But Do Not Take Advantage Of God’s Grace

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

When it comes to God’s grace, there is no quick exercise.  Grace is a gift bestowed upon us as children of God.  Grace is not inexpensive; It is costly.  Grace came at the cost of Jesus giving up His life for us.  Grace is given freely to us, but we are not to take advantage of His grace.  We ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH not by works.  Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”  We can NEVER boast about earning God’s grace because grace is a gift.  Rewards/Awards are earned.  Gifts are NOT earned; Gifts are given.

2 Corinthians 12:9 states, “Each time he said, ‘my grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness.  So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me.”  What does that tell you?  That verse is telling you that you need God’s grace, and His grace is all your need.  Basically, we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).  No matter what situation or obstacle comes your way, you ARE victorious.  Despite all these things–trials, heartache, pain, sorrow, tragedy, death, and the like–overwhelming victory is ours through Christ (Romans 8:37).  You ARE an overcomer.

*

EITHER YOU CHOOSE TO OBEY OR YOU DON’T. GOD WANTS WHOLEHEARTED OBEDIENCE.

*

Here is what the Word of God says in Deuteronomy 30:19, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses.  Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make.  Oh that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”  Obedience is a choice, and as believers, we have the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live a holy and obedient life as commanded by God.  You can choose life which includes blessing and being in right relationship with God and seeking after Him, or you can choose death which means you are out of right relationship with God, living for yourself.  God is the One who sets the standard to live by, and His standard is holiness (1 Peter 1:16) “Be holy for I am holy.”

In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commandments,” and in John 15:5, Jesus says, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.”  If you rely on self-effort and self-reliance to try to obey God, that is all it will amount to.  Trying to obey, anything based on man-made wisdom and understanding will collapse, amounting to absolutely nothing.  We are also told in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

The things of the Spirit are spiritually discerned.  The bible is not something we read with our carnal understanding.  As children of God, we have the mind of Christ, and we should be asking the Lord to help us to understand by leaning on the Holy Spirit who helps us to understand the truth of God’s Word as shown in John 16: 13 which states, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard.  He will tell you about the future.”  When the Holy Spirit helps us to understand the words in Scripture, we are getting understanding and wisdom from God.  With the mind of Christ, we are able to understand the things of the Spirit.  The Apostle Paul had this to say, in 2 Corinthians 2:13-16, “When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom.  Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.  But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit.  It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.  Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.  For, ‘Who can know the LORD’S thoughts?  Who knows enough to teach him?’  But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”

God does NOT make suggestions.  God gives commands, and His commands are clearly laid out in Scripture such as the Ten Commandments.  When God says, “Don’t lie,” that’s a command.  Make no mistake about it.  The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth DOES make commands.  You are merely the clay in the Potter’s hands.  You don’t get to tell the Creator who created you what to do.

The Scriptures demand you make a choice.  The Word is meant to be applied to our lives.  Even King David the Psalmist recognized this as he meditated on the law of God day and night.  King David understood God gave commands; “I will pursue your command, for you expand my understanding,” Psalm 119:32.  Also, King David understood the importance of believing in God’s commands.  He states in Psalm 119:66, “I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge.”  Understand and see God lays out His commands in the Scriptures.  However, when reading and studying God’s laws, His commands, His precepts, His demands, you are faced with having to make a decision.  Will you or won’t you obey the commands of God?  Choosing God’s way is choosing life.  Choosing your way only leads down the broad road to death, hell, and destruction.

CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE!

The Creator has made Himself very clear.  Now follow His laws and commands.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ our Lord.

Second Corinthians 5:15 shows us, “He did for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves.  Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”  According to that verse, we, as children of God, do NOT live for ourselves because we are not your own, and we have been bought with a price.  Christ did the will of the Heavenly Father and stated why He had come, “For the Son of Man came here not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45).

Follow His example.  See Jesus for whom He is (John 4:26), “I am the Messiah!”  And we are to follow Him (John 8:12), “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”

Walking the narrow road takes our willingness.  It’s not easy, but it is worth it all.  Count the cost.  Pick up your cross.  Carry your cross.  Follow HIM.

Linda Agnes Knowles

“My old self has been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Darkest of Nights

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

CARSON’S NIGHTLY DANCE

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

“…behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.”

-Numbers 32:23 (KJV)

*

CARSON’S NIGHTLY DANCE

Written By Linda A. Knowles

June 2020

*

Carson came home at 4 a.m.

And Emily wondered where he had been

when she came out of her room,

saw him sitting on the steps

and she called out to him, “Dad.”

She wondered what he was doing

and could only assume it was bad.

*

She said he wouldn’t look at her,

His guilt she would have seen,

Who was he with at night after 10:15 p.m.,

especially when Lillith, his wife, turned her head,

only to discover he wasn’t next to her in bed.

*

He doesn’t seem to understand;

Emily kept hearing Lillith cry,

But Darby saw Lillith’s tears,

her trembling with every heavy sigh.

*

Emily wanted to know does he have another kid?

Maybe a third child that he hid?

Carson forgot how to tell the truth.

He just kept on lying.

