So I Returned

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

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

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fear Him! 

Obey His Commandments! 

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

He (not we) is to be lifted up! 

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

Repent while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 10/25/14

And I Will

“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

The trial you are going through; this storm, raging all around you is the refining fire!

If you are not walking with The LORD; He's trying to get your attention! Call out to Him!

If you have been walking with The LORD; He's wanting to purify you; clean you up more!

Ask God what He's wanting to tell you!  What the purpose of this trial is and thank Him! Praise Him in this storm!  Let Him have His perfect work in you!

Do not pray for the storm to end so that you can go about "business as usual!”

You had better "count it all joy", and "in everything give thanks"!

Stop grumbling and complaining and start praising Him!  

This hard place you are in is the best thing that has ever happened to you! You just don't know it yet!

Even so - MARANATHA!

From 8/27/13

Who Gets The Glory

Who gets the glory?

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Matthew‬ ‭6:1-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Does the above scripture describe most ministries? Sadly no.

Charitable deeds are shouted from the housetops and proclaimed on social media!

I was thinking the other day how successful so many "ministries" have become. They command arenas and charge high dollar ticket prices for concerts or conferences. The "show" is practically indistinguishable from those of the world! And the words "reach",  "numbers",  and "thousands responding"; catch phrases to denote success; all the while proclaiming "God gets the glory", while their name are the ones in lights!

Headliners! Opening acts! Pyrotechnics!

The music even sounds the same; just the words are changed! 

Don't get me wrong! 

I love contemporary Christian music! It's all I listen to and am often moved to tears by the way the message of some the songs touch my heart! 

However, when you can't tell the difference, between the songs, the glam, or the promotion then you should be questioning the spirit behind it all!

There is a spirit of mixture; a spirit of compromise that has saturated the church and was prophesied to happen by Jesus Himself! We are warned repeatedly to beware lest we be deceived! And yet we are! 

We are unaware! 

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Just in case you haven't noticed, we are in "the last days!" 

Reading The Bible, these days, is much more accurate than the newspaper.  The location and events occurring around the world, and especially here, are right on schedule, and if you want to know what tomorrow will bring, dust it off and start reading! 

“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.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:1-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus HAS to be the headliner! 

He's supposed to get ALL the glory! 

We are supposed to lift HIM up, not ourselves! 

Yes, artists have families to support and the costs to put on an event is astronomical, however you have to look at WHOSE NAME is above ALL names?

Sadly, I see every name but Jesus!  

IF outwardly it's not Jesus, why would we expect it inwardly to be the case?

Just because you say "Lifting up the name of Jesus", doesn't mean too much if your name is the one in lights or your picture is all over the place! 

Jesus does not need to be promoted! He needs to be obeyed! 

The money that is being spent to take a show on the road; what impact will it have on the lives of the ones who are buying the tickets? "Changing Lives", is the catch phrase of today, but no lives are changed because repentance is not preached! There is no change of heart because no one knows what sin is and they believe they are heaven bound because they said a few words after walking the aisle with a few hundred people, but then went home ridiculing the homeless person the see on the corner, for not working; disobeying their parent; fighting with their spouse; lying to their employer; saying mean things on their Facebook page about the people sitting in front of them at the concert; or complaining because the waitress got their order wrong at McDonalds.

“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

Nor will those who hold unforgiveness in their hearts!

“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

All of you who are talking nonstop bout the moral failures of the world need to take a good long look at your own heart! 

Unforgiven people will not be in heaven!

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” Matthew‬ ‭7:1-5‬ ‭KJV

It's all about the heart! Your heart!

It's all about repentance! Repentance of sin! Of changing course and turning from the sins that have you bound!

HOWEVER -

"You will never be free of the things that you love!" (Andy Brink)

“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

You have to hate your sin and know you can't do anything about it on your own!

To be saved, you must know you need a Savior!

Examine your heart!

Repent!

