Do Ye Look

“Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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 ‭10:3-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James‬ ‭1:6-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

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

“(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Through faith and obedience to God's Word, Abraham did and so can you!

Become a great warrior for The LORD! 

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

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

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

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

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 10/9/14

But In

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:20-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Please notice the phrase: 

"If a man therefore purge himself from these"

That phrase tells me we have an active part in our walk, as a Follower of Jesus. 

In the Forgiveness Ministry we encourage everyone to "deal with" (purge) the sins they have buried in their heart, as God reveals. At the core of "dealing with your sin" is confession and repentance; obedience to The Word of God. (James 5:16)

Obeying The Word of God is a requirement if one is to follow Jesus. Even the Son Of God was obedient even unto death on the cross! (Phil 2:8)

Many have been taught that the cross did it all! And they are only partially right. His death did pay the penalty for our sins. However, His death did not make it unnecessary for us to obey His Father's Commandments! 

Jesus offered His blood as the perfect sacrifice for our sins so we did not have to shed ours. He paid the price.  Our part is confessing and repenting of our sin thereby accepting His sacrifice, the forgiveness of our sins! [You have to own your sin to accept His sacrifice!]  Our turning away, from the sin we love, is following Him! [We must love Him more than we love our sin!]

To "follow" means to:

verb

1. 1. 

   go or come after (a person or thing proceeding ahead); move or travel behind.

   "she went back into the house, and Ben followed her"

   synonyms:

   come behind, come after, go behind, go after, walk behind "we'll let the others follow" accompany, go along with, go around with, travel with, escort, attend, trail around with, string along with; informaltag along with "people used to follow the band around"

In essence we are to walk the same steps as Jesus walked; in obedience to The Father/The Word of God! 

Make no mistake, following Jesus is a hard road. He says so Himself. Time and time again, He tells us what is required to be His Disciple, and those requirements have not changed!

“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

It is not easy to follow Jesus! Just some of the things you MUST do is: 

Confess, repent, forgive, stop judging, flee youthful lusts, pursue righteousness, cleanse your heart, don't quarrel, be gentle to all, endure afflictions (with joy); and much, much more! 

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James‬ ‭1:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It's in "doing" The Word, that we are made into His likeness. 

How do you look like Jesus?  By humbling yourself, confessing and repenting of your sin and cleansing your heart, resisting the devil and overcoming temptation, dying to the flesh and carrying your cross. None of which can be done by yourself. 

You purposing in your heart to follow Him, and humbling yourself; He will enable your success! He wants you to succeed and will assist you in supernatural ways, however He will not do it for you! This is your walk! You have to move your feet! You have to be engaged, if you want to be the bride!

“And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.” Matthew‬ ‭22:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

What is your excuse for not obeying His call?

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 6/8/16

The More I Know

“The more I know of Him - 

the less I think of me.” Unknown 

Many "liked" and "loved" this post yesterday. I wonder what it meant to most. 

"The less I think of me" can go a couple of ways.

Spending less time thinking about me or not thinking as highly of myself. 

The actual thought occurred to me on the way to work! I was thinking about Him; what He has done for me. Not only did The Creator of The Universe make everything I see, out of nothing, He did the same of me!

All of my life, I was so full of me. The world revolved around my wants and needs. I had to have my way, or I was miserable and I made everyone around me miserable, too! I was spoiled rotten; nothing made me happy. I tried many careers, religions, did many things and still nothing made me happy.  I was basically searching for love and acceptance, in every wrong place. Upon my mother's death I returned to "church", determined to make it to heaven, because that's where she was. Church did not do it. Oh, I rededicated my life, was there every time the doors opened, and joined every group available. I learned scripture. And as Joyce Green so aptly put it, "I was so lost when I thought I was saved." Then everything collapsed. The storms of life got me. I came to the end of me. Doctors; medication couldn't fix me.

At the end of everything - 

I found everything! 

In reading my Bible, I came across Scriptures that explained everything and I decided to try obeying His Word; I had tried everything else and had nothing to loose; except me! 

That was the key. 

It was through obedience; (confession and repentance of my sins; unforgiveness, bitterness, judgments, anger, fear worry, unbelief) that I became a true Believer; a Follower of The LORD Jesus Christ.

