"Not Afraid!"

  "It was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's command." (Hebrews 11:23 NLT)

  "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." (Psalms 56:3-4 KJV)

 There are certain times when we are afraid over something we might not know how to deal with; and then there are times we are just scared about something that is just too overwhelming. To be perfectly honest, I feel that fear is totally normal and is actually something that makes us really focus on trusting God, even though have no strength or ability to overcome whatever might be causing us fear. Actually, those are the best times, because we have nothing left to do, but totally trust God and surrender to His will! 

 If you have ever been in a situation that is too overwhelming and you just don't know what to do, then that is the perfect time to just fall on your knees and cry out to God! Having been there, I fully know that He is more than faithful to give us the strength we need to overcome, whatever it is that we might fear, even if it is fear for someone else! 

 I know I have shared this before, but it is real and is something that needs to be repeated. Fear is said to be, False Evidence Appearing Real, but that isn't always the case, as you watch them take the love of your life out of surgery, and she is totally on life-support, with tubes pumping life into her body; that is truly real and is overwhelming! Fear doesn't even count, because the destruction has already accrued. 

 That night was more than I could deal with, and I was told to go home and rest, or I would be a patient too. It was almost midnight when I got home, and as soon as I did, I went into my office, feel on the floor, and cried out to God with every bit of strength that I had. After about twenty or thirty minutes, I suddenly felt a peace, as if God was assuring me that everything will be okay.

 When I finally went to bed, I fell into a very deep sleep, waking up in just a few hours and feeling refreshed; and headed back to the hospital at 4:00 that morning. I knelt down next my wife and began to pray for her and read Scriptures to her from my Bible. 

 The nurse who came in later that morning noticed that my wife's palms were pushing out away from her body, telling me that was a very bad sign of traumatic brain damage. That made me pray even more, asking God to ease her pain and relax her body. Two days later her hands were cupped and resting at her side.

 For three months she was in that hospital, and so many things became different in my life. However, I had no fear over anything, absolutely nothing! What else could matter, when you go through something so traumatic and catastrophic as that, nothing else really matters! 

 I know that doesn't seem to be something the word fear represents, but the False Evidence Appearing Real, although it was a really big deal, the True Evidence is that God is faithful, beyond anything that we can even imagine! Oh, I still have times when I cry about her condition, but I try very hard not to cry in her presence. It has happened a few times, and she gave me a look that made me think that she was wondering why I was crying. 

 Regardless of what you might think, even though God did not fully heal her, I know for a fact that she is going to be perfect some day; as will all that believe in our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus...

"I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" (Psalms 118:5-6 KJV)    

"Time-Place-Order"

"By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones." (Hebrews 11:22 KJV)

  "Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God, and that Spirit lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness." And again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless." So don't boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you - whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God." (1 Corinthians 3:16-23 NLT)

 If you really think about what I meant about holding onto the heal of Jesus, it basically is the fact that He has gone before us, making the way for us; taking our place and paying the price for our sins; all of that so we can be worthy to be in the presence of the Father! It really isn't that hard to understand, yet the majority of this world is unable to see it or believe it is real. 

 Besides that, Jacob also meant something else besides, "Heal-catcher," his name also meant "Supplanter", which actually means, 'someone or something taking the place of another, as through force, scheming, strategy, or the like.' Whether you realize it or not, but basically all three of those things that are 'the like' were used in the process of making our salvation available: through force, because Jesus had to suffer and die for it to happen; by scheming, because it was mysterious and plotted out, even before the world was created; and by strategy, because it was complex and wasn't going to fail! 

 Whatever you might, think all of that, it was His doing; and yet, we are given the chance to reach out and grab hold of it, holding on for dear life! What's even greater than that, is that He is also holding onto us, in the process; and His grip is stronger!

 Anywho, this might seem strange, (like that doesn't happen,) but the title was meant to share about something totally different, something which talked about Isaac's timing, Jacob's placement, and Joseph orders; but then again, I think I covered all three anyways... 

"It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God's workers. And you are God's field. You are God's building." (1 Corinthians 3:7-9 NLT)  

"Superimposition"

"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." (Hebrews 11:21 KJV)

  "Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)" (Romans 8:20-25 NLT)

 I really don't know what or why I am doing this, but it was just something I felt that God wanted me to do, even though I have no clue, whatsoever, what it all means, or how to explain it! With that, let me try to explain what this title means, and maybe it will all come into focus. The word is, "superimposition," which is basically "the action of placing or laying one thing over another, typically so that both are still evident." 

