"Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." (Psalms 116:2)
Isn't this the proof in the pudding? We have such a good Father, who not only knowns our name, but actually takes the time to listen to our heart. The word "inclined" is speaking about how God will actually stretch out to listen, like putting His hand up to His ear, just so He can give me His direct attention. This is the kind of personal God we have, because He is big enough and powerful enough to give each and everyone of His children the same personal attention. That makes me feel safe and secure! Where else can I go, but to my Father's arms? As with the previous verse, we don't just love God because He hears us, we love God because He loves us; so too, we can call upon Him because He listens, and listening is a part of loving us. You can't really say you love someone if you do not listen to them. No, this is seriously something that is a thing. Maybe the biggest problem in family relationships today is taking the time to listen to one another. Not just hearing, but actually inclining our ear to listen to their heart; to actually catch the sight of what the heck they are trying to say. If you don't take the time to listen, then they won't take the time to talk! I don't think I have a problem in that area with God, because I know He listens, so I actually feel the need to talk...
"But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice." (Psalms 55:16-17) NLT
Friday, August 31, 2018
Thursday, August 30, 2018
"Because He Listens" -Too
"I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications." (Psalms 116:1)
As to whether or not God might say yes, even though His answer might have been no, that is a topic that is always open for great debate. I was reminded about Hezekiah and his supplication to God, that he might be granted more time, even after God already told him that his time here was up. We know how that all turned out; and there is speculation that Manasseh, his son born during his extended life, was responsible for the death of Isaiah, the prophet who was used to warn Hezekiah of his death, and the used again to tell him that God was going to answer his prayer to live. But that is only a very small part of the story! The things that happen from that single life being extended; it just boggles the mind to even begin to try and figure them all out. For example, Isaiah was the prophet that foretold of Cyrus, the pagan king that would help Israel rebuild Jerusalem; and it was Hezekiah's fault that Jerusalem was destroyed. There were so many things that were done from this one life that was extended, even if it was for only 15 years. Wow, fifteen years sure can go by fast; it has been over fifteen years since Marianne has been in the condition she is in; August the 12th, 2003, that is when it happen. Where does the time go? Anywho, I was reminded again about Jesus raising up Lazarus after he had been dead for 4 days. His extended life, and a lot like that of Hezekiah, it came with a price; the price of his was the death of Jesus. So, as you can see, regardless of what we ask and how He answers, it is all going to work into His plan...
""I Tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn into wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy."" (John 16:20-24) NLT
As to whether or not God might say yes, even though His answer might have been no, that is a topic that is always open for great debate. I was reminded about Hezekiah and his supplication to God, that he might be granted more time, even after God already told him that his time here was up. We know how that all turned out; and there is speculation that Manasseh, his son born during his extended life, was responsible for the death of Isaiah, the prophet who was used to warn Hezekiah of his death, and the used again to tell him that God was going to answer his prayer to live. But that is only a very small part of the story! The things that happen from that single life being extended; it just boggles the mind to even begin to try and figure them all out. For example, Isaiah was the prophet that foretold of Cyrus, the pagan king that would help Israel rebuild Jerusalem; and it was Hezekiah's fault that Jerusalem was destroyed. There were so many things that were done from this one life that was extended, even if it was for only 15 years. Wow, fifteen years sure can go by fast; it has been over fifteen years since Marianne has been in the condition she is in; August the 12th, 2003, that is when it happen. Where does the time go? Anywho, I was reminded again about Jesus raising up Lazarus after he had been dead for 4 days. His extended life, and a lot like that of Hezekiah, it came with a price; the price of his was the death of Jesus. So, as you can see, regardless of what we ask and how He answers, it is all going to work into His plan...
""I Tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn into wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy."" (John 16:20-24) NLT
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
"Because He Listens"
"I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications." (Psalms 116:1)
There is something about having a God that not only hears our voices, but He listens and cares enough to answer. Sometimes it might not be the answer we are hoping for, but He does answer! If you are not hearing His answer, then it only because you are not listening for it; and if you are, the answer you are hearing is not the one you want, so you pretend He is not speaking. That's the thing about having the Holy Spirit living in you, you really cannot avoid hearing God's voice! It use to be that a man or woman of God would pray for something important, and then someone like a prophet would come along and speak for God. That might still happen now, but now, it is only to verify what God has already said in our hearts. The Lord works in mysterious ways, is not just a saying, it is the truth. It is the truth because we do not know His way or His thoughts; His ways are so much higher than our ways; His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) There are so many things that we do not know and cannot figure out; even what we do know, it only really matters for such a short time period, and it is only useful for a moment; compared to eternity, it is really nothing. Imagine what is might be like to know everything and to be everywhere at once; and yet, His heart still goes out to me, even in all of that, and that blows my mind. The word "supplication," is a word that speaks of earnest prayer, and oddly enough, it is a noun. It is a noun because it is a thing, a real thing! It is real, because He is real, and He is listening...
"I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the LORD'S greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:1-4) NLT
There is something about having a God that not only hears our voices, but He listens and cares enough to answer. Sometimes it might not be the answer we are hoping for, but He does answer! If you are not hearing His answer, then it only because you are not listening for it; and if you are, the answer you are hearing is not the one you want, so you pretend He is not speaking. That's the thing about having the Holy Spirit living in you, you really cannot avoid hearing God's voice! It use to be that a man or woman of God would pray for something important, and then someone like a prophet would come along and speak for God. That might still happen now, but now, it is only to verify what God has already said in our hearts. The Lord works in mysterious ways, is not just a saying, it is the truth. It is the truth because we do not know His way or His thoughts; His ways are so much higher than our ways; His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) There are so many things that we do not know and cannot figure out; even what we do know, it only really matters for such a short time period, and it is only useful for a moment; compared to eternity, it is really nothing. Imagine what is might be like to know everything and to be everywhere at once; and yet, His heart still goes out to me, even in all of that, and that blows my mind. The word "supplication," is a word that speaks of earnest prayer, and oddly enough, it is a noun. It is a noun because it is a thing, a real thing! It is real, because He is real, and He is listening...
"I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the LORD'S greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:1-4) NLT
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
"Rescued From Death"
PSALMS 116
As if there is anything more important than being rescued from death; not just death as we know it, but the death that comes after this body breaths it's last breath. Don't ask me how it happens, but I believe that we are instantly with the Lord at the time of our death. This body cannot experience what eternal life is, not in the corruptible condition that it is in; but our soul, which is eternal, it can and will. There are so many things we don't know about spiritual things and life after death. The Bible tells us some, but there is so much more, the some we are told is hardly anything at all. And as weird as this might sound, I am perfectly fine with that! I don't need to know all the details, I just need to believe what I have been told and rest in that! As John says in his Epistle: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2) It really does not matter how it happens or when it happens, only that it will and that Jesus is the way that it will. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one is getting into heaven without Him! That is surely not what the world would have us believe, but it is what the Bible teaches; and I choose to believe what the Bible says above anything else, period! By the way, that "66 and Me" thing I mentioned, the 66 represents all the Books of the Bible. If you really want to know more about who you really are, then that is where you will find the answers...
