I Awoke

I awoke Wednesday morning to the words "broken is a good thing" running through my head.

This is a truth the church, at large, has discarded! 

We have been taught to be self sufficient; self reliant; use self restraint; be self confident; be self motivated; use self control! When we can't - we are considered weak; useless. In a throwaway society; if it's broke, it's discarded. We are "fixers" and quitters! Few see value in "broke"!

We have it all wrong!

We don't want to suffer and we don't want those we love to suffer; suffering hurts; pain hurts. 

You don't become broken without pain.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When we are in pain, we run to have it alleviated; whether it be pills, surgery, therapy, or alternative medicine. Pain management is big business; so is rehab for the addiction to pain meds. 

Jesus is usually the last resort!

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus was broken for us; He endured the pain of the Cross for our sins! He bore our iniquities and by His stripes . . .

“And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We know Isaiah 53:5 and we want the results, but we want it without the suffering!

“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.”

Matthew‬ ‭10:38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We want salvation; we want the blessings without obedience!

“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  Matthew‬ ‭16:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is a hard message, for the sugar coated gospel teaches gain with no pain! If faced with the choice of salvation without suffering the majority would indeed make that choice; because they have not read The Word and they believe the lie. There is great deception in the church. You cannot believe any man (or woman) without verifying, for yourself, what The Bible says! 

Jesus knew the deception that would come!

“And He said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.”  ‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He led the way; gave us Commandments to follow to enable us to walk in His Way!

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Salvation is not a one time event! It is a hard narrow road that requires a focused reliance on God. It requires being remade into the likeness of Jesus, which means giving up what you want for what God wants! It means going through the fire! It means facing many storms. It means surrendering and dying to self; your only confidence is to be in Him.

The storms in this life have purpose. Their design is to drive us to Him; to expose our idols; to bring us to repentance! 

In this life, the trees that bend in the storms, submitting, survive. Those that "stand" rigid are blown over, uprooted and die.

How do you repent, if you don't know you have sin? The church has compromised so much, it has even made the sin of unbelief acceptable. Unrepented sin leads to cold, hard hearts. 

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” ‭Hebrews‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We have put up with sin for so long it is the new norm.

“For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭11:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The first and last message of Jesus was "repent!"

(Matthew 4:17, Revelation 3:19)

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

Jesus speaking to the church!

Of what should you repent? Unforgiveness buried in your heart! Judgments you have made! Resentment, bitterness, anger, fear (which is unbelief), worry, gossip, grumbling and complaining, just to name a few! See, these are all acceptable in the church! "Everyone does them!"

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent (lacking self restraint), fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:1-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“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.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And such were some of you:”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:11‬a KJV‬‬

And still are!

Don't take my word for it; pick up your Bible and read it for yourself! 

Church we must repent; for time is short! 

Even so - MARANATHA! 

Master Which Is

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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 ‭22‬:‭36-40‬ KJV)

I perceive that if "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" is the "first and great commandment", then NOT loving "Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" will be the greatest sin!

How do we know if we are fulfilling the first and great commandment?

Most people think they are and THAT'S why it's so difficult to get them to see they are not saved.

Earlier this week I listened to, and posted a link to Joyce Green's Testimony on Sermonindex.com.  Something she said has haunted me all week!  I'm paraphrasing: " When I was lost, but thought I was saved!"

Why it impacted me so greatly was - I was there. Four years ago, I "thought" I was saved too! In my youth, I had asked Jesus into my heart; been baptized in water and in The Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues; went to church every time the doors were open - even sang in the choir! If someone had asked me if I was saved, I would have given a resounding "YES!" 

BUT now I know the difference! 

You see I loved ME more than God! In fact I loved everything more than God! My family, my home, career, church, my life; He took a back seat to everything! I was a sinner! I had idols. I had unforgiveness, bitterness, fear, anger, worry, all hidden in my heart! I did everything "man" had told me to do, to be saved, but I didn't have love! 

We cannot love on our own, it's not in us! He has to give us His love! 

"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."(‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ KJV)

"And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. (1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭3-5‬ KJV)

And here is the clincher! 

"He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." (‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ KJV)

I'm sure Joyce and I are not the only ones who "were lost, but thought we were saved!" In fact, I submit the most in the church are in that same boat! 

“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There is so much more to being a follower of Jesus Christ, than what we have been taught! It's not works! It's relationship! Because we know Him, we love Him and we WANT to do what He says! We give up our wants for His! We walk in His way because we want to obey His commandments! We want to please Him! 

