For The Next

(For the next few days I will be revisiting my previous “Year End” and “New Year” posts. Looking back, I give God the glory for the work He has done in me! He is faithful!)

As this year comes to an end and a new one begins, I reflect on God's mercy! 

2016 has been a year of education, for me in the School of Christ!

The first 3 years God showed me mercy, and this past year He taught me, daily, how to show mercy to others. My constant reminder:

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

Matthew‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Give mercy; show mercy; speak mercy; encourage mercy; pray for mercy!

For my friends and family; for strangers; for myself, mercy allowed. 

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.”  ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We thank God for His mercy and His grace and fail often to show the same; yet we are to be like Him to a lost and dying world. 

Obedience to His Word produces peace even during the hardest trials. When mercy is withheld, peace is lost. To forgive a wrong is to extend mercy! ‬‬

Coming face to face and acknowledging the forgiveness, mercy and grace bestowed on us, such undeserving wretches; how can we refuse to obey such a simple command. Especially when we realize the consequence for our disobedience! 

Forgiveness withheld -

Mercy withheld.

Forgiveness is a choice!

Mercy is a choice!

Obedience is a choice!

“And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:6‬ ‭KJV

Father, I thank You for the lessons You have taught me this year! I thank You for Your mercy and grace! I bow my will in submission to Your will and eagerly await 2017, and what You will accomplish in my life and the lives of those who seek You with their whole heart! I have been amazed at the miracles You  have performed and the lives changed in 2016! I know and am confident of this very thing; that the work You began in us, You will bring to completion, and You will accomplish that which You desire! I trust You, my LORD my God in all the uncertainty in which this new year brings. I love You LORD and I will keep my focus on You, LORD Jesus, for I know You will work all things out for my good and for Your glory!

“Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭85:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Have a blessed New Year!

Repent while there is still time.

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 12/31/16

For The Next

(For the next few days I will be revisiting my previous “Year End” and “New Year” posts. Looking back, I give God the glory for the work He has done in me! He is faithful!)

Oh yeah. It's the 31st! Totally slipped my mind! 

I've just reread my posts for this date, for the past few years, and guess I need to give this year's recap!

2015 is gone and God is still on the throne! 

Nothing has changed, except the growth (if possible) of my intense love for God! I still walk in health; fearless, with peace and joy! I still see miracles daily and He never ceases to amaze me of His faithfulness, even when we are not!

And yet, the world has changed dramatically. We are seeing prophecies come to pass before our very eyes, daily. And we've seen nothing yet!

With 2016 upon us, I admonish all of you to seek The LORD while He may be found! If you have not surrendered and made Him the principle purpose of your life, you must! He is the only Way! A fence riding, lukewarm, double minded, "Christian" will not survive the upcoming years. You may save your life, but in the end will lose it! 

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark‬ ‭8:35-37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:24-26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:31-35‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It's time to check your foundation as winter is upon us.

May your New Year bring you to a closer relationship to God!

And may you love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And your neighbor as yourself. (Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭30‬ & 31)

Even so -MARANATHA! 

From 12/31/15

For The Next

(For the next few days I will be revisiting my previous “Year End” and “New Year” posts. Looking back, I give God the glory for the work He has done in me! He is faithful!)

My post at the end of 2013 stated: "this is the best year I've ever had!"

I never would have dreamed that God could top what He'd done the year before, but oh how wrong I was. 

2014 has got to be the very best year of my 62 years! 

I have seen so many miracles, so many lives changed! The work God has done in me alone, defies explanation. When all seemed to be falling apart around me, I had peace. I've known joy in the midst of trials. Been blessed beyond belief!

God has seen fit to use me, and I am humbled. I've been witness to cancer healed, addictions delivered, and wasted lives changed forever! I've seen broken families brought together miraculously! His mercy and His grace given abundantly to His children! I give Him all of the glory! I give Him all the praise!

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When repentance is made, and forgiveness is given, the floodgates are open for God to move, and He does; miracles abound!!!!

If 2014 was not the best year of your life I have this advice for you!

1: Seek Him with your whole heart!

2: Repent of your wicked ways!

3: Confess your sins. one to another!

4: Make Him LORD in total surrender! 

We have no idea what awaits us in the new year! But God does! He and He alone is in control! 

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:6-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Make Him LORD of 2015! 

