The Daily Word

4-23-24

Psalm 82 (KJV)

[A Psalm of Asaph.]

God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
 Psa 82:2
How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
 82:3
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Psa 82:4
Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Psa 82:5
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Psa 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Psa 82:7
But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
Psa 82:8
Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

 

YAHWEH is asking today how long will you judge unjustly and accept wicked people? (Psalm 82:2)

Why ask this question? How similar are we to the judges of that day?

How have you failed to defend the poor and fatherless? How have you failed to do justice  to the afflicted and needy?

Why do you need to deliver the poor and needy? How do you rid them out of the hand of the wicked?

How long will you judge unjustly and accept the persons of the wicked? (Psalm 82:2)

How do you not know and understand you walk in darkness with all the foundations of the earth out of course? (Psalm 82:6)

How do you walk in the light? Why must you walk in the light?

How do you avoid dying like men and falling like one of the princes?

Why must we remember that God will arise and judge the earth? How will things fare for you when God inherits all the nations? Whose side will you find yourself walking on when the curtains close and judgement begins?  Will you be found walking in the light or in the darkness?  Will you be found with sufficient oil or insufficient?  How would you like YAHWEH to find you at the end?

How will you make changes?  Why must you make changes?

These questions with careful pondering and prayer though perplexing should help you to step out of darkness into the will and calling of God for your life. Yeshua Jesus did it and showed us how.  How will you use His life and His example to guide you with the help of the Holy Spirit?

This journey of life is not as long as you think.  You must step out of the darkness into His marvelous light to understand His ways and attain eternal life.

Read Psalm 82 again and take a few minutes of quietness with God and pray and listen this Passover. The death angel will be passing by and you do not want to be found unprotected by the Blood of the Lamb.  You must believe and stand on God’s promises to attain protection.  You must be found walking with God in the light as Elijah, Yeshua Jesus, Daniel, Joseph, Esther, and so many others… like Noah, Nehemiah and Moses. If you walk in the light and allow your light to lead others out of darkness, you will both know and understand your calling.

9-16-23

Knowledge and Demons

My people perish for lack of knowledge so we must be in the word of God. Hosea 4:6 states,

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Demonic attacks are very real. Demons do attack.  Ephesians 6:12 says,

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.

ACTion

A: Act in the truth and the light of the knowledge Yahweh reveals.

C: Courage takes faith to act.

T: Trust God means trust His words and act courageously knowing Yahweh is within you to help you.

Nehemiah Acted, Showed Courage and Trusted Yahweh and Rebuilt the Walls of Jerusalem

Self-Interest is the cause of sin.

Adam and Eve was worried about preserving themselves.

The three Hebrew boys, however, obeyed God and was willing to die.  Nehemiah and Daniel as well put God first.

Search your heart, ask God to help you recognize your purpose.  Pray to God to recognize your purpose.  What is God calling you to do?

Nehemiah acted courageously trusting God despite the threats to his life.  He a man with single minded purpose took on a task to help his people. A miracle took place when he rebuilt that wall: a monumental task in the midst of enemies.

Nehemiah acts. He demonstrates courage and demonstrates trust in Yahweh. We can learn and do likewise.

This may lead to threat to your life in the case of Nehemiah in Nehemiah 6:10; however, Nehemiah focused on doing God’s will and pleasing God.

Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee (Nehemiah); yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. (Nehemiah 6:10)

Remember despite the challenges, turn to God for guidance like Nehemiah and other faithful followers throughout the Bible.  Also recall that perfect love cast out fear. So remember to ACT in faith: action, courage and trust in Yahweh.

Stay Calm and Confident

Do not be terrified…The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you. (Deuteronomy 1:29-31)

This and the next few Bible verses come from the book: The Red Sea Rules by Robert J. Morgan, pages 60-61.

You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you. (Deut. 3:22)

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you. (Deut. 31:6) 

All this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s. (1 Samuel 17:47)

If God is for us, who can be against us? … In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:31, 37)

Deuteronomy 32 The Song of Moses

32 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

3 Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.

6 Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

8 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

9 For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

12 So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.

13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

14 Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.

17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

19 And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.

20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

23 I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.

24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

25 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.

26 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the Lord hath not done all this.

28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.

29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?

31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?

35 To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

36 For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,

38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.

41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.

43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

44 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.

45 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel:

46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.

47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

48 And the Lord spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying,

49 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:

50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:

51 Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of MeribahKadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.

52 Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.

 

5-27-23

 

Isaiah 42
Amplified Bible
God’s Promise concerning His Servant

42 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;
My Chosen One in whom My soul delights.
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the nations.
2
“He will not call out or shout aloud,
Nor make His voice heard in the street.
3
“A broken reed He will not break [off]
And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish [He will not harm those who are weak and suffering];
He will faithfully bring forth justice.
4
“He will not be disheartened or crushed [in spirit];
[He will persevere] until He has established justice on the earth;
And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”
5 This is what God the Lord says,

He who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its produce,
Who gives breath to the people on it
And spirit to those who walk on it,
6
“I am the Lord, I have called You (the Messiah) in righteousness [for a righteous purpose],
I will also take You by the hand and keep watch over You,
And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people [Israel],
As a light to the nations (Gentiles),
7
To open the eyes of the blind,
To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
And those who sit in darkness from the prison.
8
“I am the Lord, that is My Name;
My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved idols.
9
“Indeed, the former things have come to pass,
Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
10
Sing to the Lord a new song,
Sing His praise from the end of the earth!
You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
You islands and coastlands, and those who inhabit them [sing His praise]!
11
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices,
The villages where Kedar lives.
Let the inhabitants of Sela shout for joy,
Let them shout joyfully from the tops of the mountains.
12
Let them give glory to the Lord
And declare His praise in the islands and coastlands.
13
The Lord will go forth like a warrior,
He will stir up His zeal like a man of war;
He will shout out, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail [mightily] against His enemies.
The Blindness of the People

14
“I [the Lord] have been silent for a long time,
I have been still and restrained Myself.
Now I will moan like a woman in labor,
I will both gasp and pant.
15
“I will lay waste the mountains and hills
And wither all their vegetation;
I will turn the rivers into coastlands
And dry up the ponds.
16
“I will lead the blind by a way they do not know;
I will guide them in paths that they do not know.
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These things I will do [for them],
And I will not leave them abandoned or undone.”
17
Those who trust in carved idols will be turned back,
And utterly put to shame,
Who say to cast images,
“You are our gods.”
18
Hear, you deaf!
And look, you blind, that you may see.
19
Who is blind but My servant [Israel],
Or deaf like My messenger whom I send?
Who is blind like the one who is at peace with Me [in a covenant relationship],
Or so blind as the servant of the Lord?
20
You have seen many things, but you do not observe them;
Your ears are open, but no one hears.
21
The Lord was pleased for His righteousness’ sake
To make the law great and prove to be glorious.
22
But this is a people despoiled and plundered;
All of them are trapped in holes,
Or are hidden away in prisons.
They have become a prey with no one to rescue them,
And a spoil, with no one to say, “Give them back!”
23
Who among you will listen to this?
Who will listen and pay attention in the time to come?
24
Who gave up Jacob [the kingdom of Judah] for spoil, and [the kingdom of] Israel to the plunderers?
Was it not the Lord, He against whom we [of Judah] have sinned,
And in whose ways they [of Israel] were unwilling to walk,
And whose law and teaching they did not obey?
25
Therefore He poured out on Israel the heat of His anger
And the fierceness of battle;
And engulfed him in fire,
Yet he did not recognize [the lesson of repentance which the Assyrian conquest was intended to teach];
It burned him, but he did not take it to heart.

4-15-23

“How can anyone,” said Nicodemus, “be born who has already been born and grown up?

3 Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.”

4 “How can anyone,” said Nicodemus, “be born who has already been born and grown up? You can’t re-enter your mother’s womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?”

5-6 Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.

7-8 “So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.” [John 3:3-8 (The Message)]

• The Holy Spirit makes us holy.
• Surrender to God and Discover the Peace of God:
• the Holy Spirit Brings Light, Power, Hope, Peace and
• A Renewed Life Fit For the Kingdom of God

 

 

4-9-23

The birth of Jesus a miraculous supernatural event involving the Holy Spirit

Matthew 2:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.  When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit…

Matthew 2:23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and his name shall be called

Emmanuel (which means, God with us).

 

Supernatural events occurred throughout the Bible: The birth of Samuel

1 Samuel 1:2…Hannah had no children.

:10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly.

:11And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant, and remember me, and not forget your maidservant, but will give to your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”‘

:12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli (the priest) observed her mouth.

:13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard; therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.

:14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you.”

:15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman sorely troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink,  but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. 

:16 Do not regard your maidservant as a base woman, for  all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”

Then Eli the priest answered, :17…“Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have made to him.”

:18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her countenance was no longer sad. 

:19 …and the LORD remembered her; 

:20 and in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the LORD.”

Reflections

What have you asked God for? Do you have a relationship with God so that when God speaks you recognize the LORD speaking to you?

Has the LORD visited you? Have you cried out to God and received an answer to prayer?  Can you relate to Hannah who had a changed countenance…no longer sad?

In 1 Samuel 2:20 The priest Eli blessed Hannah and her husband Elka’nah for giving Samuel to the LORD.  He said, …“The LORD give you children by this woman for the loan which she lent to the LORD”; so then they would return to their home.

:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.

• God is with each of us and wants us to know that He is near to us.
• God wants us to know right from wrong and to choose the things that pleases Him.
• God lives in you and I and gives us life.  He is the life giver.
• Now if we choose to do evil, God will separate Himself from us.
• If we choose to do what is good and pleasing in God’s eyes, He will dwell among us.

Study the scriptures and see if you can find instances of God dwelling with His people, speaking to His people and maintaining a relationship with His people.

Do you have such a relationship with God?  Would you like to have a relationship with God?

Look to scripture and study the lives of those who reestablished a broken relationship with God, those who maintained a relationship with God and those who broke their relationship with God to see what you can learn.

How can you strengthen your relationship with God?

Bible Verses to Ponder

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. (Isaiah 43:10)

You do not need to listen to me to know the truth about Jesus dying for the sins of the world and God speaking and leading His people.

You like Mary and Hannah can experience this life saving relationship with the Creator for yourself …by reading His word and believing and abiding in Him.

The secret to discovering  God is to search for Him with all your heart, to believe in His word and to obey His voice written throughout the Bible. God will manifest Himself in your life like He did in Mary and Hannah’s life and so many others throughout the Bible.  Then you can be a witness of the God of the Bible the only true God.

They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)

 

3-5-23

Why The Important Mandate Can Truly Saves Lives?

MATTHEW 28

This Is My Message For You

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”

He is Risen!

8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.’ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Great Deception

“While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened.” After the priests‘ had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, “telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ “If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ‘ So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.

The Important Mandate

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

3-4-23

When Yeshua Returns How Will He Find You:

Faithful or Hypocrite?

Will He say well done good and faithful servant? You’ve been faithful over a little, now I will put you to manage much More?

Matthew 24:27-51 KJV (Read Daily)

The coming of Yeshua

”For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

The Glorious Return

(Mar 13:24–27; Luk 21:25–28 ) {Blueletterbible.org}

“Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory.  And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

(Mar 13:28–31; Luk 21:29–33 )

32“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

How To Become Ready For Yeshua’s Return

(Mar 13:32–37; Luk 17:26, 27, 34, 35; 21:34–36 )

36“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son,” but only the Father. ’For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. “Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.  Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.  But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

(Luk 12:41–48 )

45 Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. ’Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.  But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’  and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. “He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Once To Every Man And Nation [Hymnal 606 in Seventh Day Adventist Hymnal On YouTube]

The song “Once To Every Man And Nation” originally was written as a poem by James Russel Lowell the son of a congregational minister, in the Boston Courier in December 11th, 1845.  He wrote the poem in protest against America’s war with Mexico.

Listen to this beautiful song by clicking link above and/or read the lyrics below–may you be blessed and encouraged in your walk with our Heavenly Father. May the God of peace grant you supernatural peace always.

Once To Every Man And Nation

1 Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause, God’s new Messiah,
Offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever
Twixt that darkness and that light.

2 Then to side with truth is noble,
When we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit,
And ’tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses
While the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue
Of the faith they had denied.

3 By the light of burning martyrs,
Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
Toiling up new Calvaries ever
With the cross that turns not back;
New occasions teach new duties,
Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still and onward,
Who would keep abreast of truth.

4 Though the cause of evil prosper,
Yet ’tis truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold,
And upon the throne be wrong:
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow
Keeping watch above His own.

Source: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #432

2-25-23

Three Keys to the Kingdom

These are the three keys to overcoming our enemy: Satan.

1. Name/Son: Who are you? Know that we are children of the most high God. Our names are important. Our Father the Creator has a good name. We to maintain a good name must know we are children of the most high. We must represent our Father and walk with love and do His will for our lives. Satan wants to change our name and for us to not know we are who we are so he can enslave us. Know your name! Know you are the son or daughter of the King of Heaven.
2. Ten Commandments: The Word of God is our source of food for our spirits–Ten Commandments is the focus. What did Christ say to Satan when Satan tempted him with bread after forty days of fasting in the wilderness?  Yeshua said that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.  What word did God speak?  He spoke the Ten Commandments down the mountain to the children of Israel.  Which commandment did God emphasize and ask them not to forget?  God said remember the Sabbath day. He said it is a sign between me and my people for ever. Bread gives life to the flesh; the Ten Commandments obeyed allows for the Holy Spirit to give life to your spirit. We live through obedience to the Ten Commandments: spiritual food.
3. Worship God: Satan will do everything in his power to get us to worship him. What did Satan offer Yeshua to attempt to get him to worship him?  He took Yeshua up on a high pinnacle and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world.  He said if you will bow down and worship me, I will give you all these kingdoms and riches.  Yeshua quickly responded: Get thee behind me Satan, God and God alone should be worshipped. How can we worship God? We worship God through prayer, praise, singing and a myriad of ways when we bless his name and thank Him for all He has done for us.

2-13-23

The Heritage of The Children of God

“Praise and prayer are weapons of mass destruction” states a church member.

Promises

1. For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)
2. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. (Isaiah 65:21)
3. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. (Isaiah 65:22)
4. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. (Isaiah 65:23)
5. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)
6. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. (Psalm 4:3)
7. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Psalm 5:3)

Warnings

1. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psalm 66:18)
2. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:15)
3. Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. (Isaiah 65:12)
4. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. (Isaiah 66:4)

2-2-23

We are living in the last days.  God will soon return.  Yeshua is returning quickly so we must prepare for the things that will come upon this world. In the book of Joel, the prophet speaks about these last days and what will occur.

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:15)

The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. (Joel 3:16)

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:17)

This article and others from this website will offer you a different perspective on the state of our world.  This article and many others on this website will cause you to think carefully about the state of our world and where we may head in the coming years: Nuclear War. “90 Seconds to Midnight”: The Pentagon’s 1945 “Doomsday Blueprint” to “Wipe the Soviet Union off the Map”

Pray that God direct your steps and help you to see the things that are coming in the future so you can be ready for Christ soon return.

1-28-23

How Can You and I Give Back For All That God Has Given Us?

God says keep me first and I will give you everything you need for your life. Look at the three examples below of the widow that gave her all, Cornelius’ vision and Mary the prostitute that poured her expensive perfume and used her hair to rub Yeshua’s feet before he died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  

The end of the harvest is near, and we brothers and sisters need to allow God’s Holy Spirit to lead us to reach the lost and the dying to give them the gospel.  When we appreciate all that God has done for us, we will give our all for God to save souls for the kingdom.  

The widow gave her all. Her dependence was on God.  She knew God is faithful.

God is our provider not the things of this world. When we put God first, God will provide all that we need. God knows what we need before we ask of Him.

Cornelius learned of God and he and his household were faithful. The angel of the Lord came to him to direct him and as a result Peter had a vision.  God sent Peter to Cornelius.

God is directing and guiding our lives to win others to God. God directed Cornelius, Peter and others.

When we think of Mary Magdelene  pouring out her expensive perfume on Yeshua’s feet, we know her heart.  She was grateful for what God had done for her.  God forgave her for her sins and offered her hope that she desperately needed.  God offered her love that perhaps she had never known and that is the same God offers to each of us only asking for us to love Him in return.  

How do we show love for God?  We receive that truth and believe that Jesus died to save us from our sins and we repent and obey the Ten Commandments of God based on love for God and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Now lets turn to the story of the widow, Cornelius’ vision and Martha pouring out her expensive Alabaster perfume on Jesus’ feet before dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins: the gospel of our salvation below:

Mark 12:41-44

⁴¹ And He sat down opposite the [temple] treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury. And many rich people were putting in large sums. ⁴² A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a mite. ⁴³ Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this poor widow put in [proportionally] more than all the contributors to the treasury.⁴⁴ For they all contributed from their surplus, but she, from her poverty, put in all she had, all she had to live on.”

 

Acts 10:1-22

Cornelius’ Vision

10 Now at Caesarea [Maritima] there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who, along with all his household, feared God. He made many charitable donations to the Jewish people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had come to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius was frightened and stared intently at him and said, “What is it, lord (sir)?” And the angel said to him, “Your prayers and gifts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God [an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings]. 5 Now send men to Joppa and have them call for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter [and invite him here]; 6 he is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his own personal attendants; 8 and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 The next day, as they were on their way and were approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof of the house about the sixth hour (noon) to pray, 10 but he became hungry and wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared he fell into a trance; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet descending, lowered by its four corners to the earth, 12 and it contained all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy).” 16 This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

17 Now Peter was still perplexed and completely at a loss as to what his vision could mean when the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, arrived at the gate. 18 And they called out to ask whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Now listen, three men are looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitating or doubting, because I have sent them Myself.” 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man well spoken of by all the Jewish people, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear what you have to say.” 23 So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging [for the night].

 

John 12:1-3

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a supper for Him there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3 Then [a]Mary took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure [b]nard, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

 

December 16

Ponder These Powerful Verses

Wise Planning

The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,

But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to

poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)

 

Oil Represents the Holy Spirit

There is desirable treasure,

And oil in the dwelling of the wise,

But a foolish man squanders it. (Proverbs 21:20)

 

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)

 

Four Verses From Psalm 119 to Know

• Thy word  have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)

• Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)

• The entrance of your words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130)

• Great peace have they which love your law: and nothing shall offend them. (Psalm 119:165)

• Seven times a day do I praise you because of your righteous judgements. (Psalm 119:164)

 

 

December 12

Physical Life Versus Spiritual Life

Yeshua Experienced Physical Homelessness

Yeshua (Jesus) came into this world homeless.  And she (Mary) brought forth her firstborn son (Yeshua), and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7). Nevertheless, YHWH made a way for him.

Even as an adult, Yeshua experienced physical homelessness according to Luke 9:58:  “And Jesus said unto him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.’ ”

Follow Him and Preach the Kingdom of God

Yeshua tells a person after stipulating that he does not have a physical place to lay his head to follow him in Luke 9:59: “And he said unto another, ‘Follow me.‘ But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.”

In Luke 9:60 “Yeshua said unto him, ‘Let the dead bury their dead: but go you and preach the kingdom of God.‘ ”

 

Stern Warning About Hesitating and Looking Back

“And another also said, Lord, I will follow you: but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.” (Luke 9:61)

“And Jesus said unto him, ‘No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.‘ “

YHWH Want Us To Pursue The Spiritual Life: Life is Spiritual

Yeshua took his disciples aside to a city called Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). In Luke 9:11 says, “But when the multitude knew it, they followed him; and he received them and spoke to them about the kingdom God, and healed those who had need of healing.”

Then Yeshua with two fish and five loaves of bread thanked YHWH for the food and miraculously fed 5,000 men plus women and children. Luke 9:17 states, “So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.”

Those people left their lives behind and experienced that life is spiritual.  Yeshua spoke to them about the Kingdom of God and healed those needing physical healing.  In addition Yeshua fed them by looking up to heaven, blessing the food and allowing the distribution of the food (Luke 9:16)

 

The Bread From Heaven: Life is Spiritual

The crowd search for Yeshua in John 6:23-25.

23 [Now some] other small boats from Tiberias had come in near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they boarded the small boats themselves and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”

 

So Yeshua responds to them the following in John 6:26-51:

26 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the signs (attesting miracles), but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures [and leads] to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for God the Father has authorized Him and put His seal on Him.” 28 Then they asked Him, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “What sign (attesting miracle) will You do that we may see it and believe You? What [supernatural] work will You do [as proof]? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written [in Scripture], ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the Bread of God is He who comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

35 Jesus replied to them, “I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually]. 36 But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe. 37 All that My Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, never reject anyone who follows Me]. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but that I [give new life and] raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is My Father’s will and purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him [as Savior] will have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.”

His Own Rejected Him and The Spiritual Life Offered For The Physical Life

41 Now the Jews murmured and found fault with Him because He said, “I am the Bread that came down out of heaven.” 42 They kept saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now [have the arrogance to] say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” 43 So Jesus answered, “Stop murmuring among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [giving him the desire to come to Me]; and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He [who was with the Father and] who is from God; He [alone] has seen the Father. 47 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who believes [in Me as Savior—whoever adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me—already] has eternal life [that is, now possesses it]. 48 I am the Bread of Life [the Living Bread which gives and sustains life]. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the Bread that comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior], he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).”

 

In John 6:31-33 Yeshua fed the Israelites as they fled Egyptian slavery and as they traveled, with Moses as their leader, for 40 years throughout the wilderness–see Exodus 16:13-36. The people believed that when the Messiah came, He would bring them “manna.”  The Old Testament “manna” pointed to the true Bread of Heaven, Yeshua [The Woman’s Study Bible, Second Edition, 1995, Thomas Nelson, Inc., bottom of page 1359].

In John 6:52-57 Flesh and blood represented life. “My flesh” refers to Yeshua’s body on the cross given up to death.  “My blood” represents His blood shed at the cross on Calvary–verse 54. This imagery would sound familiar to those from pagan backgrounds in ancient times. The routinely sacrificed animals to their God’s and consumed part of the cooked flesh of the sacrifice. In eating part of the cooked flesh, they would consider becoming one with the god. In a sense, they are sharing an identity with that deity. The Jews in that day would have understood blood to stand for life. So in doing Yeshua’s blood, they are bringing His life into theirs. So in partaking in Yeshua’s life, we partake in His Holiness. Christ came from YHWH to give the free gift of His life for those willing to follow Him. Many turned away seeing that Yeshua’s fate agains the Roman government meant death on the cross.  Many could forsee this epic event unfolding and could not follow to the point of death. So many turned away [The Woman’s Study Bible, Second Edition, 1995, Thomas Nelson, Inc., bottom of page 1359].

 

Life is Spiritual So Choose The Living Bread That Sustains Life Over The Physical Bread

“For how would a man benefit to gain the whole world but destroy his soul or lose it?” (Luke 9:25, Aramaic Bible in Plain English)

 

 

December 11

God’s Goodness Becomes Obvious Through Suffering

 

AMOS 3:1-2 “HEAR THIS WORD THAT YHWH HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST YOU, O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AGAINST THE WHOLE FAMILY WHICH I BROUGHT UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT SAYING, YOU ONLY HAVE I KNOWN OF ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH, THEREFORE I WILL PUNISH YOU FOR ALL YOUR INIQUITIES (sins).”

ZECHARIAH 2:8 “FOR THUS SAID YHWH OF HOSTS AFTER THE GLORY HAVE HE SENT ME UNTO THE NATIONS WHICH SPOILED YOU FOR HE THAT TOUCH YOU TOUCH THE APPLE OF HIS EYE.”

Quotes From A Russian Writer Once An Atheist Who Came To Follow God

 

 

The only purpose of education is freedom; the only method is experience.                                                                                      –Leo Tolstoy

 

Grow spiritually and help others to do so. It is the meaning of life.                                                                                                     –Leo Tolstoy

 

November 16

Who Are The Real Semites?

Those that say they are the Jews are not, but they lie states the Bible. Who are they that say they are the Jews?  the Bible states that they are of the synagogue of Satan.  What is the synagogue of Satan?

According to Wikipedia, “Synagogue of Satan In the letters to the early Christian churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9, reference is made to a synagogue of Satan (Greek: συναγωγή τοῦ Σατανᾶ, synagoge tou satana), in each case referring to a group persecuting the church “who say they are Jews and are not”.

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9 KJV)

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (Revelation 3:9 KJV)

 

Listen to the video below by Ye West.  He made a stunning statement towards the end of his comments on the video below.  I must admit that what he shared though stunning for many I already knew.  Many people already know the truth.

“YE Makes a Stunning Admission About Hollywood” (on YouTube: TheRealGospelChops)

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:9-12 KJV)

 

 

October 15

Pig Pen Versus Kingdom

In this life we may find ourselves wallowing in a pig pen, heading towards the pig pen or perhaps we journey towards the Kingdom of God. I reflected on the scene before me going out on a stroll one night. Many families sat out on a Friday night enjoying their pizza, beer, etc. shouting at television screens showing sports. Pig pin is considered a difficult and miserable predicament you find yourself in with no way of escape–your only hope is to turn to God to help you. That night I felt like the people around me filled their time with their families with meaningless entertainment: the scene felt like a circus.

The circus distracts us and entertains us.  Thus, we keep our focus off the gospel that leads to our salvation..

Food and entertainment many of us live for.  So we work, work, work and miss out on the true meaning and purpose of life.

Our Creator knows our function and purpose given to us in the gospels…read the Bible

 

Why live a life that leads to the pig pen when you can live a life that leads back to the Kingdom of Yahweh?

Many of us do not know how God designed us to live. We like pagans walk around living life to enjoy the circus.  We shout at football and basketball games.  We go to restaurant to eat to stare at a baseball game and shout with family and friends on a Friday night.  It’s unreal to see how we live.

God did not design us to live this way. What has become the norm for many here in America reflects a circus.  What do I mean by a circus? Ponder the quotes below and determine the meaning:

“Two things only the people actually desire. Bread and circuses.”

-Juvenal

“Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.”

-H. L. Mencken.

“Circus dogs jump when the trainer cracks his whip, but the really well-trained dog is the one that turns his somersault when there is no whip.”

-George Orwell.

“We are like a traveling circus, our family! We sing, we dance, we do football, we do fashion.”

-Victoria Beckham.

 

• How did Yahweh our Creator design us to function?
• What purpose did God plan for us?
• Why did we come to function and live for circuses rather than live for Yahweh’s purpose for our lives?

First of all we need to know that we are children of the most high God. Satan does not want us to know who we are.  He wants to convince Yeshua that He was not a child of Yahweh. He wants us to separate us from Yahweh and make us foster children lost in the word without our God (Parents). Satan wants to destroy us.

• And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:3-4 KJV)
• God designed us to live by every word He spoke down the mountain–see Ten Commandments spoken to the Israelites and meant for us too.
  • Exodus 20 Yahweh Spoke And Gave The Israelites His Ten Commandments Based in Love For God and Love For Your Neighbor

 

John 11

²⁴ Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

²⁵ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

²⁷ She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

 

October 14

How many bodies do we possess? One, two or three?

it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthian 15:44)

So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1 Corinthian 15:44)

What is a living soul?  Is the breath of air living?

Recall that God breathe into the nostrils of Adam and he became a living soul. For instance the mother chicken sits on the egg and the egg becomes a chicken.

Then Yahweh God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and so the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

There is a change that occurs when man becomes a living soul.

 

“To whom have you declared words?