Cry out to God, while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 6/11/15

If My People

“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

I’ve  been doing a study on the Word “wicked” and in my search the above scripture was the first to catch my attention.  We always concentrate on the healing of our land, on repentance, and the forgiveness of our sins. Do we ever look at it and realize that God is speaking to His people; called by His name and says we have wicked ways? 

Not the world - His people. 

Do you think you might have some wicked ways? Does that bother you?

Here, the preachers are warned -

“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.” Ezekiel‬ ‭3:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Preachers preach to the church, not the world. The world is already condemned. 

So what does the word wicked mean?

wick·ed

adjective- evil or morally wrong.

1. synonyms:

   evil, sinful, immoral, wrong, morally wrong, wrongful, bad, iniquitous, corrupt, base, mean, vile;  villainous, nefarious, erring, foul, monstrous, shocking, outrageous, atrocious, abominable, depraved, reprehensible, hateful, detestable, despicable, odious, contemptible, horrible, heinous, egregious, execrable, fiendish, vicious, murderous, black-hearted, barbarous; criminal, illicit, unlawful, illegal, lawless, felonious, dishonest, unscrupulous; malfeasant

Hollywood has for the past 50 years dressed up the “wicked!” In the past 20 years they have actually made “wicked” glamorous. They’ve made it funny and even made cartoons for the kiddos. They have desensitized the public so that despicable, monstrous, barbarous, murderous, depraved acts are not shocking. People actually pay money and sit for hours watching films that depict morally wrong, heinous acts that our great grandparents would not even have known about.  The evil of today knows no bounds; lawlessness is the norm and the majority in the church are its viewers, whether on TV or film. Oh and we now have it, at our fingertips, on our smart phones. 

Does that sound harsh? Most do not see themselves as wicked. But God is the One who sets the standard. It’s His Commandments we are to follow! 

“Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.” Psalms‬ ‭119:155‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In Galatians we learn what is considered “wicked!”

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Followers of Christ, we are to put to death the deeds of the flesh. Which means when we want to do any of those things  - we resist and repent of such thoughts! We instead do what The Word says to do! We take every thought captive.  “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Okay, so, say we aren’t involved in an adulterous relationship or drunken brawls but, if we are watching the like on TV and in movies aren’t we partakers of that sin? 

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew‬ ‭5:28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isn’t that the same thing? 

What about sorcery?  Witchcraft? It is blatant in almost every children’s program. You could say they are being programmed to accept something God detests. And it has worked! 

“God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭7:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Praise God for His mercy and His grace! But how long will we get by with partaking of the world?

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” 2 Peter‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Have you already been led away and not know it?

If you are indistinguishable from unbelievers, you probably have been, for we are to be a peculiar people; set apart. We are not supposed to look like or act like the world! And we are surely NOT supposed to love the world! 

“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

We need to examine our hearts to see where we have missed it!

“And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms‬ ‭139:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If we are indeed are His, then we care if what we do is pleasing to Him. We seek Him with our whole hearts and are concerned with His concerns!

“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.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even Jesus said -

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

Do we? 

If we keep His Commandments then we are living under His blessings. When we don’t - then the curse is on us.  You can look around the church and see evidence of the curse everywhere!

“There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭48:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Peace is more than no conflict or torment! It is tangible! I had never known what peace was until I repented of my sins! I was amazed! Still am! And I guard my peace well! If I fall into sin (disobedience or unbelief) and lose it - I quickly ask The Lord to show me where I’ve missed it - so I may repent! He is faithful! I quickly find a friend, confess and repent and my peace is restored! 

“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” Psalms‬ ‭10:4‬ ‭

When we continue in our sin and listen to the enemy, “Oh it’s just a little sin! Won’t hurt nothin!” And refuse to repent, we become “the wicked!”

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. 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 ‭8:44‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Can we be in church and not follow God? Most assuredly! 

“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

It’s a matter of who you choose to serve; God or the devil?

Remember the story of the wheat and the tares?

“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;” Matthew‬ ‭13:38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The wicked are the children of the wicked one. 

