Psalms

Day 26: Conflict

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Mrs Knochel


Psalms 22:1-28:9

The following is an excerpt from our book True Intimacy.


For the next month we will be posting a chapter a day for your reading (and marital) pleasure. However, if you would like to purchase an electronic or printed copy for yourself or someone else we would greatly appreciate your support! To go to the web page for more information click here.

This you know, my beloved brethren.  But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

 

Conflict is a necessary element in marriage.  Without conflict there simply can’t be resolution.  This is one of the last and most important things that this fast taught us.  Although fighting has never really been a problem for Christian and me, it is extremely common in the majority of relationships.  This is where Mark 3:24-25 is a very important verse to think on.  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. A household that is full of arguing and constant strife cannot stand.  So while conflict is important and necessary, like everything else in a marriage there must be a balance and everything must be done in love not anger.  Conflict is necessary, anger and fighting is not.

Proverbs 27:5-6 tells us that when someone who you love comes to you and LOVINGLY points out the “sawdust in your eye”.  When they say it in love and compassion, those wounds that they inflict can be trusted.  They will heal quickly because they have been inflicted in love and for your own good.  On the other hand there are “kisses” from an enemy.  If you see someone you love acting in a way that is ungodly, you need to tell them, in love.  If instead of pointing out their fault lovingly, you “kiss” them and tell them nothing or worse condone the action, then you might as well be an enemy to them.  Over the years Christian has wounded me many times emotionally, but the majority of them have been for my own good.  He has rarely spoken harshly to me, and he has never spoken to me in a condescending way.  Wounds like these can be trusted.

In every conflict, either with a loved one or someone you don’t even know, you’ve GOT to fight fair.  James 1:19-20 is, in a nut-shell, our guideline for fighting with others.  If we are in disagreement with someone we must be quick to hear what they’re trying to say.  Whether in attack or defense we must LISTEN first and be loving.  Next James says to be slow to speak.  Don’t just blurt out your first knee-jerk reaction to what they’re saying.  THINK before you speak.  Better yet, PRAY before you speak.  “Your words, not mine LORD.”  This is my 5 word prayer for almost any situation.  As Christian mentioned earlier I haven’t always been very good at doing this, but I’m working on it and improving day by day.  Speak God’s words, let Him fill you with His word (scripture) so that the first thing off your lips is holy.  Pray before you speak. (I said this twice for a reason.) Be thoughtful, the words you speak can change your entire life.  Believe me, I know.  There’s a reason God gave us two ears and only one mouth, we’re supposed to listen twice as much as we speak!  In James 3:4 he compares the tongue to the rudder of a ship.  Although very small in comparison to the ship as a whole, it steers the ship everywhere the pilot wants it to go.  We must guard our speech so that it doesn’t take us somewhere we’re not supposed to go.  Be slow to anger.  Our anger, if left alone, can very quickly turn us into someone we don’t like or recognize.  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)  Be gentle in your answers, don’t re-act to your husband, just love him.

While God’s love is perfect and drives fear away, some human conflict creates fear.  This should not be and is not right.  There is no fear in love.

“Lord, I know that someone out there right now is living in fear of someone who they love.  I pray so desperately for them right now Lord.  You love them so much, and I know that You want what is best for them.  But because You allowed us to have free will, some people have taken advantage of that freedom and have abused it and Your loved ones.  Right now I pray that Your perfect love cast out their fear.  I pray that You touch their abusers heart in a way that no one has or ever will touch them.  I pray that You change their heart and fill it with Your perfect love, causing them to know You better and know that true love doesn’t bring fear with it, only more love.  Lord, protect my friend tonight, allow them to sleep sweet, and rest in Your peace knowing that You are holding them in the palm of Your hand, and that You are feeling every pain that they suffer.  I ask all these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen!”

