Author Archives: Kate

About Kate

I'm a born-again believer who loves the Lord, Jesus Christ and wants to glorify Him in all I write. My goal on this earth is to point people to God's word and to see that His word supersedes any man's teachings.

The Ten Marks of a Flesh-Pleaser

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A dear brother in Christ sent this in an email and I found it to be so profound. Richard Baxter lived over a hundred years ago!!! If these signs were true back then, how they hold true even more so for today!

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The Ten Marks of a Flesh-Pleaser
by Richard Baxter

The signs of a flesh-pleaser or sensualist are these:

1. When a man in his desire to please his appetite, does not do it with a view to a higher end, that is to say to the preparing himself for the service of God; but does it only for the delight itself. (Of course no one does every action consciously with a view to the service of God. Nevertheless, the general manner or habit of a life spent in the service of God is absent for the flesh-pleaser.)

2. When he looks more eagerly and industriously after the prosperity of his body than of his soul.

3. When he will not refrain from his pleasures, when God forbids them, or when they hurt his soul, or when the necessities of his soul call him away from them. But he must have his delight whatever it costs him, and is so set upon it, that he cannot deny it to himself.

4. When the pleasures of his flesh exceed his delights in God, and his holy word and ways, and the expectations of endless pleasure. And this not only in the passion, but in the estimation, choice, and action. When he had rather be at a play, or feast, or other entertainment, or getting good bargains or profits in the world, than to live in the life of faith and love, which would be a holy and heavenly way of living.

5. When men set their minds to scheme and study to make provision for the pleasures of the flesh; and this is first and sweetest in their thoughts.

6. When they had rather talk, or hear, or read of fleshly pleasures, than of spiritual and heavenly delights.

7. When they love the company of merry sensualists, better than the communion of saints, in which they may be exercised in the praises of their Maker.

8. When they consider that the best place to live and work is where they have the pleasure of the flesh. They would rather be where they have things easy, and lack nothing for the body, rather than where they have far better help and provision for the soul, though the flesh be pinched for it.

9. When he will be more eager to spend money to please his flesh than to please God.

10. When he will believe or like no doctrine but “easy-believism,” and hate mortification as too strict “legalism.” By these, and similar signs, sensuality may easily be known; indeed, by the main bent of the life.

He Knows

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~Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

I’ve seen study after study and devotion after devotion on this verse. But until you personally experience a series of trials in your own life, and experience this verse, you really can’t fully appreciate what others are trying to explain. So it was for me! Although I was greatly blessed by reading those studies, I have to admit that it wasn’t until I experienced some heavy-duty trials that I was able to have the compassion I needed to help others.

It is the first part of the verse that spoke to my heart, actually. The Lord knows the way that I take! This brings me much comfort knowing that my Shepherd knows my way. He has seen the future and knows the results of all that is going on in my life! My Creator, who has numbered the very hairs on my head (Luke 12:7), knows me intimately and cares for me. No matter how discouraged I may get, I can turn to the Word and the Lord gives me something that encourages my heart! (Psalm 61:2) From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Our Heavenly Father hears our pleas of despair and comes to our rescue! (Psalm 18:6) In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Thank You, Lord! I glorify Your Name on high!

Job’s reputation has followed him through the ages because he was able to claim this verse in the bible. Even to this day, we hear the phrase “He has the patience of Job.” The trials that this man suffered are unbelievable, aren’t they? Job was attacked on every side by ole slew foot! The devil attacked Job’s character, he attacked Job’s belongings (cattle, etc.), he attacked Job’s servants, he attacked Job’s family, and he attacked Job’s own body! He even used Job’s friends to attack him emotionally! There is no one that I know of personally who has been through each of these in his life time – let alone within just a few weeks! I have learned that the Lord never gives us more than we can bear! With each burden, he provides us encouragement along the way. It is up to us to search out that encouragement! The word of God should be our main source of encouragement! That source is: (Psa 121:1) [A Song of degrees.] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (Psa 121:2) My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

I also noticed that Job did not get to the point where he cursed the day he was born until after his friends came to “comfort” him! The devil kept attacking him and saw that he could not succeed; so he sent along people he could “use” to accomplish his goal – discouragement. Where do you sit today, my friend? Are you one in need of encouragement or are you to be used of God to do the encouraging? Are you the type of friend that Job had? As I searched my heart, I realized that although I was experiencing trials of my own, there are many out there who are going through things that make mine look like child’s play! What kind of friend am I to those dear ones who are suffering?