How do you not be wicked? Repent! Turn from your evil ways! Make Jesus your LORD and Savior! That’s why He died! But you say,  “I’ve already done that!” Most believe they have, yet their lives were not changed! That’s why they still enjoy the things of this world. When the change has occurred there is no longer an attraction to the things of the world!

Do you need to repent? 

Let’s Pray:

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

Even so - MARANATHA 

From 8/4/18

*Prayer from “The Pardon”

And Ye My Flock

“And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭34:31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

What a comfort! 

He IS God, and we are not!

You know, when you assume His role as God in your life, there is no peace. 

There is fear of failure! There is worry - the "what ifs"! There is the torment in the night of not being able to shut down your brain so you can sleep, so there is no rest. There is the responsibility of the world on your shoulders! Everything and everybody's very existence hinges on your performance! 

I am so thankful I abdicated! 

See, I carried that weight for what seemed like forever. I am now, no longer Ruler over my land! I gave up that role and sold out to The One Who bought and paid for it all; for me! I gladly serve Him, and Him alone! There is great freedom in being only a servant.

He is my Provider!

He is my Healer!

He fights all of my battles

He is my LORD! 

He is my everything!

I am nothing except His!

I am so happy to be free! And no one can take that away nor snatch me out of His hands! I belong to Him!

You can too! 

Step away from The Throne!

Repent!

Father, I come to you asking for Your forgiveness for not letting You be God. I repent of my unbelief in thinking I needed to control everything and that You weren’t big enough. I acknowledge You, and only You, control everything in my world. I thank You for Your mercy and Your grace and ask You to take control over every facet of my life. You ARE God and I am not, and for that I am grateful and I praise Your Holy name.

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 10/26/14

The Great Day

“The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,”

‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭1:14-15‬ ‭KJV

“And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.”

‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Most people, when they think of "The great day of the LORD" believe it will come on those who are evil. You know, men who murder, or rob, or who are involved in terrible sexual sins. And then we read: “and punish the men that are settled on their lees (NKJV - “complacent”): that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.”

Complacent men. 

Would that describe you?

You live a decent life; moral, hard working, go to church, provide for your family, pay your taxes. Maybe spend too much time watching tv, drink a few beers, but, hey - you don't beat your wife and kids. You are being a good as you know how to be!

The definition:

Complacent: pleased, especially with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied

A complacent man lives in unbelief! Oh, he may say he believes in God, but, just the fact he is complacent exposes his true heart! He prays but doesn't really expect an answer. He thinks "God helps those who helps themselves!"  He may read about the "great day of the LORD", but doesn't believe it will happen in his lifetime! After all, he's heard about the "end of time", all of his life and nothing has changed! 

"The LORD will not do good, 

Nor will He do evil.'"

Oh, what an awakening is in store for that man! 

You see, The LORD does do good! He is daily, actively, involved in your life; His hand touches all that involves you and yours! You think YOU are in control, and that couldn't be farther from the truth! For He IS Truth! He is EVERYTHING, and there is nothing without Him, not even your next breath! He holds everything in the palm of His hand. You exist for Him, not the other way around! And someday all of this will end! All of your hard work will be for naught! The only lasting thing is what you did for Him! (1 Corinthians 3:9-15) You will stand before The Judgment Seat of Christ and give an account of your life! (2 Corinthians 5:10)

‬‬

“The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,”

‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭1:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” Zephaniah‬ ‭1:16-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Repent you who are complacent, while there is still time!

“Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.” Zephaniah‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 4/7/16

Earlier This Week

Earlier this week someone posted: "can the devil read your thoughts?"

This is what I know to be true. 

No, the devil cannot; he doesn't have to, for he is the one putting the evil thoughts in your head. 

You see, not every voice in your head is your own!

There are three voices in our head.

 • The enemy's voice (loud, controlling, accusatory, demeaning); 

 • God's voice (a still small voice speaking His Word, guiding us in righteousness); 

 • and our voice (the one we choose to come into agreement with, when we speak!) 

My post yesterday morning was an old one, that I revised a bit. What was on my heart was whose voice we listen to, and how to discern the difference.  

