"Not for Us"

Do you remember reading through The Watchtower and Awake and when scripture was referenced;  being told
"But that's not for us."
Do the words
"Those verses were meant for bible times, not for today."
What about
"But we obey this, and follow that because it's in scripture."

It was always so confusing for me
 to remember
what parts of the bible were for me
and what parts weren't.
I remember my bible being more of a reference book
 that I went to on occasion.
I remember sitting at the dining room table
preparing my talks for Thursday nights.
I had all my concordances out
my Reasoning from the Scriptures book out
 studying those books, but never really looking into the bible.

Fast Forward 20 years..........

For the word of God is quick, and powerful...
When the scales fell from my eyes
and the veil was torn before me
God's word flooded me, it came quick.
It was so powerful it moved me
literally to my feet,
and to my knees.
As I went to an old copy of the Reasoning from the Scriptures book.
There it was.
All of it.
The re-wording, and the deleted words.
God's word came and pierced me, it divided everything I had ever known.


Sure the letters that Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth (the Corinthians)
 the Church of Ephesus (Ephesians).
Sure that's who he was writing to.
But God in his infinite being
was giving these words to ALL of us, for the past 2000 + years!
The Word of God is eternal!

"Sure Paul had his audience, but God had a whole lot bigger audience."*1

ALL the words in the bible are for me and for you!
Not a selected few.  We all have the right to know "The Truth."
See I cried out to the Lord, in my anguish and in my confusion and He
sent forth his Word and healed me.

"Trying to simplify the infinite? You will never have authority over the Word of God."*2

I can't believe there was a point in my life
 where I believed that I knew every single thing God knew, and what He meant.

 That I had authority to tell you;
"Just the way it is."
I had Jehovah figured out.
To a T.
Down to a science.
I was always ready for the ping pong game you would throw at me.

No more.
 Please forgive me for my arrogance.
Please forgive me once again for my self-righteousness.
Please forgive me for telling you "The Lie" and not "The Truth."

However today
 I know:
All authority is directed and given only by the Holy Spirit.

Today
I know:
I am a child of God.

Today
I know:

There is in store for me
a crown of righteousness which the Lord will award me, the righteous Judge.
Not man!

Let me ask you:

If "Not for Us?"
 If "Not for You?"
If "Not for Me?"
Then for who?

BELIEVE IT!
Believe His Word!
IT'S ALL FOR US!




Hebrews 4:12  Psalm 107:20
Psalm 119:89  Isaiah 40:8  1 Peter 1:25
Romans 13:1  1 Thessalonians 5:5   2 Timothy 4:8



*1Quote-from Beth Moore
*2 Quote-from Beth Moore


Leaving Your Family Behind

Family. 
What does yours look like?
 Is the relationship good, thriving, and growing?
Sure we all have our issues.
 I'm not talking about those petty trivial things.
  You wish your brother wouldn't do that. 
Or 
you wish the grandparents would take the grandkids more. 
 You've told them over and over but they just don't get it, they just don't listen.

Controlling or caring 
only you can say where your heart is truly at.
For me it's always a little of both.

Have you ever said, 
"Well you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family."
I know I have.  
Have you ever rejected your family, walked away from it all?
Have you ever said; 
 "I should divorce my family." 
Guilty, I've said that too.
You know all those things I've ever spoken, were out of anger, were out of hurt, and frustration.
It still didn't make it right or o.k. for me to say it.

What if you were being drawn by God to follow Him and leave your family behind.
Could you do it? Would you do it?

There comes a day when God begins to reveal truth to you.
  You are at a crossroads.
  You have just woken up to the very truth that all you have ever known is a lie.
  You come face to face with God and you cry out;
 I want to leave the organization, but I don't want to leave my family.
Why can't they see
Why won't they listen
 Why can't they understand 
what I am trying to show them?
 I love my family.
 Why can't they love me that same way and just accept me!
 I know they will disown me and shun me, who can bear that. I don't think I can!

YOU CAN!

God told Abram;
"Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land I will show you."

Is God calling you?
Jesus told us; "that a brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child...
And all nations will hate you because you are my followers.  But everyone who endures until the end will be saved."

Ok Lord, I give up my family, then what?
Jesus said;
"Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life." 


Again Lord, let me get things all situated.
 Let me figure out how I'm going to do this.
 What I'm going say. Let me go back and do what I need to do. 
 I have to it's required.
Let me say good-bye, and then I'll follow you.
Jesus said;
"No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."


Ok Lord I have a lot at stack here.
You do He said, but what is the greater of the two your family or your life?
I do want to follow you, I really do but...
Jesus said;
"If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples.

So those who do not carry their crosses and follow me cannot be my disciples."
"But don't begin until you count the cost.
For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost
to see if there is enough money to finish it?"

"If you love me, you will obey what I command."

Lord, you're allowing me to exercise my free will.
Your letting me make the choice.

You want me. Your calling me.
Now I have to decide.
Wait...
You love me?
Even after all...
Even after all I've done?
Even after falling and believing the lie?
Yes, all who are hungry receive my grace.
You're loving me, even before I decide.
Yes
Obey me and honor your family.
I am Jehovah Nissi your battle fighter, you only need be still.

Precious one:
There is one that sticks closer than a brother.  His name is Jesus.
Love Him with all your your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.

Even though the journey is long, and it will be hard.
Jesus will see you through it all.






Genesis 12:1, Matthew 10:21-22, Matthew 19:29-NLT
Luke 9:62-NASB Luke 14:26-27 GWT Luke 14:28 NLT
John 14:15-NIV 1 John 4:19 NIV
Matthew 19:19-Ephesians 6:2
Exodus 14:14
Proverbs 18:24
Matthew 22:37