ABCs Father Heart of GOD "D" Disciplines

This week we are moving on to “D”, but in a way we are still on a “C” attribute of God. God chastens and disciplines those he loves. He does it with LOVE and JUSTICE.
Not a really fun or exciting topic, or is it? If you are a parent or ever took care of a small child, or actually even if you “parent” a dog or cat, one thing is for sure. We/They need training and discipline.
Say you had a pet dog, a large one or even one of those small “yippy” sorts and you never spent time training it. Can you imagine?
Have you ever considered that God’s discipline IS a form of His LOVE?
Let’s investigate!
Heb 12:6-11  NKJV
6
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
 And scourges every son whom He receives.”[a]
7 If[b] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
NLT 6
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”[a]
7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?[b]
10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

This is a long passage, so I am going to post it verse by verse and we will see what each verse is speaking to each of our hearts. OK? Please share after each verse what pops into your heart/mind.
V6 NLT For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
NKJV For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
 And scourges every son whom He receives.”

1. God disciplines those he loves
2. He also punishes according to this translation.
3. But He does this to His CHILDREN, so when we are disciplines, it’s kind of reassuring that we ARE his children and he loves us.
Comments? Questions? Ever REALLY thought about this passage?

V 7 NKJV If[b] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
NLT 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?

1. We endure it
2. Again reminded we are his own children
3. Have you ever met an undisciplined child? I have. They are miserable and make every one around them miserable. I used to think when I taught school, its too bad your mom/dad did not love you enough to teach you how to behave. Because it does take a LOT of energy and it really does hurt our hearts when we as earthly parents discipline our kids...

v 8 NKJV But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
NLT If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all

Pretty simple isn’t it?

V 9 NKJV Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
NLT Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

1. We need to submit to God’s discipline.
2. We respect God in part because He DOES CARE enough TO discipline us.
V 10 NKJV 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
NLT For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
1. Our earthly parents did the best they knew how, we if we are parents, will do the best we know how. But we are human and we will mess up. Our parents were also humans, wounded people and will apply discipline at times in a wrong manner. OR what they/we think of as discipline. It could even be or border on abuse. BUT GOD’s discipline is not tainted, it is always good for us, never abusive or too harsh because GOD himself is perfect and knows our hearts.
2. The reason God does it, is so we can share in His holiness

v 11 NKJV
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
NLT No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

That is true for sure isn’t it? Discipline or chastening does NOT at the time seem a reason for JOY, and yet….it proves God loves us, that we ARE true children of His, and not illegitimate. It is part of the necessary means to a GOOD ending. Meaning a good, full rich life in the “here and now”.

The next verse is:
Dt 32:4 NKJV He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.


Now, remember we are thinking in context of GOD disciplining us. (smile)

Anyone like to paraphrase what this speaks into your heart/mind?
1. He is perfect.
2. Everything (including His discipline) is just and fair
3. He is faithful
4. He does no wrong
5. He is just
6. He is upright

Does this make it easier to trust Him during times when we have erred and strayed and need some discipline.

Dt 8:5 5 You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.



Psalm 94:12 NKJV
Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord,
And teach out of Your law,
But AMP says: 12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law,

1 We are blessed because and when GOD disciplines and instructs us. That is interesting isn’t it. I wonder if anyone has ever actually FELT blessed during a time of instruction or discipline?


Proverbs 5:22-23 NKJV His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
And he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
AMP 22 His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked man, and he shall be held with the cords of his sin.
23 He will die for lack of discipline and instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray and be lost.

• It is interesting how different translations translate differently. Instruction is linked with discipline and chasten is also.
• It is also VERY interesting that his verse actually explains in part why we are “blessed” when we are disciplined. Do you see it? It is because, in part, it keeps us from the penality of our sin. When we are corrected and disciplines and instructed AND we choose to submit to it, or even welcome it, then we are LESS and less easily led astray.

1 Cor 11:32 NKJV 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
That is a little difficult to understand, but
AMP explains it. 32 But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined and chastened, so that we may not [finally] be condemned [to eternal punishment along] with the world.

Heb 12:10-11 NKJV 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Well that is for sure, isn’t it? While it is going on the discipline and chastening is sure NOT joyful. On the contrary it is painful.. BUT it yields PEACEable fruit. And it is good for training us.

I would like to read it also in AMP. 10 For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.
11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

Rev 3:19 NKJV 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
AMP
19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].
1. We who are DEARLY and TENDERLY loved are told our faults in order to convict us and teach us so that we will repent.
2. If we never knew/found out we were doing wrong, would we be able to repent? Change our mind and attitude?
3. As a member of the Codependency group, I learned later in life that when I did not speak up in love to say this is wrong, or not good for me to another that I was not really loving like God loves. It is hard to explain, but it truly is the LOVING thing to cease covering up sin for another and stand in love and say, “no”.

10 Questions on Exodus

1. Which plague happened to the Egyptians first?
   __ a. plague of blood
   __ b. plague of frogs
   __ c. plague of flies
   __ d. plague of gnats

2. What will be the result of: 'Honor thy father and thy mother'?
   __ a. that thy days may be long upon the land
   __ b. that the Lord may increase your numbers
   __ c. that the Lord will bless your crops
   __ d. that the Lord will bless your children's children

3. How did God use Moses to help Joshua defeat Amalek?
   __ a. he encouraged Joshua
   __ b. he prayed to God and fasted
   __ c. he went on top of a hill and lifted up his hands
   __ d. he fought bravely along side Joshua

4. Moses' brother was?
   __ a. Aaron
   __ b. Nadab
   __ c. Eleazar
   __ d. Joshua

5. What was the meat that God provided to the Israelites in the wilderness?
   __ a. doves
   __ b. locusts
   __ c. quail
   __ d. frogs

6. What did the king of Egypt tell the Hebrew midwives to do?
   __ a. bring all the baby boys to the palace to be killed
   __ b. to report the number of baby boys being born
   __ c. to kill all the newborns
   __ d. to kill all the newborn baby boys

7. How long did Moses' parents hide him from the Pharaoh?
   __ a. 1 year
   __ b. 1 month
   __ c. 7 years
   __ d. 3 months

8. What tribe was Moses from?
   __ a. Zebulun
   __ b. Simeon
   __ c. Levi
   __ d. Manasseh

9. Fill in the blanks: 'And he gave unto Moses two tables of _________, tables of _____, written with the finger of God.'
   __ a. stone, commandments
   __ b. testimony, rock
   __ c. commandments, stone
   __ d. testimony, stone

10. Why was Passover celebrated?
   __ a. to remember how God has forgiven sin
   __ b. to give thanks for the harvest
   __ c. as a reminder of God's deliverance from Egypt
   __ d. it's a yearly purging of national sin

Can Satan read our minds / know our thoughts?