And whose breath comes out from you? (Job 26:4)

 

“By His breath the heavens are made beautiful;
His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent.” (Job 26:13)

 

Did God create the world by His air and/or by HIs words that He spoke?  His words spoken created the world.  He spoke the world into existence by His Spirit. There is a verse in the Bible where God says His words are spirit and life.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)

 

“By His breath the heavens are made beautiful;

His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent. (Job 26:13)

 

For as long as breath is in me,

And the spirit from God is in my nostrils, (Job 27:3)

 

“May my enemy be as the wicked

And the one who rises against me as the unjust. (Job 27:7)

“For what is the hope of the godless when he is cutoff,

When God requires his soul? (Job 27:8)

Ponder these verses and their meaning and reflect on what God says: do not fear man that can kill the body but fear God who can kill both body and spirit.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  (Matthew 10:28)

How many bodies do we possess?

Why is this question relevant?

How does this impact your thoughts going forward?

Jesus Conquering Death And Hell

SHOUT TO THE LORD (LYRICS)

 

October 1

Ask God For Living Water: Holy Spirit

How many of us are willing to cut the cords to sin out of our lives and seek obedience to God’s Ten Commandments no matter what?  God says we can choose life or we can choose death.  How will you choose?

You should stop to ask yourself the following: “How can I eradicate sin from my life?”  Sin is stubborn, but you must not give up trying. The secret to success is never giving up.  You will need to ask God to help you.

I did and discovered God heard me and answered me.  Remind God of His promises and seek His face to help you. You should stand always on His promises. Yes you may fall, but you repent and get back up walking in a manner pleasing to God. My grandfather’s favorite Bible verse (promise) is found in John 14:14:

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

God will remove sin from your life and help you to walk holy before Him if you ask.  You should go to God on your knees in prayer and ask God to help you overcome all sin in your life. You can also ask Him daily for wisdom.  With wisdom from God, you can overcome all sin and make astute choices with the gift of God’s Holy Spirit writing God’s laws on your heart.  If you have God’s Holy Spirit, you possess the character of God: love.

On this road call life I constantly strive to walk in a manner pleasing to God. It is a daily walk.  Somedays I do better than others. I’ve been distracted away from my work here doing the Daily Word. Life is full of distractions. We must strive to do better day by day.  Our adversary like a roaring lion looks for ways to destroy us. We must stay close to God our protector. We must read His word daily and pray without ceasing.  God will lead us–read Psalm 1 daily.

 

The key thing I am rediscovering is to stay attuned to God’s words in the Bible and especially the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

In attempting to read the book of Matthew this morning, I ran across a website looking up a cardiologist: a heart doctor.  This quote caught my eye:

Fools take a knife
and stab people in
the back.
The wise take a
knife, cut the cord
and free themselves
from the fools.

—Gila’s Place: A menagerie of eclectic things…

How many of you are cutting the cords of sin off of your life? The Holy Spirit can help you.  Ask God to free you from sin.  Sin if you recall leads to death. I know a “Christian” that says she sins one hundred times each day! She gossips, etc.  I do not agree and neither does the word of God.  Unfortunately our lives need to line up with the words of the four gospel.

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mark 7:20-23 KJV)

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 KJV

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (James 3:10)

I am not the judge.  I am here to remind you that the words of the gospel will indeed be your judge. Our lives must align with God’s words to us otherwise we deceive ourselves.

“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

Many of false pastors like wolves lead God’s people astray.  I write to you my friends to remember to study God’s words for yourselves.  For His words will lead you to living waters and eternal life.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105 KJV)

Unfortunately todays society glorifies sin.  That’s why my television remains unplug.  The corruption and deception Satan pours through the television air waves can distract and destroy us.  The internet is another area to watch out for. There are so many lies that you must stay attuned to God’s words.

Hosea an ancient prophet said the following:

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6 KJV)

Why must you recall YAHWEH’s laws and keep them?

The leaders of our countries reject YAHWEH and His Ten Commandments.  God is not taught in our schools nor promoted in the media.  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has no relevance in the teachings and preachings of the leaders that run our nations. As a result our people like lost sheep become led astray. They suffer, hunger and thirst. Isaiah the ancient prophet advises his people of the past and his words still advise us today of the following:

Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. (Isaiah 5:13 KJV)

How many of us thirst and hunger? How many of us suffer from sickness?  How many of us thirst for righteousness?

Let’s look at God’s words to us in John 19:28 below from my favorite gospel book:

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. (John 19:28)

Sin and rejection of the loving Ten Commandments of YAHWEH leads to lack.  A thirsty person lacks life giving water.  The true water of life is the Holy Spirit.  Christ offers us the free gift of the Holy Spirit so we will never thirst again.

We like the woman at the well can hopefully access physical water though we need to purchase clean water.  Our tap water has chemicals and additives to kill microorganisms and other nasty drugs or chemicals like fluoride that cause us harm.  God wants to give us water that never runs out that is free and life giving.

Let’s look at the story of the Samaritan woman at the well talking with Yeshua (Jesus).  Reflect on the discussion and what Yeshua offered the woman in her day and what God offers us today. Would you like to never thirst again? You can click the link below and read the story and put yourself in place of the Samaritan woman.

Woman At The Well John 4:1-42 KJV

The verses below stood out for me. You can note the verses that speak to your soul too–read John 4:1-42 again.

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

August 28

Where do our souls go when we die?  I know the flesh return to the dust.  For to be absent from the body (flesh) is to be present with the Lord states the Apostle Paul:

 2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 

Psalm 16 (KJV)
1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Study and ponder the souls crying for vengeance under the altar of God for vengeance against those that killed them here on earth.  These are souls redeemed or killed for their faith in God found in Revelation 6:9-11. You should read Revelation 6 and ponder.

 

August 24

To Know an Invisible God You Must Know Who You Are: A Child of God 

We Are The Temple of YAHWEH

Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3:16: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 

If YAHWEH’s SPIRIT dwells in us, can our God given spirit exist within our flesh (physical temple) too? Absolutely!

1. In Genesis 1:26 God states that He made us in His image: ‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, And over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”’ 
2. He continues in verse 27 stating, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”  
3. God is a Spirit. John 4:24 says, “God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” 
4. 2 Corinthians 3:17 further defines who God is by saying, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”  
5. Lastly Timothy 1:17 gives us another image of God: “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  

So there is a spirit in humans made in the image of YAHWEH designed to have dominion on Earth. That is our purpose.

biblehub.com Elaborates on John 4:24

At biblehub.com says, 

1. “The Father is Spirit, the Son is Spirit, and Spirit is the unity of the Father and the Son. 
2. St. John has recorded elsewhere that “God is Light,” and “God is Love.” 
3. These three Divine utterances are the sublimest ever formed to express the metaphysical, intellectual, and moral essence of the Deity…
4. If God be Spirit, then they who worship him, the Spirit, must by the  nature of the case, must  by the force of a Divine arrangement, worship him, if they worship him at all, in spirit and in truth…
5. Only the spirit of man can really touch or commune with the Spirit of spirits, and the history of the new dispensation is the history of a process from forms to realities, from the sensuous to the spiritual, from the outward to the inward, from the earthly to the heavenly.”
6. Benson Commentary on biblehum.com adds greater insight, “If we do not worship God, who is a Spirit, in spirit, we neither give him the glory due to his name, and so do not perform a real and proper act of worship, nor can we hope to attain his favor, and acceptance with him, and so we miss the end of worship.  
7. The exercise of faith and love, therefore, and of other graces, must constitute the true spiritual worship which we owe to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and which cannot but be acceptable to him, wherever it is offered, in whatever place, and by whatever person.” 
8. I also like what Matthew Poole’s Commentary adds on biblehub.com, “God is not a corporeal being, made up of blood, and flesh, and bones, having senses as bodies have, to be pleased with sensible things; but he is a spiritual Being, the Father of spirits, and requireth a spiritual service proportioned to his being; and therefore those that pay a religious homage to him, must do it with their spirits, and according to the rule that he hath prescribed, in truth and reality.”

Striving to Live a Sinless Life to Purify YAHWEH’S Temple—Stop And Ask God To Help You Conquer All Sin

So we worship YAHWEH using our spirit to connect with Him in the spiritual realm. We learn to obey His voice: keep His Commandments that reflect His character of love. We come to understand who God is and what God expects of us: obedience and faith in God.  Through striving for obedience and faith we come to learn and understand 1) that sin leads to suffering and death and 2) that YAHWEH wants what is best for us and will guide us in the ways of right living: righteousness and holiness.

If You Love God, Do What He Commands of You

So this spirit in us John the beloved writes the following admonition to us from Yeshua Jesus the Christ in John 14:15: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” What will Yeshua do for you and me if we obey His voice? [These are really from the voice of the Father spoken down the mountain to the Israelites and to us to demonstrate our love for YAHWEH.]

Would You Like 1) Yeshua (Jesus) to Pray For You and 2) to live?

In John 14:16-19 Yeshua says he will pray for us: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

So in the day that our fleshly temple is destroyed, our spirit that is within will return to God.  Our spirit in that day we shed our flesh body will see the reality of God and who we really are: spirit beings made in the image of God. Let’s look at what John continues to elaborate on in John 14:20-21, 

“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

God’s Spirit will speak to you and guide you when you obey His words spoken above. 

For Further Study

Judas not Judas Iscariath wanted some clarification on this.  Jesus explained further in John 14:23-31…read the writings of Jesus in red to the end of the book of John.  Unless you obey Yeshua’s words, you cannot understand.  

When the Holy Spirit manifest Himself to you, this Spirit from the Father will teach you all things—repenting of sins, seeking God to help in overcoming sins and obeying the Ten Commandments…also baptism is the outward show and inward commitment in our spiritual walk with Yeshua, the Father and the Spirit of God. 

July 13

YAHWEH gives us many promises. Professor Waltor Veith suggest that you Mark a P next to the promises in your Bible.  Here is the promise of the day below I’d like to share:

27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

28 Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. Deuteronomy 33:27-30

 

There is none like YAHWEH…who rides through the heavens to your help; and in his majesty through the skies–verse 26. Remember the eternal God is your dwelling place...–verse 27.

July 8

The Righteous Considers The Cause of The Poor

The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it. Proverb 29:7

As a person who loves the Bible and love reading God’s word, I often think about the cause of the poor.  Perhaps I’ve always considered ways to reach out and help others in need.  I’m usually not one to overlook a family or friend in need.  So this is part of my makeup. I believe this is a gift God gave to me.  I’m a giver.

Since I love the Caribbean way of life, I often compare the Caribbean versus American way of life.  Many so called “third world nations” may have people that are poor compared to the western nations but these so called poor mostly all live in homes with a roof over their heads with an abundance of food to eat.

I’m puzzled because I find that people in the Caribbean truly are rich: resources abound in the Caribbean.  I look at how people live in America and I am saddened at the poverty I see everyday.  I see people living on the sidewalks, under bridges, at the park and simply every where.  I live in a rather well to do area so I cannot begin to imagine the poverty in a more impoverished part.

When I visited my now deceased aunt in her home over two decades ago, at times I felt hot in her home that summer but in heaven with all the trees, greenery like under the canopy of a rainforest in her backyard, fresh ocean breeze blowing outside and amid family not seen in a long while.

I recall walking up the back stairs to my aunt’s home.  When I got to top, I saw these green plums–perhaps they were golden plums…can’t recall the exact names. They grow in the Caribbean but not in America.  So I picked one and sprinkled salt and black pepper on there–picked a green one. The flavor brought back so many rich memories of eating them as a child. I felt joy.

Her yard had sugar canes that she came down and cut right from the property for me and my siblings to eat. I eventually climbed back up the stairs and inquired about the green plums hanging arm length from her door entrance on the second level.  Food grew abundantly if people take the time to grow food in their yards.  The rain flows from Heaven and blesses the land and people in the Caribbean with an abundance of organic foods.  I cannot begin to understand why “poor” would be a associated with people that possess riches: soil, rain, climate, and fruits/vegetables, etc. Living in such a rich environment would represent the closest description of Heaven that I’ve seen on planet earth.

Anyhow these are some of my thoughts–ponder the following questions.

• What constitutes poor or poverty?
• Does hard working farmers who never receives a paycheck but can provide food and shelter for their families be looked down upon or considered poor by the standards upheld in America or western nations?
• Is a career in farming something more of us should consider in a world plagued by pestilence, food shortages, high oil prices and augmenting poverty?
• Why is homelessness and poverty so pervasive here in America and in other parts of our world?
• Why does the poor exist many of which may have a home in countries outside of “first world nations” and food to eat in abundance yet limited compared to those of us living in western nations?
• What does it truly mean to be poor?

I’d like for us to consider this.  I do not have an answer because their are a myriad of answers.  I will share some verses and a video to spark further thoughts.

The Bible instructs us to contemplate the cause of the poor among us.  Unfortunately we are all poor without the LORD YAHWEH who gives us riches–true riches.

• What does Jeremiah the prophet say about poverty in Jeremiah 22:16-7?
• How does these verses below compare to  today?

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.
But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. Jer 22:16-17

There is a contrast occurring between verses 16 and 17.

• What do you hear YAHWEH saying to us through the prophet Jeremiah?
• How is this relevant in our day?

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Psalm 140:12

 

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. Job 34:28

I stumbled upon this YouTube video on Sky News Australia.  I realize limiting the farmers will cause an astronomical increase of both poverty and pestilence.  [Farmers face similar problems in our world–do some research and see the problems brewing that will impact all of us.] Perhaps the next pandemic will become worse and more fearful when faced with food crisis. This will lead to death for those that succumb.  Let’s consider the cause of the poor and work to give others knowledge to help them not only live here on Earth, but to live eternally in Heaven.  God is real, and God says to consider the cause of the poor.

Dutch farmers form tractor blockade in ‘massive’ protest over nitrogen policy

Famine in 2022 by Dr. John Campbell

June 10

I couldn’t sleep in the middle of the night.   I felt God wanted to tell me something so I sat up.  As soon as I sat up, I heard a silent voice in my spirit say: “Psalm 136”.

So I  walked out to my couch and sat down and read the chapter. I knew immediately this was God.  I felt peace from God and knew that everything would be alright. I felt God wanted me to relax and go to sleep.  I went to sleep on the couch where I went out to read the Bible. I just felt God telling me to rest there, and I did.

I never sleep on my couch.  I felt that’s where God wanted me to rest so I did.

Today was challenging because I had a very important meeting at work. I am walking by faith and not by sight.  I praise God for ordering my steps and letting me know that He is God and “His steadfast love endures for ever.”

 

God’s Work in Creation and in History

June 4

Why does Yahweh want us to focus on doing His Commandments? 

How does doing His Commandments impact our salvation? 

I find myself focused on work all day and by the end of the day feel tired.  I then relax, spend time with family members, exercise, clean or simply read a book.  At various points in my day I stop and pause to pray and talk with God to seek guidance or simply to listen.  Most of my day I am reacting and working…quite busy throughout my week. 

Let’s look at King David’s words in Psalm 119:166 below:

LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

King David did two things: 

1. Hoped for salvation and 
2. Did God’s Commandments–all ten of them found in Exodus 20:1-17 Amplified.

King David spent his focus on diligently keeping God’s Ten Commands to attain eternal life. 

• What do you focus on each day?  
• What do you hope to attain each day?  
• What do you live for?  
• Do you think about life and where you want to go? 
• Do you not think and just react to life?

Would you dismiss God’s royal commands to attain life eternal? Satan tricks many into thinking Jesus did it all on the cross for you and me.  Well in some respects, Christ did.  We still play a critical role in our salvation by believing God’s words and obeying His Commands.

Yes Yeshua died for all; however, you and I must individually make a decision to turn from our sins against God.  Now you and I must do our part: 

• submit to God’s will, 
• obey God’s commands, 
• repent of past sins and 
• ask God to help in overcoming sins.

We must turn from a lifestyle of disobedience and sin to a lifestyle of obedience through right living: righteousness.

Yeshua did His part and we must do your part: reject sin and live. 

If Yeshua’s death on the cross could save the whole world without any change in a believer’s lifestyle then Satan would be saved too.  Satan knows that Jesus died on the cross.  Satan was there when Yeshua died on the cross. Yahweh the Father was there when Yeshua died on the cross.

What saves you is learning to obey God’s Commands which are not grievous: all of the Ten Commandments.  Yeshua’s death pays the penalty for our sins.  He did not die for us to continue to live in sin.  No He died to set us free from sin.  

We must surrender our lives to God and ask God to help us overcome all sins in our life.  We must earnestly seek God with all our hearts, mind and soul; we must confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness.

Once God sees our hearts and know we earnestly want help to flee all sin, God will send us His Holy Spirit to intervene to help us at a critical juncture in our life.  When we know the truth of the gospel and obey, God is faithful to help us and save us.

Ephesians 1:13 from the Amplified Bible gives us the following precious promise:

In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God]. 

When you hear the gospel, accept the gospel, obey the gospel, God will give you the free gift of His Holy Spirit indwelling you and helping you.  God protects you and helps you overcome sin.

What you and I cannot do in our own strength, God can do through and in us.  We must ask Him to help us.  God said ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find and knock and the door will be opened.

The direct quote in Matthew 7:7 from the Amplified Bible states:

“Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. 

 

Another key text to repeat from one of the four gospels states,

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mark 7:7 KJV

Let’s look at that verse in context in Mark 7:6-13 from the Bible called The Voice:

Their worship is empty, void of true devotion.
        They teach a human commandment, memorized and practiced by rote.

⁸ When you cling blindly to your own traditions [such as washing utensils and cups], you completely miss God’s command. ⁹ Then, indeed, you have perfected setting aside God’s commands for the sake of your tradition. ¹⁰ Moses gave you God’s commandment: “Honor your father and your mother.” And also, “If you curse your father or your mother, you will be put to death.  ¹¹ But you say to your aged parents, “I’ve decided that the support you were expecting from me will now be the holy offering set aside for God.” ¹² After that he is not allowed to do anything for his parents. ¹³ Do you think God wants you to honor your traditions that you have passed down? This is only one of many places where you are blind.

Now let’s pause and meditate on what God’s words mean.  Forget tradition, what is God telling you?

You and I must read God’s words and apply the words to our lives.  Does your life measure up to God’s words?  Become intentional about applying God’s words to your life and reflect each day on the day.

Let’s conclude on this reminder from our Heavenly Father found in Matthew 15:9 below:

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

May 21

Why does Yahweh want us to focus on doing His Commandments? How does doing His Commandments impact our salvation? Let’s look at King David’s words in Psalm 119:166 below:

LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

King David said to Yahweh that he did two things: 1) hoped for salvation and 2) did God’s Commandments–all ten of them found in Exodus 20:1-17 Amplified.

Would we dismiss God’s royal commands to life that God wants us to do to attain life eternal? Satan tricks many into thinking Jesus did it all on the cross and they are saved by just accepting Christ and continuing to live in sin. Christ died on the cross for sinners.  Yes Yeshua the Christ died for all; however, we must turn from our sins.  Yeshua did His part for our salvation. Now you and I must do our part: submit to God’s will, obey God’s commands, repent of past sins and ask God to help us overcome our sins.  We must turn from a lifestyle of sin to a lifestyle of righteousness.

We, my friends, must do our part to benefit the free gift of salvation via Yeshua’s sacrifice for our sins.  He did not give His life as ransom for our life to continue to live a life of degradation.  He gave His life to set us free from sin and death.  If we decide we prefer to continue to live in sin and die, Yeshua’s death will not save you.  You must repent and change one hundred and eighty degrees around.  You must do an about face and march in another direction.  You must flee sin to live. Yeshua did His part and you must do your part.

If Yeshua’s death on the cross could save the whole world without any change in a believer’s lifestyle then Satan would be saved too.  Satan knows that Jesus died on the cross.  Satan was there when Yeshua died on the cross. Yahweh the Father was there when Yeshua died on the cross.

What saves you is learning to obey God’s Commands which are not grievous: all of the Ten Commandments.  Yeshua’s death pays the penalty for our sins.  He did not die for us to continue to live in sin.  No He died to set us free from sin.  We must surrender our lives to God and ask God to help us overcome all sins in our life.  We must earnestly seek God with all our hearts, mind and soul, confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness.

Once God sees our hearts, God sees we mean business in fleeing sin, God will help us.  When we know the truth of the gospel and obey, God is faithful to help us and save us.

Ephesians 1:13 from the Amplified Bible gives us the following precious promise:

In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God]. 

When you hear the gospel, accept the gospel, obey the gospel, God will give you the free gift of His Holy Spirit indwelling you and helping you.  God protects you and helps you overcome sin.  What you and I cannot do in our own strength, God can do through and in us.  We must ask Him to help us.  God said ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find and knock and the door will be opened.

The direct quote in Matthew 7:7 from the Amplified Bible states:

“Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.

 

Another key text to consider says the following:

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mark 7:7 KJV

Now let’s pause and meditate on what God’s words mean.  Forget tradition, what is God telling you?

You and I must read God’s words and apply the words to our lives.  Does your life measure up to God’s words?  Become intentional about applying God’s words to your life and reflect each day on the day.

Let’s conclude on this reminder from our Heavenly Father found in Matthew 15:9 below:

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

May 14

The Bible states in Proverbs 14 the following virtues:

1. Every wise woman builds her house.
2. He that walks in his uprightness fears the LORD.
3. The lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5. A faithful witness will not lie.
6. Knowledge is easy unto him that understands.
7. Go from the presence of a foolish man when you perceives not in him the lips of knowledge.
8. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way.
9. Fools make a mock at sin but among the righteous there is favor.
10. The heart knows its own bitterness,
    And no stranger shares its joy.
11. The house of the wicked shall be overthrown but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. 
12. There is a way which seems right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death. 
13. Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
    And the end of joy may be grief.
14. The backslider in heart will have his fill with his own [rotten] ways,
    But a good man will be satisfied with his ways [the godly thought and action which his heart pursues and in which he delights].

15. The simple believes every word but the prudent man looks well to his going. [The naive or inexperienced person [is easily misled and] believes every word he hears,But the prudent man [is discreet and astute and] considers well where he is going.]

16. A wise man feareth and departs from evil but the fool rageth and is confident. 
17. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly and a man of wicked devices is hated. 
18. The simple inherit folly but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19. The evil bow before the good and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 
20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbor but the rich hath many friends. 
21. He that despise his neighbor sins, but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. 
22. Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. [Do they not go astray who devise evil and wander from the way of righteousness?
    But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.]
23. In all labor there is profit,
    But mere talk leads only to poverty.
24. The crown of the wise is their riches but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25. The true witness delivers souls.
26. In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death. 
28. In the multitude of people is the king’s honor but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29. He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding but he that is hasty of spirit exalted folly. 
30. A sound heart is the life of the flesh but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31. He that oppress the poor reproached his Maker but he that honor him hath mercy on the poor.
32. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, but the righteous hath hope in his death. [The wicked is overthrown through his wrongdoing,
    But the righteous has hope and confidence and a refuge [with God] even in death.]
33. Wisdom rest in the heart of him that has understanding. 
34. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
35. The king’s favor is towards a wise servant, but his wrath is against him that causes shame.

Focus and meditate on the virtues and may God bless you with the keys to the Heavenly Kingdom.

This world is not our home.  We will all one day return to our Heavenly home.  I hope we can all hear well done good and faithful servants…welcome into my rest.  God bless sisters and brothers in Christ.

May 7

How should we react when things do not go our way? As young people and adults, we will encounter difficulties throughout our lives here on earth. We must learn to persist and obey God to attain favor: eternal life. The word persist means to continue firmly in an opinion or a course of action despite hardship, opposition, or loss. This means simply to endure by relying and trusting in God’s words to us.

Promises

God gives us His words as guarantees to encourage us and as assurance so we persist in doing what is right.  God gives us precious promises to help us to attain eternal life:

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Luke 11:9-11

 

When we know what God expects of us and we obey, God blesses us. The blessings of God leads to eternal life.  When God blesses us, no one can take that blessing away. The blessing of eternal life is what we should all seek.

Avoid Anger

So when others trigger varied emotions within us, we must remain faithful to what God expects of us.  We must learn to control our emotions and our tongue.

“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” Psalm 37:8

“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” Proverbs 14:29

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

The Narrow Road and The Wide Road

Which road are you walking on?  One will lead you back to the Kingdom of God and the other will lead you further from God.

In life we will have two choices.  Either we walk in the will of God for our life or we travel the wide rode of sin outside the will of God.

Which road are you walking on?  If you find yourself on the wrong road, what can you do to get on the path to God?

A Dying Sinner Chooses to Change Course

My eighty two year old father shared a story on the Sabbath.  The story is of a  young man that lived in sin and came to face death. He didn’t go to church. He didn’t believe in God. He knew he was going straight to hell when his doctor told him he had ten days to live.

What do you think he did?

What would you do if your doctor said you have ten days left to live after running medical test?

This relatively young man immediately began begging God to heal him everyday! He continuously cried out to God. He did not want to go to hell.  He cried, God please give me your Holy Spirit!  He persisted in prayer.

One day he felt a hand both on his chest and his back. He began to recover.  Every time he went to his doctor to get blood work done, the results would improve each time.  He knew God touched him and healed him.

He then went on to preach and share his story with others of how God healed him. He spent the remainder of his life preaching and sharing his testimony.

Your Parents Can’t Pray and Surrender Their Life to God for You

Your mother, father, brother, sister, wife, husband, friend… can pray for your protection, for God to guide you and watch over you…

I’ll share a personal story.  My father is okay with this otherwise I would not share.

My grandmother prayed diligently for my eighty-two year old father until she died at the age of seventy seven. My father was thirty seven years at that time. He did not turn his life around until he retired.  My grandmother’s dying words were son if prayer can help, I want you to know my last prayer will be for you. Those were my grandmother’s last words to my father.

[Imagine the love my grandmother had for her only child walking on the wrong road while she faced her death.  That’s the same love magnified infinitely that God has for each of us His children. Can you imagine the pain felt when you hurt for your child? As a child can you put yourself in the shoes of your parent who loves you? Can you understand that the parents wisdom exceeds your own and you ought to obey your parents for your own good?]

My father turned his life around after retiring about thirty years since his mother last spoke those dying words to him. He got baptized. He surrendered and gave his life to God. He repented of his sins to God.

He now studies God’s words diligently for the past twenty plus years.  My grandmother’s dying words in prayer God heard and honored, but my father had to make the personal commitment to God on his own.  He did so sincerely and now preaches the goodness of God likewise to others.

He always says to study the gospel: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  His well known admonitions are remember the Sabbath and keep all of God’s Ten Commandments. He is famous for saying,  “I do not want to hear man’s words, I want to hear the words of God.”  He often advises us to study the Bible by subject: a little here and a little there. Another saying, I do not have any opinion. I simply read the word of God.  The word does not have any private interpretation.

God is No Respecter of Persons

God is no respecter of persons.  What he did for my grandmother, for my father and for all of us that surrendered our life to God’s will for our life, God will do for you too.

You must persist and seek God with your whole heart, mind and soul.  Only you can seek God and surrender your life to God for you.  Only you can say you’re sorry to God for sins you committed against God.

Death of Flesh Will Come to Each of Us One day

Remember our parents flesh will die, but their spirit will return to God.  We all will one day face the unthinkable: death.  As a believer, we need not fear death and hell.

We can give our lives to God and choose life eternal.  We alone can make that choice to live.  We can turn to God to help us overcome the fear of death and help us to live holy each day.  We alone can choose to obey the gospel of the living God. We alone can choose to remember the Sabbath Day, which is a sign between God and His people. This is not my sign or my opinion.  This is God’s sign.  When we choose to obey God, we choose to keep all of the Ten Commandments.

God says if we add or take away from His words to us, He will take us out of the Book of Life.