 The first thing that came into my mind was Jacob's blessing of Joseph's sons. How that even makes it relevant, I have not any clue, but whatever it is, it is something that was part of God's plan, otherwise Jacob would not have done it the way that he did. If you know the story, Jacob took hold of the younger son, to bless him first; but Joseph stepped in and put the older son in his place. Yet Jacob insisted on the younger son binging blessed first; basically, breaking tradition. 

 Maybe it had something to do with his own blessing he received from Isaac, which was meant to be for Esau, as he was technically the older, first out of the womb, son. But Jacob was also named what he named, because he held onto the ankle of his older brother, as his brother came out from the womb. 

 I really don't know why, but I do know that I too am a "heel-catcher," as so anyone else that is meant to go to Heaven! Jesus is the only way! And all of us are holding tightly unto His heel, in order to be there with Him...

"I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness." (PSALM 145:1-7 NLT) 

"Things to Come" - Too

 "By faith Isaac blessing Jacob and Esau concerning things to come." (Hebrews 11:20 KJV)

  "Ah, I hear my lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. My lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he is behind the wall, looking through the window, peering into the room. My lover said to me, "Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one! Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air. The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming. Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!"" (SONG OF SONGS 2:8-13 NLT)

 Over these past few weeks, it has really been strange how I have heard several different Pastors share on certain things about the coming Rapture; which, if you are paying close attention, is getting closer and closer to the time when our Lover will come! We may not know the time and date, but I truly believe that we should know the season! I for one, believe the season is now! 

 As I was listing to Pastor Mike share the other day about Revelations 13, and the way the rise of the current technology is rising, somewhat quicker than anyone might have imagined, he mentioned the part in Scripture where it is talking about the force that takes control, so to speak; that is does not have life, but, it has breath, and it's breath moves swiftly. 

 As I was pondering that what that might actually look like, I remembered something I learned when I was in Fire Camp as a teenager, that fire does not actually have life, but it does have breath, and more breath that it has, the quicker it spreads. I also remembered that Thursday afternoon, during the Carr Fire, as I drove down Keswick Road, just to see how far away the fire was from my house. 

 When I was just a few more turns away from the dam, I pulled over at an area on the side of the road where there was an opening, got out and just stood there feeling as if there was something going to happen. It was very still, almost as if the wind had totally stop completely; it was very spooky and I really felt that I needed to get away. 

 If you want to know what I felt, it felt as if the fire was filling up with breath, preparing to breath! And breath it most certainly did! Around 3pm my power went out at the house, and I received a text from PG&E that the power would be restored in two weeks. So I started packing the RV and getting my wife ready to leave. Then, within about thirty minutes, power was restored; but I still worked on getting away. 

 It wasn't soon after, that I hear several helicopters leaving the staging area down the road, as well as the tanker trucks starting up and rolling out. So, I figure if they are leaving, so am I! I was overwhelmed at the traffic on the freeway, especially the long line of cars that were trying to get onto the freeway, to escape from the fire. The radio announcer that was sharing the progress of the fire was in a panic, saying that Cal Fire hasn't given any updates, because they really didn't know what was happening! The fire was making its own wind, like fire tornados, spinning out of control and randomly moving in all sorts of different directions! 

 Anywho, that is my take on this particular season that we are living in... 

"The Lord isn't being slow about his promise, as some people think, No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectantly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment." (2 Peter 3:9-10 NLT)  

"Things to Come"

 "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning thing to come." (Hebrews 11:20 KJV)

  "So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, "Ah! The smell of my son is like the smell of the outdoors, which the LORD has blessed! "From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed."" (Genesis 27:27-29 NLT)

 Whether we can understand it or not, there was really something important in this blessing that Isaac was giving to Jacob, even though he thought it was Esau. In this blessing, as well as in the way that Jacob was pretending to be his brother; Isaac's blessing painted a perfect picture of what was going to happen in the future, with Jacob's son, Joseph. 

 As we see, in the not-so-distant future, Joseph was having dreams abought all his brother's and even his father, Jacob, bowing down to him. Not only that, but when Joseph became the second in command of Egypt, all the other nation became his servants, as they gave up land and possessions, in order to have grain, to feed their families. 