Question: "Can Satan read our minds / know our thoughts?"

Answer: First, it is important for us to remember that Satan is not omnipresent “ he cannot be in more than one place at a time. Only God is everywhere, only God knows everything, while Satan must rely on his army of demons to do his bidding.

Can Satan and/or his demons read our minds? Scripture does not say specifically whether or not Satan can read our minds. The Bible does teach us that Satan indeed is very powerful. Likely he was the highest of all the fallen angels, as he was persuasive enough to convince one third of the angels to join him in his rebellion (Revelation 12:4). Even after his fall from heaven, not even Michael the archangel dared to confront him without the Lord's help (Jude 9). Satan is the the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient (Ephesians 2:2b). Believers are exhorted Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7b).

The Bible gives us no reason to believe Satan and his demons can read our minds. Clearly that would take a measure of omnipresence and omniscience, which they do not have. However, Satan and his demons have been observing and tempting human beings for thousands of years. In addition, they can overhear our speech when we talk to others (and to ourselves!). Surely they have learned a few things about us over the years. Even without the ability to know our thoughts, they can probably make a well-educated guess as to what we are thinking, and then attempt to use it to their advantage. That is why we are commanded to Submit yourselves, then, to God (James 4:7a), before we are told to Resist the devil (James 4:7b).

Open Heart Closed Heart...

Welcome to the Wednesday Morning Bible Study. We have been looking at verses about strongholds. The dictionary defines stronghold two ways, as a walled city, a fortress to which we flee for safety and also as a way of thinking which we defend and cling to tenaciously.
Review:

We looked at walls and how we build them as children in order to help us cope with the world around us. When I first learned about this I was teaching school. Some children have more walls than others because some children have a more difficult home life than others. We can be either an “open” person or a “closed” person. Especially in our hearts. We can have an open heart, ready and willing to receive from God and then give forth from the bountiful supply He has given us to others. Or we can have a closed heart. In the scripture Ezekiel speaks of this. Ez 36:26-27 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Also Ez 11:19-20
19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them,[a] and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
One of my favorite passages is Jer 24:7 AMP And I will give them a heart to know (recognize, understand, and be acquainted with) Me, that I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.
NKJV 7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.
After learning about closed and open hearts, I decided to test it out. I KNEW mine had been closed for so long, this was the time when God was teaching me to allow Him to show me and to touch, heal and begin to restore my heart to the “original” design as He, God intended.
I had bus duty at work, which meant I was supposed to “control” the kids as they exited the school bus. Some of our kids came from a “project”. Some came from a rich neighborhood and others just from a normal neighborhood.
I greeted each child and attempted to try to make eye contact. Some neighborhood buses had a lot more open kids than others. Some children, whose lives were in general a lot tougher, were so closed. They got off either way too loud and boisterous or silent, eyes at the ground, unable to make or unwilling to make eye contact or speak back when greeted.
 The next day, I bribed them with a treat. As time went on, the closed children began to trust me and were able to make eye contact and respond when I spoke to them.
Then I went to VBS as an intercessor. I watched the children come in. I repeated the experiment.
Remember GOD was teaching me about myself too.
As expected, there were very few children who were closed in this group. What was the difference? GOD. Knowing and being taught that GOD (somebody) loves them, that they have value and are wanted.
Isn’t that amazing?
Think about yourself…is your heart open or closed? First to God and then to “others”.
Comments?
See the interesting thing is that if we have walls around our heart to protect OURSELF then those walls do help keep hurt out. BUT they also keep love out. Love from God and love from people as well. God told me I do not get to pick and choose what comes inside the walls. Either I could invite him and cooperate with him to take them down, or I could keep them. But as long as I kept them intact, it severely inhibited my ability to “feel” God and His Love in a tangible emotions attached manner.

We then spent some time talking about GOOD strongholds. We do need protection from the onslaught of the world and Satan. There will be times when life simply is overwhelming, especially once we have invited God to exchange our stony heart, or walled off heart (smile), for a heart of flesh that is tender and able to “feel”.
We learned that as we begin to feel safe in the care of our Abba, we are safe to invite Him to help us tear down our walls that we built to defend our stony heart. It is safe, you know, to invite God in because there is NO SECRET thing hidden in our heart from God. There are reasons for the strongholds we have built. God is aware of that, He tells us so in scripture. Psalm 44:21
Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
Psalm 139:23
Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
Jeremiah 17:10
I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
As children, when most walls (ways of self defense vs God’s defense) are built we do not have any better way to cope. Things happened to us as being children and egocentric, we did as all children do, we began to built up thought patterns and habits based on a child’s resources and perceptions.
Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

The Good News About Grace

James 2:10
“The person who keeps every law of God but makes one little slip is just as guilty
as the person who has broken every law there is.”  James 2:10 (TLB)
1. WHAT IS GUILT?
“My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.”  Psalm 38:4
(NIV)
Guilt is a warning light.
We try to ignore it or pretend it’s not there.
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF GUILT:
•  Genuine guilt
•  False guilt
“You began your life in Christ by the Spirit.  Now are you trying to make it
complete by your own power?  That is foolish.”  Galatians 3:3
THREE TESTS TO DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
TRUE AND FALSE GUILT
•  Is the focus on people or God?
Dr. Paul Tournier:  “False guilt is that which comes as the results of judgments
and the suggestions of men.”
•  Is it vague or is it specific?
Satan is foggy – God is specific.
•  Is it rules or relationships?
I broke the rules – or – I hurt someone.
The rules become more important than the relationships.

