Lisa Buffaloe's Blog, page 9

His ways are not our ways

Why all the suffering and pain? As we become Christians, why aren���t we immediately rescued from the troubles of this earth?

Jesus told His followers to go, tell, and make disciples of the nations (Matthew 28:19). If we are gone, how could we go, and who would tell others about Christ?

We are told to comfort others with the comfort we are given by our merciful God (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). If we never suffered how would we know how to give comfort?

Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in prison. What if they had never been jailed? Prisoners wouldn���t have heard them singing praises to God, they wouldn���t have seen the power of God as the prison shook and cell doors opened, and the jailer and his whole household would not have been saved (Acts 16:22-31).

What if Paul had not spent any time in prison? Would we have his beautiful treasure-trove of letters written to the early churches?

If Paul had been rescued from prison in Rome, the whole praetorium guard would not have heard the message of Christ. He wrote ���I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear��� (Philippians 1:12-14, ESV).

If Joseph had never been sold in slavery and imprisoned, how many people would have died from famine?

If the early church had not been persecuted and driven from their homes, would the gospel have spread throughout the known world?

Believers in China face terrible opposition, yet a Chinese Christian wrote, ���Instead of focusing our prayers against any political system, we pray that regardless of what happens to us, we will be pleasing to God. Don���t pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn���t pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power.��� ~ Brother Yun

My sweet friend, Marlyn, died from pancreatic cancer. Yet before she went home to the Lord, she boldly proclaimed Christ to her doctors, other patients, friends, family members, and even strangers.

The early believers prayed for boldness, courage, and fearless confidence. They prayed for those who persecuted them, prayed when they were attacked and driven from their homes. Persecution scattered the believers, and they scattered the good news. Opposition merely became opportunities to continue sharing. Suffering was seen as a blessing and they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer. They didn’t make what happened to them bigger than the message of Christ. Their faith was dangerous to the kingdom of darkness, and their faith resulted in glorious results for the Kingdom of God.

God���s ways are not our ways. God wishes none to perish without Him, and He will send His children around the world to be His hands and feet to share His eternal message of grace and love. Christ’s followers are driven from their homes, experience storms, shipwrecks, prisons, illness, and hardships without number, yet through their suffering how many lost sheep around the world hear of our Savior, Jesus Christ?

May we trust that whatever happens, God is in control and His plans are bigger than we can see. Pray for boldness, pray for courage, pray to be led by the Holy Spirit to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are a loving God. Thank You for Your salvation. Thank You that You desire all people to be saved. Help me to be bold and courageous. May Your Holy Spirit lead me to walk in Your ways, read Your word, and no matter what happens while on this earth, to share with others the good news of Your grace, mercy, and salvation through Your precious Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The post, His ways are not our ways, first appeared on lisabuffaloe.com

Yun, Brother, with Hattaway, Paul, The Heavenly Man, Monarch Books, UK & USA, 2002

Float by Faith

I’m thrilled to announce my latest release is now available on Amazon. As my first-fruit offering to the Lord, the e-Book version will be free through 6/22/22. If you are looking for encouragement, peace, and hope, stop by and pick up a copy and share with friends! https://amzn.to/3HOPXbP

Float by Faith

I would love to float in clear skies, serene, carefree, and untethered from life���s difficulties. However, the problems of this world often weigh me down.

This quote challenged me, ���It is a sign of weakness to always worry and fret, question everything, and mistrust everyone. Can anything be gained by it? Don���t we only make ourselves unfit for action, and separate our minds from the ability to make wise decisions? We simply sink in our struggles when we could float by faith.��� ~ Lettie Cowman

Doesn���t floating by faith sound wonderful? Yet, how do we float by faith in a world filled with anxiety, fear, frustration, anger, health issues, negative news reports, unending distractions, and other life issues?

Join me as we explore ways to be fueled by God���s joyful peace and empowered with His power to Float by Faith through the obstacles and storms of life.