The words come from the Father who sent His Son to give us the word that leads to life eternal via His Son’s death on the cross.  Jesus did His part.  We must obey and do our part.  Yes Christ death is a free gift to those who choose to flee sin and obey God’s words to us in the gospel: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

We know that the prayer of the righteous availeth much. So pray diligently for God to give you His Holy Spirit that leads to life eternal by seeking forgiveness for your sins and turning away from a life of sin.

No one can do that for you.

This is between you and God.

You must go to God in prayer.  You must surrender your life to God and repent of sin.  You must confess your sin and tell God you’re sorry for sinning against Him by your disobedience to His words.

You must become an adult and make that commitment to God as an adult.  You cannot be under your parents.

You have to decide.  The Bible says nineteen and over are considered adults–see the story of those who danced around the golden calf in the wilderness. Our laws say eighteen year olds are considered an adult.

Here are some final thoughts.  You must persist in obeying God’s words.

The Bible gives the example of the story of the neighbor who persistently asked for bread and received bread.

Recall, the preacher said he cried out night and day for help. From the day he felt the hand on him, he would go for a blood test.  Each time the test came back better and better.

We must have faith in God’s words to us to discover healing.  Jesus said he went to his home in Nazareth, and he couldn’t heal anyone.  They lacked faith because they grew up with him. They played together as kids so they had no faith in Him.

God sometimes allows challenges to discipline us and turn us away from a life of sin.

There is power in prayer and especially persistent prayer.

While we stand on God’s promises, we must

1) watch & pray and

2) trust & obey.

Then we will see God manifest Himself to us.

Let’s look to God by looking to His words in obedience.  We must ask the Holy Spirit to give us understanding.  We must persist in seeking God’s face each day and ask God to give us insight for the future.  Remember, God’s words are a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

 

April 2

Our 82 year old father says to tell the grandchildren to remember to read Psalm 1 three times a week to give them faith.  Whenever they have time, they should read Psalm 1.  Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God states the Apostle Paul in Romans 10:17.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

March 16

Advice From King David

God commands us to keep His precepts diligently–Psalm 119:4

Then we shall not be ashamed, when we have respect unto all God’s commandments: Ten Commandments–Psalm 119:6

We will praise God with uprightness of heart, when we shall have learned God’s righteous judgements–Psalm 119:7

How do we gain freedom from shame and blessings that lead us to praise God with an upright heart?

We must seek God with our whole heart and ask God to help us to never wander from His Commandments: Ten Commandments–Psalm 119:10

We must hide God’s Ten Commandments in our heart so that we do not sin against God--Psalm 110:11

Why must we hide God’s word in our heart?  How does that look for you?  How can you start your day with God’s word in your heart?  How can you end your day with God’s word in your heart?  How can you establish God’s word in your heart throughout the day?

In conclusion, we must ask God to help us to keep His Ten Commandments to attain blessings and true wisdom. In Psalm 119:12, David writes, “Blessed art you, O LORD: teach me your statutes.”  Those statutes refer to the Ten Commandments.  David adds in Psalm 119:116, “I will delight myself in your statutes (Ten Commandments): I will not forget your word.”

Read and meditate on Psalm 119 on a regular basis and see how God speaks to your heart through His words written by King David.

 

January 3

Charity is Love: Giving to Help Others in Need

We know what neediness feels like.  We need God to help us break free from bondage to sin and suffering.  When God helps us, that love or charity extended to us we learn to extend to others.

Let all your things be done with charity. (1 Corinthians 16:14)

For this new year I would like my life to align with the scripture in 1 Corinthians 13:1-7.  These verses warn us and shed light on what Yahweh (God) expects of us. 

The verses in 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 illustrate the integral aspects of charity: love.

Ponder what the Holy Spirit speaks through Paul so we can fully comprehend how to fully operate in love: charity. This is, also, the love Jesus demonstrated.

 Would you join me in intentionally seeking to daily align our life with the words below:

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Do you sound like noise to others?  Do you cause others to grow frustrated and angry? Do you judge and incessantly correct those you love?

How did Jesus demonstrate love?  Did He judge and criticize or did He heal and forgive and remind others to go and sin no more?  What’s the technique Jesus uses versus how you and I may demonstrate love or charity?

Do you possess faith and the gift of prophecy?

Can you move mountains in your life through prayer?

If you lack love (charity), your life’s testimony means nothing.

Without love (charity) you cannot demonstrate the love of God to others.  You are yet walking in sin.

You actually reflect Satan and his character. This is a scary thought.

If you do not exhibit the loving character of God, you exhibit the fearful character of satan.

Yes we either serve Satan or God (Yahweh).  You can know if you walk in love with peace or you walk in fear with anger, hate, suffering and unbelief.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Yes, the Holy Spirit says you are nothing if you lack charity.  You can feed the poor and give your very body to be burned–sacrifice your very body.  Without charity (love), all the good you do does not grant you eternal life–amounts to nothing!  So all the good will not profit you.

The key to leading a successful life requires exhibiting the character of God: charity (love). This is what success truly means. Attaining a bank account with a billion dollars means nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

We must ask God to teach us to love like He loves.  Without true love (charity) that comes from knowing God’s character and striving to acquire God’s character of love, we will not reflect the love of God towards others. This type of love does not come easy.  This love comes when we humble ourselves and recognize all that God has done for us.  We must humble ourselves, become patient and learn the true meaning of long suffering… knowing in ourselves that God did all these things for us.  God tolerated all our nonsense for years and we must learn to exhibit that same gift of charity called love for others to win souls for the kingdom.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

A truly humble child of God knows what God did for them and will learn to suffer long because God suffered long to win us back to Himself.  We will exhibit kindness even in the face of disrespect because we will recall the kindness God extended to us when we disrespected God.  We will not vaunt ourselves because we know we are nothing without God.  We will not puff up ourselves and make others feel small. Why?  We know that God did not puff up Himself in the face of our sins.  god showed love (charity) and we will extend the same to others.  We will recognize in our humility that we are not better than the worse sinner.  We will thank God each day by extending the same charity (love) towards others until we help them to see how much God loves them.  What we cannot do, we know God can do for them.  If God can save us a wretched sinner snatching us from the grips of Satan and assured death, God can do the same for others.

So we will behave ourselves.  We know what God expects and God’s standards are high.  So we will seek to meet God’s standard of love (charity) so we can lead a life pleasing to God. So charity does not behave unseemly but respectfully at all times. We are not selfish.  We know that all gifts come from God, and God supplies all our needs. We do not get angered easily because we strive to walk with patience and love like God exhibits towards us. We strive to think the best of others and not to think evil thoughts of them.

Remember charity…

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Children of God hate sin and do not take any pleasure in sinfulness. God’s children …

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

They remain patient and exhibit long-suffering, believe the best in others, hope for the best and endure all things to others.

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Let us use these verses as a standard and as a measuring stick to make sure our light shines and leads others to Christ. We want others to seek God because of the love they feel and sense in us. 

Selfishness does not exist in true love. If you possess resources and you see your sister, brother, mother and/or father in need and do not extend a hand to help, you lack love: charity.

May we run our race in this life and hear well done good and faithful servant welcome into your Heavenly Father’s home…welcome into my rest.

Jesus is coming very soon–get ready!

December 21, 2021

Godly Living

Titus 3:1-11 How does your life align with the words of Titus below?

3 Remind people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready and willing to do good, 2 to slander or abuse no one, to be kind and conciliatory and gentle, showing unqualified consideration and courtesy toward everyone. 3 For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], 5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee). 8 This is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have believed God [that is, those who have trusted in, relied on, and accepted Christ Jesus as Savior,] will be careful to participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent [in themselves] and profitable for the people. 9 But avoid foolish and ill-informed and stupid controversies and genealogies and dissensions and quarrels about the Law, for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 After a first and second warning reject a divisive man [who promotes heresy and causes dissension—ban him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him], 11 well aware that such a person is twisted and is sinning; he is convicted and self-condemned [and is gratified by causing confusion among believers].

Reflect on these words of Godly living and intentionally improve to assure your life reflects Godly living that brings the light of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.  The hope in you should shine through to attract others to Christ.  Let your Godly life shine and may others feel the presence of God: Yahweh’s love in your presence.

God’s promises us so much if we only trust God’s words to us.  Yahweh’s love for us offers us truth that can free us from Satan’s grasp and allow us to walk with God once again.  Let’s review the beginning of Revelation 21 to see what God is offering us free of cost.  We do not need money or silver and gold to pay for what Yahweh offers us.  We just need to accept and believe God’s words to us–let’s look at Revelation 21:1-8.

The New Heaven and Earth

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (vanished), and there is no longer any ^[a]sea. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed like a bride adorned for her husband; ³ and then I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “See! The tabernacle of God is among men, and He will live among them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them ^[b][as their God,] ⁴ and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the ^[c]former order of things has passed away.”

⁵ And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true [they are accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy].” ⁶ And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I will give [water] from the fountain of the water of life without cost. ^7 [d]He who overcomes [the world by adhering faithfully to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior] will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. ⁸ But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Remember God is the light of the world and His light should shine through us to light the way to the lost and hurting.  Faith cometh by hearing and hearing cometh by the word of God. Let us Christians walking in the way of God remind ourselves daily that we make up the army of God.  We do not wrestle with flesh and blood but with spiritual forces in high places.   Despite all this know that greater is God in us than the god of this world Satan in them.

We must intentionally go out each day with the intention of allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us.  We must listen to the still small voice of God and be willing to do and say what God calls us to do and say.  Allow the Holy Spirit to work through you.  Do not allow the Devil to do the three things he aims to do: 1) distract, 2) deceive and 3) destroy.  We must know the enemies tactics. We are members of God’s many armies. We must intentionally prepare to overcome and conquer God’s enemy in Jesus mighty name.  Amen.

The Art of War

A final thought, as a part of God’s military let’s remember these key verses to help us fight to win!

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

 

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

 

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 56:3-4

But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

Psalm 31:14-16

 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18-2

 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

Here is one of my favorite songs to play in the midst of life’s storms: Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns.

 

 

December 17, 2021

How to Find God Waiting On God

Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

How to Find God Through Prayer and Waiting On God

I was taught at a very young age of three or four to pray to a God that hears us. As a child I listened to what my mother taught me about God.  I trusted my mother.

So early on I started praying and seeking God out.  I waited patiently for God to answer my prayers knowing that God certainly would. I trusted my mother that God hears and answers our prayers.

I’ve discovered over the past five decades that my mother certainly was correct. I’ve followed her guidance of praying, trusting and waiting patiently on God.

I Found A Supernatural God Waiting on God

I discovered a supernatural God that directs and leads my life.  I found a God that set things in motion so that I can walk through doors prepared for me to go through.  I’ve experienced the joy of the Lord by learning to pray and wait on God for all my needs. I learned to seek God’s guidance in my life early on.  Wow what a wonderful journey learning to walk and wait on Yahweh for the past forty-nine years!

Now I am about to enter very soon my fifth decade with my fiftieth birthday less than two months away. God closed certain doors in my life and now I’m entering another chapter with many changes.

I’m not fearful to make these changes because I am learning to continue to walk by faith and not by sight.  I am taking my concerns and seeking God to direct my life.

How to Find God By Asking, Seeking, Knocking and Waiting On God

God often says in the Bible that we have not because we ask not.  Also in Matthew 7:7-8 God reminds us of the following:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.…

I’ve discovered God’s word to me in the Bible stands true.  I’ve asked and prayed to God.  Yahweh answered me innumerable times over the past five decades or so.  I’ve knocked on the door to to enter and God let me in.  I’ve sought God and found Yahweh.

In following my mother’s teachings about God, I learned to ask, seek and find God in my everyday life.  I learned how to get answers and overcome challenges.  I’ve learned to trust and wait on God.

How to Find God Waiting and Trusting In God’s Words to Us

One thing I know now at the age of 49 that my mother’s teachings about God are 100% correct. My mother taught me from the Bible and the words taught I’ve discovered by my many life experiences in almost fifty years of living lines up precisely with the words of God!

My journey trusting and waiting on God has been very exciting and joyful filled with supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding.

God truly does direct our lives if we put Him first and wait on Yahweh. We may not realize initially that God is directing us, but God will manifest spiritually and physically in ways that we recognize the presence of God in our midst.

If we learn to seek and wait on God, God will respond by giving us answers to our questions, open doors when we knock, and manifest in a supernatural and powerful way beyond our ability to fully comprehend Himself to us when we seek to know Him.

In this journey and relationship with Yahweh, we will come to understand how God directs us. We will learn patience and wait on God if we learn to trust God.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He is gracious to us. (Psalm 123:2)

We must learn to ask, seek and knock when we look to God. When we do, we discover a real God who is with us.

Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

We must consistently over a life time learn to wait on God when we pray.

How to Find God Waiting Through Life Difficulties Requires Optimism

We must reflect on our lives and possess courage knowing that God will continue to lead us. We should allow past examples of Yahweh’s faithfulness strengthen and encourage us.  This will help us endure more difficult times while we wait on God.

Often times we will find ourselves facing challenges we do not wish to deal with in our life. The death of a love one.  The stresses of work. The myriad of life challenges that come at us daily.

Here is what I tell myself during trying times: all things work together for good for those who trust in God…in addition to God’s many promises.

And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:27-28)

Peace comes when we trust God. We learn to rest in God.

Psalms and many books of the Bible encourages us to trust and wait on God. This truly helped me to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Waiting expectantly knowing God hears and will respond in due time allows God to literally work miracles on our behalf. This helps us to learn, grow and exhibit the fruits of the Holy Spirit:

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.(Galations 5:22-23)

We Discover Patience and Love Waiting on God

God allows us to go through things that sometimes feel painful to teach us patience and how to respond in love.  We learn to wait on God and reflect the love of God to others.  We learn ultimately how to love others like Christ loves us.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:7)

Psalm 25:5 reminds us of the following: Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.

Learn to not become judgmental and angry. Learn to see that God is working through all the situations you face. Learn to see that God can use everything for your good if you learn to trust in God.
Let’s look at the following in 1 Corinthians 4:5.

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

When we learn to wait and trust in God, we come to discover that God does lead us. We realize God’s presence with us. We learn how to walk in the physical world with a spiritual God guiding us from the spiritual realm.

 We come to understand how to walk in the physical world through the valley of the shadow of death. Even facing death itself we learn to overcome and attain victory over death. We learn to walk fearlessly and pursue God and God’s plans for our life in the midst of the physical realm into the spiritual realm. We learn to trust God no matter where He may lead us and no matter the outcome. We learn to depend on God no matter what.

I know this sounds a bit profound, but the spiritual God comes to us in the physical realm. We learn to listen to the voice and words of God and wait on God.

I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope. (Psalm 130:5)

In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. (Psalm 5:3)

A great example that caught my attention is how Yahweh directed Moses and the Levites. In these example we can learn that God will physically direct us too as in Numbers 8:24-26. Also wait seems passive but in the verses below to wait requires service and so is active.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:

But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

God set standards for the Levites when they were to work 25-50, the actual age and when to stop: age 50. God was specific and God will do the same for us. We must seek Him, ask and we will find too. The Bible verses that follow just reminds us to wait actively on God.

When you learn to actively wait on God to answer your questions, you acquire the answers sought from Yahweh.  In addition, God opens doors in your life that you cannot open into the spiritual kingdom and eternal life.  Lastly, you find Yahweh when you seek for Yahweh with all your heart!

December 12, 2021

Have you ever both experienced something supernatural and experienced the presence of the supernatural? Reflect on such experiences in your life or the life of others, including examples given to us in the Bible.

4 for an angel of the Lord went down into the pool at appointed seasons and stirred up the water; the first one to go in after the water was stirred was healed of his disease.] (John 5:4 Amplified Bible)

How have you experienced supernatural healing? How did this impact your life? Why reflect and learn from these experiences?  How can these experiences impact your spiritual walk with God?

[But this kind of demon does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]” (Matthew 17:21 Amplified)

[For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.] (Matthew 18:11)

October 22, 2021

How Do You Think God Would Respond to Us Putting An Unnatural Product Such as the New Gene Therapy Drug in Our Bodies versus Using Plant Products to Heal Us? Would God Be in Favor? Why or Why Not?

I believe God wants us to possess freedom to choose what we place in our bodies because he provides that for us.  We are made in God’s image and as such we possess autonomy and freedom to choose and make choices that are best for us:  Gene Therapy Drugs or Naturopathic Healing Methods.  When in history do states come in and dictate what should be done to the bodies of approximately eight billion people around planet Earth? Humans are not animals to be experimented upon without their consent or voice in the matter.  Science is capable of doing good, but on the flip side science is also capable of doing great evil–think of the people exterminated by Adolf Hitler or experiment of capturing people from Africa and selling them like animals to amass wealth for those in control.  Consider the Tuskegee experimentation on African Americans with syphilis.  Scientific and social experimentation run amok but accepted by many scientist and/or leaders in power because laws allowed for such inhumane treatments or people did such evil behind closed doors without others knowing until caught.  Might we find ourselves in the same dilemma today? May people fudge the truth to amass great wealth via the pharmaceutical industry.  Whatever the reason, remember people are capable of destroying the lives of others in the name of science for monitorial gains. 

We must learn to think for ourselves and not just accept what we are told.  We must analyze and discover for ourselves what is best for us and not allow outside forces to determine what is need four us.  We are autonomous free thinking individuals what God given rights and we must not forfeit those rights to others.  Those others may not have our best interest at heart, but their own interest.  So we must think, think, think.  We must learn to think for ourselves and not let leading scientist, positions, etc. think for us.  That’s the easy and wide route that God says leads to destruction.  So do not follow the wide road, but get off that path and create your own narrow path led by choices based on God’s words to us.

We must learn from our ignorant mistakes in our past and learn to make wise choices in the future.  Do not let others make choices for you; you make the choices for yourself based on sound decision making that meets your needs and that you can live with. You have the freedom to choose in life, but you must choose wisely to avoid negative consequences. You must learn to grow up and think for yourself and not allow other peoples thinking to sway your decision making over your life and the lives of others that trust you to give them sound advice.

We tell women that they have a right over their own bodies to commit murder by having  an abortion; however, now we tell men and women they have no right over their bodies.  The state steps in and says you will be inoculated with a new gene therapy drug called a “vaccine”.  They call this new technology a vaccine because most people feel comfortable with the word vaccine; however, the new mRNA or DNA technology drug is not operating as such and the results are horrific for many…and long term effects unknown for the masses that become experimented upon.  Some people are grateful for the drugs and other are sorry they chose to participate. They didn’t realize the possible negative side effects.  All drugs of side effects and that’s always a risk that you take hoping the positive effects out weight the negative effects.

People should have a right to inform consent and to decide what goes into their bodies.  I am and have always been pro science and pro vaccine; however, I am also pro choice for people to possess the freedom to choose what is best for them.  I do not believe anyone should be forced to choose to take an experimental drug to keep their job.  When the experiments are completed in 2023, 2024 and/or 2025, we will know the repercussions of these new gene therapy drugs.  Then we can make a more informed consent regarding the drugs.

As a child of God, I am trusting in my immune system to fight off Covid 19 and it’s many variants.  As I have been ill in the past with symptoms of Covid, I am confident that I’ve already encountered and overcome this virus that many believe is a biological weapon created in a lab funded by Dr. Fauci himself.

God wants us to use our brains creatively and to think for ourselves.  We should not let others decide what is best for our bodies. Why take a vaccine when I’m already immune. We must learn to put our faith and trust in God who created our bodies and learn to trust that He will protect us.  We must possess faith and not live our lives based on fear.  God knows all things, and He will take care of us.

We must submit to God and trust that He will care for us in the midst of many unknowns.  That is what faith is and we must learn to walk by faith trusting in the living God and not by sight.

The Bible admonishes us to walk by faith and not by sight. We are not to walk in fear.  We are children of the light and as such we must walk in truth and in knowledge.  Our God will provide for all of our needs.  Our God heals our diseases.  Our God is the great I AM!  We are children of the most high God.  We are to walk with confidence and with wisdom always watching and waiting on Yahweh to lead and direct our lives–not the state.

Remember your body is the temple of the living God and you are to guard your temple with the utmost care.  The Holy Spirit resides within each of us that surrender our lives to the living God. That same Holy Spirit will protect us from any poisonous substance that enters our body. Nevertheless, we must remain vigilant in protecting our temple: our bodies.

We must care for the body God entrusted to us.  We must not trust the jab someone calls “the lethal death shot” that actually killed thousands and injured probably millions–see VAERS website. If we do, we may risk failing in our mission to care for these precious temples that God entrusted to us.

I wish above all that the state would respect the wishes of the people of God and not force them to become experimented upon against their will.  I’ve spoken to so many people that did not want the inoculation, but they did so anyway.  They need their jobs to survive and care for their families–the poor are at the mercy of the rich.  God looks at their heart and understands.  We must learn to walk and submit to the will of God so we do not succumb to the will of others.  We must possess the free will to make decisions guided by the Holy Spirit and not by necessity. the Bible says those who borrow are slaves to those who loan them the money.  We must learn to become self sufficient so we are not taken advantage of.

Yahweh created us to rule, create and possess freedom.  We must not forget who we are, and what God Designed us to be: made in His image.  We must stand up for freedom and happiness that humans innately possess and not quickly give it away due to fear.  We must walk again I say by faith keeping our eyes on the ever living present God and aligning our lives according to the Creators plan for our life and not the states plan for billions upon planet Earth.

Let us live naturally and may we learn to use the leaves and plants for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:2  reminds us of how to attain healing in heaven:

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

We must look to God and God’s remedies using the naturopathic ways to attain true and lasting healing.

A Psalm of Prayer you can play throughout your home for those suffering with Covid: high fevers, cough, difficulty breathing, joint pain, body pain, diarrhea, wheezing, fatigue, fear, etc.  Also, those with Covid should use a nebulizer with a salt saline solution or Albuterol when prescribed by your doctor.

Psalm 103
King James Version

1Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.

 

September 25, 2021

Fear, Fear, Fear

Today I am here to remind you to trust God above the science because God created the science and the scientists.  Some scientists tell us the truth and others proclaim the propaganda.  If you cannot decipher the truth from the lies, I recommend you follow the Christian scientists and those who practice natural medicine based on healing from plants.

The media tells us that Covid 19, the Delta variant or some unknown variant is going to kill us if we do not become vaccinated.

As a Christian and believer in God, my personal belief is to resort to natural remedies that God provides for us via plant foods to fight off a tiny fragile non-living virus (some may consider living)–blown up probably a quadruple billion times it’s actual size below.

The virus model below may trigger fear when we view this depiction. That is probably because we lack knowledge of the virus. The truth is we need not fear this microscopic (invisible to the naked eye) non-living thing below.

For those who love science like I do, I am sharing some intricate details below the image–others of you can skip.

There are two things you must know to conquer your fear of the virus. I will share these two plus some other nutritional methods I personally use.

Scientifically accurate atomic model of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Each “ball” is an atom.

• Color legend:

  cobalt — membrana (the darker blue)

  turquoise — spike glycoprotein (S)

  crimson — E protein

  green — M protein.

  orange — glucose

The project was made in accordance with scientific sources: 

Protein Models are derivative works of the free license site (freely available for both non-commercial and commercial use).

For more information you can see the following website: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coronavirus._SARS-CoV-2.png 

This virus  is destroyed via two routes:

1) Sunlight–get out and enjoy some sunlight each day to increase your Vitamin D and thank God for all that you see around you. 

2) ventilation–providing lots of fresh air…

In these challenging times we must remember to trust in God. God is the light that guides and motivates us each day.

We must keep our eyes on Yahweh–read the Bible the word of life.

I’ve come to realize over the past few months how so many things can come to distract us from the word of God.  It is a battle for me to keep my focus laser sharp on God and His words to me.

I am reminded each day that I must put my trust in God.

Although I recognize, understand and appreciate science, I must recognize and understand what God’s word says to me in every circumstance of life. I must value and reflect on God’s words to overcome the challenges in life like Yeshua (Jesus) depended on God.

In the days of Queen Esther, she had to trust God and fight against the annihilation of her people.  She relied on her uncle and the people to pray and fast to help her in attaining victory in the face of overwhelming defeat.  In the end her trust and reliance on God made history. Likewise, we ought to trust God.

When Daniel had to decide between trusting in the dictates of the leaders in his day or trusting in God, he wisely chose to trust in God.  Now there is nothing wrong in trusting in our leaders as well as in science perse if truth prevails.

God created everything that scientists study.  We need to not allow science to trump God’s words to us.  God designed what science discovers; however, science can mislead.  If the scientific leaders become corrupted for the sake of amassing wealth, power, etc., the science may cause us harm.  If science is not following and aligning itself with truth, we must question the truth of the science.

Science that follows the scientific method that aligns with truth should be accepted until proven otherwise as long as that science does not speak against God’s words to us.  Truth if it is based on lies is no longer considered truth.

Our world’s media has lots of misinformation and misleading information.

As a Christian person with a love for science, it is so hard for me to accept the propaganda I see.  I know true science because I’ve loved and studied science for decades…my entire life.

I want to know all about the world that God created and about our bodies that God designed.

Today I am here to remind you to trust God above the science because God created the science and the scientists.  Some scientist tell us the truth and others proclaim the propaganda.  If you cannot decipher the truth from the lies, I recommend you follow the Christian scientists and those who practice natural medicine based on healing from plants.

I personally rely on the use of some of the following key nutrients, three in particular:

1. Vitamin D from 5,000 to 10,000 IUs a day especially during the low vitamin D season: flu season.
2. I rely on Zinc daily 15-50 mg because I know zinc stops viral replication.
3. I also rely on Vitamin C of which I generally take 1,000 mg a day and will take up to 3,000 mg a day if I feel like I might be catching a cold, etc.

Magnesium and B Vitamins are also very good.

I am sharing this in the hopes it will help someone preserve their health.  God does not wish that any should suffer.  God wishes for all of us to maintain good health as our souls prosper.

A famous physician trained in medicine long ago said,

“Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.”

Healthy living requires making healthy choices each day especially during these stressful times.

We must learn to adapt using naturopathic methods to survive.  We must try to not go along with people that seek changes so readily because traditional ways benefit us and sudden changes may destroy us.  Hippocrates knew what he was talking about when he said let food be your medicine. He told this to the Greeks.

We must not so quickly turn away from our tradition that has come down to us.

Look what our Bible says in Revelation 22:2 and ponder what God says to us:

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

We must trust and rely on God to help us navigate our way through the chaos and not become swept up.

No one wants to find themselves caught up in a tornado or hurricane; however, we must plan a way of escape for those who fail to plan sometimes drown or die.

Our plan must rely on trusting in God.  Let us go back to scripture and meditate on God’s words of life and pray for wisdom.

Here below are a few scriptures about trusting in God:

1. And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him. (1 Chronicles 5:20 KJV)
2. [[Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.]] O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: (Psalm 7:1)
3. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. (Psalm 16:1)
4. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:2)
5. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. (Psalm 18:30)
6. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7)
7. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. (Psalm 25:2)
8. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. (Psalm 36:7)
9. But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. (Psalm 5:11)
10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Timothy 4:10)
11. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; (1 Timothy 6:17)
12. And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! (Matthew 10:24)

He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.

–Aristotle

False

Evidence

Appearing

Real

My Prayer For You

I pray God’s light of wisdom upon you.  May God’s Holy Spirit manifest Himself unto you and give you perfect peace in the midst of life’s storms.

Be at peace and know God is an ever present help in trouble my friend.  I pray peace into the your life.  May you come to trust and rely more and more on our Creator and Source of all life.