Then immediately, a friend/pastor posted a message from Carter Conlon that said, "in other words, The Lord commands us to have a change of heart; to agree with Him and turn from what is wrong. LISTEN TO GOD'S VOICE"

Then on my way to work I listened to the cd, ‘The Power Of Forgiveness’ by Ken Carpenter (which I have done almost every month for the past 4 years.)

When Bro Ken said the following sentence, I had to stop the cd! 

"I had agreed with the devil"

See the pattern?

How do you agree with the devil? 

You listen to his voice whispering in your ear when he tells you, "you have every right to be mad; or "you don't deserve to be treated that way"; or "if he/she cared - they wouldn't have . . . "; or (you get the picture!)

And then you speak it! 

You say it out loud!  

THAT is coming into agreement with the thought. 

See, it doesn't matter what someone else does or says; what matters is your obedience and relationship with God!

God knows, the struggle is in your mind and He gave us His Word with which to fight the enemy!

“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

The Word says:‬‬

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“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

God is soooooo trying to get our attention! He knows we try, but listening to the enemy's voice has taken us off the narrow path! We think we are okay. The church has been so deceived! God is saying: "Hear Me! Obey Me! Listen to My voice! Don't listen to the devil, and do not agree with him!"

He's giving us a message; will you listen?

Still reading in Jeremiah: 

“Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭44:4-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Instead they listened to “lying spirits!‬‬”

“And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭22:21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

How do you know?‬‬

“But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The enemy will whisper in your ear, and tell you lies. He will also whisper in the ears of those you love or respect, and they, not knowing the truth, will speak what they hear and it will hurt you! That is the devil's intent; to hurt you, to bring you down, to distract you from keeping your eyes on God! If you are concentrating on what the devil is doing you are NOT concentrating on what God wants you to do!  

You have a choice, to whose voice you will listen; to whose voice you will obey! 

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Matthew‬ ‭12:36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We must repent for listening to the devil; we must repent for believing his lies; for saying and doing what he directed - being distracted by him. We must be mindful of his ways and cast down his arguments. We must keep our focus on Jesus so we may be used by Him, and Him alone!

Father, I confess that I have listened to the lies of the enemy. Forgive me for entertaining the devil's thoughts. I repent of my sin and for time wasted on his distractions! Thank You Father for showing me my sin , and forgiving me when I confess and turn back to You! I purpose in my heart to listen for Your voice and to follow You! Thank you Father for Your mercy and Your grace, and for picking me back up, when I fall! I choose to obey Your Word and walk in Your ways!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 12/4/16

And The Lord

“And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭7:10-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Do we, like the children of Israel, fall on our face before God, crying "Why O LORD?"; when faced with disappointments and failures?  Do we examine our hearts and let Him expose the accursed things hidden there? Or do we, in unbelief, just blame Him for not being powerful enough to perform as we think He should? 

How many of us are willing to admit that it is our sin that stays His hand?

Still today, we cannot stand before our enemies when we have accursed things hidden in our hearts! We must repent of the unforgiveness, bitterness, anger and unbelief we have buried beneath the  treasures of the world we have coveted! The value of its abundance pales in comparison to the peace that comes with obedience to God's Word!

Father, I come before you this morning with a heavy heart, aware and convicted of my failure to obey Your Word! I have hidden the accursed things of the world amongst my stuff and repent of my sin! I have coveted its treasures and ask for forgiveness, again! Please LORD, continue to shine Your light on the areas of my life that are not pleasing in Your Sight! Make me able to stand before my enemies as I submit to You!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 11/7/15

And One

“And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:36-39‬ ‭KJV‬‬

These scriptures have always meant a great deal to me, for I am that woman; “a sinner!” However this morning I want to talk about "This Man!"

"This Man" IS my life! He gave me His! I was so lost! I was sick, broken, and searching for the reason I existed; trying to make sense of this crazy world; looking for my purpose! I knew there had to be more! How I knew, I have no idea, but something inside kept me looking; and then I found Him!  