 And to make things even more familiar with this story, when Joseph's brothers came for grain, they had no clue that he was their brother, as he did not even look the same to them. He also did become the master of his brother's; so much so, they begged him for mercy; especially when he asked them to go home and bring Bengamin, in order to prove who they really were; when actually he just wanted to see his brother. 

 Sometimes we see things are meant for certain reasons, and certain people have something in store for them, when it turns out that it was not them at all, but someone else that was actually close to them. The whole point is that God does not fail! His plans are going to happen, regardless, even if it is not the one that gets the blessing but is just the one that makes the blessing happen.  

 When I was given the opportunity to share this particular message, Isaac blessing to Jacob, I used this illustration of Jacob's reasoning to his mother, that it wasn't going to work. This is not easy to explain, as I tried, but most of the congregation didn't really get the massage. But I saw a similarity in the way Jacob doubted his mother's plan would work, as the problem some people have with God's plan that Jesus paid the penalty for their sins.

 It really isn't that hard to believe, unless you don't know who it was that hung on that cross! If you think that Jesus was someone else, less than God, then you're missing something that makes the truth undeniable; because it was God, it means that it totally and completely worked! 

 Even then, some might say, "Why would God need to come and die on a cross for us?" Well, if it takes a perfect sacrifice to do the job, only God is perfect! End of story...

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation., for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fulness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross." (Colossians 1:15-20 NLT)  

  

"The Three"

  "It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau. It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff. It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left." (Hebrews 11:20-22 NLT)

  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1 KJV)

 As I was saying, about those first two decades of my doubts, now and again about the Deity of Christ; it was pretty much this singular verse that sealed my heart, and made be totally and completely believe that Jesus Christ, was, is, and forever will be God! As a matter of fact, every translation of a Bible that I might look at or think to read, if this one verse, John 1:1, does not say what it should say, then I will refuse to read that translation, and I will warn anyone else that might be reading it to throw it away! 

 I determined that my lessons from growing up and being told that Jesus not God, had sometimes made me doubt, even though it was that exact point that made me stand, raising both hands, as the Preacher asked, "If you want to ask Jesus to come into your heart, raise your hand." When he preached the words, saying, "You see this watch? This watch tells me that somewhere out there, there is a Watch Maker. And you, me, and all that we see, tells me that there is a Creator! And have come here today, to tell you, that Creator is Jesus Christ!" 

 In just a flash, as soon as he said those words, I envisioned Jesus on the cross! I thought to myself, "My Creator died on a cross, to save me!" It really was overwhelming me; especially when he followed up reading several verses from the Bible that verified that what he said was true. You have got to know, we really never just read the Bible; we read the Scripture Studies, and verified them, by looking up certain Scriptures. 

 As a matter of fact, we were told, reading the Scripture Studies with the Bible, would bring us into the light; but if we set the Scripture Studies aside, and read the Bible alone, we would be in darkness. You really need to know, I was being raised in a cult! I was 23 when I got saved; and it took almost 20 years for me to be totally freed from that false teaching; even though it was that simple fact that brought me to the point of asking Jesus into my heart! 

 If that doesn't make sense to anyone, then I would simply say, you don't really remember what it was that caused you to give your life to Jesus! It is the thing that pulled the trigger that will be the thing the devil will use against you, time and time again. Sooner or later, you will figure it out! 

 I really love John's closing statement...

"This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." (John 21:24-25 KJV) 

"The Reckoning!" - Too

 "Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received in him a figure." (Hebrews 11:19 KJV)

  "But tell me this - since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God - for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can't be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world." (1 Corinthians 15:12-19 NLT)

 If you really don't understand the term, "reckon," it isn't really that difficult to see Paul's reckoning of what might be if it was true that Christ didn't raise up from the grave; what pitiful life it would be for all of us that believe, if that was really the case. Thankfully, we are assured that He did, because it can be easily proven, if we clearly believe in the written Word of God!

 I really don't know how else to say this, except to say that somehow the believer's in God, from a very long time before Jesus came, actually believed that He was coming to save the world, and that He was going to be killed, and that God would raise Him back up from the dead. Other than that, why would Abraham even consider it possible, except for the fact that God said his son would have many children? 

 Here is the thing that made be sure, surer of who Jesus is, was, and always will be: By truly believing what the Bible says, from the beginning to the end, it is all very plain to see; if that is, you're willing to believe! I suppose that if God had made everything through His Son, which is the Word, then I also figure that He is also God! It is really undeniable to reckon that is true...

"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Wood was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him." (John 1:1-3 NLT) 

"The Reckoning!"