Happy New Year and may God bless you all, my family and friends!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 12/31/14

For The Next

For the next few days I will be revisiting my previous “Year End” and “New Year” posts. Looking back, I give God the glory for the work He has done in me! He is faithful!

“That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A New Year! A clean page to finally do things right! We make our resolutions! This year will be different! 

Really?

What's at the top of your "List"?  

1. Lose weight? 

2. Start exercising? 

3. Get healthy? 

Same as last year and the year before; and the year before! smh

Well this being the "1st"; you can have a "do-over"! You can rewrite you list and make one that IS "doable"!

1.  Seek God!

2.  Everything else!

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

(Matthew 6:33 KJV)

Including God and making Him your first priority, will insure that you accomplish your goal! BECAUSE: He will help you! It's like having an exercise trainer that helps you lift the weight, only better! 

If you seek Him in all things; if you keep your eyes fixed on Him and not look at the mountains around you that seem insurmountable; if you read His Word and hide it in your heart; then no matter what you face, you will not face it alone! 

Or you can keep doing the same old New Year’s Resolutions you have carried from year to year and fail again! 

Isn't the definition of "insanity" - doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

In 2014 try God!!!! If you don't know Him, but want to meet Him; pray this prayer!

"Dear LORD Jesus, I confess that You are the Son of God and I submit to You and make You LORD of my life. I confess that I have sinned against You and I repent of my lying, stealing, hatred, deceit, bitterness, adultery, being critical, grumbling, lust, murder, blasphemy, drunkenness, and sexual immorality, anger gossip and slander that went out of my mouth, that exposed that my heart was full of evil. LORD I repent of these sins and any other the Holy Spirit has convicted me of. I plead the blood and the finished work of Calvary over my life. LORD, I choose with my will to forgive those who have hurt me, and please empower me to make restitution to those I have hurt and offended.  LORD Jesus, I come to your throne of mercy asking that You wash me with the water of the Word. Clothe me with your goodness and give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to perceive your unsearchable riches. And I submit to a new law, the Law of Love, and of faith in Christ Jesus!"

If you prayed the prayer and meant it with your whole heart; you have made Him LORD! He will now make sure you succeed in your Goal, because you now belong to Him! 

PRAISE GOD!!!!

Welcome to the family!

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now, private message me and I'll send you some free CDs that will help equip you on your new journey! I’ll even pay the postage!

Huggggggggggggs! 

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 1/1/2014

And The Lord

“And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭4:27-31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Here Moses is telling the children of Israel what will happen to them when they forsake Him and how God will respond if they will TURN BACK to Him!

All is still true today!

When we go our own way, not seeking God we soon find we are not prospering! When we realize we are perishing, we turn to God! 

God actually sends storms to turn us back to Him!

Let's face it - when people win the lottery they don't say, "I think I'll turn to God!"

But when we are floundering, we cry out to Him - we turn to God!

“When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.”

The important part is the "turn to the LORD thy God” and “be obedient"

That does not mean just asking God for help and occasionally going to church! 

No, it means repentance - a change of direction! Instead of doing what you want to do, you do what He wants you to do! Following His Commandments; following His direction!

Wanting relief from the situation you have found yourself in, is not the reason to follow God! Though, that is often how we start!  However, when we find out WHO He is and that He is SO worthy of our love and devotion; we find that His ways are not cumbersome, and it is a delight to do His will!

Now, especially during this season that puts so much pressure on people who are already bending under the weight of daily stress, examine your heart! 

Lay down the yoke of the world, and yoke up with Him!

"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”" (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭30‬ NKJV)

It's light because He carries the weight, IF we stop trying to pull against Him!

So how do change your direction? 

How do you get off the merry-go-round?

-   By humbling yourself (laying down your pride)! (See 1 Peter 5:6)

-   And repenting of your sin! (See Revelation 3:19)

-   Confessing one to another the sins you have stuffed down in your heart and repenting of all of the unforgiveness, pride, judgements, bitterness, anger, fear, and worry you have held onto (forever) and ask for forgiveness of all your rebellion! (See James 5:16)

-   Repent of having and then cast down your idols! (Anything you love more than God is an idol; including your children, spouse, house, job, sport, hobby etc.)(See Matthew 6:24)

It seems like a great deal of effort and it is! And painful too!

Anything worth having takes effort! You get what you put into any relationship! You put nothing in - you get nothing out.

This one act is actually THE most important thing you will ever do in your entire life! 