 
 

Christian’s comments:

 

You have probably had some disagreements with your wife during this fast. You might have had arguments with her before the fast. That’s OK, arguing is a part of every marriage. It is a necessary evil that can help the marriage, if done correctly. Yes, there are rules to arguing.

Keep it between yourselves! No one else should be involved. It is about you and her; meaning, keep the argument about each other. Don’t bring your mother-in-law into it.

Stay on point! Don’t move on to another subject until the first is resolved. If the argument is about how she never heeds your advice, don’t mention anything about how you don’t like how she folds your underwear. In other words, no more “And another thing…”.

In my opinion, the most important thing is: Have arguments! As Tamar stated, we have never really argued. One of us would usually say something like “OK, whatever” and go away angry. That is bad! Don’t hold your argument in. If you do, they will build up until they just explode out, usually at a very inopportune time. Or they may never come out at all. Then you get withdrawn and start to grow apart.  You just stop talking to each other. Tamar and I were almost to that point.

There are more rules, but every couple and every argument is different. If you can learn how to “fight” well, you will learn how to “love” even better.

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, True Intimacy, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Day 25: Intoxicating

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Mrs Knochel


Psalms 17:1-21:13

The following is an excerpt from our book True Intimacy.


For the next month we will be posting a chapter a day for your reading (and marital) pleasure. However, if you would like to purchase an electronic or printed copy for yourself or someone else we would greatly appreciate your support! To go to the web page for more information click here.

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam.  I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk.  Eat, friends; Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.
Song of Solomon 5:1

 

Nine days left, you’re almost there!  So many things have happened in the last 20 days haven’t they?  God works that way; I love how He manages to make everything fit together so that we learn the things that He wants us to learn in the time that He wants us to learn them.  I’m dedicating this chapter to telling you about Intoxicating love.

Although the physical act of sex was what I always thought I truly wanted, it turns out that the physical intimacy of sex was not what I was searching for; in the end it was never enough.  What I had been searching for was spiritual and emotional intimacy with my husband.  While sex is important and healthy and necessary, it’s only a portion of the picture of marriage.  When we have sex our bodies’ physical need is fulfilled, and with sex our souls and emotions are completely tied into the act of intercourse as well.  But, it’s possible to have physically satisfying intercourse; all while leaving our souls wanting more.  If you’re only having intercourse it can be physically satisfying for you, and your emotions will go along with it, for a time; but after a while you just feel emptier inside, instead of fulfilled.  There’s a look in Christian’s eye that I cherish.  It’s a look of complete adoration and love for me; a look that in an instant tells me how lucky he feels that I’m his wife.  In that instant, I’m emotionally, physically and spiritually connected with him.

So often in our lives we settle for “good” when we could have the “BEST”.  We settle for the “good” sex of the moment, pre-marital sex, self-pleasuring and adultery, instead of continuing to strive for the BEST sex of monogamy; where we can fully and completely give ourselves to one another without the fear of loss or rejection.  I know that’s what Christian and I did.  Instead of waiting for the “ocean” of married sex, we settled for the “pond” of premarital sex.  It wasn’t until we went through this fast, invited God into the marriage and our bedroom, that we experienced intoxicating sex and true intimacy for the first time.  And MY OH MY!  We will NEVER go back!!!  Now prepare yourselves, this next part is a little “R-rated”.  But it’s OK, because God is in it too.

One night while “getting intoxicated” with my Beloved, in that moment of near climax I was marveling at how perfectly his body was… ummm… shall we say… fitting, with mine when I loudly thanked God for creating him for me to enjoy in this way.  God proudly whispered in my ear, “Isn’t he just perfect”.  It was more than I could bear, because he is!  God created my husband just for me.  He created him to balance me perfectly in every possible way.  He created him to chemically and electrically balance me, perfectly.  He created him in a way where our personalities balance each other, perfectly.  Christian is my other half.  And although I’ve had my moments of doubt and frustration with him, the fact still remains.  God made him for me and me for him.  My beloved is mine and I am his.  (

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, True Intimacy, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Day 24: Weapon

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Mrs Knochel



Psalms 9:1-16:11

The following is an excerpt from our book True Intimacy.


