For I Have No

"For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!”" (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18‬:‭32‬ NKJV)

Turning can only occur while there is life. There is no repentance after death!

"And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many." (‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭4-5‬ NKJV)

I was part of "the many" Jesus is talking about in the above scripture! In church; involved; standing on the promises; claiming blessings I had no right to claim; believing my eyes were open to The Truth yet so 'deceived' because I had 'believed the lies' the enemy had sown, in the traditions of men and denominational doctrines! Lies that said, "Stand! All of those promises are yours! You don't have to worry about obeying the Word of God, because you are 'Saved'; you asked JESUS into your heart!'"

There were 3 Scriptures that I had ignored, that were critical in the opening of my eyes; Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 7:1-2 and James 5:14-16. 

I thought I had forgiven! I thought I hadn't judged! I was believing for a healing and many more spiritual than I, had and were praying for my healing! The confession part - that was just for the Catholics, right? 

Wrong! 

It wasn't until I gave up and said, "what have I to lose", that I laid down my pride, confessed and repented before some precious brethren, that I received my healing!

Before I had not been told, I was supposed to humble myself and confess and repent! Never once!

I HAD heard that "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man available much" (JAMES 5:14B) but NEVER had my pastor nor the elders of my church told me that it was important to do (JAMES 5:14A) "Confess your trespasses one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed"!

WHY? WHY? WHY had I NOT been told The Truth? Because they didn't know either! They had been taught the same lies!

You want to know for yourself what The Truth IS? Ask God to open your eyes and then Open your Bible and read for yourself! Look it up! 

When I obeyed; when I humbled myself (laying down my pride) and confessed and repented of my sins, to people I could trust, I was healed! I was delivered! I got my miracle! And I've seen others received theirs too! 

God has given us His commandments and statutes to follow AND His mercy and grace! It is our choice whether we submit and follow His ways! We can't have it our way; that's the "world's way"! The world won't submit! The world won't humble itself! The world won't obey! 

"The God that you profess to believe in but don't obey, is a figment of your imagination!" Pastor Chet Murrell 

A false god; one that cannot heal you or save you from God's wrath! 

Please examine your heart! Ask God to reveal any and all sin that you have hidden there! Any unrepented, unforgiven sins still hurt; they are still open wounds that are not under The Blood of Jesus; no matter what you have been told! When it's truly forgiven it doesn't hurt!

Time is so short for all of us! 

God sent His Son to die for our sins, a free gift, however receiving such a gift, so as to "live with Him", requires more than saying a few words at an altar and being proclaimed "SAVED" by a preacher! It requires you dying to yourself! It requires humbling yourself and exalting Him! It requires obedience to His Word!

"For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!”" (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18‬:‭32‬ NKJV)

Repent!

Even so - MARANATHA 

From 3/3/15

Coincidence: When God Does

"Coincidence: When God does a miracle and remains Anonymous!" So reads a magnet on my refrigerator, which I've had hanging,  with every move, since the 70's! So it's no coincidence that my read through of my Bible, has me here today:

“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.”  Job‬ ‭2:1-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So much to say about that passage, but what jumps out to me is in the next two verses.

 “Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭2:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Can you hear the devil's accusatory tone, coming from her mouth? She had no idea the devil was using her to try and cause Job to sin! We know the devil was whispering the same kind of stuff and more to him at the same time and he could have responded with hate, with self-pity, but instead he responded with gentleness. He did not agree; he stood his ground, and this: "In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Today, especially, I will endeavor to "not sin with my lips!" 

My mentor has a saying, " We can be as sweet as honey until we get our lemon squeezed. When your lemon gets squeezed, what comes out? Whatever is in the middle of it! We want honey to come out!"

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:34‬b ‭NKJV‬‬

Everyday we face many tests. Everyday we have the opportunity to show what's actually in our hearts. 

It is very possible to have your lemon get squeezed and have honey come out! The first time it happened to me, I was aware and so amazed! I had learned my lesson well. Does it happen every time? Sadly no, but I repent and get up and try again, for the opportunity always presents itself, until I get it right every time; and probably then some! 

So, again, "today I will endeavor to "not sin with my lips!""