Don't be a Christian, be a follower of Jesus Christ! Read your Bible DAILY! Seek Him with your whole heart! Ask The Holy Spirit to reveal the sin that is hiding in your heart and then repent! Ask God to show you where you have missed it, and He will! Welcome His exposure and cleansing! Conviction hurts but freedom feels so good!

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”  Psalms‬ ‭37:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Especially if your desire is for Him!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 1/30/16

How Will They

"How will they know?" is a question that rings through my head.

So many times I hear people state, "Well, we know they are a Christian" when describing someone facing a life or death situation - in need of prayer. 

And I didn't know they are. 

So are they?

If you are a Christian, won't it be evident? Isn't there supposed to be a difference in everything about you?  It's not about going to church, it's about forsaking the world. It's a change of heart. It's something that can't be hidden. 

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Many, many people have gone to the altar and said a few words and have been pronounced "Christian", but there has been no change. So now they think they are okay with God, because that's what they've been told.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew‬ ‭16:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I was the same way! For 60 years, I went to church, sang in the choir, spoke in tongues but did whatever I my heart desired. I lived for myself. I lived in and of the world. AND I was told I was saved.

I was lied to!

I did just what the church told me to do! And my heart was cold and hard. I had anger and unforgiveness, bitterness, fear, envy and all sorts of other sins hiding there; stuffed full from years of disobedience to God's Word, but the church said I was saved. It believed a lie, and so did I.

“And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭18:21-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Someone told me the Truth, five years ago, and it made me mad, but I decided to find out for myself. I went to The Word to prove him wrong; God opened my eyes and I saw my sin. I knew I needed a Savior, and I chose to obey His Word. 

I've never been the same. 

What if I hadn't been told?

How many of you have family members who you think are saved, because they said some words, but have had no visible change? It's easier to believe the lie than confront the issue. We are so consumed with "not offending" we are risking our loved ones going to hell. 

If you don't tell them, who will?

Of course, it could be you who needs to be told. Maybe you are the one who said some words and think you are okay. Maybe you are consumed with yourself and only think of God when you have a need. Maybe you love your life so much you are unwilling to lose it for the sake of the Gospel.

I hope this makes you mad enough to go to your Bible to prove me wrong, because if that describes you - you are destined for hell.

You see I must tell you - I have no choice! 

“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel‬ ‭3:18-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Repent - for time is short. 

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew‬ ‭7:22-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:42‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA! 

In My Younger

In my younger years, during the lean times, I learned the difference between "need" and "want." Now, from a spiritual side, I have a different understanding of them. And once again, it comes down to the heart.

While listening to a popular song, on the way to church yesterday, I heard the 23rd Psalm recited. It was a newer translation, and it gave me pause.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:1‬ ‭

That "sounds" soooo good, BUT!

I looked it up and found multiple translations say the same. (GNB‬‬, NLT, NCV)

Then another says:

“The LORD is my shepherd. I am never in need.”  Psalms‬ ‭23:1‬ ‭GW‬‬

Most people would not have an issue with either -

BUT

So, I looked up the definitions.

need:

verb

1. 1. 

   
   

   require (something) because it is essential or very important.

   "I need help now"

   
   

   synonyms:

   require, be in need of, have need of, want;  be crying out for, be desperate for;  demand, call for, necessitate, entail, involve;  lack, be without, be short of "do you need money?"
2. 2. 

   
   

   expressing necessity or obligation.

   "need I say more?"

   
   

   synonyms:

   have to, be obliged to, be compelled to "you needn't come"

noun

1. 1. 

   
   

   circumstances in which something is necessary, or that require some course of action; necessity.

   "the basic human need for food"

   
   

   synonyms:

   necessity, obligation, requirement, call, demand "there's no need to apologize"

2. 2. 

   
   

   a thing that is wanted or required.

   "his day-to-day needs"

   
   

   synonyms:

   requirement, essential, necessity, want, requisite, prerequisite, demand, desideratum "basic human needs"

As s child I had memorized the King James which says:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalms‬ ‭23:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So I looked up -

want

verb

1. 1. 

   
   

   have a desire to possess or do (something); wish for.