May all chains of sin and darkness be broken from your life and may God’s Holy Spirit indwell and overflow your life healing you of every illness, sin and bondage to Satan.

I ask this all in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) precious name. Amen.

By Worship Songs on Youtube:

2 Hours Non Stop Worship Songs 2021 With Lyrics – Best 100 Christian Worship Songs – Worship 2021

 

 

 

July 17, 2021

How Do You Acquire The Greatest Gift: Eternal Life in Yahweh’s Kingdom?

Nail Down These 5 Points

1. John12:48 In my father’s opinion is the “most important scripture in all the Bible.”

He that reject me and receive not my word has one that judge him.The same shall judge him in the last day.

You can know if your going to go to heaven.  If you do not believe the gospel, the words that I have spoken will judge you (in the last day says God).

2. Mark 16:15-16 contains some of  Yeshua’s last words before departing.

 

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

3. John 14:15-17, 21

If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, … 

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

4. Matthew 19:16-19 contains the most important question in the Bible that we all would like to know the answer to:

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

5. Matthew 5:18 Reminds us that every time we look up at the blue sky that God’s Ten Commandments that He spoke down to the Israelites with His very voice is still in effect: there was nothing greater than God speaking His Ten Commandments of love for self/neighbor and God. These commands are not what must be done, but what should not be done; my father emphasized this last point in the past many times as a side note.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (I added this verse to my father’s study.)

You can know if you are saved by this: 

6. Let’s look at 2 Peter 1:20-21 below:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:11-14 My father mentioned this but not part of his study–thought I’d add below:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

My father reviewed these notes with me earlier today in preparation for a brief study with siblings later today on this Sabbath day: July 17, 2021.

The Ten Commandments: What You Should Know

PragerU

 

Thy Word – Maranatha Singers (Lourdz)

 

June 30, 2021

I’ve been away for weeks now. I had to deal with added work load and health issues with my eighty and eighty one year old parents.  God is good and helps us through the challenges.  My father reminded me the other day to read Job 1 so let’s take a look (click link to read): Job’s Character and Wealth and Satan Allowed to Test Job in Job 1 (King James Version).

As an aside, you may in fact face a crisis in your life that feels unbearable.  Perhaps what you face does not feel fair or perhaps you feel like a failure. Everything appears to go wrong in your life.  Out of nowhere you feel challenges surrounding you.  Thus you feel sad, perplexed and confused as to how to address and solve the problems you now must face.

I want to remind you that there exist no challenge that you face that God cannot help you overcome–God sees and knows what’s going on in your life and mine.  There exist no deep dark circumstances that God cannot victoriously bring you through.

My resolve is to get you to see that challenges come to each of us in this life and sometimes we lack a clear solution to the problems.  We may feel hopeless and not know what to do.

We must do like Job and get on our knees and pray humbly and sincerely to God expressing our deepest concerns and asking for His help to see us through. I assure you,  God hears and acts.  We must remain obedient and/or repent and wait on Him.

Remember, His eyes are upon us and His ears are open to our prayers. God is an ever present help for those who trust and obey Him when the storms of life hit us from every side.  He will carry us through.  God will speak to us and encourage us.

Let’s remember Job when we face our own set of life’s challenges that seem unbelievably dark and leaves us feeling a bit confused and hopeless.  Remember that our hope rest squarely upon God!  God cares and answers us when we humbly reach out for His help. If you have not done so, when you get a chance read not only Job 1 but the entire book of Job.  When times are difficult, the story of Job gives us hope like the many other examples given to us in the Bible: Daniel in the lion’s den, Joseph sold into slavery only to become a prime minister, Ester who saved her people from slaughter, the three Hebrew boys tossed into the fiery furnace but God was with them and they were not burned and so many others.  These examples serve to remind us of God’s goodness, give us faith and hope in the power of Yahweh to save us and provide for us.

I’m not going to go over Job 1 in detail, but I want you to read it in the link provided above in the first paragraph.  When you’re done reading this daily word, go back and read or reread Job 1.

I want to emphasize how Job responded at the disasters that happened to him all at once. Also I want to remind you that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.  You will find yourself tested beyond what you perceive you can bare.  Remember God will not allow you to be tested beyond what you can bare.  Let’s remember Job’s words when his sons died, his animals stolen and/or destroyed and his servants killed except the ones left to tell of all these sudden disasters.

• How does Job respond?
• How would you respond?
• Compare how you would respond to how Job responded.

Job 1:20-22

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

I believe I would cry out to God in prayer and ask Him to help me and save me from the disasters.  I would probably tell God the situation and ask Him to work everything out and direct my steps going forward. Then I would wait on God to answer my prayers for assistance. I would cry and feel miserable like Job, but I would trust in God. In all honesty that was beyond what I think I could endure, but knowing me…this is the typical way I would respond.

So when challenges come, you should turn to God for help and understanding.  Do not sin, continue to sin or blame God foolishly for your negative circumstances.

Lastly, my father and mother  told me of a man that cursed God when his very young seven year old or so son died.  Everyone at the funeral in the small town of about two thousand people saw the man point his finger in the sky and curse God when he buried his only child.  That man probably a Canadian, American or European living in the rainforest had a large farm and was wealthy.  My father said his mother watched the man curse God and shortly afterward the man’s entire hand withered away probably due to cancer.  The arm he pointed in the air to curse God in front of everyone watching at the burial was the arm that decayed and became useless to him. Thus he could no longer farm and became ill.  He died.

The people in the community including my grandmother made sure his wife had food to eat the rest of her life–three meals a day until she got old and died.  They had no family members, but the community members.

The woman became a widow and depended on members in the community to care for her the rest of her life after she lost her son and husband until she became old and died. She didn’t have a job, and she couldn’t farm; however, the people in the community took good care of her.  Someone always made sure she had a meal at mealtime.

They were both nice people within the community before these series of tragedies occurred: her son died, husband’s arm disabled and could no longer farm and husband shortly after died.

Her husband was so angry with God, but God was not to blame.  My parents remind me of the story to say never make the mistake that man made. God was watching and heard the angry curse and the accusing finger pointing up towards the sky. The man actually screamed at God as he pointed towards the  heaven the following based on my recollection: “God if I ever see your face, I’d kill you!”

God is a loving God, and we must remember to treat Him with the utmost respect for He is our Creator!

My father periodically says the following:

• Can the One who creates the ear not hear?
• Can God who creates our eyes not see?

If we curse God in anger, and He takes His protective hand off of us, we become victims to Satan who seeks to destroy us.

Thus that man that cursed God while burying his only child was destroyed.  He lost everything and his wife lost both her son and husband because God took His protective hand off of him. God could have given him back seven sons.

Remember Job and remember to respond with reverence and wisdom towards God at all times despite the physical circumstances because in this life we will all be tested.  We must learn to trust and depend on God to make it through.  God is our only way and hope for victory in this life.  If you cut off God, you cut off your only way to freedom and victory in Christ.

We must learn to obey what God says to us, or we will suffer the consequences of our sins. By obedience and trust in God, we learn to become victorious through Christ.

God in the end gave Job back seven times what Satan took from him–read the book of Job or reflect on the story when times are difficult. Remember always to trust and obey God’s Ten Commandments including remembering to honor God’s Sabbath day set aside for our communion with God…a day of rest from our works.  The works we accomplish during the other six days of the week.

Even in the storms God is present and will not let us fall if we put our trust in Him! What he did for Job a righteous man meaning Job did what was right in God’s eyes (kept God’s Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20, he will do for us too.  We must trust and obey.  For there is no other way to be happy with Jesus than to trust and obey.

Trust and Obey – Lyrics (acquired video from Viajando con Cristo)…sing along and be blessed…

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Yahweh has a special warning for the Shepherds.  My father pointed this particular chapter out for me to look at a day or so ago.  I just got a chance to sit and read this chapter–pretty profound.  I won’t add any further thoughts or reflections.  I’d like for you to read and reflect on God’s words–so much much richness here below for us to take away:

Ezekiel 34 (Amplified Bible)

Prophecy against the Shepherds of Israel

34 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, the [spiritual] shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe (judgment is coming) to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? 3 You eat the fat [the choicest of meat], and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the best of the livestock, but you do not feed the flock. 4 You have not strengthened those who are weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bandaged the crippled, you have not brought back those gone astray, you have not looked for the lost; but you have ruled them with force and violence. 5 They were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the predators of the field. 6 My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the face of the earth and no one searched or sought them.”’”

7 Therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “certainly because My flock has become prey, My flock has even become food for every predator of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock; 9 therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My flock from them and make them stop tending the flock, so that the shepherds cannot feed themselves anymore. I will rescue My flock from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them.”’”

The Restoration of Israel

11 For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd cares for his sheep on the day that he is among his scattered flock, so I will care for My sheep; and I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock and I will let them lie down [to rest],” says the Lord God. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bandage the crippled, and strengthen the weak and the sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong [who have become hard-hearted and perverse]. I will feed them with judgment and punishment.

17 “And as for you, My flock, thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the male goats [between the righteous and the unrighteous]. 18 Is it too little a thing for you that you [unrighteous ones who are well-fed] feed in the best pasture, yet you must trample down with your feet [of wickedness] the rest of your pastures? Or that you drink clear [still] water, yet you must muddy with your feet [of wickedness] the rest [of the water]? 19 As for My flock (the righteous), they must feed on what you trample with your feet and drink what you muddy with your feet!’”

20 Therefore thus says the Lord God to them, “Behold, I Myself will judge between the [well-fed] fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and gore with your horns all those that have become weak and sick until you have scattered them away, 22 therefore, I will rescue My flock, and they shall no longer be prey; and I will judge between one sheep [ungodly] and another [godly].

23 “Then I will appoint over them one shepherd and he will feed them, [a ruler like] My servant David; he will feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.

25 “I will make a covenant of peace with them and will eliminate the predatory animals from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep [safely] in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places around My hill (Jerusalem, Zion) a blessing. And I will make showers come down in their season; there will be [abundant] showers of blessing (divine favor). 27 Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its produce; and My people will be secure on their land. Then they will know [with confidence] that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have rescued them from the hand of those who made them slaves. 28 They will no longer be prey to the nations, and the predators of the earth will not devour them; but they will live safely, and no one will make them afraid [in the day of the Messiah’s reign]. 29 I will prepare for them a place renowned for planting [crops], and they will not again be victims of famine in the land, and they will not endure the insults of the nations any longer. 30 Then they will know [with assurance] that I the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God. 31 “As for you, My flock, the flock of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.

You can also take a look at the Blue Letter Bible to view a commentary on the chapter for more in-depth study if you so choose: Blue Letter Bible.

 

March 26

A friend shared this verse with me the other day: Psalm 107:9.

For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

I read it several times yesterday, but this morning it was like a lightbulb came on in my soul. When we are busy working and taking care of the cares of this life, we do not have time to sit and take in what God’s words says to us.  We do not have the time to listen and wait patiently for God to reveal things to our spirit.

Psalm 107:9 was rich with profound meaning including the entire chapter of Psalm 107. My father on January 14, 2021 asked me to read this chapter and mark the chapter in my Bible.

Interestingly enough, this chapter speaks to my soul and will hopefully speak to yours–Psalm 107:

107 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

19 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.

28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

The Lord takes care of those of us who trust in Him. Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge God and He will take care of us.

The Lord is good and worthy to be praised!  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. May the Lord bless us and keep us.  May the Lord make His Face to shine upon us.  May the Lord give us beauty for ashes. May the Lord say welcome into my rest, and may we hear and know we are greatly loved!

May our Lord say to us here is the key to Kingdom–well done good and faithful servants!

Let us learn to be faithful over a little so He can trust us to rule over a lot in His Kingdom! Yahweh created us in His image to create and produce things of unbelievable beauty.  Let us continually seek and ask God to show us all the gifts He placed within us. Let’s step out in faith and use these talents.  They’re our gifts from God!

God made us to experience peace, joy and happiness. He spoke everything into existence.  We are made in His image and we should speak what want into existence too.  We create what we speak to ourselves each day.

If we are optimistic and loving, we create this for ourselves to experience.

The things that bring us happiness and joy, the things that we want to do and we perceive as enjoyable are part of our giftedness that comes from the Father of lights.

We do not need to pay for our gifts; they are freely given.  They make us who we are: unique and special made in the image of the Almighty.  O taste and see that the Lord is good and worthy to be praised!

This is one of my favorite songs by Cory Ashbury called “Sparrows”  that I will share at the end of this daily word that God put on my heart.  Whenever I play this very special song, the words remind me of the truths found in God’s words to us: we are greatly loved by our Father and Creator in Heaven who brought us into existence!

Like a father and mother that love their only sick child (willing to sacrifice anything to get them well), God loves us even greater than we can ever imagine! Yahweh sent Yeshua to die to pay the penalty for our sin against God so that we can be set free from  sin and Satan and the fear of death: permanent separation from God our Father. Never forget we are greatly loved!  Trust your Father’s words to you found in the Bible. He loves you and made a way for your escape if you are wise enough to listen and obey Him.

We are here for a great purpose, and our job is to search for God with all our hearts to discover our purpose in Him who loves us! We sinned and disobeyed God, which led to separation from Him.  He made a way to bring us back safely into His presence.  Search for Him with all your heart. You will not only discover who you truly are, where you are from and where you are going in the future, but you will discover your Heavenly Father through His words guiding you and His Holy Spirit directing you from within.  

God loves you!  Use your gifts to lead others to know the love of our Father in Heaven–enjoy this song by Cory Asbury titled “Sparrows” (click “Watch on Youtube” below) that reminds me of how much God loves us all!

March 3

A Sister in Christ shared this verse with me this morning after praying for God to anoint me during morning prayer meeting.  I didn’t hear the prayer, but someone who heard informed me.

Read this special verse she shared with me below and may an outpouring of the Holy Spirit touch and breathe new life into your life:

Isaiah 65:24 and it shall come to pass that before you call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear. 

God hears our prayers and answers them.  I’ve seen God do miraculous things in my life.

God hears your prayers and will do miracles for you too.  The secret sauce or ingredient needed is faith.

My father shared this next verse I will share with you in the hopes of helping someone whose son is hooked on drugs in the street.  God wants us to know that we can move the mountains in our life, and my father wants another Sister in Christ to know that she can stand on God’s words to us.  He wants to give her hope to not give up though the situation appears daunting. Let’s take a look at Matthew 17:20 below:

Matthew 17:20
Tree of Life Version
20 And He said to them, “Because you trust so little. Amen, I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

We must learn to possess the faith of a little child. Children up to the age of about six trust their parents every word to them.  They do not doubt their parents. We must become like little children to enter the Kingdom of God.  I will share a little children video to emphasize the verse above.  We are God’s children and we must become humble to learn.  If we think we know it all, we will miss out on the truth through ignorance and pride.  Pride brought down the mighty Lucifer. Listen to the video of Matthew 17:20 from Kids 4 Christ below with a child-like faith.

 

I find that when I pray for the impossible and believe in the improbable that God intervenes and readjust the situations in my life to make the impossible possible. This takes just a little faith in God for Him to detect and we to connect with the Source of life.

This connection via faith brings supernatural power to work out any mountain, challenge and/or hindrance to attain answers from God when we pray.  This does not mean that God will always give us what we want; however, he will give us what is best for us.

God knows the end from the beginning, and He will answer our prayers.  We may need to wait and watch expectantly for our Father to bring things to pass. His timing is not based on our desires.  We should not give up asking and trusting Him to answer speedily on our behalf.  Sometimes answers come years even decades afterwards nevertheless God answers in His timing.

For example I once prayed to attain my first home at the age of about twelve or thirteen to give to my parents for them to retire in and God miraculously gave me a home just before the age of 27.  One criteria I prayed about is that I never wanted to have to rent a home before buying one.  That occurred too and my parents now live in a home paid in full thanks to God’s blessings.  I also have a home thanks to the blessings from God above. God blesses us when we believe His words to us.

When you pray believe and you shall receive–see Mark 11:24 and Matthew 21:22.

Matthew 21:21 and Matthew 21:22

For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you. 

Jesus replied to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have faith [personal trust and confidence in Me] and do not doubt or allow yourself to be drawn in two directions, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen [if God wills it]. And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.” 

When God’s Word becomes a light unto our feet and a light unto our path, we become soldiers fighting God’s enemy.

Psalm 119:105
King James Version
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

2 Timothy 2:3 AMP

Take with me your share of hardship [passing through the difficulties which you are called to endure], like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

We are soldiers walking in this life fighting a spiritual battle.  We must fight with the word of God and obey God’s words to us to attain the victory over sin and help break the captives free. We know the path to freedom when we walk with the Lord.  He is the captain and He will guide his with the power of His Holy Spirit living within us to the victory in Christ Jesus.

This last passage came to me and struck me with a lot of keen insights.  I will simply share God’s words. May the power of God’s Holy Spirit give you insight into this passage.

 

Psalm 68:7-14
Amplified Bible
7
O God, when You went out before Your people,
When You marched through the wilderness, Selah.
8
The earth trembled;
The heavens also poured down rain at the presence of God;
Sinai itself trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9
You, O God, sent abroad plentiful rain;
You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched and weary.
10
Your flock found a dwelling place in it;
O God, in Your goodness You provided for the poor.
11
The Lord gives the command [to take Canaan];
The women who proclaim the good news are a great host (army);
12
“The kings of the [enemies’] armies flee, they flee,
And the beautiful woman who remains at home divides the spoil [left behind].”
13
When you lie down [to rest] among the [a]sheepfolds,
You [Israel] are like the wings of a dove [of victory] overlaid with silver,
Its feathers glistening with gold [trophies taken from the enemy].
14
When the Almighty scattered [the Canaanite] kings in the land of Canaan,
It was snowing on [b]Zalmon.

1. Psalm 68:13 Or cooking stones or saddlebags.
2. Psalm 68:14 I.e. a dark, wooded hill near Shechem.

My Prayer for You:

1. May God’s peace rest upon you my friend.  
2. May the peace of God overtake you and may God’s Holy Spirit give you understanding into the mysteries of God.

Lastly, here is a special song on YouTube titled “Travis Greene 2017 Stellar Award Performance feat: Israel Houghton, Jonathan McReynolds…” my sister shared–must watch on Youtube. I thought the lyrics beautiful and the music perfect to share and ponder on the amazing God that created you and me.  We are fearlessly and wondrously made in the image of our almighty God.

 

 

 

February 20

Riches Cannot Heal A Broken Spirit Only God Can Set You Free From Sin, Suffering and the Fear of Death

Are you rich or poor?  It’s not until you realize how poor you are that you will turn to God your Father and Creator who offers you true and lasting riches that gives you peace and joy along with the free gift of eternal life.  Let us take a look at Proverbs 13:7 below:

There is one who makes himself rich,

yet has nothing;

and one who makes himself poor,

yet has great riches.

We must first recognize how poor and desperate and sinful we are before we can turn to God to fight the battle of sin over our life.

We are not ready for the final step of coming to God until we recognize that we cannot fight and win the battle over sin in our life.  We must ask God to fight and win the battle for us.  When we do, He steps in and does exactly what He is waiting on us to do.  We must learn to trust and rely on God for everything.  We cannot win the battle against sin and Satan on our own.  We must turn to God and say forgive me Father and set me free from a life of suffering, bondage and pain that sin causes.  We must specifically ask God to heal us from the inside out and cleanse of all sins and iniquity which is actually against our Creator. When we do this simple act of faith, God not only hears and acts immediately but we become a new creature in Christ. The Holy Spirit is given to us and writes God’s laws on the tablets of our hearts.  When God downloads His character into your computer system by giving you His Holy Spirit, it’s like getting a new computer with a new operating system.  What was once impossible to do is now wonderfully and amazingly possible with this new Spirit indwelling and controlling your spirit.  You truly become a new creature in Christ.  Morris Venden quotes from 2 Chronicles 20:17 stating the following:

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you.

When we stop trying to fight our way to freedom and truth and recognize God will fight for you that’s when you come to God.  God will smile and say, “Now your ready.” Yes our final step in coming to God is to admit that we are helpless and need God’s help to break the chains of sin from our lives. [Venden, Morris, Faith That Works, Feb 12]

January 30

The Oil, The Spirit of God and Wisdom: Key Ingredients To Knowing God

Oil Represents The Holy Spirit

What originally caught my attention in the passage below initially was verse 2 Chronicles 2:10–the 120,000 gallons of olive oil. Oil signifies the Spirit of God like the virgins who had sufficient oil versus the ones who ran out of oil in Matthew 25:1-10.  As a result the foolish ones that ran low on oil could not make it into the wedding banquet–The Story of The Virgins.

Wisdom From God

This reminds us to ask God for wisdom so that we can become effective for God. Solomon is an example of an individual or rather a King that asked God to give him a “listening heart” so he could lead God’s people well, “discerning the difference between good and evil”–see the passage 1 Kings 3:1-15 The Message (Simply beautiful passage).

Ask For Wisdom From God

God says we have not because we ask not–James 4:2-3.  Let’s start asking God to give us the gift of wisdom.  Let’s stop to ask God to give us a vision of what he expects of us so that we can become effective for God.  Thus we can give God glory, and God can delight in us.

Oil Juxtaposed To The Holy Spirit: The Spirit of Wisdom

In looking at the passage of 2 Chronicles 2:5-14, I am reminded that whatever God ask us to do, He has already gifted us with all that we need to accomplish the task.  If there is anything needed, He will provide the rest.  The oil like I said initially caught my attention.  the oil in many places signifies the Holy Spirit.  When you possess God’s Spirit dwelling within you, you are good to go.

Solomon Given Wisdom, Oil, and Necessary Resources To Rebuild The Temple of God

So Solomon has the temple of God built and God has everything needed for Solomon to build Him a temple–2 Chronicles 2:5-14.

5-10 “The house I am building has to be the best, for our God is the best, far better than competing gods. But who is capable of building such a structure? Why, the skies—the entire cosmos!—can’t begin to contain him. And me, who am I to think I can build a house adequate for God—burning incense to him is about all I’m good for! I need your help: Send me a master artisan in gold, silver, bronze, iron, textiles of purple, crimson, and violet, and who knows the craft of engraving; he will supervise the trained craftsmen in Judah and Jerusalem that my father provided. Also send cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon; I know you have lumberjacks experienced in the Lebanon forests. I’ll send workers to join your crews to cut plenty of timber—I’m going to need a lot, for this house I’m building is going to be absolutely stunning—a showcase temple! I’ll provide all the food necessary for your crew of lumberjacks and loggers: 130,000 bushels of wheat, 120,000 gallons of wine, and 120,000 gallons of olive oil.”

11 Hiram king of Tyre wrote Solomon in reply: “It’s plain that God loves his people—he made you king over them!”

12-14 He wrote on, “Blessed be the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, and who gave King David a son so wise, so knowledgeable and shrewd, to build a temple for God and a palace for himself. I’ve sent you Huram-Abi—he’s already on his way—he knows the construction business inside and out. His mother is from Dan and his father from Tyre. He knows how to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, in purple, violet, linen, and crimson textiles; he is also an expert engraver and competent to work out designs with your artists and architects, and those of my master David, your father. (2 Chronicles 2:5-14 The Message)

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

What God did for King Solomon He can and will do for you and me if we are wise enough to stand still and consider these truths: God is a real and ever-present help in time of trouble and times of blessings. You can read the entire chapter of 2 Chronicles 2 if you desire; Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the chapter is insightful to read below:

2:1-18 Solomon’s message to Huram respecting the temple, His treaty with Huram. – Solomon informs Huram of the particular services to be performed in the temple. The mysteries of the true religion, unlike those of the Gentile superstitions, sought not concealment. Solomon endeavoured to possess Huram with great and high thoughts of the God of Israel. We should not be afraid or ashamed to embrace every opportunity to speak of God, and to impress others with a deep sense of the importance of his favour and service. Now that the people of Israel kept close to the law and worship of God, the neighbouring nations were willing to be taught by them in the true religion, as the Israelites had been willing in the days of their apostacy, to be infected with the idolatries and superstitions of their neighbours. A wise and pious king is an evidence of the Lord’s special love for his people. How great then was God’s love to his believing people, in giving his only-begotten Son to be their Prince and their Saviour. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary.

January 24

Heavenly Vision Offer Clear Directions For Living

Paul had a heavenly vision on the road to Damascus in which God gave him clear and emphatic directions: “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” (My Utmost For His Highest Oswald Chambers January 24 th)

12 “While so engaged, as I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission and full power of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O King [King Agrippa], I saw on the way a light from heaven surpassing the brightness of the sun, shining all around me and those who were traveling with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice in the Hebrew dialect (Jewish Aramaic) saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick [repeatedly] against the goads [offering pointless resistance].’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 Get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you [to serve] as a minister and as a witness [to testify, with authority,] not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, 17 [choosing you for Myself and] rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their [spiritual] eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness and release from their sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified (set apart, made holy) by faith in Me.’

19 “So, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but I openly proclaimed first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent [change their inner self—their old way of thinking] and turn to God, doing deeds and living lives which are consistent with repentance. (Acts 26:12-20)

When we become born again (if at all spiritual), we will receive visions too.  We must truly become Christians believing and trusting in God not simply believing we are Christians.  We must go from the faith of a mustard seed to the faith of Jesus Christ. When you truly believe in the words of God and not simply think you believe you are a Christian, your life will change.  God will manifest Himself to you in some spiritual way via visions, a small voice of God directing your way, etc.  When you truly possess the faith to obey God’s voice, you will encounter setbacks like Paul too–we do not fight against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces in dark places.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. (Ephesians 6:12 Amplified)

We are in a spiritual battle for the minds and hearts of God’s children.  When you truly encounter God, a change takes place in your mind, heart and soul.  You want to obey God’s direction for your life.  You will hate sin and everything that displeases God.  You will learn to trust in God and not in your own ways.

The great thing is to learn not to be disobedient to the vision God gives you like Paul said.

Heavenly Presence Fell Upon Me

I remember just before getting baptized tears of remorse for past sins against God kept flowing from my eyes. I didn’t want to be embarrassed with red eyes so I kept wanting the tears to stop and drying them up off my cheeks and eyes.  The Holy Spirit kept convicting me, and I felt remorse for sins against God the Father.  [When you do wrong to others, you do wrong to God.  Just like when you help the least of these Jesus brethren, Jesus says you do it unto Him.  You are helping Christ when you help His brethren in need.] The tears finally stopped about five to ten minutes before my baptism.  I remember Pastor Howard Flynn now deceased said to me as he called me into the baptismal water: “Are you okay?” I shook my head yes.  I will never forget that day the Holy Spirit overcame me and made me sorry for sins.

I truly felt sorry for some sins that were beyond my physical comprehension. It was a spiritual experience that was beyond the normal physical realm like Paul experienced on the road to Damascus.  God’s presence over shadowed me and helped me to see Him and what He wanted for my life: a relationship with Him.  He came to me spiritually when I committed my life to Him via baptism: meaning dead to self will and self rule. I knew full well what I was committing myself to the day of my baptism at age thirty–thought about baptism for over a decade.  I did not go in blindly and I knew once I made the commitment to serve God there would be no turning back.

I must develop a personal relationship with Yeshua and God who lives within me each and everyday to become effective for the kingdom of God.  We must have that personal connection with God like Paul had on the road to Damascus.  God will do for you like He did for Paul and other servants of God in the Bible. We must learn to obey God no matter what.

Oswald Chambers writes that it is not enough to know that Jesus redeemed the world.  You must recognize and know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Yeshua (Jesus) did effective within you and me.  God wants to reestablish a relationship with us. He wants us to become His ambassadors to a lost world to help them return to Him–recall God coming in a cloud to speak to the three apostles and Jesus.