Stuck and trapped

In 1876 a plant known as Kudzu was imported to help with erosion. Those few plants spread like wildfire, their roots shoot out, gripping the ground, crawling, covering trees, houses, and practically envelops anything that stands in its way. The Kudzu root system and interlocking vines become almost impossible to eradicate.

During the early 1980���s, I worked for a man who often traveled for his upper-management sales position. George* enjoyed his job and life. After each trip, he returned to the office with fun stories. One of his meetings took place in the deep south. Hungry and tried, George arrived late at night at his hotel. Room service was unavailable and he didn���t have keys to a car since his business partner had rented the automobile.

George looked out his window from the hilltop and noticed a fast-food restaurant. From where he stood, the fastest and easiest route seemed to be across a field. Dressed in his polyester, tan business suit, he made his way across the parking lot and began his journey. Unfortunately, he didn���t realize that green field was covered in Kudzu.

Sometime in the night, George���s business partner stood on his balcony and heard a plaintive cry for help. In the distance, he noticed a little tan spot in a sea of dark green. Kudzu had intertwined around George���s legs and body and he was unable to move. A rescue team was called to help eradicate him from the grips of the clinging vine.

The way had looked good and seemed to be an easy short cut for George, but he found out the hard way he should have taken the clear road.

Sin often looks like the easy way, a better way, a different way, to get what is wanted, but sin clings, claws, and envelops, sticking the sinner with negative consequences. The sinner is stuck and trapped, helpless without a rescuer and Savior.

I have good news,�� no matter how stuck your sin situation may seem, Jesus Christ is the rescuer, redeemer, and Savior.

���My little children, I am telling you this so that you will stay away from sin. But if you sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. His name is Jesus Christ, the one who is all that is good and who pleases God completely. He is the one who took God���s wrath against our sins upon himself and brought us into fellowship with God; and he is the forgiveness for our sins, and not only ours but all the world���s.��� ~ 1 John 2:1-2 (TLB)

���What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record.��� ~ ��Psalm 32:1-2 (TLB)

*The name has been changed to protect the identity of my very entertaining boss�� (*George, thank you for the fun times).

From We Were Meant for Paradise by Lisa Buffaloe

 

 

 

 

 

Basketful of Books

It’s giveaway time!

I am thrilled to announce my book, Open Lens, is part of the Basketful of Books Giveaway. This giveaway runs 5/16 through 5/21, and the prize consists of twelve Christian books. The 1st place winner will receive all twelve books (authors’ choice of format) and the 2nd place winner will receive three books (authors’ choice of format) of their choosing. A variety of genres, from fantasy to historical romance to suspense and more, are featured.

You can enter to win here:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bfce54d32/?

Don’t miss the blessings

2 Kings 5 records a young Israeli girl was taken captive by Naaman, the army commander of Aram. Naaman was highly regarded by his king, yet Naaman had a skin disease. Although enslaved as a servant girl to Naaman���s wife, the young girl sought the best for him by remarking, ���If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.���

Naaman went to Israel and stood outside the prophet Elisha���s house. Elisha didn���t come out to greet him, but sent a message, ���Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.���

The commander was furious, ���Indeed, I said to myself, ���He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.������ He also remarked that his country���s rivers were better, so why would he wash in the Jordan river?

Fortunately, his servants convinced him saying, ���My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ���Wash, and be clean���?���

Naaman did finally wash in the Jordan and his skin was restored. He returned to Elisha and said, ���Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel������

If that little girl had been angry, rebellious, and not wanting the best for her captor, she would have missed the blessing of seeing God���s healing and her master���s salvation. Naaman came back a changed man in body and in soul.

If Naaman had not done as Elisha asked, he would have missed his healing and finding that God is the true God.

As I pondered these events, I wondered will I be like the little girl seeking the best for those who do wrong against me?

How often do I tell myself that God will work in a certain way and miss the ways He does work? And, even though I may not understand, will I do as God says and leads?

God is a good God. He watches over His children, He heals and restores, and He blesses.