   "I want an apple"

   
   

   synonyms:

   desire, wish for, hope for, aspire to, fancy, care for, like;  long for, yearn for, crave, hanker after, hunger for, thirst for, cry out for, covet;  need; informalhave a yen for, have a jones for, be dying for "do you want more coffee?"
2. 2. 

   archaic

   
   

   lack or be short of something desirable or essential.

   "you shall want for nothing while you are with me"

noun

1. 1. 

   archaic

   
   

   a lack or deficiency of something.

   "Victorian houses which are in want of repair"

   
   

   synonyms:

   lack, absence, nonexistence, unavailability; More
2. 2. 

   
   

   a desire for something.

   "the expression of our wants and desires"

   
   

   synonyms:

   wish, desire, demand, longing, yearning, fancy, craving, hankering; need, requirement;  informalyen "all her wants would be taken care of"

Do you see the difference?

As I said, it's about the heart. 

There is a huge difference in God giving you what you need, and Him being the fulfillment of your every want. 

When watching my pennies, I got what I "needed", but I still had "wants."  I would often dream about a day when I could buy what I "wanted!"

In the KJV - David is saying "every want is met; God had met his every desire; he was satisfied in Him!

It starts out as denying the flesh and then becomes the realization, He is MORE than enough; nothing else compares. It's the difference between fleeting happiness and joy unspeakable!

It's discovering a greater wealth that money can't buy.

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms‬ ‭37:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Especially when He is the desire of your heart!

My prayer: Father, forgive me for the times when You were not enough.  I repent of the desires of the flesh and thank You for Your mercy and Your grace. Amen.

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:7-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA! 

And He Said

“And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Does that describe you?

Is your heart cold?

Do you need healing?

Do you just go through the motions in your walk with The LORD?

Has it been a long time since you had a fire for Him?

Are you still going to church every week but thinking about everything in the world but 

Jesus, during the service?

Is the only time you mention 

His name; when you are angry?

Do you get more enjoyment washing your car, mowing your lawn, or playing a video game; than spending time reading your Bible?

Do you even know you've missed Him?

Do you care?

Then do not believe for a moment that you will see heaven! No matter what words you said when; no matter what your denomination preaches; no matter how loud the voice inside your head says, "you're okay" - you are headed to hell!

But as long as you draw a breath, it is not too late! You can repent and turn from your sin! Just don't wait too long!

Yes, this is a tough message, and it may make you mad, however I love you enough to warn you! 

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 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. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation‬ ‭3:14-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Time is short!

Repent!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 5/7/14

This Then Is

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:5-8‬ ‭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 we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 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 ‭6:22-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We all know people that are the epitome of love. They truly have a gift of loving people! You never hear a negative word out of their mouth about another person. They are always uplifting and genuinely caring about others. Always putting someone else's needs first. We love to be around them. They reflect the love of Jesus and we bask in that light! 

They are light!

And then there are those we know, that all they do is criticize and complain. They are hard to be around and we often limit our contact with them. Some are so hard to be around, they seem to suck the life out of you. Their darkness is in your face.

Then there are the ones that appear to walk in the light but the darkness is just below the surface. They are these:  "If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness." 

They are the ones that "have it all together!"

It all comes down to seeing; what you are looking at! If all you look at is good - then you see good in all you see. If all you look at is bad - then all you see is bad. 

What are you focusing on?

I was in photography in my youth and had many filters for my camera. Some blurred the image. Some cast a different color. My favorite was the star. It made every bit of light in the image reflect the shape of a star! It didn't change the image but it changed our perception of the image!

That's how keeping our eyes on Jesus changes all we see! Our perception (of people we see and situations we encounter) is filtered through Him! No longer is something or someone hopeless, because in Him is the power to change - EVERYTHING!

Now, we all have the ability to be the second and third type of people. The second comes naturally! The third is how we are when we clean ourselves up! The first type takes a miracle from God!

For someone to be filled up with God they first have to empty themselves of "self". You see there is no "good" in any of us. It takes confessing and repenting of the sin that we hold onto. Our favorites; ones that are little sins that occupy the space in our hearts that God has to fill for us to be like Him! The pesky sins like unforgiveness, bitterness and lust for approval. They seem so small alongside theft or murder, but they are actually more insidious! Those are the ones we do not pay attention to, but will actually send us to hell! 

Admitting you are a sinner is just the first step to getting to heaven! Salvation is a journey that you walk everyday, that takes you to your destination! The steps you take depends upon where you end!

Walk in love! 

Walk in repentance! 

Walk in forgiveness!

