"A Different Dialect"

 "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word." (John 8:43 KJV)

  "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's law, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God." (Romans 8:5-8 NLT)

 Anywho! This is one of those issues that many people might struggle with, both personally and in regard to their judgment of others. First off: Does the Holy Spirit leave the you when you disobey God? Some say yes, and some say no. What say you? 

 Personally, I believe that once we have been born again of God's Spirit, that new life will remain with us for eternity. This I believe is the promise of New Life. That said, there is a difference between having the Holy Spirit dwelling within you and being filled with the Spirit. I believe that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman and will not force us to do anything; which also means, that the more you don't listen and follow His guidance, the less you will receive His prompting and help in making choices.

 If you want the technical term for that, I believe the term is called: Quenching the Spirit! You cannot get rid of God's Spirit, but you sure can ignore Him and be stuck trying to make life happen on your own. But He is always hanging in there, because you have become the property of Jesus Christ; you are no longer a citizen of earth, but of heaven.

 Interesting enough, there are different areas in heaven, as some believe. There is a very similar structure as the Temple, where there is an inner court and an outer court; one for those that served others, and one for those that served themselves. This may or may not be the actual case, but it is worth considering where it is you want to be and why. 

 Regardless of that speculation, the Holy Spirit is given to us in the volume by which we can hold Him. If we want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, then there needs to be room for that filling. This is called cleaning house! The more room we make for Him to dwell within your heart, the more room He will take up and control. 

 If that is not your thing, and you want to hold onto some of the control, then you are being selfish and are actually serving yourself. There is a pretty good chance you are letting your sinful nature control your heart and your mind; you will end up not understanding what the Holy Spirit says and way. 

 How do you want to be, controlled or out of control? This, I do not believe is a heaven or hell choice; but it is a choice, in one way or another, regarding life or death. But what do I know...

"But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you." (Romans 8:9-11 NLT) 

"Loving Jesus" - Too

 "Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (John 8:42 KJV)

  "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:1-3 NLT)

 Having a heart for the things of God, means that we must love others! I might not have to like them, but I must love them. How that actually looks, I guess you would say, it takes the form of caring for the inner person, even though you might not be able to tolerate the external one. If that makes any sense, then go with it; if not, then figure out on your own. 

 This world is a fallen world, it is going to be destroyed and made new; so, the things that we see are only temporary and soon to pass. This flesh that we walk around in, is also temporary, just a tent that our soul dwells within as long as we are here. The people we meant and associate with, they all have an eternal soul within them, and the eternal soul is that which lives on forever and ever.

 Not that I need to make that known to anyone, because if you are a child of God, it should already be obvious and well known. But sometimes we forget! We judge people by the external, without even considering the internal person that dwells within them, that part of them that needs that which the world cannot provide.

 Having studied the Bible, heard tons of messages, and had the Holy Spirit show me a thing or two, I have come to understand that those of us who are God's children are no longer those that care for and live after the things of this world. That said, we still have a connection here; and because of that, we will still find ourselves doing the things that get us caught up in the things of this world.

 You really don't need to try very hard to find examples of people in the Bible that have done just that, but the bottom line and the thing that matters most, is that of loving God and loving God's your fellow brothers and sisters. Love is the key, more than anything else, without love, there is no connection to God; and, without love, there is no way we can keep His commandments...

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." (1 John 4:7-12 NLT) 

"Loving Jesus"

 "Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me; for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (John 8:42 KJV)

  "The LORD of Heaven's Armies says to the priests: "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! "But you ask, 'How have we ever shown contempt for your name.'" (Malachi 1:6 NLT)

 Maybe there are days when we should step back and evaluate the things we hold dear, taking better care towards the things that are near and dear to the Lord's heart? Not that we aren't already aware, because I believe that we are all very much aware of the things we should do, verses those things that the Lord has told us not to do.

 There are several things that I believe need to be addressed, without actually pointing fingers. Just the little things I have noticed over the many years of being in ministry. First and foremost, just because we serve the Lord, does not excuse us or give us the right to not serve others. 

 If you know the passage of Scripture where Jesus takes Peter aside, saying three times, 'Peter, do you love me?', then you should also know what Jesus says to Peter in response to his answer: "Feed my sheep." To be perfectly clear, feeding sheep is meant to mean so much more than just teaching the word of God. It is something that involves contentment and security and hope and love; all of which are things that can only be administered and provided by serving others.

 James has a little bit to add to this, as someone who had to make a total and complete change in his understanding about who Jesus was, and what it actually means to be a servant of the Lord. We simply cannot just expect to just say, "God bless you," and expect that there will be blessings showered out from heaven on someone: We are God's hands and feet...

"What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well" - but then you don't give that person and food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." (James 2:14-17 NLT) 

"Implications"

 "Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." (John 8:41 KJV) 

  "This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." (1 John 3:11-13 NLT) 

 Some of the greatest reasons that we have for being alert and ready for whatever might cause us to be offended, is that of our witness of God's love in our lives. I say reasons, because offense comes on so many different levels; whether they involve our speaking out for what is right, our love for God, our mistakes that have been made, or maybe even, the rumors that might be told about us. 

 Within this verse, Jesus implies that these Jews, who think that they follow and do the deeds of God, actually do the deeds of the devil. In contrast, the Jews are implying that Jesus was born of fornication, as the rumors had it, because of the circumstances of His birth. 

 For those of us that might be feeling the pressure of implications of wrongdoing or having false stories and lies spoken of us; there should be nothing to be worried about if those are false and you have nothing to hide. God is the one who judges; He is the one that we are going to answer to for anything that we have done or not done. 

 I see that there are so many different areas of our lives where there is room for lies to be spread, mostly because of the speed in which information gets passed around. But, there is really nothing, absolutely nothing that can come against us and take away our salvation! 

 Let love be the answer to every situation and everything that might try and offend you. The reaction to whatever it is, is totally up to you...

"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called of God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all." Ephesians 4:1-6 NLT) 

"Seeking God" - 2

"But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham." (John 8:40 KJV) 

  "The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming." (Psalm 37:12 NLT)

 Not to make light of this, but these Jews that Jesus is speaking to, they are actually doing exactly what they are meant to be doing. If anything, they are in just the right frame of mind, at just the right time, and doing just what they have been chosen for, without even knowing they are part of God's plan. 

