproduct of this kind of life. You will be absolutely sure you can trust God to give you His Very Best, whatever that may be. Something To Think About Garbage Leslie Flynn tells of a mother who was peeling vegetables for a salad when her daughter, home from college, casually mentioned she was going to a questionable movie that evening. The mother casually picked up a handful of garbage and threw it in the salad. “Mother,” said the shocked girl. “You’re putting garbage in the salad.” “I know,” replied the mother, “but I thought that if you didn’t mind garbage in your mind, you certainly wouldn’t mind a little in your stomach.” Interesting Bible Facts ANISE - This word occurs only in Matthew 23:23. “Anise is an annual plant growing to the height of one foot, carries a white flower, and blooms from June till August. The seeds are imported and used in large quantities on account of their aromatic and carminative properties. It grows wild in Egypt, in Syria, Palestine and all parts of the Levant. Among the ancients anise seems to have been a common pot-herb in every garden. Although it is less used in medicine by the moderns than by the ancients, it still retains its former reputation as an excellent stomachic, particularly for delicate women and young children. The Romans chewed it in order to keep up an agreeable moisture in the mouth and to sweeten the breath, while some Orientals still do the same.” Dill, a somewhat similar plant, is an annual, bearing small aromatic seeds, used also for cookery and medicine. ANKLE - This word does not occur in the Authorized Version; but anklets are referred to in Isa. 3:16, 18, 20. They were fastened to the ankle band of each leg; were as common as bracelets and armlets, and made of much the same materials. The pleasant jingling and tinkling which they made as they knocked against each other was no doubt one of the reasons why they were admired. They are still worn in the East. LAYING ON OF HANDS - This “formed at an early period a part of the ceremony observed on the appointment and consecration of persons to high and holy undertakings”; (and in the Christian Church was especially used in setting apart men to the ministry and to other holy offices. It is a symbolical act expressing the imparting of spiritual authority and power.—Ed.) (Taken from Smith’s Bible Dictionary) A Powerful Story Eagle’s Wings In Isaiah 40, we are told that by waiting on the Lord, we will mount on wings like eagles. Eagles are majestic birds with remarkable vision. Scientists believe their vision may be eight times sharper than that of humans. They have powerful feet with talons that can grip like a vise. Their beaks are butcher-like, designed to cut and crush and tear their food. But most of all, eagles are built for flying. They have incredible speed, able to fly at sixty and eighty and one hundred miles an hour. They can do rolls and loops like an airplane doing tricks. Their wingspan extends to nearly eight feet. But eagles do not fly like sparrows or robins. Most birds fly through the air by flapping their wings, but eagles cannot flap very long. They’re built for soaring, and thus they can go much further on little energy. God created our planet with invisible columns of hot air called thermals rising up here and there from the surface of the earth. Eagles find these thermals, fly into the invisible currents, stretch out their wings, and are lifted higher and higher into the sky as though ascending on an elevator. They may rise as high as fourteen thousand feet, so high in the heavens they cannot be seen with the naked eye from earth. When they reach those heights, they emerge from the updraft, wings still spread, and they soar this way and that way, downwards and sidewards, traveling for miles with very little exertion of strength. Isaiah seems to be telling us that God is invisible, but like the invisible uplifting thermal currents of this planet, he is present for his people. When we search him out, claim his promises and trust in him, spreading out the wings of faith, we are caught up to a higher plane. We mount up with wings like eagles. We can run and not grow weary. We can walk and not faint. The strength we need for holy, effective, victorious living comes not from frantically flapping our wings like sparrows in distress, but from trusting in God and resting in Jesus Christ. Pressed Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length; Pressed so intensely it seems beyond strength; Pressed in the body, and pressed in the soul; Pressed in the mind, till the dark surges roll; Pressure by foes, and pressure by friends — Pressure on pressure, til life nearly ends. Pressed into knowing no helper but God; Pressed into loving the staff and the rod. Pressed into liberty where nothing clings; Pressed into faith or impossible things. Pressed into tasting the joy of the Lord; Pressed into loving a Christlife outpoured. My Favorite Blog Post For The Month Wow! What a Promise from God! Sin cannot get confirmed dominion over the child of God, because God hath promised that it shall not. “Sin shall not have dominion over you.” Oh! how I love these “shalls!” There seems something grand in them. “Sin shall not.” Ah! Satan may come with temptation, but when God says, “Sin shall not have dominion,” it is as when the sea comes up in the fullness of its strength, and the Almighty saith – “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther; here shall thy proud waves be stayed. -Charles Spurgeon- Romans 6: 14 – For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. For – gar – a primary particle; properly assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles) sin – hamartia – offence, sin shall not – ou – a primary word; the absolutely negative have dominion over you – kurieuo – to rule, have dominion over, lord, be lord of, exercise lordship over; of things and forces to exercise influence upon, to have power over indicates the contemplated or certain occurrence of an event which has not yet occurred (future tense.) Indicative Mood – a simple statement of fact. An action that is occurring now, has already, or will in the future This verse makes a huge statement. If you have asked Jesus to come into your heart I’m sure you will still be tempted just as He was when living on the earth, but God has given you the power to have victory over Satan and the temptation that he is trying to destroy you with. You don’t have to give in even if Satan is putting immense amounts of pressure on you. God has given you His power to have the victory but you must walk in that power and know and understand the promises of the Bible. Satan knows them very well and plans his attacks carefully and methodically to achieve maximum results in your life. He will sometimes wait years for just the right moment to bring you down in a huge way. Child of God, stand on and claim this verse with everything in you because sin absolutely cannot have power over you unless you give its approval. You will be tempted but you can boldly ask God to come to your aid because you are standing on His Word and claiming it with your whole heart. Stand on the promises of God and let Him help you defeat the enemy Satan! To check out my blog go to Who God Is Please check out my other sites by clicking on the links below: Handbook for Victorious Christian Living Blueprint for Victorious Christian Living Video of the Month Cry Out To Jesus God wants you to talk to Him about everything that is going on in your life – even the smallest of things. If you will trust Him with the small details, when huge problems arise you will automatically take them to Him. Watch The Video by clicking on the link below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmVxRl5bc4Y&playnext=1&videos=dpAHfGAqrRA&feature=artistob That’s it for this newsletter. I hope that you have been truly inspired and blessed. I have prayed about each word written that it would minister in whatever way God desires. It is also my prayer that God will bless you and your family and start to truly show you Who He Is. He is far greater than anything you could ever imagine. In Christ, Cathy Deaton
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