Heavenly Father, please forgive me when I have missed Your blessings. I don’t want to miss any more of your blessings, so please open my mind and my heart. Help me to be as You are, for You ���are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth��� (Psalm 86:15, NKJV). Father, help me to trust in You with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding and in all my ways acknowledge You and You will direct my paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). And please, ���Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me������ (Psalm 143:10, NASB). Thank you, Father. I ask these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The post, Don’t miss the blessings, first appeared on https://lisabuffaloe.com

 

Victory of the fallen

I���ve fallen and I can���t get up!

There are days I feel like my soul is bleeding with gaping wounds. Concerns for friends, family, and the world claw at my back. Attacks by Satan leave me bruised, battered and weary, prayers remain unanswered, and life is just plain difficult.��In Christ, our souls are bullet-proof invincible, but we still bleed.

Trials hit hard and I hit the floor. I hit the floor on my knees and I just plain hit the floor from sadness, grief, and overwhelming circumstances. Crushed and defeated, I wondered at times if I���d ever get back up. I want things to be different, answers to come, and prayers to be answered, but they haven���t. Nothing has changed yet in the situation. My prayers continue for change and for change in me.

Desperate for a word from God, desperate for a soul-revival, I fall at God���s mercy and beg for His lovingkindness. ���My heart is in anguish within me, and terrors ��� have fallen upon me��� (Psalm 55:4). Through my heart���s call, the reminder comes��� ���If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me. I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts��� (Psalm 119:92-94, NASB). ���This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life��� (Psalm 119:50, AMPC).

The saving in afflictions comes in various forms as God���s word brings revival for afflicted souls, His life bringing life.��In a world that bruises and bleeds there is One who bruised and bled to heal your bruised broken heart and mend and bind your bleeding wounds.

There is victory for the fallen. We fall on our knees at the feet of Jesus to receive His grace and mercy. For, when God���s grace falls on a willing soul, the soul becomes free in Christ.

���Let every failure teach you to cling afresh to Christ, and He will prove Himself a mighty and a loving Helper.��� ~ Andrew Murray

No matter how far one falls, God���s loving arm is mighty to save, restore, and redeem, for no sin is too dark for the power of Christ to lift with His grace, healing, and mercy.

With Christ, chains fall off prisoners, scales fall off blind eyes, and oppression falls away as His Holy Spirit falls within. And, when the Holy Spirit fell on people, mighty things happened.

Christ���s followers have God’s Spirit living within, granting the power of God. We fall into God���s arms during times of trouble, and in our fallen weakness, His strength is given. A dead seed fallen into the ground, produces new life.��As we lay down our life, surrendering self, surrendering our sorrows, troubles, and pain, The Life comes to give hope, comfort, and strength.

Have troubles fallen on your shoulders? Have you fallen? Fall into the love of Christ, to receive forgiveness, relief, grace, restoration, and help for every need. Fall on your knees, fall into God���s Word, and fall into God���s grace. Though you fall, His hand will hold you up, forever hold you, and forever love you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love and mercy. Thank You that when I fall, You are there to put me back on my feet. Thank You when I fall on Your mercy, Your loving hand will catch me in Your grace. Thank You, Father. Thank you.

God���s Timeless Truth

���Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall��� (��Psalm 55:22,��NLT).

������get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing! ��� He always does what he says��� he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry. God frees prisoners���he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen.��� (��Psalm 146:8 (MSG).

God heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds. God puts the fallen on their feet again (Psalm 147:2-6 (MSG).

���When people���s steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with their ways. If they stumble, they will not fall, because the Lord holds their hand��� (��Psalm 37:24, NCV).

���My heart is in anguish within me, and terrors ��� have fallen upon me��� (Psalm 55:4).

Through my heart���s call, the reminder comes��� ���If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me. I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts. This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life. ~ Psalm 119:92-94 (NASB), Psalm 119:50 (AMPC)

(Psalm 55:16, ��Psalm 3:3,��1 Corinthians 15:57)

Emphasis added on scripture.