For the next month we will be posting a chapter a day for your reading (and marital) pleasure. However, if you would like to purchase an electronic or printed copy for yourself or someone else we would greatly appreciate your support! To go to the web page for more information click here.

Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.  So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things, see how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. James 3:4-6

 

You know the old adage; “if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all”?  I think that applies here in marriage most of all.  Our words hold such power and we don’t even realize it.  Our words have the power to cut our husbands to the quick, or pull them up from a pit of despair.  Our words are power-filled, and must therefore be carefully guarded.  When I looked up “words”, “mouth” & “tongue” in a bible search engine I was amazed at how many scriptures deal with what comes out of our mouths.  God is a man of few words, so when He says something once in the bible, you listen.  If he says it twice, then it must be very important.  If he says it 856 times, well, you listen, obey, and then listen some more!

Our tongues are the greatest weapon of mass destruction; they are like a nuclear bomb in a marriage.  And just like a bomb, if not guarded carefully they can be dropped and decimate our precious husband.  Our words can go two ways, they can build up, or they can tear down.  And just because your husband (or friend, or brother or neighbor or stranger) acts in a way deserving of harsh words, it does not give you permission to cut them down with the sword of your tongue!

There’s a public service announcement where a mom is buckling her baby into its car seat, all nice and secure.  Then the mom gets into the car, and locks the doors, and lights a cigarette.  That baby is locked into that position of being forced to breathe that cigarette smoke and damage its lungs.  Our negative words do the same thing to the people around us.  They are like a thick black smoke.  As the negative words pour out of our mouths the black smoke billows and fills the room.  And the people around us are forced to breathe it in simply because they are near enough to hear.  This smoke poisons your entire being with negative attitudes and thoughts.  So the next time you’re driving with your kids in the car and you’re tempted to swear, or even speak harshly at the driver that just cut you off, remember, HE can’t hear you, but your kids can.  He will not be affected by the black negative attitude smoke coming out of your mouth, but you and your children will be.  The things that we think about are “stored up” in our hearts.  (Remember Luke 6:45? The good man [or woman] out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.)  Therefore the things that we think about are also coming out of our mouths as well.  Before the fast I was constantly complaining to my friends about how horrible my husband was, I was constantly thinking about how horrible he was.  Then when he came home, I’d start talking to him and treating him like a horrible husband.  On the other hand, once I decided that I needed to change my attitude I started telling my friends how wonderful my husband is, and then I was thinking about all the great things that he does for me and how much he loves me.  Now, when he gets home, I of course start talking to him and treating him like he is a wonderful husband.  In the beginning, I was fighting momentum and it WAS NOT EASY.  But I didn’t give up!  Turning your weapon of mass destruction into a tool for building is possible.

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3)
Speaking rashly to your husband could just manage to push him down farther and you with him.  With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. (James 3:9-11)14
Praise can flow from our lips like fresh water from a mountain spring.  Your husband was made in God’s image, just as you were, praise him too.  A man’s character is what matters most; both to his wife and to the man himself.  Women marry men for their character.  Men see themselves by their character.  If you really want to praise your man, praise his character.  NEVER insult his character.

Christian’s comments:

 

It’s dangerous to walk around with a loaded weapon, especially if it’s in your mouth! Make sure that your tongue doesn’t have a hair-trigger. Be quick to think, but slow to speak.

Throughout our relationship, I’ve often told Tamar to think before she speaks. Don’t get me wrong, she doesn’t mean to say hurtful things to other people; it just comes across that way sometimes. We are ALL guilty of doing this. We start speaking before the entire thought is formed in our mind.