Fully turning; surrendering your“self”, to follow The LORD is beyond huge! 

Not to be taken lightly! 

This is something no one can do for you! 

Not your mom or dad!  

Not your significant other or spouse! 

Not your teacher or your preacher! 

You and you alone have to make this decision! 

This is life changing!

By turning your life over to Him, you are giving up your rights! You are giving up control! You will no longer be free to do your own thing! You are in essence accepting servitude, over independence! 

THAT is what it means to be a Christian - a follower of Christ!

THAT is what it means "you were bought with a price!" (1Cor 6:20)

Coming face to face with the fact you are a sinner and need a Savior; 

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If you have not done that - then you are just a church goer! 

You are not “The Church!”

Examine your heart!

Repent! 

Seek Him with your whole heart and soul!!!!

Make HIM the only thing you desire this year!!!

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Psalms‬ ‭37:4-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 12/3/14

You Cannot

You cannot stay the same!

“The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” Psalms‬ ‭145:14-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Most come to The LORD from a fall. I found myself in a storm that I could not get out of on my own. I had fallen so low - I cried out to Him and He gave me His hand; He raised me up! 

“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.” Psalms‬ ‭145:18-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You must humble yourself, or you will be humbled; for you cannot stand before The LORD! There can be only one King and The King of Kings will not share His throne! 

Today the apostate church is indistinguishable from the world. Most believe they can be a christian and remain unchanged; living their life like they always have! That is a lie from the enemy! 

To be a Follower of The LORD Jesus Christ, you MUST surrender your will; you must MAKE Him LORD! And when you love Him with your whole heart, you obey His commandments! What He says to do, you do! That's what servants do! You don't do what your flesh says to do! You submit to His authority! And when you fail, you repent!

When you live your days without ever a thought to what He wants you to do; that is wickedness! You can say you love Jesus, but if He is not first, then He is last! He must be in your every thought! You must love Him more! More than anything this world has to offer; husband, children, home, career, entertainment, money, power, etc. He has to be THE principal purpose of your life! He HAS to be first!

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew‬ ‭22:37-40‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Give up! Make Him LORD! He will meet your every need and satisfy your every desire! He is The Provider! He is The Protector! He is all! He IS God! 

If He is not, then satan is your god! There is no middle ground. By not making Jesus your LORD, then by default you have chosen darkness.

You either choose The Kingdom of God or you choose the world! 

Jesus did not come to save you from the darkness of the world to leave you there! It's all or nothing and it's your choice! 

Repent while there is still time!

“My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 1/17/17

And He Shall

“And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“to turn the hearts” and “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

God used John The Baptist and He wants to use you!

When you are saved, you are turned from darkness (in your heart) into light and He begins to make you ready for His use! He begins to clean you up; prepare you! His intent - to covert you to “His people!” 

Cleaning up hurts and we often resist! But He, in His mercy and grace,  doesn’t listen to our cowardly protests. With a firm but gentle hand He takes us through the steps He ordains; through the muck and mire, to get us to The Rock where we can stand on firm footing; all the while washing us with His Word.

“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians‬ ‭5:26-27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We have the choice to allow His work or resist! We can seek and facilitate or we can run and prevent; that will only slow down the process, for He will have His way and we will finally surrender; for He is God and we are not! 

It seems the dirtier we are; the deeper the mire He pulls us out of, the more willing we are to be clean. Those who have not wallowed in filth perceive themselves to be clean and are more reluctant to submit! 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭64:6‬a KJV‬‬

It’s all about the heart! 

I’ve heard so many say, “God knows my heart!” Which is a true statement; He does! The problem is WE don’t know our own heart! 

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David knew!

“Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David saw his sin and cried out to God! And we must too! He had walked with God from his youth. He had been used mightily by God, and yet God had to show him his sin.

We must know and recognize our sinful state; our need for a Savior! God shines a light on our hidden sins when we read His Word! His Word convicts us so that we may repent! 

“John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And Jesus did too! 

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And He is still speaking to His church:

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:4-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Today the church celebrates His birth! 

Remember the purpose of His life! Remember His commission to us! Remember our time is short! Remember His return is eminent!

Give Him the best gift - your”self!”

Repent and surrender while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA 

Leviticus 26

Leviticus 26 - I dare say the majority of people who claim to be Christians have not read it. Mainly because most who go to church have never read their Bible. I hadn’t in all of the years I was going; before!