Remember Yeshua on the mount of transfiguration with Peter, James and John.  God came in a cloud with Elijah and Moses to speak to Yeshua and for the disciples to know that God will invade their physical space and speak to them.  The spiritual realm of God will at times intersect with the physical realm and you will know that God is present with you.  There are many such experiences in the Bible of God speaking to humanity. One of my favorites in this season of my life is about the prophet Elijah speaking with God found in 1 Kings 19:9-18 Amplified Bible.

Christians that truly believe in God will obey God’s voice and have an encounter with the living God because they have a relationship with the living God.

Let’s look at Matthew 17:1-9 below and we will end here:

The Transfiguration

17 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John the brother of James, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And His appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone [with heavenly glory, clear and bright] like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. 4 Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good and delightful and auspicious that we are here; if You wish, I will put up three [sacred] tents here—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased and delighted! Listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

9 And as they were going down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

 

January 19

This is from my prayer time with God and prayer meeting this morning.  I focused in on 1 John 4:17-19. The pastor shared some verses from Psalm 37 and 40. Touched on Joseph waiting patiently to see his dream fulfilled and Abraham needing to wait on God to receive his son Isaac.  We can trust in God and walk fearlessly in love with our God and our brethren.

Perfect Love Cast Out Fear

¹⁷ In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love]. ¹⁹ We love, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:17-19)

⁷ 
Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him;
Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
⁸ 
Cease from anger and abandon wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evil.
⁹ 
For those who do evil will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
¹⁰ 
For yet a little while and the wicked one will be gone [forever];
Though you look carefully where he used to be, he will not be [found].
¹¹ 
But the humble will [at last] inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity and peace. (Psalm 37:7-11 Amp.)

What happens when you wait patiently on God?

David gives us his testimony of God’s goodness when we wait on God.  He says in Psalm 4o:1-11 the follow:

40 I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
2
He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.
3
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear [with great reverence]
And will trust confidently in the Lord.
4
Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who makes the Lord his trust,
And does not regard the proud nor those who lapse into lies.
5
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of your wonders,
They would be too many to count.

The prophet Isaiah said that they that wait on the Lord they will renew their strength.

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

Abraham did not wait on God and Ismael was born of Hagar causing conflict with Sarah and her son Isaac.

For Joseph wait patiently from the time he had the dream. He waited 15-20 years before the fulfillment of the dream God gave him.

¹⁵ By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrew 13:15)

 

⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)

A Christian commented, “Be silent to hear the voice of the spirit.”  Another said, “Wait patiently for God knowing that He will make all things knew and He will guide our steps.”  Lastly another said, “We wait in anticipation for what we are to do.”

Prayer

God we want to slow down and embrace the unhurried rhythm of Christ.  We are praying for peace and healing on the lives of those that are sick. We want spiritual healing and a deeper walk with you.  We are praying for those with Corona virus and other illnesses.  We ask that as you heal their bodies that you heal their souls.  We pray for those struggling financially, those who are looking for a job, those who need healing in their marriage.  We pray for peace in our country and ultimately your will will prevail dear Lord.  Dear Lord we do not know what this day has in store but we trust you Lord with the day.  Amen.

January 14

Read and Reflect on God’s Words Below

²¹ “The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”

²² Judas (not Iscariot) said, “Master, why is it that you are about to make yourself plain to us but not to the world?”

^23-24 “Because a loveless world,” said Jesus, “is a sightless world. If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him—we’ll move right into the neighborhood! Not loving me means not keeping my words. The message you are hearing isn’t mine. It’s the message of the Father who sent me.

^25-27 “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.

²⁸ “You’ve heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away, and I’m coming back.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I’m on my way to the Father because the Father is the goal and purpose of my life.  (John 14:21-28 The Message Bible)

21 The one who loves Me will do the things I have commanded. My Father loves everyone who loves Me; and I will love you and reveal My heart, will, and nature to you.

God becomes flesh and lives among humanity, not just to have a transaction with people and ultimately die, but to continue to be with them and to send His Spirit to be present with believers. So God calls His Spirit-indwelled people to something greater, something more significant: they are here as redeeming forces on this earth; their time here is about reclaiming the things He has created. Believing God has created the entire cosmos and that it is restored in Jesus, the believer’s work here through the Spirit is to say, “This belongs to God,” and to help point out the beauty of creation to everyone. And most of all, to live in it themselves by the power of the Holy Spirit who plants the teachings of the Lord in their hearts.
The Other Judas: 22 Lord, why will You reveal Yourself to us, but not to the world?

Jesus: 23 Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him. 24 The one who does not love Me ignores My message, which is not from Me, but from the Father who sent Me.

25 I have spoken these words while I am here with you. 26 The Father is sending a great Helper, the Holy Spirit, in My name to teach you everything and to remind you of all I have said to you. 27 My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful. 28 You were listening when I said, “I will go away, but I will also return to be with you.” If you love Me, celebrate the fact that I am going to be with the Father because He is far greater than I am.

January 13

Faith = Trust

Here is an excerpt from Faith That Works by Morris L. Venden :

“He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb. 11:6…Faith was not taking Him at His word. So you come to the definition of faith as Jesus used it.  It is the real definition of faith. One word: trust.  The book Education, page 253, says, “Faith is trusting God.” The premise is Jesus is completely trustworthy.  If you don’t believe that, you don’t know Him yet.  The person who is not quite sure that he can trust Jesus is the one who doesn’t know Him.  Faith comes, not to those who seek it, but to those who seek it not, who seek only to know Jesus.” Faith That Works by Morris L. Venden P.19 Jan 13

This is so true.  I am still on my journey in trusting God.  Some things are easy to trust God such as when God says ask and it will be given to you.  We pray and ask and many of us believe God will answer our prayers…guess what…God answers our prayers… We are ecstatic proclaiming God’s goodness.  Then there are times when we are not willing to trust God when He says to do something we perceive as impossible or scary…safety net is taken away.  Like the bird, God ask you to leave the nest…a place of safety and fly with Him.  Are we able to step out the boat onto the water in the midst of the storm like Peter did when Jesus bid him come.  Are we willing to do all that God calls us to do in the face of stepping out of a perceivably safer space to one that looks unsafe.  Are we willing to walk like Peter by faith trusting God. If we do step out in faith, will our faith sustain us or will we buckle under the pressure like Peter.

22 Immediately He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat [by this time] was already a long distance from land, tossed and battered by the waves; for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”

28 Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped Him [with awe-inspired reverence], saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!” (Matthew 14:22-33 Amplified)

 

 

January 12

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else];
I would rather stand [as a doorkeeper] at the threshold of the house of my God
Than to live [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord bestows grace and favor and honor;
No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

O Lord of hosts,
How blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, relying on You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectation].

(Psalm 84:10-12 Amplified)

January 9

Even though You Don’t Know God, He Tells You Who He Is

1. God tells us our history and our future if we choose to listen and believe.  Remember at the very beginning before sin entered this world existed in a perfect state created by a perfect God. Afterwards sin entered and humanity fell from our perfect state with God exhibited in the story of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 1-3 (The Voice Bible)

2. God made King Solomon Wise.  King Solomon the wisest man that ever lived said the past is going to be the future in Ecclesiastes 1:9 below.  In the past humanity existed in a state of perfection.

What has been, that will be;
what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun;
the future only repeats the past. (Ecclesiastes 1:9 The Voice Bible)

So there is absolutely no new thing under the sun…everything we see has been before.

One person may say of some idea,
“Pay attention to this; it’s original!”
But that same idea has already been expressed;
it’s been with us through the ages. (Ecclesiastes 1:10 The Voice Bible)

Ecclesiastes 4:2-3

It struck me that the dead are actually better off than the living who must go on living; ³ and, even better, are those who were never born in the first place. At least they have never had to witness all of the injustices that take place under the sun.

⁶ I have read something somewhere:

I can’t help but wonder why You care about mortals
or choose to love the son of man.
^7-8 Though he was born below the heavenly messengers,
You honored the son of man like royalty,
crowning him with glory and honor,
Raising him above all earthly things,
placing everything under his feet.^[a]

When God placed everything under the son of man, He didn’t leave out anything. Maybe we don’t see all that happening yet; ⁹ but what we do see is Jesus, born a little lower than the heavenly messengers, who is now crowned with glory and honor because He willingly suffered and died. And He did that so that through God’s grace, He might taste death on behalf of everyone.

When God placed everything under the son of man, He didn’t leave out anything. Maybe we don’t see all that happening yet; ⁹ but what we do see is Jesus, born a little lower than the heavenly messengers, who is now crowned with glory and honor because He willingly suffered and died. And He did that so that through God’s grace, He might taste death on behalf of everyone.

This message is especially good for those who lost loved ones–see Isaiah 2:9 below:

⁹ But as the Scriptures says,

No eye has ever seen and no ear has ever heard
and it has never occurred to the human heart
All the things God prepared for those who love Him. (Isaiah 2:9 The Voice Bible)

Isaiah 64:4 further emphasizes this point:

Nothing like that had ever happened before—no eye had ever seen,
and no ear had ever heard such wonders,
But You did them then for the sake of Your people, for those who trusted in You.

⁹ But as the Scriptures say,

No eye has ever seen and no ear has ever heard
and it has never occurred to the human heart
All the things God prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Listen to Me, you who already live out what is true and right,
who treasure My instruction within your hearts:
Don’t be afraid of people’s scorn.
Don’t let their dismissive criticism, bitter anger, or hatred get you down. (Isaiah 51:7)

 

It’ll be like that for those the Eternal One ransomed from captivity
to return to Zion, Jerusalem. And they’ll come singing with joy.
Overwhelming, never-ending joy will crown their heads with happiness and delight
while desperation and depression melt away. (Isaiah 51:11)

 

5. Isaiah 45 Describes Heaven in Great Detail 

45 This is what the Eternal One says to His chosen agent, Cyrus the Persian.

God has a special mission for Cyrus, the Persian emperor: to lead the world and free His exiled people. The Scripture is clear: God, not kings, directs history. Kings—and sometimes their subjects—often need to be reminded of that. The Eternal, the one True God, stands above and behind human history, directing and orchestrating its events.

Eternal One: Not by his hand alone, but with his in Mine,
nations are vanquished, their leaders conquered;
Doors and gates open without a fight
and will not close.

² (to Cyrus) I will go ahead of you and smooth the way, lower the heights,
break down bronze doors, and cut through iron bars.
³ I will give you hidden treasures
and wealth tucked away in secret places;
I will reveal them to you.
Then you will know that I am
the Eternal, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.
⁴ For the sake of My servant Jacob, My chosen people Israel,
I have called you by name, made you who you are,
And bestowed an honorable title on you, even though you don’t know Me.
⁵ I am the Eternal One; there is no other God but Me,
and even though you don’t know Me, I am preparing you for victory.
⁶ I am doing all this so that people all around the world
may know that I alone am the Eternal, the only God.
⁷ I form light and create darkness;
I make what is good, happy, and healthy, and I create woe.
I, the Eternal One, make them one and all.
⁸ Skies above, open up and let the clouds rain down righteousness!
Let the earth below sprout triumph and justice.
For I, the Eternal, have created them.

⁹ How bad it will be for anyone who disputes with the very One who created him!
After all, a human being is nothing more than one clay pot among many.
Imagine the clay saying to the potter, “What do you think you’re doing?”
or “You don’t have the hands for this.”
¹⁰ It’s as idiotic as asking a mother or father,
“What are you birthing or begetting?”
¹¹ So the Eternal One, who is the Holy One and Maker of Israel, says,

Eternal One:Are you really going to question Me about what will happen to My children,
or lecture Me about what I should do with the ones I made with My own hands?
¹² It is I who made the very ground on which you stand,
I who shaped the human beings who walk around on it.
I pulled the sky and the heavens taut with My own hands,
and organized the army of stars that march across the night sky.
¹³ So it was perfectly right for me to raise up Cyrus;
I will make his road ahead straight and level,
So that he will rebuild My chosen place, My city Jerusalem,
and set My exiled people free
Without exacting a price or seeking a bribe.

So says the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies.

¹⁴ Eternal One: I, the Eternal One, say to you things will change; the wealthy and strong
of your world—Egyptians, Cushites, Sabeans—will come under your control.
Their goods and services, their strongest warriors, will be yours,
deferring to you, as they follow in chains, saying,
“God is with you. There is no other God but yours.”

¹⁵ Cyrus: You have kept yourself hidden from others,
but You are indeed God, who saved Israel in the face of great challenges.
¹⁶ Those who worshiped others will be humiliated.
Those who craft idols will be embarrassed by their folly.
¹⁷ By contrast, Israel can stand tall. The Eternal has given them
a salvation that will never die, and they will never be embarrassed or ashamed.

¹⁸ Indeed, He who created the universe—heavens and earth—gave it form and shape.
The Eternal alone set it all in motion;
He didn’t make it a disorganized wasteland but made it a beautiful and comfortable home.

Eternal One: I am the Eternal One, and there is no other god who exists.
¹⁹ I didn’t whisper in secret or mumble in the darkness;
I didn’t say to Jacob’s children:
“Look around the desert and try to find Me.”
No, I am the Eternal One. I will speak clearly what is right and true.

²⁰ Come, come. Gather around, all who survived among the nations.
They have no idea what a real God is
As they coddle their wooden idols,
and pray to worthless images that cannot save them.
²¹ Go ahead, talk among yourselves. Present your case.
Now, who declared what would happen long ago?
Who predicted how these events would turn out at this time?
Was it not I, the Eternal One? There is no other God but Me.
I alone am the righteous God and Savior. There is no other.

²² So turn your back on those idols and your face to Me.
I will save you, wherever you are, to the ends of the earth,
For I am God. There is none other.
²³ I make this solemn vow; I have spoken a word—
faithful and true—and it will not return; it will be done.
My words have wings; they will be accomplished;
every knee will bow down to Me.
Every tongue will swear allegiance to Me.

²⁴ They will say of Me, “Only by the Eternal One shall I see things through.
Only by God shall I go with integrity and strength through life.”

6. For it is written,

“As I live, so I promise,” says the Lord, “every knee will bow down to Me.
Every tongue will confess to God.” (Romans 14:11)

7. So when His name is called,
every knee will bow,
in heaven, on earth, and below.
¹¹ And every tongue will confess
“Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,”
to the glory of God our Father! (Philippians 2:10-11)

 

8. Those who know that God is the source of life, integrity, and strength live lives marked by confidence and a calm assurance.

Now all those who burned with anger against God
will come to Him and be shamed.
²⁵ Through the Eternal, all the descendants of Israel
will be vindicated and made glorious within the world.

 

9. This letter begins with praise and thanksgiving to

• God the Father, who blesses us
• Jesus, who redeems us
• the Holy Spirit, who seals us.

³ Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One, who grants us every spiritual blessing in these heavenly realms where we live in the Anointed—not because of anything we have done, but because of what He has done for us.⁴ God chose us to be in a relationship with Him even before He laid out plans for this world; He wanted us to live holy lives characterized by love, free from sin, and blameless before Him. ⁵ He destined us to be adopted as His children through the covenant Jesus the Anointed inaugurated in His sacrificial life. This was His pleasure and His will for us. (Ephesians 1:3-5)

10. Paul knows the people in Colossae are facing many religious and philosophical options, none of which are neutral. Notice Paul doesn’t say, “Just add Jesus to what you already believe,” or, “Factor Jesus into your philosophy,” or, “Include Jesus in this or that ritual.” The claim that “Jesus is Lord” does not allow that. If Jesus is Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of all creation, then all other teachings must give way. All people must bow before Him and only Him.

3 So it comes down to this: since you have been raised with the Anointed One, the Liberating King, set your mind on heaven above. The Anointed is there, seated at God’s right hand. ² Stay focused on what’s above, not on earthly things, ³ because your old life is dead and gone. Your new life is now hidden, enmeshed with the Anointed who is in God. ⁴ On that day when the Anointed One—who is our very life—is revealed, you will be revealed with Him in glory! (Colossians 3:1-4)

11. Paul tells them the key to remain unified is to show compassion and forgiveness toward one another.

¹² Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Put up with one another. Forgive. Pardon any offenses against one another, as the Lord has pardoned you, because you should act in kind. ¹⁴ But above all these, put on love! Love is the perfect tie to bind these together. ¹⁵ Let your hearts fall under the rule of the Anointed’s peace (the peace you were called to as one body), and be thankful.

¹⁶ Let the word of the Anointed One richly inhabit your lives. With all wisdom teach, counsel, and instruct one another. Sing the psalms, compose hymns and songs inspired by the Spirit, and keep on singing—sing to God from hearts full and spilling over with thankfulness. ¹⁷ Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing, or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father.

12. For Paul it isn’t enough just to believe the right things. Right belief always produces right living. The gift of salvation demands that we put into practice the character of our King. Just as we take off and throw away old, worn-out clothes, we must strip off certain attitudes and actions of our old selves. Since our lives have been made new in Him, things like sexual immorality, greed, anger, lies, and the rest must find no place in us. But it is not enough to strip off the old; we must put on the new. And that new creation has many qualities of Jesus: compassion, gentleness, and humility; putting up with each other, forgiving each other, and above all, loving each other. These are the ways of Jesus, so they must be our ways too. (Colosians 3:12-17)

13. May the Lord flood you with an unending, undying love for one another and for all humanity, like our love for you, ¹³ so that your hearts will be reinforced with His strength, held blameless and holy before God, our Father, when our Lord Jesus, [the Anointed, the Liberating King,] appears along with all His holy ones. [Amen.] (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

14. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 Paul said,

What a beautiful, dramatic transformation! This is Paul’s progression from spoon-feeding people better moral choices to trusting them to live by love according to the conviction of the Spirit, their guide to becoming active participants in the kingdom of God. Paul is acknowledging that there is a power at work that is much greater than his pen. In fact, the same Spirit that inspires Paul’s words in these letters is teaching the believers in Thessalonica to live as true believers and teaches us still today.

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we want you to be fully informed about those who have fallen asleep in death so that you will not be overwhelmed with grief like those who live outside of the true hope. ¹⁴ Here’s what we believe: since Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, God will bring with Jesus all who have died through Him. ¹⁵ For we can say all this to you confidently because it is the word of the Lord: we who are still alive and left behind when the Lord comes will not precede those who have fallen asleep in death.

14. Matthew 19

15. Transfiguration

Matthew 17

Six days later, Jesus went up to the top of a high mountain with Peter, James, and John. There, something spectacular happened: Jesus’ face began to glow and gleam and shine like the morning sun. His clothes gleamed too—bright white, like sunlight mirroring off a snowfall. He was, in a word, transfigured. Suddenly there at the top of the mountain were Moses and Elijah, those icons of the faith, beloved of God. And they talked to Jesus. …

 

16. In Revelation 6: 9-10 John gives us a glimpse into the future: Heaven.

The breaking of the seals releases the four riders and a series of disasters and plagues. Even though what follows appears to be extreme violence unleashed against the earth and its inhabitants, there is a limitation to what follows. Death and Hades have the authority to kill, but their authority extends only to one-fourth of the earth. The slaughtered souls cry out for vengeance, but they will have to wait a little longer until more martyrs are killed for their testimony.

⁹ When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the heavenly altar the souls of those murdered for holding fast to the word of God and their testimony. ¹⁰ They cried out in a great, singular voice.

Murder Victims: How much longer, O Lord, the holy One, the true One, until You pronounce judgment on the inhabitants of the earth? Until You avenge our blood?

⁹ After I heard about these who would be sealed, I looked and saw a huge crowd of people, which no one could even begin to count, representing every nation and tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and waving palm branches. (Revelation 7:9)

17. Revelation 7:13-16 we see people clothed in white that came from the earth–24 elders,

One of the Elders (to me):¹³ Who are these people clothed in white robes, and where have they come from?

John:¹⁴ Sir, surely you know the answer to your own questions.

One of the Elders: These are coming from the time of great suffering and affliction. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, cleansing them pure white.

¹⁵ Responding out of a heart filled with praise, they congregate before the throne of God
and constantly worship Him day and night in His temple.
The One seated on the throne will always live among them.
¹⁶ They will never be hungry or thirsty again.
The sun or blazing heat will never scorch them,

18. 24 elders in Revelation chapter 5 or 7 reveal some hidden truths:

Revelation 5

Revelation 7

19. 1 Corinthians 15:35 What is man that…How are the dead raise up and with what body do it come…that which you soweth not that body that shall be…God giveth a body as it pleaseth Him.

³⁵ Now I know what some of you are thinking: “Just how are the dead going to be raised? What kind of bodies will they have when they come back to life?” (1 Corinthians 15:35)

20. This is great Chapter…Read The Whole Thing…God brought us–2 Corinthians 5

⁴ The fact is that in this tent we anxiously moan, fearing the naked truth of our reality. What we crave above all is to be clothed so that what is temporary and mortal can be wrapped completely in life. ⁵ The One who has worked and tailored us for this is God Himself, who has gifted His Spirit to us as a pledge toward our permanent home.

⁶ In light of this, we live with a daring passion and know that our time spent in this body is also time we are not present with the Lord. (2 Cor. 5:4-6)

This tells you the same thing again…If our earthly house…we are confident…used it twice

21. The One who has worked and tailored us for this is God Himself, who has gifted His Spirit to us as a pledge toward our permanent home. (2 Cor. 5:5)  here…

To put it another way: if we have been united with Him to share in a death like His, don’t you understand that we will also share in His resurrection? (Romans 6:5)

22. Job 14:7-12

23.  Matt 16:15-20

24.  2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

25. Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. (Romans 12:1)

January 6

Clothed in Christ

Here is a quote that I received that conveys the essence of the Christian walk:

Feed on Christ, and then go and live your life, and it is Christ in you that lives your life, that helps the poor, that tells the truth, that fights the battle, and that wins the crown.”

–Phillips Brooks

God works through each of us to help others find their way home to joy, peace, love and everlasting beauty.

 

Today’s morning prayer meeting focused on Isaiah 61 and Ephesians 3:16.

God will put His laws in our heart. He will give us His spirit. It will help our flesh.

Learn the word of God. It will keep you. Write them on the table of your heart. It will be a source of rejoicing everyday.

With His righteousness, He cleanses you of all unrighteousness.

May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], (Eph. 3:16)

May God grant each of us a little of His glory. God will strengthen our inner man. What is the depth height…that we may be filled with His Spirit. We wear the garment of salvation. We continue to love. All He does is ask to dwell in our heart. Only we can believe and allow Him in.

Don’t focus on your faults and shortcomings. What we need to do is focus on what He has done for us. He gave His life so we can have eternal life.

Remember He sent His Holy Spirit to spend time with us everyday. We let His spirit in and we become His workmanship. The makes us that new creature. We can get eternal life.

Everyday we realize we are clothed with His Spirit of righteousness. He makes us whole and with the gift of eternal life.

Remember that Jesus (Yeshua) covers us with His robe of righteousness. God wraps us with the robe of His righteousness.

So I encourage us to dwell on the righteousness. It’s so beautiful to see yourself wrapped in the robe of righteousness! Remember don’t focus on the shortcomings, focus on the righteousness!

 Prayer

1. We pray today for those who need peace, suffer with Covid-19, need healing, require heart surgery/surgery, suffer from Parkinson Disease and other debilitating diseases including Rheumatoid Arthritis, must overcome hypertension, suffer from COPD*, need safety, battle divorce, and work in hospitals and have to work among Covid 19 patients in hospitals spilling out onto parking lots.  
2. I thank God for medical staff that are provided with hotels to live in to avoid infecting their family members.  
3. I pray for safety for those Christian brothers and sisters and those lost in our world.  
4. May they come to see the light and find “The Way” through Yeshua (Jesus Christ) death on the cross for our sins… in this world of darkness and ignorance led by Satan.  
5. May they find their way back to God their Father and Creator of all living things and nonliving things.
6. May God’s peace and Spirit rest and empower you all today.
7. Peace and blessings to you all. I ask all these things in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) precious name. Amen.  

*[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing]

Isaiah 61 Amplified Bible

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed and commissioned me
To bring good news to the humble and afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up [the wounds of] the brokenhearted,
To proclaim release [from confinement and condemnation] to the [physical and spiritual] captives
And freedom to prisoners,
2
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance and retribution of our God,
To comfort all who mourn,
3
To grant to those who mourn in Zion the following:
To give them a turban instead of dust [on their heads, a sign of mourning],
The oil of joy instead of mourning,
The garment [expressive] of praise instead of a disheartened spirit.
So they will be called the trees of righteousness [strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God],
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
4
Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up and restore the former desolations;
And they will renew the ruined cities,
The desolations (deserted settlements) of many generations. 
5
Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,
And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6
But you shall be called the priests of the Lord;
People will speak of you as the ministers of our God.
You will eat the wealth of nations,
And you will boast of their riches.
7
Instead of your [former] shame you will have a double portion;
And instead of humiliation your people will shout for joy over their portion.
Therefore in their land they will possess double [what they had forfeited];
Everlasting joy will be theirs.
8
For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery with a burnt offering.
And I will faithfully reward them,
And make an everlasting covenant with them.
9
Then their offspring will be known among the nations,
And their descendants among the peoples.
All who see them [in their prosperity] will recognize and acknowledge them
That they are the people whom the Lord has blessed.
10
I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has covered me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom puts on a turban,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord God will [most certainly] cause righteousness and justice and praise
To spring up before all the nations [through the power of His word].

January 1

Prayer Meeting For The New Year: God Hears and Answers

God Hears and Answers

Daniel reminds us that God hears our prayers and answers us. Michael was sent to respond to Daniel’s prayer, but demonic forces attempted to stop him…As a result, the wicked forces hinder him for twenty one days. This reminds me that God hears and answers our prayers.
We need to believe God’s words to us in Daniel 10:10-13 specifically to better understand the spiritual realm. In addition, these verses convey that we are considered beloved and special to God: God loves us.

10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Yes, God hears our prayers and immediately acts. Thus, God answered right away.  Nevertheless, it took 21 days for them to be answered.

Amazingly, we (children of Yahweh) are precious to God.

Your Testimony of How God Hears and Answers

Can you share a word of praise and worship with others of God’s goodness each day? If yo do, you will win lost souls with both your testimony and the blood of the lamb: Yeshua (Jesus Christ).

God Hears Our Prayers When Under Spiritual Attack

The Devil and evil forces will attack those of us that love the Lord; however, we must fight with the whole armor of God to defeat the Devil. Paul warns us in Ephesians 6:10-12 of the following:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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.

God will fight the battles for us, and we will win.  However, we must prepare ourselves for spiritual battle to attain victory.

We must follow the lead of God via the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Leads Us To Pray And Get Victory

Someone dear to me shared that they found a book titled Lead Me Holy Spirit and purchased to study with another friend.

King David

David reminds us in Psalm 31:14 of the following:

 But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.

God is an amazing God!…speaks to us in the big things and small things. We thank Him for leading us last year.

The Love of the Lord never ceases…everyday is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice in God.

David says in Psalm 119:57 the following,

Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.

Trust God’s Words

Are you ready to obey and believe God’s words to us?

Paul says in Philippians 1:6 that God will complete the work He started in you.

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

The Prophet Jeremiah Testifies of God’s Goodness

Jeremiah 33 (read the whole chapter) says call unto me and I will show you great and glorious things.

6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it. (Jeremiah 33:6-9)

Prayers

1. Remember, God’s love never fails us. Father praise your name because you are the only God. Dear Holy Father breathe your Holy Spirit upon each and everyone of us. God thank you for your Holy Spirit. We have the hope of glory for eternal life. To your Holy Spirit I commit our life to you. Let your Holy Spirit flow into our life every day. May your Holy Spirit settle on us everyday. Give us faith for everyday Lord Jesus.