I WILL (in Jesus name) take every thought captive and not entertain the lies the devil will present; lies of doubt, fear and unbelief; opportunities to grumble and complain!  If I fall, I'll repent and seek forgiveness and continue my test; walking in love, forgiveness, and repentance. This is my quest today: "Hold fast to my integrity!"

Father, in all we face, You are there. You know the end of a thing before it's beginning, and You are working all thing for Your glory! I humbly come before you and ask that You be glorified today in me. I choose to trust and obey You, for I know You are trustworthy! I have nothing to boast in, but LORD I can boast in You; Your mercy and Your grace in abundance and what You are doing today in all of us!  We will give You, LORD all of the glory. In Jesus precious name I pray!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

As A Shepherd

"As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day." (Ezekiel 34:12 NKJV)

"I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God : “Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats." (Ezekiel 34:15-17 NKJV)

Such encouragement from these verses! I love especially the vision of The Shepherd searching for His sheep on the "cloudy and dark day!" 

Such promises of comfort for the hurting; the weak; for those who are in need of salvation!

And then the judgement! 

We often tend  to overlook the part of the verses that are uncomfortable! JUDGEMENT! 

The separation of the sheep from the goats, and the sheep from the sheep!

Everyone thinks of themselves as sheep! We love The LORD and call on His Name! 

But do we listen? 

Do we follow?

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27 NKJV)

So why the separation. Of sheep from sheep? What is to separate? We are all part of His flock! Right?

The Shepard's criteria, for sheep suitable for The Temple, is "sheep without spot or blemish"; symbols of sin! 

What does He consider sin? 

Everyone thinks: murder, adultery, stealing; those are unacceptable in society's eyes! However, in God's eyes - gossiping, harboring unforgiveness in your heart; fear and worry (unbelief), anger, bitterness and judgements are "spots and blemishes"; easily put under "The Blood", but for unrepented pride; the very thing that got lucifer thrown out of heaven!  ("Easy is the hardest thing you will ever do!" CM)

Confessing our sin to one another, choosing to forgive those that who have hurt us, and repenting of our judgements puts our sin under "The Blood"!  When we are obedient; we will know we have received forgiveness when the pain is gone! That is the promised freedom; the healing; the Peace! (James 5:16)

His sheep willingly follow, and submit to The Shepherd's voice; willingly lay down their will (pride) and are obedient to His Commands! 

So, just because we are sheep, doesn't mean we won't be separated!

Humble yourself! Submit!

Repent!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 1/5/14, 7/21/15

I Will Run

"I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart." (Psalms 119:32 NKJV)

Many times our life/walk is compared to a race in The Word, in the Old and New Testament! 

"Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race." (Psalms 19:5 NKJV)

 

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (II Timothy 4:7 NKJV)

And often times we have heard: "it's not how you run, but that you finished the race!" And: "If you fall, you get back up and keep running!"

But what happens when you are too tired to run? What happens when the course set before you is so daunting and you are so weary that you can't seem to pick up your feet? 

You cry out to God and trust Him to see you through, is what you do! You don't give up!

"My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word". (Psalms 119:28 NKJV)

The race has been won, you can't just quit!!! You just have to keep moving! 

Your determination to lean on Him; your focus on Him; THAT IS what will strengthen you! 

If you take your eyes off of Him, and consider what lies before you then you will lose heart! 

THAT is exactly what the enemy is trying to get you to do! Quit the race! He places road blocks, stumbling blocks and detours in front of you to divert your attention from The One Who  paid for you to even run! 

When you are running, yoked up with The LORD, He carries you! When you start looking around; you remove that support and you do it in your own strength/flesh, you can't win! It's not a physical race, it's a spiritual battle! Only by the Grace of God are we even entered! 

Yes, you are tired! Yes, you just want to lay down! But you are almost at the finish line, DON'T QUIT NOW! 

Let this be your motto: "I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart". (Psalms 119:32 NKJV)

You commit and He will enable you! He WILL enlarge your heart! 