Leviticus is a real eye opener though many would call it “doom and gloom!” It totally describes us today and how we got here! 

What impressed me the most in my reading this morning, are the following three verses:

“But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭26:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me;” Leviticus‬ ‭26:21‬a KJV‬‬

“And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭26:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Just like today; God was speaking and the people refused to listen! And He was telling them what would happen! He’s still speaking today; we are still not listening and the consequences are still occurring!

Just like He said they would!

You will say, “That’s old Covenant!” and call me a “legalist!” 

What I read/hear is a merciful, but just God, warning and then once again reaching out to a stiff necked, uncircumcised of heart people; bent on serving every god but Him! 

“If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.”  Leviticus‬ ‭26:40-42‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Why is this important especially on the eve of the day of the birth of The Savior is celebrated? What has it got to do with us?

EVERYTHING!

Once again the church refuses to listen to a merciful God who is still warning “if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me” it will not go well with you! (For specifics read the chapter!)

You see putting up a tree, decorating your house with lights and saying “Merry Christmas” is not in the list of things He wants us to do! He’s very specific in what He considers obedience to Him! Again, you are saying, “but that’s old Covenant!”

But he said the same thing in the New Covenant! It all comes down to obeying His Commandments! Jesus was born to fulfill The Law! Again God is reaching out to His rebellious creation! Jesus did fulfill, but He also kept The Law, and He is still admonishing us to do so, too!

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew‬ ‭22:37-40‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And when we don’t the consequences remain! And when you read the consequences in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, you cannot help but see our social conditions in plain sight! 

God knew we would fail; that’s why Jesus came; to save us!  And what’s heartbreaking is that we still refuse to “hearken” to His voice!

So, He has no choice but to do what He said He would do! He brings us to repentance! And it’s a hard thing! And if we turn from our disobedience, to Him; to obey and love Him with our whole heart; casting down our idols; then that “hard thing” becomes the “best thing” that ever happen to us! 

Everyone, during the Christmas season is saying “put Christ back in Christmas!” They complain about the commercialization of the holiday, but anything the world celebrates will be off the mark!

How about we put Christ back in us?

He’s no longer the babe in the manger! He is the Living God! The Word Who came to live in You! 

He IS my King and He changed my life!

But it takes giving up the world! 

Are you ready to make Him LORD?

Are you ready to surrender, and become His servant?

It will be the most important decision you will ever make! 

Cry out to Him in repentance while you still have time!

Even so - MARANATHA 

You Know

You know, it's really easy to look at someone and see the destructive path they are on, when they are involved in drugs or alcohol. We all know that those who are addicted to pornography need to repent, however the sins which are most grievous are unbelief, pride and unforgiveness.

My reading has me in Jeremiah, not by accident, I assure you! God has a message for us, today.‬‬

“Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good. And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭18:11-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isn't that what we do when we refuse to humble ourself, repent of pride, unbelief and forgive? Are we not walking in obedience to the evil imaginations of our hearts?

That brings hopelessness!

Obedience in repentance brings hope!‬‬

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬.

“Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.” Jeremiah‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” ‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This message sounds terrible when filtered through the lies of the enemy - brings condemnation! However, when filtered through the love of the cross, brings conviction and hope! Repentance is obedience and obedience is true Worship! 

A Gospel with no repentance is not good news! It is the way of death, not life and that is what the sleeping church, that is preaching unity will lead many, many deceived people to; hell! They believe they love Jesus and are going to heaven, but they refuse to obey His commandments. That is not love! 

‬‬

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

‭‭James‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Do you know why we preach repentance! 

Do you know why we shine light on the darkness of the sins of the heart?

Do you know why we sound like a broken record?

Because your life and the lives of the people you love depend on it! 

Examining your heart, when God brings to light the darkness still there, laying down your pride, confessing and repenting of your sin, not only brings healing to our bodies, but gets us that much closer to becoming His bride without spot or blemish. It's us allowing Him to clean us up! 

We submit; we surrender; we obey - we become usable. 

Father,  we come to You, having nothing we can boast in, but we can boast in You; Your mercy and Your grace and Your great love! LORD, open our eyes; open our ears; change our hearts - bring us to repentance! Expose all of the darkness we have hidden in our hearts so that we may see our sins. We lay down our pride, and repent in complete surrender, for You are God, and we are not! We ask this in Jesus’ precious name! 