You see, I had known OF Him all of my life. Raised in church, I knew the stories of His birth, His death, and His resurrection! My Sunday School teachers had done their job, but they were just that - stories! So I looked elsewhere, for truth; every road ended up being a dead end; each promise of enlightenment led further into darkness! And when I could go no further, when I ran out of road, He offered me His hand, and I grasped it with everything in me, for with that gesture He offered me His life! An exchange was made! He accepted my sins, for which He had died, and gave me His Life! He IS life! He IS EVERYTHING I had been told He is! You notice I didn't say "was", for He IS more alive today than we have ever been! Every step I take, He takes with me! My life IS His, to do with as He sees fit; the exchange was that complete! He IS my Beloved and I am His! 

“And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:40-47‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He forgave my sins, and they were many! 

I was given a CD (by a friend) about the power of Forgiveness and told to make a list of those who had hurt me and of those I had hurt. Unforgiveness is sin. So is resentments, bitterness, judgments, anger, fear, worry, gossiping, grumbling and complaining and Pride!

In obedience to The Word Of God, I met with and humbly confessed and repented of my sins to friends (I could trust) (James 5:16) and His blood was applied to each one; never to be remembered again; by Him or me! And the pain, associated with the hurts/sins, is gone too! His sacrifice was enough; perfect as the life He led! I became His follower, His disciple, His sister, His hands, His feet, His arms, His mouth; in exchange for His peace, His rest, His joy, His life everlasting! 

“And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” Luke‬ ‭7:48-50‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So, "Who is this who forgives sins?" 

He is Jesus! The Son of God made flesh, Who is alive and living in me! He IS every promise in The Bible and every Truth! He is my EVERYTHING! He IS my peace!

You need look no further!

He can be yours, too!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 4/28/16

If you would like a copy of the CD that changed my life, pm me your address and we’ll mail it to you free of charge; we’ll even pay the postage. 

These Are Spots

“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” Jude‬ ‭1:12-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Reading this reminded me of the storms we had last night!  How many of you laid awake fearful; listening to the winds; allowing the enemy to paint pictures of impending doom? 

Well what Jude writes is scarier by far than anything Hollywood has ever come up with! 

“I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude‬ ‭1:5-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He tells the church that even after saving the children from pharaoh, God destroyed those who did not believe; they were the ones who did not fear The Lord and would not follow God's commandments, but chose to walk according to the flesh!

You who, go to church every week, but do not think The Law is for today, let me remind you - Jude is New Testament!  

Yes, God is love and He loves us, however we are to walk in love:

“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” ‭‭2 John‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jude warns of an infiltration in the church of ungodly men contaminating the Truth!

“Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.” Jude‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.” Jude‬ ‭1:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If someone or a denomination is not pointing you to The Law then you are "blind following the blind"!

The Commandments expose your sin;  pointing you to repentance!

Only preaching a feel good message will not pull you out of the fire!

Only by acknowledging your sins, repenting, and turning from your wicked ways, will you be saved from judgement and eternal damnation! 

Time is running out!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From Nov 1, 2013

Addendum: Many on Facebook are stressing greatly over the atrocities we are hearing about around the world. This evil will continue and grow worse and even touch our own lives in the future. We can be consumed in our fears of the times prophesied or we can keep our eyes on The One Who IS in control! We should Fear God and be obedient to His Word and reach out to a deceived nation who believes it is going to heaven! Seek God with your whole heart and repent of your sins while there is still time! 

I Submit

I submit to you there are three things to consider when following a minister/ministry:

1. How big is it and whose name is in lights?

2. Is repentance of sin preached?

3. Does it make you feel good?

“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

1. Jesus is telling us that if it is big; if there are many following - then it’s the broad path and leads to destruction! 

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

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And they went out, and preached that men should repent.” Mark‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

2. Jesus always preached repentance of sin and so did His disciples; a message that seems to be lost today in most ministries.  The “sugar-coated gospel” of today has deceived “the many!” The message of “daily dying” to self (1 Corinth 15:31) which is required to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, doesn’t increase book or record sales, or bring in the mega bucks required to fund high mortgages or the large crusades and conventions! 