Walk like Jesus!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

 From 10/3/14

Reading In Acts

Reading in Acts this morning.

“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:51-53‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Not much has changed. Religion is still religion and we are still stiffnecked. Our hearts are still hard and we refuse to obey God's Word. 

The next chapter:

“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”  Acts‬ ‭8:20-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Do you see this?

"for thy heart is not right in the sight of God" and " if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."

It's always been about the heart!

If asked, though, we all believe our hearts to be "okay!" We all say "God knows my heart!" and yes, He does. The problem is we are deceived and we don't know our own heart!

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

When we refuse to obey God's Word and repent, our sins are stored in our heart. You may deny they are there, but God knows. He sees the unforgiveness you've stuffed down there. He knows the bitterness and the anger! He's aware of the resentment and the judgments; the fear and worry, even though you refuse to acknowledge it all. 

Instead of having a heart for God; (one that desires a clean and pliable heart before God) you have a heart for the world; the things it offers and you excuse and justify your sins. You look just like and sound just like the world. Your thoughts are the same. How do I know? Because of what comes out of your mouth.

“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

Until we acknowledge and repent of our sins, they remain. 

You can say you have "dealt with all of that" all you want, but your mouth betrays you. The unforgiveness and judgements have tied you to every circumstance that caused you pain; from childhood on! You still remember and it still hurts. And the sad part is, it keeps happening over and over, and will continue, until you do repent. 

THAT is the disobedience; refusal to obey God's Word and repent! Refusal to humble yourself and acknowledge you are a sinner in need of a Savior! 

How can I say all of this? 

I know, because I was just like you! 

I was churched; I stuffed; and I did the same dumb things over and over, and excused the heartache until I could bear it no longer. At the end of my rope, I came to the conclusion I was not enough and I cried out to God. I then found out HE IS ENOUGH! 

There is one Hope, and His name is Jesus Christ! 

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

Even so - MARANATHA! 

What?

What are you seeking?

Are you seeking healing?

Are you seeking salvation for your  wife, husband or children?

Are you seeking a job or a new home?

Are you looking to lose weight this year or start a hobby?

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If you are not seeking God  FIRST, then how can those things be added to you?

It is so easy to get caught up in life; hard things, easy things, good things, bad things! But in the Kingdom of God you have to lose your life to find it! 

“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He (God) has got to be the principal purpose of your life. He has to consume your thoughts; not your desire for some "thing" or some "one" else. It doesn't work that way. He has to be what you desire more than anything else. And when you are seeking God with all your heart, it really doesn't matter if you get anything else. It won't matter if you lose everything you possess. It won't matter if you have a new job. It won't matter if you live under a bridge. It won't matter if you die; to you!

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians‬ ‭1:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The only thing, in this life that truly matters, is Him and your relationship with Him! He has to be your everything; above everything this life has to offer - including your children!

“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” ‭Matthew‬ ‭10:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If Jesus Christ is truly your LORD, then this world holds no attraction for you! 

If He is NOT your greatest desire then check your heart! Your salvation depends on this simple yet difficult truth! 

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”  ‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“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.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You can't love your children with all of your heart and love God with all of your heart! 

God won't settle for a part of your heart! He shouldn't have to! He gave His Son for you!

“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

Even so - MARANATHA!  

From 2/28/15 

Ho Every One

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Are you thirsty enough to come? Sometimes we are called out of our comfort zone and required to step out, where our flesh doesn't want to go, to get to the waters!  

Which is more important; submitting in obedience and pleasing Him, or our own gratification?  It's a battle of the wills; His will or ours!

“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.”  Isaiah‬ ‭55:6-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

"While He may be found" denotes there may be a time when He won't be found; a chilling thought! Sometimes there is a narrow window of opportunity and we must reach out and grab, while we can.

“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 ‭55:8-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

"My thoughts . . . " in the above verse and "you thought" in the following verse; the two resonate in my mind! 

“These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭50:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It is our nature to put our humanness onto God. We even do it to our pets! In other words, we make them as to be human! Our dogs and cats are not human, though they often reflect our nature! We do the same thing when we try and make God into our own image, giving Him our human attributes. That's backwards! We are to reflect His nature! We were created in His image and we are to be conformed to Him! We are nothing like Him, for we are a stiffnecked and stubborn people! We want everything our way, when, we want it! We are commanded to submit and obey and we resist with our last breath, because we have our father's nature. We are called to "forsake our wicked ways" and "return to The LORD!" but our flesh fights it!