It's a lie of the enemy that you can belong to Him and remain yourself; doing what you want; when you want; how you want. For when you truly belong to Him; the things of the world hold no attraction anymore. Pleasing Him is your only desire. 

I don't have to be "a bride"; I don't have to "wear a crown"; I don't have to do or be anything; I don't have to be elevated or promoted! My only desire is to be His. 

I am His servant; a slave to Him, bought with a price, that I could not pay. My wants and desires are now His wants and desires. I am His for His use. He directs my steps; tells me what I should do and how I should think. He supplies my every need; all I need is Him and He gives of Himself abundantly.

Do I follow His every instruction perfectly - everyday? No. But I am quick to repent when I fail, as He commands. His mercy and His grace is abundant, but my leash is short! I know when I blow it and His displeasure I feel; I lose my peace. 

The more I think of Him; keep my eyes fixed on Him; trust Him; obey Him; the greater the peace I have, just as He promised!

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

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

He is the desire of my heart!

I found everything for which I have ever looked. I found Love in the right place and so can you!

There is a purpose for this life.

Him!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 12/9/16

Come Ye Children

“Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

How do we learn the fear of The LORD? 

We are taught!

Growing up, I always learned everything the hard way! My rebellion ran so deep; when my parents would tell me not to do something "or there would be consequences", it was a sure bet, I would try anyway - just to see! It took me a long time to realize sometimes consequences didn't necessarily come immediately, and most often times, the delay made it worse! Even when it looked like I was getting away with something; I would still pay the price; eventually! The old saying, "be sure your sin will find you out", is true! (Numbers 32:23)

Our parents, through a warning, then following through, taught us to fear them; and done right, taught us that that is love! It takes a great deal of love to follow through, than to let the wrong slide! Discipline is hard on both sides, but hardest, I think for the giver! When the lesson is learned, the reward is great for both!

I had a cousin who because of a heart condition at birth and a warning from the doctor, wasn't spanked as a young child, by my grandfather! It was told to me that his behavior was very bad one day, and the warnings came, but no follow-through, and he (the child) accused my grandfather of not loving him like the rest of us, because he wouldn't spank him!! My grandfather then showed him how much he loved him! My cousin didn't die and was happy!

Our denominations have told us how much our Father loves us, but have not addressed the sin issue! They have not taught us the fear of The LORD! They have not identified what is sin nor it's consequences! 

“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.” Psalms‬ ‭34:4-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The only fear we are to have is fear of The Lord!

I, like the writer, "cried out to The LORD" and have been delivered from all my fears, by my loving Father! And I respect and fear Him because of His awesome (terrible) power that delivered me from what were incapacitating fears of "what if’s!”

Because of sin in my life, I gave place for the tormentors to take residence, and they were continually telling me that something bad was going to happen - "if"! 

I acknowledged and confessed my sin of fear! I repented of believing the enemy over God! I repented, in essence of calling God a liar; (unbelief) not believing or trusting that He could take care of me and my loved ones! I repented of and chose to let Him and trust Him to be God in my life instead of me! He sees the big picture! I chose to believe Him and His WORD!  I chose to fear The LORD! He is everything I need and I now have no want!

I will adore Him! I will fear Him!

He set me free from a spirit of fear!  

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 2/8/14

Let No Man

“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

It seems everywhere I turn I hear preachers and self-proclaimed prophets speaking vain or empty words! 

Their long, prayers and prophecies promising this and such are full of "vain words"! (empty words, worthless, having no substance) I have listened in amazement, thinking "this is gobbley gook" - it makes no sense, it has no substance, yet all around me people make a big deal over their proclamations! 

"Vain words" are void of life! They promise peace and prosperity, never speaking of obedience, conviction, repentance or dying to self! Their routes are devoid of sacrifice! Never will you be called to follow Christ to the cross! They are lying spirits!

“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 ‭22:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” Luke‬ ‭13:24-27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If it feels good; if it requires nothing from you, but promises the world - it's a lie! 

We are called to live like Jesus! We are to take up our cross! We will be hated and persecuted! Our families and our friends will speak hurtful words about us! We are called to suffer for the gospel! 

I like the way Charles Spurgeon put it: "If you are called to endure hardness for the sake of the truth, then those are the sufferings of Christ. If you suffer for your ownsake, it may be a punishment for your own sins."