He doesn’t seem to understand;

his wife is always crying.

*

He needs to man up,

and tell the truth,

That he’s been reckless

and far too loose.

My Darkness Turned To Light

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

Those who leave God and His ways have abandoned the very God who created them.  King David spoke of meditating on the law of the Lord, that the commands of God were his delight.  He pondered on the law of God all day long.  We are to be careful to keep from making a practice of any sin, whatever sin it may be which would easily entangle us.  When we keep ourselves pure and holy before God and walking uprightly before God,  and obeying His commands, that is evidence of our love for God.  If we love God, we’ll obey Him.

He turns our darkness into light.

When we are putting our faith in God, we are trusting in Him, and we can stand on the promises of God.  God is faithful, and He proves Himself to be true.  God is who He says He is, and God does what He says He will do.  His words are certain, and when His Word goes out, His Word does not come back void.  His Word goes out and accomplishes the purposes it was sent forth to do.  We can depend on His Word, and we can delight in His Word.  Anyone in direct opposition to God will find that God is contrary to them.

“If even then you remain hostile toward me and refuse to obey me, I will inflict disaster on you seven times over for your sins.  I will send wild animals that will rob you of your children and destroy your livestock. Your numbers will dwindle, and your roads will be deserted. And if you fail to learn the lesson and continue your hostility toward me, then I myself will be hostile toward you. I will personally strike you with calamity seven times over for your sins.  I will send armies against you to carry out the curse of the covenant you have broken. When you run to your towns for safety, I will send a plague to destroy you there, and you will be handed over to your enemies,” (Leviticus 26:21-25NLT).

God opposes those who are proud and haughty, but He gives grace to the humble and those who truly delight in Him and His ways.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, You are my Light and my Salvation.  You have turned my darkness to light.  Just as You are a light for me, be the Light for those who are discouraged and fill them with the strength and boldness they need that only comes from You.  I ask that You be my Guide and instruct me in in the way I should go that I might not fall into any trap set by the enemy of my soul.  Grant me the opportunity to be a light for You in this dark world and give me opportunities to serve You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” -Psalm 37:4NLT

  

Be Careful For Those Dark Corners Where Sin Is Allowed To Dwell

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

JEZEBEL’S WEB

Black Widow

The widow weaves her web so steadily,

Each silk strand in its place,

That dark corner that will ensnare,

Those simpletons in her space.

*

She’ll go against the Word of God,

And set the trap in place,

And there so obvious are her victims hung

On each and every strand that’s strung.

*

Her web expands in width and height,

The depths not truly known;

But each and every single strand

Holds those known and unknown.

*

She spun them in her silken web and slowly drains their blood,

Her victims with eyes sunken and ashen faces,

So pale from her unloving embraces,

But she cradles her human slaves,

Now bound by her vicious silken strands.

*

You see her web has stretched so far and wide,

Her dungeon blackened and damp;

And fools go down into her place,

To find themselves dying in disgrace.

*

Be careful for those dark corners,

Where sin is allowed to dwell,

Where transgressions are celebrated,

Where lies are free to swell.

*

Be careful for the black widow,

Who would try to claim your soul,

For the wickedness that is her,

Her name is Jezebel.

*

Written By Linda A. Knowles

Damsel in Distress

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

DAMSEL IN DISTRESS

Written By Linda A. Knowles

Damsel 2

Peeled herself up off the floor,

Her world – Fallen apart,

Feeling hopeless.

*

She is the damsel in distress.

*

Everything she knew,

She now no longer knew;

And what she didn’t know,

She now knew.

*

As she crumpled once again to the floor…

No place to call her own,

Except for her place in Heaven,

Longing for her eternal home,

And seeing things around her she needs to live for.

*

She called out,

Though nothing came from her mouth,

And she shouted out,

Though no one could hear.

*

The tears that streaked her face seemed never-ending,

And the tire tracks of nervousness,

Imprinted on her heart, mind, body, soul.

*

She rode out her nights,

Imprisoned in her mind,

Woke up terrified by screaming,

To  find it was her own.

*

She not knowing where to go,

Not knowing what to  do,

She could only look upward,

And in her cries of desperation,

Not heard by anyone,

Were heard by the Father above,

Who rapped His arms around her in love.

*

The road has been long,

And weary she has been,

Still traveling this road,

That will soon come to an end.

Silver Grayed Wolf

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

SILVER GRAYED WOLF

Written By Linda A. Knowles

Wolf

 

Plucked out from forbidden pleasure,

The silver grayed wolf showed his face,

Ghastly color of sin and death displayed…

Across his face.

*

Having come out from his wooded home,

He growls only to find a lamb wandering;

He nears the lamb who comes up to him,

And the silver grayed wolf pounces,

Holding the lamb down,

His teeth piercing the lamb.

*

Badly injured,

Lamb laid out before him,

And the silver grayed wolf looks up,

Drunk on the blood from the wounded lamb.

*

Zoning out,

Silver grayed wolf just stares ahead,

And upon the branch of a tree nearby,

Now hangs his uniform,

Until once again he needs to dress as a lamb.