Author: bonniefaurote

THANKSGIVING

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MUTUAL INTERCHANGE OF KIND SERVICES

Screen Shot 2015-12-30 at 12.28.49 PM…FATHER, I thank You that I can see Your greatness and love in every flower I look at. But, by that relationship I only comprehend the distance between us—Your power and my inabilities.

But, with the riches of Your grace You have recovered me from a state of enmity to a state of mutual communion and fellowship. You have done this by uniting me together in a covenant of peace ratified by the blood of JESUS. By Your giving and my receiving we can fellowship with each other. Your covenant-giving and my affections toward You binds our wills together (ref#35, p94).

Out of Your vast ocean of love You continually pour out extravagant gifts. You offer such things as a wilderness with entire fields of flowers that bloom without any eye seeing. And You give extravagant gifts to me personally. These gifts make me long to continue to taste Your sweetness and excellencies looking to experience the fullness of Your provided salvation (ref #35, p94). Your kind service to me is Your gifts, my kind service to You is my offerings of praise.

 

“How precious…are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them,

they would be more in number than the sand;…” (Ps 139:17-18 NKJV).

 

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Ps 139:14 ESV).

“…I will celebrate your kindness…” (Ps 101:1 CEV).

“…Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Ps 139:14 ESV).

“I have seen your power and your glory…”  (Ps 63:2 CEV).

CONFESSION

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THE WORK OF CONVICTION

Screen Shot 2015-12-30 at 12.21.13 PM…FATHER, the discovery of my sin is a part of the wisdom that is hid in CHRIST and made known to me through the SPIRIT (Col 2:2,3). If I am not attentive to the SPIRIT I only have a sense and knowledge of sin that is revealed by my conscience; it is the general knowledge of good and evil. But, it’s obscure so I notice my own faults only if they are very obvious or I sin in such a way that they are particularly embarrassing to me (ref#35, p200).

Familiarizing myself with the laws set down in the Old Testament helps me recognize more of my corruptions. But even laws do nothing to make me see my deep personal sin (ref#35, p202).

The work of conviction, from Your SPIRIT, gives me the best knowledge of sin. This knowledge is so useful that it reveals sins that I, on my own, do not have the ability to detect; these sins must be made real to me by Your SPIRIT—a source not connected with my native nature (ref#35, p202).

I thank You FATHER, for Your SPIRIT’s conviction. I am not offended when I recognize His voice, instead, I’m humbled. He has the ability to convince me of sin in such a way that I’m unable to deny His words and am ready to repent. I thank You, FATHER, that Your SPIRIT not only is able to point out my sins but has the ability to accomplish in me the sorrow for sin which leads me to the obedience You require. So, search me, O GOD, and see if there is any grievous way in me and then lead me in the right way (Ps 139:23-24).

ADORATION

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REASONS FOR WAITING FOR GOD

Screen Shot 2015-12-28 at 3.47.57 PM…Because You plant eternity in my heart—a sense of purpose which nothing under the sun but You can satisfy (Eccl 3:11), I will wait for You.

Because my blood is costly in CHRIST’s sight and because He has pity on me (Ps 72:13-14), I will wait for You.

Because You confirm and make me steadfast and established and endue me with the gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT (2 Cor 1:21), I will wait for You.

 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life (Ps 63:3), I will wait for You.

 

FATHER, expand these four scriptures. Make me more than aware of the truth in them. Animate them so they engulf my being providing me the ability to be forever changed by them.

I desire to remain in meditation until these four truths bubble over and cause such a splendid experience that it becomes my irrepressible joy.

VALLEYS TO MOUNTAINTOPS

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JOURNALING WITH AN EYE TO KEEPING THE SABBATH

12/25/2015

Screen Shot 2015-12-30 at 12.57.10 PMSo, I start this adventure of training myself to keep the Sabbath. And, it will be training for I have no thoughts of how to achieve it. It is not something I can feel my way into either, it must be an act of my will. “You do not wait until you feel…you make yourself” (ref#189, Nov 12th).