"We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." (1 John 5:19-21) NLT
As if there is anything more important than being rescued from death; not just death as we know it, but the death that comes after this body breaths it's last breath. Don't ask me how it happens, but I believe that we are instantly with the Lord at the time of our death. This body cannot experience what eternal life is, not in the corruptible condition that it is in; but our soul, which is eternal, it can and will. There are so many things we don't know about spiritual things and life after death. The Bible tells us some, but there is so much more, the some we are told is hardly anything at all. And as weird as this might sound, I am perfectly fine with that! I don't need to know all the details, I just need to believe what I have been told and rest in that! As John says in his Epistle: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2) It really does not matter how it happens or when it happens, only that it will and that Jesus is the way that it will. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one is getting into heaven without Him! That is surely not what the world would have us believe, but it is what the Bible teaches; and I choose to believe what the Bible says above anything else, period! By the way, that "66 and Me" thing I mentioned, the 66 represents all the Books of the Bible. If you really want to know more about who you really are, then that is where you will find the answers...
"We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." (1 John 5:19-21) NLT
Monday, August 27, 2018
"More Than We Need"
"But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD." (Psalms 115:18)
There are really not enough ways to explain what He has done for us. John put it in a little better light, at the end of his Gospel, saying, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they could be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." That would be quite a lot of books! But the point I think John was getting at is the point he started with, that Jesus is the Word, "and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." If everything has been made by Him, then there is a whole lot of stuff to be written about, more than could ever be written. The other side of those that "go down into silence," are those that have a voice, as in, we who have the Spirit living within us. We are alive because Jesus lives, and because He lives, His Spirit lives within us! Pastor Bryan was making a point about "Another Helper," which Jesus spoke of in John 14:16; which in the KJV says, "another Comforter." The point he was making was more about Jesus being manifested in the Holy Spirit, which is something that the Holy Spirit continually does, He declares and testifies of Jesus Christ. (John 15:26) There is another spirit that is alive in this world, one that has also been here for quite a long time, one that is no equal to the Holy Spirit, but that tries to destroy the testimony and the work of Jesus Christ; that spirit is referred to as the antichrist. It is not that hard to see him at work, as John points out in his Epistle, saying, "every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and that is that spirit of antichrist." (1 John 4:3) The connection between what the Holy Spirit does in us and what the antichrist does in the unbeliever cannot be compared and is not on the same level; just as the life we have been given cannot compare to the life that we were born into when we entered this world. The life that we now have in Christ is eternal, right now, it has already begun! The best way we can put it, is to say, If we are born once, we die twice; but if we are born twice, then we only die once! And the best part of all, is that that first and only death has already taken place...
"What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever." (1 Corinthians 15:50) NLT
There are really not enough ways to explain what He has done for us. John put it in a little better light, at the end of his Gospel, saying, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they could be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." That would be quite a lot of books! But the point I think John was getting at is the point he started with, that Jesus is the Word, "and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." If everything has been made by Him, then there is a whole lot of stuff to be written about, more than could ever be written. The other side of those that "go down into silence," are those that have a voice, as in, we who have the Spirit living within us. We are alive because Jesus lives, and because He lives, His Spirit lives within us! Pastor Bryan was making a point about "Another Helper," which Jesus spoke of in John 14:16; which in the KJV says, "another Comforter." The point he was making was more about Jesus being manifested in the Holy Spirit, which is something that the Holy Spirit continually does, He declares and testifies of Jesus Christ. (John 15:26) There is another spirit that is alive in this world, one that has also been here for quite a long time, one that is no equal to the Holy Spirit, but that tries to destroy the testimony and the work of Jesus Christ; that spirit is referred to as the antichrist. It is not that hard to see him at work, as John points out in his Epistle, saying, "every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and that is that spirit of antichrist." (1 John 4:3) The connection between what the Holy Spirit does in us and what the antichrist does in the unbeliever cannot be compared and is not on the same level; just as the life we have been given cannot compare to the life that we were born into when we entered this world. The life that we now have in Christ is eternal, right now, it has already begun! The best way we can put it, is to say, If we are born once, we die twice; but if we are born twice, then we only die once! And the best part of all, is that that first and only death has already taken place...
"What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever." (1 Corinthians 15:50) NLT
Sunday, August 26, 2018
"Be Alive!"
"The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence." (Psalms 115:17)
What a novel idea, to be alive! Seriously, there are way too many Christians that walk around and act like they are missing out on life, when it is abundant life that they should be experiencing from day to day. I know it might not sound like much, but joy is like a spell; it is characteristic of those that have nothing to loose and everything to gain; to be alive instead of dead; to have life, real life that makes you look forward to mornings and another chance to celebrate what God has done. Oh, I have things that can make me be blue, but I choose to not look at life that way; I choose to have joy be the thing that moves me, not the things that bring me down. Where does our joy come from? It comes from the Lord; from our love for the One who loved us first, who gave us eternal life, and who is going to assure that we make it into heaven, most definitely! Why would we not celebrate what He has done? If anything is holding us back, it must be something that the world has hold of in our lives; something that keeps us from feeling the freedom that comes from being free in Christ. We have been given the greatest gift that there is, live as though you know it is true...
""Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live! Yes, this anguish is good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins. For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those that go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness. Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next. Think of it -the LORD is ready to heal me! I will sing his praises with instruments every day of my life in the Temple of the LORD."" (Isaiah 38:16-20) NLT
What a novel idea, to be alive! Seriously, there are way too many Christians that walk around and act like they are missing out on life, when it is abundant life that they should be experiencing from day to day. I know it might not sound like much, but joy is like a spell; it is characteristic of those that have nothing to loose and everything to gain; to be alive instead of dead; to have life, real life that makes you look forward to mornings and another chance to celebrate what God has done. Oh, I have things that can make me be blue, but I choose to not look at life that way; I choose to have joy be the thing that moves me, not the things that bring me down. Where does our joy come from? It comes from the Lord; from our love for the One who loved us first, who gave us eternal life, and who is going to assure that we make it into heaven, most definitely! Why would we not celebrate what He has done? If anything is holding us back, it must be something that the world has hold of in our lives; something that keeps us from feeling the freedom that comes from being free in Christ. We have been given the greatest gift that there is, live as though you know it is true...
""Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live! Yes, this anguish is good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins. For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those that go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness. Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next. Think of it -the LORD is ready to heal me! I will sing his praises with instruments every day of my life in the Temple of the LORD."" (Isaiah 38:16-20) NLT
Saturday, August 25, 2018
"Own It" -Too
"The heaven, even heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men." (Psalms 115:16)
Taking another look, we can determine our worth to the Father by the magnitude of the heavens. I know that man is seeking and searching for other life out there; but the deeper they go into space, the more distant they get from earth, and that is about it. We really were not meant for doing that, and space was not meant to be explored, it was meant to be distinguished above the earth, and a place where we look up to, just for the sheer delight of seeing the awesomeness of God's great might. I don't think we can understand how special we are, without knowing that the heavens are placed there for our enjoyment and to gaze upon as His creation; nothing more than God's way of saying how vast and powerful He is, that there is no end in sight of His vastness and His power. Yes, the heavens are His, but in a way, we get to own them also. They are meant to be there for us to gaze upon and to know how Great our God really is! I remember as a child how I would sit under the stars at night and would imagine how powerful and mighty God must be to have created such a wonder; it would really make me feel special just to be part of His wonderful creation. That is what I am talking about, that is the kind of owning it that I mean. We are a part, each and every one of us, a part of something that is so vast and so complex, there is no way to discover or determine how big it really is. I really don't worry about what I will do with eternity, there is more than enough to learn and to know about God. If you really want to get a glimpse of what that might be like, try to understand all that you can from the Bible. Just that one Book alone is enough to explore in ten lifetimes, or even more! What else do you think He has given it for? The vastness of the heavens does not compare to the treasure of His Word. Oh, and by the way, there is a better way to explore your ancestry, it is called, '66 and Me'...
"This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! "I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word."" (Isaiah 66:1-2) NLT
Taking another look, we can determine our worth to the Father by the magnitude of the heavens. I know that man is seeking and searching for other life out there; but the deeper they go into space, the more distant they get from earth, and that is about it. We really were not meant for doing that, and space was not meant to be explored, it was meant to be distinguished above the earth, and a place where we look up to, just for the sheer delight of seeing the awesomeness of God's great might. I don't think we can understand how special we are, without knowing that the heavens are placed there for our enjoyment and to gaze upon as His creation; nothing more than God's way of saying how vast and powerful He is, that there is no end in sight of His vastness and His power. Yes, the heavens are His, but in a way, we get to own them also. They are meant to be there for us to gaze upon and to know how Great our God really is! I remember as a child how I would sit under the stars at night and would imagine how powerful and mighty God must be to have created such a wonder; it would really make me feel special just to be part of His wonderful creation. That is what I am talking about, that is the kind of owning it that I mean. We are a part, each and every one of us, a part of something that is so vast and so complex, there is no way to discover or determine how big it really is. I really don't worry about what I will do with eternity, there is more than enough to learn and to know about God. If you really want to get a glimpse of what that might be like, try to understand all that you can from the Bible. Just that one Book alone is enough to explore in ten lifetimes, or even more! What else do you think He has given it for? The vastness of the heavens does not compare to the treasure of His Word. Oh, and by the way, there is a better way to explore your ancestry, it is called, '66 and Me'...
"This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! "I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word."" (Isaiah 66:1-2) NLT
Friday, August 24, 2018
"Own It"
"The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men." (Psalms 115:16)
Not exactly what you might expect from someone that always speaks about not being an earth dweller; but this is more about spiritual warfare than it is about possession and property. As I have said over and over, we are here for a reason; we are those that have something to share and that have power within us that is greater than he who is in this world. As such, we are not pacifist when it comes to spiritual warfare, we are warriors and conquerers in Christ Jesus. One of the the parts to the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, was to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." (Luke 11:2) Believe it or not, this is the work of the church, to be prayer warriors and to yield the Word of God as if it were a mighty sword, as it is! That might be the biggest problem within the church, that for the most part, it has stepped back from being active in the things that go on in this world, taking instead the role of passengers instead of pilgrims. There is a difference between the two and how they perceive their involvement in their surroundings. Pilgrims will actually try to better each and every place along their journey; making an effort to leave a mark and to become a better person along the way. Passengers are just along for the ride; getting their tickets punched from one stop to the next; just trying to survive the journey. The command God gave to man and woman, ""Be fruitful, and multiply," is the same as the command that Jesus gave to His disciples, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19 NLT) The "therefore," is there for because Jesus was given all authority in heaven and on earth; He owns it, therefore we, being His ambassadors, have been given authority to represent Him and His commands. If something is not right, we should speak up; if something can be fixed, then we become His hands and feet, and we get it done; and above all else, if something needs to be done, whether by speaking or by working, we need to pray. Paul tells us this is not a physical battle, but it is a spiritual battle; and the spiritual battle belongs to the LORD...
"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against the strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rules and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in the dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." (Ephesians 6:10-18) NLT
Not exactly what you might expect from someone that always speaks about not being an earth dweller; but this is more about spiritual warfare than it is about possession and property. As I have said over and over, we are here for a reason; we are those that have something to share and that have power within us that is greater than he who is in this world. As such, we are not pacifist when it comes to spiritual warfare, we are warriors and conquerers in Christ Jesus. One of the the parts to the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, was to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." (Luke 11:2) Believe it or not, this is the work of the church, to be prayer warriors and to yield the Word of God as if it were a mighty sword, as it is! That might be the biggest problem within the church, that for the most part, it has stepped back from being active in the things that go on in this world, taking instead the role of passengers instead of pilgrims. There is a difference between the two and how they perceive their involvement in their surroundings. Pilgrims will actually try to better each and every place along their journey; making an effort to leave a mark and to become a better person along the way. Passengers are just along for the ride; getting their tickets punched from one stop to the next; just trying to survive the journey. The command God gave to man and woman, ""Be fruitful, and multiply," is the same as the command that Jesus gave to His disciples, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19 NLT) The "therefore," is there for because Jesus was given all authority in heaven and on earth; He owns it, therefore we, being His ambassadors, have been given authority to represent Him and His commands. If something is not right, we should speak up; if something can be fixed, then we become His hands and feet, and we get it done; and above all else, if something needs to be done, whether by speaking or by working, we need to pray. Paul tells us this is not a physical battle, but it is a spiritual battle; and the spiritual battle belongs to the LORD...
"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against the strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rules and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in the dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." (Ephesians 6:10-18) NLT
Thursday, August 23, 2018
"We Are Blessed"
"Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth." (Psalms 115:15)
No matter how you slice it, God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good! Sometimes we really need to be reminded of that because this world can have such an impact on us, we tend to forget; that is until something really presses hard into us, and then we start looking for blessings. The funny thing is, the blessings are all ready there, we just need to start counting them and naming them, one by one! Just this verse alone is probably the most important blessing of all; that the Creator of heaven and earth loves me and knows my name; that alone is enough to just make my day. Nothing else really much matters, compared to that. Just knowing that God, the God of the universe and of all that ever was, is, or will be, that He loves me; even though He knows every single thing about me, He still loves me and calls me His child; even though I do not possess the ability in this body to love Him as He deserves to be loved, He still loves me, just as I am! If only those that don't know Him could see what we see, what a difference it would make in their lives. If there is ever a question of whether or not any of this is true, there is proof. The proof is in the lives of those that follow Him! It is in you and me, it was in His disciples; it is in the history and accounts of all the martyrs that gladly gave their lives for believing in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Besides the Holy Spirit that lives in us; He confirms and testifies the truth to us; but He also gives us the power to love, power that we know is not our own. It is really easy to realize that is true, just by the way that we feel after we have had Him love someone else through us; we wonder where that came from and we fear it might not come again. We don't need to look for the blessings, we are living the blessing...
