Refraction of Light

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Refraction of Light

I am in my kitchen and saw light refractions in the family room this morning. My thoughts immediately focused on the wonderment of God. Just think if you are given the challenge to build a community, universe, house, or garden you begin with your vision, jot down what you want to include in the project, draw a rough draft, review it and then begin to draw the specs.

Most people will overlook some aspect of designing, maybe minute, maybe something major. Hopefully, the oversight or error will not be calamitous, like the Millennium Towers, a multi-million residential complex in San Francisco, California.

We are just humans, and then there is God, the maker of the universe. He created the universe in six days. Everything that ever existed was created on a timetable and exact in its measurements. Nothing was left to folly.

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Thus, looking at the refractions on the ceiling and walls caused me to pause and thank God for His creation. Light refraction is science in real time and part of His work. We hear scientists say that science is science and God is God, and science, not God explains the universe and the development thereof. The fact is, science is not independent of God; science exists because of God.

It was a difficult path I took to move from science and Darwinism to knowing that God is the creator of the universe and all that exists in it, those things we know about and those things yet to be discovered. It was equally difficult to accept that God is all-knowing, omniscient. He is all-powerful, omnipotent. He is everywhere, omnipresent; God knows all that was, is, and will occur in our existence. But, once you are saved and your eyes are opened, you know, that you know, that you know. What do you know? You know the truth. There is nothing, and no one mightier than God, our Lord, and Savior.

Truth John 8-32

This is the day of the mysteries of God. The day of His revelations. God knows our challenges and the consequences of our designs before they happen. He sees our flaws and the wonderment that they entail. He sees our paths and promises never to forsake us or leave us to our own accord. He provides our GPS through the Holy Spirit. He gives us sight to view the refractions of light and darkness in our lives, and a lens to explore the possibilities of our discoveries and development of our own making. He gave us the authority to be ‘designers’ to plan the world around us. I’m certain he hoped that through free-will we would choose to protect the planet, universe, our lives and the lives of humanity, but He knows He gave Satan the earth, hence the home of destruction and chaos, with moments of calm. To this extent, it seems we have failed to advance the Kingdom, but as with everything, He accounted for our failure to universally recognize Him as Lord and Savior and ended His work defined in the Book of Revelation.

All of my thoughts came pouring out because I looked up and saw refraction of light dancing on my ceiling. God is beyond amazing; there are no words to define His ability to orchestrate our being. There is a song; God is an Awesome God. The title is an appropriate description and one within our context of incomprehensible.

Isaiah 55-8 My Ways Are Not Your Ways shiny

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

Refraction of light is of God’s making. God’s light passes through an interface of one medium and another. His light transcends the medium of carnality (Satan’s earth) and resides in us through His Word.

ReBlog – https://wp.me/p98Coa-AF
Images – LAB Photos; Google Images
Scriptures – Biblegateway.com

Thank you for visiting my Young Christian Warriors site and dailyinspiration-lisasthoughts.com, at the moment there is some duplication. I am working on merging the two to create one great site. Please bear with me through this process.

I Need God’s APPROVAL

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I was reading the Bible App (bible.com, YouVersion) and came across the daily devotional. The image shared Galatians 1:10, HCSB version.

The HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible) version of Galatians 1:10, last sentence, reads, “I would not be a slave of Christ.” I do not believe this is correct. A slave does not decide to be a follower. A slave is ordered to follow. God gave us free-will. Free-will negates the command to follow. Following Christ is a life-choice.

If the HCSB version implies being tied to Christ, the phrase may fit. But again, it is not a life-choice; it is an imposition.

I much prefer the versions which read, “I would not be a servant or bond-servant of Christ.”

Becoming a servant of Christ means relinquishing who we are, with who we want to become. Our purpose in life is to become like Christ. We choose to become like Christ by loving our neighbors and spreading the Good Word. We spread the Good Word through our voice, as well as our actions and deeds. Our actions and deeds should mirror Christs’ character. Though we struggle, making these changes in our life will help us become servants of Christ and relinquish trying to please others as our goal in life.