 As much as I try to understand why, but God does use the wicked to work out His plans; they might not even know why they do what they do, but God turns into something they could hardly see coming. This is by far the most spectacular thing about God's ways; because in His ways, the things that just don't make sense, become things that make the biggest difference in changing the human heart.

 If you really want to get right down to it, God ultimately controls everything, in His own way! If that doesn't make you want to draw close to Him, it is only because you really don't want to be controlled; even if it means you can be blessed by His instructions.

 By the way, yesterday I heard this riddle: "What things are given out, yet 90% of which get thrown away, without ever being used?" I thought it was rather interesting to think about, I thought of things like faith, and joy and stuff that people totally must use before they even realize that they have been given it. 

 I think the bottom line of what I feel God is trying to say, is that we must seek after Him, and He will show up! That is what God wants from His children, to want to be near to Him, always waiting to receive instructions...

"I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned a lesson: A little extra sleep, a little extra slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber." (Proverbs 24:30-34 NLT)  

"Seeking God"

 "But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham." (John 8:40 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)

 Some days are really special; almost as if they were meant to be the beginning of something that is going to be new and exciting. God has a way of making the bad and ugly things in life seem as if they have a purpose, and things that have a purpose don't seem so bad and ugly. 

 I was reminded about that movie, "Passengers", which was the first and only movie that I wrote a review about on The Spotlight. If you aren't familiar with the movie, it is about 2 passengers aboard a spacecraft that is going to a new planet, who have been given a very special purpose, to save everyone else that is aboard the ship. 

 As strange as that might sound, it gets even stranger, as the ship is the mastermind that gives them the purpose. Having been struck with by an asteroid, it was going to not make its 120 year journey without getting repaired; so it wakes up the only guy on boards that is good enough at fixing things to make it able to complete the journey.

The bad and ugly part was that his guy got lonely; he falls in love with another passenger, wakes her up, and pretends that she was woken up by mistake like him. Long story short, he was not going to be able to fix that ship on his own; it was going to take at least one more person to do it. After they saved the ship, they fell deeply in love and they were able to enjoy their private life together; knowing full well, this was where they both were meant to be, for the rest of their lives. 

 Why did I share that? Why is it even relevant? Well, when you know that you are part of something that is far more intelligent and creative then you are, you are bound to seek to do whatever you are told to do. You are hungry for information and instructions on the plan, whatever that plan might be, because the Master Planner of your destiny has your plan all figured out. 

 This was pretty much the heart of Abraham, to listen for God's instruction, walk in the ways God gave him to go, and know that God was going to get him through to the other side, wherever that might be, it just didn't matter, as long as it was with God! Was he perfect at doing all he was told? Not so much! But God took everything that he might have done wrong and turned those mistakes into life giving opportunities!

 That is the God that we serve: He brings the dead back to life and creates new things from nothing...

"I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not hard you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." (Psalm 121 NLT) 

"Father Abraham"

 "They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham." (John 8:39 KJV)

  "Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the alter? You see, his faith and actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone." (James 2:21-26 NLT)

 I can remember, back when I first got saved, about twelve of us brothers were gathered at the front of the church, as we form a circle and started to march in step, singing, "Father Abraham, had many sons; Many sons had father Abraham. I am one, and so are you. As we go marching on!" That was over 40 years ago, so I might have left out a word or two from the song. 

 This was a spontaneous reaction, as we were gathered together in prayer, and one of us began to hum to tune, causing the song to just pour out of us. It is really not a question of why we were motivated to do what we did, because the Holy Spirit was the conduit, and we totally knew it. The real question I might ask, is why it doesn't always feel that way, where you just don't care? 

 The moment that David stripped off his royal robe and danced before the LORD; it was a moment when nothing else mattered but that he should praise God with all of his heart! Those are special moments, as we feel the need to let go of all the pride and insecurity, surrender it all to God, and just enjoy being in His presence. 

 "Better is one day in his house, than thousands elsewhere!" That is what we realize and experience, as we just enjoy being one of His children! Is that action enough to count? Yes, more than you realize! It is that simple acknowledgement of joy and peace we have in Christ, that is able to show others what they are missing. 

 I don't care how long ago you were saved, but the thing we lacked prior to accepting Jesus into our hearts, was fellowship with God! We might not remember what it felt like, because that feeling has been taken and replaced with hope. The closest we come to the feeling we once knew, is when we fail to ask God for forgiveness, whenever we fall or mess up. 

 Even then, it is never the same as it once was, because of hope! You might not know this, but that parable of the Prodigal Son, it shows the unbreakable connection between the Father and the son. No matter what that son had done, he never stopped being the son! All it took was for him to draw towards his father, and hope was restored! Despair and misery had left him; he had someone to turn to, that he knew, without a doubt, would still call him son. 

 If you were to search through the lessons about this online, you would witness several of those, shall we say, judgmental teachers, that have placed this character in a bad light. Unfortunately for many that might buy into that; because pretty much all of us experience being an 'Abuser of Grace,' at one time on another. But nonetheless, we are never not His children...

"For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew in one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people." (Romans 2:28-29 NLT) 

"Who Do You Know" - Too

 "I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father." (John 8:38 KJV)

  "Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?" But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." (Matthew 3:13-17 NLT) 

 Regardless of what you might think, my issues, whatever they are, are between me and the Lord; my real desire is to just be found ready and willing to be used of Him, in whatever He wills for my life. That said, if I feel the urgency to not do something that might disrupt my relationship, then I pray that God will take whatever it is out of my life, no matter how much I might enjoy it! 

 There are two very important messages here, and they both are connected by those things that we choose to do or not do. One of those important messages is that which is done towards God, which are those things which God requires. Everything that God requires of us, whatever, whenever, and however, it is always to be measured by His Word. If it does not line up with God's Word, then it is not what God requires of us, doing or not doing, there is no difference one way or another, it is still sin. 