False guilt blinds us to the miraculous work of God and it binds us to the
meticulous rules of men.
2. OUR WAYS OF HANDLING GUILT
“…they sewed fig leaves together and made something to cover themselves …
they hid from the Lord God … I was afraid because I was naked … she gave me
fruit from the tree, so I ate it.”  Genesis 3:7-12 (NCV)
THREE WAYS WE NORMALLY RESPOND
•  We often respond with shame.
•  Hiding
•  Blame
3. GOD’S WAY OF HANDLING GUILT:  GRACE
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness.”  I John 1:9
1.  Confess your sins.
When it comes to sin we do one of two things – cover up or face up.
“God you know what I have done wrong.  I cannot hide my guilt from you.”
Psalm 69:5 (NCV)
TO WHOM DO WE CONFESS?
•  TO GOD
•  TO OTHERS
Telling God means more than just admitting.  The literal meaning of this word is
“saying the same thing about it that God says.”
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you.”
James 5:16
2.  Trust God’s Character
“…He is faithful and just …”
“Let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have
been made free from a guilty conscience.”  Heb. 10:22 (NCV)
3.  Accept God’s Forgiveness

“…and cleanse us from all unrighteousness…”
“People who believe in God’s Son are not judged guilty.”  John 3:18 (TLB)
God not only wants to free you of your guilt, He wants to use you in a new way.
That’s the good news about Grace.
“I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them.  I said to
myself, I will confess them to the Lord and you forgave me.  All my guilt is gone.”
Psalm 32:5 (TLB)

“God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally
finished.”  Phil.  1:6 (NLT)
As your pastor, I don’t want to just get you into heaven – I want to help you finish
the race of life well.
“My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that the grace of God
is with you no matter what happens.”  I Peter 5:11 (NLT)
Sustaining Grace is the power to keep on going when I feel like giving up.
GOD’S SUSTAINING GRACE…
1.  … HELPS ME KEEP STANDING WHEN I’M TEMPTED.
“Watch out for attacks from the devil, your great enemy.  He prowls around like a
roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him
and so be strong in the faith.”  I Peter 5:8
Moral choices are called temptations.
You will never outgrow temptation.
“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses for He faced all of the
same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne
of our gracious Lord. There we will receive His mercy and we will find grace to
help us when we need it.”  Heb 4:15 (NLT)
If Jesus was tempted and he never sinned, it means it’s not a sin to be tempted.
It’s a sin to give in to temptation.
ONE MAJOR AREA OF TEMPTATION – SEXUAL TEMPTATION
People confuse attraction with lust – they are not the same thing.
Lust is when you take a thought and begin to dwell on it in your mind and you
begin to mentally have an affair with that person; you begin to fantasize with that
person and to imagine, “What would it be like with that person?”

“The temptations that you have are the same ones that all people have.  But you
can trust God.  He will not let you be tempted more than you can stand.  When
you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape. Then you will be able
to stand it.”  I Cor. 10:13 (ICB)
If temptations are common to man, that means there are common solutions.
2.  … HELPS ME KEEP STANDING WHEN I’M TIRED.
Sometimes I’m not tempted – I’m just tired.
“Let us not grow weary in doing right for we will reap a harvest of blessing if we
do not give up.”  2 Thess. 3:13
“It is God who gives us the ability to stand firm for Christ.  He has commissioned
us and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts.”
2 Cor. 1:21-22 (NLT)
“For God is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve His
purpose.”  Phil. 2:13 (Ph)
The Christian life is not a matter of your willpower, but a matter of God’s will and
God’s power in your life.
3.  … HELPS ME KEEP STANDING WHEN I’M TROUBLED.
The most difficult kinds of trouble to handle are the troubles, the problems in life,
that are unplanned, unrelenting, and undeserved.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
•  Stop doing the “if only” game
•  Start focusing on Christ
“So don’t worry, because I am with you.  Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.
I will make you strong and will help you. I will support you with my right hand that
saves you.”  Isaiah 41:10 (NCV)
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU CAN’T FIX AN UNFIXABLE PROBLEM?
You throw yourself on the Sustaining Grace of God.
HOW DO I RECEIVE GOD’S SUSTAINING GRACE?
•  Call out to God

“God gives grace to the humble, so give yourselves completely to God…Draw
close to God and God will draw close to you.”  James 4:6-8 (NCV, NLT)
•  Fill your mind with God’s Word
“I am completely discouraged.  Revive me by your Word.”  Psalm 19:25 (NLT)
•  Accept support from God’s people.
You need a support group.  God never meant for you to go through life on your
own.  You’re not a Lone Ranger.
“By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the Law of Christ.”  Gal.
6:2 (NCV)
•  Hold on to God’s Promises
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even
youths grow tired … but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary, they will
walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV)
“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather we look forward to
what we have not yet seen.  For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the
joys to come will last forever.”  2 Cor. 4:18 (NLT)
“I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me.  But He said
to me, My grace is enough for you.  When you are weak, then My power is made
perfect in you.”  2 Cor. 12:8-9 (ICB)
When you’re going through a problem you can’t fix – don’t give up – LOOK UP

Everyone has hurts, emotional scars or hidden wounds which have usually been
caused by rejection.
“God heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.”  Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
HOW DOES GOD HEAL A BROKEN HEART?
BY CHANGING THE WAY WE THINK
•  About God
•  About pain
•  About ourselves
“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”  Proverbs 23:7
HOW GOD SEES ME BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE
1.  I AM ACCEPTABLE
“…Christ has accepted you.”  Romans 15:7 (NIV)
“You have been chosen by God Himself.”  I Peter 2:9 (LB)
“Even if my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will receive me.”  Psalm
27:10 (NIV)
If God accepts me, and you don’t, that’s your problem.
2.  I AM VALUABLE.
I am valuable because of His grace.
Your value has no relationship to your valuables.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT DETERMINE VALUE IN LIFE
•  Who owns it.
“You belong to God…”  I John 4:4
Everyone is created by God, but everyone does not belong to God.
•  What someone is willing to pay for it.
How much was paid for you?
“You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to Him.”  I Cor. 7:23
(LB)
God says: You are valuable enough that I will give my own Son to die for you.
“God says, ‘You are precious to me.’”  Isaiah 43:4 (GN)
3.  I AM LOVABLE.
“The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end, so
says the Lord who loves you.”  Is. 54:10 (GN)
Two characteristics that make God’s love different from human love:
1.  God’s love is consistent.
2.  God’s love is unconditional.
4.  I AM FORGIVABLE.
“I am the God who forgives your sins and I do this because of who I am. I will not
hold your sins against you.”  Is. 43:25 (GN)
God doesn’t carry grudges.
“…Through what Christ would do for us, God decided to make us holy in His
eyes, without a single fault – we stand before Him covered with His love.”  Eph.
1:4 (LB)
When Jesus died on the cross, which sins did He die for? All of them.
5.  I AM CAPABLE.