He CHANGES hearts! ❤️

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 4/1/14

Do You Look

"Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s." (‭II Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬ NKJV)

We go through our day unawares of the spiritual battles taking place around us. And these battles are won or lost by what comes out of our mouths. Nothing is as it seems. And what looks like "forever" will change.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"

(‭II Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3-5‬ NKJV)

Everything that occurs in our lives  and around us has two purposes. One - to draw us closer to The LORD or 

Two - is meant to be a distraction, to get our mind off of Christ. 

Which - depends on where we are spiritually. Its effectiveness  is also subject to the same.

If Jesus is The Principal Purpose of your life, then the enemy is out to distract you. We all hope the events will send us even closer to our LORD, but often we are caught off guard and will take our eyes off of Him. As time goes by and we continue to focus on what is in front of us, we find ourself drifted away, because our anchor has slipped. Then the storms come to bring us back to Him! Their intensity and duration completely dependent on us! As we continually look at our circumstance and come into agreement with every negative thought the enemy puts in our mind, we stay in the turmoil. Grumbling/Complaining is the anchor to our storm. 

Storms/distractions are situations that involve the people around us; most often those we love. They can also involve our jobs, homes, automobiles, even world politics! Anything that gets us to think about, consider, focus on, meditate, examine, research, read about - continually causes us to waver in our walk. 

When we choose to focus on Jesus instead of the bad situation we are in; He then can bring it to an end. When we repent for our sins and choose to turn from the things that took us into dangerous waters, He then calms us in the storm! Peter sank because he took his eyes off of Jesus. We do too!

Focusing on Jesus does not mean one minute quoting scripture and then the next minute talking about how bad we have it! That is doublemindedness! 

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭6-8‬ NKJV)

No! When you choose to look at your situation through the lens of scripture you are fixing your eyes on the supernatural! That is how you stand! No matter what the storm, trial or test looks like; when you purpose to look to things that are unseen and call them seen, you are then entering into spiritual warfare! When we are looking at our circumstances we have left the war. We are "taken out", by the enemy. 

When you put your eyes on Jesus, you are joining in the battle on the side of Right!  You begin by believing for yourself and then your faith grows and God will use you to believe for those whose faith is underdeveloped! 

"(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;" (Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬ NKJV)

Abraham did and so can you!

Become a great warrior for The LORD! 

Get your eyes off of your circumstances and put your eyes on The Prize!

This life is NOT about the here and now; it's ALL about eternity! And God uses those of us who were wounded in the line of fire - 

for when we are weak, He is strong! Get on the front line!

The battle is for men's souls; yours and those you love!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 10/9/14, 12/14/14

The Beauty Of Tears

The beauty of tears!

Tears have a bad rap! People look at you when you cry and feel sorry for you, whether they are tears of happiness or tears of pain! Men and women alike fight to control their tears! "There is no crying in baseball" (a famous line in a Tom Hanks movie), but across the board, all believe that for every vocation! 

Holding back tears; stuffing our feelings down deep, is what keeps most therapists  in business! 

Little boys especially are taught that "men don't cry"! So women in our mixed-up society endeavor to be like our male counterparts!

"My friends scorn me; My eyes pour out tears to God." (Job 16:20 NKJV)

I submit to you that once again we have been robbed by the enemy! 

Tears are good, for every occasion! And an understanding of why they occur, not only sheds light on areas that need healing, but brings joy to all involved!

Not crying, when a situation is meant to move you to tears, is a sign of a hard heart! It takes God, changing the heart to bring tenderness again!

Tears are a sign of brokenness and that means God is at work! 

"I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears". (Psalms 6:6 NKJV)

Tears can also be a sign that joy unspeakable has occurred in our heart!

Tears are a sign of compassion for someone else's pain! 

"Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”" (John 11:35, 36 NKJV)

"Oh, that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!"(Jeremiah 9:1 NKJV)

Tears may be a sign of a memory of a time, or a place, or a loved one; of deep regrets or sweet vignettes! Young or old, memories stay with us and may bring us joy or pain; the latter of which God wants to heal!

"greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy," (II Timothy 1:4 NKJV)

Sometimes when one has not been allowed to cry, and the dam of emotion is broken, the tears come as a flood! Those are cleansing tears! God again at work!

God believes our tears to be important! 