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 11/25/16

Wherefore My Beloved

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You, my friend, are responsible for the troubles you are facing!

The enemy wants you to blame everyone else for your problems. However, you have to accept responsibility for your  own actions, as we all do!  The world blames everyone else, but as followers of Christ we are held to a different standard. We must own our sin and realize that we reap what we sow!

The enemy also wants you to believe that the mess you are in is hopeless! He is a liar!  You choose who you will listen to! Nothing is hopeless when God is in control! 

Who's controlling your life? 

Choices!

I make my own choices and no one will stand with me at The Judgement Seat, when I give an account of my life! Nor will anyone be standing with you! We each will answer for ourselves with no one to blame! 

Me and God! 

You and God!

Our salvation may have been secured by the blood of Jesus but it's our choice whether to accept His sacrifice and repent of our sins! He is only my Savior if I acknowledge that He died for my sins! 

If I can't see my sin and my need to be saved then He is not my LORD!

If I am unwilling to obey His Word then He is not my Father and I am not His child! 

Compromise is not obedience!

Jesus speaking: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, anger, gossip, grumbling and complaining, worry (unbelief), judging, fear are all sins of rebellion! There are no pills to cure a rebellious heart! Only repentance of those sins will turn a life around! 

Jesus again speaking (to the church):

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation‬ ‭3:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Cry out to God! Confess your sin and repent while there is still time! He will meet you where you are! But don't wait another moment!

We are not promised tomorrow!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 8/11/14

So I Returned

“So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:1-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For too long the “church” has been captured by the lies of the enemy! Those who promise deliverance are they themselves captured! The blind leading the blind! (Matthew 13:14) They have been taught in error and continue to teach the same. Empty promises of deliverance never leading to repentance!  Quick fix solutions with no pain! Don't make me change! I want my cake and eat it too! 

Prophesying of good that leads only to death! (2 Chronicles 18:22) 

There is nothing new under the sun and all is vanity! The enemy is still trying to kill, steal and destroy and is succeeding because of spiritual pride! Little fish in a big sea or big fish in a little sea, their job, their living, their passion is an illusion of piety! Empty promises; empty words, the powers of darkness offer nothing but darkness. 

You don't build yourself up if you are to die to self! Ministry is life not a living! Men and women building with their hands what is missing in their hearts! 

The church/corporation providing entertainment for a society that demands to be entertained or they'll take their money and go home! 

All flash - perfectly choreographed; worshiping idols instead of exalting The One true God whose name is Terrible! He is The One who controls!

Fear Him! 

Obey His Commandments! 

Confess and repent of your sins that you may be delivered; that you may be healed! (James 5:16)

He (not we) is to be lifted up! 

This is not a time for being coddled or cuddled! This is war and only those who have prepared their hearts for service will survive! 

Repent while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 10/25/14

O Give Thanks

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

“Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:1-2, 5-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You who are going through the trial of a lifetime - give praise to The LORD! Worship The LORD in Holiness! True worship is obedience! Obedience to His Word! Submission to His authority! Compliance! Surrender of your will, to His!

“Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:10-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:16-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It is very easy to give thanks when things are going well! But we are to rejoice in all things! When the bottom falls out, and we instinctively give thanks and rejoice, it gives witness to "whom" we believe! Not just words but a knowing in our heart of hearts that He IS  and is in control!

“And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” Psalms‬ ‭107:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”  Psalms‬ ‭107:23-31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We can give thanks to The LORD, because He knows the beginning to the end, and we have confidence He IS working all things out for our good! 

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” "Let the redeemed of The LORD say so!" Say what? That we are redeemed? No! That His mercy endures forever! 

All that we are going through has one purpose - to bring us to Him! To make us into His image! To make us holy! When we finally cry out to Him, He's there! When we submit, when we surrender all, He surrounds us with His love! At that point our soul sings praises to His Holy Name without reservation! 

However, we are commanded to praise Him in the midst of the storm! In doing so we are taking our eyes off of our situation and keeping our focus on Him! Grumbling and complaining either in our hearts or with our mouth just keeps us rooted in our storm! It is sin! He will leave you there forty years and even let you perish there, unless you turn in repentance! Humble yourself or He will humble you, for all knees will bow to Him!

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Forever! 

Eternity! 

It's NOT about here and now, but about Eternity with Him, The Lover of your soul! 