 Some people are really hung up on the sin that might see in what others do, as if just doing something wrong is how people sin. When in the economy of God's Kingdom, it is a far greater sin, to not do that which is required of us, no matter what, if God requires us to do it, and we don't, then it is a sin for not having done it. 

 The other important message is that of what brings God great joy! What is it that we might have to offer, if anything that brings God great joy? Before you start thinking up some creative things that you might be able to do; think about the thing Jesus says, which may or may not be seem all that great, but if it is coming from you, it might be just what God requires! Open your mouth and share what God has done for you!  

 Okay, so maybe that doesn't float your boat. But if you really want to be changed, then you must start talking about the change you have already been given! Quit hoping for change and start living out the change in your life! My niece reminded me of that yesterday, as I was upset over some things that her kids were doing in my house. I told her, 'I keep trying to not get angry, but the harder I try, the easier it is to mess up.' She simply reminded me of the Pink Elephant! 

 Okay, so maybe now your boat is on the ocean floor. But this is about us bringing the Word of God to life in us, that we see Him, more than we see ourselves doing what we should not do! The Who in this is you! Who's are you? Who's do you want to be? Who's do you know that you are...

"Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are all rebels, and God's mercy has come to you that they, too, will share in God's mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone. Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the LORD'S thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Aman." (Romans 11:28-36 NLT)  

"Who Do You Know"

 "I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father." (John 8:38 KJV) 

  "Dear children, don't let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God." (1 John 3:7-10 NLT) 

 Before I get too far into this, I must confess, I am not a perfect person. As much as it pains me to say, I am terrible at controlling my temper, I enjoy a nice cigar with a couple glasses of wine, and I love watching movies, even if they might be a little, shall we say, less than righteous. That said, I know how to not let anything control me, and there is nothing I have in my life that I cannot go without; except maybe work! 

 If there is one thing that causes me the most aggravation, but at the same time, makes me feel alive, it is work. For as long as I remember, I have loved to work; any work, it really doesn't matter what, if there is a task that needs to be done, then I will do whatever I do to my very best. Most kids complained about doing chores, I made my chores into a game, a game called, "Let's see how good I can get this done!" 

 What is the definition of a Workaholic? Well, according to most, workaholics are consumed by work, but work is joyless. What a brutal and terrible way to live! However, the Word has it: ""Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return."" (Genesis 3:17-19 NLT)

 Maybe it is best to just accept that which you cannot change and focus upon those things which can be changed! The one thing I want more than anything to change is my temper! I don't even know who I am when it happens, but it just happens, none the less. Big things hardly bother me at all, but the little things, they seem to get under my skin and irritate the heck out of me. 

 If I had to point to anything that might be causing it to happen, I might point to stress. I am usually up by 3:00am and back to sleep usually by 10:00 or 11:00pm; so maybe I could point to the lack of sleep. However, if you really want to know, I think it is just life in general! I am so fixated on getting out of this place, it frustrates me beyond belief to practice making it through each and every day. 

 So there you have it; my life all spewed out and on display. And, what is most aggravating of all of that, is that I wouldn't want to have it any other way! I get to care for my beautiful wife, whom I love with all of my heart. I have the great privilege of providing for others, while doing something that I love to do. And most of all, no matter what might happen, I know Jesus will see me through to the other side!  

 Does that mean life is meant to be easy? Absolutely not! I expect that there will be troubles, because they are bound to happen, just as they do for everyone else. Both the good and the bad get the same sort of problems; but what makes the difference, is, Who do you know! I might not be perfect, but I know Someone that is...

"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NLT)   

"The Word Has It"

 "I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you." (John 8:37 KJV)

  "When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, "Who can know the LORD'S thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:13-16 NLT) 

 Maybe this is a lesson in learning how to listen, because there are things being said, that if we were listening, would open up the eyes of our hearts, and we might have a whole new attitude about this world's condition. Have you heard the new facts that are being spewed out from the mouths of idiots? Sorry for being blunt, but I will not believe it until I see it; but a certain woman of authority was asked, "Do you believe biological males can get pregnant and have an abortion?" And she said, "Yes!" 

 My mother had this saying, "The nuts are running the not-house!" I have a very strong feeling that the Lord is coming at any moment, because it really can't get much stranger than this! By the way, in case you didn't know this, but Sodom and Gomorrah was not destroyed because of the wickedness going on within their cities; they were destroyed because it had become the way of the land. They had made wickedness the way to live; making it better off to be wicked, then to be the way God made them to be. 

 You try to figure out what that might mean, because things are getting very close to the edge, shall we say, of pure wickedness! Anywho, this little thing that Jesus shares, "but ye seek to kill me," may or may not have been pointed directly at them. As we shall see, the seed that Jesus spoke of was their being descendants of Abraham, purely based upon physical birth; but the statement, "but ye seek to kill me," was the reference to their spiritual birth, that of being the seed of the devil.

 Don't think for a moment that the devil is not behind all of this, because he is the god of this world, and he wants to take as many people to hell with him as he possibly can. As my mom always said, "Misery loves company!" If you get enough people to be corrupted as you are, then you can start feeling like you are normal, maybe even borderline special. 

 I might not know why it happens, but I do know how it happens: The Word has it...

"Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshipping the glorious, ever living God, they worshipped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshipped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen." (Romans 1:21-25 NLT)  

"Point of Fact!"

 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36 KJV)

  "Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people's minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts and covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord - who is the Spirit - makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." (2 Corinthians 3:12-18 NLT)

 Yes, I know, sometimes we just don't feel all that glorious! Yes, but it is all for His glory! I don't know, nor care to know, what it was that Paul called, "A thorn in his side," because it was allowed to be there in order to keep him humble and know that he needed God's grace, continually! 

 That veil Moses wore, was not worn in order to hide the glory, but that the glory, which was shown, could not be seen to be gone, once it had worn off and was no longer present. The whole point with that, is that the glory belonged to God, it was never actually Moses' to begin with, but a reflection upon Moses after he had been in God's presence. 

 Don't try to make too much of this, because we are all sinners that have been saved by grace! There is a light in which we stand within; while we are standing within it, we shine; when we are outside of it, we really don't shine that much at all, sad to say! Sometimes, it can work just like a flip of a switch, where it pretty much depends upon the direction in which you are going.