If you are promised (by someone laying hands on you) that things will be better and money and happiness is coming your way, you are being lied to! Our life is not meant to be easy. It is through the fire we are proved and made to be a reflection of the Master! Jesus promises peace through the storm, only if you keep your eyes on Him!

Guard your heart! Read your Bible! Know His word! The Holy Spirit will reveal to you The Truth and give you a check in your spirit when deception comes calling! Pray God opens your eyes and gives you discernment! Pray you will not be deceived!

“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

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 12/16/15

And Mine Eye

"And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth.” Ezekiel‬ ‭7:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

While reading in Ezekiel, I am amazed at how little God resembles the god most worship today. 

And yet He says: "For I am the Lord, I change not;” Malachi‬ ‭3:6‬a KJV‬‬

How can that be?

Unless the god most worship doesn't exist. 

Do you believe your god recompenses you for your ways and abominations?

Do you even care to know what that means?

Even the biblical definition in the dictionary of "recompense" was at the bottom and listed as such:

• archaic 

  punish or reward (someone) appropriately for an action.

  "according to their doings will he recompense them"

Why do we think God will not punish us for our sins? 

But don't we also doubt, He will do us good?

We pray for what we want or think we need, and are greatly amazed if our prayer is answered, because of our unbelief. 

The world doesn't believe in God. And in trying to evangelize the world, the church has become the same. It is almost impossible to distinguish the two. 

The world prays as a last resort; never does it question its actions or sins as a cause for the trial.  It will pay all of its money for relief and when relief does not come, then think, “maybe, only God can help.”

And so does the church.

The world wants what it wants, when it wants it, and will stop at nothing to get what it wants; regardless of what God wants. 

And so does the church.

There are some who do good and help others, in the world.

As in the church.

The world doesn't think about God, except during an emergency.

As does the church.

It seems so few "believers" today "Follow Jesus".

The church is quick to "follow" any man, because man requires nothing of them. You can "like" what they say, or stand for, and think you won't be held accountable for their actions. However, the day will come when it will matter! 

When you take the broad, middle of the road, it's an easier walk; you are less likely to fall into the ditch or get dirty. But that's not where a "follower of Jesus" is to walk. We are called to take the hard way; not easy. We are called to stand out; be different; be peculiar! 

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If indeed you have been called out!

When you have been called out of darkness, into the light, you no longer are satisfied by things of this world! It has less and less pull on you as you seek God with your whole heart!

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The darkness becomes darker, and darker, the closer you draw to God. The repulsion a "follower of Jesus" feels from the evil that permeates our society, actually sets them apart. 

This is how you know! If you look at things of the world (especially in the media) and make excuses for what you see or if you think, "oh that's not too bad", instead of feeling like you need a bath; then you are compromised!

Morality, decency, integrity; unknown in the world today and not prevalent in the church - hence judgment! 

God has not changed. We, like the children of Israel in the Old Testament, have seen, and are seeing, and will continue to see His wrath until we turn from our wicked ways! 

"And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it. My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it. Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence. Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled. Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭7:21-27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We must repent while there is still time!

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians‬ ‭5:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 5/2/18

Casting Down Imaginations

“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

Not every thought in your head is your own! The enemy is right there, whispering to you, to tempt you, deceive you, and twist even The Word of God around, to get you to fail! Just like in the garden; just like he did to Jesus!

“And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” ‭Luke‬ ‭4:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There are two lines of defense against these attacks! 

1) Taking your thoughts captive 

2) with the Word! 

That's why it is so important to read your Bible!

First - Taking your thoughts captive; 

Refusing to allow yourself to follow a line of thinking is your first defense! For example: the enemy begins to tell you that so 'n so is mad at you, because of what they said - shut it down! You don't know what has happened to that person that day or what they are thinking about! Most likely it has nothing to do with you! The devil is always trying to sow seeds of discord into our relationships! Just don't let him have free reign in your field! Kick him out! That's exactly what Jesus did!

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Second - Get in The Word! Read your Bible! You have to KNOW it, not just memorize it!

Hide the Scriptures in your heart and counteract the lies of the enemy with the Word of God - just like Jesus did!

In a war (and make no mistake, we are in a war) you have to know how to use your weapons and you have to know your enemy! 