“I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me.  I am ready for
anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me,
that is, I am self sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.”  Phil. 4:3 (Amp)
Anytime anything besides God is number one in your life, you’re going to be
plagued with insecurity.
“Once you were less than nothing; now you are God’s own.”  2 Peter 2:10 (LB)
“May the God of hope fill you with joy that by the power of the Holy Spirit your
whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope.”  I Peter 2:10 (LB)
SUMMARY:
To a large degree the way you see yourself and the way you feel about yourself
is determined by what you think the most important person in your life thinks
about you.  If that is true, I want to suggest that you make Jesus Christ the most
important person in your life.  He says you are acceptable, valuable, lovable,
forgivable, and capable.

Perfect love casts out fear

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
May 26, 1985 | by John Piper | Scripture: 1 John 4:17–19 | Topic: Fear & Anxiety
1 John 4:17–19
In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.
Verse 17 tells us how to have something everybody wants to have. And verse 18 tells us how to get rid of something everybody wants to get rid of.
Confidence Before God
In verse 17 John tells us how to have confidence or boldness on the day of judgment. And in verse 18 he tells us how to cast fear out of our lives. These are simply positive and negative ways of saying the same thing: getting rid of fear is the negative way of saying become confident.
So the main point of the text is clear: John wants to help us enjoy confidence before God. He does not want us to be paralyzed or depressed by fear of judgment. Nothing would make John happier (1:4) than to produce a generation of Christians who were utterly confident that God would accept them on the judgment day.
Taking the Day of Judgment Seriously
I hope we all take the day of judgment as seriously as John does. I sometimes wonder if we have abandoned real belief in God's judgment and in the torment of hell which our Lord Jesus spoke of so vividly and so often (Matthew 5:22, 29f.; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; 10:15; 11:22–24; 12:36–42; John 5:22–30). The word "hell" (gehenna) is used 12 times in the New Testament—11 of them on the lips of Jesus. And besides that, he spoke of judgment and "the day of judgment" just as John does in 1 John 4:17. For example, Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 10:14.,
And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
The Lord has warned us so clearly: it is appointed unto man once to die and after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). He has spoken vividly of the horror of hell,
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:47–48)
Approaching the Day of Judgment with Confidence

According to 1 John 4:17–18 there is a way to approach the day of judgment with fearless confidence. No one who is willing to follow John's teaching needs to be frightened at the approach of death. None of us who accepts this teaching will have to approach the judgment seat of God with our fingers crossed, wondering if we are going to make it. John wrote this book to give us "confidence for the day of judgment" and to "cast out fear."
How does it happen?
Three Clauses in Verse 17
Notice, there are three clauses in verse 17:
1.17a, "In this is love perfected with us,"
2.17b, "that we may have confidence for the day of judgment,"
3.17c, "because as he is so are we in this world."
It says that the result of having love perfected with us (17a) is confidence for the day of judgment (17b); and it says that the reason perfected love gives confidence is that it shows that we are like Christ (17c).
Let's take them one at a time.
1. What Is Perfected Love?
17a) What is perfected love? "In this is love perfected with us." What does "this" refer to? The words just before it say, "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. In this is love perfected with us." So I would take the "this" to refer to our abiding in love or abiding in God and God's abiding in us—when you abide in love, love is perfected in you.
God's Abiding in Us and Our Abiding in Love
What this means you can see from the connection in 4:12. The same two ideas are both here: God's abiding in us and love being perfected in us. "No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." In other words perfected love refers to God's love in us coming to completion or coming into action as we love each other. "If we love one another . . . his love is perfected in us." So "perfected love" is the love of God expressing itself in our love to each other.
Not Flawless Perfection
It is very important that we understand this, because it is different from what most people think of when they hear the word "perfected." Most people, when they say something has been perfected, mean that it was changed from a state of flawed imperfection into a state of flawless perfection. But the Greek word that John uses (teleioo) does not usually mean that in the New Testament. In the New Testament the word generally means finished, or completed, or accomplished. When something, like a trip or an assignment, attains its goal, it is said to be "perfected."

Other Uses of the Word for "Perfected"
For example the same word is used in John 4:34 where Jesus says, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work." The word "accomplish" here is the same word which in 1 John 4:12 and 17 is translated "perfected." It does not mean that Jesus took the flawed work of God and made it flawless. It means that he took an assignment of God and turned it into action and so completed it (see John 5:36).
In John 19:28 it says that Jesus said, "I thirst" in order to "fulfill" the Scriptures. The word translated "fulfill" is the same as the one translated "perfected" in 1 John 4:12 and 17. It does not mean take a flawed Scripture and make it flawlessly perfect. It means take a Scripture promise and put it into action and so complete it.
James 2:22 is a very important parallel. "You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works." The word behind "completed" is the same as the word behind "perfected" in our text. How do works perfect faith? Not by making it flawless faith but by making it active faith. In other words faith is imperfect until it reaches its goal in good works. Then we can speak of it as "perfected" faith—not because it is flawless and beyond the need for improvement, but because it has attained the goal of action.
A journey can be complete or finished even if it is not a flawless journey. That is the way Paul uses the word for "perfect" in Acts 20:24—"If only I might accomplish my course and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus!" He did not mean that he expected to have a flawless ministry. He meant that he fully expected to finish putting into action what the Lord had assigned him to do—even if it was not "perfect" in our usual sense of our word.
God's Love Reaching Its Appointed Goal
Now we come back to 1 John 4:12. It says, "If we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us." Following the normal usage of the word, we would take this to mean NOT that our love for each other is a flawless expression of God's love, but that it is God's love being put into action—God's love reaching its appointed goal in practical human love. Perfected love is not just an incomplete idea or emotion or potential in the heart. It is completed, accomplished, put into action—and in that sense "perfected."
So the meaning of the first clause of 1 John 4:17 would go like this: "In this, that is in your love for each other, God's love is put into action and so reaches its appointed goal. It does not remain at the imperfect stage of mere talk, but reaches the stage of action."
So in these verses perfected love is not flawless love. Perfected love is when you don't just talk about the need to share Christ, you do it. It's when you don't just talk about the hungry, you feed them. It's when you don't just talk about floundering new believers, you disciple them. And so on.