 After all, love is not dependent upon feelings, nor do we express love in order to feel better; because there are times when it actually hurts! But we must love, whether it feels good or bad, love is more about a sacrifice of the heart, then it is about feeling rewards for loving! Our reward is Christ! And by now you should known what that will cost you: Your life!  

 Which reminds me about something that I have wondered about ever since I first got saved: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalms 103:12 KJV) Is He speaking about something that is infinite, or is it based upon our direction? I can't help but think of that song, by King and Country, "Only God Knows." 

 This really has nothing to do about feelings, as in, do you feel worthy; because we are never really that! Only Christ Jesus is worthy! But, when He declares you worthy, then you are made worthy by His blood, once and for all! You can turn around and chase after those old sins all you want, but those old sins have been removed! I hope you have a really good scuba suit, if you are really looking to find them, because those things of the past are way down there, further then you could ever go. 

 That said, the new things are plead for, over and over; but if you really want to make a mess of things, then He will quickly remove you from this earth, making you an example of His mercy. Just saying...

"So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in the slavery of the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I'll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love." (Galatians 5:1-6 NLT)   

"The Amen!"

 "And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever." (John 8:35 KJV)

  "God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance - an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see." (1 Peter 1:2-5 NLT)

 Oddly enough, but the connection between that of an adopted son and the son who is born in the house, is undeniably very similar to what we have inherited. Without getting into all of the legal aspects of what this might all mean, let's just say, that when you are chosen to be placed in someone's care, they have more of a responsibility to care for you, then that of the actual care given to the natural born child. 

 Not that this counts for Jesus, because, as it turns out, He has always been there and was never born into the house. Basically, what He is saying, is, the servant is brought into the house, the Son has always been there! Yes, you might have some fun with that, sharing with your J.W. friends. If they will even take the chance listening to what you have to say, this is one of hundreds of special insights to the eternal Amen! 

 We express this word, Amen, as the conclusion to our prayers, as if it is the dot at the end of a sentence. Many times, it becomes so customary, we forget the true meaning of what stands for, and use it as a seal, much like you would stamp your seal on the letter, as you send your letter up to God. 

 Truth be told, it has more to do with a seal of approval, as if you are asking to be in agreement with God, or that God would agree with your request or acknowledgement. Besides that, if Jesus is the Word, then He has the final say in everything, regardless of what we want or ask for; so, in essence, I think it is more like an exclamation mark at the end of prayer, which is meant for Him... 

"For we know that all creation has been groaning as in 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.) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Holy Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory." (Romans 8:22-30 NLT)

"Each and Everyone"

 "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34 KJV)

 "As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous - not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one." "Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies." "Snake venom drips from their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them. They don't know where to find peace." "They have no fear of God at all."" (Romans 3:10-18 NLT)

 Yes, this is the same, "Whosoever," that is shown to us from John 3:15 & 16; which basically means, all of us are guilty, but all of us can also be set free! As I mentioned before, those that will try and say that it doesn't count for anything to repeat the sinners prayer or come forward to accept Christ, there is really something wrong with their own relationship. "Misery loves company," as my mom always said. 

 I was sharing that with someone yesterday, as the topic was brought up about a late TV preacher that believed all who are going to be saved have already been determined by God to be saved. Yes, God is All-Knowing; and yes, He has a place already made for those who will be His children; but those of us that are still alive, still must choose our destiny! We are on clock, and as long as our clock is ticking, we still have a choice! 

 I know that it baffles the mind, but it is really not that hard to understand: that, there is a massive amount of difference between us and God! We are created: He is the Creator...

"Obviously, the law applies to those to whom to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." (Romans 3:19-20 NLT)  

"To Come into Existence"

 "They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" (John 8:33 KJV) 

  "He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn - not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God." (John 1:10-13 NLT)

 Somehow, we must be able to understand this and make it understood: We are no longer that which we once were and have been made into something that is from above! I know that is sometimes a hard pill to swallow, because it makes you different from those that have not yet been changed; but, as it is said, 'Dead fish will naturally float downstream, but you must be alive to swim against the current!' 

 This little secret about being part of something that you have not made happen, it pretty much works both ways. As with these Jews, who have clearly felt that they belonged to Abraham's seed, purely based upon their natural birth record, had done nothing to deserve that position; yet the position doesn't go any higher than this earth. 

 As it is, to really be Abraham's seed, requires the same belief that Abraham had, not just being born into the line of Abraham. (Romans 4) Then it is strictly based upon faith, not upon doing, but believing! What a strange concept! You mean I don't need to do anything but believe? Shouldn't I at least build an alter or make some sort of promise or commitment with God, just as Abraham did? 

 Interesting fact, is that Abraham did not make anything, but in fact, he took away, by the cutting away, as God had instructed him to do. It was then that the law was established, not the other way around. If you get right down to it, we come to God by faith, then He brings us into a right standing with Him.

 Which reminds me, there was something I heard the other day that was a little strange, that there are some preachers that say that there is not anything that really happens when a person raises their hand and repeats the 'Sinner's Prayer' or comes forward to accept Christ into their heart. If that is true, then those are the preachers working for the other side, and they are not the preachers working for God! 

 I am sorry if that offends anyone, but that has to be the worst thing I have ever heard; it is just as bad as saying you have got to be baptized in order to be truly saved. Even a dead fish can be dipped into the water; but that will not bring the dead fish back to life...

"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of underserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory." (Romans 5:1-2 NLT) 

"How Do You Know?" x 3

 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32 KJV)

  "But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir." (Galatians 4:4-7 NLT)

 It is really about a special relationship, whereas, you know and have hope in a future that cannot be taken from you, no matter what! How do you know? Because He has promised it to you; not based upon the things that you do or do not do, but based upon what He has done: Done, meaning that it is done, and cannot be undone! 

 I know I don't totally understand it; but I also know that I don't need to totally understand it, because it is far above my understanding to figure it all out! You are going to be asked one question, and you had better know the correct answer: "Did you know that I loved you?" 

 YES LORD!!!! With all my heart...