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 1/23/15

How Can We

"How can we expect non-Christians to awake if we ourselves are not awakened? How can 'fire' arise if we ourselves do not 'burn'? How shall life be begotten if we ourselves are not truly filled with 'life'?" Erich Sauer

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭12:30-31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Do you?

 Do you love The Lord with everything  in you?

 Is He your first love?

What do you have above Him? Your children? Your spouse? Your career? Your hobby? Your church? Your gift? 

What is your passion?

If HE is not your passion then He is an idol!  If you love anything more than Him; if He is not first place in your heart, your mind and your soul, then He is an idol!‬‬

“Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If He does not consume your every waking thought, and even inhabit your dreams, then He is an idol!

Do you remember the first time you fell in love? He/she occupied your every thought! Everything you did; you did for her/him! 

Should not our love for God be even greater?

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God knows, (just like a wife or husband whose spouse no longer loves them), where your heart is! You can lie to yourself and say, "God knows my heart!", and think you are okay, but I have news for you  - okay - doesn't get it, with God!!!

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Is that you??

Repent of your sin!

Pray that God burns in your heart again, before it is too late!

“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Read your Bible. Let it bring you Life!

Even so - MARANATHA!

From 9/11/13

God’s Fire

“God's fire only falls on sacrifice. An empty altar receives no fire!"

- Frank Bartleman

I’ve heard this quote in my head, over and over, recently! 

This morning I read this:

“And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭9:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then I’m reminded of:

“And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.”  ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:29-30‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And - 

“Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:37-39‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Ken Carpenter posted this week:

“A lady told me, I am searching for a church, been to several with powerful preaching and wonderful worship, but found no place to put my sins. Time to put the Altar back in the Church!”

We are not the first generation to have broken, empty, or even nonexistent altars! But we could be the last! We know we are living in the last days just by hearing the news! So, what will it take for us to seek God with our whole hearts? What will it take for us to take seriously the Word of God? When will we fall on our faces in repentance of our sins? How much longer will He put up with our rebellion? 

My reading this morning ended with:

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” ‭Leviticus‬ ‭10:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭94:1-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA! 

Through Thee

‬‬“Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭44:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.” Psalms‬ ‭44:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.” Psalms‬ ‭44:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

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

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭44:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“Thou art my King, O God:”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭44:4‬a ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 10/11/16

Thou Hast Despised

“Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.” Ezekiel‬ ‭22:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” Ezekiel‬ ‭22:26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭22:31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A friend posted these three scriptures yesterday and I felt them to be as appropriate for today's people, as in the day of Ezekiel. 

Our rebellion knows no bounds and we continually justify the error of our ways! 

God has never blessed rebellion, nor will He ever! 

“And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtoreth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭7:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

What you think about the most is your idol and anything you place above the commandments of God, He will not honor. 

Just because your church endorses something - does not make it clean! Just because your preacher (from the pulpit says something is okay) - does not make it right in God's eyes! Just because it has been done this way for centuries - does not make it holy! (Mark 7:8)

God is coming back for a bride who is without spot or blemish! One that seeks His face in all things. One who will lay aside her desires for His! One who lives to serve Him! 

Oh, but that is Old Testament you say! God has not, nor does He ever change! What was Holy then is still Holy today! What was right and just then, is right and just today! 

Following the One True God is the same as in the days of Moses! He requires obedience to His Word! He has not changed! 

Yes, we have a better covenant and the blood of our sacrificial lamb, covers all sin, but sin has not changed! And if we continue to sin willingly (justifying our rebellion) there remains no sacrifice! 

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” Hebrews‬ ‭10:26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When the children of Israel were convicted of their sin of idol worship they repented! 

“And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord,” ‭1 Samuel‬ ‭12:10a‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Should we not do the same?

Isn't crying out to God in remorse and calling on His name in repentance what reaches Him? Isn't that what sets us apart from the rest of the world? Our ability to hear His voice and our willingness to set aside our will for His, when He shows us the error of our ways? Yes - that alone make us a follower of Him! 

Just saying a few words at an invitation, does not make us a Christian! Being told we are "saved" by a preacher after asking Jesus into our heart does not mean we are heaven bound if we have not had a change of heart! If we have continued in the ways of the world instead of conforming to His ways (which are higher) then we are not His, no matter what your denomination has said! 

In heaven there will be no denominations! There will only be those who overcome the world! (Read Revelation 2)

If we are Christ's then we are being made into His image! If we are not changing, not conforming, not being remade in His likeness, but are indistinguishable from the world, then we are like the god of this world! There is no middle road! We either are, or we are not! And the best way to tell is in what's in the heart! 