From Time with The Timeless One by Lisa Buffaloe https://amzn.to/3MdeKa8

 

 

 

 

Photo by Lisa Buffaloe

Never too far gone

Hair-raising cries echoed through the countryside. No horror movie could match the reality of the man who lived in the tombs. Reeking of blood, dirt, and stench, the naked man screeched, cut himself, and broke through chains and shackles. Driven by demons to the desert, through the mountains, to the graveyard, tormented and possessed by a legion of demons��(Mark 5:1-20).

How many tried in their own effort to help him, to save him, to save themselves from him? How long had this man lived in torment? How many tears were shed for the man? How many tears were shed in fear of the man?

Was a mother praying for her son? Did she beg God night after night, day after day? Had she lost hope?

Jesus never turned away a praying parent, nor turned away those who came seeking His help. Jesus even came to those who weren���t asking for help, even someone possessed by a legion of demons. A Roman legion consisted of about 5000 men. Was this man possessed by 5000 demons?

No demon, no amount of demons, can stand up to the might and authority of Jesus Christ. Jesus freed the man, gave him a right mind, clothed and restored him. No power on earth can stop the power of Jesus.

Who are you praying for? Who do you know who is chained, overwhelmed, living in the tombs of disobedience and sin? Who seems too far gone and beyond hope?

Bring them to Jesus.

No person is too far gone for Jesus. Nothing is greater than our God and nothing is impossible for God.

Pray and bring them to Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I bring ___________________________ to You. They need You, they need freedom in You. ��Jesus, You tell us that prayer and sometimes fasting is needed (Mark 9:29). James reminds us that the prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much, is highly effective, dynamic in power (James 5:15-16).

Father, You broke the chains of Peter in prison (Acts 12:6-7), You set the prisoners free (Acts 5:18-19), You shake the ground, unchain the prisoners, and open jail doors (Acts 16:25-26). You shut the mouths of lions (Daniel 6:16-21).

____________________ is chained by the enemy and the devil is seeking to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus, the Father has given you all authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). Please release _____________________________ from their chains, release them from the devil���s control, create in them a clean heart and renew a right spirit within them (Psalm 51:10). Take away the heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh so that they may walk in Your ways (Ezekiel 11:19-20).

You search for the lost sheep and bring them home rejoicing (Luke 15:4-7). No lost person is too lost for You. Jesus, I ask that You find ____________________________, a lost sheep and set them free.

Oh Father, wrap them in Your love so they will forever be enraptured by Your love.

When they are brought back by You, we will all rejoice. Thank You, Father. Thank You.

I ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, who is my Savior.

Amen.

God���s Timeless Truth

���The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed��� (Luke 4:18, NASB).

���Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?��� (John 11:40).

���He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!��� (Psalm 107:14-15, NKJV).

 

From Time with The Timeless One by Lisa Buffaloe https://amzn.to/2XIlO9m

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Discouragement fever

I���ve noticed a very disturbing virus has attacked and left many feeling depressed and defeated. Discouragement Fever is spreading. I���ve had the fever, am trying to get over the fever, and have decided to take action!

Since the first bite of forbidden fruit, this enemy virus has run rampant throughout humanity. However, there is one way to win this battle ��� inoculate with God���s truth!

God���s word contains the solution for every soul virus. Know God���s truth and speak God���s truth. We are in a battle. Battles are messy, but we know who wins the final war. If you are in Christ, you are on the winning team.

Regardless of how you feel, regardless of what soul-fever is attacking; remember God���s might, power and strength are with you. You are never alone, never without hope, and always loved.

Do you have discouragement fever?

Tell defeat to beat feet and retreat. Banish discouragement with Godly encouragement. And remember the secession of depression comes with making God���s word your possession.

���And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.��� ~ John 8:32 (NASB)

From https://amzn.to/3M8BPed

Feelings

Take a moment and think about the beach. That thought might create a positive feeling for one person, and for another, a negative emotion. I love the beauty of a white sand beach and turquoise water; however, I am not a fan of sand that seems to get stuck in any bodily orifice it can find. Even though a beach is a neutral object, our feelings and reactions are based on the thoughts we each have about the beach. A person, place, or thing is neutral. Our thoughts about a person, place, or thing cause our feelings and emotions.