"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. "For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I take no pleasure in anyone who turns away." But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved." (Hebrews 10:35-39 NLT) 

"How Do You Know?" - Too

 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32 KJV)

  "LORD, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations. I am a friend to anyone who fears you - anyone who obeys your commandments. O LORD, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees." (Psalm 119:57-64 NLT)

 Without missing this up too badly, I want to start off by saying, 'All of the Above!' Yes, the stuff here in this Psalm, it is pretty much the list, or checklist for what I believe is the list of things to look for in the answer you need, if you are looking for answers! 

 How many times have I asked myself, 'Am I really saved?' Having so many mistakes and sinful desires, that cause my heart to wonder, 'Why are these things still in my life?' 'Why can't I quit doing things wrong?' 

 You go through the list, each and every one is a pillar of what it takes, the first of which, Is He your LORD? Well, that question is sometimes questioned, as Jesus said, "And why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46 KJV) That alone should be a pretty obvious sign that you aren't really part of the Team? Right? 

 Truth be told, I am a failure! I can't love others like I should! I can't love God with everything that is in me! And I cannot keep myself from messing up! The harder I try, the worse I do at messing up! Which then takes me to that promise thing, which is like a landmine that I keep stepping on, again and again! 

 How am I doing so far? "With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands." Got these pretty much in the bag! However, it is like that verse from "Safety Net," by Daniel Amos: "Shot like a bullet till Kingdom come."  

 We are dependent upon God's Spirit, to walk like God's children...  

"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the lifegiving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." (Romans 8:1-2 NLT)

"How Do You Know?"

 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32 KJV)

  "Tell me, my love, where are you leading your flock today? Where will you rest your sheep at noon? For why should I wander like a prostitute among your friends and their flocks?" (Song of Songs 1:7 NLT)

 Okay, so the picture might not come completely into focus, but that doesn't mean you give up trying to see what it is you are looking at or why you need to understand what it is! God has a way of making us understand, one way or another; He will never leave us in the dark! 

 If there is one thing that I have learned in the last 40 years, it is that God is Good! Even when I don't think that He hears me, which is often, He always cares what it is going on in my life, and He has a plan for me! Sometimes I don't understand the plan, nor do I much like the plan that I do understand; but if God is in charge, I really don't have anything to worry about! 

 So, that's my spew on what I think of things! You might have something different, more illustrative, or more spiritual; but whatever it is, I hope you come up with the same basic result: God is Good! No matter what this world might do to me, or how hard the ride might get, I really have absolutely nothing to worry about, because God is Good, so Good to me!

 That is the truth, and that truth, absolutely makes you free, indeed...

"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at you face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like." (James 1:22-24 NLT) 

"Indeed"

 "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;" (John 8:31 KJV)

  "He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers." (Romans 2:6-7 NLT)

 Yes, I could have done 31 and 32 together, but in reality, there are two very different points that Jesus is making. Speaking about reality, that would be a pretty good example of the meaning of indeed! It is one or the other: a reality or pretending. 

 Don't you know by now, it is those who realize that they can't do this, being good thing, that are the ones who keep seeking after the glory and honor and immortality? Those that think that they are being good, are feeling confident that they have already obtained it, and have no real need to seek after it anymore.

 I have learned, more than once, you don't try to be something that you are not, because when you do, you will end up scraping yourself off the ground and wondering, 'What just happened?' It is best to walk in humility and know that you cannot do anything without the Lord's help! 

 Matthew Henry has this to say: "It highly concerns those that are not strong in faith to see to it that they are sound in the faith, that, though not disciples in the highest form, they are nevertheless disciples indeed." Sound in the faith, means, that you understand that you need Jesus, always! We must abide in Him; and by all means, keep abiding in Christ! 

 Do not think that you are stronger than you really are, because that is the recipe for not abiding in Christ...

"I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me." (Philippians 3:12 NLT)  

"Jesus and Abraham"

  "Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

 "But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, 'You will be set free'?"

 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there's no room in your hearts for my message. I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father." 

 "Our father is Abraham!" they declared.

 "No," Jesus replied, "for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. No, you are imitating your real father." 

 They replied, "We aren't illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father." 

 Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can't you understand what I am saying? It's because you can't even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God." 

 The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along you were possessed by a demon?" 

 "No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father - and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" 

 The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, 'Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!' Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?" 

 Jesus answered, "If I want glory for myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, 'He is our God, but you don't even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad." 

 The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?" 

 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!" At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple." (John 8:31-59 NLT)

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8:12-14 KJV) 

 This should be fun...

"The Election of Grace" - 2

 "As he spake these words, many believed on him." (John 8:30 KJV)

  "For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes - the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."" (Romans 1:16-17 NLT)

 Today I get to take my wife on a little trip; and I so look forward to spending some time with her, without being concerned with work, the dog, or any other of the distractions that can get in the way of gaining her attention and letting her know that she is not alone. That was a question I was asked yesterday, as I was involved in a Zoom call with several Med-I-Cal nurses: "Do you think that your wife might feel lonely?" 

 Well, she does sigh quite often, but then again, so do I. I know that I sigh, not based upon feeling lonely, but more about being home-sick and looking forward to being home with Jesus! This is how the Bible ends! Waiting and anticipating, saying, "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." 

 You can call it anticipation and longing; both of which are near and far, making it very acceptable to sigh and pray for this journey to soon be over. That said, God has given us something that requires hope to be the vessel used, (if it is okay to say that), because the hope we have is the tangible part of this walk of faith. Without hope, what good is faith? 

 By the way, "these words," which John is sharing about, are the brick and mortar of what the Gospel is all about! God created heaven and earth by His Word! His Word is what changes the human heart and makes old things new! Matthew Henry says, "The words of Christ, and particularly his threatening words, are made effectual by the grace of God to bring in poor souls to believe in him." 

  As much as I want to take a little credit, the only real thing that I can credit towards my election, is the fear of not taking the action I did, when I did it! You have no idea what I am talking about, unless it is something that you have experienced also. But you know what it is, by the urgency in that moment; as you feel it deep in your heart, this might be my last opportunity to say, "Yes, I want to be saved!" 