Accidentally saying harsh words occasionally can be hurtful to others for a short time. Purposefully saying harsh words often can be hurtful to others for a lifetime. The words don’t even have to be directed at someone to be harmful to them. If my son hears me constantly berating Tamar, how is he going to speak to his own wife? If the child’s father (or mother) is constantly complaining and swearing, that is all the child is going to know.

So, in essence, I guess what I’m suggesting is, speak only good, helpful things to build each other up, or keep your big mouth shut.

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, True Intimacy, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Day 23: Mirror

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Mrs Knochel


Psalms 1:1-8:9

The following is an excerpt from our book True Intimacy.

For the next month we will be posting a chapter a day for your reading (and marital) pleasure. However, if you would like to purchase an electronic or printed copy for yourself or someone else we would greatly appreciate your support! To go to the web page for more information click here.

Moreover, he made the laver [or basin] of bronze, from the mirrors of the serving women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.  Exodus 38:8

The basin of washing, or laver of bronze depending on your translation, was made from the mirrors of the women.  This means that every time the priests washed themselves so that they could enter the presence of the LORD in the temple they saw their reflection in the mirrored bottom of the basin.  God still uses this technique on us today.  He calls us to look at ourselves and our actions and face the fact that we are not perfect but sinful beings in need of His help.  Then we get to move on into a closer and more intimate relationship with Him.  Today, He is holding the mirror before your face.  What do you see?

The mirror: Fold a piece of paper in half so that it looks like a hot dog bun (the preschool teacher in me just came out).  Now keeping the paper folded, on the first side write down everything that your husband does that just drives you mad.  Once you’ve finished your list, open up the paper and on the second column write your reactions to each of those things.  For example:

The Mirror:

What he does that drives me crazy:

My reaction to that:

1) He leaves his dirty dishes in the living room.

I yell at him for being lazy and making me do all the work around the house.

Next, fold the paper back up and look only at column two.  Read down the list of your reactions.  This is what you look like to your husband.  This is what he sees.

I had a couple of nights in a row where Christian came home very very late on school nights, I was sitting at my desk writing and just fuming because he wasn’t home yet, and God said to me, “Tamar, why would he want to come home to this?  Why would he WANT to rush home to you being cold and mad at him?”  The first night God said this to me, I didn’t care, I was mad and I was going to let Christian know it.  On the second night, it made me think, “why WOULD he want to come home to that?  I wouldn’t.”  In Proverbs 20:11 it says “It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself if his conduct is pure and right.” We are known by our actions, what are your reactions saying about you?

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, True Intimacy, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Created

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Psalm 146:1-150:6

“Let them praise the name of the LORD! For He commanded and they were created.” Psalm 148:5

I had a great conversation with my son Gabe the other day that I’ve been wanting to share with you. We were making dinner together, he was working on cutting the potatoes for his Fitz Fries and I was putting everything else together for dinner. As he chopped we started talking about science and God and Gabe mentioned the Big Bang theory and how he believes that God must have been the one to have caused that first big bang.

You know when something goes the speed of sound (343 meters per second) it creates a sonic boom right? And we know that the vibrations from a sonic boom are so loud that they can shake a house and break windows. Well, think about this. The speed of light (299,792,458 meters per second) is waaaay faster than the speed of sound. So if something was going at the speed of light and that’s faster than the speed of sound wouldn’t it stand to reason that it would make a big boom too? Like, oh, I don’t know, a particularly “big bang” that might cause things to be flung throughout space and time.

The Bible says that when God started creating He said, “Light be” and it was. Think about who spoke those words and just how booming His thunderous voice could be. And then think about how tremendous the reverberation of the creation of the very first light, going at 299,792,458 meters per second must have been! My guess is that there was quite possibly a very “big bang” as the light exploded into existence dissipating the darkness in the very same instant. Sure, I’ll agree that there may have been a Big Bang that exploded the universe into motion. But if a Big Bang created the universe, then it was my God that created that Big Bang.

