"Behind The Looking Glass" - 3

 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (Hebrews 2:14 KJV)

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

 Some mornings there is just too much to say, I can't contain myself; while other mornings, I feel as though the entire message is worthless and doesn't match the whole story: this is one of those mornings when there is just too much to say! Oh, how much I miss having conversations with my wife! We used to spend hours upon hours sharing, on long drives, sharing about God's word. Talking about the recent message from church; as we would find a Calvary Chapel to go to, no matter where we went, there was always a fellowship that we would feel right at home in. 

 Now, these days, we still stop into certain churches, however they don't quite seem the same, as the service gets distracted by our presence; it almost always ends with the saints wanting to pray for us, laying hands on my wife, and sometimes trying to find out why we came, as if we were looking for a miracle to happen. We just wanted to enjoy being part of the family; that is all we ever wanted; or should I just say, all that I ever wanted, as Marianne sometimes doesn't really enjoy being a distraction and someone that people don't know how to approach.

 When I take her to restaurants, we usually try to find a seat that is in a corner of the room, as there are some people who do not want to see her, while they try to enjoy their food. I get that, but at the same time, I feel offended by it also. And I also realize that Marianne knows! She might have a serious brain injury, but her heart is strong and always full of hope; as a caring doctor once said, "Where there is life, there is hope!" 

 That is far from matching this story, or is it? My heart hurts so bad right now, that I really don't know how to finish this message; except to share about what Jesus must have felt, having to suffer through death in order to save us! Imagine what it might have been like, for God to give His Son, let alone, that the Son would be prepared for something that would hurt so badly...

"When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white as wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look - I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave." (Revelation 1:12-18 NLT) 

"Behind The Looking Glass" - 2

 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took place of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (Hebrews 2:14 KJV)

  "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross." (Philippians 2:1-8 NLT)

 Which part of this story does the most to cause us to be overwhelmed? Is it that Jesus humbled himself, making the mortality part of His time on earth the focus? Is it the fact that He could have fought off those who wanted to kill him, by simply speaking out a single word? Maybe, if we could possibly think about the time and urgency of His being here, it was a powerful, critical moment, that had been planned out, from the very beginning of time! 

 Going back to the Second Day of creation, that day when the Creator made Heaven, which was the separation between God's divine nature and that of the created earth; we must understand that God already knew how things would turn out; especially the actions that would take place from the devil! When God judged Satan for what he did, He had already made the plan for Christ to die on the cross; each and every part of what the Son would do, had already been written, each and every sequence of His journey had already been set in motion. 

 Oddly enough, Adam had somehow been told all that was going to happen, as he renamed his wife, who he originally called "Woman," meaning that she was bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh; to the name "Eve," which meant, "The Mother of All Living." Death was going to be defeated, this much was already known; now it was just a matter of time; and the time was the critical moment...

"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." (Romans 5:1-11 NLT)  

"Behind The Looking Glass"

 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (Hebrews 2:14 KJV)

  "The Scriptures tell us, "The first man, Adam, became a living person." But the last Adam - that is, Christ - is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. 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. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies." (1 Corinthians 15:45-53 NLT)

 So, this is rather strange, as it just so happens, the Title that I felt to use for this verse, is also the title of the "First Ever Documentary about the wives & children of Trans-Identified Men." Such as, Bruce, who is now called Caitlyn. So strange, that Paul's talking about us being transformed, and this weird title has the connection with those that are transgendered. 

 Anywho, whatever that has to do with anything, might point is something that is on a whole different level! As I have alluded to, in some way or another, this temporary life in these mortal bodies is just a small dash in what is meant to be everlasting life. What we experience in the here and now, is really not what will be the transformed body we will be given in Heaven! 

 Having understood the process of our Salvation; there is three steps to this, so called process: the first of which is that we are Justified, which basically means, that the blood of Christ has washed us, making us to be, "Just as if we have never sinned!" This first step is something that Peter describes as being already secured away in heaven; where it cannot be destroyed or hampered with; meaning that it is locked away and belongs to the Lord! (1 Peter 1:3-5) 

 The second step, if you will, is: Sanctification, which is the time we will spend on this earth, going through trials and times of troubles; falling in and out of fellowship, walking in and out of faith; all of which are what we experience in this, "Normal Christian Life!" 

 The third and final step, is the transformation that Paul is talking about: Glorification! We will all be transformed into glorious bodies, that will never die; ever...

"Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." (1 Corinthians 15:54-58 NLT)   

"The Seed Manifested"

  "Because God's children are human beings - made of flesh and blood - the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

 "We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested." (Hebrews 2:14-18 NLT)

  "Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again, he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they him. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind them to powder. And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them." (Luke 20:9-19 KVJ)

 There is something to be said for the way God makes things to happen; some of which, might seem as though the work is caused by the devil, and some might appear to be caused by evil men; but when it comes to God's will, all sorts of things which breakdown, tear up, overturn, and destroy, can be the hand of God, used and carried out by the things of this world...

"Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54:16-17 KJV) 

"I Will Put My Trust in Him!" - 2

 "And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me." (Hebrews 2:13 KJV)

  "I and the children the LORD has given me serve as signs and warnings to Israel from the LORD of Heaven's Armies who dwells in the Temple on Mount Zion. Someone may say to you, "Let's ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do." But should people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God's instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark." (Isaiah 8:18-20 NLT)

 As I was saying, there were times when I was certain God wanted me to share with someone, yet I ended up running out of time, having another appointment to go to, and being pressured to explain my findings, but lacking the wherewithal to share the Gospel Message, concerning the souls of them God instructed me to share with. As I told that to Bruce, when we went to lunch, he simply said, "If you didn't share with them, God most likely got someone else to do it!" 

 I surely hope that was the case! My schedule is usually very tight; the more inspections I have, the tighter the appointments are to one another. Sometimes I barely have time to explain all the findings; I simply tell them that the Report will be emailed in the morning, and they can call me after reading the Report, if they have any questions. 

 That said, even if I do have the time to share, sometimes I might feel as though the person God wants me to share with, is not the least bit interested in hearing about Jesus. If I feel that way, I should be judged accordingly! I absolutely know better than that, because I need to just share, the results are up to God, not up to me! We don't know if we are planting the seed, or watering the soil, or reaping the harvest! 

 This is more important than our own comfort and dignity; if God says to share His Son with someone, we need to make sure that we make every effort to do so! If we fail to do so, we lack the opportunity; if we lack the opportunity, we might not be given another chance...

  "As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"" (Romans 10:11-15 NLT) 

"I Will Put My Trust in Him!"

 "And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children which God hath given me." (Hebrews 2:13 KJV)

  "The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. The Sovereign LORD has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting. Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear! See, the Sovereign LORD is on my side! Who will declare me guilty? All my enemies will be destroyed like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!" (PSALM 50:4-9 NLT)

 So, here is something I feel was rather interesting about yesterday, if anyone is interested in hearing the thing that God worked in my life; without me knowing what He was doing. My Pastor and friend, Bruce, was invited to share at Moutain Christian Fellowship; so, I decided to go up to that church to support him and pray for the message. 

 Little did I know, but his reheated message, which I might have heard two or three times before, shook me to my core, making me think of all the times I was told to share with someone, but because of the lack of time, I did not have the opportunity. Some of their faces flashed before my eyes, as they were people who I actually visited once a year, servicing their house for Termite Control. Yet, the last time I was there, was the last time I would see them on this earth! 

 The message was given from Acts chapter 10; the subject seems to be towards a centurion named Cornelius; but in reality, the real subject of the story was Peter, who spent several days with the men from Cornelius' household, as the Spirit spoke to Peter saying, "Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them." 

 Oddly enough, I had just shared a story with Pastor Bruce's wife, about the church I came from in Southern California, back in 1990; and the on-staff Evangelist who was Ray Comfort. I had made a recommendation to the Pastor who headed up the Men's Ministry, to ask for Ray to come up and share at our Men's Retreat, which he did. And I positioned myself in the first row, right in front of his podium. 

 As it were, Ray decided to play a little joke on me, and had a stack of tracks which he caused to fall to the floor. As I jumped down to the floor to pick them up, he jumped back away from the podium, exclaiming: "Stand up, I am just a man!" 

 It was a powerful trigger in Peter's story, because a soon as he arrived at Cornelius' house, "Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man." (Acts 10:25-26)

 At this point in the message, I closed my Bible and began praying for the closing message. Little did I know, but the closing message was God way of speaking to me! This was a set-up, from the very start! I went thinking I was supporting a friend, which I did; but God brought me there to speak directly into my heart...