Images – YouVersion.Bible.com; google.com
Scriptures – Biblegateway.com

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Thank you for visiting my Young Christian Warriors site and dailyinspiration-lisasthoughts.com, at the moment there is some duplication. I am working on merging the two to create one great site. Please bear with me through this process.

 

Our Joy

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As children of Christ, we should no longer look outward for joy through acquisitions, people, places or things.

This is the day the Lord has made rejoice and be glad in it. Our joy is internal. It emanates outward. What we see and walk through does not dictate our joy. Our joy is the expression of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

TODAY WE PROCLAIM CHANGE

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Today is a great day to acknowledge our sins to God and the iniquity we have hidden. Today we proclaim change.

Sin blocks our fellowship with God. It keeps us from experiencing His goodness.

As humans we often repeat the sins that have been forgiven. We feel discouraged because we have difficulties overcoming them and feel we have failed. We fear we have lost fellowship with God. Good news, God is a God of many chances.

This is the day we free ourselves. Ask God to apply His forgiveness one more time and receive His mercy, this time with conviction.

Confession spiritually cleans our hearts. This is the day we proclaim victory over our sins and enter fellowship with our Lord. We will no longer carry unconfessed sin in our hearts allowing it to keep us weak, discouraged, and miserable.

“Be Glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous; shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Ps 32:11)

Image – LAB Photo
Scripture – Bible.com
Reference – Charles Stanley, Life Principles Bible, Ps 32

We Demolish Strongholds

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“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV

According to this scripture, a stronghold is a demonic hold. Strongholds are demolished through spiritual warfare. When we are in spiritual warfare, it is imperative to put on the Armor of God, because we cannot enter a battle ill-prepared.

There are two strongholds that bind believers in bondage. The first one is an incorrect perception of who God is, and the other is an inaccurate perception of who we are. (Identifying Strongholds)

According to Deliverance Ministries, a stronghold is an incorrect thinking pattern. They quote-spiritual-strongholds-begin-with-a-thought-one-thought-becomes-a-consideration-a-consideration-elisabeth-elliot-54-4-0416are built upon deception and error, perpetuated by Satan. The global news is one mechanism used to create strongholds today. Rarely do we view ‘good’ news stories. Why, because these stories would dilute the stronghold of deception, hate, oppression, and depression.

2 Corinthians 10:5 continues by expressing that “we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

The KJV uses the phrase casting down strongholds and imaginations.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.     2 Corinthians 10:4-6 KJV

Transformation - Thin WithinThe only way we can demolish strongholds is through the transformation of the way we think. Our thinking is governed by what we know, what we are taught, what we see, what we hear, and what we feel. In essence, much of what we know is informed through emotions. We must renew our minds by cleansing it of deceptions, errors, and lies by reading and studying the Word of God. We cannot allow ourselves to conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV.

So, what are common strongholds that we must break to live a Godly life? The primary strongholds are anger, fear, abandonment, shame, lying, financial lack, addictions, sensuality, depression, grief, mental instability, pride, and procrastination. These strongholds can be referred to as clusters because they group a host of similar emotions. (Charisma News)

Strongholds7Satan builds strongholds by reminding us of our past failures and sins. He keeps us in bondage threw doubt, anger, fear, and shame. He works to create an environment of self-hate and self-loathing and uses them to tear down our faith which says we are worthy. He uses our sins to gain a foothold. Extra-marital affairs are an example. There is temptation, desire, and lust, followed by action, twisting the truth, which in turn fosters shame, lying and guilt. Satan convinces us that God rejects us because of our sins and we are unworthy of God’s forgiveness and love.

Stronghold4The only way to break the stronghold is through repentance and the renewing of our mind. We must put on the Armor of God and read the scriptures that offer strength and truth to overcome our strongholds. I think we can all admit that we have experienced strongholds we are not proud of, but with prayer have overcome.