But you know what, that’s not even the really awesome part of the story. The really awesome part is that the very same voice that boomed the universe into existence, whispers YOUR name in the still of the night bringing light to the darkest places of your soul. Yes, the very same hands that formed Adam from the dust of the earth (Genesis 1-2) are the very same hands that fearfully and wonderfully knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139).

Sure, creation is AWESOME, but it’s not nearly as awesome as YOU. You my friend are the crowning achievement of God’s creation. He made the sun, the moon, the stars, the sea, and dry land, plants, trees, animals, but He spoke each of them into existence. Mmmmm…. but humanity was formed with intimate detail and the TOUCH of a Savior, filled with life-breath through a kiss (Genesis 2:7). While God cares for His creation, He LOVES you! You are special to Him. After the creation of everything else God said, “it is good”, but after He put the finishing touches on woman and saw man and woman together for the first time He said, “it is VERY good”. Then He dusted off His holy hands and sat down because He was finished. You my friend, complete with your frailties and faults, are the masterpiece of creation. You’re the icing on His creation cake. You’re the cherry at the top of the ice cream Sunday, not the melted goo at the bottom. God created you with such care and intimate detail, how could you ever think you were a mistake or an accident? God doesn’t make mistakes, He makes miracles and you’re one of them!

Yes! YOU!

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Psalms, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Agents of Shield

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Psalm 139:1-145:21

“Seasons change. And old situation creeping up in a new season of our life can be more complicated than ever. We can think we’ve murdered that monster once and for all, and then it rises from the dead and its grown another head.” – Beth Moore, So Long, Insecurity You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Us

I have been looking for this book for months now! Ever since I realized that God wanted me focusing on Identity in Christ during this season of my life. When I had only just begun down that path God showed me with brilliant clarity that many of our fears, doubts, struggles and even our insecurities find their roots in how we identify ourselves with Christ. So I knew I just HAD to get my hands on this book because Beth Moore is one of my all time FAVORITE people on this planet! God has used her to teach me so much!

Anyway, yesterday I walked over to a free book table and whose sweet face did I see? On not one but TWO book covers of books that are both on my search list! Talk about excited! Hee hee!

It was a pretty big day at our house yesterday; Tuesday is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. night! For the last six months I’ve missed Agents of SHIELD due to Greek class, but last week was our graduation, so last night was a BIG deal. We have not only been to every Marvel movie, we own them and watch them regularly too. This past Friday was our first day of Spring Break. What did we do? Sean took the day off work and we went to the very first showing of Captain America: The Winter Soldier!

Last night we had Sloppy Simmons, Fitz Fries, Coulson Corn and Skye Strawberries for dinner. We sat down and watched clips of each of the Agents of Shield characters online then pulled up last week’s episode on the DVR. Then we watched the new episode, it did NOT disappoint! I am so in awe of the genius that is Stan Lee and the people at Marvel. Their ability to create not just one compelling storyline, but several that ALL fit together seamlessly across several different modes of media! It’s storytelling at it’s best in my opinion.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!

Anyway, in both the Winter Soldier and Agents of Shield you find out that the Hydra organization from the original Captain America movie has returned and is wreaking havoc like never before. And as Agents of Shield finished last night we were talking about the Hydra and the way it works. When you cut one head off two will replace it. The way to kill the Hydra is NOT to cut off its head, but to kill its heart. Like a dandelion, you can’t just pull off the top and expect it to go away; you have to kill the root.

And so it is, I’m finding, with our Fears, Doubts and Struggles. They are all heads of the Hydra of Insecurity in our Identity in Christ. While all of them are a big deal and need cutting off – cause boy do they have TEETH! None of them are the heart, or root, of the matter. How you view your identity in Christ is the heart of it all. And how you receive His love for you is the blood, the life force that fuels everything.

If we’re seeing our identity in Christ as something that it’s not, then Fear, Doubt and Struggles will bloom in our lives and grow into heads with teeth, fangs, that will shred our souls if we let them. However, when we see ourselves the way we really are, IN Christ, well that’s the way to really kill the Hydra.