"But faith's way of getting right with God says, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will go up to heaven?' (to bring Christ down to earth). And don't say, 'Who will go down to the place of the dead?' (to bring Christ back to life again)." In fact, it says, "The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved." (Romans 10:6-10 NLT) 

"The Gathering"

 "Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." (Hebrews 2:12 KJV)

  "Praise the LORD! I will thank the LORD with all my heart as I meet with his godly people. How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our LORD!" (PSALM 111:1-4 NLT)

 Having the understanding that any and all trials and difficulties we might go through are good, even though they might seem bad during the time we are dealing with them, we can actually find peace and joy, by taking the time to praise Him in the storm! It might not feel right at first, but the more you praise Him and thank Him for the chance to suffer, the more our suffering becomes less important, and His mercy and grace shines deeper within our hearts. 

 There are actually several times in my last almost 22 years, (specifically starting on August 12th, 2003,) when I have broken down and wept profusely, as if I was shaken to my very core. Each time, as far as I remember, I could feel a hand upon my shoulder, as if to comfort me. But there was one time, I think it was back in 2012, when I continued to cry, even though that hand was on my shoulder; and I felt that hand withdraw, as if to say, "Okay, that's enough!" 

 I might sound crazy, but that was enough! Almost instantly, I felt an amazing peace and joy; and my tears became tears of joy, no longer were they tears of sadness. The one thing I tried very hard to do, was not to break down in front of my wife! When I did one time, she gazed up at me, as if there was something terribly wrong; she actually looked as if something horrible was happening. I never wanted her to feel like that again! 

 Now, I make every effort to smile in her presence, telling her that I love her; showing her that everything is perfectly fine. Believe it or not, but she knows when I enter the room and when she hears my voice she looks in my direction. There is still love worth fighting for, no matter how difficult things might appear! 

 Anywho, this was meant to be about us going to church! Make every effort to go to church, if you must, ask someone to take you; if you can't get a ride, walk up to five miles, and you might get healthy in the process. But for the sake of fellowship, make every effort to get to church...

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-47 NLT)   

"All of One!" - Too

 "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren," (Hebrews 2:11 KJV)

  "And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" (Romans 8:27-31 NLT)

 This is one major principle I have dealt with, over and over, through many trials and times of being in a place of despair: God is always on our side, even when we mess up and absolutely show Him no respect, He is always ready to receive us into His loving arms! This is the heart of our Father! He knows us, so much more than we know ourselves, that He has already prepared a path for us, even though we don't know it, His ways and further our ways.

 The passage from Romans, is always used to express certain things that help us get through difficult times, as if this is the sure-fire answer to everything the seems to come against us. But, (and this is a very big but,) sometimes the very difficult time is made for our benefit, even though we can't understand why or for what reason God is allowing us to suffer through such a terrible time.

 That might seem hard to understand, when you are actually going through the fire; but there are just some things we need to have burnt out of our lives; things we wouldn't have given up on our own, but God knew in advance what needed to be done; but we have no clue. Even when we think that we have figured it out, we see a door that is right in front of us; but God has doors that are opened, we have no clue they are even there.

 This is the beautiful message of the cross; we all have a cross, as Jesus said, "Pick up your cross, and follow me," as an indication that the thing which destroys us, is also the thing that restores us and makes us whole... 

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT) 

"All of One!"

 "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren," (Hebrews 2:11 KJV)

  ""I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me."" (John 17:20-23 NLT)

 Just so you know, this is actually, "The Lord's Prayer," the other one, that starts out, "Our Father, which art in heaven," is actually Jesus teaching the disciples how to pray, not necessarily to copy what He says, but to understand the steps we should have, such as: Acknowledging God's holiness and glory, His will be done, that He provides, His forgiveness, and our responsibility to forgive others, and that His Kingdom reins! 

 Basically, we need to just trust God, whether we are doing good or having the worst day ever! He is still on the Throne, He is still holding onto us, and no matter what, we have the same outcome when it is all said and done! That's my take on things, so I am sticking to it. If you have something different in mind, you can just keep it to yourself, because I will not be moved! 

 By the way, I sing to my wife. That might sound weird to some people, but when I sing to her, she looks at me and watches my lips; sometimes, she even moves her lips also, as if she wants to sing also. How many of you men sing to your wives? How many of you read to you wives? How about laying on hands, and praying for her? 

 Maybe it's a little different for me, because she has no choice but to listen and put up with me. But as I have said before, she is the most perfect woman that I know, because she is uncapable of sinning; of that I am totally sure...

"Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: "For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name." And in another place it is written, "Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles." And yet again, "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles. Praise him, all you people of the earth." And in another place Isaiah said, "The heir of David's throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope in him." I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:7-13 NLT)   

"The Captain of Our Salvation" - Two

 "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Hebrews 2:10 KJV)

  "Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir." (Galatians 4:1-7 NLT) 

 Just so you know, there are several different versions of what Heaven might look like; something that Paul spoke about, was about the sound he witnessed, which didn't even matter what could be seen, the sound alone was something too special and amazing to even talk about. So, it really shouldn't matter how you think Heaven will be; just the thought of being there is enough to cause us to hope and long for, the place that awaits us is real! But, no matter what, these bodies of corruption will not be there! 

 Anywho; whatever state I might be, whether a stone upon the wall, or a paver that gets walked upon; or being woven into the fabric of the bride's wedding gown; just being there is enough great pleasure for me! God has a place for each and every one of us, no matter what! 

 Besides that, there are men of valor who actually believe that they will be used in Heaven, as they were used here on earth. Men that face death to save others, not caring for their own lives, but do acts of great courage, just to save someone that cannot save themselves. They seriously believe that their training and great courage does not end at the grave; that they will have a purpose to use their conditioning when they end up in Heaven.

 So, don't judge anything based upon what you might think; most of what we think we know to be true, will appear totally different than what we expected! If you don't understand what I just said, look at the simple illustration of the cross. Jesus was brutally beaten and punished beyond recognition; His body was torn, His face disfigured; a crown of thorns placed upon His head, with the spikes of the thorns piercing into His scull. His hands and His feet, nailed to the cross as if to assure that His punishment was final!  

 What a difference was the result of that horrible punishment; nothing that was meant for punishment was not undone and brought to total victory! That is just a glimpse of what Heaven will be like: what we thought was overwhelming and unforgivable, God will turn it into something totally new, something that has a better outcome, then we could have ever imagined...

""My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," say the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. "The rain a snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the LORD'S name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love."" (Isaiah 55:8-13 NLT) 

"The Captain of Our Salvation"

  "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Hebrews 2:10 KJV)

  ""Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink - even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk - it's all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food."" (Isaiah 55:1-2 NLT)

 Pretend for the moment that Jesus is speaking through these two verses in Isaiah, as if He is showing us the vast difference between doing what is right, verses doing that which hinders your fellowship with Him; all because you feel as if you are intitled to certain pleasures, even though you know they don't make you stronger, but actually cause you to be weaker and less attentive to the power of the Holy Spirit. Not that Jesus doesn't want to help you make the right choice, because He does; He is the one that gives you the abundant life; but we are the ones that allow it to be just that, abundant! 

 I heard Pastor Jon share on something, whether or not it is real, I don't really know; but it made perfect sense, if it turns out to be that way, I believe we get what we work for, even though we might work to serve ourselves. He basically called it, "Banging on Pans." The whole point was showing the ones who end up in Heaven, like young children, that are banging on pans, as if that is pretty much all they have learned to do. 

 I know it sounds strange; but there will be some kind of separation, as it were, an inner court and an outer court. Those who lived out their lives serving themselves, will be them who end up serving others; while those who served others, will be serving before the throne of God. At least that was the major point of Jon's message. 

 Personally, I will be happy just to be there, whether it's banging pans or handing out refreshments; just to be called a child of God, living in His Kingdom, is enough for me! If you have been following this blog, it was about the time my son passed away, I was reading Isaiah 6:1, which says, "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple." 

 As I sat my Bible down, I closed my eyes and tried to envision what Isaiah saw; but what I saw was not a royal robe, as if it was a long red robe; but it looked as if it was the train of a wedding dress; white and filled with all sorts of beautiful patterns. As I focused into a certain part of the train, I could see that there was something within the pattern. And, as I looked closer and closer, I saw myself woven into the pattern, with a smile up my face, holding onto the fabric...   

"I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!" (Philippians 3:7-11 NLT) 

"We See Jesus!" - 2.0

 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9 KJV)

  "For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity - the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6 NLT)

 Something else, we must talk about, if anyone might be the least bit interested: the stupid stuff we do, that we pretend Jesus isn't watching us do! If you are looking for a way to make those things less important, then you must, with all your heart, place Jesus in the room! He is really already there, you just must, (and I say must with the earnest expression,) acknowledge His presence and allow Him to be Lord of every part of your life. 

 I love my son, but I did him no favors, when it came to being a strong example of a Christian man. They say that ministry needs to start in the home; and it is for a very important reason. I watched my son as he judged me for being an unfaithful husband, which really caused by soul to cry out for forgiveness. There was a season in my life when I was hooked on porn; so badly hooked, that I would actually look at it online, with my wife in the room, as if she didn't know what I was doing! 