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:45‬ ‭KJV‬‬

(anger, hatred, bitterness, unforgiveness, vs. love, peace, joy)

And what you put most into your heart is what will come out! It's reaping and sowing! You put God's Word in and God's Word comes out! The Word changes, it is sharper than a two edged sword!

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It will not leave you the way you began if your heart is for God! It will convict you of the sin in your life unless you are using it to justify your sin! The devil has been twisting The Word of God since The Garden and continues today! You have to guard your heart! 

Set your heart on the things of God! Make Him your primary purpose in life! Seek Him with all of your might! And He will make straight your path!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 4/6/15

Beware Lest

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If you are listening and obeying church doctrine, and philosophy (which are traditions of men) over obeying The Word of God, you have been “spoiled” in the worst sense of the word! Spoiled meaning not fit for the Bridegroom! (Ephesians 5:27)

Definition:

spoil

verb

1. 1. 

   
   

   diminish or destroy the value or quality of.

   
   

   
   

   synonyms:

   mar, damage, impair, blemish, disfigure, blight, flaw, deface, scar, injure, harm;
2. 2. 

   
   

   harm the character of (a child) by being too lenient or indulgent.

   "

   
   

   synonyms:

   overindulge, pamper, indulge, mollycoddle, cosset, coddle, baby, wait on hand and foot, kill with kindness

You have to read in your Bible (the un-compromised Word) and that is Who you must follow! If the Word says to do something and your excuse for not obeying is that your denomination doesn't "do" that, then you are deceived!

This is how we are supposed to live our lives:

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians‬ ‭3:12-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If we don't do these things then we are not "the elect"! It's that simple! It's black and white; no shades of gray!

If we don't/won't "forgive", we will not be forgiven! Plain and simple! (Matthew 6:15)

If we don't/won't "love" then we are disobedient to The Word and He does not dwell in us! For He IS love! (John 3:16) (1 Corinthians 13:7) (Colossians 3:16)

If we obey His Word, then His "peace dwells in us"! However, it cannot reside with sin from which we refuse to turn! The tormentor has permission to accuse us as long as we hold onto our sin! When confessed and repented of; he has no foot hold!

Speaking of confession; I'm referring to James 5:16! Laying aside our pride to confess to a brother or sister is from where the power comes, to get our healing! The enemy is pride and blocks God's best for us! In submitting to God by humbling ourselves, we align our trust in God and turn our back on the one who was thrown out of heaven for refusing to lay down his pride! It is so powerful!!! That is one of the greatest deceptions in the church!

When we are truly submitted it is so easy to be "thankful" because we know from whence we came and Who did the work! 

The only way for The Word to richly dwell in us is to read it for ourselves! That's how I found out The Truth and was convicted of my sins! You see The Word tells us what sin is! It tells us that it is not just the biggies (like stealing, murder, and adultery) but it's the "little foxes which spoil the vine!" (Song of Solomon 2:15) It's the bitterness, unforgiveness, judgments, fear, anger, worry: all sin! Just because "everyone does it" doesn't make it right! Holding onto those things shows "who" we follow! However, if we put off the things of the world and let The Word dwell in us, we will live and not die, for IT is life!

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

All of this is doable, or we wouldn't be told to "do" it! We just have to examine our heart and see who is on the throne! Who resides there is our god!

If The Creator of The Universe, is residing there, then we will look and act like Him!  

If you look and act like the world, you need to repent!  For He is coming back for an unspoiled bride!

“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians‬ ‭5:26-27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Repent while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 4/21/15

Not As Though

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭3:12-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before”

Very few have a past they can brag on. Most like me have walked in the world and picked up the dirt that comes with it. However, in Christ, all things are made new, for those who seek Him. Everyday He perfects us and changes us into His image, when He is our desire. If our focus is on our past, good or bad, we lose sight of what God has for us today! And everyday the enemy tries to distract us from our focus, whether good or bad. Good - pride; bad - remorse; that's why forgiveness is so important. When we deal with the sins we have hidden in our heart, seeking forgiveness in repentance; confessing it to ones we trust, we put it under The Blood of Jesus and the enemy has no ammunition on us. The devil no longer has a foothold in that area and actually will try a different tactic. 

