Have an awesomely blessed day, and remember to take time to sit still and know that He is GOD.
Rest In The God of Your Salvation
YOU DUMB, DUMB DOG
“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.” -Isaiah 56:10
You Dumb, Dumb Dog!
How stupid can you be?
While you are basking in tithes and offerings,
Your sheep live in poverty.
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You refuse to preach against the sin
That holds the sinner bound,
While you stomp and trample all over God’s grace,
As you play the glory hound.
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You’re a lousy watchman,
And you fail to sound the alarm.
You bring your people to spiritual death,
And you cause them spiritual harm.
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What’s worse is you know
that you bring your people to destruction,
But you’re indifferent and neglect the things of God;
And to your sheep,
You’ve become their most gigantic obstruction.
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You cozy up with your practice of sin,
You Dumb, Dumb Dog,
And you cannot figure out your mask has fallen off
And exposes you for what you are;
You are nothing more than a total fraud.
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You’ve played favorites,
And you’ve taken bribes;
You’ve been bought out,
And the outcasts you’ve pushed aside,
While you coddle the woman named Jezebel,
Who tears through the church raising Hell.
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You’ve twisted the Word of God,
Making the Word of God taste like cotton candy,
Staggering around like a fool
as if you’re drunk on Brandy.
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You gossip and slander,
Pour out lies and deceit,
Betraying, Bad mouthing, Backbiting,
Double crossing, Double dealing,
And a whole lot of smearing.
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You’re a false teacher,
a false prophet,
a false preacher,
and a dumb, dumb dog.
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Respect is earned,
And you’ve earned NONE.
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You’re washed up,
a-has been,
And you’re officially done.
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Written By Linda A. Knowles
Your Choice: Rebellion or Humility?
“But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, and the Lord said to Moses, ‘Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.’ And they fell facedown.” -Numbers 16:42-45(NLT)
Let’s begin with this: There is absolutely nothing wrong with being ambitious. The problem is in the motive and intention of that ambition especially when mixed with greed.
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram had seen for themselves the benefits of the Egyptian priesthood -Wealth, position, leadership, prestige, influence in politics, and the like.
Rather than understanding that God Himself chose the Levites, they decided to go against Moses as shown in the account in Numbers 16:1-3(NLT), “One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. They united against Moses and Aaron and said, ‘You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?'”
Korah and his followers felt they should be upheld like the Levites. They wanted the power. They were greedy and wanted to appoint themselves. Moses had done nothing wrong. The Levites had done nothing wrong. Moses and the Levites were doing the task God had called them to do. They were doing what God had anointed them to do. The Levites were responsible for the spiritual leadership and the teaching of God’s laws. It wasn’t that the Levites and Moses were held above everyone else. They simply were set apart from the rest of the people and were consecrated to God for His service. God raised them up to positions of leadership for the great nation of Israel. Korah and his followers did not recognize that. What they saw was what was in it for them. They wanted what the Levites had. They wanted the position Moses had. They were greedy and failed to realize that God is the One who appoints people to leadership. Korah and his followers’ greedy ambition was not godly; it was downright evil.
Moses’ ambition was to do what God wanted. Moses’ ambition was to serve God. Moses did not have the ambition to control people or lord his leadership over others. Moses simply was a servant of God, that God called out in order to lead the children of Israel. He was devoted to God. Moses’ ambition was a good ambition.
There is no room for greed when you are a servant of the Most High God.
In this passage (Numbers 16:8-11NLT), Korah’s motives are exposed, “Then Moses spoke again to Korah: ‘Now listen, you Levites! Does it seem insignificant to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the community of Israel to be near him so you can serve in the Lord’s Tabernacle and stand before the people to minister to them? Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well? The Lord is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?'”
God doesn’t play games, and His desire is that the Body of Christ understand that all parts are necessary. We are called to use our gifts and talents. God has anointed each of us for a particular position or place within the body. It’s not about us. It’s about God and where He has put us at this place in time. We are not to be like Korah and his followers, trying to overthrow others out of their position because we are greedy for power or envy another’s position as leaders. Leadership is ultimately about servanthood. Each of God’s children are servants of the Most High God, and we are to conduct ourselves in accordance with the Word of God.
What are your motives for desiring a position of leadership? THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE YOU ARE MODELING FOR WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT. That point cannot be emphasized enough. What example are you setting for others around you? You do not have to have the position of pastor or teacher, parent, or some other authoritative position. There is someone always watching what you say and how you conduct yourself. This is why it is so important to make sure we are right with God so that those we model for do not stumble because of us. We must be living what we preach and teach. We cannot live our lives in a state of rebellion.