 "Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." (Hebrews 11:19 KJV)

  "May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:19-21 NLT)

 As much as might think I know, there is always something that causes me to doubt, thinking that I know nothing at all; as strange as that might sound, it isn't hard for it to happen, even to someone that thinks they know everything. I reckon, those who think they know everything, don't even have a clue about God!

 When I was saved, back in 1981, there was something that I discovered that made me feel as though nothing else mattered but knowing and learning about God, especially about God's Son, Christ Jesus! I have shared this before, but during the first couple of weeks during my new life in Christ, I worked hard on making a crossword puzzle that listed all the Scriptures that showed or pointed to Jesus Christ being God. 

 Without going too far into the reason that was so important for me to do, let's just say I had been told that He was not God, in so many ways, that I needed to prove it to myself that He was, indeed, God! However, even after that, there would be times when I doubted it was true. For probably twenty years or so, now and then I would have this battle in my mind over the fact that Jesus is truly God, thinking what I have heard and read was wrong, and all of it was a lie. 

 Don't get thinking that I was messed up, because it really wasn't really what I believed: I absolutely did believe Jesus was who He said that He was; I just, now and again, doubted that it was true. If you think that isn't possible for someone that truly believes, then think again, because Peter once proclaimed that Jesus was God, but after He was arrested and being tried, he declared three times he didn't know Him! 

 Here is something that might sound weird or strange; but in a strange sort of way, Abraham actually felt as though Isaac had come back to life. Not to say that he had been killed, because God stopped it from happening. But you must realize what was going on in Abraham's heart and mind, as he was preparing to stick that knife in the chest of his, one and only son, the son of the promise!  

 I can only imagine the joy he felt, when God said, "Stop!" What a relief he must have felt, his son was saved; his life was spared! He had thought all along that God would do something, because He had promised that Isaac was the one; so, he even thought about him being brought back to life, if he had actually killed him. 

 When you truly think about it, I reckon God used this illustration to be the figure of His Son, Jesus Christ, the one that became a sacrifice for our sins! Even though He knew that He would rise again, the thought of what He would endure was overwhelming, so much so, that He sweat blood, praying that the Father would change His mind, and make it all stop! 

 Unlike Abraham's situation, even though God provided the sheep to take Isaac's place, our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, prepared Himself to be the Lamb, saying, "Not my will, but Thine be done"...

"But it was the LORD'S good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD'S good plan will prosper in his hands." (Isaiah 53:10 NLT)

"The Seed" - To

 "Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall they seed be called:" (Hebrews 11:18 KJV)

  "Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God's promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God's own fulfillment of his promise. These two women serve as an illustration of God's two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother." (Galatians 4:21-26 NLT)

 Having said all that stuff yesterday, it was primarily put out there for this post today. Not that it is not something we must always strive for, to bring everything to God before we do it; because I seriously doubt that anyone really does. Much like Abrham, who when told by his wife to take her handmaid, Hagar, to provide for the son God promised; I seriously doubt that Abraham prayed over that, asking God if that was His plan. 

 However! As I have said at least a hundred times: God knows beforehand and prepares the way for all the things that we do wrong, to be things which work for the good, in some form or fashion! We have really no idea what might happen based upon the wrong that we have done. Most of the things that are made to happen from what we do, either good or bad, will happen without us even knowing. 

 The other day I heard someone say that Rahab the harlot was not the same Rahab that was associated with King David's birth. I'm really not sure why, because she, and three other women which had, shall we say, strange sexual back grounds, are listed in the ancestor lines in Matthew. I truly believe that they are all listed there for a specific reason. 

 What's more, is that Ruth was a Moabite, from the land of Moab, which was the offspring of one of Lot's daughters, who had a sexual relation with her father, Lot, in order to keep the family line going. And then we have Tamar, who dressed as a harlot to get even with Judah, for not giving her his last son to wed. Even Bathsheba is mentioned, the mother of Solomon, the widow of Uriah! 

 The only other woman listed in Matthew's record of Jesus the Messiah's ancestors, is Mary; and she was a virgin, conceived before marriage, and have had to deal with the rumors of infidelity, even though she was pure...