 When my wife became disabled, there was a season when porn was not anymore of an interest, but once things leveled out and became routine, I was back at it again. My son was living in a little trailer at the house, and I was sitting out on the back porch with my laptop opened away from his line of sight; but I guess I forgot that there was a glass door behind me. My son stormed out of his trailer, went into the house, and pounded his fist onto the tile kitchen countertop.

 Talk about a reality check! I flashed back to the days when my wife was healthy and had a routine of watering the front yard at night, while I sat in my office on my computer. The blinds were shut, but they still could be looked through, which meant that the computer screen could be seen. I thought about the stupidity of my actions, how I not only hurt her heart, but I also caused my son to think that my faith wasn't all that real. 

 But for the grace of God, I have slain that dragon, and I never want to be captivated by that sinful mess, ever again! When my son passed away, there was something I needed to get right; although I couldn't actually ask him for forgiveness, I could ask the Lord to let him know how sorry I was for being a terrible example of a godly man. 

 We might think that this kind of sin is not hurting anyone, and that it's just something we do to ourselves; but that kind of sin is poison which spreads into everyone in your family. It is just as bad as cheating on your mate and stealing hope from your children. That is why we must see Jesus! He needs to be with us at all times, making us realize that He is always guiding us, cleaning up our lives, and showing us what real love looks like...

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" - and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst of sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:12-17 NLT) 

"We See Jesus!" - Too

 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9 KJV)

  "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (1 John 4:7-10 NLT)

  Going back to one of those wonderful adventures I had, as a new baby Christian, I had tried several times to share Jesus with this very mean black guy, who threatened to punch me in the face, if I didn't stop try to tell him about Jesus. He was always out in the work-out yard, pushing and picking up weights; he was one of those guys that you wouldn't what to mess with. But that didn't stop me from trying, it was just something I felt I needed to do!

 One of the brothers that I hung out with, (there were four of us, who just so happened to be Asian, black, Mexican, and me, the white guy,) the black brother called me out, saying, "Don't cast your pearls among the swine," as to the way I kept getting threatened by the guy on the bone-yard. I tried to argue with him, saying, "It only matters if I become offended and lose my faith, because I am not giving up. Besides, the ones that act like the toughest men in the jail, are the ones that bury their head in their pillows at night and cry themselves to sleep." 

 We decided to agree to disagree, and I continued to hold out my face, for that big guy to punch me, if he really wanted to! Back in the day, I was really not a very nice person; so, I knew a thing or two about the way to mean and make people leave you alone. I might have been short, but I knew how to break faces; especially by punching the big guys in the nose, which would usually cause them to pass out. 

 When I was in seventh grade, I had several followers, and became the leader of a gang, called the Serpents. This was in San Bernardino, during the day when they started busing; it was not unusual for there to be riots at school, that got so bad, teachers would lock themselves in their classrooms. 

 I ended up getting excluded from the San Bernardino school district, so our family had to move down into the L.A. County area, where I could get a new start at school. But it didn't take long, and I was back at my old self, making sure that I was one of the toughest kids in school. 

 When I was seventeen, I was told that I had two choices, to go to CYA, or leave the state of California. So, I went to Texas to live with my grandfather. Because I had a lot of respect for my grandfather, I did my best to be good, but I was still able to find the bad guys to hang out with.

 Believe it or not, but I was on probation from the time I was eleven to the time I turned eighteen and was released from probation in order to join the Navy. While in the Navy, I was sent from bootcamp, straight to the West-Coast Fleet, and put upon the Constellation, a great big aircraft carrier. I became one of the well-known drug dealers on the ship. 

 In 1978 I was arrested in L.A. while on leave, they found ten dime bags of Angel Dust on me, and I was given a three-year suspended prison sentence, three years' probation, and a $3,000 fine. The Shore Patrol came a picked me up from jail and took me back to the ship.  

 I ended up getting discharged from the Navy is February of 1979, at which time I meet my wife. I never knew who she was, but she knew me, and had wanted to know me, ever since the 9th grade; apparently, one of her friends told her to stay away from me, because I was bad news. 

 Anywho, I tell all of this because there is something I believe God does, which makes the man who is trouble, become the man that takes chances for God. I really don't know how else to say it, but there is nothing in this world that I feel threatened by, nothing that I feel afraid to go through; and there is no prison I am worried about being placed in. My only fear is that I don't share Jesus when I feel He is wanting me to, because this life is temporary! 