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. That is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:3-8) NLT
No matter how you slice it, God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good! Sometimes we really need to be reminded of that because this world can have such an impact on us, we tend to forget; that is until something really presses hard into us, and then we start looking for blessings. The funny thing is, the blessings are all ready there, we just need to start counting them and naming them, one by one! Just this verse alone is probably the most important blessing of all; that the Creator of heaven and earth loves me and knows my name; that alone is enough to just make my day. Nothing else really much matters, compared to that. Just knowing that God, the God of the universe and of all that ever was, is, or will be, that He loves me; even though He knows every single thing about me, He still loves me and calls me His child; even though I do not possess the ability in this body to love Him as He deserves to be loved, He still loves me, just as I am! If only those that don't know Him could see what we see, what a difference it would make in their lives. If there is ever a question of whether or not any of this is true, there is proof. The proof is in the lives of those that follow Him! It is in you and me, it was in His disciples; it is in the history and accounts of all the martyrs that gladly gave their lives for believing in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Besides the Holy Spirit that lives in us; He confirms and testifies the truth to us; but He also gives us the power to love, power that we know is not our own. It is really easy to realize that is true, just by the way that we feel after we have had Him love someone else through us; we wonder where that came from and we fear it might not come again. We don't need to look for the blessings, we are living the blessing...
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. That is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:3-8) NLT
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
"The Increase"
"The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children." (Psalms 115:14)
This might otherwise be a touchy subject for me, if I were focused upon life here on this earth. But, as it were, this life is so temporary and going by quicker by the moment. The closer we get to the ground, the quicker the ground gets. There is an increase that is taking place, most of which we don't even see or know about. The opportunities that God gives us for ministry, they do not stop when our ministry is done. Whenever I would teach or preach, no matter what size the crowd might have been, I was always focused upon one or two people that God was going to speak to; not even knowing who those people might be, but just knowing that they were there, somewhere in the crowd; ears wide open and hearts prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the message. We really do not know how far the message will travel; it is delivered, but God takes it from there and brings the increase. He tells us in His word, "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11) This is what we get to be part of, every time we get to share God's word! His word does not return to Him void! That is His decree, not mine; He has made it so, by saying, "It shall not!" When God says something is so, we can pretty much count on it being so. There is no way that we can track the increase; there is no way for us to know how many people were affected by the message that we have shared. It would be like trying to track the offspring of a seed that grows into a tree; it brings forth more seeds, which get dispersed in every direction. Birds carry the seeds far away; the water from the rain carries the seeds into streams and rivers; even other people will give the seeds away to others, and on and on it goes; the increase goes on into many generations...
""And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered."" (Genesis 13:16) KJV
This might otherwise be a touchy subject for me, if I were focused upon life here on this earth. But, as it were, this life is so temporary and going by quicker by the moment. The closer we get to the ground, the quicker the ground gets. There is an increase that is taking place, most of which we don't even see or know about. The opportunities that God gives us for ministry, they do not stop when our ministry is done. Whenever I would teach or preach, no matter what size the crowd might have been, I was always focused upon one or two people that God was going to speak to; not even knowing who those people might be, but just knowing that they were there, somewhere in the crowd; ears wide open and hearts prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the message. We really do not know how far the message will travel; it is delivered, but God takes it from there and brings the increase. He tells us in His word, "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11) This is what we get to be part of, every time we get to share God's word! His word does not return to Him void! That is His decree, not mine; He has made it so, by saying, "It shall not!" When God says something is so, we can pretty much count on it being so. There is no way that we can track the increase; there is no way for us to know how many people were affected by the message that we have shared. It would be like trying to track the offspring of a seed that grows into a tree; it brings forth more seeds, which get dispersed in every direction. Birds carry the seeds far away; the water from the rain carries the seeds into streams and rivers; even other people will give the seeds away to others, and on and on it goes; the increase goes on into many generations...
""And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered."" (Genesis 13:16) KJV
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
"He is Going To Bless"
"He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great." (Psalms 115:13)
When it comes to blessings, there are some that appear pretty obvious, and there are some that go unnoticed and undetected. Some are taken for granted, as is the case with most of the things we get placed in our lives from day to day; things like opportunities to share the love of God. It is really something that many do not see as a blessing, but more of something used to gain a blessing. I love to studying Paul's life and outlook on sharing the Good News; it was not about receiving a blessing, it was about see a blessing being manifested, over and over again; each and every conversion meant someone else was saved; opening the door for many more lives to be touched by a new brother or sister in the Lord. For Paul, it was not about being blessed in the here and now, even though he obviously was being blessed. It was about serving Jesus and pleasing the Lord; in that, that is where real blessings are found, and they are kept! The word "bless" that is used above is not like giving gifts and happiness; it is a word that is a verb, not a noun; it speaks of action, which involves praise and thanksgiving, when we can actually feel the part of something that is bigger than ourselves. We are here for a reason, each and every one of us are His hands and feet; to minister to those that God places in our lives, some small encounters, and some are great; but all the same quality to those that get to partake in blessing others, not themselves. When the attitude is right, there really is no difference between small and great, it is all about doing our part, no matter if that involves washing toilets or preaching to large groups of people, we are all connected to One God, with One Love, and declaring One Mission: To Declare the Gospel of Christ...
"Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves wth love, which binds us together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (Colossians 3:10-15) NLT
When it comes to blessings, there are some that appear pretty obvious, and there are some that go unnoticed and undetected. Some are taken for granted, as is the case with most of the things we get placed in our lives from day to day; things like opportunities to share the love of God. It is really something that many do not see as a blessing, but more of something used to gain a blessing. I love to studying Paul's life and outlook on sharing the Good News; it was not about receiving a blessing, it was about see a blessing being manifested, over and over again; each and every conversion meant someone else was saved; opening the door for many more lives to be touched by a new brother or sister in the Lord. For Paul, it was not about being blessed in the here and now, even though he obviously was being blessed. It was about serving Jesus and pleasing the Lord; in that, that is where real blessings are found, and they are kept! The word "bless" that is used above is not like giving gifts and happiness; it is a word that is a verb, not a noun; it speaks of action, which involves praise and thanksgiving, when we can actually feel the part of something that is bigger than ourselves. We are here for a reason, each and every one of us are His hands and feet; to minister to those that God places in our lives, some small encounters, and some are great; but all the same quality to those that get to partake in blessing others, not themselves. When the attitude is right, there really is no difference between small and great, it is all about doing our part, no matter if that involves washing toilets or preaching to large groups of people, we are all connected to One God, with One Love, and declaring One Mission: To Declare the Gospel of Christ...
"Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves wth love, which binds us together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (Colossians 3:10-15) NLT
Monday, August 20, 2018
"He Knows!"