According to Psalm 91 (and many others) Jesus is our shield and refuge. 2 Corinthians 3:20 tells us that “we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.” That means that we’re His agents, here to do the work of furthering the Kingdom. So, if He is our shield and we are His agents, then we’re the Agents of Shield! And now this nerdy girl is very happy to have reached that conclusion and taken you there with me!

Hee hee! I know, I’m such a dork, but you love me anyway, right? 😉

 

So am I alone? Does anyone else out there just love everything Marvel? Does anyone want to join me in reading (and conquering) So Long, Insecurity You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Me? I’d love to have company in reading it!!!!

 

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Psalms, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | 1 Comment

Deliver Me from Evil

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Psalm 128:1-138:8

“Your right hand delivers me.” Psalm 138:7

At first glance I was smitten with the message of this verse and just the simple Truth that Jesus delivers us, praise God! But then I looked at it again. He delivers us with His own hand. And what’s more, He delivers us SINGLE HANDEDLY! He doesn’t even need both hands to deliver us from Evil, just one will do. Seriously, how AWESOME is our God!?! I mean really?

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Psalms, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Tears and Seeds

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Psalm 119:113-127:5

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6

As I read this verse today I could almost feel the heat form a fat wet tear sliding down my cheek. The sensation is all too familiar to me. I have had no shortage of tears in my life. And yet as I recalled those tears an image came to my mind. “Those who sow in tears shall reap in shouts of joy!”

What if those tears are seeds? What if each single teardrop is a seed that produces a crop of joy?

David says, in one of his Psalms, that God collects our tears in His bottle. (Psalm 56) What if He is collecting them because they’re valuable to Him; like seeds to a gardener?

It’s spring and for the last week or so every store I’ve walked into I’ve walked out with a packet or ten of seeds. Each packet has a big picture on the front of what those seeds inside will grow up to be. And I have been collecting those seeds, not for what they are but for what they will become once I plant them and water them and tend their precious fruit. My collection of seeds is precious to me because I know that given the proper conditions they will produce healthy food for my family and friends. But that’s not the end of my plans for them. I plan on collecting the seeds from their produce to plant next year too! These packets of seeds will produce fruit that will produce more seeds, with more fruit, with more seeds…

Do you see where I’m going with this?

God collects our tears because they’re precious to Him. Not because of what they are, but because of what they produce in us! Each tear is a seed that produces a healthy fruit that is good for us and our family and our friends. Yes, we may sow tears, but we reap joy! Your tears are not the end, they’re the beginning.

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Psalms | Leave a comment

Satan Doesn’t Get to Win

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Mrs Knochel


Psalm 119:1-112

“Your testimonies are my meditation. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:99&105

Satan used Jealousy and Pride to rattle the Pharisees and Scribes against Jesus. He had even managed to convince Judas (with 30 pieces of silver) to betray Jesus and turn Him over to the high priest for questioning. And now there’s Jesus, beaten beyond any recognition. He’s being spit on and taunted by on lookers as He hangs naked on a cross. He dies and is buried in a tomb and according to all signs it really looks like Satan has won the war. Talk about dark and hopeless places! The grave is pretty dark and hopeless wouldn’t you say?

BUT GOD HAD A PLAN!

His plan didn’t end on the cross, it started there! While Satan’s scheme had been to eliminate the threat and kill Jesus, Satan’s plan was as flawed as flawed could be! Did he not know what was really going on? Did he not understand the reality of the situation and what Jesus was doing? He must not have because Satan fell right into his own trap! Satan set a trap for Jesus that would spill His blood and kill Him. What Satan didn’t plan on was the VERY thing God DID plan on, because being God, He knew! Satan never thought of Jesus being the true atoning sacrifice for Passover. He couldn’t have thought of that, because if he had, he never would’ve had Jesus crucified.