2. How Is Confidence Gained for the Day of Judgment?
17b) Now the second clause of the verse says that the result of having love perfected with us is that we have confidence for the day of judgment. "In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment."
By Putting God's Love into Action for Others
In view of what we have seen now about perfected love, how is it that we gain confidence for the day of judgment? Answer: by putting God's love into action for other people. We don't gain confidence because we are sinlessly perfect in the way we love. That would contradict 1:7–10 ("If we say we do not have sin, we deceive ourselves") and we have seen that it is not what the word "perfected" means. We don't gain confidence by being sinlessly perfect. We gain confidence by putting our money where our mouth is.
Love Not in Word or Speech but in Deed and Truth
The flow of thought is very much like 3:18–19. "Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth." That is the same as saying, "Little children, let the love of God be perfected in you. Let the rubber hit the road. Complete your talk with your walk."
And what will be the result in the next verse? The same as in 4:17. "By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us." In other words the way to have confidence before God on the day of judgment is to love each other with the perfected love of God—that is, love that doesn't just talk but turns into deeds. (See also Matthew 5:7; 6:14; 7:1; James 2:13.)
The Recurring Theme of the Book
So this text is not teaching anything contrary to the thrust of the whole book—loving each other is the reassuring evidence that we are truly born of God and bound for eternal life: "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren" (3:14). Today's text simply stresses the same thing that 3:18–19 did, namely, that the love which can give us confidence before God is not mere talk but love that has been perfected into action—"not in mere word or speech, but in deed and in truth."
3. Why Does Active Love Give Us Confidence?
17c) The last clause of verse 17 says that the reason active (i.e., perfected) love gives confidence for the day of judgment is that it shows that we are like Jesus. "In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world."
Having the Spirit of Jesus

The assumption is that at the judgment day God won't condemn people who are like his Son. Living a life of active love shows that we have the Spirit of Jesus. It shows we belong to the family of God. And that gives us confidence before God. You can't live at odds with the character of Jesus and then expect to have any confidence when you stand before his Father at the final judgment. But if the current of your life is like his, you can have confidence before his Father.
Seen Throughout the Book
We can see the same sequence of thought in 2:28
And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that every one who does right is born of him.
In other words, the way to be sure that you are born of him and that you will have confidence when he comes to judge the world is to abide in him (v. 28) and thus do right as he is righteous (v. 29). "As he is so are we in the world."
1 John 3:2–3 argues the same way:
Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Notice the tremendous confidence of verse 2: we know we will be like him when he comes! That's boldness at the day of judgment! Now what is the proof of this confident hope? Verse 3: "Every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." The proof is the same as in 4:17, "As he is so are we in the world." We share his purity and so assure ourselves that we truly hope in him.
Summary of Verse 17
To sum up verse 17, we can paraphrase it like this: When you love each other with love that is more than just talk, when the love of God reaches its practical goal of action in your life, you will experience a deep and unshakable confidence before God. Much talk of love with few deeds of love destroys assurance. We've all experienced this from time to time. Our conscience condemns us because we think of deeds of love and don't do them.
But if we put our money where our mouth is, or put our time where our tongue is, then we will have a deep sense of the reality of our own faith and will feel confident for the day of judgment, because then we are acting the way Jesus acted.
The Same Thing at Stake in Verse 18
Now for verse 18.

It seems to me that exactly the same thing is at stake in verse 18 as in verse 17—how to get rid of fear about the day of judgment. Verse 17 is positive: how to have confidence for the day of judgment. Verse 18 is negative: how not to have fear for the day of judgment. And both give the same answer: "perfect" or "perfected" love. Verse 18:
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.
The Negative of Verse 17
Let's look at the last part first: "He who fears is not perfected in love." This is the exact negative of verse 17. Verse 17 says that when love is perfected with us, we have confidence. Verse 18 says that when we are not perfected in love, we don't have confidence, we fear!
If we have been on the right track so far, we can say that a person "perfected in love" is not a person who loves flawlessly. He is a person who loves "in deed and truth and not just in words." In these verses perfection has to do with completion not flawlessness. "Perfect love" is love that does not die on the vine. It's love that comes to fruition. It's love that goes beyond desire and is completed (i.e., perfected) in a deed.
So the first part of the verse (18) says, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment." In other words the reason there is no fear in love is that there is no threat of punishment for being a loving person. When you love someone with real practical deeds, you never hear a warning signal that says, "You're going to get punished for this." Fear is what you feel when you have done something that ought to be punished. But love is never threatened with punishment. So there is no fear in love.
On the contrary, when you love each other with "perfect love" (i.e., with the love of God overflowing and being completed in action)—when you love each other like this, it casts out fear! The way to boldness, the way to confidence and fearlessness, is to walk love not just talk love. Love is perfected not when it is sinlessly flawless but when it passes from talk to walk.
A Chief Reason Why Many Have Little Confidence
Brothers and sisters, one of the main reasons why so many professing Christians have little confidence with God and little boldness with men is that their lives are not devoted in love to the salvation of the lost and to the glory of God, but instead are devoted (often by sheer default) to providing earthly security and comfort for themselves and their families.

When we try to say that we are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ, and yet we do not devote our lives to the eternal good of other people, there is a deep contradiction within that gnaws away at our souls and dissolves our confidence and leaves us feeling weak and inauthentic.
John wants us to discover—that a life poured out in the labors of love for the eternal good of other people yields a sure consciousness of doing good, a deep peace of mind and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter!
And where will you find the power to do that?
God Loves First in Jesus Christ
Verse 19: "As for us, we love because he first loved us." Our acts of love on behalf of others never cause God's love to be initiated towards us. It is always the reverse. God loves first. Then we know and believe the love God has for us (v. 16). Trusting the love that he has for us in Jesus Christ, he abides in us and HIS love overflows into action and is perfected with us. And we have confidence for the day of judgment.
It all begins with the love of God. "We love because he first loved us." If you lack the power to love, look to the cross of Christ and let the love of God for sinners fill you with hope.
Added Note: Confidence and the Forgiveness of Sins
Of course confidence before God MUST include a sense of the forgiveness of our sins through the death of Jesus. The way this relates to active love as the basis of our confidence is as follows.
1 John 1:7 says, "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."
Here two things are combined to secure our cleansing from sin: one is the blood of Jesus; the other is walking in the light. Only one atones for sin, namely, the blood of Jesus. But it does not atone for everyone. It atones for those who walk in the light.
So our confidence before God on the day of judgment is based on the blood of Jesus as the atoning force that takes away all our sins, AND on a certain kind of "walk"—not because this walk atones for our sins at all, but because it confirms the genuineness of our faith. It confirms that we are in fact savingly related to Christ whose blood cleanses us from all sin.
Walking in the light and being perfected in love are the same thing. Neither atones for sin. Both certify that we are born of God and so attached to Christ in such a way that his blood avails for us.
May we all walk in the light of our salvation.  Thank you.  God bless you all.  The room is open for general fellowship.

ABC's Father Heart of God "C" (continued)

Feb 4, 2013
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

SONG: I Have a Maker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXsiWoyjw60

Song : I Will Change Your Name http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liOzd21u5MY

Welcome to the Monday night Bible Study. We all have heart places where we need a touch from GOD. God has give us ALL we need to live the life which he has given us to live. However, along the way many of us have developed false ideas about Who God is and who we are also. We “see” God not as he really is, but as we “think/perceive” Him to be. In order to heal, we need to know who God really is. For myself it has been a process of replacing lies…deception really about the TRUE Nature and Character of God with the truth, which is found in scripture.
The objectives when we meet on Monday night are to look at the Word to see what it is telling us about the Heart of Our Father, God. We do that by posting verses on a characteristic of GOD and then asking ourselves 3 questions. 1. What does this verse say about GOD, His nature and character? 2. What is going saying about me or to me? And 3. What is my heart response?
Since we all have stories to tell of times God has met us and touched our heart, at any time, please feel free to share you story as it relates to the topic of the week and the verse we are looking at. We learn so much from one another’s stories about God. Our God is personal, relational and when we share what GOD has done for us, we build up our own faith, as well as open the faith of another.

So far we have discussed: The ABC’s Of Father God’s heart and so far...
A - Abba My Father is my Abba, Papa-God. I am His beloved child. (‪Rom. 8:15, ‪Gal. 4:4-7, ‪John 1:12, Jam. 1:18)
B - Bless
My Father blesses me with every heavenly gift. (‪Eph. 1:3)
C- Carry
( My Father gathers me in His arms and carries me all my life. (‪Isa. 40:11, ‪46:3-4; Dt. 1:31)

The next “C” characteristics of God are that he “C” CHOSE each of us. He also “C” comforts us.

‪I know some of you really really prefer KJV or NKJV, so if someone wants to post in that version, feel free. I use AMP a lot when I study and really want heart knowledge because it sort of explains the meaning of the words in the context and is the version that speaks to my heart.

Eph 1:3-6
AMP 3May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! 4Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. 5For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [[a]because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]--
6[So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

NLT 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

Right off the bat, I want to say, we are not going to discuss predestination tonight. Maybe some other time, or maybe some other bible leader will do so. For tonight we are simply looking to see what this says about GOD personally to each of us.
God: He is deserving of ALL praise…He HAS blessed us with EVERY SPIRITUAL blessing…He LOVED each one of us PERSONALLY BEFORE he even created the world. He CHOSE each one of us, you and me to be holy and without fault (blameless) in His sight. He can see us that way because of the atoning work of Jesus for us on the cross. He CHOSE in ADVANCE to ADOPT us by bringing us to Himself (again via Jesus). GOD WANTED to do this, WANTED each one of us… CHOSE each one of us. God chose you all and me with Purpose and INTENT.
Isn’t that amazing?
US: All I see here on our part is to receive that which GOD has designed and planned and purposed for us…
Heart Response?

When it seems the world and everyone you wish loved you has hurt, wounded, discarded you, or paid no attention to you…when your and my heart is broken….we can look back to the TRUTH in Eph. 1:3-6. GOD CHOSE us. We are wanted, chosen, planned for.

Two other verses about God WHO CHOSE us ‪Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
God: Knew us and approved of us BEFORE he formed us. We/YOU personally  are CHOSEN, Wanted (desired) and approved to “be” who ever GOD created you to be.
Imagine!!! If our heart really believed that every moment of every day, even when things were falling apart all around us would we act/react differently? If we really really heart-knew all the time that we are CHOSEN sons and daughters of Abba, would we be able to live life from a different perspective?

Can anyone think of a time when things were hard and you suddenly remembered, “Wait, God still loves me and wants me.”
‪Jer 29:11
11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
God: He KNOWS the thoughts and the plans he has for us. His plans are for our good, for peace and NEVER for evil. God desires to give us hope “in the final outcome”. Which is being in heaven with him forever, I think.
Any comments?
Us: Remember what we “know”. LOL. I tend to forget at times, but when I do forget, I can use the Word to remind and encourage my heart.

The last “C” we will consider is COMFORT.
I remember once… a long time ago…I never admitted to myself, really never realized how desperate my heart had been all my life for comfort. Then God highlighted that passage in Matthew 5:4, where he says (NKJV) Blessed are those who mourn,
    For they shall be comforted. As long I was unwilling to face the extend of my need for God to COMFORT me, he was hampered in doing so. When I began to mourn, for hurts given to me and for hurts (sin) I had inflicted upon others, THEN I began to know the Comfort of GOD.
Anyone want to share?

‪Psalm 69:16
Hear and answer me, O Lord, for Your loving-kindness is sweet and comforting; according to Your plenteous tender mercy and steadfast love turn to me.
God: he is loving and kind and sweet (ever think of God as sweet?) and comforting. He desires to show tender mercy and steadfast love to us.

Us: let him? Come to him?

Steadfast is an interesting word. It means steady, unwavering and fast means like super glue. So God because his love is steadfast (we cant unstick it) wants to comfort us.

Before we go on, let’s pray. Father GOD, Abba who loves us, if there is some hidden place in any heart here which needs your comfort, please open that place just now so that we can heart-receive from you revelation and the comfort you desire to give us. And  Lord if there is someone here who needs comfort right now, would you begin to do that as they open their heart to you? Thank you GOD, in Jesus name amen.

‪Psalm 94:19
In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!
God: His comforts (plural) cheer and delight our soul. You know what else I see? God is NOT angry when we have even a multitude of anxious thoughts that need his comfort. In fact in this verse God is in a way acknowledging that he KNOWS we can have those.

NEAT?

Have you ever been afraid or scared to go to God because you had so many “anxious” thoughts rolling around in your brain?
Has anyone got an example to share with us?
US: admit what we are thinking and turn to GOD and see what He will do.



Isn’t this a NEAT verse? Which is a prayer as well? Would anyone like this to their own personal prayer need?
You know I am thinking. Sometimes we feel so guilty for needing comfort. Sometimes we might think our problem is too small or too big or for some reason we are not “worth” being comforted. Anyone ever think like that besides me? But do ANY of these verses put any condition out there limiting God’s desire TO COMFORT us?
God..again we see “steadfast love” and mercy and kindness and a promise to COMFORT us.
US: yet again look to GOD, expect his comfort to be available.
Xxxxxxxxxxx feb 11



‪Isaiah 49:13
Sing for joy, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, and break forth into singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion upon His afflicted.
God: Comfort and LOL another “C” word. Compassionate.
Matthew 9:36.
Matthew 9:36
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

I think we will just read the rest unless anyone has a comment and let GOD speak from His Word, directly into our hearts.