If you are one who is experiencing trials today, do you surround yourself with whiners, complainers and nay sayers? It is these types of friends who will drag you down spiritually. Surround yourself with people who love the Lord, will pray for you and are there to lend an ear just in case you need one. Turn to your spiritual mentors who will not allow you to wallow in self-pity but will help you out of the pit of despair. You cannot expect someone who cannot swim to rescue you from drowning! Therefore, do not turn to those Christians who will nurture your discouragement instead of lifting you up in the Lord.

I don’t know why the Lord laid this on my heart today. Maybe I will need this down the road – or maybe you are going through a similar trial and need to be encouraged! With that said, won’t you say as Job did, (Job 23:10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Living!

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Psalm 19 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

I absolutely love this Psalm.  You are led to look up into the Heavens to see God and His handiwork.  What a beautiful way to prepare and humble the heart. God’s handiwork reminds us just who we are.  We are a speck in the vastness of it all!  The Psalmist continues and reveals God’s Word, His statues, His love, His mercy, His Son, His salvation, and His goodness! He then leads us to look inward to our sin. After reading this psalm, the heart has been prepared and is ready to be molded into His likeness.

Every area of life revolves around what is acceptable. Just what is acceptable to God? David wanted the words of his mouth and what laid deep within his heart to be acceptable to God! Deep in the dark corners of the heart lies the truth – nothing can be hidden from God. It is there that reveals whether or not one’s heart is “right with Him.” Yes, our salvation is settled because Christ paid the horrible price of punishment for us. However, are we acceptable to God in our words, whether spoken or unspoken, and our deeds? What is in the heart will come out of the mouth (Matthew 12:34). Therefore, what do we have to offer to God that is acceptable?

~Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

We can offer God us!  When we submit ourselves in every way to the Lord, including all that we do and say, we present ourselves a “living” sacrifice to Him. Paul says this is our “reasonable” service! It is the least we should do for God. After all He has done for us, all we can give Him is a yielded and willing spirit.  Our living sacrifice to God can only be achieved if we are yielded to His Holy Spirit. The Lord reveals to us and convicts us of sin.  We then, in turn, submit to Him and forsake that sin. David spoke of those secret faults. There are things in life that we hide.  There are even things in life that we don’t know about yet and the Lord wants to clean that up.

As the heart is convicted, accepting that conviction with a repentant attitude, take on the image of Christ. Granted, we can’t ever be perfect, but we can now be used of God!

~Proverbs 10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Pro_10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

A living sacrifice … that’s what I want to be for you, Lord! Yielded, ready to respond to Your prompting and conviction, and living!

Sin’s Consequences

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Psalm 6 To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. 10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Today’s reading is not only heartwrenching to me but what a beautiful depiction of repentant sinner! This Psalm was written when David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband, Uriah, killed! At this point in time, Bathsheba had given birth to the baby but the baby had yet to die. The text reveals a repentant David who is praying and seeking forgiveness. Another beautiful passage with this same theme is Psalm 51.

I picture David on his knees pleading with God to forgive him! I see him crying and torn before his God and pleading to Him to save his son, even if there is the smallest possibility! I know that his son was not spared, yet David accepted God’s judgment and continued on. David truly repented of his sins and turned his life around.

I have been there right along with David. My sins have been forgiven but they also brought repercussions that will never go away. This is not the result of a merciless God, by all means. These repercussions are a result of my own rebellion and my own sins. God has forgiven me indeed but my sins have brought about an outcome that I cannot change.

Christian, are you wandering today? Maybe you are a woman who, like Bathsheba, has been unfaithful and is now expecting a baby. God has forgiven you but your baby will be a constant reminder of your sin. How about the believer who use to be a thief prior to salvation and in a moment of weakness steals again after salvation? If you are caught, you will suffer the legal ramifications and possibly have a criminal record. That record will follow you all your life and will affect your ability to get loans, jobs, etc. Repentance is a must but the repercussions of your sin will continue. There’s no difference between David’s situation in today’s text and yours.