Presently my Sundays are composed of attending church in the morning, but I am so involved in the service (coffee table, soundboard, slide presentation, etc.) that I rarely find myself in GOD’s presence. Even after the service I have little time to encourage or admonish or confess my sins to my sisters and brothers because I am involved in packing up the equipment since we have church in a local school building. And, what’s worse is that in the little time I have after church I do not encourage, admonish or confess, but usually just do the surface conversation stuff.

The afternoon includes eating, napping, and activities with my husband. Evenings sometimes consist of visiting others but mostly sitting in front of the boob tube exhausted.

Usually in the afternoon I have a little time to read Christian non-fiction or Scripture. GOD, in His mercy, sometimes apprehends me powerfully, but mostly I read and simply enjoy the new knowledge gained. Now you know why I’m longing to explore the full benefit of the Sabbath observance.

SABBATH

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TRUTH BE KNOWN

Truth be known, I find it life-saving to hear from GOD. Yet I find myself not interested in Him when life goes smoothly. It certainly is a knee-jerk reaction to handle life when I can handle it. However, when I perceive I need help I look to GOD.

Believing scripture when it says that GOD’s thoughts are not my thoughts (Isa 55:8), I must conclude that seeking GOD’s presence when I’m overwhelmed with a life situation may not be the only time I benefit from His presence. Indeed, it’s true all His commands are for my protection lest I injure myself living with only my thoughts.

I’ve concluded that I need GOD more often than I think I do. Yet, I forget that. So I am challenging myself this new year to explore His command of keeping the Sabbath. I have begun to examine scripture references and comments from SPIRIT-filled authors on the subject and conclude it is a VITAL part of spiritual growth.

“We may rest assured that national prosperity and personal growth in grace, are intimately bound up in the maintenance of a holy Sabbath” J. C. Ryle (ref#13, Vol. One, p42, [Mark 2:23-28]).

Therefore, I am ready to learn more. So I shall put myself to the task of obeying this command publicly through this blog. Sundays I will blog information about the command and Mondays I’ll post a journal entry dealing with the results experienced communing with GOD.

“The Sabbath command is in fact a command to experience joy” John Piper (ref#169).

THE NEW YEARS RESOLUTION

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Screen Shot 2015-12-30 at 11.43.47 AM“It is not enough to remember [who God is and what His promises are]; we must hear it again. Prayer is the act in which we hear it again. It is not enough to carry memory verses around with us; we need daily encounter with the resonant voice of God. Prayer is that encounter….We pray. We listen. God speaks his word again—the same word!—and we are restored and renewed in our commitment….Resolve is essential but not enough. In prayer God provides renewal. Prayer is not so much the place where we learn something new, but where God confirms anew the faith to which we are committed” Eugene Peterson (ref#144, loc 1298-1311).

Faith is the thing GOD renews in prayer. Sabbath faith is what He gives to prepare for the week ahead. We need to hear His promises again; we need to hear GOD jog our memory; we need encounters with GOD much more than we think we do. He commands us to keep the Sabbath for good reason:

“I need emancipation; I need to be lifted to another realm; I need a force and a strength and a power that I do not have myself. That is my need, and here is the answer: I am given faith—I am given an outlook and understanding—I am introduced to a source of power…” Martyn Lloyd-Jones (ref#189, Dec 7th).

January 1st is for starting again with resolutions. Mine is to be more diligent in keeping the Sabbath holy. Beginning Sunday I plan to address the Sabbath Day with Sunday and Monday posts.

May GOD show Himself pleased in all your spiritual resolutions this year.

THANKSGIVING

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HOW PRECIOUS ARE YOUR THOUGHTS TO ME

Screen Shot 2015-11-10 at 12.35.44 PM“How precious and weighty…are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How vast is the sum of them” (Ps 139:17 AMP)!

“…You did form my inward parts;

You did knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Ps 139:13 AMP).

 

“O LORD, you have searched me [thoroughly]

and have known me….

You understand my thought afar off….

You are acquainted with all my ways….” (Ps 139:1-3 AMP).

 

“You drew near on the day I called to You;

You said, Fear not” (Lam 3:57 AMP).

“You heard my voice…” (Lam 3:56 AMP). “O Lord,

You have pleaded the causes of my soul…” (Lam 3:58 AMP)

 

“If I ascend up into heaven,

You are there;

if I make my bed in…(the place of the dead),

behold, You are there” (Ps 139:8 AMP).