‪Isaiah 51:3
For the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song or instrument of praise.

‪ ****Isaiah 51:12
I, even I, am He Who comforts you. Who are you, that you should be afraid of man, who shall die, and of a son of man, who shall be made [as destructible] as grass,

‪Isaiah 52:9
Break forth joyously, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem!
Note we are aka as Jerusalem.

‪Matthew 5:4 The AMP version of an earlier verse.
Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!

‪****John 14:26
But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

‪2 Corinthians 1:2-4
2Grace (favor and spiritual blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement),
4Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.

In Memory of Sara Reid

As most have heard, sjreid has passed on to be our heavenly Father very recently.  I thought it appropriate to reflect on this, our lives as believers and others grieving the loss.  As you know, we all eventually will lose loved ones close to us.  I hope this encourages you in the Lord as we acknowledge the loss and celebrate the home going of our beloved sister in Christ.
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-answers/dealing-with-death-of-loved-one.htm
The death of a loved one is heartbreaking. And each bereavement has its special set of sorrows and other strong emotions. There is the sorrow that comes suddenly and shockingly with an unexpected death, and there is the long sorrow of gradually losing someone during a terminal illness. The untimely death of a child is especially devastating.
Consider a man and wife who have had a long and loving marriage. As God told Adam and Eve, they have become "one flesh." When one dies, the surviving spouse usually feels forsaken, empty, lonely and torn in two. And, of course, similar feelings are evoked when any loved one dies.
When you love someone, you become vulnerable to the sorrow that comes from losing that person. But love is all-important, and God doesn't want us to hold back on loving people to avoid future grief. The Bible also makes it clear that our grief will be temporary, while our joy will be forever! The Bible gives us the hope of a fabulous future when we will be reunited with our loved ones!
Dealing With the Death of a Loved One
Here we'll study what the Bible reveals about death, about God's promise of life after death, how to comfort one another and how to obtain God's gift of comfort and peace.
Don Hooser, a minister in Washington, relates this story about his family:
"In 1952, when I was 11, my brother Roddy died. At age 3½, he was a super cute and lovable kid. Our family was devastated. No one close to me had ever died (except my beloved pet dog). It felt like the end of the world. Today I still choke up when I talk about Roddy.
"Over the years, I have often reflected on how God used Roddy's death to work together for much good (Romans 8:28).
"The most profound effect on our family was a greater seriousness about God and the Bible. Even though I didn't stay serious throughout my teen years, always in the back of my mind was the thought: 'I've got to do whatever it takes to see Roddy again.' I know that thought was a major factor in making me, at age 21, receptive to God's calling.
"After that I introduced my three brothers to God's truth, which led to them, one by one, coming into God's Church. Since then we brothers have been blessed with marriage and children, so the knowledge of God's wonderful truth is being passed on to children and grandchildren. Roddy's death has had a profound, far-reaching effect."
Hope and Comfort
Let's go straight to the most comforting truth in all the Bible—God's revelation regarding the resurrections from the dead! The Bible says that at the return of Jesus Christ, everyone who has been a faithful follower of Him will be raised in the "first resurrection" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:6).
What is the primary way that the Bible portrays death?
John 11:11
He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."
John goes on to relate how Jesus raised Lazarus from death to life (John 11:12-45). In the Bible, death is often referred to as sleep—a total lack of consciousness (Psalm 13:3; Ecclesiastes 9:5). The beautiful metaphor of sleep emphasizes the fact that the first death is temporary and that everyone who dies will be awakened! This understanding of death is much more comforting than all the unbiblical and erroneous ideas about death.
When someone dies, family and friends often suffer with regrets and feelings of guilt about things they had said or done, or things they neglected to say or do. But God doesn't want us to beat ourselves up about the past. He wants us to repent of our sins and look forward to our reunion in the next life with our loved ones.
Does the Bible portray death as an enemy?
1 Corinthians 15:22, 26
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive…
The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
God created us with a kind of instinct for self-preservation, and the Bible portrays death as our enemy. But after the return of Christ, "death [will be] swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54).
A person who is close to God can, in one sense, look forward to death, as Paul did (Philippians 1:21-24). But what he or she is really looking forward to is not death itself, but waking up with a new spirit body in God's Kingdom!
What does the Bible say about grieving over the death of a loved one?
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
1 Thessalonians 4:13
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

It's normal and healthy to grieve when we lose the companionship of a loved one. Those who repress grief rather than expressing it suffer more emotional problems in the long run. But healthy grieving depends on facing the reality of death. In today's humanistic culture that is obsessed with prolonging human life, many people avoid preparing for death or even discussing this topic. Feeling it is taboo to even say the word "died," people will use a euphemism like "passed." Denying death makes it harder for people to grieve and support one another and heal.
Those who truly understand the Bible feel and express grief, not fear and despair; their hope and faith give them great comfort. The apostle Paul, right after explaining about the promise of the resurrection, said, "Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
(During a time of grief, please avoid two common and serious mistakes: Don't try to "drown your sorrows" with alcohol or drugs. And don't neglect your sleep and good nutrition. Getting sick will only greatly add to your stress.)
Is God pleased with reminiscing, crying and laughing?
Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
John 11 tells the story of Lazarus's death and resurrection. Notice that not only did Jesus not criticize the family and friends of Lazarus for weeping, He also wept (John 11:35). The Bible teaches us to sympathize and empathize with others who are grieving. After someone's death, it is important for loved ones and friends to spend time together and to reminisce and talk about their precious memories—memories that bring forth warm reflection, tears and laughter. When someone wants to talk about a deceased loved one, be an attentive listener. Don't change the subject.
How do our trials and sorrows prepare us to help others?
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Our trials benefit us if we learn compassion for others, and the comfort we receive should teach us how to give comfort. We especially mustn't overlook the needs of children or hide death from them. After a death, they often don't know what to think and say, what questions to ask or how to express their emotions. They need understanding, comfort and reassurance and need to be filled with love, security and hope. They need to be with family, sharing in the discussions, grieving and healing.
What are some ways I can help others during their time of sorrow?