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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 ‭10:3-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Having the knowledge of God; spending time with Him on reading His Word, listening to His voice, knowing His nature will give you the best ammunition in your fight against the powers of darkness! That is where your power and your strength comes from; you have none on your own, but you have His; if you have bothered to arm yourself!

“And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” Acts‬ ‭19:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You can't battle and win without preparation and training!

And you can't be a conscientious observer in this war! 

You are in, because you are breathing! Your only choice - 

the side on which you battle; 

good or evil! 

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua‬ ‭24:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even Bob Dylan sung about it! 

“But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You're gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody"

Your choice! The battle is raging! You do not want to be counted as a casualty of this war! 

Time is running out for all of us. But as long as you are breathing, it's not too late!  To the victor go the spoils! It's all about eternity!

Repent and enlist while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 2/12/15

Does It Feel

Does it feel like everything in the world is going wrong?

Do circumstances beyond your control keep occurring that are more than you can bear?

Have you reached the end of your rope?

Oh, we may (or may not) get a reprieve, but I hate to say it, those trials are not going to stop - for they have a purpose!

We pray for relief, and they may slack a bit, but until they accomplish God's plan, they will continue!

It doesn't matter who we are; the tests and trials of life are designed to turn our hearts back to God, to correct our course, or to refine our walk!  

"If you by your own engineering are able to get out of the trial you are in, be assured He will engineer a stronger one, in which you can't!"(Paraphrased of Paris Reidhead from "Incomplete Repentance")

"At the center of your storm, you will find your idol;" that which you love more than God! (Joyce Green)

God wants us to turn back to Him and rely totally on Him! He wants all of me and all of you, not just a portion; that which we have allotted for our "spiritual side!"  He is dead serious about His relationship with us, and He will not share us! It's either all or nothing - our choice! 

You see, He's already given His all! 

He deserves the same from us!

Because of our sins, we deserve death! 

So He gave us His life, and we act like we are "all that and more!"  

We deserve hell!

And that's where we will end up, unless we turn from our self-absorbed wicked ways! We must turn in repentance of the sin we have in our hearts; unforgiveness, judgments, pride, bitterness, worry, fear, anger, and unbelief!

It is past time! 

We must turn loose of the world and stop "playing" church!

As small children we judge our parents and our siblings! We bury hurts and make proclamations; "I'll never . . . !" And because of the hurts, we build walls! Those judgments; the unforgiveness then come back on us and from that point on we continue to be hurt in the same manner, over and over again, by teachers, friends, employers, spouses, children! We do the exact same thing we said we wouldn't! Then we see those same hurts affecting our children; they do the same dumb things, only worse! The cycle has to stop or it becomes generational; alcoholism, drug addiction, gluttony, stubbornness, bitterness! And the ONLY way to end it, is through forgiveness and repentance!

Forgiving is a deliberate act; a choice we make in obedience to God! And we must repent of the unforgiveness we have held onto for so long!

Unforgiveness is NOT an option! If we don't forgive, we will go to hell!

“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

There will be NO unforgiven people in heaven!

It doesn't matter what happened to us; how horrendous the act, we MUST choose to forgive and repent of the unforgiveness we've held onto all this time, in disobedience to God's commandment!

I hear people say, "Oh, I've forgiven, but I can never forget!" 

Then it's not forgiven!

When we have forgiven, from the heart, that "hurt" is no longer painful! It's as if it happened to someone else!

When we forgive, it doesn't mean we are saying what happened is okay. We don't do it to set ourself free, although that's what happens. No, it's all about our relationship with God!

And the best part; when we forgive and extend mercy, mercy comes back on us! 

When we forgive, we are doing so because we love God, more than we love ourselves! We are choosing to obey and lay aside our fleshly desire for vengeance in submission to His commandments! That is what dying to the flesh is all about! It's hard, but it's imperative in our walk with The LORD! It's laying down our will, and surrendering to His authority! It's humbling ourself; It's giving up the throne and letting Him have first place in my life; stepping aside in repentance and bowing to His Kingship! 

“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” James‬ ‭5:13-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The next verse: here is the hard part:

“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 our sins is what stops most people, because it requires laying down our pride; the very thing the devil refused to do, too!

We want healing? 

We must obey James 5:16!

It's that simple! 

Examine your heart! 

Ask God to show you what sin is there and He will! 