"You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?" (Psalms 56:8 NKJV)

As followers of Jesus we are required to weep for the lost, because Jesus did! 

"Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalms 126:5, 6 NKJV)

Father, turn our hearts back to you and give us tears for the lost! "Break our hearts for what breaks Yours." (Unknown)

Even so - MARANATHA! 

Therefore Take Heed

“Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭11:35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When did the lights go out in the church; literally and figuratively?

I have been to many churches and also seen videos posted on Facebook of services and it seems the lights are dimmed; if not just plain dark! Is that for entertainment's sake?

“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” III John‬ ‭1:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Oh, and it's impossible to tell secular from Christian concerts. They remind me of the bars I used to frequent. It's always a shock when the lights come on - no matter what time it is.

“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”  Matthew‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What is appealing in darkness, with twinkling lights, appears repulsive and ugly in bright light. As does sin!

“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”  John‬ ‭3:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Do dimmed lights equate reverence? Does darkness evoke a sense of worship? It does if you worship darkness!

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Turn on the lights!

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Ask God to shine His light and expose all of the darkness residing in your temple!

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”  Isaiah‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Father open our eyes, open our ears! Bring us to repentance!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

But As For You

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (Genesis 50:20 NKJV)

The fiery trial you are going through may not be used by God to save a nation, however it's purpose is always to draw you closer to Him! We do not call out to God when we win the lottery; only in affliction do we need a Savior!

Whether small irritations or major calamities; nothing - nothing happens to us that is not filtered through the fingers of our loving Father!

He is still on The Throne and working "all things for your good"! 

Repent! 

Give Him thanks!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 11/30/13

My Brethren

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2-4‬ NKJV)

I do not know a single person that has not needed this scripture this week! And of course in the thick of a trial - it's the last one we WANT to hear! 

"So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood." (‭Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭15‬ NKJV)

This scripture seems to describe last week! Flood; carried away; serpent spewing, can I get an Amen?

And in the middle of the trial, little jewels would be found, if one was looking! 

When God is doing something, the enemy tries his best to delay, discourage, dissuade, and with discomfort, distract us from the moment! What might seem insignificant, in God's hands is monumental - in the lives of those we love! Wanting to steal our joy though, the enemy (by clouding the circumstances) will try and cause us to miss the miracle that is being wrought!

Sometimes our mouths can actually thwart what God intends; by us speaking the lies the enemy is whispering in our ears, giving them substance! THAT is why it is imperative for us to:

". . . not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (‭II Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ NKJV)

". . .  count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2-4‬ NKJV)

"in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ NKJV)

Keep your eyes on Jesus!

Father God, I repent for missing it this week! It is my heart's desire to walk in your light and not give the devil a foothold from my sin! Forgive me, cleanse me, keep me - as I once again cast down my idols and tear down the high places in my life! In Jesus name I pray! 

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 9/6/15

Though He Slay Me

"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." (‭Job‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬a NKJV)

Trusting God is a choice!

It's one thing to trust Him in little things and quite another, in the BIG!

 It's one thing to trust Him when all's well and quite another when our world falls apart! 

That's when "what's in your heart" becomes so important! 

When the "front line" in our war is no longer looked at through binoculars, but with our very eyes; when the enemy is close enough to see "the whites of his eyes", you'd better have your weapons ready! The last minute  is not the time to start loading! 

An ambush is awaiting us all and we cannot say, "we have not been warned!"

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (‭I Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ NKJV)

Are you vigilant? Or are you asleep? Will the enemy take you out or will you live to battle another day? 

This hard place you are in is not a surprise to God! It has a purpose! 

"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." (‭I Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ NKJV)

Will you allow God to have His WAY in your life or will you rebel? Will you forsake Him? Will you fall away, in the testing of your faith?

Will you trust Him in ALL thIngs?

We are required to have no other gods before Him! It's a commandment, not an option! 

"“You shall have no other gods before Me." (‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭3‬ NKJV)

Anyone and anything can be an idol in our lives! An idol is a false god! Something or someone we love! Something or someone we worship! And most often that "someone" is our children! Whether they be infants or grown, we love them so greatly we often say we "love them with our whole heart"! They usurp a place that only God should have, (our whole heart) and that is sin! 