 When you know that you need to be saved, then your choices get narrowed down to the only thing that can actually save you. It is no longer a choice of chance or something based upon your own abilities, because He shows you exactly what you need and what you must do! Believe He Saves You...

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NLT) 

"The Election of Grace"

 "As he spoke these words, many believed on him." (John 8:30 KJV)

  "Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The LORD called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory." I replied, "But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the LORD'S hand; I will trust God for my reward." And now the LORD speaks - the one who formed me in my mother's womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The LORD has honored me, and my God has given me strength. He says, "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."" (Isaiah 49:1-6 NLT)

 Maybe it is too soon to get into this, but I felt it should at least be brought to light. In the life of those that put their faith in God, God's grace is given based upon the faith that they have in Him, not upon the things that they might do or not do. Yes, there is the work of the individual that is small part of this process, but the work is not apprized or conscious; it is the reaction of the heart. 

 The proof of what I might be suggesting is found in the parable of sheep and goats, from Matthew 25. If you know what Jesus was speaking about, then you might recall, the goats thought that they were doing this and that for the Lord, but they were doing, whatever they did, for themselves. While the sheep, really had no idea that they did what they did for the Lord, because it was done from the heart, as an act of love. 

 Okay, so I might be a knucklehead and don't know anything that I might be talking about; but I am God's knucklehead, and I have no problem with that! He still holds me in the palm of His hand...

"No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, "LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your alters. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." And do you remember God's reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!" It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God's grace - his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is - free and undeserved." (Romans 11:2-6 NLT)   

"Always Present" - 2

 "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." (John 8:29 KJV)

  "So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." (Hebrews 12:12-13 NLT)

 Okay, so that was the cynical and self-centered side of this equation; as much as I think it has any effect, because I know from experience, God will not allow me to be stuck in that condition very long. He is much more present than I might think or know; as soon as I think that I am alone, He reminds me what it is like to have a loving Father who doesn't allow me to step too far away from where I belong. 

 Did you know, God's discipline is for making us stronger? I sometimes forget that, as I look forward to getting through something, when in reality, the something is meant to give me strength and endurance to fight for what I believe that God would have me to do. I might not be right all the time, but when it comes to serving others and loving as I should, if I deny myself and the desires of my heart, then I know that I am doing right in the moment.

 Anywho: that is my take, you can do with it what you want! I have a job to do, and it is as natural and pleasing as it could ever be! God has shown me that it is my responsibility; therefore, I must do what I must do, with passion and love. First and foremost, I must care for my wife! 

 No one else will care for her as I do, because no one else has the connection that we do! That might be unimportant to some, because there is this thing called self, with self being more important than the other self. But you cannot fail to take care of the other self, without damaging yourself! 

 Truth be told, I was looking for a break; a four-day period off to attend a wedding in another State. I was going to place my wife's care in the hands of others, as I felt it was time for me to relax and maybe be able to get a full night sleep. Who the heck do I think that I am kidding! 

 Please try and understand, because this is really important. Not everyone has the same chance to know what it feels like, because, caring for someone you love is by far the most important thing that you can do. God cares for us and loves us so much more than we could understand or know; we must cherish the chance to taste anything close to that kind of love...

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT) 

"Always Present"

 "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." (John 8:29 KJV)

  "You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and recues them from the power of the wicked. Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right. May all who are godly rejoice in the LORD and praise his holy name!" (Psalm 97:10-12 NLT)

 Welcome to the day after yesterday! Besides being overwhelmed with discouragement, I am wanting to basically throw in the towel and close a chapter of my life. How do you do something that seems so important? Well, as much as it might seem important to me now, there has got to be something else which is far more important and matters to me more than just making a living. 

 Now that you know where I am at, this portion of Scripture today is about something I feel we are all familiar with, in one form or another: feeling as though we are all alone! Don't get discouraged, it is actually a common thing for just about every single one of us, from time to time; especially right after we have something exceptional and powerful happen within our lives. 

 Now what? That is basically the question, if you want to call it a question at all. Personally, I would rather call it a mark; much as the little piles of rocks left everywhere to mark something exceptional that God had done, a reminder of what had taken place. We seriously do not need anything else but God!

 I find myself so busy running in so many different directions, I don't hardly have time to take care of myself, let alone, to take a nice long walk with the Lord. I really need to get my priorities right, but it is really hard when you have so many people that are counting on you to continue what you do....

"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." (Philippians 2:1-5 NLT) 

"The Heavenly Exaltation" - Two

 "Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." (John 8:28 KJV)

  "At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" 

 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. But the rest said, "Wait! Let's see whether Elijah comes to save him." 

 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from the top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus' resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

 The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, "This man truly was the Son of God!"" (Matthew 27:45-54 NLT)

 Happy Mother's Day! All you moms out there, as mothers are a special part of this amazing story! Just so you know, in case you didn't, Adam named his wife after God had given them His judgment: he called her Eve, which meant, "the mother of all living." (Genesis 3:20) 

 This was to be that special curse that was placed upon the serpent, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15) The whole seed thing is rather interesting, as stated before, women have no seed, and so, they cannot pass down the curse on their own, but need the seed from a man to do so. As far as the seed of the serpent, it is pretty obvious where that seed comes from and where it continues to grow.

 The old sacrifices that were given under the law, were said to have been lifted up, and were called "elevations", as with those and many other sacrifices, the Priest would lift them up, called, "the ceremony of heaving the sacrifice up, and moving it before the Lord." It was to present the offering to God!  

 The curtain that was torn, was torn from top to bottom, indicating that it was the hand of God that was the One who had torn that massive curtain! Just a few little things for us to know, as it were, God was very serious about this being the final Sacrifice! If God looked away as He was lifted up, it was because the Priests were heaving Him up, in a ceremony of gladness for what they have done.

 Oddly enough, there is some strange sort of gladness celebrated in the hearts of those who crave for the ongoing of this thing called Abortion; much the same as the way that these Jewish leaders were acting towards Jesus. Don't you think it is strange? Maybe it goes back to that whole seed thing? But who am I to judge! 