"The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron." (Psalms 115:12)
The title for today is written above this verse in my Bible. There is so much comfort in knowing that God loves us unconditionally, especially when we know that He knows every single thing about us. Jesus said, "the very hairs of your head are all numbered." God knows everything there is to know about us, even more than we know about ourselves! Can you number the hairs on you head? I don't think anyone could; but when a hair falls out, He knows that also! We try to explain things to God like He doesn't know what is going on; when in reality, we need God to explain what is going on to us. If there is something going on inside of us, He already knows; if it is something bad, it is only bad because we don't know the good it is going to do. Whenever the Bible says "all," all is what the Bible is speaking about; not some, or part, or even a portion, but every little bit. It sometimes does not make sense, but it really does not need to, not for us to trust Him and rest in His promises. If you study the Bible well enough, you will discover something about every terrible thing or mistake made by God's servants, God had found a way to use it for good, in some form or fashion. Everything that they did, or everything that was done to them, God took something that was made for evil and turned it to good; God took a mistake and made it into a way to fulfill a promise. That is probably the thing we seem to overlook the most, that there are no mistakes with God. He knows everything that is going to happen before it even happens! I cannot do anything that can surprise God! If He loved me yesterday, He still loves me today, no matter what; I am still the same to Him that I was before the day that I was even born...
""Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. Yet Jerusalem says, "The LORD has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us." "Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem's wall in ruin. Soon your descendants will come back, and all who are trying to destroy you will go away. Look around you and see, for all your children will come back to you. As surely as I live," says the LORD, "they will be like jewels or bridal ornaments for you to display."" (Isaiah 49:13-18) NLT
The title for today is written above this verse in my Bible. There is so much comfort in knowing that God loves us unconditionally, especially when we know that He knows every single thing about us. Jesus said, "the very hairs of your head are all numbered." God knows everything there is to know about us, even more than we know about ourselves! Can you number the hairs on you head? I don't think anyone could; but when a hair falls out, He knows that also! We try to explain things to God like He doesn't know what is going on; when in reality, we need God to explain what is going on to us. If there is something going on inside of us, He already knows; if it is something bad, it is only bad because we don't know the good it is going to do. Whenever the Bible says "all," all is what the Bible is speaking about; not some, or part, or even a portion, but every little bit. It sometimes does not make sense, but it really does not need to, not for us to trust Him and rest in His promises. If you study the Bible well enough, you will discover something about every terrible thing or mistake made by God's servants, God had found a way to use it for good, in some form or fashion. Everything that they did, or everything that was done to them, God took something that was made for evil and turned it to good; God took a mistake and made it into a way to fulfill a promise. That is probably the thing we seem to overlook the most, that there are no mistakes with God. He knows everything that is going to happen before it even happens! I cannot do anything that can surprise God! If He loved me yesterday, He still loves me today, no matter what; I am still the same to Him that I was before the day that I was even born...
""Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. Yet Jerusalem says, "The LORD has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us." "Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem's wall in ruin. Soon your descendants will come back, and all who are trying to destroy you will go away. Look around you and see, for all your children will come back to you. As surely as I live," says the LORD, "they will be like jewels or bridal ornaments for you to display."" (Isaiah 49:13-18) NLT
Sunday, August 19, 2018
"Heavenly Bound"
"Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their strength." (Psalms 115:11)
I know it might not seem to make much sense, but there is only one thing we need to fear. Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 10:26-28 and in Luke 12:4-5, that we should not fear him who can destroy our bodies, but rather we should fear Him which is able to destroy both our soul and our body in hell. Some of our greatest fears are things that actually are not even there, they are the things that we imagine in our own minds; but there is nothing more real than judgment and the eternal flames of hell. After Jesus spoke of this, He said that we need to fear not, if we are His, saying, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." So in this sense, it is a two way street, fear and trust go hand in hand. There really is nothing that we can do to earn our way into heaven, if we could, then Jesus wouldn't have had to come down and give His life in our place. We are given eternal life by believing in the sacrifice given by the Father, His Son. It was the Father's sacrifice, spoken of Abraham in Genesis 22:8, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." This he said to answer his son about where the sacrifice was they were going to offer, but as it turns out, some say that was the place where Jesus was crucified, 1900 years later! The most popular verse in the Bible tells it just like it is: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That word perish is the word that means damnation, the word that Jesus was speaking about when He was saying whom we should fear; not because God wants to throw us into the fires of hell, because He wants everyone to be saved from where they are headed if they do not accept His free offer of salvation. What is so hard to decide about that? Just believe and be saved. I look forward to seeing you all in heaven; where I will see my mother, grandfather, brother-in-laws, and my son...
"After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, "Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of his servants." And again their voices rang out: "Praise the LORD! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever." Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshipped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, "Amen! Praise the LORD!" And from the throne came a voice that said, "Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest."" (Revelation 19:1-5) NLT
I know it might not seem to make much sense, but there is only one thing we need to fear. Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 10:26-28 and in Luke 12:4-5, that we should not fear him who can destroy our bodies, but rather we should fear Him which is able to destroy both our soul and our body in hell. Some of our greatest fears are things that actually are not even there, they are the things that we imagine in our own minds; but there is nothing more real than judgment and the eternal flames of hell. After Jesus spoke of this, He said that we need to fear not, if we are His, saying, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." So in this sense, it is a two way street, fear and trust go hand in hand. There really is nothing that we can do to earn our way into heaven, if we could, then Jesus wouldn't have had to come down and give His life in our place. We are given eternal life by believing in the sacrifice given by the Father, His Son. It was the Father's sacrifice, spoken of Abraham in Genesis 22:8, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." This he said to answer his son about where the sacrifice was they were going to offer, but as it turns out, some say that was the place where Jesus was crucified, 1900 years later! The most popular verse in the Bible tells it just like it is: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That word perish is the word that means damnation, the word that Jesus was speaking about when He was saying whom we should fear; not because God wants to throw us into the fires of hell, because He wants everyone to be saved from where they are headed if they do not accept His free offer of salvation. What is so hard to decide about that? Just believe and be saved. I look forward to seeing you all in heaven; where I will see my mother, grandfather, brother-in-laws, and my son...
"After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, "Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of his servants." And again their voices rang out: "Praise the LORD! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever." Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshipped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, "Amen! Praise the LORD!" And from the throne came a voice that said, "Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest."" (Revelation 19:1-5) NLT
Saturday, August 18, 2018
"Spiritually Connected"
"O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield." (Psalms 115:10)
Having the Holy Spirit within us, does not just make us a Temple, we are connected with Jesus and with our Heavenly Father; as they all three are One, for there is One True God. There are some things that might be hard to wrap our heads around, but that concept of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being One, that is something confirmed in our hearts. No one needed to persuade me that was true, the Holy Spirit living within me confirmed it, and there was really no more discussion needed. That might not sound like such a big deal to most, but if you were raised to believe that it was not the case, then having it confirmed in your heart as the truth, that simply does not need explaining, it just is, and that settles that. After the morning I was given eternal life, I spent several weeks finding all of the places I could in the Bible that showed Jesus as God. I even made a crossword puzzle to illustrate how it was all connected and how easy it was to see the truth. It is really important that we get this right; you can talk to a lot of people about God, but you start lifting up the name of Jesus, and there is going to be people that are highly offended. Aaron is a name that means, "Light Bringer," and that is what takes place when we start talking about Jesus Christ, we bring out the Light! When the Light gets brought out, people's sins are revealed and they get offended. Those that want to remain in their sin, do not want anything to do with the Light, because as far as they are concerned the Light is judgment; but in reality, the Light is Salvation! We that love the Light know this to be true, because God is Light! I know, it sounds like I am quoting John 3:18-21; but this is something that was revealed to me in my heart a long time ago. And it should also be in the heart of every believer, because it is the witness of the Holy Spirit that lives within each and every one of us. Sometimes we might need a little help seeing the sin in our lives, but the Holy Spirit is there it convict us of those things we need to deal with. The more we deal with those things that are revealed, the greater the Light shines within us...