2. Lord God fill us with your Spirit and your power. God continue to protect us and uphold us in your right hand. No matter what is going on, may we keep our eyes on you. Father we thank you for the church body…ministering to others that don’t know who you are. That our walk will have a relationship through you. God continue to mount us up with wings like eagles. Bless our leaders, all our ministers, from the children to the elders…I lift them up in Jesus. Amen.

Zach Williams – Chain Breaker (Live from Harding Prison)

December 31

Prayer Meeting this morning started off with a question: What are you thankful for…(reflecting back on this year and previous years)?

Someone  said,

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

Then they went on to list the blessings of discipline in seeking God early in the morning and how this has enriched both their spiritual and physical life.

Another person a single parent talked about how her nineteen year old daughter likes to learn about God and complies with Godly suggestions she makes in the home.  She mentioned starting a prayer and reading of God’s word with her daughter in the morning and in the evening.  She mentioned that they are now starting off with Psalm 119 a very long chapter in the Bible (a great chapter to read)–Psalm 119.

The pastor starting off the prayer meeting reminded us of verse 4 in Psalm 23.

Yea thou I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil… (Psalm 23:4)  We recognize that God’s hand was with us (in 2020 and previous years).

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Growing up I’m reminded of how I recited prayerfully Psalm 23 from memory for years; I need to do so again daily.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Next he pointed out  Psalm 34… a very good chapter to read and emphasized specifically Psalm 34:1-7  to memorize.

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

The pastor continues, I will bless the Lord at all times…Yes there have been some challenges in 2020.  We look at our circumstances and feel like we have something to complain about.  We know our response is I’m still going to bless God. His praise shall continue to be in my mouth.

:19 David says many are the afflictions of the righteous but God delivers them out of them all.  The Lord redeems the soul of the righteous…God is not done working in our home…in our communities…let’s step into the new year with a words of praise…We want to step into 2021 with praise for the goodness of God.  Though we go through tribulation this year, we know that God will get us through.  We place this new year in your hands God.

This song by Hezekiah Walker just started playing in my head.  So I added it below titled: “Every Praise”.

Though many mourn the loss of loved ones during this pandemic.  We should all remember especially during difficult times that God loves us.  If we are not able to praise Him in this storm or chapter in our life know we will joyfully praise Him again. He is the storm calmer–bigger than any storms we face. We want you to know brothers and sisters, He is with us in the storms of life.  He promised never to leave us or forsake us: Hebrews 13:5.  and yes He loves you Psalm 36:7, Romans 8:31-32  1 John 4:7-8.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but God delivers us out of them all! (Psalm 34:19)

We may not always understand God’s ways because His ways are higher than ours–Isaiah 55:8-9  We should continue to trust in Him for our strength.  When we do not seem to know how to carry on, know He will be our strength.

We should continue to stay healthy and keep our health–pray in the spirit daily. [Remember, to pray in the Spirit you need to be baptized.] This is a gift of God…He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us conquer sin and death! To God be the glory!

Prayer

1. Dear Father we pray that everyone is faithful,…breathe your Holy Spirit on everyone everyday–soften their hearts so they can hear your still small voice.  No matter what happens we know and pray that you will take us into Heaven–nothing (including physical death) can separate us from you. We trust and adore you.  We know that you are a victorious God.  Peace be still and know that He is God.  Father we are just so thankful. We pray your Spirit over everyone.  Let us not be weary…we will pray and thank you until we make it back home in Heaven. Thank you Father…bless your Holy Name.

2. We thank you Lord God…I will thank the Lord at all times and your praise shall be continually in my mouth.  You always open the doors.  I thank you for everyone…I lift up those that are sick.  I thank you Lord God for the word.  In the name of Jesus…thank you for everyone…I praise you and I honor you.

3. Lord I thank you for the highs and the lows.  Lord as we step into a new year I just want to invite you to journey with us…We thank you Father.   Father we are praying that you will let your Holy Spirit move through us…We thank you for hearing everyone.

4. Dear Father you are an awesome God.  Though things look bleak today with the passing of loved ones, the pandemic at it’s height and a new strain on the loose, Father God we will not fear.  We will trust in you and you alone.  Our only hope is in you.  For this we are grateful to know you the true and Living God.  May you continue to watch over us and protect us, send your angels to strengthen those of us in suffering and may your Holy Spirit indwell and comfort those experiencing physical and/or mental pain.  Let your still small voice speak so gently to them and let them hear you say, “I love you. I love you. I love you.”  Thank you Father for loving us.  Like a father protects his children and a mother protects her young, Father thank you for protecting us.  We will follow you wherever you lead! Praise your Holy Name: Yahweh.  May your will be done here on earth as it is in Heaven.  Amen.

 

December 28

Self-Control (Temperance)

Notes from a 6 am morning prayer line with some of my own thoughts and reflections.

Sometimes everything goes well and at other times everything does not. I sometimes have to ask God to fix my face so it matches His word. Galatians 5:22 is the scripture highlighted. When the Holy Spirit controls us, he will produce the fruits of the spirit. Self-control (temperance) is the last one. It calls for discipline instead of impulse.

Temperance means the following:

1. moderation in action, thought, or feeling : restraint.
2. habitual moderation in the indulgence of the appetites or passions.
3. moderation in or abstinence from the use of alcoholic beverages.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance (self-control): against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22-26)

The enemy does not want you and me to meet our goals for the new year. Let’s stay disciplined and crucify the flesh. Let’s walk in the spirit and power of God to attain victory.

• What calms you?
• What helps you to stay in control?

What calms me is taking everything to God in prayer…especially reading God’s words in the Bible.
What keeps me in control is reflecting on what went wrong and having a plan for the next time. At work in the past sometimes I would respond to comments of coworkers and things would get challenging. I have learned to hold my tongue and not respond. This helped me tremendously to not fall for the bait Satan may set for me.

I’ve discovered that God is faithful and will not give us more than we can bare.

Holding my tongue rather than speaking up impulsively saved me many headaches. The self-discipline to control one’s self can change the course of your day, years and life.

Let’s meditate on the fruits of the spirit, submit our lives to God each day and ask Him to do His work through us.

God fill us with your Holy Spirit so we can bring every aspect of our life under your control—let us be a conduit of your Holy Spirit.

 

 

• Here are two other verses dealing with self-control (temperance): Acts 24:25 and 2 Peter 1:6:

24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:24-25)

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (2 Peter 1:6)

• My brother shared this lovely song below after I shared the reflection above. So I added it here for all to enjoy: Eva Cassidy–People Get Ready.

https://youtu.be/bzLd2MDAHK8

December 27

Trusting in the Living GOD Rather Than Riches Part 2

Smooth Deceits in Our World

We hear all this contemporary social justice rhetoric and activism, which sounds good on the surface, but this does not support the Living God. It’s rooted in anger, spiritualism, etc. and not rooted in love and the words of God.

In Isaiah 30 the prophet Isaiah warned the people speaking the words from God:

7 For the Egyptians (western nations) shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, …

9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:  

10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophecy deceits:

11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

So God says the following to His people (including you and I today) in Isaiah 30:12-15:

12 “Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye (you) despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

14. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

15 Fur thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye (you) be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye (you) would not.

What is God saying here to us today? We are to rest in Him, trust in Him and attain peace in obedience to His words to us; however, we do not return or listen to God. We do not put our confidence and trust in God.  We put our trust in our riches and in the tradition of this world.

Dr. Cain Hope Felder explains in The Original African Heritage Bible an interesting perspective I never read before below:

“Smooth Deceits–Prophetic writings distinctly parallel what is happening with African/Edenic people today. ‘For the Egyptians shall help in vain’ (v.7). Whether referring to Egyptians then or Western societies today, all of their supposed efforts for Africa’s upliftment and development have been in vain, or deceitfully implemented to exploit Africa’s resources and to oppress Africa’s people.  As the African/Edenic Hebrew Israelites fell further from God they continually sought to hide themselves from having to face the absolute truth of their responsibility to their God and the creation.  Thus they cried unto “the seers, see not; and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (v.10) They were willing to hear lies to maintain their quest for pleasure, materialism, sex, and all elements contrary to the laws of God…Africa/Edenic people [including us today] wanted a deliverer to guide them to a better life in Egypt (America)…They had helped to build the treasure cities of Egypt (Chicago, Los Angeles, New York), and strongly felt that they had a right to enjoy a very modern and advanced Egyptian society after shedding their blood, sweat, and tears.–30:7-14” [The Original African Heritage Study Bible, King James Version, 2007, Judson Press Publishers, p.1033, bottom of page 1032]

I’ve heard one or two African Americans say I’m not going back to Africa, we built this country here in America.

God had Moses to lead His people the Israelites enslaved for four hundred years out of Egypt (slavery).  We must look away from this world and turn to God to lead us out of bondage to sin and slavery here in the land of Egypt (slavery). Like the Egyptians killed the Israelites and worked them to death, many of us work long hours and collapse with diseases and illness under the pressure.  Our hope and dreams have become a shadow quickly fading and collapsing all around us–many die from plagues (Covid 19, etc.), loss of work, loss of shelter, loss of hope: depression.

How many of you today around this world feel confused and depressed during this pandemic?  God is bigger than your problems and can solve each and everyone of them!

God says in that great day when He returns, “that the great trumpet (the sound of war) shall be blown, and they (God’s children) shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria (America, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, or other places in our world), and the outcast (African-Americans, Blacks, Africans, Vietnamese, Chinese, Venezuelan, other ethnic groups) in the land of Egypt (Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Venezuela, Jamaica, etc…), and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount of Jerusalem.

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye (you) be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye (you) would not. (Isaiah 30:15)

Let us listen and obey God’s voice so that in quietness and in confidence we can attain strength to part the Red Sea (problems in our lives).  God is offering each of us a way of escape if we will heed His voice.

He will and has made a way of escape by Yeshua Jesus’ death on the cross at Calvary.  We just need to find our strength in Him and not in the riches of wealthy nations in our world.

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye (you) be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:… (Isaiah 30:15)

God is your provider: let your strength rest in Him and Him alone!  Do not trust in your money and let it be your God, but you ought to trust in God the creator of all.

[Final thoughts from my brother Isaiah 9:6:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.]

I hope you take the time to ponder what I’ve written here–both parts 1 and 2.  It’s not about race, color, ethnicity or what nation you are from.  It’s about freedom from sin and the ability to find true and lasting peace, joy and riches in the presence of God who loves you! It is about learning the truth that can set you free.  Please prayerfully ponder these questions below and seek answers in the Bible and from God:

• Should we seek strength from riches of this world?
• Should we chase after the American dream that for many has already turned into a nightmare?
• Why should you chase after Elohim: Yahweh?
• In whom do you trust: God or money?
• How do you place your trust in God?
• How do you make it into Heaven?
• How long would you like to live and what quality of life do you wish to have?
• God has given you a plan and way of escape.  Are you willing to follow God’s plan for your life or are you willing to risk trusting in the ways of this world?

 

 

December 26

Trusting in the Living GOD Rather Than Riches Part 1

Should we seek strength from Western Nations (Rich nations), etc.? Should we chase after the American dream or should we chase after Elohim: Yahweh? In whom do you trust? In what God do you trust?

In the Pauline epistle to Timothy (I Timothy 6:9-10), Paul offers this cautionary warning to the believer:

I Timothy 6:9-10: “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

[This does not mean one cannot, or should not, seek to be financially wise, prudent, even prosperous or independent, but one must be careful to keep a Godly order of priority.  ALL blessings, financial and other, flow directly from the hand of God. He giveth and taketh away.  We are to worship the Living God first and put His will first, and not seek after Mammon as a substitute (false) god.  Mammon cannot satisfy.  God can (and will).  He calls each of us to different stations in life.  Some high and some low.  We must bend to His will if we wish to truly prosper in a Biblical sense.  Serving and placing Him at the center.  In order to do this, we must seek Him, daily.  It is a daily decision. Seek Him first…before looking at the stock market, or the business reports, or the financial indices or the bank balances.  Then in all those other things, enter in with a Godly perspective.  See Matthew 6:33-34 (“seek ye first the Kingdom of God and…ALL these other things will be provided unto you…”)]

Isaiah 27:5 Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.

Step 1:  “let Him take hold of my strength.”

Step 2: “that He may make peace with me.”

Step 3: “He shall make peace with me.”

How do we take hold of God’s strength? Why do we take hold of God’s strength?

God says that we do so that we may make peace with God.  God promises that when we follow through on steps one and two that step three will become fulfilled: we shall make peace with God.

Who would like to make peace with God?  This is the season for peace and joy.  This peace brings joy to those who make peace with God.

In making peace with God, what does the Holy One of Israel expect of us?

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength; and you would not.  (Isaiah 30:6)

Let’s not have God Almighty say to us that we refused to listen–that we are stiff-necked people.  Let’s listen to Elohim and find everlasting peace and joy.

What this world offers is quickly fading and will not last.  When they say you will see sudden destruction, this world is quickly fading.  The ways of this world are like a shadow; it’s not real…nor does it last…it will all come down in destruction.

So we need to wake up from our slumber and the propaganda that we were taught.  Let’s study for ourselves and learn the truth: what God says to us. Do not repeat history and make the same mistakes of many of our predecessors.

The Holy Bible is our book of our history with our God.

We do not need to seek understanding in others lies.

We need to look to the books God gave us written by His prophets inspired by our God Himself.

We do not need others to teach us.  We need God’s words to teach us.  Let us look to God’s words below (and see our story in our predecessors lives repeating again and again–let us wake up and not repeat their errors.)

“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:” (Isaiah 30:1)

God continues, “That walk to go down into Egypt (Chicago, New York, Los Angeles for example today) and have not asked at my mouth (did not seek God’s face to help them make their decisions); to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh (rather than in God), and to trust in the shadow of Egypt (illusions of America and western nations that’s fleeting..won’t last)! (Isaiah 30:2)

God continues talking to us today saying, “Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh (our leaders today) be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt (Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., or name your state/city) your confusion.” (Isaiah 30:3)

Let us skip down to Isaiah 30:6-11 where God says the following:

6 “…The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them” (has the western nations profited the Africans in Africa/Eden or Black African-American in America or Vietnamese in Vietnam or others in many lands afar…)? Have we learned the truth about history? Have we learned the truth about why each of us are here and about our Creator?  Though I speak about African/Edenic people,  this applies to each of us of every ethnicity.  We are all one and children of the Living God.

 

 

In Isaiah 30 the prophet Isaiah warned the people speaking the words from God:

7 For the Egyptians (western nations) shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, …

9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:  

10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophecy deceits:

11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

So God says the following to His people (including you and I today) in Isaiah 30:12-15:

12 “Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye (you) despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

14. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

15 Fur thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye (you) be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye (you) would not.

What is God saying here to us today? We are to rest in Him, trust in Him and attain peace in obedience to His words to us; however, we do not return or listen to God. We do not put our confidence and trust in God.  We put our trust in our riches and in the tradition of this world.

Dr. Cain Hope Felder explains in The Original African Heritage Bible an interesting perspective I never read before below:

“Smooth Deceits–Prophetic writings distinctly parallel what is happening with African/Edenic people today. ‘For the Egyptians shall help in vain’ (v.7). Whether referring to Egyptians then or Western societies today, all of their supposed efforts for Africa’s upliftment and development have been in vain, or deceitfully implemented to exploit Africa’s resources and to oppress Africa’s people.  As the African/Edenic Hebrew Israelites fell further from God they continually sought to hide themselves from having to face the absolute truth of their responsibility to their God and the creation.  Thus they cried unto “the seers, see not; and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (v.10) They were willing to hear lies to maintain their quest for pleasure, materialism, sex, and all elements contrary to the laws of God…Africa/Edenic people [including us today] wanted a deliverer to guide them to a better life in Egypt (America)…They had helped to build the treasure cities of Egypt (Chicago, Los Angeles, New York), and strongly felt that they had a right to enjoy a very modern and advanced Egyptian society after shedding their blood, sweat, and tears.–30:7-14” [The Original African Heritage Study Bible, King James Version, 2007, Judson Press Publishers, p.1033, bottom of page 1032]

I’ve heard one or two African Americans say I’m not going back to Africa, we built this country here in America.

God had Moses to lead His people the Israelites enslaved for four hundred years out of Egypt (slavery).  We must look away from this world and turn to God to lead us out of bondage to sin and slavery here in the land of Egypt (slavery). Like the Egyptians killed the Israelites and worked them to death, many of us work long hours and collapse with diseases and illness under the pressure.  Our hope and dreams have become a shadow quickly fading and collapsing all around us–many die from plagues (Covid 19, etc.), loss of work, loss of shelter, loss of hope: depression.

How many of you today around this world feel confused and depressed during this pandemic?  God is bigger than your problems and can solve each and everyone of them!

God says in that great day when He returns, “that the great trumpet (the sound of war) shall be blown, and they (God’s children) shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria (America, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, or other places in our world), and the outcast (African-Americans, Blacks, Africans, Vietnamese, Chinese, Venezuelan, other ethnic groups) in the land of Egypt (Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Venezuela, Jamaica, etc…), and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount of Jerusalem.

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye (you) be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye (you) would not. (Isaiah 30:15)

Let us listen and obey God’s voice so that in quietness and in confidence we can attain strength to part the Red Sea (problems in our lives).  God is offering each of us a way of escape if we will heed His voice.

He will and has made a way of escape by Yeshua Jesus’ death on the cross at Calvary.  We just need to find our strength in Him and not in the riches of wealthy nations in our world.

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye (you) be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:… (Isaiah 30:15)

God is your provider: let your strength rest in Him and Him alone!  Do not trust in your money and let it be your God, but you ought to trust in God the creator of all.

[Final thoughts from my brother Isaiah 9:6:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.]

I hope you take the time to ponder what I’ve written here–both parts 1 and 2.  It’s not about race, color, ethnicity or what nation you are from.  It’s about freedom from sin and the ability to find true and lasting peace, joy and riches in the presence of God who loves you! It is about learning the truth that can set you free.  Please prayerfully ponder these questions below and seek answers in the Bible and from God:

• Should we seek strength from riches of this world?
• Should we chase after the American dream that for many has already turned into a nightmare?
• Why should you chase after Elohim: Yahweh?
• In whom do you trust: God or money?
• How do you place your trust in God?
• How do you make it into Heaven?
• How long would you like to live and what quality of life do you wish to have?
• God has given you a plan and way of escape.  Are you willing to follow God’s plan for your life or are you willing to risk trusting in the ways of this world?

 

 

December 26

Trusting in the Living GOD Rather Than Riches Part 1

Should we seek strength from Western Nations (Rich nations), etc.? Should we chase after the American dream or should we chase after Elohim: Yahweh? In whom do you trust? In what God do you trust?

In the Pauline epistle to Timothy (I Timothy 6:9-10), Paul offers this cautionary warning to the believer:

I Timothy 6:9-10: “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

[This does not mean one cannot, or should not, seek to be financially wise, prudent, even prosperous or independent, but one must be careful to keep a Godly order of priority.  ALL blessings, financial and other, flow directly from the hand of God. He giveth and taketh away.  We are to worship the Living God first and put His will first, and not seek after Mammon as a substitute (false) god.  Mammon cannot satisfy.  God can (and will).  He calls each of us to different stations in life.  Some high and some low.  We must bend to His will if we wish to truly prosper in a Biblical sense.  Serving and placing Him at the center.  In order to do this, we must seek Him, daily.  It is a daily decision. Seek Him first…before looking at the stock market, or the business reports, or the financial indices or the bank balances.  Then in all those other things, enter in with a Godly perspective.  See Matthew 6:33-34 (“seek ye first the Kingdom of God and…ALL these other things will be provided unto you…”)]

Isaiah 27:5 Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.

Step 1:  “let Him take hold of my strength.”

Step 2: “that He may make peace with me.”

Step 3: “He shall make peace with me.”

How do we take hold of God’s strength? Why do we take hold of God’s strength?

God says that we do so that we may make peace with God.  God promises that when we follow through on steps one and two that step three will become fulfilled: we shall make peace with God.

Who would like to make peace with God?  This is the season for peace and joy.  This peace brings joy to those who make peace with God.

In making peace with God, what does the Holy One of Israel expect of us?

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength; and you would not.  (Isaiah 30:6)

Let’s not have God Almighty say to us that we refused to listen–that we are stiff-necked people.  Let’s listen to Elohim and find everlasting peace and joy.

What this world offers is quickly fading and will not last.  When they say you will see sudden destruction, this world is quickly fading.  The ways of this world are like a shadow; it’s not real…nor does it last…it will all come down in destruction.

So we need to wake up from our slumber and the propaganda that we were taught.  Let’s study for ourselves and learn the truth: what God says to us. Do not repeat history and make the same mistakes of many of our predecessors.

The Holy Bible is our book of our history with our God.

We do not need to seek understanding in others lies.

We need to look to the books God gave us written by His prophets inspired by our God Himself.

We do not need others to teach us.  We need God’s words to teach us.  Let us look to God’s words below (and see our story in our predecessors lives repeating again and again–let us wake up and not repeat their errors.)

“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:” (Isaiah 30:1)

God continues, “That walk to go down into Egypt (Chicago, New York, Los Angeles for example today) and have not asked at my mouth (did not seek God’s face to help them make their decisions); to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh (rather than in God), and to trust in the shadow of Egypt (illusions of America and western nations that’s fleeting..won’t last)! (Isaiah 30:2)

God continues talking to us today saying, “Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh (our leaders today) be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt (Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., or name your state/city) your confusion.” (Isaiah 30:3)

Let us skip down to Isaiah 30:6-11 where God says the following:

6 “…The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them” (has the western nations profited the Africans in Africa/Eden or Black African-American in America or Vietnamese in Vietnam or others in many lands afar…)? Have we learned the truth about history? Have we learned the truth about why each of us are here and about our Creator?  Though I speak about African/Edenic people,  this applies to each of us of every ethnicity.  We are all one and children of the Living God.

 

11/19/20 Thursday

My focus is the connection between the gospel and salvation.  My father brought this connection to my attention a couple of weeks ago.  I believe he said there are about twenty eight verses connecting salvation to the gospel.  I pulled a few verses that caught my attention and some just connected to salvation.

Salvation Tied to the Gospel

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)

By Their Transgression Salvation Came to Gentiles

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. (Romans 11:11)

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

And in no way be alarmed or intimidated [in anything] by your opponents, for such [constancy and fearlessness on your part] is a [clear] sign [a proof and a seal] for them of [their impending] destruction, but [a clear sign] for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God. (Philippians 1:28 Amplified)

Salvation Comes Through Sanctification by Both The Holy Spirit and Faith in the Truth

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

 

11-18-20 Wednesday

:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” “Look, Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow you. What then will there be for us? Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel…(Matthew 19:26-28).

11-14-20 Sabbath

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

When I awoke this thought came to me: Satan  programs us from when we are very young to stick to his program throughout our life.  The programing starts when you first enter preschool or kindergarten.  So you are fearful.  Fear and shame are not of God.  So when you feel shame and/or fear, you are under Satan’s program for your life.  When you feel joy and peace (true contentment in relationship with Yahweh), you are on the narrow path following and obeying Yahweh’s plan for your life.

The process of breaking free from the programing of Satan (truly slavery to sin) requires the art of spiritual warfare.  During this process you will find yourself in a battle between choosing to obey God and choosing to obey sin.  The Holy Spirit will require that you die to self-will and will convict you of sin leading to shame, but you will grow more and more into the character of Christ.  The Holy Spirit will empower you from within when you get baptized and commit your life and way of life to obeying and believing in Yahweh.  God will intervene and save you when He hears you say these magic words:

God please forgive me of all my sins committed and help me overcome all sins in my life…I believe that Jesus died on the cross to save me from all my sins.

God will intervene to come to your rescue sending His Holy Spirit to help you conquer sin, Satan and the power of death over your life.

This is the moment when you say,

 God I submit my life to you.  I trust and believe in your words to me.

God will move Heaven and earth to save you, but the conditions are set.  You must follow your rescuers battle strategy to escape.  You cannot attempt to save yourself or you will fail.  God cannot help those who do not believe and follow Him out of this hell we have found for ourselves in here on planet earth.

Life looks good, but all that glitters isn’t gold as the saying goes.  One day you will discover that you need help, and you must remember the way of escape and meticulously follow the spiritual railroad and obey the voice and dictates of the Holy Spirit leading you. You must believe in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) words sent by Yahweh our Creator to help you escape from sin, shame, fear and death: separation from Yahweh our Creator.

When we are in right relationship with Yahweh, we discover true and lasting peace even in the storms that come into our life.  We know and trust He will hear and come to our aid when we cry out for help in prayer.  We’ve personally seen God in action in our lives like Daniel in the lions den.  We had a front row seat as they say.  We feel peace because we experienced His power to transform and renew our lives day by day over the years.  We experienced supernatural victory and enlightenment walking with Yahweh.

Yahweh calls us to continue to grow in Him and break free of the programing that limits our God given ability to create and co-create with Him. We are made in the image of God.  Yahweh does not walk in fear.  Yahweh possess love, joy, peace, patience and long-suffering.  He suffers when He sees His children made in His image walking in a program that separates them from Himself and will ultimately lead to our demise.

Let’s make a decision to look at Satan’s programing in our life and back track and set up a new program each day for our life based upon what Yahweh says that we are in Him. Let’s diligently work to believe and obey Yahweh: follow His programing for our life! Yeshua (Jesus Christ) is our example sent from above like Harriet Tubman in the Underground Railroad to set the captives free!

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

 

11-10-20

Salvation is intricately linked to the gospel.  The gospel is linked to the Ten Commandments of love–check this out and see for yourself.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)

11-8-20 Sunday

7 Reminders to Acquire: Love and the Holy Spirit

1. I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. (Psalm 116:1) Has Yahweh answered your cries for help to set you free from bondage to sin, suffering and Satan (death)? Has anyone said you are too religious?  The children that love the Lord are not lukewarm Christians, but they are on fire for Yahweh. God speaks to them and they have a relationship with God–study the life of the prophet Elijah. And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.”  (1 Kings 18:1) Yahweh hears our voice and we hear Yahweh’s voice: speaking to our spirit and written in His words: the Bible.
2. If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three: (Deuteronomy 19:9)  God blesses those who obey His commandments: His Love Commandments. I’m reminded of Psalm 1:1-3: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
3. But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Joshua 22:5) How do you cleave unto God?  Do you take time to ask God for the things that you desire? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2) We need to ask, seek, knock on the door to gain the desires of our heart from Yahweh. We do not know Him because we do not seek to know Him with our whole heart.
4. And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: (Nehemiah 1:5)
5. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)
6. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (2 Corinthians 6:4-10)
7. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

10-29-20 Thursday

Salvation’s Link to the Gospel Which Promotes the Commandments of God

How do you acquire salvation?

Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes. Psalm 119:155

Salvation Links to the Gospel Which Promotes God’s Commandments or Laws or Words

I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great treasure. Psalm 119:162

The Benefits of Loving the Laws of God

Those who love Your law have great peace;
Nothing makes them stumble. Psalm 119:165

I hope and wait [with complete confidence] for Your salvation, O Lord,
And I do Your commandments. Psalm 119:166

How to Get God to Help You

Let Your hand be ready to help me,
For I have chosen Your precepts. Psalm 119:173

Salvation Links to What?