"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 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." (1 Corinthians 2:13-16 NLT)    

"The Seed"

 "Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:" (Hebrews 11:18 KJV)

  "Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God's people! Being descendants of Abraham doesn't make them truly Abraham's children. For the Scriptures say, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted," though Abraham had other children, too. This means that Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham's children. For God had promised, "I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."" (Romans 9:6-9 NLT)

 The thing that is important for us to realize, is that God is the one who makes the rules! As much as we think that we have the ability to make changes on our own, if we do anything without His approval, or His say-so, then we deal with whatever happens, down the road. I'm not saying this because I faithfully do pray for all that I do; but I am saying it because I know it is something I don't do, quite frequently! 

 I can say with all honesty that I don't even realize when I do not ask Him first before I decide to do certain things; mostly because they don't involve church or ministry. If I am buying a new truck, I will just buy a new truck, not even thinking about praying about it first, to get His approval. I know that doesn't sound like it is a really big deal, to some people; but everything we own or have belongs to God!

 Really, the things we plan and the things we do, always should be things that are prayed over first; yet there are things we might think are ours to do on our own, without even asking Him if we should. If it sounds as if it isn't really that important, the little things we do on our own, all add up; before you know it, you are stuck with a pile of garbage! 

 You have sung that song, at least you heard it: "He gives and takes away," He can do that because it is rightfully His! We really own nothing in this world; when we die, we leave just as we came, with nothing but a soul. And guess what, He owns that too...

"So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, "I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth." So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. Well then, you might say, "Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven't they simply done what he makes them do?" No, don't say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, "Why have you made me like this?" When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn't he have the right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those whom he shows mercy, who are prepared in advance for glory. And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles." (Romans 9:16-24 NLT) 

"The Only Begotten Son" - Too

 "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son," (Hebrews 11:17 KJV)

  "So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father of many nations." This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing." (Romans 4:16-17 NLT)

 Over the past two days, I have heard several different messages about those who believed that Jesus was who He said He was, and about all of the historical things that were made to represent His time here on earth. As it goes, there appears to be a time, possibly before the dark ages, when most of humanity was honoring Christ, in all sorts of ways. The actual time of history was counted, based upon His birth and the time of His departure, B.C. and A.D., which have recently been altered to mean something else. 

 I am saying this because there is some proof that the idea and belief in God sending His one and only begotten Son to save us from our sins, has been something that was known, in some form or fashion, ever since Adam sinned in the Garden. They might not have seen the whole picture, before He came and was the sacrifice for our sins, but they knew that He would be coming!

 It has been said that the place where God told Abraham to go; the place where he was to sacrifice his son, was the same place where Jesus was crucified on the cross. It has also been told that this was the place where David paid for the threshing floor, to build an altar. Without a doubt, the whole reason for the test that God put Abraham through, was also a window to the place for Jesus to be crucified, right there in the same location. 

 There is more evidence of these being the last days, between the changing of the times of Jesus coming and going, to the way things are speedily getting stranger and technology is changing the way we live; this should be something that brings everyone who believes to a know that He will soon come for His bride! I really do hope that we all will be ready!

 One other thing, that really should make this story more alive, is that Abraham said something to Isaac when he asked his father, "Where is the sacrifice for the offering?" The answer is sometimes not told by some the way that it should be. Some say that Abraham said, "God will provide the sacrifice," while others, say, "God will provide Himself a sacrifice." Based upon what I know, I choose the later, but regardless, they both are correct...

"Isaac turned to Abraham and said, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "We have the fire and the wood," the boy said, "but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?" "God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son," Abraham answered. And they both walked on together." (Genesis 22:7-8 NLT)   

"The Only Begotten Son"

 "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son," (Hebrews 11:17 KJV) 

  "Some time later, God tested Abraham's faith. "Abraham!" God called. "Yes," he replied. "Here I am." "Take your son, your only son - yes, Isaac, whom you love so much - and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you."" (Genesis 22:1-2 KJV)

  As we all know, Abraham did have another son, who was named, Ishmael. As it was, God did bless him, telling his mother, Hagar, "Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants." Even though God did bless the older son, that son was not the one that was the son of promise, but the making from the work of man, not the power of God! 

 However, as I have said before, God used the mistake of Abraham's choice to listen to his wife, as a tool to save the whole family of Jacob, in a time of a very serious famine. Even still, Isaac was the son of the promise, which is why God used the term, "only begotten son." 

 I really don't know how else to put this, except that God is able to forgive our mistakes! This is really the whole point of what makes people doubt God's forgiveness, because even though He forgives, we have a really hard time forgiving ourselves. 

