Sally W.

Be encouraged today! God always finishes what he starts in each of us! Do not be tempted to quit or become impatient. Put your hope in God (Psalm 33:20, NLT) and stand… “When you’ve done all you can just stand and watch the glory of God.” (Ephesians 6:13) Keep your eyes on Him. Continue to worship and remember that HE is fighting your battles for you! He’s ordering and arranging things in your favor.

You need the favor of God and man. (Luke 2:52 ESV) Do not allow circumstances or Satan to rob you of your measure of faith. (Romans 12:3) Do not allow unbelief to come from your mouth, God keeps His promises! “I know all about your suffering and your poverty-but you are rich eternally! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you… Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer…Remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. (Revelations 2:9-10, NLT)

The scripture in James 1:2 states it this way: “Blessed is the one who preserves under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” Our God loves to reward every faithful act, deed, and right motives we do.

Today bullying, sexual impropriety and pornography seem rampant.

We need to stand firm and faithfully diligently keep walking – by faith WITH Him. (II Timothy 4:8) “…anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19, NLT) We cannot train up our children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6) if we run away and quit. Instead, dial 911. Report any and all abuse by calling the right people to come quickly!! This action usually moves the wrong people out of the way. They flee. You stand! We all have a measure of faith.

It’s up to each of us to develop our faith.

As Romans 10:7 says, faith grows as we read and study His word. As our faith increases it produces patience. When we allow patience to have its perfect work in us, we’ll lack no good thing. Others will see and be encouraged. The key is to keep moving forward by reading, hearing, and obeying.  Obeying His word will not only produce patience in your life, but bring healing and restoration to the hearts of others.

Join me in prayer?

Father, help me to understand and strengthen me to continue this journey into perfection with You and the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name! I choose to believe you will bring victory and breakthrough in every area of my life. Show me how to be a blessing to others this Christmas season. Thank you for sending Jesus down to save us. Amen.

You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor…and not go about as a talebearer.”
(Leviticus 19:15-16, KJV)

You have read the King James Version of our Leviticus 19:15-16 scripture above. Look here at different translations:

• • In the Good News Testament (GNT) it is stated: “Be honest and just when you make decisions in legal cases, do not show favoritism to the poor or fear the rich. Do not spread lies about anyone…”
  • In the Contemporary English Version (CEV) the same scripture says it: “Be fair no matter who is on trial — don’t favor either the poor not the rich. Don’t be a gossip…”
  • The New International Version (NIV) says, “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor favoritism to the great, but judge you neighbor fairly. Do not go about slandering your people…”

Again God is working on and in me to truly serve Him and help others. Has anyone but me ever enabled someone or become co-dependent thinking ‘I was helping that person…’? It probably made me feel good at first, but later came a variety of feelings: used, weary, frustrated! If you know me, you know Father God showed me that frustration meant I didn’t fully trust Him to deliver, redeem, reveal and show the person I was praying for His truth.

“The word does not go out void but will accomplish what He sends it to do.” (Isaiah 55:11, NKJV) Each of us is being matured and perfected into His image. It cannot be done without each of us choosing to spend time alone with Him! Daily, we become more aware or intimate with Him as we read the Word, listen to His voice and get to know Him personally, by doing His will.

Ecclesiastes 3 says, “To everything there is a season… and a time to every purpose under heaven.” The season of my life at this time is an eye-opening one where I am suddenly seeing deeper meaning in Jesus’ parables. Here’s an example:

A youth director prepared his church’s meal and program for one of our Veteran’s lunches. His teens were to provide music and help with food prep and visits. But his other job called, which meant things would not be done as so carefully planned. In his frustration, all he could do was hurriedly grab some take-out food and come without the kids to quickly deliver his message, the parable in John 5:1-9: The Man at the Pool at Bethesda. The paralyzed man had lain for 38 years beside the pool, praying for someone to put him into the waters for healing. Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be healed?” The man replied, “No one will help me.”

Jesus said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” When the man did, he was cured at once. What a message! (Notice that Jesus never said, “Be healed.” Later, I read this in several Bible translations and indeed, he never said it.) Jesus wanted action, something to change the rut in which the man was stuck. Jesus wanted to change not just the physical rut, but the spiritual, mental and emotional ones too. Once the man quit focusing on his own helpless, disappointed-that-life-didn’t-turn-out-the-way-he’d-planned mindset, and instead, believed his Lord and Savior’s plan for him, he simply got up and walked.

We all have a tendency to throw a ‘pity party’ when our plans don’t work out. We all get disappointed and take up those ‘poor, pitiful me’ attitudes. We become discouraged and lose faith because God isn’t giving us what we think we should have. We are depressed because we are so focused on our own misery, that we can’t see how much MORE God has planned for us. God didn’t want that paralyzed man sitting in the pool at Bethesda. The Almighty wanted that man up and walking around town. Wow! I’ve been that short-sighted. I’ve also worked with physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually paralyzed people who have learned to drag out their misery by focusing on themselves and their own ideas of happiness rather than God’s better plan.