Don’t be like Korah and those who followed his example of rebellion. It didn’t end well for Korah and his followers as recorded in Numbers 16:28-35(NLT), “And Moses said, ‘This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things that I have done—for I have not done them on my own. If these men die a natural death, or if nothing unusual happens, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord does something entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have shown contempt for the Lord.’ He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel. All the people around them fled when they heard their screams. ‘The earth will swallow us, too!’ they cried. Then fire blazed forth from the Lord and burned up the 250 men who were offering incense.”
The line has been drawn in the sand. Will you choose to serve God or will you choose to live in opposition to God? Might I suggest you choose to serve God and to do so wholeheartedly? Complacency and indifference toward God is not acceptable nor pleasing in the sight of God.
Live your life to influence others for God.
Don’t let the world influence you.
For those who choose to serve God and continue to live for Him, they will live a life of blessing and enjoy true joy and peace that comes from God alone.
Rebellion will only cause you problems, and rebellion will only bring about the consequences of sin which is destruction. Remember it is not a title or position that elevates you. When you walk in a spirit of humility before God, God is the One Who will lift you up. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time,” (1 Peter 5:6).
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, there is no one like You for You are the Eternal God who reigns in majesty. My desire is to please You in all that I do and say so that I might be able to influence others for You. Help me to always remember that there is nothing worth losing my soul for, and help me to stand firm that I don’t let the world influence me. May I constantly be reminded that You require me to walk humbly before You, to love mercy, and to act justly because that is good. Father, let me be a beacon of light for You in this dark world. Teach me Your ways so I might not rebel like Korah and his followers, and let me be able to lead others to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Linda A. Knowles
Just Stand Firm
“Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.” -Deuteronomy 3:22(NLT)
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You do not need to be afraid of those who are against you for you have been made more than a conqueror. God is the One who is taking care of all your enemies in accordance with His promises. He is the One who has made you victorious, has made you and overcomer, and He protects His own.
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Those who are your enemies are the enemies of God because they do not love God, are of this world, and do not know God. Your enemies are not worth your time or effort. Remember your time and effort is best spent doing what God wants you to do and focusing on the tasks He has placed before you.
You need only to stand steadfast, be firm, and as you are keeping your hope and trust in God, placing your confidence in Him, He is the One fighting for you. You will see your enemies begin to fight one another. Remember your God has promised to fight with and for you.
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Heavenly Father, You are the God of victory, and You have made me victorious. Thank You for being my Shield and my Defense. My confidence is securely placed in You, and I know You help me stand against my enemies and that You are the One who fights for me. With You, O God, I can crush an army and scale a wall for You are the One who has strengthened me. Continue to help me to stand firm in Your ways as I continue to obey You and keep my eyes fixed on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Linda A. Knowles
From the Quiet Place…
God wants to live among His people. He wants to protect them. That has always been His desire since the beginning of time. He desires to commune and have that fellowship with His children. However, His people have rejected Him as their Lord and their God. Those who have claimed God as their own have defiled their own bodies and have exchanged the Most High God for other gods, the creation created by God Himself and the things created by man.
The Church has exchanged what is holy for what is evil and exchanged the truth of God for lies. Rather than seeking the God Who Provides her with all her needs, she seeks after that which is temporal such as power, prestige, wealth, popularity, and the like.
God is not welcomed in most places of worship, and His Word has been dissected and chopped up to the point it is unrecognizable. The Word has been made to suit the lifestyles of the people instead of the people seeing themselves in light of the Word of God, repenting, turning from their evil ways, and humbling themselves before God.
God desires a relationship with His people, but they have kicked Him out of their lives and their hearts. They have kicked God out of their homes and places of worship.
The consequences of their sin are falling on their own heads, and they are blaming God for their suffering. Their choices have them on the broad road to destruction. They are headed to Hell. Their consciences are seared and their hearts calloused.
The anger of God is set against all sinful and wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. The creation clearly shows the invisible qualities of God and so they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Everything is exposed before the eyes of God. He sees all and yet His children don’t believe He sees all they do and hears all they say. They are clever at doing wrong, but they are stupid when it comes to doing what is right. They have chosen death instead of life. They have chosen to be cursed rather than blessed.
To all those who have believed Him and accepted Him, to them, He gave the right to become children of God. Those who do His will and walk uprightly before Him, they belong to Him.
“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor has sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who see Your face.”