Then get with a brother or sister you can trust, humble yourself and confess your sin and repent! Then watch as God moves! You will see the miraculous! Healing occurs; lives are changed; we begin to be conformed to His likeness!

It's the laying aside of pride; humbling ourselves and repenting before another person that unleashes His power!

When we obey, He moves mountains!

“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Those enemies that are pursuing you; obey and watch God act on your behalf! He is still in the miracle business!

Obey!

It doesn't matter if we've  been a Christian for 50 years or 5 hours, we all must lay down our pride and surrender our will! If we don't, then He is not our LORD!

Repent while there is still time!

Tomorrow may be too late!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 1/7/15

Repentance: A Change

"Repentance: a change from pleasing self, to pleasing God!" Paris Reidhead 'Incomplete Repentance'

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

Our desire to please Him is THE CHANGE! We naturally want to please ourselves because we are in this world! The change that true repentance brings is obedience to His Word: “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

THAT which you love is what you live for; care for; look out for; sacrifice for; die for! 

It's either you or Him!

There can be only One! 

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew‬ ‭6:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”  ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:4-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We want to go this way -

He says, “Go that way!”

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

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Every “way” we find, that we are in conflicts with His Way, “His Way” prevails. 

"We must have a attitude of  receiving constant correction from the Lord." Paris Reidhead

Our attitude must be today (and everyday) I want to please God!

My prayer: Father, forgive me for all of the times I failed to listen to your still small voice. Forgive me for allowing my wants and desires to come before Yours! I do want to please You in all my ways, for You are my heart's desire! I repent for walking in my flesh and not in Your Spirit! Thank You LORD for Your mercy and grace!

EVEN SO - MARANATHA! 

From 7/12/16

Brethren, If Any

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James‬ ‭5:19-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You would think, when one discovers The Truth, one would stick with it, however The Truth can be difficult and we (especially) here (in America) don't do difficult well! Our lives are considered "cushy" in comparison with the rest of the world! We have instant everything, and if we have to wait for anything, we often will rethink, abandon and move on to something else. We will endure only so much, such a pitiful lot, we are. "Hard" is only for bodies!

It's no wonder that a soft, easy, and/or pretty and entertaining gospel suits us better! Oh, we don't mind seeking and searching as long as it doesn't put us out or cause discomfort! I mean, after all, "Jesus DID it all so we don't have to" - right?

WRONG!

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”  Revelation‬ ‭21:7-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Overcomes what? 

•  Trials and tests!

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” James‬ ‭1:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Trials and tests come, but do we "grumble and complain" or "count it all joy"?

•  Die to the flesh

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans‬ ‭8:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Our flesh continually demands satisfaction and it rules our every step unless we consciously bring it into submission! We see athletes diligently overcoming their flesh, however they most often neglect the spirit! Their desired goal is actually feeding their fleshly nature.

If our goal is to look and act like Jesus then we do well!

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The trials (storms) we face have a purpose in our lives. Their intended result is to bring us to Jesus and conform us to His image. And what do we do? Instead of seeking God, asking Him to reveal the (storms’) purpose, we try and pray it away! Instead of humbling ourself, in submission to His will; we dig our heels in and "stand strong" in our belief, even if our belief is in error!

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We walk around in fear, consumed in worry; full of anger, unforgiveness, bitterness and other sins, justifying our rebellion! But it's okay; we are okay, because everyone else does it! 

No.

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Big sins or little sins; sin is not okay!

Confessing and repenting of our sin is hard, but that is the way of escape, provided for us!

“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

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If what you are into; if what you are doing is not conforming you to the image of Christ, then you need to pray for God to open your eyes to The Truth! If you do not have fruit, but walk in anxiety, (be anxious for nothing) you are on the wrong road! If you believe that you can look like the world and still go to heaven you are in error! 

If Jesus Christ in not your principal purpose then you are lost. 

Repent!

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

Jesus can't be second, third or fourth! 

He can't be a "thing" you do! 

He HAS to be your everything, or He is nothing!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 8/23/15

Everyone Loves

Everyone loves a good love story! Probably because loves stories do not play out like real life! The fairy tales we were read do not exist, and even knowing that, we still read them to our children. The fabrications of rescue and life lived happily ever after, set us up for a sure fail, and the enemy points the finger to our shortcomings as to why we never obtain the prize! 