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

3. Being rebuked and chastened, at the time does not feel good. But oh,  when repentance is made the peace that passes all understanding comes. 

I love the way Tozer put it: 

“If God sets out to make you an unusual Christian He is not likely to be as gentle as He is usually pictured by the popular teachers. A sculptor does not use a manicure set to reduce the rude, unshapely marble to a thing of beauty. The saw, the hammer and the chisel are cruel tools, but without them the rough stone must remain forever formless and unbeautiful. To do His supreme work of grace within you He will take from your heart everything you love most. Everything you trust in will go from you. Piles of ashes will lie where your most precious treasures used to be. This is not to teach the sanctifying power of poverty. If to be poor made men holy every tramp on park bench would be a saint. But God knows the secret of removing things from our hearts while they still remain to us. What He does is to restrain us from enjoying them. He lets us have them but makes us psychologically unable to let our hearts go out to them. Thus they are useful without being harmful.” A. W. Tozer Sermon: Dross Removal

If a ministry looks and sounds like the world - then it IS the world! 

“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 

There is no compromise in The Gospel! 

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The reason there are so many messages, by so many big name ministries is that we have sought after another Jesus, wanting our ears tickled! God gave us what we wanted!

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”2 Timothy‬ ‭4:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“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 ‭11:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Here is “another spirit!”

“Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? 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 ‭18:20-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

JC Ryle said: “He that is not zealous  against error, is not likely to be zealous for truth!”

I have come to the conclusion that if the world likes it, celebrates it, or acknowledges it/him, I should have nothing to do with it! 

When I first got saved I was angry because of all of the lies that were being preached. Then God showed me that the ministers were as deceived as I had been! You see deceived people do not know they are deceived. 

The Truth, however, is still being preached, but you won’t find it without a search! And most preaching it have been dead for a long time and are not highly thought of by the mainstream! 

Before I heard about forgiveness and repentance I followed all of the big name preachers; male and female! I went to their conferences; bought their books; listened to their podcasts! I only listened to “Christian” radio and tv and had for many years. I was suffering from many illnesses and afflictions! I had not read my Bible from cover to cover; I just read the scriptures the sermons used! 

One day, I was challenged to read my Bible like I would any other book. While reading Deuteronomy, God opened my eyes to the sin I had buried in my heart. Then, through the ministry of forgiveness, I repented of all of the unforgiveness, and judgments I had held onto for so many years. I repented of my anger, lust, fear, worry, bitterness, resentments, gossiping, unbelief, and other things that today’s churches find acceptable, but that God calls sin! When I confessed my sins to a brother and sister (I could trust) and they prayed for me, according to James 5:16, God healed me; and I have stayed healed these 6 years. 

He has done such a mighty work in me! I have been encouraged by my brothers and sisters to stay the course, to dig deep, to die daily, to seek Him with my whole heart and I have continued in repentance when I have failed Him! My overcoming takes perseverance on my part and faith in Him; that He will perfect me!   

I say all of this to encourage you to not take for granted as truth, the messages that abound, but to seek for yourself The Truth! Put away all other books and purpose to read only your Bible for a year. Honor God by giving the same respect to His book, as you would any other author; read it from cover to cover! Pray before you begin: “God open my eyes and ears to receive Your Truth; Your Word is Truth!” Allow Him to have His way in your life! You will never regret it!

Even so. MARANATHA! 

From 3/14/18

For There Shall

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Are you deceived?

Did you know that when you are deceived, you have no clue you are? In fact, you will be convinced you are right and will, like the swine possessed, run headlong off the cliff and perish!

That is what you are doing when you run after "headliners"; when you seek the "signs!”

True prophets do not seek the spotlight! True prophets do not exalt themselves! True prophets of God are humble! Signs and wonders are performed by the unction of God not by demand of a paying public!  True prophets give, they do not charge!