 No matter what, we need to keep sharing Jesus with every opportunity He gives us; if we don't, then He won't give us the open doors...

"And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NLT) 

   

"We See Jesus!"

 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9 KJV)

  "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:6-11 NLT)

 As I have testified before, when I got saved, the man who spoke at the service that Sunday morning, shared about the Creator, saying, "And I am here today to tell you, that Creator is Jesus Christ!" Instantly, I envisioned Jesus hanging on the cross, thinking to myself, "The Creator of heaven and earth died upon the cross!" My mind was blown, and my heart was melted. When it came time to raise my hand to receive Jesus into my heart, I lifted both hands, as if to double-down on saying yes to Jesus! 

 When I share with people about God, mostly about His little creature, Termites, there is usually no issue with what I am saying; at least, not until I bring up the name of Jesus! There is just something about that name that causes people to gasp and turn away; almost as if you are turning a simple message about God, which they picture as whatever they think God looks like, and you point to Jesus Christ, whom they will sometimes feel offended, just by hearing His name. 

 When I do have visits from the local J.W.'s, (which is hardly never because they have my house marked,) I will test them about being witnesses for Jehovah, saying, "So you are witnesses of Jehovah, right?" And when they say, "Yes, we are!" Then I flip the script, saying, "Jesus is Jehovah!" At which point they turn and walk away, as if I just spoke blasphemy or made fun of the God they witness about.  Whatever you know about Jehovah in the Bible, the main definition for that name is "God is Salvation" which is exactly what Jesus Christ is all about! And, yes, Jesus was and is God; there is no question about that! Although many people do not boldly confess that He is and was whom He says that He is! 

 All they need to do is actually read the Bible, paying attention to all the different messages that declare who He is; but because He humbled Himself here on earth, there is doubt about His beginning, as if, because He was born a man, it doesn't count...

"You welcomed him back with success and prosperity. You placed a crown of finest gold on his head. He asked you to preserve his life, and you granted his request. The days of his life stretch on forever. Your victory brings him great honor, and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty." (PSALM 21:3-5 NLT) 

"Kingdom Principle" - Too

 "For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him." (Hebrews 2:8b KJV)

  "Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely." But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. "Tell her to go away," they said. "She is bothering us with her begging." Then Jesus said to the woman, "I was sent only to help God's lost sheep - the people of Israel." But she came and worshipped him, pleading again, "Lord, help me!" Jesus responded, "It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs." She replied, "That's true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their master's table." "Dear woman," Jesus said to her, "your faith is great. Your request is granted." And her daughter was instantly healed." (Matthew 15:21-28 NLT)

 To try and understand this issue, whatever the reason it is that caused Jesus to ignore this woman; we need to observe the message He had previously called out to the crowd in Jerusalem, saying, "Listen, and try to understand. It's not what goes into your mouths that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth." (Matthew 15:10-11 NLT) 

 The chances of this Canaanite woman being there, in this particular moment, would seem to be strange, had it not been Jesus' choice to head north into this region. Call it a divine appointment or call it just chance; but I believe everything that Jesus encountered was already predestined to happen! This was just another example of unwasted appointments, even though it first appeared as though He didn't want to waste His time with her! 

 If there was one thing I have paid close attention to, over the last 40 plus years, is that we don't give up on asking God to help us do right and follow His commands. That might not seem necessary, if we are trying to make it work; mostly because He already knows where we lack being good and where we don't do what is right; but there is no excuse for not asking Him to help us!

 There is an easy example of what I am trying to say, which is when God tells us to move a rock that cannot be moved. We try and try, pushing and struggling to get that rock to move; giving up from time to time, as if it isn't going to happen. All the while, God is waiting for us to ask Him for His help, which is what He expected us to do, all along. 

 Even then, in the time we spent trying to push on that rock, we might not have moved it, not even an inch; but we were exercising and making ourselves stronger in the process; until we became feeling discouraged and give up; only to be remined to try again, as if there was another way...

"Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this - though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. "You fathers - if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."" (Luke 11:5-13 NLT)    

"Kingdom Principle"

 "For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him." (Hebrews 2:8b KJV)

  ""Can you catch Leviathan with a hook or put a noose around its jaw? Can you tie it with a rope through the nose or pierce its jaw with a spike? Will it beg you for mercy or implore you for pity? Will it agree to work with you, to be your slave for life? Can you make it a pet like a bird, or give it to your little girls to play with? Will merchants try to but it to sell it in their shops? Will its hide be hurt by spears or its head by a harpoon? If you lay a hand on it, you will certainly remember the battle that follows. You won't try that again! No, it is useless to try to capture it. The hunter who attempts it will be knocked down. And since no one dares disturb it, who then can stand up to me? Who has given me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is mine."" (JOB 41:1-11 NLT) 

 As it turns out, this creature, "Leviathan," is most likely an earthly creature or a mythical sea monster; whatever it might be, its identification is highly disputed. This is also God's closing argument to Job, so whatever it is, it is referred to by God, as, "Nothing on earth is its equal, no other creature so fearless. Of all the creatures, it is the proudest. It is the king of beasts!" (JOB 41:33-34 NLT) 

 If there was anything that might slightly be close, without actually being an actual creature, I might be the one thing Cain could not tame, as he refused to do what was right! As God said, "Then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you." (Genesis 4:7b NLT)

 Hopefully this might make sense; but if it doesn't, you can write me with your complaints, if you so desire. I might try to read your reply; but then again, it probably won't matter, one way or another! But, it there is one thing which hasn't been put under Him, as of yet, it could possibly be our struggle with sin!

 Don't get me wrong, because Jesus took on the sins of the entire world, making us free from sin and death; all of us that believe in Him and the power of the cross on which He sacrificed Himself to give us life! But there is still sin that pulls us apart, causes us to lack loving as we should, and trips us up, making us sometimes fall away from the faith, even though we never thought we could. 

 Not that this is anything we shouldn't feel responsible for, because we do have a choice; much like Cain had the choice to do right, but decided to let sin control him, instead of being sin's master. This is really not that hard to figure out, because there will be a day when none of this will matter, our corruptible bodies will be no more, and we will be totally and completely just like Jesus, pure and holy...

"So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; and all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, "God has put all things under his authority." (Of course, when it says "all things are under his authority," that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God's authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere." (1 Corinthians 15:21-28 NLT)   

"Jesus Briefly Humbled"

  "Now when it says "all things," it means nothing is left out. But we have not seen all things put under their authority. What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position "a little lower than the angels", and because he suffered death for us, he is now "crowned with glory and honor." Yes, by God's grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. This is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. For he said to God, "I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people." He also said, "I will put my trust in him," that is, "I and the children God has given me."" (Hebrews 2:8b - 13 NLT)

  "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the house of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among the disciples. And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion." (Isaiah 8:13-18 KJV)

 There were certain times when Jesus would make use of His ability to change, somehow, making himself unnoticeable or somehow blend into a crowd of people. However, He did it, it was because His time had not yet come, so He did what needed to be done, in order to slip away from those who wanted to stone Him or throw Him over a cliff; or any other sort of harm, which He wasn't quite ready to deal with. 

 Much like when Jesus walked on the water, He had some sort of power to control the elements, with just a word, with His hands, or simply by just thinking about what needed to be done. Much like when Jesus fasted in the wilderness, when the devil tempted Him. Everything that the devil asked Him to do, He could have done; but He was not tempted to do so! 

 Basically, my point is the fact that Jesus was able to do just about anything He might need or want to do; there was no limit to His ability to do or control whatever He wanted to happen. He could cause the earth to stand still, if He wanted to; He could have moved mountains and parted the sea, if that was His desire; but He kept Himself humble and stuck to the plan...

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:1-3 KJV) 

"The Heel!"

 "Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet." (Hebrews 2:8a KJV)

  "But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in his anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. The Lord declares, "I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain." The king proclaims the LORD'S decree: "The LORD said to me, 'You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.'"" (PSALM 2:4-9 NLT)

 Keeping with that special message from yesterday, it makes more sense if there is a reason for there to be a knock, because it is the Father that draws us to the Son; and when we draw close, Jesus knocks at the door to our heart, asking to come in! Whether you can receive it or not, we have no skin in that game; everything is manifested by the hand of God; we are given a choice: Choose Rightly! 

 If you don't understand how that works, don't feel bad or wonder if you missed an opportunity: because God doesn't just offer once, and then it's too late. If you are dealing with a heart of stone, He has the ability to break our stoney heart; whatever it takes, He never gives up on the ones that are being saved! 

 Again, this is something that is between you and God; those who have accepted Jesus into their lives, know full well that they have been saved, with the mighty arm of the Lord! They did not ask for it or plan for it; it was all God's doing, just as if it was meant to happen! 