He is God, and we are not!

“Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.”  Psalms‬ ‭50:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We hear all the time how much He loves us; that He is Love! And oh how that is true! However, that truth has been perverted with the lies of the enemy! The devil tells us we are either not good enough to receive His love, or we are kings and queens and deserve it all!  Where we miss it is - it's not about us! 

It's about Him and Him alone!

Because of His mercy, He will abundantly pardon when we repent.

When we are conformed to His Son's image and take on Jesus's attributes, we become a servant, just like Jesus! Our only purpose: to do The Father's bidding; that's the answer to WWJD!

"True worship is obedience to God!" KC

“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.” Psalms‬ ‭50:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Thank You Father for the privilege to come clean in repentance and draw closer to You! My heart yearns for You; anticipating Your forgiveness, for You alone are my desire! May I, humbly, please You and serve You well today!

Even so - MARANATHA!

From 2/21/16, 11/17/16

And The LORD

“And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places: And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.” Numbers‬ ‭33:50-53‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭33:55‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭33:56‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

And we have done the same. 

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

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

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

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

Just as in the days of Josiah:

“And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go ye, enquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.”  ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭22:11-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

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

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

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

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

Repent!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 10/26/15

The Beauty

The beauty of tears!

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

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

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

“My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭16:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

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

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

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

“I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

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

“Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!”

‭‭John‬ ‭11:35-36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” Jeremiah‬ ‭9:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

“Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

God believes our tears to be important! 

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” Psalms‬ ‭56:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalms‬ ‭126:5-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Father, turn our hearts back to you and give us tears for the lost! "Break our hearts for what breaks Yours." Casting Crowns 'Jesus, Friend Of Sinners'

Even so - MARANATHA! 

9/14/16

Refining Fires

Refining fires!

Purpose: to purify!

"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." (‭Zechariah‬ ‭13‬:‭9‬ KJV)

Precious metals are put in the refiner's fire to rid them of impurities.

As the metal melts, the impurities come to the surface where they are removed by master smith. Those impurities are called dross! 

Then down the metal goes - back into the fire! Once again to be heated to the melting point and the dross again floats to surface! The master smith again removes the dross and the metal is cooled!  This process is repeated over and over until the master smith sees his reflection in the metal. Then he knows it is pure! 

The same goes for the refining fires in our lives! God uses them to remove the dross (sin) to purify us!

But what happens when we don't repent of the sin; when we will not let go of the things of the flesh that separates us from Him? What happens then? He turns up the fire and puts us back in the oven! God is determined to rid us of those things that will keep us from spending eternity with Him! Sometimes there are big sins and then sometimes there are the "little sins" like pride, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, worry or fear! Those little sins that "don't hurt anyone but ourselves!" THAT is a lie because all sin affects everyone around us! And even the little impurities mar the reflection of Him in us! 

Often we have assumed, when the fires continue, or just keep getting hotter and hotter as our trials go on and on, and get worse and worse, that it's about endurance! But consider this; it just might be about surrender! 

When the SAME trial occurs over and over, again and again then it's not about endurance. It's about a refusal to submit.

If the sin is pride, holding fast is like being stuck in the mud with our tires buried up to the axel; "ya ain't going nowhere!" We have to dig our way out and we have to have help! We must ask for help, and that involves having someone to assist us! When the issue is pride - THAT is the last thing we want to do! And THAT is what HAS to happen to remove it! 

“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

Confessing your sin and repenting of that sin to another person is the key to healing! That is why so many stay sick, because denominations have not obeyed this scripture for generations! Confession is hard; it's painful and it's obedience is rewarded with freedom and healing!

Obedience and submission to God and His Commandments is a requirement; not an option!

WHEN  the fire gets hot enough; WHEN we are left in there long enough; God knows - that WHEN THAT point arrives, we WILL submit!  

“for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” 1 Peter‬ ‭5:5b-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If at THAT point we ULTIMATELY refuse, then like satan we will bear the consequences of our actions or lack thereof!

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”  Proverbs‬ ‭16:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

HE IS GOD and we are not! 

Examine your heart! Ask God to show you if there is anything hiding there of which you need to repent and then find someone you can trust then confess and repent of your sin! 

You will be healed!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 7/26/16

Wherefore The King

‬‬“Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.”  1 Kings‬ ‭12:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

"for the cause was from the LORD"

That phrase has stuck in my head for two days!