 Last night Pastor Bryan was sharing about Paul's statement from Philippians 3:13, as he said, 'Paul has not forgotten; but is not letting those things of the past, interfere with what he does today." Or, saying, something of that nature! We must completely and truly believe in the cross of Christ, that all of our sins have been completely forgiven! 

 When Jesus died on that cross, He took upon Himself the sins of the entire world; even those from the very beginning to the very end; there was no one who's sins were not paid for on that cross! Yet, it is a free gift of salvation that must be received in order for it to work...

""For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. "There is no judgement against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son."" (John 3:16-18 NLT) 

"Abraham's Test"

 "It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God's promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted." Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead." (Hebrews 11:17-29 NLT)

  "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13 KJV)

 Having been following the Lord, mostly, for all of these 45 something years, I have had several times to feel as though God was testing me, as if to see if I truly did trust Him, and I know that He was not only faithful, but that He was more than able to do things that I never even had seen or thought about. When we think that God is doing something, which might be within our inner circle, we really have no idea where or how far His something will go! 

 I'm not saying that I know the outcome of anything; I don't think any of us really truly do. But I do know what God promises will be, because He is always faithful, even if I'm not! If I have said it once to many times, I will say it again: If God choose you to be His child, He knew full well what you might do to break His heart; but His forgiveness is unending! He saved you broken, and He made you unbreakable!

 As I thought about what I had posted yesterday morning, I really planned to make it another message about the same; yet I felt that enough was said about how we get prepared, because we really cannot be consistent and totally faithful. But what we must do, is trust that He is constantly faithful, no matter if we are not; He will make a way for us make to the other side of this journey, justified and purely clean... 

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV) 

"Preparation"

 "But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:16 KJV)

  ""Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on and apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. "Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."" (Luke 12:35-40 NLT)

 So, here is a little twist on the illustration in most people's mind regarding this verse in Hebrews, as we sometimes forget that we too have to prepare ourselves to enter into the house that God has prepared for us! Much like it was for those Israelites that prepared for the first Passover, they marked their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, cooked their meal, and got dressed; standing around their tables, with shoes on and staff in hand: as if they were ready for a journey. 

 There are several different Scriptures that are running through my mind, as to what this really looks like. The interesting thing that blows my mind, is that our preparation is really not all that hard, as a matter of fact, God is the one that does all the heavy lifting, so to speak: we just need to be ready to go! 

 The first thing that comes to mind, is the cross of Christ, which was most definitely hard on the Lord to go through it; but the result of what He did, made it very easy for us to have our sins washed away: we just needed to believe and receive the grace we were given! As easy as it might sound, many people are not able to believe it; not because they can't believe, but because they don't want to believe because they don't want to be changed or give up doing what they are doing. 

 Additionally, there are certain thing that seem hard to some, but they make things hard on themselves because they try doing them on their own, instead of letting God lead them. This has been one of my difficulties for as long as I remember! You know what I mean, it's a lot like that message about God telling someone to move a big rock, they obviously can't move. They push and push, but it never works, it only makes them discouraged and wanting to give up. When all the time, God was waiting for them to ask Him for help, which would have made their heavy burden rather easy! 

 It might not make total sense, but it really doesn't require strength to do what makes God happy, it only requires the real desire to serve Him, and He will make it very easy; as Jesus has said...

"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."" (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT)   

"No Turning Back!"

 "And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned." (Hebrews 11:15 KJV)

  "Don't worry about anything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 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)

 This might just be the same topic from the last two days, as it takes into consideration to what really matter most, and how knowing what the Lord has promised, is not only true, but we have the peace of God in believing it is where we are going. That really makes a very big difference to any reason we might think about turning back to our old life, which, in my opinion, is not possible for those who truly believe that Jesus is coming back to bring them home.  

 As silly as it might sound, but the other night when President Trump was again in a situation where he might have been taken out, the first thing that popped into my head was, 'The Last Trump', which is the trigger that actually sets off the rapture to happen. Not that I am looking for anything to happen, because I do truly believe he has been appointed by God and is doing good; much different than the one who was before him, that much is for sure! 

 We must always be ready for the Lord's return to take up the church; even though we might slack off from time to time, living and planning in this world in which we are Pilgrams! There really isn't any reason to stop living and providing for others; but there is a very special reason that we do our best to be ready...  

"As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go." But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head." He said to another person, "Come follow me." The man agreed, but he said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God." Another said, "Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family." But Jesus told him, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."" (Luke 9:57-62 NLT)