 Just in case you might have thought I lost it, Jesus was the One that lifted up Himself, passing before the Father as Final Elevation! Matthew does not declare it, but the last thing Jesus said, was, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." (Luke 23:46) The word commend, means to present...

"Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." (Isaiah 53:10 KJV)  

"The Heavenly Exaltation"

 "Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." (John 8:28 KJV)

  ""But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the LORD. "You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God - there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed you to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God," says the LORD. "From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done."" (Isaiah 43:10-13 NLT) 

 Before you think that there is some sort of mistake, think about who Israel represents, who Moses was representing, and what it was that lifted Jesus up upon that cross. I know that I might be off my rocker, from time to time; to be perfectly honest, I myself wonder how it is that I have any functional ability at all, given all the stuff I have been through. But this is rather simple to understand, so more than likely I will not mess it up, to much. 

 Point number one is that Israel represents you and I, the chosen people of God! We are chosen to be His servants, just as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were chosen, we too are God's, to be witnesses of His amazing mercy and grace. I might be a knucklehead, but I am His knucklehead! He loves me, He cares for me, and He is not letting go of me, ever! 

 Number two, Moses represented the law; which was that thing that shows us how broken we are, and how unable we are to please God by following His instructions, no matter how hard we try! Just as it was in the wilderness, as Moses lifted up that serpent; there is only one way that we can be saved, and the way is above the law!

 Thirdly: which is causing me to barely see my screen! What lifted Jesus up upon that cross was Love! You might have thought Jesus was speaking about those Jews, as, in a slightly different way it was, but it is because of them, as well as us, that He was lifted up! We might as well have pounded the nails in His hands and feet, because we were just as guilty as those that actually did.   

 I was reminded, by a dear departed brother, yesterday of something that I already knew, but have been neglecting to protect myself from forgetting: God has me in the firm grip of His hand, and He is not letting go! As Chuck said, "If it is up to me to abide in Christ, then I am a lost cause!" Adding to that, saying, "If I can lose my salvation, then I have a new name for God: Butterfingers!" 

 Actually, it gets even better! The problem for us, is that we must try very hard not to cause others to stumble or give them a reason to lose heart. We are going to be fine, as far as our place is secure in Christ; we might have a terrible time here, in whatever category you wish to place terrible; but the place in which we are secured is in Heaven, far away from any possible damage that we might cause down here.

 Again, there are some that will say, "That's not fair! How can you be a screw-up and still be assured that you have a place in Heaven?" I ask myself that all the time...

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

"The Absolute Negative"

 "They understood not that he spake to them of the Father." (John 8:27 KJV) 

  "Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me." And he said, "Yes, go, and say to the people, 'Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.' Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing."" (Isaiah 6:8-10 NLT)

 Maybe this is a good time to put forth a positive message? Something alone the line, saying, "Can't we all just get along?" Better yet, pray! There is really nothing else that anyone can do, as it is, there are only so many ways to get a point across; and those that hold the truth, hardly make a fuss. 

 As it turns out, John is showing us the result of a hard heart: "They understood not!" The title of this post is the perfect example of how that is made possible, as the opposite of something good and positive is, 'The absolute negative!' 

 First of all, we must understand who it is that hardens the hearts of those that care not for God's ways, His love, and for His hand being extended out to them for healing: it is none other than the father of lies, the devil! Any time that it says, "and the LORD hardened their hearts," He allows this to happen, but God is not the one that will actually do something against His nature. 

 Not everyone will agree with that opinion, which is to be expected! Quite frankly, just God saying that we need to be saved, even though it is truth, is enough to cause someone's heart to harden; so, is that God's doing, or is it someone else? When God spoke to Cain, warning him to not sin, Cain's heart was hardened, but it was not God that made it happen; it was because Cain did not do what God suggested that he do. 

 That is just the way the cookie crumbles! As my mom would say, and as I never really understood what she meant! Basically, it meant, "That's exactly the way things happen, and there is really nothing we can do about it." When you drop a cookie on the floor, it is bound to break apart! When you tell someone that thinks they are right, that they are wrong, then you are not going to fix them, but cause them to harden their heart. 

 The same thing happened to Pharoh, as it says, "God hardened Pharoh's heart," but it was not God that touched his heart with some sort of hardening power; God showed him His power, and Pharoh's heart was made hard because he did not care to see it! It caused him to fight against God, which, if you are looking for a prime example of the cookie crumble thing, that is by far the greatest of them all...

"If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NLT) 

"Loving the Truth"

"I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. (John 8:26 KJV) 

  "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (Philippians 4:8 NLT)

 I know it might be hard, but we must be focused upon that which is true, not getting caught up in the stuff that creates tension and anger in our hearts. The truth really does not need to be defended, because the truth stands on its own, needing no defense. Those that hate the truth are the ones that need to speak the loudest, because that is the only way that they can try and win. 

 Jesus knew their hearts, so He really didn't need to call them out on all of their issues; He only needed to speak the truth, letting the truth convict them, with judgment being the final result. We need to remember who wins in the end, making His word alone the truth on which we stand. Everything else is just noise and distractions; things that cause us to get frustrated and annoyed. 

 But who am I to speak about such things, I seem to get tangled up in the noise all the time! Maybe it is because I am always listening to something. Whether at home or in my truck, there is always someone that is there for me to listen to; sometimes good, sometimes not so good! God is good all of the time...

"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. The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation." (Psalms 145:5-9 NLT) 

"From The Beginning"

 "Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning." (John 8:25 KJV)

  ""Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea. Bring your strongest arguments. Come now and speak. The court is ready for your case. "Who has stirred up this king from the east, rightly calling him to God's service? Who gives this man victory over many nations and permits him to trample their kings underfoot? With his sword, he reduces armies to dust. With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind. He chases them away and goes on safely, though he is walking over unfamiliar ground. Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the LORD, the First and the Last. I alone am he."" (Isaiah 41:1-4 NLT) 

 They scoffed, not really knowing who it was that they questioned, "Who art thou?", as if to say, 'Who do you think that you are?' I sometimes forget the power, the wonder-working power, that changes and controls everything! Seriously! It is not that it leaves my mind, because I always know it is there; but I forget to depend upon it, lean on it, bow down and summit to it, with all that is within me!