But there is one love story that is true and attainable, and the only requirement for us to receive it, is acceptance!

“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

Yes, He loves us! He loves you and He loves me! He IS indeed love! It's His love that sets us apart from the rest of the world! And the best part, we can't earn His love, it is freely given!

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:38-39‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And when we realize (truly fathom) how He loves us, we reciprocate!

“We love him, because he first loved us.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He shows us His love in so many ways; too numerous to count! So how do we show our love for Him?

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

“And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,” Deuteronomy‬ ‭10:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But do we? To our shame, don't we actually love everything in the world more than we love God? We put everything above Him! We make time for the things we want/have to do, and even have time for entertainment, but hardly have time to spend reading His Word! But the biggest competition for God's love is the love for another! (boyfriend, spouse, children, grandchildren) 

When we love someone or something more than God it is called an idol! Many think idols to be stone, wood, or metal, but most often they are our flesh and blood!  Those we love we pursue and cling to, with everything in us! 

“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 show God everyday who/what we love above Him! We never consider the pain we cause Him, like a lover scorned! We turn our back on Him pursuing that which will never satisfy or endure! 

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The further away we move from His love and our relationship with Him, the more difficult our life becomes! His hedge of protection from the evils in this world is gone because we have left it; we've walked away looking for something other than Him! So He tries to bring us back into relationship!

“For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Discipline is hard! It hurts! And the more we resist, the more it hurts!

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Hebrews‬ ‭12:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But because of His great love for us; when we come to our senses and turn in repentance, He is there with open arms to receive us back!

We are all adulteresses! We all are harlots for we have bestowed our love on everything and everybody to the exclusion of God! Yet, He is merciful and forgiving when we confess our sin and repent! 

“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 ‭7:47‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I am "her"; for I was forgiven much and  because of it, oh - how much I love Him! 

You who have grown up in church and never done anything "wrong", yet love the world more than God are actually is worse shape than we who came off of a barstool! We knew we were sinners! Do you see your sins?

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (I John‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Examine yourself! 

Is He the principal purpose of your life? 

Do you love Him with your whole heart, or is that place reserved for your children or grandchildren; or your pets?

Is He or has He ever been your First Love?

Do you remember the first time you fell in love? All you thought about was them! You doodled their name! You called, wrote love notes, made dates! You craved their attention; sought it; set everything else on hold for them; determined to spend your life with them!

God wants to be your First Love!

‬‬

Jesus even calls us on it!

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

You have just be caught in adultery! Do you feel the shame in your heart? What are you going to do? 

Repent! Turn back to The One Who loves you and thinks you're to die for!

Fall back in love today, with Jesus The Lover of your soul, for you are not promised tomorrow!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 8/2/16

Thou Hast Dispised

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

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

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

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

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

God has never blessed rebellion, nor will He ever! 

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

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

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

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

“Oh, but that is Old Testament” you say! 

God has not, nor does He ever change! What was Holy then is still Holy today! What was right and just then, is right and just today! 

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

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

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

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

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

Should we not do the same?

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

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

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

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

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:45‬ ‭KJV‬‬ (anger, hatred, bitterness, unforgiveness, vs. love, peace, joy)

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

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

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

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

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 4/6/15

O Give Thanks

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever.” ‭Psalms‬ ‭118:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is where my reading began this morning! This is also where my heart beat with my first thought, awakening;  thanking my LORD for His mercies; amazed at the difference a day makes! Praise, peace, rest, and joy;  a wonderful way to start this day.

It was not so yesterday. I was tested. 

“I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.” Psalms‬ ‭118:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It's funny how I sometimes do not realize I'm in a test until I'm almost through it! Did I pass? Well, I made it through but not necessarily with flying colors! Oh, it could have been so much worse, but His mercy and grace held me up. I checked my heart and in repentance He saved the day. He always does!

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” Psalms‬ ‭118:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The lyrics from "The Eye of the Storm", playing through my head this morning: "when my sails are torn, Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm!" 

Torn sails; dead in the water, but saved by love!

I look back at a sequence of events, isolated incidents, strangely connected; like a string of natural pearls, odd but tied together. Upon examination, exposing what was in my heart; repentance required, repentance made, forgiveness received; rest!