How many of us would consider, that a situation we are going through, would be from The LORD? We are quick to attribute all things good "as from Him" (as we should) however, the bad? Would we give Him credit or the devil? 

I had always been taught it was the devil that was "causing" whatever trial I was battling! I never heard that God might have His hand in it, for my correction. Never was I taught to inquire of The LORD, of sins that were in need of repentance; to ask Him where I had "missed it!" 

When you stop and think about it; if the storm you are in, is from God (to change your direction; to turn you back to Him) and if you fight it - you are fighting God. And I know for a fact, you will not win that fight! He will prevail!

People don't turn to God when they win the lottery!  But, when their world falls apart, they are quick to call on Him! That is the whole reason for the storms; a course correction! 

I was reminded, this week, of a woman we prayed with a couple of years ago. She had been raped by two men and they had thrown battery acid in her face, so that she would not be able to identify them. She had no eyes, no nose, no ears, and her skin looked like cottage cheese! Her attack had been so recent, that she still had scabs on her neck and an IV port was visible. 

The week before she had heard The Power Of Forgiveness message on cd, which had been given out at her church.

When she came to the altar I asked her if she was ready to forgive her attackers and she said, "Yes, but I don't know their names!"

I told her, "God knows."

Right there, she chose to forgive them, and repented of her sins. 

She later told the pastor, that that attack was the best thing that had ever happened to her, because it had stopped her in her tracks! She had been on her way to hell, with the life she was living, but that one event had changed her life and turned her to God! She was set free!

God will do whatever it takes, to get your attention, to bring you to Him! Often times, it takes a series of events to get our attention, culminating in a major catastrophe, especially if our rebellion runs deep!

This is serious folks!

You see, this life is not about how successful you can be, what kind of car you drive, what neighborhood you live in, or where you go to school; it's all about where you will spend eternity! 

It's ALL about Him! 

Living for Him!

And that purpose is not just for those called to preach! It's the rule for everyone walking the face of this earth! We were made for Him; for His good pleasure!

He is God! 

We are not! 

Yet, we live like we are; our choices; our happiness; our desires; our wants!

Until we make Him our Principal Purpose, we will know no joy, for only in Him will we realize why we are here on this earth! He is the reason for our being! He is our fulfillment! And our life makes no sense and does not begin until we come to that realization! There is only satisfaction in Him!

So, if your life is falling apart; if you have tried everything this world has to offer and nothing has helped, private message me and I will send you a copy of the cd that changed my life, free of charge! 

At the end of my rope was where I was, when a friend gave me the cd! It seemed I had searched forever, in and out of church, trying to do "it" on my own, and then a "CAUSE from The LORD", changed my life, and I'll forever be grateful and live to serve Him!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 9/4/16

The Words

“The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:11-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I have always loved to read. And I've always loved to learn. But I've never been much for school, though I know many who excel at education; some who never seem to get enough. 

I very seldom, now, read anything except for my Bible. I am leery of anything written today, because I know we are in the last days. And I am very careful about what I "take in" because God's Word admonishes me to guard my heart!

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:1-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If you do not read your Bible, you will not know what is the Truth. Anyone can tell you something, saying, "this is "truth", this is "good"", but if it is not substantiated by God's Word, it's not "Truth!" The "truth" the world teaches is subjective; his truth, my truth, your truth, and THAT is a lie. There is only one Truth! 

You cannot believe differently and call yourself a Christian!

If you have a higher education then you will have to give up, the humanism you have been taught, and give control back to God! For our education system is actually a religion in itself, and cannot "co-exist" with God! Education says it can, but God says He won't!  You see there is only one God and man is not Him! The Creator of The Universe has the last word in EVERYTHING or He is not your God!

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If you think there was another way everything came about; I submit to you, you are not a Christian!

If God's Word is not the final authority in your life, then you are deceived. 

If He is not your Principle Purpose, then you are lost!

If you are searching for The Truth, He will be found! You who go to church, and are seeking, pick up your Bible and begin reading. Let God prove Himself to you! He will!!!!

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:13-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Time is running out for all of us and whether you believe it or not, we all will face The Judgement. We all will give an account. No one is exempt. 

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”  2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭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 ‭KJV‬‬

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”  Luke‬ ‭13:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Repent while there is still time!

Joyce Green said, "I was lost, when I thought I was saved!"  

Me too!

“Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA 

From 2/2/16, 5/14/16