Satan tempted Jesus, he will and does tempt us. Thank God, Jesus died on the cross to take away our sin, 1 John 3:5, and He chose to forgive our sin. Hebrews 8:12.

IMPORTANT NOTE

This post only begins a conversation about strongholds, but hopefully provides an understanding of what demonic strongholds are and how they create a gulf between you and God.

The final verse in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, we must bring captive every thought to the obedience of Christ. The only way to do this is to practice living the Word of God to align ourselves with His thinking and promises that set us free. 

ReBlog – https://wp.me/p9BMGC-M8
Images – Google Images; YouVersion
Scriptures – Biblegateway.com
Resources – 
Ministering Deliverance.com; Charisma News-How to Take Down 13 Demonic Strongholds that Bind You, Mark Virkler. Chrisma.com; Identifying Strongholds, Greatbiblestudy.com; Spiritual Warfare-Tear Down Strongholds, Greatbiblestudys.com; The Battle for Your Mind, Rick Warren. desiringgod.org; WInning the Battle of Your Mind, Joseph Prince.com/blog; Prayers that Rout Demons, John Eckhardt.

Thank you for visiting my Young Christian Warriors site and dailyinspiration-lisasthoughts.com, at the moment there is some duplication. I am working on merging the two to create one great site. Please bear with me through this process.

 

Jesus Is Always The Same

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Jesus never changes, He is always the same. Throughout the day remember Jesus is always the same. Our relationship with Him is not dependent upon our feelings, expectations, or daily responsibilities.

Just thank Him when you see Him at work, which is all the time. Look for His infusion in all that you do, and in everything around you.

Our Lord lives in us, the atmosphere, and the universe.

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He is the great ‘I AM’.

  1. I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Genesis 17:11
  2. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” He said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. Genesis 26:24
  3. “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:14
  4. And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’ Exodus 6:2
  5. “I am the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:26
  6. “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. Exodus 20:2
  7. “I am merciful.” Exodus 22:27
  8. “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:6
  9. “If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 18:5
  10. “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10
  11. Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken. Isaiah 28:16
  12. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
  13. “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.” Isaiah 42:8
  14. I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord. Isaiah 43:11-12
  15. “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” Isaiah 43:13
  16. This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer and Creator: “I am the Lord, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth?” Isaiah 44:24
  17. “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:9
  18. “I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?” Isaiah 51:12
  19. “I am a God who is near,” says the Lord. “I am also a God who is far away. No one can hide where I cannot see him,” says the Lord. “I fill all of heaven and earth,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23-24
  20. “For I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen.” Ezekiel 12:25
  21. “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” Malachi 3:6
  22. Jesus answered, “I am. And in the future, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God, the Powerful One, and coming on clouds in the sky.” Mark 14:62
  23. Then Jesus said, “I am He [the Messiah]—I, the one talking to you.” John 4:26
  24. “I am the bread that gives life.” John 6:48
  25. “I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12
  26. Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!” John 8:58
  27. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
  28. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die. John 11:25
  29. Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” John 14:6
  30. “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or believe because of the miracles I have done.” John 14:11
  31. The Lord God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the One who is and was and is coming. I am the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8
  32. “I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever!” Revelation 1:18
  33. “I am coming soon. Continue strong in your faith so no one will take away your crown.” Revelation 3:111
  34. The One who was sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this, because these words are true and can be trusted.” Revelation 21:5
  35. Jesus, the One who says these things are true, says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20

He is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

Re-Blog – http://www.youngchristianwarriors.com/jesus-is-always-the-same
‭‭Images – YouVersion.Bible.com; LAB Photos
Scriptures – 35 Powerful I am Verses
References/Resources – Deb Wolf, Counting My Blessings.com

Thank you for visiting my Young Christian Warriors site and dailyinspiration-lisasthoughts.com, at the moment there is some duplication. I am working on merging the two to create one great site. Please bear with me through this process.