Lettie Cowman reminds us, ���As believers, ���we live by faith, not by sight��� ��� God never wants us to live by our feelings. Our inner self may want to live by feelings, and Satan may want us to, but God wants us to face the face, not feelings. He wants us to face the facts of Christ and His finished and perfect work for us. And once we face these precious facts, and believe them simply because God says they are facts, He will take care of our feelings.���

Emotions and feelings are ever-changing. However, when we remember the Truth of who we are in Christ, our feelings and emotions come under the protection and authority of Christ.

Remember, ���

You are saved and redeemed by Jesus Christ. ���For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God��� (Ephesians 2:8, NKJV). ������ for us there is but one God, the Father, who is the source of all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things [that have been created], and we [believers exist and have life and have been redeemed] through Him (1 Corinthians 8:6, AMP).��

You are a child of God.�� ������ to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name��� (John 1:12, AMP). ��

He will never leave you or forsake you. ������He has said, ���I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!������ (Hebrews 13:5, AMP) ��

You are given the strength and armor of God to stand firm against evil. ������ be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil��� (Ephesians 6:10-11, NASB).

No matter how rough and tough life gets, He will be with you. ������Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior������ (Isaiah 43:1-3, NKJV).

You are not given the spirit of fear; you are given God���s power, love, a calm well-balanced mind, discipline, and self-control.�� ���For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control��� (2 Timothy 1:7, AMPC).

��Jesus Christ has all authority to give you everything needed. ���All authority has been given to Me on heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). As a follower of Jesus, His authority and power are in us, granting us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).��

Therefore, rejoice! ���Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus��� (Philippians 4:4-7, NASB).

 

The post, Feelings, first appeared on https://lisabuffaloe.com/feelings

Cowman, L. B., Streams In The Desert, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan),

Photo via Pixabay

Safe forever in Christ

During church, our pastor reminded us that if we are in Christ Jesus we are like Noah when he was in the ark. Noah was safe and secure even in the storms, even in the driving rain, even if he tripped and fell, even if he was wobbly on his feet, even if he wondered if the storm would ever end, even if he wondered if God would remember him and his family, Noah was safe in the ark.

I needed that reminder, that even in the times when I feel so small, when the storms are raging and I���m so very wobbly on my faith-feet, even when I���m tripping and falling, I am always safe in Christ.

Christ Jesus paid the price for our sins and our failures, His unfailing love, grace, and mercy sets us forever free and forever safe.����

If you are in Christ���
�� �� ��you are forgiven.
�� �� ��you are eternally secure and soul-safe.
�� �� ��you are free in Christ.
�� �� ��you are never alone.
�� �� ��you are loved now and forever.
�� �� ��you have access to God.
�� �� ��you have hope forever.
�� �� ��and, you always get a happy ending.

Remember always, no matter what is happening, no matter how small your faith may be, no matter how wobbly you are, if you are in Christ you are safe forever.

���For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death.��� ~ Romans 6:23 (AMP), Romans 8:1-2 (AMP)

���Fling wide, then, the portals of your soul. He will come with that love which you long to feel; he will come with that joy into which you cannot work your poor depressed spirit; he will bring the peace which now you have not. ��� Only open the door to him, drive out his enemies, give him the keys of your heart, and he will dwell there forever. Oh, wondrous love, that brings such a guest to dwell in such a heart! … The whole of Christ, in His adorable character as the Son of God, is by Himself made over to us most richly to enjoy. His wisdom is our direction, his knowledge our instruction, his power our protection, his justice our surety, his love our comfort, his mercy our solace, and his immutability our trust. He makes no reserve, but opens the recesses of the Mount of God and bids us dig in its mines for the hidden treasures.��� ~ Charles Spurgeon

Safe forever in Christ first appeared on https://lisabuffaloe.com