I know that my God stands ready to forgive me – He wants to forgive me! However, when I lead my life according to my own worldly desires, I will suffer the consequences as a result. God’s mercy comes shining through when one recognizes His judgment! How can one experience mercy if one doesn’t realize God’s judgment? There is a price to pay for sin for the believer. Yes, our sins are forgiven in a split second and remembered no more. But the results of a moment’s pleasure and weakness may last a lifetime.

Are you wayward today? Have you wandered far from God? Follow David’s footsteps and call on God for forgiveness and restore your fellowship with Him!

Living the Blessed Life

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Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

What wonderful instructions for daily living for the child of God! The Lord does not leave us in darkness when it comes to His will for us. He makes His will known in great detail. As a whole, the Bible is a beautiful depiction of His love toward us: from the beginning, where He creates man to share in His beautiful creation, all the way to Revelation, where He cleans up the mess man has made through the centuries and returns us to His beautiful peace and rest!  I’m so thankful to have God’s Word to guide me!  Each morning, I find something to encourage me and to feed my spirit!

Today’s reflections show that we can receive blessings in this lifetime if we follow God’s wisdom.   Every area of my life is affected if I choose to follow counsel from His Word! The unsaved will not give me spiritual advice. Their thoughts revolve around “the world” and won’t guide me to the Word of God or provide me with Godly counsel. We should not allow the lost to be our closest friends or to have the most influence in our lives. When you hang around a skunk, you will eventually smell like a skunk. When your closest friends are unsaved, you begin to take on their habits. It’s easy to do.

~2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Noah Webster defines “scornful” as:

Holding religion in contempt; treating with disdain religion and the dispensations of God.

What is a born-again believer doing hanging around people who treat our faith with disdain (hatred)? A person who hates Jesus Christ and all that He stands for won’t listen to the Gospel. He will strive to make a mockery of Christ and you. We are not to back down when confronted and we must be ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all who cross our path. But there are those who will mock God at every chance.

~Job 12:4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

How many of us actually delight in reading the Bible? Is it a chore? Is it a routine? Do you read it because it’s the right thing to do? Or do you look forward to your Heavenly Father revealing Himself to you in the Bible’s precious pages? This exhortation is to meditate on what we have read both day and night. Mulling over what we’ve read will keep our heart and mind focused on the things of God. It will keep us from sin!

~Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

As a result of following God’s instructions in today’s Psalm, the Lord tells me that I will be rooted and firmly planted in His Word. God will not leave me in the dark when He has a child who wishes to learn from Him. It is up to me to read the Word and heed God’s instructions. He has provided us with the instruction manual of life! How great is that?

Sigh!!!

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~Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Discouragement has a way of overwhelming the mind and heart, doesn’t it? If one more trial or mishap comes into my life today, I just don’t think I could bear it! My shoulders begin to droop from the weight of it all. My heart is so heavy and tears are just waiting to spill over my lower eyelids at the next cross word that comes my way. Who in their right mind can enjoy living in this state? Surely when we step back and look at it in this light, we would conclude that no one would. So then why do we insist on remaining in this state of discouragement?

Oh how wonderful to be able to leave our trials behind and hit the road in search of a babbling brook nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains! Oh the peace that can be found as we sit on a rock by the brook and listen to the cardinals singing, the rustling of the leaves as the gentle breeze blows, and feeling the sunshine on our faces! What a sanctuary the Lord has given us in His beautiful creation. OK, so we can’t just up and leave and travel to our sanctuary. But the Word says that we can visit that Rock whenever we want – and at that Rock, we will find the sanctuary which will provide us with an even better benefit as that getaway in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

David pleads to God to lead him to the rock that is higher than he is in Psalm 61:2. What rock?

~1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Thank You, Lord, for this verse in Your Holy Word! Jesus promises to refresh us with living water! He is our Source for refreshing our discouraged heart! We can run to that mountain stream and sit on that rock any time we want by turning to His Word and talking to Him! His promises are ever before us in His Word, but we must do the seeking, my friend. You cannot be force fed.

~Psalm 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

 

One Way? Really?