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." (‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ NKJV)

He has to have your whole heart!

"Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" (‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37-39‬ NKJV)

If you love Him with your whole heart then you will also love your neighbor and yourself! However, if you love someone else with your whole heart, then He is not your LORD!

Putting our children on the altar; giving them to God is the hardest thing a parent can do, but it is a must, if we are to be obedient! 

"Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”" (‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭2‬ NKJV)

What God required of Abraham in the physical, He also requires of us in the spiritual! 

Requires! 

No option! 

No argument! 

No exception! 

And the harder it is, the more important the sacrifice is for our salvation!

He is coming back for a Bride without spot or wrinkle! Don't let your idol be the blemish in your wedding dress!  

"that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭27‬ NKJV)

We think He is not serious about this stuff! I got news for you! He is very serious! Dead serious!

If you believe you are going to heaven; that you are "saved", yet you love your children more than you do God, you are seriously mistaken! You are bound for hell! 

Yes, He is a God of love! 

And He wants all of yours! 

Repent of your sin!

When you refuse to surrender your sons or daughters, to God, it says you don't trust Him to care for them! It says to Him that you believe that He is not capable and that you are better able to save them! You make yourself to be god! THIS is THE hard thing!

Abraham trusted God! He knew He was able to care for his only son! He believed God! He knew He was able to raise his son from the dead, because He IS God! His own body had been as good as dead, and God brought it back to life so that he was able to father Isaac! He knew God!

"And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

"Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. (‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭8, 13‬ NKJV)

I will trust God! 

I will love Him with my whole heart! 

I will have no other gods before Him!

I will obey!

Even if He doesn't provide a ram!

Will you?

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 11/21/14, 1/3/16

If My People

"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place." (‭II Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭14-15‬ NKJV)

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." (‭I John‬ ‭2‬:‭15-16‬ NKJV)

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,"

 (‭I Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ NKJV)

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (‭II Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ NKJV)

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (‭II Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭1-7‬ NKJV)

"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (‭II Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭1-5‬ NKJV)

Open our eyes; open our ears!

Show us our sin!

Turn our hearts back to You!

Forgive us LORD! 

Even so - MARANATHA! 

Then He Said

"Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ NKJV)

Denying oneself is hard but imperative to be a follower of Jesus! It is totally opposite of the teachings from most of today's pulpits. Because when you are carrying your cross there is no way to carry the things that make for a comfortable life! All the money and success the world expects you to gain is not important in The Kingdom of God!

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." (‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬ NKJV)

As long as we hold onto the things of this world we are NOT on the narrow path! You cannot live and do the things the world does and follow Jesus!

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?" (‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭25‬ NKJV)

When you are born again through repentance there is a change, and your desires are to please your Father! His approval is more important than your own satisfaction! 

"that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts," (‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬ NKJV)

However, when the tests come, and we blow it, the devil whispers in our ears: "there is no way you can do this"; "give up"; "it didn't take"; "well so 'n so does this"; "it's not so bad - just once"!  And we listen; thinking those are our thoughts; then we say them, and they become ours! When we speak them, we give them life, and the devil knows this!

IMPORTANT: Every thought in your head is not your own! The "still small voice" is God. The loud, accusing, doubting, incessant, negative voice is the devil. Your voice is the one to which you come into agreement and speak! It's your choice that is your voice!

Recognizing the devil's ways; his voice is one of the ways to overcome and gain the victory in this war! 

"nor give place to the devil." (‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭27‬ NKJV)

Giving place to the devil, comes when we live like the devil; when we live like the world! If we enjoy and desire what the world has to offer more that the things of God, we are not following Jesus. 

Giving place to the devil also comes when we have unrepented sin in our life, he has a right to be there and accuse us! And WHAT he is accusing us of, is OF WHAT we need to repent!

It may be a deed, it may be unbelief, it may be rejection, it may be a fear; those things that torment us are from him and God wants us to be free! Freedom only comes from repentance of those sins!

Take fear!  Do you know that the fear that plagues you, (say of storms - since we are having so many) says to God, "You are not big enough to protect me", "I can't trust You!" 