I long for Your salvation, O Lord,
And Your law is my delight. Psalm 119:174

We Live to Praise

Let my soul live that it may praise You,
And let Your ordinances help me. Psalm 119:175

I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
Seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments. Psalm 119:176

My reflection for today is to focus in on Psalm 119 the longest chapter in Psalms.  The chapter my father prayed and God led him to today.  He waited and asked God for many years to send him a white dove to let him know that his name is written in the Lambs book of life.  Today he called me at 8:50 am excited because he saw a white dove right outside his kitchen window perched on the wall 15 feet from him.  The dove looked right at him and stayed on the brick wall or metal fence for four hours in sight of his window.  The bird was healthy and vibrant.  My father said he had prayed for God to send him this white dove for seven years.  God answered his prayer today.  He asked for a sign of a dove because a dove came down on Jesus when He was baptized–when I get an opportunity I will upload a picture.

Friends let’s continue serving and praising God for His faithfulness and love towards us.  May God save your souls and give you supernatural peace that the world does not understand.  In these times of stress and fear, God offers those who obey Him safety and comfort despite the storms in this life.  He is a source of refuge my friends.   You can trust in Him.  Submit your life to Him daily for He cares for you.  Remember with God on your side you are too blessed to be stressed! God loves you!

10-23-20

How Much Longer Can We Exist Before We Self-Destruct Under Sin?

The Time of This World Age is Rapidly Ending

Like in Noah’s day they were marrying, working, drinking, working and enjoying life and like then we are fast approaching an unstoppable surge that will destroy all life left unprotected in the path.  Outside of the protection of God, the surge will destroy all life impacted.  Friend this is the day that you are fortunate enough to hear this truth.  We must not continue down this path knowing this surge is coming and is right around the corner.  The hand writing is on the wall.  The pandemic is symptomatic of our rapidly declining world that will get worst before the quick and faithful return of Christ.

Our civilization is imploding under a world run by Satanist bent on destruction.  The selfish steal, kill and destroy out of greed.  They seek more money, more power, more control.  The pandemic will bring in the one world government with controls set in place that you and I will not be able to buy or sell unless we have the mark of the beast: Satan.

Bill Gates vaccine ingredient has an unusual and surprising name: an enzyme called LUCIFERASE.  LUCIFERASE is what makes Bill Gates implantable vaccine work–a vaccine ID.  Without it, you cannot work and thus cannot buy or sell–Bill Gates Vaccine Ingredient Says it All : An Enzyme Called LUCIFERASE is What Makes Bill Gates Implantable Vaccine Work — VACCINE ID

We must all read the Bible for ourselves and ask God for understanding because humans running this world under the dictates of Satan will lead you and me astray.  We must seek the truth for ourselves and ask God to lead us to the truth.

Revelation talks about the end time plagues

Signs of Yeshua’s Soon Return Matthew 24:4-14

4 Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. 5 For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many. 6 You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end [of the age]. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble].

9 “Then they will hand you over to [endure] tribulation, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved. 14 This good news of the kingdom [the gospel] will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the age] will come.

Friend Yeshua died to pay the penalty for your sins and my sins.  We must repent of our sins against God and turn away from a life of sin by getting baptized symbolizing the death to the flesh and living a new spiritual life for God empowered by the Holy Spirit God will give you.  This Holy Spirit will renew a right spirit within you so that you can walk righteously before a Holy Creator: Yahweh.

This walk will challenge you, but you will overcome.  That is you will overcome if you do not look back yearning for your old way of life.  The times are perilous and Yahweh is soon coming to make changes.  The signs of change are here and none can mistake the changes occurring rapidly in front of us.

Dangerous Times Ahead

Matt. 24:15-28  “So when you see the [b]abomination of desolation [the appalling sacrilege that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the [c]reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains [for refuge]. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house [because there will not be enough time]. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. 19 And woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 Pray that your flight [from persecution and suffering] will not be in winter, or on a Sabbath [when Jewish laws prohibit travel]. 21 For [d]at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again]. 22 And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened. 23 Then if anyone says to you [during the great tribulation], ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones). 25 Listen carefully, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there, or, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms [of a house],’ do not believe it. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming [in glory] of the Son of Man [everyone will see Him clearly]. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the [e]vultures will flock together.

Yeshua’s Glorious Return

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not provide its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And at that time the sign of the Son of Man [coming in His glory] will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth [and especially Israel] will mourn [regretting their rebellion and rejection of the Messiah], and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor]. 31 And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet and they will gather together His elect (God’s chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

The Prophetic Parable of the Fig Tree

Matt. 24:32-46 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its young shoots become tender and it puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so you, too, when you see all these things [taking place], know for certain that He is near, right at the door. 34 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

36 “But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man (the Messiah) will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be [unexpected judgment]. 40 At that time two men will be in the field; one will be [h]taken [for judgment] and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.

Be Prepared For Yeshua’s Soon Return

42 “So be alert [give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith], for you do not know which day [whether near or far] your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore, you [who follow Me] must also be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others [in the house] their food and supplies at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that [faithful] servant when his master returns and finds him doing so.

10/16/20

Choose Whom This Day You Will Serve

Yeshua (Jesus) buys the believers spiritual freedom.  Thus through Yeshua’s death, we have been set free from bondage and sin: slavery to Satan.  Now that we are set free from the sins of this world, we must no longer enslave ourselves and/or serve men/worldly things in this world–(veresebyversecommentary.com, 1 Cor. 7:21-24).

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not worry about that [since your status as a believer is equal to that of a freeborn believer]; but if you are able to gain your freedom, do that. 22 For he who was a slave when he was called in the Lord is a freedman of the Lord, likewise he who was free when he was called is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price [a precious price paid by Christ]; do not become slaves to men [but to Christ]. 24 Brothers, let each one remain with God in that condition in which he was [when he was] called. (I Corinthians 7:21-24 Amplified Bible)

Our identity in Yeshua does not rest on our worldly status or situation, but our identity rest in knowing that we are children of Yahweh.  God call all who believe the gospel and trust in Him to freedom.  What does that freedom look like?  How can we discover this freedom?  No matter the circumstances you find yourself in, know you are free from fear, death and the concerns of this physical world.  Why you may ask?  You and I are free knowing that God provides for us and that we need not worry nor walk in fear.  Fear kills, but love gives life.  So as children of a loving God, we trust and obey Him knowing that He watches over us. We can depend on Him to provide what we need.  Sometimes we say we believe but our actions show fear and doubt.

How can we step beyond the things that limit us into the wildest and adventuresome ways of living freely in Yeshua?

8/3/20

Ponder These Truthful Nuggets

The Poor

1. The ministry of Yeshua teaches us to primarily devote ourselves to those whose material needs did not suffice to promote daily comfort and support of human survival.  Yeshua stands out the most regarding His teaching about the poor: “When I was an hunger (beggar) you gave me meat” (Matthew 25:35).  Cain Hope Felder says, during the time of Yeshua (Jesus), and even to this present day, the misfortunate and poor, “widows, the handicapped (people with disabilities), the ill and destitute were the most oppressed, discriminated, forgotten and socially downtrodden.” [Cain Hope Felder The Original African Heritage Study Bible, 2007 Judson Press, Jesus Christ and the Poor (The Bible, the Poor, and the Black Church) paragraph 1, found before page 1582.]

Nothing really changed, the same problems exist today for the poor.  What concerns me the most is elderly abuse.  Those who are old, lacking sufficient resources, lonely souls and suffering with various ailments: mental, physical and/or spiritual suffering.  My heart goes out especially to these poor, elderly and disabled souls.

 

Yeshua Handed Over to Gentiles (Roman Authorities)

2. Then Yeshua took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.  They will scourge Him and kill Him.  And the third day He will rise again.” (Luke 18:31-33)

Jerusalem represents the climax of Yeshua’s life.  Jerusalem stands for the place where Yeshua achieved His Fathers will for His life.  This remains the purpose for which He came to planet earth. [My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers, August 3] Yeshua said, “I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30)

Safety and Security

3. “He only is my rock . . . my defense; I shall not be moved” (Psalm 62:6)..

“A rock conveys the idea of an encircling guard, as that of a mother watching her child who is learning to walk; should the child fall, he falls into the encircling love and watchfulness of the mother’s care” writes Oswald Chambers.

“The Lord is my rock,” my encircling guard. Where did the Psalmist learn this truth?  In the school of silent waiting upon God.  The Rock of Ages is the great sheltering encirclement; we are watched over by the Mother-guardianship of God. 

“I am El-Shaddai,” the Father-Mother God.  He is my high tower and my defence.  The Lord Himself is our inviolable place of safety, writes Oswald Chambers. [The Quotable Oswald Chambers, 2008, Oswald Chambers Publication Association, P. 239]

 

7/24/20

Solomon the wisest man that ever lived warned us of the following:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 3:5)

That means that we must watch what we spend our time focused upon.  Satan can have someone say one thing that can impact the course of our life.  Also, the television, movies, internet, books, educational systems, etc are are weapons used by our enemy Satan to program our minds on how to think.  We need to instead spend more time in our Bibles to allow God’s words to program our minds.

Today I discovered some quotes by the famous Oswald Chambers in The Quotable Oswald Chambers compiled and edited by David McCasland. Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) said to “shut out every consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only- My Utmost for His Hightest.” His book is considered one of the most inspired and popular religious writings.

Here are some quotes that you can ponder and reflect upon below:

Our Lord said ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ But remember when it is that our speech reveals what is in our heart, viz., when we are brought to a sudden crisis and the whole nature expresses itself.  The majority of us are much too cunning to express what is in our heart until we are brought to a crisis; then the true state of our heart is out instantly.  [The Quotable Oswald Chambers, Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. 2008, p. 267

Never believe what people tell you about themselves. There is only one person in a thousand who can actually tell you his or her symptoms; and beware of the people who can tell you where they are spiritually.  I mean by that, never be guided by what people tell you; rely on the Spirit of God all the time you are probing them.

Unless you are out amongst the tremendous facts of God’s revelation in the Bible, unless you know how to take breezy walks through that Book (Holy Bible), unless you know how to walk up and down that country and take in the air of God’s hills and get thoroughly robust and continually change your walk amongst those facts, you are sure to catch the diseases of the souls you are dealing with.

Dealing with souls is tenfold more dangerous than dealing with bodies.  Unless you are in a healthy, vigorous condition with God, you will catch the disease of the soul you are dealing with instead of helping to cure it.

Do not get confused because when you have to face backsliders you find you cannot deal with them as you deal with any ordinary sinner.  Their hearts are frozen, they are not convicted of sin, they are absolutely dull and dead towards all God wants.  They will tell you quite mechanically, “Oh yes, I once knew God, I did experience this and that, but I deliberately stepped aside.”  The process may be gradual, but the backsliding condition is reached by forsaking God and taking up with something else.

When you come to deal with backsliders, one of the greatest dangers is that they spread their disease more quickly than any other.  The presence of one backslider is a peril to a whole community.

Never sympathize with a soul whose case makes you come to the conclusion that God is hard.  God is tenderer than anyone we can conceive of, and if a man cannot get through to Him it is because there is a secret thing he does not intend to give up.  It is impossible to deal poetically with a case like that; you have to go right down to the root of the trouble until there is antagonism and pain and resentment against the message.

If God is going to give you power, christian worker, to work for the cure of souls in their worst form, among the “two-faced” and the hypocritical, remember, first He will give you such an insight into the possibilities of your own sinfulness,  and then such a comprehension of the marvels of His grace and wonderful salvation that you will have all the subtlety Nathan had.  You will not be silent; you will speak out.

You cannot be sure that the man you are dealing with will always be the same; at any second he may alter.  You see someone set on a line you know to be wrong, but remember, at any second the universe of his desire may change.  To remember this will bring a tremendous hopefulness and cure us of our unbelief about any life.

If you get your little compartment of texts, and search them out and say, “I know how to deal with this soul,” you will never be able to deal with it; but if you realize your absolute helplessness and say, My God, I cannot touch this life; I do not know where to begin, but I believe that Thou canst do it,” then you can do something.

I recommend you check out this daily devotional: My Utmost for His Highest.

7/18/20

How do we fulfill all righteousness?

Baptism–Step 1: Water next Holy Ghost & Fire

In Matthew 3:14 John says to Yeshua (Jesus), “I have need to be baptized of you, and comest you to me?”

Yeshua responds in verse 15: “…Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.”  John baptizes Yeshua in water.

Yeshua went straightway out of the water.  The heavens were opened unto Him. He saw the spirit of God descending like a dove upon Him.  He heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I’m well pleased.” The Holy Spirit can come down upon us at baptism when we decide to follow Yahweh.

During my own baptism, I experienced a supernatural God. I vividly remember on May 2002 at the age of 30 waiting in an upper room at the second story level for my pastor to finish preaching on the stage below me.

While listening, I felt an overwhelming remorse that led me to tears.  It was supernatural. I kept drying my face wanting to stop the tears, but the thoughts of remorse and sadness for past sins against God overtook me. I didn’t want my pastor to see me crying.

I sat waiting in a room next to the baptismal pool of water.  I listened to the entire sermon upstairs while talking to God in my Spirit. I couldn’t shake the sense of sorrow for sins against God. The Holy Spirit made me feel the depth of pain my sins caused God.  I felt the Holy Spirit interceding between God and me at that moment. I told God sorry multiple times with tears rolling down my cheeks.

²⁶ In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27 AMP)

When Pastor Flynn entered the baptismal water, I entered.  He asked if I was alright.  I said yes. My eyes must have been still slightly red from shedding tears throughout most of his forty minute or so sermon. 

Baptism is sacred to me and I did not take that step lightly, but I waited until I felt committed to serving God–that means never looking back at my old way of life.

Of course I failed, but I discovered success was only a prayer away. One day I listened to a sermon by Charles Stanley and I followed his suggestions.  That was another life changing moment.

I prayed asking God to remove all sins from me, help me to walk sin free and walk righteously and holy before Him each day. The Holy Spirit just took over my life molding me into the character of Yeshua–an initially painful process as the Spirit cuts out our stony heart and removes out of our lives all things that causes us to stumble and sin.

Next the Holy Spirit allows us to discover peace and joy in a supernatural way–a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Yes if we ask God, He can help us conquer all sins in our life. My favorite Bible verse is John 14:14:

¹⁴ If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.

¹⁵ “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.

The Role of the Holy Spirit (Comforter)

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— :(John 14:14-16 AMP)

 

7/10/20

Romans 12 KJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

7/2/20

Psalms 1:1-6 KJV

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1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

1. proverbs
2. short statements
3. songs
4. prayers
5. names
6. myths
7. stories &
8. religious ceremonies

Psalm 2:1-12

 

6/29/20

Sometimes life seem turbulent and the route we should take uncertain.  Well God is always here for us to direct our course when we seek Him and ask.

1. Often we must just start off with faith that He hears us.
2. Then we pray trusting that He does.
3. Lastly we thank God for hearing our prayers while waiting to hear from Him. I often thank God for his answers to my prayer in advance.

These verses below remind me that God will direct our path:

10 All Adonai’s ways are lovingkindness
and truth
to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your Name’s sake, Adonai,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who is this man who fears Adonai?
He will instruct him in the way he should choose. (Psalm 25:10-12 Tree of Life Version)

6-27-20

McBride

Heaven is God’s Throne

My eighty year old father went to his little alter on June 25th (his fifteen year anniversary of his baptism) in prayer aware that Heaven is God’s Throne.  He asked God to help him basically run this last leg of his race well.  He shared that God led him to Isaiah 66 when he turned his Bible three times in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.   Let’s look at a few verses from Isaiah 66 below:

Yahweh will Repay His Adversaries

Heaven Is God’s Throne

This is what the Lord says,

“Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where, then, is a house that you could build for Me?
And where will My resting place be?

² “For all these things My hand has made,
So all these things came into being [by and for Me],” declares the Lord.
“But to this one I will look [graciously],
To him who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who [reverently] trembles at My word and honors My commands.

Isaiah states that Yahweh says that “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool.  We will not fully understand who God really is until we understand and accept what He tells us in His words to us.  Yahweh is enthroned in Heaven and the earth is under his command–truly, the earth is His footstool! [Enduring Word, ISAIAH 66 – REJOICING IN GOD’S ULTIMATE VICTORY

In Acts 7:48-56 Amplified Bible Stephen quotes Isaiah 66:1-2 and shares his insight of what Heaven appears like just before transitioning out of his fleshly body at the point of his death by stoning.

⁴⁸ However, the Most High [the One infinitely exalted above humanity] does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet [Isaiah] says,

⁴⁹ ‘Heaven is My throne,
And the earth is the footstool for My feet;
What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,
‘Or what place is there for My rest?

⁵⁰ ‘Was it not My hand that made all these things?’

 

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did. ⁵² Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; ⁵³ you who received the law as ordained and delivered to you by angels, and yet you did not obey it!”

Stephen Put to Death

⁵⁴ Now when they heard this [accusation and understood its implication], they were cut to the heart, and they began grinding their teeth [in rage] at him. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit and led by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory [the great splendor and majesty] of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; ⁵⁶ and he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened up [in welcome] and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

My father went on to say that Isaiah 66:4-6, 23 and 24 stood out for him.

Isaiah 66:4-6

So I will choose their punishments,
And will bring the things they dread upon them
Because I called, but no one answered;
I spoke, but they did not listen or obey.
But they did evil in My sight
And chose that in which I did not delight.”

⁵ Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble [with awe-filled reverence] at His word:
“Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My Name’s sake,
Have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy.’
But they will be put to shame.

⁶ “The sound of an uproar from the city! A voice from the temple!
The voice of the Lord, providing retribution to His enemies.

All these bad things happen to us because when God calls we don’t answer.  God said I spoke but they did not listen or obey.

God also says, But they did evil in My sight
And chose that in which I did not delight.”

In the future knowing Heaven is God’s Throne, God describes the future below in Isaiah 66:23-34:

²³ “And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon
And from Sabbath to Sabbath,
All mankind will come to bow down and worship before Me,” says the Lord.

²⁴ “Then they will go forth and look
Upon the dead bodies of the [rebellious] men
Who have transgressed against Me;
For their worm (maggot) will not die,
And their fire will not go out;
And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.”

God says like they chose to do things their own way, He would choose their delusions.  God’s people continued to disobey God’s words so God gave them strong delusions.

Thessalonians 2:11-12 Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, 12 in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness.

They continued to walk in their sin and rebellion against God.  As a result, God sent them strong delusions to believe a lie.

When we look to God recognizing that Heaven is His throne, we will come to establish a relationship with the living God who will guide us into righteous living that brings true and lasting peace that will and does surpass all understanding.

 

 

6-14-20

Together in Unity

Psalm 33:1 A Song of degrees of David.  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Social distancing is the opposite of Psalm 33:1.

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 KJV)

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (John 17:11 KJV)

 

²¹ That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

²² And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:21-23)

 

Wait on the Lord

The sick is weak.  If they are sick, they cannot mount up.  The term that they that wait means to bind together.  To gather together they that wait on the LORD.  They are moving together.  The secret of renewing their strength is that they are doing it together–Social Distancing, the Three Angels’ Messages, and the Right Arm of the Gospel.

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)

The church in the dark ages was a united church; therefore, they could mount up with wings of an eagle.

What happened to that woman?

Division in the church cause the rise of Mystery Babylon because they never completed the reformation–Social Distancing, the Three Angels’ Messages, and the Right Arm of the Gospel, 1:13.

 

Delight in the Lord and Ride Upon the High Places

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of theLord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 58:14)

What does God mean that you will ride upon the high places of the earth?

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. (Psalm 18:10)

1. To Fly, You Have to Wait on the Lord.
2. Meaning: The Church must be unified.
3. Meaning the Church must be Healthy in order to Fly! [Social Distancing, the Three Angels’ Messages, and the Right Arm of the Gospel-1:15:17]

Why are we talking about flying?

To fly represents swiftness: a quick work.

The angel represents the church of God.  They are the ones that are flying.

Unity is the strength of the body of Christ; division is the weakness of the body of Christ.  LORD help us to get rid of this division.  Let’s abolish this attitude of separation in the church–social distancing.  Satanic plot to divide and conquer God’s people.  Then the gospel will go around the earth rapidly and then the end will come.

Lord help me not to spread these viruses going around in the church. The virus of separation and jealousy and hatred and anger in the church to die because when it does we will be about our Father’s business.

Run to Win

Hebrews 12:1 …let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness… 2 Timothy 4:6

6-13-20

By McBride

Yeshua (Christ) is the Wisdom Spoken of by Solomon–Christianity.com

What is the difference between a wise son and a foolish son? [www.easyenglish.bible,

“The proverbs (wise words) of Solomon”]

 

Proverbs 10:17 reminds us:

He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

Proverbs 10 Contrast Virtues and Vices

Wisdom

1. A wise son maketh a glad father.
2. Righteousness delivereth from death.
3. The hand of the diligent maketh rich.
4. He that gathereth in the summer is a wise son.
5. Blessings are upon the head of the just.
6. The wise in heart will receive commandments.
7. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely.
8. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life.
9. Love covereth all sins.
10. Wise men lay up knowledge.
11. The labor of the righteous tendeth to life.
12. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction.
13. He that refraineth his lips is wise.
14. The tongue of the just is as choice silver.
15. The lips of the righteous feed many.
16. The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

 

Foolishness

1. A foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
2. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing.
3. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand.
4. He that sleepeth in the harvest is him that causeth shame.
5. Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
6. A prating fool shall fall.
7. He that perverteth his way shall be known.
8. Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
9. Hatred stirreth up strife.
10. The mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
11. The fruit of the wicked tendeth to sin.
12. He that refuseth reproof erreth.
13. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin.
14. The heart of the wicked is little worth.
15. Fools die for want of wisdom.
16. He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

 

As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.” Proverbs 10:25

 

The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. Proverbs 10:28 KJV

 

The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. Proverbs 10:29

 

The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. Proverbs 10:30

 

The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.  Proverbs 10:31

 

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.   Proverbs 10:32

 

 

 

 

6-1-20

By McBride

Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit God’s kingdom. But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires. If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature. (Galatians 5:19-25)

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred. (Ephesians 4:30-31)

But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. (Colossians 3:8)

So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good! (1 Peter 2:1-3)

4. Galatians 5:19-25

5. James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

 

 

 

5-27-20

By McBride

H.R. 6666 demonstrates Satanic influences at work.  The time is very short.  Covid-19 represent a clear red flag of the times we live in.  Get prepared now because Jesus is coming very soon.

The world is shifting by those in power to set the stage to fight against God and destroy humanity. GMOs in our food, fluoride in our water and 5G making us sicker.  Man-made bioweapons cause targeted diseases throughout the world.

Jesus will return very soon.  He said He will not judge us.  His word, the gospel, will judge us.  Our life need to line up with the gospel–not man made religion/tradition.

We will either meet or miss the mark.  What we do today can save a life tomorrow.  We will all make an account for our life.

King Jesus will say whatever you did for the least of these my brethren, you did for me–[The Original African Heritage Bible, 2007, Judson Press Publishers, pg. 1582 (the back of this page not numbered].

We must ask our self daily, how are we helping the least of these our brethren? God says what we do for the least of these our brethren we do unto Him.

5-26-20

By McBride

The Righteous Will Live By Faith–Applying God’s Words To Their Life

God told the prophet Habakkuk that the righteous will live by faith.  How does the righteous live by faith?

We need to move from theory to application of God’s words to us.  We need to trust God by trusting His words.

Habakkuk couldn’t understand why  God allow His people to continue in sin without chastisement.

² O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

³ Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Habakkuk 1:2-3

What does God say?  God is raising up a wicked group of people, a violent nation: the Chaldeans (Babylonians) to discipline Judah.

⁵ Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

⁶ For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not their’s.

⁷ They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

⁸ Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

⁹ They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.  

¹⁰ And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.  (Habakkuk 1:5-10 KJV

God told Habakkuk that the wicked and violent nations and people will increase their riches by receiving loans from creditors. Then one day these creditors will cause the wicked and violent nations to drink of the cup of wrath and indignation of God.

The prophet then understood it is better to live by faith and remain patient in silence: for God shall never forsake the righteous. [The Original African Heritage Bible, 2007, Judson Press Publishers, pg. 1327]

¹⁷ Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:17-19 KJV)

Habakkuk contains three chapter.  You can click and listen: Habakkuk 1-3 KJV.

No matter what circumstances we face always remember: all things work together for good for those who put their trust in God–Romans 8:28.

How do you put your trust in God? You believe His words.  We must move from theory to application.

 

5-11-20

The Cross We Carry Lead Us to Our Way of Escape From Sin, Suffering and Death

We must all deny ourself and obey the will of Yahweh by carrying our cross like Yeshua carried His cross.  Though Yeshua wished to protect himself from the suffering at Calvary, He obeyed the will of Yahweh. We all would like to avoid the cross, but the cross of obedience leads to true blessings.  So we must remain strong and courageous doing Yahweh’s will for our lives on behalf of the lives of others.  We must not seek to disobey God and spare ourselves from the burdens we must carry.  We cannot and should not run from our cross.  We must obey Yahweh like Yeshua demonstrated for us.

Save thyself, and come down from the cross. (Mark 15:30) We must all carry our cross just like Yeshua carried His cross. What does it mean by cross? Cross figuratively means “exposure to death, i.e., self-denial”–The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Thomas Nelsons Publishers, 2010, page 233, #4716.

God will allow us to go through trials and testing, but He promises to carry us through.  So you of little faith be strong and very courageous!

 

Learning to Exhibit True Christian Love

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (2 Peter 1:7)

and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit]. (2 Peter 1:7 Amplified Bible)

Amen!

 

Like Mother Like Daughter; The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree

Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter. (Ezekiel 16:44 KJV)

“Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb against you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ (Ezekiel 16:44 Amplified)

 

Seek God on Your Knees and You Will Find Rest For Your Weary and Battered Spirit

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 KJV)

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. (Matthew 11:28 Amplified) 

Amen!

 

Have you ever felt tired after spending time in church.  I have felt so tired that I had no energy to connect and hear the voice of God.  I would assist teaching a health class three times a week, fix breakfast for the church members once a month and after service fall out in my home in sheer exhaustion.  I had to pull away and recharge to spend time with the Lord.  When we believe God’s word and rest in His truth, we obey His words to us.  Then we discover a peace that surpasses all understanding. 

 

5-10-20

God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer there in?  (Romans 6:2)

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  for he that is dead is freed from sin.  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  (Romans 6:6-8)

5-9-20

By McBride

Step 1: Questioning God

Habakkuk name in Hebrew means “an embracing and unfolding faith in God.” God wants us to develop and grow in our faith in Him.  The book starts off with Habakkuk the prophet questioning God.  How many of you have questions for God?  That’s how you come to develop a relationship with Yahweh our Creator.  You start by asking God questions.

 

First Question to Yahweh

The prophet Habakkuk said to Yahweh the following in Habakkuk 1:2-4:

“2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” (Habakkuk 1)

Did you hear Habakkuk’s questions?  What did he ask God? 

Habakkuk asked,

“O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! … Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance?” (Habakkuk 1:2-3 KJV)

The Amplified Bible says it clearer below:  

Have you ever cried like the prophet Habakkuk and felt God isn’t hearing you?  Think back to that moment in your life.

 

Yahweh Requires Us to Communicate In The Spirit

The truth is God hears us.  We just don’t know how to hear Him.  We need to believe His words to us so we can learn the technique required to hear God. 

God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. In John 4:23-24 Johns writes the following:

23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

  God is not necessarily going to stoop down to our level and talk to us face to face in flesh form.  He did so when He sent Yeshua to die on the cross for us all to cover our sins. 