One Act of Revenge
“Later on, during the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat as a present to his wife. He said, ‘I’m going into my wife’s room to sleep with her,’ but her father wouldn’t let him in. ‘I truly thought you must hate her,’ her father explained, ‘so I gave her in marriage to your best man. But look, her younger sister is even more beautiful than she is. Marry her instead.’ Samson said, ‘This time I cannot be blamed for everything I am going to do to you Philistines.’ Then he went out and caught 300 foxes. He tied their tails together in pairs, and he fastened a torch to each pair of tails. Then he lit the torches and let the foxes run through the grain fields of the Philistines. He burned all their grain to the ground, including the sheaves and the uncut grain. He also destroyed their vineyards and olive groves. ‘Who did this?’ the Philistines demanded. ‘Samson,’ was the reply, ‘because his father-in-law from Timnah gave Samson’s wife to be married to his best man.’ So the Philistines went and got the woman and her father and burned them to death. ‘Because you did this,’ Samson vowed, ‘I won’t rest until I take my revenge on you!’ So he attacked the Philistines with great fury and killed many of them. Then he went to live in a cave in the rock of Etam. The Philistines retaliated by setting up camp in Judah and spreading out near the town of Lehi. The men of Judah asked the Philistines, ‘Why are you attacking us?’ The Philistines replied, ‘We’ve come to capture Samson. We’ve come to pay him back for what he did to us.'” –Judges 15:1-11(NLT)
Don’t be like Samson. He began with one act of revenge and one act of revenge after another occurred. Letting any emotion control you is dangerous, but in Ephesians 4:26-27(NLT), the Scripture states, “And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’ Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.”
Anger, when left unchecked, will play on every other emotion.
One act of revenge done out of anger, spite, and jealousy can cause a ripple effect. If you get revenge, then the person may retaliate against you due to that person being angry. Then you will want to seek revenge again if you don’t deal with issues of anger, spite, and jealousy that had the best of you when you initiated the first act of revenge. Be careful not to sin in your anger.
First, those who have a short fuse make for bad company. Second, jealousy’s apparel doesn’t look good on anyone, and thirdly, why are you acting like you are a child on the playground misbehaving and hurting others out of spite?
Stop the nonsense, and grow up.
Linda A. Knowles
Peace With God
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7(NLT)
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Peace with God is so important that the ceremonial law for peace offerings is detailed in Leviticus 3. The peace offering was an expression of gratitude, and it was a way for the people to maintain fellowship with God. Part of the offering could be eaten by the one who was presenting the offering because it was symbolic of peace with God.
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Peace is a fruit produced in us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Peace with God comes by having faith in God and His promises. Peace with God is not cheap, but it comes through a sacrifice of praise and joying in the God of your salvation. Because of the peace of God, you are able to drink deeply from the well of salvation. Peace comes from knowing that your enemies cannot prevail against you and that God upholds you with His victorious right hand. Peace of God comes from waiting upon the Lord, fully trusting in Him. As you wait on Him, He will renew your strength, and you will mount up with wings like eagles. This is the kind of peace you can experience and should be experiencing as a child of God. Remember no matter what circumstances you find yourself in, no matter how many enemies you have surrounding you, you must know fully that God has established His relationship with you. Because God has fully established His relationship with you, you have peace with God.
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PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God of All Peace and You are the Peace That Surpasses All Understanding. Father, thank You for establishing my relationship with You. You are the Peace-Giver. Let me always remember to cast all my cares on You because You care for me, and help me to always remember You, O God, are my Protector. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Linda A. Knowles
When You Curse The Lord’s Anointed
“As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. ‘Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!’ he shouted at David. ‘The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!’ ‘Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?’ Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. ‘Let me go over and cut off his head!’ ‘No!’ the king said. Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?’ Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, ‘My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.’ So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.” -2 Samuel 16:5-13(NLT)
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So there’s King David minding his own business when a man comes charging at him, not just any man though but a man named Shimei who was from the same clan as King Saul and his family. He was angry and did not control the words of his mouth as he was breathing curses against King David. Shimei showed no respect for King David who was the Lord’s Anointed, as he let a steady stream of curses flow from his mouth toward King David. However, it wasn’t enough for him to curse out King David. Adding insult to injury, Shimei followed them, still cursing the King, and now throwing stones and dirt at King David.
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King David had nothing to do with King Saul’s death so Shimei’s sinful attitude and sinful behavior was completely unjustifiable, but rather than exercising his right as a king, King David turned down Abishai’s offer to execute Shimei and tolerated the abuse because, “If the LORD has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”
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Shimei was going against God’s civil law found in Exodus 22:28, “Do not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.” Shimei was sinning in the eyes of God by cursing King David and by throwing stones and dirt at him. By doing this, Shimei was flying in the face of the Lord’s Anointed One. God chose King David, not man.