Your fear is unbelief and unbelief is sin! 

Fear is the same as faith, as it also projects the future, but in the negative!

When a fear comes on us, and we give voice to it (speak it out), then we give it the power the devil is counting on, to make it happen! 

We have a choice! Live in fear or live in freedom! 

The Word tells us how to live a victorious life! It is doable no matter what the devil says! Through repentance and obedience we receive the peace and joy The Word promises and they are worth our every effort! 

Time is running out and we must get serious about our walk! The line has been drawn and the separation of the wheat and the tares has begun! (Matt 13:29). 

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; (‭II Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭10-14‬ NKJV)

Repent!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 7/3/15

I Will Behave

"I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me." (‭Psalms‬ ‭101‬:‭2-3‬ NKJV)

"I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;" caught my eye this morning! 

Oh, how hard it is to keep from seeing wickedness these days! It is everywhere, especially in the media. And the really sad thing is we have been so desensitized; that for the most part, we are unaware! 

Wickedness comes in many forms.  The kind that is in your face, though is of a sexual nature. Because of its saturation in our society, even the sexualization of our young children is thought the norm. Oh, how far we have fallen!

If in watching TV (even the commercials) you don't blush, then you have been desensitized!  And this is not a little thing in the eyes of The LORD!

"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the LORD."(‭Jeremiah‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬ NKJV)

And the sad part is that if you are offended by something wicked these days, you are considered a "hater", or at the least a prude!

It is time for a heart check!

Look at a magazine or a commercial. If your response is not repulsion, but of acceptance, then you have a heart issue. If you see nothing wrong in in the sexualization of selling butter or toilet paper, then you have a heart issue.

It's such a subtle thing, like all sin! Just a little here; a little there. A drifting deeper and deeper in to dark waters! The proliferation of satanic and "dead" series on tv is appalling! The very romanticizing of evil is a sign of the times!

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts," (‭II Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭1-6‬ NKJV)

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (‭Isaiah‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ NKJV)

The saddest part is our children, who are being raised in this time! A few years back my young grandson and I were watching the floor exercises of the Olympics and he made a comment that I will always remember. He said of the girls, "Aren't they embarrassed to be wearing that?"  And the response anyone would give is, "That's what they wear!"

But THAT does not make it right! 

Would that we would once again have that kind of innocent heart. A heart that seeks the things of God and that is ashamed of what the world calls "okay"!

It's far past time for repentance!

My prayer this morning: God please open our eyes and let us see the evil once again so that we may repent! Change our hearts so that they are no longer hard, but are tender and pliable before You! Bring us back to You! Set us on that narrow path! Open our ears so that we may hear Your words saying, "This is the way, walk in it!"

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left." (‭Isaiah‬ ‭30‬:‭21‬ NKJV)

Even so - MARANATHA 

From 1/18/16

So The King

“So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from God, that the LORD might fulfill His word, which He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.”

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭10:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not go up or fight against your brethren! Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.” ’ ” Therefore they obeyed the words of the LORD, and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.”

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭11:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

"for the turn of events was from God," 

"for this thing is from Me."

How often do we consider that the storm, test, or trial we are going through - is from God? 

Don't we just start praying for relief?

Don't we give credit to the devil and start "cursing and binding the enemy", and "standing on the promises" in an effort to change our situation for what we consider the better?

Do we ever consider it may sent by Him, to move us in our rebellion? 

Do we ever bend our knee in repentance and ask God to show us our sin so that we may get back on the "narrow way"? 

God IS in control of all of our situations, no matter how much we like to think we are! When things go wrong, we take the position we are under attack and go into defense mode! 

Turning to God in submission should be our first impulse, not our last resort!

"God helps those who help themselves" is not in the Bible! That is a lie straight out of hell, no matter what you think! 

We, in our busy lives, give little to no consideration to what God thinks about what we do in our daily business! So wrong, for He is and wants to be a part of EVERYTHING!

“You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalms‬ ‭139:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” Psalms‬ ‭37:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When we choose our own way, and walk in opposition to God we can expect adversity! Praying for relief without submission is to no avail! 