That day, I saw the deeper point of the parable. There were other teens in the building helping and I got to watch their intense reactions as they, too, learned a new thing. The youth director saw much more impact from the lunch that followed God’s plan. The veterans and lunch guests are still talking about it. For over three weeks God kept leading me to see the same message in different parables during my daily Bible readings. For example, John 9:1-7 is the story of Jesus healing a blind man. To him, Jesus said “GO!” – Not ‘be healed’.

When the man obeyed, he came home seeing. Another parable, Mark 2:3-5, told of friends lowering a man down through a roof right in front of Jesus, who did not say to be healed. Jesus stated that it was their act of faith that made the man whole again… Now I see this everywhere I look. So this has become my ecclesiastical season of ACTION — acting on my faith that God has a better plan than I can imagine if I will release my limited vision and plans to focus on His.

There is more to come. Please check these scriptures in your Bible and other translations. In Jesus’ name, ask Father God and His Holy Spirit to open your eyes, mind, and heart to new revelations to rise and come up higher… starting today!

 

Thank you once again, Father God, for Jesus. Yes, I do feel and sense His protection over me and mine. Today, I’ve made several phone calls as the Holy Spirit directed. Do I know the total reason or outcome for the calls at that moment? No! What I do know is to OBEY, quickly!

When I call someone, as the two of us share openly, each is edified and encouraged. For over four years the newsletter team and I have been obediently putting out the Ark newsletter and discovering a book in the making.

The title emerged as “Becoming Perfect” with the subtitle “Let the Perfector Perfect His Work in You”. It is a workbook and is called a guide for spiritual journey. The first 250 copies are available on Amazon for $14.95, because obviously, there are expenses and funds will return to the Ark for furthering the Good News locally and with our worldwide mentoring. Thank you, readers and helpers, for your encouragement, support and prayers,,, and Wow, Father God: Thank You!

Like Paul had, my 84-year-old body has some painful issues. I’ve long understood that these physical ailments are sent from Satan to beat me up. Satan wants each of us to quit, cease from fulfilling our God-given purpose. (Romans 8:28, GNB)

That father of lies wants to use the bad to keep us from the best and happiness promised. Father God will keep His promises to each believer. Father God desires that none should perish. (II Peter 3:9) That’s why He sent Jesus to Earth to reconcile, teach, and guide us into complete perfection. That takes a lifetime journey of submission to His will.

Like Paul, I can truly say, “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutors, and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak then I am strong.” (II Corinthians 12:10, GNB) I’m not yet perfect, but I’m on my way, with the help of the Holy Spirit. The combination of all good and bad in life keeps me from a selfish, puffed up pride! My life in Christ is exciting! “I have expectations of greater joy through suffering and even having my eyes opened through distress.” (Job36:15 GNB) God is GOOD all the time!

The miracle of this book has been, and continues to be the truth of God’s promise. HE will give us more than we dare to dream, imagine, or believe is possible. Is God partial to perfecting me? No! He treats us all with the same discipline, mercy and lovingkindness when we continue to be faithful and serve Him with praises and thanksgiving!

As Isaiah spoke from the Lord’s message: “Don’t be afraid. I have rescued you. I have called you by name; now you belong to me. When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won’t drown. When you walk through fire, you won’t be burned or scorched by the flames.” (Isaiah 43:1-2) “Our name is Christian. In all our suffering He also suffered… and He personally recued us. In His love and mercy He redeemed us.” (Isaiah 63:9, NLT)

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

If it had not been for the goodness and faithfulness of God, where would you be today?  The same God who has kept you alive to date is going to carry you through any and all difficulty you may be facing. We are not without hope.  May I take a moment to praise and thank God for the Ark of Faith Foundation? All of us have and will continue to learn obedience through what we suffer. We’ll have our eyes opened through distress. (Job 36:32 & 15, GNB)

When I was a young widow with three teenagers, I had no idea how to do what God wanted me to do.  Yet, in 1981, Jim Gibson, Sr. secured the Ark’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and ever since, I have been on the journey of my new life. I know the favor of God and man. He is still perfecting me. I can say with King David: “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” (Psalm 119:92, ESV)

Without God, where would we be?

As a young mother, as educated as I was and brought up in the church, I did not know the word of God and did not spend daily “alone time” with Him. My son, Sam, was born with a major health problem. At three weeks old after a 6-hour major surgery he was written up in medical journals. Our surgeon prayed with my husband and me, stating that there was a 50/50 chance of survival. He said, “My own son died at a year and a half old and I couldn’t save him. I promised God then that, with His help I’d do everything I could to save all children.”

Sitting on my husband’s lap, I prayed “Father, nothing is impossible for You, with prayer.” I then phoned my mother to pray with us. Mama taught me about miracles and answered prayers.  (My brother miraculously overcame infantile paralysis (polio) back before Sister Kenny’s research and discoveries that saved so many others.)