1 John 3:16, 18 (Good News Translation)
This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for others!... My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.
Words of comfort have a powerful healing effect, but more than words is needed. Remember that the family of someone who has just died is faced with innumerable decisions and arrangements in addition to daily chores. It is frustrating and depressing to lose a loved one and hardly have time to think because you are frantically rushing from one responsibility to the next. So it can be helpful to offer specific help to families in mourning. And if you are in mourning, be willing to gratefully accept offers of help.
What spiritual lessons can we learn from life's losses and sorrows?
Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 (New International Version)
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
Everyone needs times to laugh and dance, but we also need times to weep and mourn (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Spiritual growth takes place more in difficult times than in easy times. When a loved one dies, it's a valuable time to reflect on your own mortality and your relationship with God. It has been said, "An open casket can be worth a thousand sermons." Some people avoid funerals and avoid visiting people in hospitals and nursing homes because these situations make them feel uncomfortable and unhappy. But to be a healer, you must go where people are hurting. If you do, your unselfishness will help you mature and grow.
What is the greatest source of understanding and comfort?
Psalm 147:3
[God] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written before [in the Bible] were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
God is that Source! Our Creator knows our hearts and always knows best how to help us. All the answers to life's questions are in His Bible. When we are grief-stricken, if we will talk to God and read His Word, we will experience great comfort, hope and healing. Prayer and Bible study are the two things we need to do every day of our lives.

Will suffering and sorrow come to an end?
Revelation 21:4
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Not only will families be reunited, but we'll all be in one big happy family—the family of God! And that family will live forever—with no more death, sorrow or crying!
Apply Now
As we learned in Ecclesiastes 7, when you think of someone else's death, it's an important time to think about your own life and inevitable death. As Ecclesiastes 9:12 says, "Man also does not know his time"—we don't know in advance when death will come. Therefore, it behooves us to get prepared and stay prepared (2 Peter 3:11).
How about starting right now by making a simple list of things you need to do in the very near future? If you haven't made a will and left instructions for your family, be sure to include those points. If you haven't told family and friends often enough that you love them, write that down. And if you need to get right with God, be sure to include that on your list. Set realistic deadlines to tackle the items on your list.
On a personal note:  We all know as believers we will share eternity with our sister in Christ, sj.  Please keep in mind that we all grieve differently.  Some more private, some more tears…some are just trying to process the reality.
Now, I would like to share the following::
Prayers Of Hope In Times Of Calamity
http://wchimereflections.blogspot.com/2009/09/prayers-of-hope-in-times-of-calamity.html
By Cynthia Hyle Bezek
Tragedies come in all sizes and forms. They range from malicious, premeditated tragedies (like a large-scale terrorist attack or violent murder) to unavoidable but equally devastating tragedies that affect communities or individuals (such as fires and floods, cancer and car wrecks). Naturally, how you pray will depend on the specific crisis. There are, however, some common denominators that apply to any calamity. Hurting people need hope; they need an eternal perspective; they need others to reach out and care for them; they need to reach out to the Father and trust Him. As you pray for the people involved in a calamity or crisis, adapt these Scripture-based prayers as the Holy Spirit leads.

1. Dear Lord, if these hurting people have not called on You before, may they begin calling on your name right now; may they find You to be their refuge and strength, an ever-present help in their time of trouble. (Gen. 4:26; Ps. 46:1)

2. Lord of heaven and earth, encourage these friends to seek You, reach out to You, and find You because You are not far from them. Give them hope that You are with them so that the waters they are passing through will not sweep them away, and the fire they are walking through will not burn them. (Acts 17:27; Is. 43:2)

3. Living Word, make Your Word come alive to those who suffer. When their souls are weary with sorrow, strengthen them according to Your Word. Give them longing for Your precepts, and preserve their lives by them. Comfort them with Your promises. Use this affliction to bring them near to Your ways. Sustain them according to Your promise, and do not let their hopes be dashed. Give them a love for Your law, Lord, so they will have great peace and nothing will cause them to stumble. (Ps. 119: 28,40,50,67,116,165)

4. God of peace and unity, bind affected families together in love. When one member is weak, fill the others with strength and compassion so that the one who falls will have someone to pick him up. Help them not to lose patience with each other, attack each other, or in any other way be separated by these tragic circumstances; instead, knit them together in love and strength. (Eccl. 4:9-12; Mt. 19:6)

5. Loving Father, draw the children involved in this tragedy to Yourself. Let them come to You without hindrance. Strip away any foothold in their lives that Satan may try to gain through this tragedy. Rather, use it to refine their faith in You. (Mt. 19:13-14; Lk. 17:1-2; Eph. 1:27; 1 Pet. 1:6-7)

6. Stir Your body to action, Lord Jesus. Surround these hurting people with those who will minister to them. Send believers who will offer food, visits, and other ministry in Your Name. Prompt Your people to reach out and offer the comfort they themselves have received from You. Give them opportunities to share the reason for the hope they have. (Mt. 25:37-40; 2 Cor. 1:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:15)

7. Eternal Father, prompt these friends to view their circumstances from the perspective of eternity. Help them to consider the fleetingness of life, the vain bustling around, and the storing up of wealth. Cause them to ponder the eternity You have set in their hearts. Give them a heart of wisdom as they realize that all our days are numbered. (Ps. 39:4-6; Eccl. 3:11; Ps. 90: 10-12)

8. Sovereign Lord, help these dear ones to be like Job, to see You as good and find reasons to praise You even though You have taken away. Grant them faith to accept trouble from You as well as good things, and give them confidence that even though You slay them, they can still hope in You. (Job 1:21, 2:10, 13:15)

9. Great Redeemer, protect these friends from feeling persecuted. Bless them with confidence that You intend good for them. Please redeem every loss and every painful memory, and use them for the saving of many lives. Help them to know that You understand how they feel because You also suffered. (Gen. 50:20; Heb. 4:15-16)

10. Author of life, on behalf of these friends I come before You to resist every attempt of the evil one to steal and kill and destroy through this tragedy. You are the resurrection and the life; bring the blessings of life and fullness into these friends’ lives. (Jn. 10:10, 11:25)

11. Merciful Savior, help these friends to see Your grace clearly and seek it to guard themselves against any root of bitterness. (Heb. 12:15)

12. God of all hope, help these friends to not lose sight of the plans You have for them—to prosper them and not to harm them, to give them a hope and a future. Help them, Holy Spirit, to hope in You and not in circumstances, so their strength will be renewed. Fill them with joy and peace as they trust in You so that they may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Jer. 29:11; Is. 40:31; Ro. 15:13)