 Sorry for all of the exclamations, but this is something I am very passionate about, because I know for a fact that God saved me, while I least expected it; it was as if He blindsided me, throwing me off my game, and showing me how vulnerable I was to the fires of hell; and He snatched me from the fire...

"Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing his praises. Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance." (PSALM 66:8-12 NLT)   

"Knock, Knock!"

 "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:" (Hebrews 2:7 KJV)

  "But there is a great difference between Adam's sin and God's gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:12-17 NLT) 

 Because there are several issues here to be sorted out, there is something that makes this illustration more about the purpose for Jesus to be, shall we say, made lower, because He needed to be made flesh and blood, as it were, to become mortal. In other words, He needed to bleed and be bruise, just like you and I; He needed to live and breathe, struggling and feeling anguish; "a man of many sorrows!"  

 As far as the flood, which caused all that breathed through the nostrils to die; God made a promise not to flood the earth again; and He sealed that promise with the rainbow. In the original text, the actual sign is not a rainbow, but God's uses the definition of, "His bow," as if the bow is drawn on the horizon, signifying that the next time He judges the entire earth, the arrow will be pointed towards Him! 

 Yes, you heard that right! The next time that the whole earth was to be judged, the judgement will be on Him; totally and completely on His Son, who will take on the judgement of all the sins of the world! You can't make this up! That the Creator of the heaven and earth, the One that became flesh, just to be made vulnerable to pain, suffering, and death, would lay down His life, knowing full well that He also had the power to save Himself; but gave up that power in order to carry out the Father's wonderful plan of salvation, for all mankind! 

 No wonder there are so many people that can't buy into that...

"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent." So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to saltation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of man's strength." (1 Corinthians 1:18-25 NLT) 

"Earth Subject to Man"

 "But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visited him?" (Hebrews 2:6 KJV)

  "Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy: "Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through the holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant - the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. "And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."" (Luke 1:67-79 NLT)

 Hopefully the message didn't fall short, as these drugs I am currently on have a tendency to cause me to wonder, from what is meant to be said, to what I don't even understand what it was I was trying to say. Regardless, I will try my best to make this something worth talking about, in one way or another! 

 We should know that Zechariah was anointed to share this prophecy, as he was sharing about his son, John the Baptist, who would, as he said, "prepare the way for the Lord." Does it sound as though God was making this prophecy about rescuing His people? Because the real issue wasn't about how Israel was being held under Roman rule; it was about being delivered from sin and having a right relationship with God! 

 Whatever the case, man has made a mess of the balance of peace and protection of earth, from the very beginning! God gave Adam dominion over the earth, allowing him to become its protector, its guardian, its ruler, and the one which governed all the animals, naming them one by one. In essence, Adam had full control over everything, with the exception of one tree; even though it was listed as a tree to be cared for, it was off limits to eat the fruit thereof. 

 When we look at the Lamb shown in Revelation 5:6, who looked as though it had been slaughtered; we know that the Lamb was Christ Jesus, who became the only one worthy of opening the Scroll; which, in case you might not know, was the Title Deed to planet earth. Basically, the same Deed that had been given to Adam, but was taken away, and handed over to Satan.

 Yes, the one responsible for causing the fall, was the one given the Title Deed, haven become the ruler of the fallen earth. Why would God allow the enemy of mankind to role and rein over the earth? Why would mankind be subject to such turmoil and utter wickedness? 

 Without making a big deal about what God was thinking, Genesis 6:6 is something that there are many different thoughts about God's desire, His concern, and His feelings about having made man; as if God was doubting whether or not it was worth it! 

 To which, all I can say, is Hogwash! If there was anything the God repented over, it was that every living creature on earth that breathed through the nostrils was going to die! What a waste, is pretty much what He was saying, as though life was meaningful and was meant to be cherished. 

 The word used in this context is "repented," as it says, "and it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth." However, the word is used 57 times in the Old Testament to mean, "comfort", which is quite a contrast from the word "repent," which has the basic premise of God being sorry for what He had done. 

 Whether you can receive it or not, God's ability to find comfort in what He was about to do, was not because there was going to be great amounts of death and destruction; but that the sickness which had taken over the earth would soon be destroyed. It is hard to imagine what kind of perversion and sickness was going on, but God was about to cleanse the earth...

"Praise the LORD! Let all that I am praise the LORD. I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath. Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breath their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope in in the LORD their God. He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down. The LORD loves the godly. The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. The LORD will reign forever. He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations. Praise the LORD!"" (PSALM 146 NLT)