"So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us. I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true -it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ." (1 John 2:24-27) NLT
Having the Holy Spirit within us, does not just make us a Temple, we are connected with Jesus and with our Heavenly Father; as they all three are One, for there is One True God. There are some things that might be hard to wrap our heads around, but that concept of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being One, that is something confirmed in our hearts. No one needed to persuade me that was true, the Holy Spirit living within me confirmed it, and there was really no more discussion needed. That might not sound like such a big deal to most, but if you were raised to believe that it was not the case, then having it confirmed in your heart as the truth, that simply does not need explaining, it just is, and that settles that. After the morning I was given eternal life, I spent several weeks finding all of the places I could in the Bible that showed Jesus as God. I even made a crossword puzzle to illustrate how it was all connected and how easy it was to see the truth. It is really important that we get this right; you can talk to a lot of people about God, but you start lifting up the name of Jesus, and there is going to be people that are highly offended. Aaron is a name that means, "Light Bringer," and that is what takes place when we start talking about Jesus Christ, we bring out the Light! When the Light gets brought out, people's sins are revealed and they get offended. Those that want to remain in their sin, do not want anything to do with the Light, because as far as they are concerned the Light is judgment; but in reality, the Light is Salvation! We that love the Light know this to be true, because God is Light! I know, it sounds like I am quoting John 3:18-21; but this is something that was revealed to me in my heart a long time ago. And it should also be in the heart of every believer, because it is the witness of the Holy Spirit that lives within each and every one of us. Sometimes we might need a little help seeing the sin in our lives, but the Holy Spirit is there it convict us of those things we need to deal with. The more we deal with those things that are revealed, the greater the Light shines within us...
"So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us. I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true -it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ." (1 John 2:24-27) NLT
Friday, August 17, 2018
"Physical Endurance"
"O Israel, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield." (Psalms 115:9)
I know, it sounds a little weird; but in life, sometimes we need a little motivation for these tired and worn out bodies. As I looked up again the meaning of "Israel," I was reminded of the situation Jacob was in when he wrestled all night with the Lord. He was pretty much broken and was about to give up. He had separated himself from his wives and children, as to spare them from what might happen to him, and he had pretty much just given in to whatever might come next. Believe me when I tell you, I know the feeling; it is both fearful and soothing all in one. On the one hand you are given over to all that is bad, imagining every possible outcome; and on the other, you are satisfied by knowing that it all really does not matter. It is a pretty weird place to be, and it is a place where you really do not want to remain; you either need to find a hiding place, or need to get physically motivated to do something, anything, whatever it takes. If we were to look at these three different illustrations, they are all the same, yet they speak to different areas of our lives; the physical, spiritual, and eternal. They all three are important because they all three are designed and created by God. We were not designed to give up! As a matter of fact, the more we physically give up on anything, the more defeated we become. My heart breaks for this new generation of kids, because they are allowed and even encouraged to give up. If it hurts, stop doing it; that is the new normal for the way children are being raised. Sometimes life hurts! Sometimes we need to stop backing away and we need to push forward! Don't get me started, but when did children start telling their parents what they were going to eat? When I was a kid, if I did not eat what my mother made to dinner, I chewed on my pillow that night! I may not have liked everything, like liver and onions, but if I did not eat it, I did not eat. That might not sound like a big deal, but I think that is where it actually starts. It is an attitude of "I don't really have to do what I don't want to do." If I don't like the taste, I don't have to eat it; if I don't like how it feels, I don't need to do it; if I am not comfortable being there, I don't need to be there. It goes on and on, and it really takes away the challenges and opportunities for endurance to be experienced in the lives of our children. It matters quite a bit for us old folks too...
"How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn't have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:10-13) NLT
I know, it sounds a little weird; but in life, sometimes we need a little motivation for these tired and worn out bodies. As I looked up again the meaning of "Israel," I was reminded of the situation Jacob was in when he wrestled all night with the Lord. He was pretty much broken and was about to give up. He had separated himself from his wives and children, as to spare them from what might happen to him, and he had pretty much just given in to whatever might come next. Believe me when I tell you, I know the feeling; it is both fearful and soothing all in one. On the one hand you are given over to all that is bad, imagining every possible outcome; and on the other, you are satisfied by knowing that it all really does not matter. It is a pretty weird place to be, and it is a place where you really do not want to remain; you either need to find a hiding place, or need to get physically motivated to do something, anything, whatever it takes. If we were to look at these three different illustrations, they are all the same, yet they speak to different areas of our lives; the physical, spiritual, and eternal. They all three are important because they all three are designed and created by God. We were not designed to give up! As a matter of fact, the more we physically give up on anything, the more defeated we become. My heart breaks for this new generation of kids, because they are allowed and even encouraged to give up. If it hurts, stop doing it; that is the new normal for the way children are being raised. Sometimes life hurts! Sometimes we need to stop backing away and we need to push forward! Don't get me started, but when did children start telling their parents what they were going to eat? When I was a kid, if I did not eat what my mother made to dinner, I chewed on my pillow that night! I may not have liked everything, like liver and onions, but if I did not eat it, I did not eat. That might not sound like a big deal, but I think that is where it actually starts. It is an attitude of "I don't really have to do what I don't want to do." If I don't like the taste, I don't have to eat it; if I don't like how it feels, I don't need to do it; if I am not comfortable being there, I don't need to be there. It goes on and on, and it really takes away the challenges and opportunities for endurance to be experienced in the lives of our children. It matters quite a bit for us old folks too...
"How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn't have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:10-13) NLT
Thursday, August 16, 2018
"False Security"
"They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them." (Psalms 115:8)
Besides the face that nothing except God can grant us eternal life, there is no real security in anything that we can make; as Peter says in 2 Peter 3:11-12, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and hasting unto the coming day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" Basically, it all depends where are faith is and what it is that we are holding out for. Are we looking for the Lord to come back, at any moment? or are we living as though we have all the time in the world? I don't know about you, but this world cannot get much more like the end times, in my book! I have written in the space between this verse and the next in my Bible, "You become like the God you worship." This does not necessarily mean that you will turn into a statue if you worship a statue; it means that you will be as lost and alive as whatever it is that worship and put your faith in. What kind of life does an idol have, none! There is nothing that idols can do to protect us or provide for us, especially when it comes to eternity and salvation for our souls. A better illustration, which is something along the lines of what Peter is saying, is that all idols will be burnt up in the fire, they are combustable! So too are all that make them and put their trust in them, they are headed for destruction in the eternal fires of hell. When push comes to shove, where does your faith remain? When the pressure is on, what do you press into? There is really nothing here on this earth that can touch or tamper with my salvation in Christ; no matter what might overtake me, nothing can take away the eternal life that I have in Christ. When it comes to what matters most, we need to keep our eyes on that which cannot be destroyed or burnt up in the fire...