 How far back would you like to go? By the way, as I was sharing something yesterday, I was reminded about something spectacular and amazing about the human being that is being form with a mother's womb; in God's eye, that child is a person before it was even conceived in that womb. So, the simple question of the right to live, how far back does that go? 

 As many of us know, not everyone believes in our Creator! Much as the blob that crawled up out of the sea to somehow become you and me, they see that same blob inside the mother, as if it has no form, no rights, and no real soul. If only Marianne could get up out of that bed and do something, I am sure that she would be shouting from the top of the mountain: "It is a life!" 

 Anywho, I just can't help thinking about all of the stupid statements being made, as if anyone really knows what it might feel like to be torn apart, piece by piece. Back in the mid-eighties, there was a movie that came out, called, "Silent Scream". As I was listening to Rich Buler, who was speaking with a so-called expert on babies in the womb; as they spoke about the movie and the reactions that were shown from that child, as it was violated within that protected space. 

 As I heard her expert opinion on the reaction, I had to pull over to the side of the road, as I was feeling as if I was about to explode! I seriously yelled at my radio, saying, 'I would like to see what reflexes you might have, if your arms and legs were being torn from your body!' Sorry for that outburst, but it just hurts to think about the joy some people get from what they practice doing.

 All of that said, we must understand that Jesus was crucified on that cross for all sin, even that terrible sin of taking the life of an innocent child. He suffered a horrific death, to feel and taste our pain! But if you want to know who He was: He was, and is, and always will be, The Beginning of Life! And, just so you know, in case you have not heard, those little innocent lives are all with Jesus! So there...

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I was dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look - I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave."" (Revelation 1:17-18 NLT) 

"The Great Divide"

 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24 KJV) 

  ""And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death."" (Proverbs 8:32-36 NLT)

 Talk about something that is cut and dry, there is really nothing else that needs to be settled: this is the facts, if anyone is looking, it is right here for all to see! As much as I would like to get several people around me to see this fact, there are certain things which cause them to miss the point; the worst of which is them seeing that there actually is life after death. 

 Not quite sure why these Jewish leaders are behind the eight ball, so to speak, because they know how it works, but they totally missed how it plays out! If you don't understand what that might mean, there are several things that are making it hard for them to see the position they are in, the biggest of which, is the sin in their lives.  

 The first question we must ask ourselves, is, what is sin? Having been taught this, probably several hundred times, maybe thousands, I can say with confidence that sin is missing the mark! The second question to ask oneself, is, what or where is the mark? The mark is UP! Way up, further up then we are able to reach! 

 Basically, Jesus has been showing them all along: they are of this world; He is from above and is not of this world. We are not able to go to a place of Glory, without first being made glorious! I know that it might not seem fair, but God has evened the playing field by making it a choice! We either choose life or death! What a strange concept...

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where is says, 'The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."" (Acts 4:8-12 NLT) 

"To That Point!" -To

 "And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world." (John 8:23 KJV)

  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT) 

 As you ponder that, whatever it is you are dealing with, remember, God's ways are not our ways! The first step is almost always the hardest, as the song goes; but the reason for that to have any truth in it at all, is because we clearly don't see what God has in store for us, which is what walking by faith is all about. 

 Much as it was for Abraham, as God clearly said, "I will make of you many nations," but God did not clearly give him the map and the instruction manual to what or how he was going to do it. To be straight to the point, Abraham never really lived here long enough to see God complete what He started; but He most surely did complete it! 

 We have a part to do, whatever that is, whether big or small, it is part of a complete and amazing plan that is of God, not man! He knows the beginning to the end, we know absolutely nothing, except what He tells us. That said, the Bible is a roadmap to help us understand the journey, whatever journey that you are on. Is it marked with clear directions on which way to go? Well, that is a whole different topic all together! 

 I don't quite remember, but I think it was Pastor Robert that said, "Anything you are dealing with in this life, someone in the Bible has also dealt with, in one way or another." God doesn't show us how He is going to do something, but He shows us what to do, and then He expects us to trust Him, even if it doesn't make any sense! 

 Wacky and mysterious, that is what makes the ride so exciting! I wish I could quit trying to control this ride, because no matter how hard I try, I just mess things up. Just when I think that it is fixed and I can rest easy, I find out that it is not fixed, because I am resting on something that is temporary and will not hold me up. God wants us to rest in Him! 

 Jesus gives us a simple little test, which is very much in line with this question; because that which we usually are looking for answers to, involves clear directions for living and moving here, on this earth, planning for our future. Interesting topic to pray about... 

 ""So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."" (Matthew 6:31-34 NLT)

"To That Point!"

 "And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world." (John 8:23 KJV)

  "For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control." (Philippians 3:18-21 NLT)

 I am sorry for the mistake I made yesterday, saying, millions of millions of years, because I put a time period to something that will not ever happen again, EVER! Just so you know, Jesus absolutely finished all that He needed to do to save us; now He will return to change our mortal bodies into glorious bodies like His own! 

 If I appear to be overexcited about that, it is probably because I am getting pretty weary in this suit, and I am drawing more and more excited about the new one that I will receive, very soon! We must be more focused upon heaven than this earth. And with a heavy heart, I must admit, most days I start out that way, but dealing with current issues, I find it hard to remain that way all through the day. 

 Yesterday, I was thinking what my wife would say if she suddenly could understand and communicate about this current world that we are living in. What drastic changes have taken place, seemingly, in just a few short years. Who would have pictured the changes that have taken place? Yet, if this is not our true home, then why should we concern ourselves with the problems of this world? 

 Please excuse me for caring, but there are millions and millions of lives at stake here; many of which really do not have a chance to make a choice on their own! That said, I choose to believe that God is fair and will not condemn those that do not yet have that ability, due to the age of accountability. We can take some comfort in that! 

 Besides those things, we are only here for a very short time; we must be about our Father's business and do whatever part we have been given to do. Some of that, whatever part it might be, we really don't even know; but He is faithful to complete whatever it is, even without us knowing what to do, or how to do it...

"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and a pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." (1 John 2:15-17 NLT)