I would still be struggling now, but Father God gave me the desire of my heart. I began praising and thanking Him for His goodness, favor, and blessing.

Distress opens my eyes; I need much more of God’s favor and the power of Jesus and His name. These situations inspired my desire to know the Holy Spirit. Baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I’d still had no personal relationship with the Triune God, the Three in One. I would still be struggling now, but Father God gave me the desire of my heart.

I began praising and thanking Him for His goodness, favor, and blessing. Praise precedes His victory and brings down walls of opposition. He inhabits our praise and when we ask (and knock, as Matthew 7:7 says) doors will open. He will show Himself strong in our weakness. (I Corinthians 4:10)

What are you struggling with today?

Addiction, low self-esteem finances, illness, grief, relationships–? Take a moment and look back over your life. Realize your need to be in union with Jesus. How far have you come? God has not brought you this far to leave you. (Philippians 1:6 NIV) Father God has kept you alive for a purpose that shows you both good and bad. (Romans 8:28) He will lead, guide or carry you through any difficulty you may be facing. Declare the goodness of God and that He is directing your steps and your will is to follow His leading. The best days of your life are ahead. (I Corinthians 2:9)

Now, praise and thank Him! Move forward into the victory He has promised to the overcomers. Renew your mind to the word of God and remove all negative thoughts. Study the word of God. Study to show yourself improved. (II Timothy 2:15)

Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God.  Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment on himself.  For rulers are not to be feared by those who do good, but by those who do evil. Would you like to be unafraid of those in authority?  Then do what is good, and they will praise you, because they are God’s servants working for your own good.  But if you do evil, then be afraid of them, because their power to punish is real.  They are God’s servants and carry out God’s punishment on those who do evil.  For this reason you must obey the authorities—not just because of God’s punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.”  (Romans 13:1-5, GNT)

God is working on me again regarding the disrespectful attitudes and actions I am witnessing.

Just look up II Chronicles 7:14 (GNT)  “If my people will pray to me and repent and turn away from the evil they have been doing, then I will hear them in Heaven, forgive their sins, and make their land prosperous again.”

Are we allowing freedom of speech to be corrupted, to  rule with evil actions to produce chaos in our country?  Innocent people and children are being killed.  Crime and criminal behavior are tolerated amidst demands for freedom of speech; protests reveal disrespect of authority.  The evil displayed goes both directions and does not set a value on human life and love.  We are told to train up our children in the way they should go and in their old age they will not depart from this training.  (Proverbs 22:6)  What I notice is a lack of training in the area of respect.  Self-will, speaking indiscriminately and ‘my way or the highway’ attitudes reign and rule.  Behaviors like bullying and selfish ego are not the way of Christ.

Self-will, speaking indiscriminately and ‘my way or the highway’ attitudes reign and rule.  Behaviors like bullying and selfish ego are not the way of Christ.

If we love our children, we correct and discipline them.  Proverbs 29:15 says: “If they have their own way, they will make their mothers ashamed of them.”  Are we allowing stubbornness and foolish behavior to rule and reign in our cities, states, and nation — in our homes, schools and churches?

Help us, Lord.  We took prayer out of schools and Godly discipline.  We need to pay attention to Proverbs 23:13: “Don’t hesitate to discipline children.  A good spanking won’t kill them.  As a matter of fact, it may save their lives.”  A good spanking doesn’t mean injuring, malicious beating, or sadistic punishment, but teaching of truth.  “Children just naturally do silly, careless things, but a good spanking will teach them how to behave.”  (Proverbs 22:15, GNT)  Respect and proper behavior must be taught.

Proverbs 28:1-7 states:  “An honest person is as brave as a lion… a nation will be strong and endure when it has intelligent, sensible leaders.  Someone in authority who oppresses poor people is like driving rain that destroys the crops.  If you have no regard for the law; you are on the side of the wicked; but if you obey it you are against them.  Young people who obey the law are intelligent.”  We must recognize that correction and discipline are of God.  Pray for our nation to return to God and reverence and to respect Him and train our youth to respect law and order.

Searching out His words of wisdom has led me to Proverbs.  Focus on Proverbs 1:7: “To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord.  Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.”  I cried out to Father God to deliver us from such stupidity in the name of Jesus.  Then I asked the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and teach by showing and telling us what to do.  Father, show, tell and encourage us, so we can use common sense to deal with family issues, business dealings, social relationships, etiquette and good manners.  Proverbs reveals a need for self-control, humility, patience, and respect for the poor and loyalty to friends and family.

Hopefully we will recognize the need to repent, turn away from sins and be a part of the healing of the USA, so our land can be prosperous again.  (II Chronicles 7:14)  Finally, we close with Proverbs 14:2: “Be honest and you show that you have reverence for the Lord; be dishonest and you show that you do not.”