""I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down in the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. Those who worship false gods turn their back on all God's mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone."" (Jonah 2:5-9) NLT
Besides the face that nothing except God can grant us eternal life, there is no real security in anything that we can make; as Peter says in 2 Peter 3:11-12, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and hasting unto the coming day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" Basically, it all depends where are faith is and what it is that we are holding out for. Are we looking for the Lord to come back, at any moment? or are we living as though we have all the time in the world? I don't know about you, but this world cannot get much more like the end times, in my book! I have written in the space between this verse and the next in my Bible, "You become like the God you worship." This does not necessarily mean that you will turn into a statue if you worship a statue; it means that you will be as lost and alive as whatever it is that worship and put your faith in. What kind of life does an idol have, none! There is nothing that idols can do to protect us or provide for us, especially when it comes to eternity and salvation for our souls. A better illustration, which is something along the lines of what Peter is saying, is that all idols will be burnt up in the fire, they are combustable! So too are all that make them and put their trust in them, they are headed for destruction in the eternal fires of hell. When push comes to shove, where does your faith remain? When the pressure is on, what do you press into? There is really nothing here on this earth that can touch or tamper with my salvation in Christ; no matter what might overtake me, nothing can take away the eternal life that I have in Christ. When it comes to what matters most, we need to keep our eyes on that which cannot be destroyed or burnt up in the fire...
""I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down in the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. Those who worship false gods turn their back on all God's mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone."" (Jonah 2:5-9) NLT
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
"Nothingness"
"They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: they have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: they have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat." (Psalms 115:5-7)
What is a person to do? It is all the same bunch of nothingness, so it belongs all grouped together as one big pile of dung. This is a really good example of what we get counting on anything else but God when it comes to our faith, even when we feel safe doing so. I am talking about anything else, such as our finances, our properties, our plans of retirement; even the things that we think we have all figured out and that are fail-safe. Just like idols made by man, there is no power in anything, that is power enough to save! I tried to think of anything that on its own can do anything, but it all comes up short. It is God that is our only source of help and security; He it is that will bless us with those things, and He it is that can take them all away. I hope we understand that by what we read in the Bible, because every single generation has had to learn the same lessons, over and over again, in some form or fashion. It started with Adam and Eve, who failed to follow one simple command, just one; and it was out of the garden for them, forced to experience the hardships of baring children and providing food for the table. This goes way beyond just objects that are made to worship, such as idols of stone or wood; this is about anything that we give power to and depend upon it to provide for and satisfy our lives. We spent all of our years prior to coming to Jesus trying to fill that void, so why would we even attempt to think that it is any different? Nothing can take the place of God when it comes to fulfilling our peace, our joy, and our faith for eternal security, absolutely nothing! I heard a message yesterday that spoke about all the times God instructed the children of Israel to make a monument to certain victories and miracles that He brought into their lives; that it was to remember that it was only be Him that they were delivered. Only the blood of Jesus can save us; only by His strips are we healed; that is why Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me," because there is no other way that we can be saved; everything else is nothingness...
"I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow -not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below -indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
What is a person to do? It is all the same bunch of nothingness, so it belongs all grouped together as one big pile of dung. This is a really good example of what we get counting on anything else but God when it comes to our faith, even when we feel safe doing so. I am talking about anything else, such as our finances, our properties, our plans of retirement; even the things that we think we have all figured out and that are fail-safe. Just like idols made by man, there is no power in anything, that is power enough to save! I tried to think of anything that on its own can do anything, but it all comes up short. It is God that is our only source of help and security; He it is that will bless us with those things, and He it is that can take them all away. I hope we understand that by what we read in the Bible, because every single generation has had to learn the same lessons, over and over again, in some form or fashion. It started with Adam and Eve, who failed to follow one simple command, just one; and it was out of the garden for them, forced to experience the hardships of baring children and providing food for the table. This goes way beyond just objects that are made to worship, such as idols of stone or wood; this is about anything that we give power to and depend upon it to provide for and satisfy our lives. We spent all of our years prior to coming to Jesus trying to fill that void, so why would we even attempt to think that it is any different? Nothing can take the place of God when it comes to fulfilling our peace, our joy, and our faith for eternal security, absolutely nothing! I heard a message yesterday that spoke about all the times God instructed the children of Israel to make a monument to certain victories and miracles that He brought into their lives; that it was to remember that it was only be Him that they were delivered. Only the blood of Jesus can save us; only by His strips are we healed; that is why Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me," because there is no other way that we can be saved; everything else is nothingness...
"I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow -not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below -indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
"Images"
"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands." (Psalms 115:4)
As if we could get any more specific, our God is in the heavens, is actually a statement of where He is, meaning that He does not dwell here, and neither do we! We are not earth dwellers, we are all citizens of Heaven, just as our Father is in Heaven, just as our Lord Christ Jesus is there preparing a place for us, for all eternity. Earth dwellers need to be able to see their gods; their faith is based upon that which they see and can touch. It is physical, just as they are worldly, they must witness with their eyes what they worship. This is something that goes all the way back to the fall, when Eve was deceived by the serpent, it was by sight that see was tempted and desired to eat. It is said that the devil uses our sight to cause us to stumble, which is pretty much saying that he speaks to us through our eyes; placing images before us, and then our minds take those images and make all sorts of plans and fantasies out of them. God does not speak to us that way, He speaks to us through hearing; it is by His word that He reveals Himself to us, and it is by His word that He guides our lives. Even though we know this to be a fact, we are still tempted to see proof, to see some kind of a sign. Yesterday I was talking with a friend and he mentioned something to me about some people he knows that have lost everything they had in the fire. He said that they wanted to see a miracle when they went back to check on their home, and what they saw was a pile of ashes; but they still witnessed a miracle in their own lives, because their faith came to life, and they felt the peace and joy of the Lord, even though everything they owned was burnt up and a pile of ashes. That is more real than anything that can be seen! Our faith is not based upon any image; our faith is the Creator of everything seen and unseen, not in anything that is seen...