“The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.” Psalms‬ ‭118:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Victory, not pretty,  but another lesson learned. ‬‬

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” Psalms‬ ‭118:8-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them. They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:10-12 KJV

What the enemy meant for harm, God meant for good.‬‬

“Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.” Psalms‬ ‭118:13-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” Psalms‬ ‭118:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Giving glory to God! 

I cried out to Him and He answered all of my prayers, ALL DAY LONG! He rescued me when I needed rescuing. He comforted me when I needed comfort and He made away, where there was no way! He gets all the glory! ‬‬

“The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.” Psalms‬ ‭118:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord: This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms‬ ‭118:19-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And today, we do it all over again! For this IS the day, He has made for me & I WILL rejoice and be glad in it! 

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 10/22/16

But I Will Hope

“But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:14-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Here once again David is encouraging himself in The LORD! 

When circumstances are beyond your control do you praise Him? Do you remind yourself and Him of the times before, when He has rescued you? You must!! It builds your faith. Looking at what He has done for you, in the past, instead of only what you see before you, is imperative in reducing your wounds in this battle! And it is a battle; a spiritual battle, between light and darkness! These skirmishes are how we are taught to trust and rely on Him and Him alone. Time will soon come when He will be all we have and learning these lessons well today, will insure our success, in the upcoming major encounters!

“Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.” Psalms‬ ‭71:4-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David knew that God had been with him all along! He knew Whose he was and understood the importance of praise and worship! 

We, on the other hand, have been taught to try and stand alone, do it ourselves! That's not what God wants! He wants us to totally rely on Him for everything in our lives! 

Contrary to popular belief: NOWHERE in the Bible does it say, "God helps those who help themselves!"  THAT is a lie from the enemy! 

“Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.” ‭Psalms‬ ‭71:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He is all you need!

And He wants to be ALL you want!

Each little encounter we trust Him in, builds our relationship and strengthens our belief in His ability; which is without measure! We just don't know it! 

“Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee! Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.” Psalms‬ ‭71:19-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

What the devil means for harm, God means for good! (Genesis 15:20) You WILL get through this trial! He WILL sustain you as you trust in Him! Then you WILL have one more victory under your belt, to remind yourself of, when the next challenge arises!

“O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.” Psalms‬ ‭71:17-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I don't know what you are going through, but He does! Believe me, even if the outcome is not how you want it, He knows what's best! Often times in retrospect we find that which was the worse thing that ever happened to us, in His hands becomes the best thing that ever happened to us! 

“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

"Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.”  Psalms‬ ‭71:1-2, 8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He is our escape! He is our refuge! Only in Him do we find salvation!

He gets ALL the glory!!!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 1/13/16

O Sing Unto

“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭96:1-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You know your god is an idol if he does not require repentance! If you do not fear your god, he is an idol! If he doesn't require you to die to your flesh, lay down your pride and be obedient to his commandments, then he is a false god, and you are doomed to spend eternity in hell!

The One true God, the Maker of heaven and earth, The Creator of the universe, is to be feared, for He spoke into existence everything, and He is still speaking today!

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭95:6-7 KJV‬‬

He is still speaking! He is still working miracles! And He still demands obedience; after all He IS God, and we are not!

“Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.” Psalms‬ ‭95:8-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

After bringing His people out of Egypt and meeting their every need for forty years, because they rebelled and refused to obey Him; He let all but two perish of that generation! Only two, out of more than a million, entered the promise land! 

He is the same today! God never changes and today He is still grieved by a stiff necked and rebellious people who refuse to bend their will! 

If you are His servant, you DO NOT "get to have it your way!" It's His way or nothing! He and only He is God, we are not! We have no control! And giving up the illusion we are in control is the game changer! 

Laying down your will; swallowing your pride; giving Him free reign is absolutely mandatory to be His follower! His is not a democracy! The only "say" we get is - "I surrender!"

If your prayers are not being answered, check your god! If he looks like you, then he is an idol; a false god; for you are supposed to be made in His image, not the other way around! 

Pray: "God open my eyes to see The Truth! Open my ears to hear Your voice! Change my heart LORD; bring me to repentance; refine me; mold me and make me into Your image! I lay down my life for You! Have free reign in me! I'm Yours!"

Repent! 

Surrender! 

Make Him LORD!

This life is all about where you will spend eternity!

Time is short! Time to obey!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 3/5/15