You who've assumed the titles: prophet/prophetess/apostle beware! 

God is a jealous God! He will not share His Glory!  If you are alive and those titles have been placed on you by man and you have gladly accepted them and flaunt them, the sheep you have scattered will be required of you! (Ezekiel 33:1-16)

And you sheep; if you are running to and fro seeking after signs and wonders; going to every big name, feel good preacher of a watered down, sugar coated gospel, do not think you will not be judged!

(Ezekiel 34: 17) 

Do not be deceived! 

If your god requires nothing of you, but promises you everything, it is an idol! 

If your walk, with your god is not changing you and causing you to desire change, it is an idol! 

If you get all of your sermons on TV, feel good for watching and you have dust on your Bible, then you are worshipping an idol! 

God changes not! The Great I Am is still The Great I Am! His Blessings established in the beginning are still operational as are His Curses, when His Laws are broken! 

If you have unrepented sin in your life, you are under the Curse, and that is why you are  sick! You can "claim" the Blessings all you want but will not receive them as long as you are living in rebellion, not turning from your sin! 

If you go to a big convention, and pay to have someone lay hands on you, and are not told to repent, and yet receive a healing, it was not given to you by the Spirit of God, but by the deceiver! 

“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭13:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God still heals! He still answers prayers! He still meets needs! He still requires repentance for salvation! His Mercy & Grace are still new every morning and freely given, however there is a cost; His life for your life! 

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:7-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Repent while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 6/25/14

But If Ye

“But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭12:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

No matter how many times I read this verse, I am amazed, that we as Believers don’t walk closer to The LORD! Such a strong admonition! No mincing of words here! Can anything be worse than The LORD being against us? All because of disobedience to His Word! 

Isn’t that where we are today; walking contrary to His Word? 

We are so deceived! 

We think we are “okay” - we think we are blessed! All the while the curses of The LORD are all over us! Just read Deuteronomy 28! But because our denominations have said The Law is no longer valid we stay in darkness! 

We think because we haven’t stolen, or killed someone, we keep His Commandments. Yet we have not honored our parents, we covet; we lie; our idols are too numerous to mention; not even taking into consideration the sins we have hiding in our hearts! The grumbling and complaining; the unbelief (fear & worry), resentment, bitterness, judging, and the biggest of all - unforgiveness! (Matthew 6:14-15) Because of these sins we are sick, our children and grandchildren are rebellious, divorce is rampant.  We live in the most prosperous country in the world and the most evil. We are so desensitized we don’t even see the unrelenting filth that affronts us in the media! 

We do not seek The LORD!! 

But because we give Him an hour most weeks we are convinced we are good Christians! We might open our Bible occasionally; read a few “affirming” scriptures, or an uplifting book, but to spend time with Him and seek Him as He instructs us to - doesn’t happen! We treat God like our old parents - we’ve put Him away and visit when we have the time. Oh, yes we love Him as long as it doesn’t interfere with our plans!

Yet, when our life falls apart we cry out to Him, and thankfully His mercy and His grace abounds; and He is there!

Continuing in my morning read:

“Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.”

1 Samuel‬ ‭12:23-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Our church leaders have failed to teach us the “good and right way!” They are so concerned with numbers and dollars, they cannot afford to risk offending anyone! The Truth is offensive! It has to be - to turn us around! “We are so lost, yet think we are found!” (to paraphrase Joyce Green!) We justify our sin, instead of owning it and repenting!  We in fact love our sin more than we love The LORD, or we would examine our hearts, humble ourselves and confess our sins that we might be healed! (James 5:16)

The last verse in my read this morning is chilling: “But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭KJV‬

We must turn and repent for we are being consumed! Just read the news.

Father, I pray you open our eyes, open our ears, and change our hearts! Bring us to repentance LORD. Show us our sins! Have mercy on us LORD for we are undone! We thank You for Your grace! Thank You LORD for The Cross; Thank You for The Blood Your Son shed, for us, to make a way back to You! Father please forgive us!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 1/20/18