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Facing unjustifiable criticism is emotionally draining and trying, especially when having to maintain your composure. If you are facing criticism that is unjustified, don’t get revenge. God knows what you are facing, and if you are in the right, God will vindicate you. Just keep doing what God wants you to do without compromising and keep obeying Him and His Word.
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“Do not touch My anointed ones; do no harm to My prophets,” (Psalm 105:15BSB). Let’s talk about this verse. If you are a child of God, you are God’s chosen one whether you are in a position of leadership or not because you are anointed by the Holy Spirit, empowered to live for the Lord. Even Abimelech recognized Abraham and Sarah, and he said (Genesis 26:11BSB), “Whoever harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death.” Like King David, Abraham and Sarah were God’s chosen ones. Let’s go further. Each land has governmental officials, rulers, and authority. If you don’t agree with their policies, that’s all right. You don’t have to agree, but you do have to understand for whatever reason, God has those people in place. You don’t get to threaten death against them or cause them bodily harm. They have been put in the positions they are in for a reason. As a citizen of the nation you live in, you need to obey the authority of the land and pray for your leaders in government. Also you need to pray for your church leadership, God has them in the positions they are in because God has them there for a reason as well. Those who are children of God, you are anointed, and the Lord protects and defends His own. “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity,” (1 Timothy 2:1-2NLT) and “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you,” (Hebrews 13:17BSB).
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It’s important to note, that does not mean you obey authority or leadership if they tell you to go against the Word of God. God is to be obeyed first and foremost, and we are never to go against the Word of God. Show honor and respect to whom honor and respect is due. When you show honor and respect, God will bless you.
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Do NOT be like Shimei and act out against authority and leadership. Things did not end well for Shimei.
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In 2 Samuel 19:18-23, King David returned back as king after Absalom’s death. Shimei fell down before King David, pleading for forgiveness and for King David to forget the terrible things Shimei had said and done to him. Shimei was pleading for forgiveness because he was trying to save his own life. However, King David showed him mercy because it was a day of celebration and not a day of execution, and again, King David turned down Abishai’s advice. King David turned to Shimei, “Your life will be spared.”
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King David’s vow to spare Shimei’s life did not make Shimei innocent. King David simply showed mercy on a day that was for celebration. Shimei’s life was spared until King Solomon took over in 1 Kings 2:8-9. King David told his son, King Solomon about Shimei. He told King Solomon that he was very wise and would know how to arrange a bloody death for Shimei, “The king also said to Shimei, ‘You certainly remember all the wicked things you did to my father, David. May the Lord now bring that evil on your own head. But may I, King Solomon, receive the Lord’s blessings, and may one of David’s descendants always sit on this throne in the presence of the Lord.’ Then, at the king’s command, Benaiah son of Jehoiada took Shimei outside and killed him,” (1 Kings 2:44-46NLT).
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Remember there are consequences for touching the Lord’s Anointed and doing His prophets harm. Those who are anointed are the children of God. Is it any wonder why we are told that life and death are in the power of the tongue. When you speak against God’s chosen people (His Anointed) and those whom God has ordained for leadership positions and those in positions of authority, you will reap what you sow. If you are going to be like Shimei breathing curses against those in authority and leadership, your curses are going to come back at you. God is going to protect His chosen one because He has ordered their steps. King David lived on. Shimei’s curses didn’t hurt King David. God was for and protected King David. However, Shimei paid the consequences for abusing him, bringing physical harm to him, and cursing him. In the end, Shimei was executed for his crimes he committed against the Lord’s Anointed.
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Let’s us take heed and follow the Word of God when the Word of God tells us in Exodus 22:28, “Do not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.” Pray for your government. Pray for those in authority. Pray for your church leaders, ministry directors, and pastors. Their job is not easy, and they are responsible before God to carry out the tasks that have been set before them. Pray for the Lord’s will to be done in their lives and that the Lord would have His way. Pray God gives them wisdom.
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PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God of all Wisdom. You are the One who has ordered my steps. Lord, I thank You for the leadership and the authority You have provided me with. Help me to remember that those in authority and leadership have been ordained by and placed in their positions by You. I ask that You fill my mouth with Your words, O God, that I might speak life and not death, that I might speak blessing and not curses. Help me to live according to Your Word so I become a blessing to those around me as well as those who are in authority over me. Fill my leaders with wisdom and strength so they may be able to complete the tasks before them. Show me ways to bless them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Linda A. Knowles
Stained Glass Confessions 