Satan, while a powerful pain in our patoots, is NO MATCH for our God! Period! He simply can not compete in this match we call life. In the game of wits against God Almighty he doesn’t even hold a candle to the light of the Son!

Sure, Satan schemes against God by firing arrows in our direction. But the blood of Jesus is our shield that extinguishes all those fiery arrows. And what’s more is that not only is Satan no match for our God, he’s no match for us either!

We have been made more than conquerors through Jesus who LOVES US! (Romans 8:37) And the One who started a good work in you WILL be faithful to finish it. Right now you may feel like you’re in a pit or that your only hope is dead in a tomb, but the reality of the situation is that you’re in the cleft of a rock (Exodus 33), protected on three sides by God’s rock solid love and covered by His faithful hand as He walks before you pronouncing His name. And eventually He will remove His hand from over your eyes and you will look and you will find the footprints of His provision and protection in the sand at your feet.

Yes, Satan may have schemes, but God has plans. He has plans for your good and not your harm. He has plans for your future and your hope. And no matter what lies Satan tries to feed you, there is NOTHING that can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus and His faithfulness to His plans for you. You may be pressed but you’re NOT crushed. You may be persecuted but you’re NOT abandoned. You may have been struck down but you are NOT destroyed! In Jesus’ name, GET UP!

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Psalms, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

God is Faithful to His Plans for You

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Mrs Knochel


Psalm 110:1-118:29

“Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol Him, all peoples! For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!” Psalm 117

Reading this Psalm I was intrigued by these two qualities of God being smooshed together. His steadfast love and His faithfulness, what could one attribute have with the other? It sparked something in me that I wanted to investigate further. His love and His faithfulness connect. How? At what point? And to what end?

From day one I have been head-over-heels in love with my husband. The sun rose in his hair and the stars shone in his eyes. His arms have always been protective bands of iron wrapped around me and keeping me from all harm. He has always been my everything. My love for him kept me faithful to my promises to him and to God, because there were times when I wanted to bail on them, for sure. But I couldn’t do it because no matter how hurt or angry or betrayed I felt, it never changed the Truth. God put us together. We were made for each other. Knit together in mother’s wombs, formed to be united for eternity and no scheme of the Enemy could succeed against the plans God has for us. (Genesis 50:20)

God’s love for you keeps Him faithful to you. He has said, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

For we know according to Romans 8:28 that for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (or plan), all things will work together for their good.

God’s plans are perfect. How do I know this? Ummm… because he’s GOD. He knows EVERYTHING, past, present and future. If you knew everything there was to know in the universe don’t you think you’re plans would be pretty successful? If you created humanity to be weak and in need of a savior, wouldn’t you make sure to take those weaknesses into account when you made your plans for them? If you were omnipotent and able to know your enemy’s moves before he made them, don’t you think your plans would be pretty fail proof?

Right now you may feel like your situation is hopeless. You may feel like you’re in a very dark place with no future, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Take a look at the story of Joseph. His brothers threw him in a dark pit, hopeless and alone. They pulled him out only to sell him as a slave in Egypt – any hope of a prosperous future had been whipped out of him by the time he got there. The wife of his master lied about him and he got thrown into prison – back in the dark with even less hope of a future. You can see how at this point those plans God had for Joseph, you know the dreams about everyone in his family bowing to him, yeah, those plans looked deader than a doornail at this point. His family was nowhere near him how could those dreams ever come true?

But no scheme of hell is able to prevail over the plans of God and His steadfast love spurring on His faithfulness. The next part of Joseph’s journey was nothing short of an amazing miracle. Pharaoh had a dream, Joseph was the only one to interpret it and bodabing bodaboom Joseph is not only released from prison he’s promoted to the highest position in all of Egypt, save that of Pharaoh.

Not proof enough for you that Satan doesn’t get to win? Then how about I share another example with you, like a second witness in a trial against Satan’s schemes.

-Tomorrow. 😉

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Psalms, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment