Ah LORD God

"‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You."(Jeremiah 32:17 NKJV)

What trial or test are you facing today, with which you need God's help?  

Is there something that is beyond what you can accomplish alone; "in your flesh"? Maybe it is not a "something" but a "someone" who by just drawing a breath "gets your goat!"  Your response is so important in this test! Do you respond in like manner; "in the flesh"? Or do you respond in "Love"; as commanded by The LORD? 

When we listen to the enemy and respond as he directs, (in anger, justifying our behavior as we go) we open the door for sin, and we are making the devil lord over us; following him! 

However, when we choose (and it is our choice) to walk in Love (forgiveness for the wrong done) then we are following God's Commandments and show He is our LORD! 

Making the choice to walk in love is the harder of the two, however when we do, we can ask The LORD for His help and expect Him to give it and then the burden is on Him! Giving Him the task of helping you, instead of listening to (acting on) the whispers in your head, (saying, "well you did not deserve", or "he had no right") is the set-up for success! Then The LORD will step up and give  you the strength you need and and begin to make changes in you to make the walk easier, and changes in the other person, too!!!!

"Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:26, 27 NKJV)

If you failed your test, repent! Just like if you fall down, you get back up! Just like when you were a baby, learning to walk; when you miss it, you just keep on trying! You will finally get it! Soon you'll be up running, and you'll be amaZed at how what used to cause so much turmoil in your life will be, eazy-peazy!

Just remember; this life is not about you and the other person, it's about you and your relationship with God; being His Light in this world! 

You can't be Light if you are acting like darkness!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 2/27/14

What Is A Christian

What is a Christian? Is that your religion of choice? Have you been "churched"? Did you "ask Jesus into your heart?" Have you bought the lie, "once saved, always saved"?

"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!" (James 2:19 NKJV)

I had a friend ask me last night, "If I am not a Christian, does Jesus live in me?" She does not consider herself to be one. 

I said,"No Jesus is not in you, if you have not given yourself to Him!" 

In further conversation it seems she had, at some point, made a declaration of faith, but now admits she hasn't prayed in a long while! 

My response to her was, "If Jesus lives in you, would you be acting, thinking and doing the things you do?"

I went to church most of my life. Made professions of faith; backslid and then turned back to God, when things got rough.

I would again, try to live right, go to church, would get involved, would try to make a difference in my community; would even read my Bible, for a while! Then I would make a mistake; I'd fail; I'd commit a sin! Most of the times it would be a sin of the heart; (like unforgiveness, bitterness, or judging) sometimes a sin of the flesh! But I would hide it, stuffing it down inside me (like God couldn't see it!) instead of repenting of it! I'd just cover it up, and go on, listening to the enemy, who was all the while whispering, "you're all right!" "God understands!" "Your okay", "That is under the blood because you said some words!"!!!  But, I could feel the difference! I could tell my heart was colder; when I'd commit a sin, I wasn't as bothered by it! By then, it would actually hurt to read my Bible,  so I'd only read the stuff that made me feel better! Then I would stop reading altogether, until my life got so bad again, that I'd cry out to Him to save me once more!

So, when my friend asked me if Jesus was in her, it got me to thinking, "what is different in my life now"? I know there has been a major change in my life, and I believe most can see it! 

I attribute the miracle that God has worked in me, to the teaching of obedience and continual repentance of sin! 

Before it was okay to sin, "cause no one is perfect", and that's right, no one is! "All fall short"! And of course the perversion of "grace": "We have grace so it's okay, your sins, past, present, and future are under the blood" Yes, but only through repentance!

There was no importance placed, before, on holiness! 

"because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (I Peter 1:16 NKJV)

No teaching of confession of sins!

 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

(I John 1:9 NKJV)

No emphasis placed on forgiving!  

"“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14, 15 NKJV)

These scriptures are all in The Bible (and even more!) and obedience expected! And purposing in my heart to be obedient, is why I'm different today! 

I finally took seriously the scripture:

 "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.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”" (Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV)

If you deal with the stuff your have stuffed down in your heart, clean it all out, (not just cover it up); if you truly repent, and forgive those who have hurt you and repent of all the judgments you have made of them; if you let God shine His light on all the sin you carry around in you, and then be obedient - to follow His commandments; He is quick to forgive and deliver you from the curse of The Law!  Then He pours out His love for you, fills you up, so that it spills onto everyone! 

If you fall in love with Him; make Him the principle purpose of your life, die to self; walk in repentance; then you WILL know if you have Jesus in you! 

No question! 

So worth it!

Wish I had "got it" sooner!

Never going back!!!!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 4/25/14, 7/9/15, 10/3/16

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, 9/20/16

I Am The LORD

"I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things. ’" (‭Isaiah‬ ‭45‬:‭5-7‬ NKJV)

When you realize that it is God that "creates calamity" and that it has a purpose; it changes your view on the events of your life!

You see, I had always been taught that the devil did the bad things to us.  I would curse the sicknesses. I would pray for rapid relief of adversity. I would quote scripture in my desire to end the trial and get back to life as usual! 

But if we believe the above scripture and others that it is His will to work all things for our good, it puts "storms" in a different light! 

Looking back at my life of rebellion, I see God's hand trying to gently guide me back to the narrow path, but I was determined to have it my way! His corrections would become stronger and I would dig my heals. I was going to "stand!" The storm would increase in intensity and a big wave would come and knock me down and in my stiffnecked, open defiance, I'd wave my fist at the devil and yell, "I will not be moved!"  

Never ever knowing I was in error! 

That all along it was God trying to get my attention! 

To my shame, I was defying God! 

"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction;" (‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ NKJV)

I don't know how I thought The LORD, chastened and corrected! But I had been told by my teachers that it was the devil making my life miserable! Never did they say the stuff I was going through was from God, for my own good! 

" Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die." (Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬ NKJV)

We have all lived in open rebellion for so long, taught by a traditions of men and doctrines of demons that we are supposed to live long and prosper, in complete happiness! 

That just is not true! Our life is not ours and it is for His good pleasure we exist! When we grasp that and humble ourselves in submission, that is when the blessings of God and His peace and joy abounds! "Happiness is a 'by product' of obedience, not the means to an end!" (Paris Reidhead)

If you are going through storms; if your trials seem never ending, try something different! Try obedience to The Word of God!  I know it's a novel concept, but it works!!!! 

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."(‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ NKJV)

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ NKJV)

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." (‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ NKJV)

If you are at the end of your rope, repent! Turn to God! Humble yourself and sincerely repent of your sins! 

"But I'm a good person! What sins?" you say!  

Sins common to all of us are: unforgiveness, bitterness, judgments, gossip, anger, worry, fear! These sins permeate the church and are deemed acceptable by everyone but God! Unforgiveness all by itself will keep you out of heaven!

"“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."(‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭14-15‬ NKJV)

Walking in repentance; walking in forgiveness; walking in love is obedience to Him, and makes us "overcomers"! 

"He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭7‬ NKJV)

Stop grumbling and complaining! In everything give thanks! Keep your eyes on Jesus! Seek first the kingdom of God! Do not fear! Look not to the things that are seen! Humble yourself! Repent!

Time is running out! Church we have got to get this right! 

Repent while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA

From 10/10/15, 12/15/15, 9/27/16

Circumcise Therefore

“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.”  Deuteronomy‬ ‭10:16-17, 20-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

How do you describe the colors in a sunset to one who cannot see?  How do you describe Handel's  Messiah or the laughter of a baby to one who cannot hear? How do you describe the awesome and terrible power of God to one who does not believe? All are impossible!

I was contemplating what we know about heaven, as written in The Bible, and how our finite brains try and wrap themselves around the infinite; again impossible. 

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We try and envision the spiritual with physical limitations; trying to associate the unknown with what we know. Our pitiful efforts to comprehend the incomprehensible; again impossible!

I, in my inadequacy, have determined that all of man's efforts to describe the indescribable is impossible, for He IS more!

He IS more than we can imagine! He IS more than adequate!

He IS more than able!

He IS enough! 

And then beyond!

He IS all!

Without Him is nothing!

We live our lives, minute by minute with no thought of Him, until crisis occurs and then we cry, "where are You God?" 

Living for ourselves; acquiring stuff; striving for momentary happiness in an evil world; worshiping a god that only gives but does not require.

And He loves us despite our inability to love Him! His mercy and His grace is unfathomable.

He loves us enough to send His Son to die for us; so that we may live with Him!

“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” 

John‬ ‭14:2-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He IS our afterlife!

He IS our heaven!

He IS our rest!

Without Him anywhere is hell!

He IS our reason for existence! 

How do I know?

He said so! 

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”  Exodus‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Do you know Him?

Do you fear Him?

Repent while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

This Is Your Lot

"This is your lot, The portion of your measures from Me,” says the LORD, “Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood. Therefore I will uncover your skirts over your face, That your shame may appear. I have seen your adulteries And your lustful neighings, The lewdness of your harlotry, Your abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! Will you still not be made clean?”" (‭Jeremiah‬ ‭13‬:‭25-27‬ NKJV)

This does not sound like the god of whom the TV ministers preach! Does it?

This message God delivered to Israel, through the prophet Jeremiah, was not the sugar coated "god loves you" sermon you hear today. 

When I read His Words, I am so aware that we are right where they were, and that God today is again unhappy with "His people"; the "church"!

But are you His?

When you refuse to hear His voice; refuse to obey His Commandments; refuse to follow Him; are you really His?

Have you "forgotten"Him?

Have you "trusted in falsehood"? 

Did you mind immediately think, "oh THAT'S Old Testament", when you read of His displeasure with the people who were called by His name?

Do you not see the similarities? 

Of course not, you only see what you want to see! You only hear what you wish to hear! Your god is made in your own image! You have a different Jesus! And he is preached all around the world by big name preachers who want even bigger ministries for the "god of love!"

Yes, God loves you! He loves you so much that he won't let you stay in the sin you are in! He will do anything necessary to stop you dead in your tracks; to keep you from going to hell; to save you from your sins!

He's asking again today: "Will you still not be made clean?"

(How low will you have to get, before you turn to Me?")

Repent while there is still time?

And the time for repentance, is indeed running out! 

God thought your sin was bad enough to allow His Son to die for your sins! Shouldn't you recognize that your sin is not something God winks at?

Leonard Ravenhill's tombstone reads: "Are the things you are living for, worth Christ dying for?"

"God thinks "you are to die for!""  (Explanation of that true saying: "God loves you so much, if you were the only one on this earth, Christ would have still died, just for you!") 

Doesn't that break your heart? That the sins you hold in your heart (the unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, and fear); those sins you refuse to let go of, is what Jesus died on the cross for, and yet you refuse to give them up!?! 

He shed His precious blood for the atonement of your sin; a covering so that you could stand blameless before God, and yet you won't humble yourself, lay down your pride and repent! 

Sin is serious! 

Repentance is serious! 

God is serious!

"“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭14-15‬ NKJV)

There will be no unforgiveness or unforgiven people in heaven!

Repent or perish!

“but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:5‬ b NKJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 7/9/14, 8/25/16

Brethren I Do Not

"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13-14‬ NASB)

We as a people are very goal oriented! We are taught at an early age to set goals and are encouraged as an adult to do so in corporate business and even with regards to personal health! You might even say we are "purpose" driven! 

How many of us though, intentionally make Christ our principle purpose and ultimate goal? 

Don't we see our "walk" more as a means to an end? Getting to heaven; avoiding hell - the goal? 

Have we "lost our first love" or was He EVER? 

Was our "goal" to make our life easier or to have a relationship with the One Who Loves us best? 

A sermon I'm reminded of: how the devil sets a banquet table at the base of the mountain to keep a person from climbing and reaching his goal! It looks so good "it must be from God!" Right? 

What would the devil serve up for you, to distract you from going all the way with Christ? Money? New car? New home? New job? Marriage? Ministry? 

One thing age has taught me is that nothing this world offers is permanent, especially happiness! It is so short lived; the enjoyment promised in sinning, the shortest! I remind most people who share with me their trials that "nothing lasts forever", it just seems like it! 

Maybe that's why we are encouraged by The Word - to run with endurance the race set before us!

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," (‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ NASB)

Christ came to earth with a goal and He finished His course! It was His love for The Father which kept Him obedient to His Commandments. He is our example! He is our goal!

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."(‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ NASB)

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ NASB)

God knows our needs, but He wants our heart!

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

"Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart."(‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬ NASB)

Especially if He is your hearts desire!

Even so - MARANATHA 

We know the words to the song but do we sing it from the heart?

From 9/11/15

And Thine Ears

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”  Isaiah‬ ‭30:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

How long I searched for "the way!"

I read about every religion, visited many denominations, dabbled in the occult; looking everywhere for The Truth!

Everyone professed to have the truth. At first glance, it appeared they did, but upon close examination their lives did not bear them out. They spoke one way and lived another. 

I was raised in the church, and I was taught about blessings and fruit but saw little evidence of either. I had given up hope. 

Then I met someone that exhibited everything I had read about and he told me the way and how to walk in it! I took his advice, because I saw the evidence of the promises. Not just words but actual visible evidence. I saw, in him, what Jesus had said would happen in Him; there was proof!

I took his advice. It was hard. But I had been taught that anything worth having was worth paying the cost. It was the missing piece to the puzzle. 

Shortly after making the first step on the hard, narrow path, I had a dream. In my dream, I with my friends were in a desert place looking for water. I parted from the group and shortly thereafter found the most beautiful spring flowing with cool refreshing water. I drank long and hard, and was no longer dry or parched! I immediately went to find my friends and told them what I had found, yet they refused to come back with me, saying, "we will continue the way we are going, I'm sure the water is up ahead."

I told a friend about my dream, and she told me that she was sure my friends would end up following me to my spring. 

I'm sad to say they have not.

I guess they have not reached the end of themselves, yet. 

When we have exhausted all avenues the world has to offer, all the strength we can muster; when all of our ideas fail, and there is no where else to turn, then He shows us "The Way", and tells us to "Walk In It!"

Walking it out is the hard part. Denying our fleshly desires for immediacy; the short cuts the world promises that actually lead to a different path altogether is difficult, but deny we must! 

There are those who get satisfied with their state, believing the lie they are good and will not risk the status quo. 

"Our God comforts the troubled and troubles the comfortable." Malcom Duncan

If He has a call on your life He will not leave you alone. He will bring storms into your life that will bring you to the point that you have no choice but to cry out to Him. Praise God He doesn't give up on us! 

Has He changed you? 

Do not think for a moment that you can take up your cross, walk on the narrow road, and follow Him, and remain the same. You cannot live like the world and live for Him. It is impossible. If you believe such, you are deceived and destined for hell. (Ephesians 5:1-18)

That step that brought me to the end of myself was forgiveness. In repentance I confessed, to two friends, my sins and forgave those who had hurt me and repented for those I had hurt. Then they prayed for me. (James 5:16)

It was through obedience to The Word of God that I was healed and set free! It was in obedience I was changed and delivered. And in that act of obedience my desires for this world left and my adoration for Him was ignited! He burns within me. He is my desire! 

Do not settle! He is worth the cost! He is to die for!

That spring is still flowing, if you want me to show you where you can find it, just ask. 

Even so - MARANATHA! 

Who Can Utter

"Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can declare all His praise? Blessed are those who keep justice, And he who does righteousness at all times!" (Psalms 106:2, 3 NKJV)

Reading the above verse I am so painfully aware that I do not do this! I want to "do righteousness at all times", but fail daily! My hearts desire is be holy "as He is holy" and I blow it, continually! 

"We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed iniquity, We have done wickedly. Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea." (Psalms 106:6, 7 NKJV)

I remember when I first started reading my Bible years ago, I would read how the Israelites would sin against God, right after He had done some great miracle, and I would sit in judgment, thinking to myself, "I wouldn't do that!" 

Now as I read; I see myself just like the Children of Israel, sinning against The Lord, moments after witnessing a wondrous event that was so obviously God!  

In humble repentance, I confess my old man not being as dead as he should be, and I give thanks that God has made me, once again, to realize my failings!

"Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, That He might make His mighty power known." (Psalms 106:8 NKJV)

I love "that"; my daily wanderings in the wilderness give Him ample opportunities to look good! But isn't that His way?  My weaknesses; my inabilities easily show that I'm incapable, but that He is working in me and through me! 

The children would rejoice in His miracles then turn around and sin! 

"Then they believed His words; They sang His praise. They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert."

(Psalms 106:12-14 NKJV)

Again and again -

"They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea.

"Then they despised the pleasant land; They did not believe His word, But complained in their tents, And did not heed the voice of the LORD." (Psalms 106:21, 22, 24, 25 NKJV)

"They did not destroy the peoples, Concerning whom the LORD had commanded them, But they mingled with the Gentiles And learned their works; They served their idols, Which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons And their daughters to demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood. Thus they were defiled by their own works, And played the harlot by their own deeds." (Psalms 106:34-39 NKJV)

I have done all of this! I have played the harlot with idols! 

And will again.

"Many times He delivered them; But they rebelled in their counsel, And were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, When He heard their cry; And for their sake He remembered His covenant, And relented according to the multitude of His mercies." (Psalms 106:43-45 NKJV)

Praise God that He WILL hear my cry, also, and deliver me once again, because He knows me! He knows what I'm made of; He knows where I've come from; He knows where I'm going; He knows because He called me! He's perfecting me! 

My hearts desire is to serve Him, without reservation! To seek Him all my days! To be available for His use, as He needs me! 

As long as I stay humble and repentant He can work in me! And when I get too full of myself, He's quick to point out He IS God, not me!

"Save us, O LORD our God, And gather us from among the Gentiles, To give thanks to Your holy name, To triumph in Your praise. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD!" (Psalms 106:47, 48 NKJV)

Join me this morning, in praise of a God that is powerful enough to create the universe and yet personal enough to give a spanking to His wayward child!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 5/25/14, 1/6/15, 12/31/15

"For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights."

(‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ NKJV)

Are Not Two

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will."(‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭29‬ NKJV)

•  Do we really believe that?

•  Do we even begin to give God the credit He deserves for being God?

•  Do we truly realize there is NO one above Him; that He is the final Word in all situations and His WILL rules all?

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ NKJV)

"in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

(‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ NKJV)

We don't give thanks, we complain! 

We pray to be relieved of the trial He has given us - to mold us into the image of His Son!  

We have bought the lie that "nature" is powerful and is random in "her" acts! This is the answer (unbelievers of a Sovereign Creator came up with) to the question, "Why God?"  And THAT is exactly what we should be asking, because everything that occurs in our life has a purpose in His great design! 

We can ask (it's alright) and we can know His intentions, and the answers are in His Word! He wants us to know Him! He wants a relationship with us. However, we must come to Him knowing who we are not! For without Him we are nothing!

He and He alone is in control. The only control we have is bending our will to His, and in opposition to Him, we will lose every time! His will WILL be done!

"“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”"

(‭Revelation‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ NKJV)

Looking back on all of the horrible things I went through in my 60 years; all of my struggles; all of my pain; all of my heartaches; I now see the hand of God molding me and making me to be a vessel that can, now, be used by Him!  Before, I was rebellious; too full of myself and He had to empty me for there to be room for Him!

"Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."(‭I Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ NKJV)

I was telling a friend yesterday that diamonds are made in the dark under great pressure! That piece of coal does not scream and complain under the compression! We, also, are being made into a precious jewel, if we give up and let The Master not only form, but facet us to reflect His light!

We want to be the jewel but we want it on our own terms, without the pain! That's not how it works! Give up control!

How?  Obey His Word!

You cannot call the shots and be obedient to Him! Servants do what their Master dictates! His Commandments are not mere suggestions of which you have choices. 

When you follow Jesus, you die to self. You give up your rights. You willingly become a slave to Him! You change masters, for you have all along been an unwilling slave to sin. You who are captured; Jesus came to set you free!

If you are following The LORD Jesus Christ and are in the middle of a storm, ask Him, "Okay, LORD, why? Show me where I'm missing it! Reveal to me, and where there is a need to repent, I will bend my will - to Your will! Thank You LORD for this trial, may it bring You glory!"

Remember: "Nothing! Nothing! Nothing happens to us that is not filtered through the fingers of a loving God!" KC

Is He trying to get your attention?

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

(‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ NKJV)

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 6/13/15, 2/15/16

Examine Yourselves

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now that's a word we don't often use. Wanting to get the definition, I went to the web:

Miriam Webster gives the following:

Definition of reprobate

reprobated

; 

reprobating

1. transitive verb

2. 1:  to condemn strongly as unworthy, unacceptable, or evil <reprobating the laxity of the age>
3. 2:  to foreordain to damnation
4. 3:  to refuse to accept: reject

However Google gives this:

rep·ro·bate

ˈreprəˌbāt/

noun

1. 1. 

   an unprincipled person (often used humorously or affectionately).

   synonyms:

   rogue, rascal, scoundrel, miscreant, good-for-nothing, villain, wretch, rake, degenerate, libertine, debauchee;More

2. 2. 

   CHRISTIAN THEOLOGYarchaic

   (especially in Calvinism) a sinner who is not of the elect and is predestined to damnation.

adjective

1. 1. 

   unprincipled (often used as a humorous or affectionate reproach).

   "a long-missed old reprobate drinking comrade"

   synonyms:

   unprincipled, bad, roguish, wicked, rakish, shameless, immoral, degenerate, dissipated, debauched, depraved;  archaicknavish

Do you see the difference?

Do you see the change?

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The world finds nothing wrong with being a reprobate. The Bible, however has a different view; as one destined for hell!

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:9-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I was, but am no longer a reprobate! And I do not think it is amusing or endearing! The evil; the darkness that was in me, I find repulsive. There is no "little evil" or a "great deal of evil"; there is just evil! Even a little darkness residing in you demands you be sent to hell, except for the mercy of God!

Because of the evil of religion; those who are sold out to Jesus Christ are ridiculed, whereas the reprobate is coddled! 

And this is why:

 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11:13-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Bible is plain. There is good; there is evil; there is light; there is darkness! There is no in between!

“But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It's time we examine our hearts and ask God to expose the evil hiding in the recesses, so we may repent! What evil? Sin! What sin? Unforgiveness, bitterness, judgments, anger, fear/unbelief, worry, gossip, grumbling and complaining, etc! 

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew‬ ‭12:34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Listen to yourself! 

Or read your Facebook page!

Jesus is coming back for a bride without spot or blemish; one who does not look like the world!

Repent while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

1. 
   
   

Lest Satan Should

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

How often do we give satan an advantage over us, by listening to his lies? It is so easy to forget that the destructive words, he plants, and are continually running through our minds, are bent on our demise. The hateful words friends and family pronounce over us are indeed meant to hurt, by our enemy, in an effort to get us to fall into sin; anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness. 

When God called you out of darkness, then the devil commanded an all out assault to get you back. He pulls out all stops, to get you to fail in your walk, and he will use the people you love, or friends, or even strangers, to do it. 

Words hurt; words have power, and he knows it!

“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

When we speak the words we hear in our head, we give him power. We in essence agree with the devil.

“Neither give place to the devil.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The devil will tell you that no one loves you. He will call you names; words that trigger old hurts buried in your heart! He will say that you are a failure that God can't save you! But remember he is a liar.

“He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8:44‬b ‭KJV‬‬

We have a choice with whom we agree; the devil or God.

God says you are valuable, your enemy says you are worthless. With whom will you agree? Yes it's coming out of your friend's mouth, but trust me, the devil is behind it, to get your eyes off of Jesus. It's a distraction. He used the same trick on Jesus in the wilderness and Jesus fought back with The Word! He didn't agree; He resisted!

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That is why it is so important to read your Bible. It's the only effective way to battle the enemy.

Here's the strategy for success:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

All of the above is meditating on the Word! 

The devil says you are worthless; God calls you Beloved! The devil is a liar. Turn his words around and you have the truth. 

Your enemy wants to take you out, because he knows God has plans to use you for His glory. You stand strong!

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You will be unable to resist if you are holding onto sin in your heart! You must obey God's commandments to do battle! Those old hurts that are triggered  are unforgiveness and they are sin! They give the devil a foothold. To be free, it is imperative that you OWN your sin and repent. You must acknowledge you have buried the anger and unforgiveness and judgment in your heart. You must chose to forgive and repent of your sin of disobedience to God's Word!

“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

You need forgiveness? 

Then obey and forgive!

You need mercy?

Then give mercy!

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

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The devil will tell you, you have every right to be bitter and angry after what "they" did to you! God says, "forgive!" 

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It's time to get in the battle! Refuse to be a casualty of this war, that is already won! You have your ammunition! Use it!

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:13-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The narrow way is hard; it's long; and it's lonely! But you keep your eyes on Jesus. He walked it first to show us we can!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

Though I Speak

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:1-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

What are the odds that (in my reading straight through my Bible) the reading of this chapter would occur on this day? God's timing is always perfect. The day when the world celebrates Love; the One who loves us best, would tell us how to love!

While reading, I'm so painfully aware how wrong we have it; this thing called love. We in our humanism think it's about what we get, when in actuality, love is what you give! And you can't give love unless love has been bestowed on you from above, for the world knows nothing about love; love is selfless! Love puts others first! 

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” ‭John‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus our example; the epitome of love sacrificed; the Way which we are to walk! 

When He is LORD in your life, you love; you can't help it! You actually look at things, situations, people differently. I'm always amazed when one looks at a garbage heap and sees beauty, but that's what love does!

“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭1:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Love sees the good! Just like Jesus sees the finished work when He looks at us! He knows what we will become, yet died for us before we arrived!

So different from the world!

Are you needing love today?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” ‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He is right where you are, waiting for you to accept His love; The Gift of eternal life, with your name on it, is within your grasp. Jesus paid it all for your sins! All you have to do is receive The Pardon. You can know Love right now! 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 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, 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. Amen!

If you prayed that prayer, PM me, so I may rejoice with you!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

Prayer copied from "The Pardon" by Ken Carpenter

If you would like a copy, free of charge, PM me and we'll send you a copy and we'll even pay the postage.

He Who Has

"“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’"(‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ NKJV)

"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." (‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ NKJV)

And if you do not overcome - your name will be blotted out of the Book Of Life and He will say "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" (‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭23‬b NKJV)

Do not think for a moment that you can live like the world, hold onto fear, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness and unbelief and hold onto the salvation your religion promises. You who do not fear God, nor obey His Word, He will "cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’"(‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭30‬ NKJV)

We are at a time, like has never been, and God is trying to get our attention! Eternity is at stake and He will use any means to bring His back to Him! 

Catastrophes, mass shootings, cancers, divorce; He is tearing down high places and at the center of your storm you will find your idol! He wants you and all of you. Not just the little bit with which you are willing to part! You who choose to ignore Him and justify your hardness of heart instead of repenting and turning to Him, will face an eternity of separation from Him.

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."(‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭28‬ NKJV)

His mercy and grace abound but He is a just God. (Luke 10:12-15) He will send His Son back for His Bride who is worthy of His sacrifice; one who has been made holy, without spot or blemish; one who has overcome; one who remembers her first love! His bride will reflect Him! She will willing lay down her will for His and be willing to sacrifice herself as He did! She will have taken up her cross and died to self as commanded. She will have endured and not compromised!

We have been lied to; all of our striving for worldly gain is for naught! Our lives are not about how much we acquire, or how happy we are, or how successful we are in business! It is not about us or self! 

I recently read that the devil places a banquet table at the base of the mountain to keep you from climbing the mountain! He knows that going up that mountain is where you will be tried and perfected so he distracts you and makes you think that the banquet is from God. It's what we want to think! Our flesh does not want to go up that mountain because it knows it will hurt! Dying to the flesh; Humbling yourself is painful but it is imperative if we are to overcome! We have been misled by the devil twisting the scriptures into thinking that Jesus did it all for us and we can live like we wish, that we can add nothing. Truth:  we must give up we and we have to live and be a servant as Jesus did! He changes us while we submit! The world and its appeal fades and His glory becomes our only desire! The more we submit, we become singleminded and He becomes our principal purpose, our everything! That is when we discover joy unspeakable, which is so much better than "being happy!"  That is when we find rest for He is our Sabbath rest; that is not a day of the week it is a way of life!

Our world is only going to get worse! These are the last days as foretold and we have been given instructions on how to overcome. He will see His through and our "way of escape" that "He will provide" is IN HIM!  We were created for His glory and our purpose is in Him! 

"May The Lamb Who Was slain receive His just reward!" Paris Reidhead

Even so - MARANATHA 

From 6/19/15

Behold I Set

"“Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known." (‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11‬:‭26-28‬ NKJV)

How can we believe (and claim) in the blessings of God and not believe in the curse, especially when it's all over us?

We have all turned aside from the Commandments of God! And the really sad part is, God did the hard part, for us, and we are yet stubborn and hard hearted! 

The Commandments are guidelines for us (still) today and few have issue with the "biggies" (do not steal, do not kill, do not commit adultery) instead they (listening to the enemy) pick on the more controversial ones like diet and sabbath! How do I know they are listening to the enemy? The accusatory tone they have in their voice, is his voice! (Rev 12:10)

When we walk in His Ways, we receive His Blessings! When we turn and walk in rebellion, we receive the curse! 

The funny part is I hear all the time how thankful people are they woke-up today; as if God's blessing have been reduced to you not dying in your sleep. But His Blessings are so much more (when we are walking in His Ways)!!!!!  Read Deuteronomy 28)

Another thing I've noticed is the "claiming" of the blessings, without obedience to His Commandments! Setting aside the OT laws; Jesus said "do not fear", yet fear is a way of life for everyone, and we still claim the blessings! Acceptable sins such as unforgiveness, bitterness, worry, fear, anger, grumbling and complaining, are only acceptable in the churches' eyes; NOT God's eyes! We are double-minded and unstable in all of our ways! "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 ‭1‬:‭7-8‬ NKJV)

You may not believe in it, but the curse is all over us! The following verses opened my eyes to the reality of that Truth! 

"“The LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. The LORD will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish."(‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭28‬:‭20-22‬ NKJV)

These are just a few, there are many more! But honestly, do you see anyone who is NOT living there???

Do you find that everything bad happens to you? (Reread the curse)

Are you always sick? (Reread the curse)

You can't get ahead? (Reread the curse)

It's all over the church, but the church is deceived! 

The argument:

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)" (‭Galatians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ NKJV)

That only works when we are following Him! It does not stand for the world! We have to turn to Him in repentance! He forgives us when we do, but there is a condition! We have to forgive also! If we don't forgive them we aren't forgiven! (Matt 6:14-15)

Obedience to The Word of God is not "works"! It's love! And it's Love that fulfills the law!

"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.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”" (‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37-40‬ NKJV)

"“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."(‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ NKJV)

You do not "love your neighbor as yourself" if you harbor unforgiveness and bitterness towards them. This includes your parents, your ex, the person that wronged you terribly and even yourself; no exclusions!

You do not "love The LORD with all of your heart", if you have set your children above Him (or your spouse, or career, or hobby!) He will not have an idol before Him! He is a jealous God! He gave all of Himself; He wants all of you!

I say all of this, to say you do not have to live under the curse! You don't have to be sick or in want! However, you do have to repent, if you want to experience all the blessings of God! 

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired (like I was) PM me and we will send you the CDs on The Power Of Forgiveness  that changed my life, free of charge. We will even pay the postage!

Repent while there is still time! 

A day is coming when there we be no more time for repentance!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 10/30/15

Then Job Answered

"Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You." (‭Job‬ ‭42‬:‭1-2‬ NKJV)

At the end of the Book of Job, Job knows "Who" God is and he also knows who he (Job) is not!

"You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." (‭Job‬ ‭42‬:‭3‬ NKJV)

Realization of His magnitude and our insignificance is paramount in a true relationship with The Creator of The Universe!  

"“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”" (‭Job‬ ‭42‬:‭5-6‬ NKJV)

Until we truly understand that we bring nothing to our relationship with Him except our willingness to lay down our pride and submit to His complete authority, we are deceived! Until we "abhor ourselves" we have not repented! 

If, when we come to Him, we are not aware of how terrible He Is in His power and glory and do not "fear" Him, then we have not submitted to Him! 

"“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”"(‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ NKJV)

The Word of God has been so watered down; Its message sugar coated so that God is portrayed as a old man (like a Santa Claus); there only to take away the things in life that make us uncomfortable! 

Its message:"God is there for us!" 

In Truth: we are there for God!

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ NKJV)

Job's friends did not know God, like they thought they did! In fact in reading the book, one would think they knew Him well! However, God set the record straight in the following verse:

"Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. ”" (‭Job‬ ‭42‬:‭8‬ NKJV)

Up until 2 1/2 years ago, I believed all that my denomination taught about God! I claimed the promises and blessings of God as my right as His child, without repentance! I had unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, worry, fear, anger, which are all sin, in my heart! And oh, how proud I was!

Now, I know I can only boast in Him! He IS Everything and I am nothing without Him! 

And as long as I am obedient to His Word and walk in love, forgiveness, and repentance, THEN and only then can I legally claim His promises!

He calls me His child, I understand I am His servant! 

I will sit in a lower chair, He can move me higher up the table if He wills, I'm just happy to be in the dining room with Him! 

Waiting on Him is my delight!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 11/1/14, 2/15/15