 

O GOD, how precious and weighty

are Your thoughts toward me.

How vast is the sum of them (Ps 139:17).

O GOD, You know me!

CONFESSION

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THE SIN OF FRETTING

Screen Shot 2015-11-10 at 12.26.05 PM“Worry is a window into the unregenerate soul [Matt 6:32]—worry is the evidence that satisfaction is being sought apart from God—the soul is searching for satisfaction in idols, the fear that an idol may not be available—worry is the evidence of what one is pursuing, of laying up treasure on earth” Dan Cummings (ref#141, “For the Love of Christ,” Jan 22nd, 2006).

FATHER, I know that all fretting and worry is caused by calculating without You (ref#7, July 4th). I also know letting the enemy’s thoughts take root in my head is disastrous but they seem to get planted before I realize. I have to experience Your intervention or I will spin in circles reviewing in my head all the carnal and evil suggestions that are there.

“…don’t take the pressure of forethought upon yourself. It is not only wrong to worry, it is infidelity, because worrying means that we do not think that God can look after the practical details of our lives, and it is never anything else that worries us” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, May 23rd).

In all situations You put in my path the ending is more important than the beginning. My mistake is being at the beginning of a situation and wanting to see a swift and good ending, but You control the situation; I need not be concerned about the outcome.

FATHER, show me the blessings of leaning—leaning on You as the situation unfolds and caring only about Your will in the situation, not a comfortable outcome for me. Worrying is unbelief.

ADORATION

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Prayer Facts:

“Prayer…cannot request too much because the Father desires to glorify his Son as much as possible” Bryan Chapell (ref#66, p97).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Screen Shot 2015-11-10 at 12.19.54 PMBecause You have given me the Word of Truth and the Gospel of my salvation in CHRIST (Eph 1:13), I will wait for You.

Because You, FATHER, have blessed me in CHRIST with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm (Eph 1:3), I will wait for You.

Because You caused CHRIST to suffer by being tempted, therefore He is able to run to my cry as I am being tempted and exposed to suffering (Heb 2:18), I will wait for You.

VALLEYS TO MOUNTAINTOPS

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PILING UP GOD’S PROMISES—NOT GOOD

2/9/10

Screen Shot 2015-11-10 at 12.07.54 PMMy name is Bonnie, I’m a pessimist. My fleshly members seem to be never happy and my selfish nature pouts because of it. Sin has a natural grip on me as I continue my longing to be happy—as I continue to envy positive-thinking people.

I want to experience joy but I can’t find it naturally. However, I must thank GOD for making me a pessimist because in my state, I can’t pretend to have the joy of the LORD. When I have joy, I know it is His spiritual joy.

So, let me acknowledge my melancholy-ness and confess how sin easily entangles me. Then let me turn to buffet myself. If I seek true joy, I will find it only with much effort. Buffet, buffet, buffet.

Here is another note as I was care-giving: In trying times reading Scripture will not do—meditating on a verse or two, will. Singing songs will do if they are simple enough and repetitive enough that I can grasp one concept.

Piling up GOD’s promises—just collecting them in my brain gives me a knowing of the greatness of GOD but only by concentrating on one or two can I embrace them enough that they lift me out of the misery of this world.

If I don’t force myself to settle on one or two wondrous works I get ADD—like my 5-year old grandson at Wall-mart when I said he could buy anything he wanted. Everything looked so good he couldn’t make a decision.

FATHER, today Your mercies are new—every morning Your mercies are new. Great is Your faithfulness. I come desiring to discipline my mind—subject it to You that You might renew it so I’m able to think eternally—able to see the big picture that will make my problems for today seem non-existent.

I desire to look over the top of these earthly struggles and fix my eyes on CHRIST, the One who rules all things with abundant, unending love—who continually watches over my every move and is able to overcome the sin that assaults me.

So, this latest care-giving episode is just another example of the enemy binding me and GOD loosing me to find joy once again. This will always be the story of my life. It’s the valleys and mountaintops—the two extremes of living on earth. Joy comes in the morning, oh praise GOD! Yet, I will never be free of the black nights. Praise GOD for those, too, for they test the genuineness of my faith (1 Pet 1:7).