""What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation -a god that can't even talk! What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, 'Wake up and save us!' To speechless images you say, 'Rise up and teach us!' Can an idol tell you what to do? They may be overlaid with gold and silver, but they are lifeless inside. But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him."" (Habakkuk 2:18-20) NLT
As if we could get any more specific, our God is in the heavens, is actually a statement of where He is, meaning that He does not dwell here, and neither do we! We are not earth dwellers, we are all citizens of Heaven, just as our Father is in Heaven, just as our Lord Christ Jesus is there preparing a place for us, for all eternity. Earth dwellers need to be able to see their gods; their faith is based upon that which they see and can touch. It is physical, just as they are worldly, they must witness with their eyes what they worship. This is something that goes all the way back to the fall, when Eve was deceived by the serpent, it was by sight that see was tempted and desired to eat. It is said that the devil uses our sight to cause us to stumble, which is pretty much saying that he speaks to us through our eyes; placing images before us, and then our minds take those images and make all sorts of plans and fantasies out of them. God does not speak to us that way, He speaks to us through hearing; it is by His word that He reveals Himself to us, and it is by His word that He guides our lives. Even though we know this to be a fact, we are still tempted to see proof, to see some kind of a sign. Yesterday I was talking with a friend and he mentioned something to me about some people he knows that have lost everything they had in the fire. He said that they wanted to see a miracle when they went back to check on their home, and what they saw was a pile of ashes; but they still witnessed a miracle in their own lives, because their faith came to life, and they felt the peace and joy of the Lord, even though everything they owned was burnt up and a pile of ashes. That is more real than anything that can be seen! Our faith is not based upon any image; our faith is the Creator of everything seen and unseen, not in anything that is seen...
""What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation -a god that can't even talk! What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, 'Wake up and save us!' To speechless images you say, 'Rise up and teach us!' Can an idol tell you what to do? They may be overlaid with gold and silver, but they are lifeless inside. But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him."" (Habakkuk 2:18-20) NLT
Monday, August 13, 2018
"God Rules"
"But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased." (Psalms 115:3)
The first rule in worshiping God, is to believe that He rules! Make no mistake in thinking otherwise, because there is nothing that takes place here or anywhere else that He does not allow to happen. Some people make take issue with that, because there is a lot of terrible stuff that goes on here, and they might ask, 'How could God allow that to happen?' There are things that happen which God does not like, every second of every day. We ourselves are guilty of doing things that God does not like, but what would you like Him to do about those things we do? He could stop all the madness at any time He might feel fed up with it; and soon enough, He will start that process by taking His church out of this place. But for now, He is patiently waiting for that last Gentile to believe in His Son. That is all that He is waiting for, so do not think He does not care about all the terrible things we do, because His heart is grieved every moment of every day by what we do to one another. Besides, it is because of His great mercy that we are not judged instantly for the things that we do. Imagine if that were the case, and if we were judged for our sins, the sins that we do not confess or do not feel that we have committed. Oh, you don't think that you have any unconfessed sins? Interesting subject, because I think we all have sins that go unconfessed, because we just do not think we were wrong by treating someone a certain way that has wronged us, or holding onto unforgiveness just because we just do not feel vindicated or satisfied with a the outcome of a disagreement or dispute. I know it might seem petty, but unforgiveness is a pretty big deal to God. Besides, unforgiveness is like a cancer growing inside our heart; it will tear us apart if we do not confess it and let God cleanse us from the inside out. I have seen way too many brothers and sisters destroy their testimonies of God's mercy and love by not forgiving one another. It is really sad to see how stubborn the heart can really be. But one way to help fix that is to let God rule our hearts, just as He rules the heavens...
""When you pray, don't babble on and on as the people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."" (Matthew 6:7-15) NLT
The first rule in worshiping God, is to believe that He rules! Make no mistake in thinking otherwise, because there is nothing that takes place here or anywhere else that He does not allow to happen. Some people make take issue with that, because there is a lot of terrible stuff that goes on here, and they might ask, 'How could God allow that to happen?' There are things that happen which God does not like, every second of every day. We ourselves are guilty of doing things that God does not like, but what would you like Him to do about those things we do? He could stop all the madness at any time He might feel fed up with it; and soon enough, He will start that process by taking His church out of this place. But for now, He is patiently waiting for that last Gentile to believe in His Son. That is all that He is waiting for, so do not think He does not care about all the terrible things we do, because His heart is grieved every moment of every day by what we do to one another. Besides, it is because of His great mercy that we are not judged instantly for the things that we do. Imagine if that were the case, and if we were judged for our sins, the sins that we do not confess or do not feel that we have committed. Oh, you don't think that you have any unconfessed sins? Interesting subject, because I think we all have sins that go unconfessed, because we just do not think we were wrong by treating someone a certain way that has wronged us, or holding onto unforgiveness just because we just do not feel vindicated or satisfied with a the outcome of a disagreement or dispute. I know it might seem petty, but unforgiveness is a pretty big deal to God. Besides, unforgiveness is like a cancer growing inside our heart; it will tear us apart if we do not confess it and let God cleanse us from the inside out. I have seen way too many brothers and sisters destroy their testimonies of God's mercy and love by not forgiving one another. It is really sad to see how stubborn the heart can really be. But one way to help fix that is to let God rule our hearts, just as He rules the heavens...
""When you pray, don't babble on and on as the people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."" (Matthew 6:7-15) NLT
Sunday, August 12, 2018
"God's Property"
"Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?" (Psalms 115:2)
We really cannot have it both ways, thinking that we have any power to control our lives and that God has all the power to heal or to bless us. The Lord gives and takes away, based upon what He knows is right; at best, we can only think that we know anything at all what to do; but based upon the ability of our flesh to influence our choices, what we think we know is right, will most likely turn out to be wrong. Going back to the 2nd verse of the last Psalm, Matthew Henry explains it to mean that Judah and Israel are God's property; that His sanctuary and His dominion are His areas of worship and judgment, and that worship and judgment are one of the same, truth! To that, is the answer to the question, "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?" "For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake," He must receive all the glory, every last bit of it! Even in the times of testing and trials, He must be given glory! Those are the times in which the heathen will say, "Where is now their God?" But those are also the times where His light will shine the brightest in His people, when they praise Him and give Him glory during the testing and the trials. When it looks like all is lost, we are never lost; when it looks like we have been forsaken, we are always safe and secure. In the light of God's judgment, their must always be worship; we cannot truly worship God the way that we should without considering His judgment, because His judgment is always full of mercy. That is truth, and that is why we walk humbly with our God, because we love mercy; and because we love mercy we must act justly; just because...
"Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But -"When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life."" (Titus 3:3-7) NLT
We really cannot have it both ways, thinking that we have any power to control our lives and that God has all the power to heal or to bless us. The Lord gives and takes away, based upon what He knows is right; at best, we can only think that we know anything at all what to do; but based upon the ability of our flesh to influence our choices, what we think we know is right, will most likely turn out to be wrong. Going back to the 2nd verse of the last Psalm, Matthew Henry explains it to mean that Judah and Israel are God's property; that His sanctuary and His dominion are His areas of worship and judgment, and that worship and judgment are one of the same, truth! To that, is the answer to the question, "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?" "For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake," He must receive all the glory, every last bit of it! Even in the times of testing and trials, He must be given glory! Those are the times in which the heathen will say, "Where is now their God?" But those are also the times where His light will shine the brightest in His people, when they praise Him and give Him glory during the testing and the trials. When it looks like all is lost, we are never lost; when it looks like we have been forsaken, we are always safe and secure. In the light of God's judgment, their must always be worship; we cannot truly worship God the way that we should without considering His judgment, because His judgment is always full of mercy. That is truth, and that is why we walk humbly with our God, because we love mercy; and because we love mercy we must act justly; just because...
"Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But -"When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life."" (Titus 3:3-7) NLT
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