If we would but turn -

Father, I recognize that You are God and I am not. I submit to Your will. Please LORD, direct my every step! I repent of all of the times I have not sought You in my decisions. I repent of excluding You in all my ways. Please LORD be ever in my thoughts and make Your will known to me in every move I make today! And may my thoughts and even the words of my mouth be pleasing to You! In Jesus name I pray!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

Yet You Say

"“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?" (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18‬:‭25-29‬ NKJV)

"“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord GOD. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!”" (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18‬:‭30-32‬ NKJV)

How many times have we unjustly accused God of not being fair! When a child is born with infirmities or when one dies early in life, we place the blame on God! I've even heard these situations used as excuses for not believing in God, i.e. "If there was a God He would not allow . . . !" 

We are born and live in a fallen world; all because of sin! In the perfect world God created, these afflictions were nonexistent! It was man's poor choice that brought all of the pain and suffering we endure! 

It is still our "choice" as to whether we exert our will over His! God sent His Son to redeem us from our sins, however we have to lay down our will and accept His sacrifice on our behalf! 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."(‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16-18‬ NKJV)

Our life is not about here and now but about eternity! Yes, how we live our life here matters, but it is not for our pleasure we are born! We were created for Him and in Him we have life! Holding onto our will instead of surrendering in obedience to Him is wickedness, no matter how "good" a life you have lived! 

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." (‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭19-20‬ NKJV)

God has done everything possible to reunite us to Him, it is we who continue to disregard, ignore and simply refuse to come to Him! Most often it takes a catastrophe to make us throw up our hands and surrender! His Word tells us Who He IS and gives us complete directions of how to live and how to die! 

We refuse to read the Creator's manual (The Bible); preferring to just wing it! Then we get to the end and the pieces don't fit, parts are left over; the result far from the manufacturer's design! We think we know it all. We are gods in our own eyes and THAT'S  why we are destined for hell! 

There is only One God and we were made for Him; not for ourselves! 

Only through repentance do we find our way back to Him! Only through crying out to Him in submission and willingly obeying His Word do we receive forgiveness for our sins! That does not mean the end; that means a new beginning! It means life like it was meant to be!  

We will all die; some sooner, some later!  Question is: "Where will you spend eternity? With God or separated from Him?" 

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." (‭II Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭10‬ NKJV)

Humble yourself!

Repent!

Even so - MARANATHA!
From 3/6/15

Now The LORD

"Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess." (‭Numbers‬ ‭33‬:‭50-53‬ NKJV)

"But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell."(‭Numbers‬ ‭33‬:‭55‬ NKJV)

"Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.’ ”"(‭Numbers‬ ‭33‬:‭56‬ NKJV)

When the Children of Israel were given their inheritance, God gave them instructions of what He wanted them to do! There were not obedient then and are still reaping the results of the disobedience they sowed.

And we have done the same. 

When we "made Jesus our Savior", God gave us a new heart (our land to possess.) In His Word, we are given specific instructions on how to drive out the inhabitants (enemy), but we listened to his lies and have "done what seemed right" to us. (Deuteronomy 12:8)  We have been disobedient, and are paying the price! We are harassed and tormented, and have been for so long we believe it's the norm! It does not have to be! 

In repentance we can take back the land! In humbling ourselves, confessing the unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, worry, that lives in our heart and repenting of our sins of disobedience, we drive them out! 

When you deal with your sin in stead of justifying it, those demons have no authority to stay. They have to leave! 

It is a battle, and few win, because of the lies the enemy has sown, and we've accepted as truth. The traditions of men and doctrines of demons have kept the church in bondage for hundreds of years!

Just as in the days of Josiah:

"Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.

“Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (‭II Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭11, 13‬ NKJV)

We do not read, much less live by the Word of God! We have not torn down the high places, and our idols abound! 

Freedom comes when we are obedient to God's Word; not what our denominations teach! 

Time is short and His wrath is great! Look Everyman to himself; examine your heart, and turn back in repentance! 

"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (‭II Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬ NKJV)

Don't wait for everyone else! You are responsible for you! You want your land healed? Humble yourself and repent! Don't wait another moment!

If He is not your LORD, then He is not your Savior!

Repent!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 10/26/15