The enemy trying to distract us with the good in our past, keeping our focus on "what we were" is the sin of pride. If we don't humble ourselves, He will humble us! You see there is no good in any of us. Anyway He has used us, is for His glory, not ours! 

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Philippians‬ ‭3:7-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Bottom line: it is not about us! It's all about Him! Our every breath is given to us by Him. 

So let's deal with our sin and surrender our lives to Him - to be used by Him, how He sees fit! 

We will not get stuck in the muck if we put our feet on the rocks where He walked - on that narrow path!

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA 

From 1/22/16

This Morning

This morning my reading has me in The Twentieth chapter of Exodus, and conviction hits my heart!  Reading The 10 Commandments - I’m impressed with the severity/importance of His Laws.

“And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:1-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I understand idols.

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:” Exodus‬ ‭20:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I understand they can be anything that we place higher or above our relationship with God; children, spouse; career; sports; hobbies, etc.

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I have seen evidence of this curse not only in my life but in those we minister to! I understand the severity of breaking His Commandments. Humbling ourselves in repentance we worship Him for His mercy and His grace. 

“And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Knowing this does not give us license to take lightly His Commandments.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God is serious and we should be too!

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Commandment “with a promise!”

We should repent for not keeping His law, and we address this violation often!

“Thou shalt not kill. 

Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

Thou shalt not steal. 

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:13-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We all know the importance of these for a healthy society and live with the consequences when they are ignored; which seems to be happening minute by minute as we see the breakdown of our society. The further we have drifted from following God’s Commandments, the more our country has decayed. 

The Commandment I am most convicted of today though is: 

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” ‭Exodus‬ ‭20:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I have so not done this! 

Now I’m not going to debate the “when” but the “how” is where My heart was pierced! 

“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:9-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Oh - how I have missed it and I am not alone. I’m talking about resting! 

Now I understand that Jesus is our Sabbath rest! Walking with Him daily we are to regard everyday as Holy and rest in Him daily! 

However, I know few if any who take literally the importance of actual rest on our 7th day. There seems always to be an excuse to work. But in reading, this morning, God impressed upon me how He set this time aside for us - for our own good! He knows how we are!

We are driven to “do!”

The medical community even encourages us to get 8 hours sleep every night and we know how important it is, but we don’t even do that. Rest is something that we think we can do without. We burn the candle at both ends. We work till we drop! A friend called me on it last night reminding me “I’m no longer a spring chicken!” 

Getting back to The Sabbath; God did not suggest we keep it (set it aside) He commanded it! “wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”  

Do we even know what “holy” is??? 

Father, I come to You this morning with a heavy heart - forgive me for not keeping Your Commandments! I repent, Father for being too busy to set aside one whole day just to rest/commune with You. I understand the value You have placed on a day of rest and I ask that You would teach me about holiness! Give me wisdom LORD and may my efforts be pleasing in Your sight! Make me to know Your ways! I thank You that I can rest in You! I choose, from this day on, to walk in your statutes and I thank You for Your mercy and Your grace! 

Even so - MARANATHA! 

Hear Now This

‬“Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭5:21-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart” - sounds like it was written to us, today! We turn to God when things get so bad they will affect our lifestyle. Then when the danger has passed, we go back to our wicked ways. Our corruption and our rebellion knows no bounds! We claim the blessings of God with no intention of obeying His Word, and are so blind we don't know we are living under the curse!‬‬

“Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.” Jeremiah‬ ‭5:25-28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jeremiah‬ ‭5:29-31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Michael Boldea, Jr said it best: "A stay of execution does not a pardon make."‬‬

If you, two weeks ago, were on your face, praying for our nation, don't stop now! That was just a skirmish; the war is not won! 

We must turn with our whole hearts back to The LORD! Going on, like before is not change! All of our good, is nothing when we have pride in our heart! We must all pray for God to open our eyes (to the deception brought on by our stiffnecked and rebellious hearts) and to open our ears (to hear His still small voice in the midst of all the chaos in the world) and to change our hearts (to take away our heart of stone and give us a heart that desires Him and Him alone).

My prayer this morning: Father turn us back to You! You, who created the universe with a Word; create in us a clean heart. We humble ourselves and surrender to Your will! Take away our heart of stone! Show us our sins, so that we may repent! Our desire is to please You, and not ourselves. We ask in The Name above all names; Jesus Christ our LORD, who IS The King of kings and LORD of lords.  

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 11/21/16