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We hear this all the time from those “fundamentalists,” but is it true? Forget what man says … it’s more important what God says in the Bible. Here’s what the God’s Word tells us about salvation:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 10:4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

There is no other! It’s not through going to church, not through any other “god” or prophet, not through doing good works – only through Jesus Christ and the work that HE did on the cross. This is not a popular message in the world’s agenda of “tolerance”! But what matters most is not what the world says – it matters what God says. If anyone is the least bit interested, the Bible is the source of all the answers of life here and life everlasting!

God’s Blessings

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~Psalm 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Like the Sermon on the Mount where Christ gave us the Beatitudes, this verse begins with “Blessed is.” Whenever I see these words, I pay attention. I want God’s blessings, don’t you? Today’s verse encourages us to trust in the Lord. Furthermore, in so doing we shall be blessed.

I realize that this is easier said than done – especially when a believer is going through an extremely difficult trial. However, when we trust the Lord during our trials, we are not busy worrying. Trusting God is an action of the heart. We acknowledge that the trial is beyond our control and not one ounce of effort on our part is going to change things. Once we relinquish our worries and leave the unknown to God, peace follows.

God promises to direct us no matter how complicated or impossible our trial seems to be. With this, He provides this wonderful peace that goes beyond comprehension. The believer no longer has to struggle with life but has the Creator at His side directing him along the way. The Master fulfills the well-known Proverb and provides His child with comfort and peace.

No matter how difficult life gets, and it will get harder, we know that our God walks alongside us. As the wonderful piece “Footprints” points out, there are even times when He carries us due to our weariness. We must build on this trust after each trial. We must look back at the previous trials and see God’s hand at work in our lives. When we do this, we can see just what He brought us through. This reflection will build our trust in Him.

To the young believer, I encourage you to make these two verses your life’s verse. As daily problems and trials come your way, apply these verses. Repeat them and ask the Lord to guide you. Pour out your heart to Him and tell Him that you don’t understand and you don’t know what to do. God will provide peace in the midst of the storm. The more the young believer applies these verses to his life, the more he will turn to the Lord immediately with all his burdens and trials!

~Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

God’s Handiwork

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~1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I was recently discussing God’s wondrous creation with a blogging friend.  I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Alaska and was able to tour this beautiful land.  Each moment was spent gazing at God’s handiwork.  The ultimate Artist painted vistas that a mere camera could not capture!  My eyes filled with tears when I beheld the majesty of Mt. McKinley, North America’s tallest mountain!  Again, I wept when I saw my first bald eagle nestled in the tree top.  I was then filled with awe when I witnessed a baby humpback whale playfully demonstrating its strength and gracefulness for almost half an hour in front of our boat.

As a child of the Creator, I appreciate God’s handiwork and give Him the glory and the praise!  Our Heavenly Father has blessed us by giving us such beauty to behold each day.  When we see this beauty, it is our opportunity to glorify Him and praise Him for His wondrous love for us!

However, to the unbeliever,  God’s creation will convict their unbelief.  The Bible states that the unbeliever will be without excuse when they stand before Him and claim that they “didn’t know God existed.”

~Romans 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Just gazing at a sky filled with starts will cause the heart to wonder.  I like Ray Comfort’s statement to atheists:

Everything cannot come from nothing!

God honors a soul that sees creation and wonders if there is a God.  Romans 1:20 tells us that mankind is without excuse because nature itself speaks of Him.  Therefore, God will see to it that this soul has the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When the unbeliever chooses not to believe in God, he is accountable for disregarding even nature, God’s creation. What will the unbeliever say when he stands before Christ?

~Romans 14:10b  …for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

 

Am I Getting What I Need?

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The Psalmist had a special relationship with his God.  It seems that he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God would hear him when he cried out to Him.

~Psalm 3:4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

Can you say this of your relationship with God? Do you absolutely know for certain that God is hearing you when you cry? If you cannot, then you are practicing religion rather than nurturing a relationship with your Heavenly Father. Think on this for a bit. A child never questions whether his father hears his cries.  So stop and meditate on your relationship with God.  Do you have one? If not, I suggest you read the Gospel of John through three times. Then continue reading the rest of the Gospels. You will soon see what Jesus was all about! Pray and ask the Father for help as you seek to grow closer to Him!