Yawheh gave us the truth in His words to us and wants us to come to His level to connect spiritually with Him.  He wants to raise us to a higher consciousness where we are aware of His spiritual presence with us. 

So yes God does hear us when we strive to obey Him.  We, however, often lack faith in God’s word and consequently in God Himself.  Basically we don’t believe Him.  We do not believe His words in the Bible He gave to us. 

Thus, we limit God’s impact in our lives.  We do not trust in Him.   We do not obey Him.  His words to us make it very clear that He hears us when we obey Him. 

 

Step 2: Yahweh Hears and Answers

Let’s take a listen at what God says to Habakkuk about sending a wicked nation to conquer His people who worship pagan gods.  The wicked nation overtake God’s people by the authorization of Yahweh Himself.  The wicked nation suddenly thinks their power to conquer comes from their pagan god and God becomes offended in Habakkuk 1:5-11.

5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not their’s.

7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.

11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.

The amplified Bible in Habakkuk 1:11 says it this way:

“Then they will sweep by like the wind and pass on.

But they will be held guilty,

They [and all men] whose own power and strength is their god.”

Our power and strength comes from Yahweh!

Then Habakkuk responds to God (Habakkuk 1:12-17 & 2:1)

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Prophet’s Second Question

¹² Are You not from everlasting,
O Lord my God, my Holy One?
We shall not die.
O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment;
O Rock, You have marked them for correction.
¹³ You are of purer eyes than to behold evil,
And cannot look on wickedness.
Why do You look on those who deal treacherously,
And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours
A person more righteous than he?
¹⁴ Why do You make men like fish of the sea,
Like creeping things that have no ruler over them?

¹⁵ They take up all of them with a hook,
They catch them in their net,
And gather them in their dragnet.
Therefore they rejoice and are glad.
¹⁶ Therefore they sacrifice to their net,
And burn incense to their dragnet;
Because by them their share is ^[a]sumptuous
And their food plentiful.
¹⁷ Shall they therefore empty their net,
And continue to slay nations without pity?

The Just Shall Live by Faith

2 I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.

God answers Habakkuk–click to read. Habakkuk 2:2-20 NKJV

Habakkuk’s Prayer and Hymn of Faith–click to read. Habakkuk 3 NKJV

 

 

 

By McBride

5-6-20

Why did Yahweh create us?

How did He originally create us to live on Earth?

What changes can we make to align our lives according to Yahweh’s plans for us?

Listen to Psalm 104 to seek some understanding.

 

By McBride

4/27/20

Yeshua is Coming Quickly With a Reward

IT IS WRITTEN “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4 KJV)

How do you overcome this world?  We overcome by doing the following: 

 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: 

1. Fear God, and
2. keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  

For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.  (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV)

How do you receive blessings from Yahweh? Why should you seek Yahweh’s blessings?

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Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and whosoever maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:14-15)

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. (Revelation 22:11)

Yeshua (Jesus) says, “And, behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12)

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By McBride 

4/25/20

Inspire

I shared 2 Timothy 3:16 KJV below with my almost eighty year old mother today. 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ( 2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

My mother a stroke victim for over twenty years said, “That’s a nice one! Trust in the Lord. Lean not unto thy own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him and He will direct our path.”  

All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; (2 Timothy 3:16 Amplified)

Sometimes I like to compare the amplified to the King James version.

Inspiration in Greek means “Nesh-aw-maw” which means a puff of wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration or inspiration–located at 5397 in [The Strong’s New Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible].

 

 

 

 

The day prior, I shared another verse with the word inspiration found in Job 32:8 KJV with my mother.

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. (Job 32:8 KJV)

She immediately said, “That sounds beautiful!”

Those profound words written in the book of Job give keen insight into how God reveals himself to selected individuals who search for Him with all their heart, mind and soul and seek to walk with Him in righteousness.  The Amplified Bible says,

“But there is [a vital force and] a spirit [of intelligence] in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

God comes to those who seek Him and persist in getting to know Him.

How many of us read and treasure God’s words?  Do you value to written word as divine inspiration coming from God?  The words of God are written to educate us in righteousness.  How many of us have experienced the inspiration of the Almighty giving us divine understanding.

 

God Spoke To Me

I experienced such a moment when the Spirit of God told me three times to go back into my comatose grandmother’s room.  I was arguing with the Holy Spirit.  I complied after the third command to go back into my grandmother’s room that I had just left. At the same time I am thinking whose voice am I hearing telling me to do something I didn’t want to do. I knew it wasn’t my voice because it wasn’t me.  I later figured out God was speaking to me.

I went back into the room.  I remember screaming three times that grandmother was dead.

As a five year old there was no way for me to know that; however, God helped me to connect and communicate in the spirit realm very different than the physical realm!   It’s sort of like a two dimensional picture of a ball–say a painting of a colorful ball versus a three dimensional ball–one you can actually hold in your hand and play with.  That’s the best way that I can explain the spiritual realm compared to the physical realm I experienced.

I knew my grandmother died because the Spirit of God told me.  Sure enough my grandmother’s spirit departed her body.  My mother immediately checked, but she was already dead.  What’s even more incredible was that seven minutes or so prior I couldn’t tell if grandma was dead or alive.  She looked dead.  My mom walked me into her room and put a mirror to her nose and explained to me that the mist and vapor on the mirror reveals she is alive and breathing.  So my mom left with her mirror.  She went into the living room to converse with the many visitors that came to visit knowing grandmother was back home from the hospital.

What was even more so incredible was the telepathic communication grandmother and I experienced before she died.  We talked back and forth in the spirit.  My mouth didn’t move.  I stood at the foot of her bed close to the doorway by the wall.  She spoke to me and I spoke to her.  This went on for several minutes.  Finally she said to take care of everyone.  I said I would.  We said goodbye to each other.  I left the room and her spirit left her body.  Not even a minute later I was back in her room–perhaps a half a minute at most.

As soon as I left my grandmother’s room, I see adults standing in a big circle filling up the living room.  I thought to exit the house through the front door, but people blocked the path out.  I thought of leaving through the kitchen through a side door, but there were too many people blocking that exit.  So I looked and considered going into my parents room, but the door was shut and I thought I didn’t want to go in their either.  I stood their frozen not knowing where I should go.

Immediately I heard a soft but distinct voice saying go back into your grandmother’s room.  I said, I just came out of there.  The voice immediately and louder and more urgent said go back into your grandmother’s room.  I said but I just came out  of there.  I don’t want to go in was my though.  Then the third time the voice spoke commandingly and insistently to me.  I knew I had to go and I went immediately into the room.  As I stepped in the door and looked at my grandmother, I knew without a doubt in my mind that she was dead.  Her life and the spirit of God that helped her to breath was no longer in the room.  I knew she wasn’t there.  Her body was there but that wasn’t her.  She was gone.

I screamed “Grandma is dead!”  My mom screamed back softly, “Grandma is sleeping.”

I screamed even louder “Grandma is dead!”  My mom screamed back “Grandma is not dead.”

I screamed a third time “GRANDMA IS DEAD!”  She came running in with the mirror and immediately she said “Grandma is dead!”

Meanwhile unknown to me my father was on both of his knees with both hands raised in the air by his bedside.  He said God if my mother will come out the coma, let her stay alive.  If she will die in a coma, suffer and starve to death, please immediately take her home.  Before my dad got the last part of his prayer out, he said he heard the voice of an angel say two times that his mother had died.  He said “Thank you God for immediately answering my prayer!”

I later told my dad fifteen years later that I screamed grandma’s dead three times not an angel.  That’s when he heard my side of the story after I heard his side of the story.

God is an amazing God! If you haven’t experienced His divine Spirit at work, you should seek to discover God.  I suggest you search for Him with all your heart and that is the way you will discover this amazing God I have known from a very young age.   So when I write, I write with confidence because I know what I am saying is true! God inspires us to know Him and become like Him.  God will inspire you too to know Him and to become like Him too.  You need to seek Him with all your heart, mind and soul!

What are some steps you can take today to get to know this amazing God I just described to you at work in my life at the age of five?

 

4/24/20

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. (Job 32:8 KJV)

“But there is [a vital force and] a spirit [of intelligence] in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. (Job 32:8 Amplified)

 

 

 

By McBride

4/20/20 

“Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.” Psalm 73:1

“For the Lord our God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Psalm 84:11

5. “Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.” Amos 5:14

Praise For The Lord’s Goodness Psalm 

1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:

2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.

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4 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

5 O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.

6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:

8 But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore.

9 For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.

12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. (Psalm 92 KJV)

 

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

 

 

 

 

 

Treading Water Til Jesus Comes

Sisters from the South sharing Scripture, spiritual gifts, and simple words to soul survive.

 

 

 

 

By McBride

4/18/20

Finding Rest For Your Spirit: 5 Steps to Finding God

Questions to Ponder

Pride where does it come from?  

Do you want to have peace that surpasses all understanding?

Do you ever ask God why you have to deal with these challenges you face in your life? 

God calls us to repent and change sinful habits so we ought to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit of Yahweh.

How can you find the peace?

Who Powers Up Your Life?

 

How does your body stay powered up for 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 years without electricity like a computer or car?  Why doesn’t it break down like your car after 10 or 20 years?  Is their a mechanic working from within us that we are not aware of?

Although you may not consider their are invisible cells throughout your body that compose you, microscopic cells too small to see compose various parts of your body.

God makes the trillions of cells that compose you.  The red blood cells in your blood carry invisible oxygen into and carbon dioxide gases out of the trillions of cells that compose your body. God makes the trillions of cells in your blood and in your body to receive food.  Your digestive system breaks down the food we eat into microscopic particles and allow the nutrients to become absorbed through villi in the intestinal tract.  From the intestinal tract the nutrients cross into the blood through the circulatory system.  The blood the source of life carries these nutrients and gases in and out the cells to feed our cells which make up our visible bodies.  Though we cannot see our cells with the visible eye, we do know that all these things occur day in and day out, year in and year out for a lifetime.  God is the source of life not electricity from our walls.  God powers us up from the inside out.

When you align your life with God, you will find peace.  God makes the millions of actions simultaneously happen within your body.  He has his Spirit keeping you alive.  He gave you a spirit to walk with Him.  God orders our steps like He orders the systems within our bodies.

What Happens When Your Spiritual System Malfunctions and You Can’t Hear God’s voice?

There is a disconnect between your spirt and God’s Spirit.

You need to talk daily with God and obey His voice–don’t fight with God.  God wants you to walk righteously with Him. You may choose to walk contrary to the way God designed you to connect with Him.

Do you need to stop fighting and resisting God?

When you learn to obey His still small voice, you will discover the presence of God within.  You will understand how to attain inner peace.

Your spiritual system will function the way God designed you to function when properly and spiritually aligned with your Creator: walking in love and righteousness.   Thus our spirit will find God and peace within.

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Joy Comes From Recognizing God’s Voice

Have you ever heard the still small voice of God and not realize that it’s God’s voice you hear in your head?  (John 21:4)

Have you ever caught nothing when you worked hard all day? (John 21:3)

Have you ever felt unsuccessful in your work?

 

When you listen to the voice of God, you become successful.  God will bless the work of your hands–Psalm 1:1-3.

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)

I repeat, listen to God’s voice and you will become successful in your work.  God will lead and order your steps each day. 

 

Responding To God’s Voice Brings Abundance 

Peter was in a low point after the crucifixion of Jesus.  He felt that he had deserted God–completely failed God.  Remember he denied Christ three times like Jesus said that he would–Matthew 26:75.  So he returned to fishing his original trade–John 21.

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Then Jesus spoke to Peter and some of the other disciples after his resurrection from the dead.  When he realized that it was Jesus, he was so excited that he ran through the water to Jesus.

Before Jesus filled up Peter’s net with fish, Peter obeyed the voice of Jesus.  Jesus told him “cast out your net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find.” (John 21:5-6) Peter obeyed the commands of Jesus despite the fact that they had fished all night and caught nothing.  When he listened to the voice of the resurrected Christ, he miraculously caught one hundred fifty three fish and the net didn’t break. The number 153 is a significant number.  Research and find out the meaning of 153 here in the Bible—John 21:11.

Jesus had already been crucified so Peter and the other disciples saw the resurrected Christ in spiritual form.

Duty of Humans

So Jesus appears to us too from the invisible spiritual realm like he did for Peter.  He provides the food.  He prepares the food, and we consume the food like He did for Peter and the other disciples.  He is our source of food and the source of our life both physical and spiritual.  We must depend on him.   We must learn to trust in Him–(John 21:10-19).

If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it… Deuteronomy 30:10-20 KJV

Our work on this earth is to learn to obey the voice of Yahweh:

1) listen and accept the words of God,

2) hear and turn (repent) from sin and sinfulness,

3) apply the words of God to our life by obeying the voice of God (His Ten Commandments spoken down the mountain and written on tablets of stone),

4) attain wisdom equivalent to obtaining

5) the Holy Spirit given by God leading to eternal life

 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5 KJV)

God hears our voice when we pray to Him.  King Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave him wisdom in (I Kings 3:9-11):

⁹ Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

¹⁰ And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

¹¹ And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

 

Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

¹³ And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

¹⁴ And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. (1 Kings 3:12-14 KJV)

When you acquire wisdom,  you obtain the Holy Spirit of God (or it’s a prerequisite to obtaining the Holy Spirit) in my humble opinion. (Proverbs 2:1-11)  That’s wisdom in a nutshell.

 

For [skillful and godly] wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. (Proverbs 2:10 Amp)

5 Steps to Finding God–Proverbs 2:1-5 

Proverbs 2:1-3   Look at the meaning of the words vertically (downward).  I color coded to help you see something remarkable.

First Three Steps

1. Accept My words

2.  Turn your ears

3. Applying your heart

 

1. (Verbs) Accept, turn and apply God’s words

2. My (God’s word), Your (ear), Your (heart)

3. Words, (goes into) ears, (from ears the words goes into your) heart

    

   Verb (Accept, Turn Apply)   (My:God/Your:You)    (Word to Ears to Heart)

:1       Accept                                                       My                                     words

:2       Turn                                                          Your                                   ears

:3       Applying                                                   Your                                  heart

The first words above are action words.  Two parts to God communicating with us: the head and the heart.

What is also important is to know that people can have a head knowledge of God but can have a hard heart.  If a professor who teaches theology lack heart knowledge of God, they are using their own human understanding.  They know the words, but their is a disconnect  between the head and heart: human knowledge without wisdom of the word.

Five Key Steps To Knowing God

Verb (Accept, Turn Apply)   (My:God/Your:You)    (Word to Ears to Heart)

:1  Accept                                      My                             words

:2  Turn                                         Your                           ears

:3  Applying                                Your                            heart

:4  Search                   (with all Your mind for)        Wisdom

:5  Understand                           Your                           God

 

 Overcoming This World Requires Spiritual Warfare 

We don’t look on the physical troubles that we can see now.  Fix your gaze on things you cannot see: Yahweh.

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

 

Our life has to be controlled by what we see in the Bible.  The Bible conveys examples that we must remember to help us overcome the challenges we face.  We must recall the testimonies of the prophets and people of God that came before us.  The tactics that Satan used on them are the same tactics Satan will use on us today.  So we must know the battle manual of spiritual warfare and understand the words God sent to us to overcome and become victors in this fight.

We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood says the Apostle Paul.  We wrestle against wicked spiritual forces. (Ephesians 6:12)

The Art of Spiritual War

In Ephesians the Apostle Paul breaks down our military weapons at the disposal of Christians in Ephesians 6:10-18 below:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 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.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20 KJV)

Claiming His Many Precious Promises

You can find peace knowing God is in control of your life and claiming His many precious promises to give you hope through the darkness.

 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 KJV)

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

(Psalms 91:9-11)

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Psalms 121 KJV)

Who or what powers up your life?  Is Duracell Battery, electricity, God or the Energizer?

How can knowing the five steps from Proverbs 2:1-5 help you to discover lasting peace?

How do you quiet the inner fears from catching Covid-19?

 

 

By McBride

4/17/20

Death To Sin Leads To Life and Eternal Joy In GOD’S Presence

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The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. (Deuteronomy 24:16) Deuteronomy 24 King (KJV)

God is a loving God, but sin makes him very angry.  He knows sin causes separation between Himself and us His Created people.

How does God feel about sin?   Why is sin not acceptable? What are the repercussions of sin in your life today? Let’s head backwards in time approximately 6,000 years ago when Cain killed his brother Abel. The Lord said to Cain the following:

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? Gen 4:9

Cain’s disrespectful attitude appeared, and I see that same spirit of utter disrespect prominent in many young people today.  They show absolutely no reverence for their teachers, parents nor their classmates.  They act as if they can say and do whatever they please without consequences.  The result if they do not change will result in dire consequences for them.  The path they’re heading down leads to hell: a place of suffering and pain and ultimately death.

When you question them, they want to respond by questioning you.  I am talking about elementary children: eight, nine and ten year olds.  Such lack of respect leads to suffering because they do not know how to discipline and control themselves.  

So when Cain questioned God, God simply said that his brother’s blood was crying out to Him.

And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.  Gen 4:10

You see life is in the blood, and the blood possesses the spirit of the living God–notice Abel’s voice spoke through the blood on the ground.  When that spirit is poured out in the shed blood, that spirit speaks to the Creator that gives it life.   The spirit actually cannot die unless God takes the life of the spirit being away.  

Abel’s blood spoke because the blood possesses the spirit of the Living God.  The blood gives life.  The shed blood results in the shedding of the life.  Your spirit being actually is found in your blood.  This is something I discovered.  

Let’s continue to look at the interaction between Cain and God.  Cain could speak back, but God spoke truth to Him by telling Cain exactly what he did and what the result of His actions would cause him.  After God said Abel’s blood crieth to Him from the ground,  He told Cain he is cursed from the earth.  The earth would not protect him or bless him.  Basically the sun would scorch him from above so he couldn’t farm and wouldn’t want to farm.  If he did try to farm, the earth would not provide food for him. Thus, he would not be able to farm and produce sustenance for himself and his family.  

And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; Gen 4:11

So God drives Cain off the face of the earth–edge or away from the center of the action.  

He is left a fugitive and vagabond–a criminal wanted dead. Cain is rejected and separated from his family left always on guard and despondent.  He becomes fearful because of his sin that someone would find him and slay him. So God makes him different with a unique marking.  Thus, no one who found him would kill him.  Let’s listen in on this conversation between Cain and God immediately following his sin:

When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.  Gen 4:12-14

Notice Cain is fearful and worried.  His sin left him in this state. He’s suffering.  Notice Cain is driven out from the face of the earth and driven out from the face of God.  Cain now thinks everyone that finds him will want to murder him so he now has no peace.  Cain knows God nor the earth will help him.  He is forced to leave his family and God to live off the face of the earth and away from everyone he knows–like a prison.

Sin is harmful.  When children sin, there should be consequences right away.  We are not to let children think it is ever okay to sin.  When we think it is okay to sin and that we are getting away, we continue to sin.  This results in dire consequences.  So we must discipline young children when they do wrong right away so they learn not to sin. 

Likewise we adults must see the pain and suffering we bare are a direct consequence of sins we allow into our lives.  We must repent and ask God for forgiveness so we can see God’s face one day once again and be allowed back into the presence of the Spirit of the LIVING GOD.

Do you feel cursed or blessed on the earth?

How many of you are living like Cain away from the face of God or are you living in the presence of God?

How many of you are anxious and worried away from the face of God or peaceful in the presence of God?

How many of you are in distressed and scared not knowing what the future may hold or at peace and confident knowing your living in the presence of the Creator? 

How many of you live quiet lives of desperation or do you live in peace with plenty?

Would you like to discover how to live in the presence of God once again?

God says reject sin and live. What are your sins? What do you need to reject?

What must you change or get rid of in your life?

What has the Holy spirit convicted you of?

Do you feel guilt and shame about something?  

What is the Holy Spirit constantly asking you to do?  

Are you listening?  

What must you do to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit?

Write and comment on what you will do to obey the voice of God’s Holy Spirit.  Also comment on one or more of the questions, I like to read comments from my readers.  Thank you for reading and may God richly bless you.  If you were blessed, please share and bless someone you know–thanks again and please come back. I’ll have another word from God to share.

 

 

 

 

 

By McBride

4/16/20

To show forth your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night, (Psalm 92:2)

 

By McBride

4/15/20

The soul that sinneth, it shall die.  The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.  Ezekiel 18:20

 

 

By McBride

4/14/20

Rejoice in the Lord Today for God is Wonderful!

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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. T

hose things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:6-9 KJV) Philippians 4:6 KJV

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God Laughs Likewise We Should Imitate Our Father

(Psalm 37:1-3)

1 (A Psalm of David.) Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

 

Let’s take our burdens to the Lord today for God cares for us.  Allow the peace that surpasses all understanding to rest upon you.  Dwell on, speak and meditate on positive words that will encourage your heart from the words of God today.  Remember all things work for good for those who trust in God.  Lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.  Smile and laugh, laughter is good medicine.  

The grace of our Lord Jesus christ be with you.  My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.  Amen. (I Corinthians 16:23-24)

 

By McBride

4/13/20

⁶ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

⁹ (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)

Let us pray and ask God concerning all that we do.  Let’s pray and give as the Lord leads.  Pray and seek the Lord daily.

 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:14)

 

 

By McBride

4/12/20

 

Unseen Devils Cause Us To Speedily And Fearfully Move Through Life

 

Today I prayed asking God to lead me to a Bible passage for the day.  I feel God led me to this verse below:

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29 KJV)

Read Matthew 8:28-34 King James Version (KJV)

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How Do You Break Free From Torment In Your Life?

 

The Hebrew word for torment is behalah (beh-haw-law) meaning panic, destruction—terror and/or trouble. Behalah comes from the root word bahal (baw-hal) meaning to tremble inwardly (or palpitation), i.e. figuratively be (cause, make) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated; by implying to hasten anxiously: trouble.  It also means haste, afraid, vexed, amazed, hasty, affrighted, dismayed, hastily, thrust him out, rash, speedily, speedy, and/or vex—The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible page 34, #928 and #926.

This describes most of us in our American culture moving about speedily from home to work and work to home each day.  People are troubled by Covid-19 and frightened.  They are alarmed and agitated.

We live and move in a culture overrun by demonic influences.  This is not unique to Americans; sin affects us all.

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Unseen Devils Cause Us To Speedily And Fearfully Move Through Life—Destination Death!

 

Tears can give us telescopic like vision says Leroy Brownlow.  Tears may help us to see the condition that sin results in: panic/destruction.  As long as we accept and tolerate sin in our life, we hastily and speedily destine ourselves along a path ending in terror and death.  We move through our lives like pigs rashly running over a cliff to their death without time to stop, to reflect and to change course to save their lives.

In Today Is Mine by Leroy Brownlow he writes about the power of tears to give us insight into our troubled lives if we stop and think deeply about our life, condition and state of mind.

Tears are a universal language.  They often tell what words will not express.  Sincerely shed, they are not willing water from a hydrant to be turned on and off at will, but rather the natural droplets from a heart too full to be contained.  Tears are the language of the heart, and where there is a heart, there can be a tear.

Watery eyes have been known to see what clear eyes could not detect.  When your plight seems so hopeless that you can’t see your way through, take another look through your tears.  They may prove to be telescopic. (Today Is Mine by Leroy Brownlow, 1972, April 12)

The Bible talks about the benefits of tears too.  Tears can move us to reach out to God who reaches down to save us from sudden unsuspecting coming destruction just in time.

In Psalm 126:5 David writes, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”

Won’t you sow some tears today? Wouldn’t you like to find joy and peace?

Won’t you sow some tears today?

 

I am reminded of another verse that says in Proverbs 18:12 the following:

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

 

Humble yourself before your Creator, shed some tears on your knees and ask God to forgive you of all your sins. When God hears your sincere cry for help, He will help you remove sin from your life.

God will help you become dead to sin: eradicate sin from within you.  He will take out your stony heart and give you a new heart of flesh.  He will give you His Holy Spirit who will write His’ laws on your heart.  You will discover true joy and peace that comes when God breaks the chain of sin and Satan from off of your life.

Laughter Cometh In The Morning

You will no longer be captives of sin.  You will become set free from sin and death.  You will sing for joy David writes:

PSALM 126

When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.

The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

 

 Whom the Son sets free this day through His blood shed at Calvary is indeed free!

 

Finally meditate on these words of the Apostle Paul who intimately knew pain and suffering :

Romans 6:9-11

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Won’t you humble yourself before your Creator, he has been waiting patiently for you to return to Him.  He loves and wants to free you.

 

Moral Dominion By Oswald Chambers

 

April 11, 2020

Today I joined into a telephone Sabbath lesson by phone–most members spoke from the east coast, but I’m in sunny California.  I jotted some notes down to help me and you see and encounter the presence of Yahweh: our Creator.  You’ll hopefully learn how to truly see Him. 

Did You Know The Creator Can Live In You and Guide You?

Let’s take a look at the first passage I noted to see how God guides us through His written words below: 

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; in so much that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (Matthew 24:23-27)

When Yeshua (Jesus) returns, every eye shall see Him.  So does this mean we have to wait until Jesus return to know Yahweh (God the Father) and seek His presence? 

God sends His angels and His Holy Spirit to help us–thoughts and questions to ponder below:

 

God’s Angel Sends The Everlasting Gospel To The World: The Good News Of The Coming Kingdom.

Are you worthy to stand on God’s Holy Mountain with Him?  

Are you worshiping self (Satan) or God?

How are you suppose to lead your life and others?

God leads by example–follow Yeshua’s example.  

We are resting in Christ.   We were created on the sixth day.  The seventh day we rested with and in Christ. We spend time with God face to face (Sabbath)–forming relationship with God.  

What does sanctify mean? 

Sanctify means to set apart for a holy purpose (make holy)–set aside. Only God can make you holy–spending time with God on the sabbath (resting in and with him) leads to holiness.  He makes us holy by His Spirit He gives to us because we believe (trust in) Him.  I trust Him, and I walk with Him.  Rest implies more Godly work: putting our full confidence in God.  No work in ourselves, but we work in God. In order to do God’s will, we must come to know God, trust God, love God and to establish a relationship with God. We must worship God and not ourselves (Satan).  This will often require some painful changes in our life. Sometimes we have to ignore the voices of others to obey the voice of God. We cannot depend on others to lead us, we must rely on Yahweh to guide us.

What’s required for us to truly  worship God?

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

10And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

12And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 58:9-14) Isaiah 58:13-14 speaks of a mindset. If we…, then.. call upon you to ride upon the high places.  When people see us, they will want to know your God.  That’s  the testimony of the prophets in the Pentateuch..  When Nebuchadnezzar saw the three Hebrew boys, he said the fourth is like the Son of Man. Isaiah 58 talks about those who honor God’s sabbath. 

 

We are to demonstrate God’s Spirit.

Resting In Christ

• take my burden, my burden is easy and light
• we are one in Christ
• my strength is made perfect in weakness 
• we find completeness in Christ
• we find completeness in His identity
• We rest in Christ
• He sent the 70 out and called them to rest awhile
• John imprisoned, killed, Yeshua tells them to rest awhile
• Yeshua living word, living bread, heavenly manna to go another week
• His presence bring refreshing
• True rest and peace is not possible without walking with Christ
• Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord and He opens the sea

 

Four Meaning For The Word Day

1. A day can be a morning and evening,
2. a thousand years,
3. 24 hours, day time,
4. an indefinite period of time “in that day”

4 different definitions of a day

Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

Idea is that God created  the heavens and earth in a particular period or era: day (an indefinite period of time).

 

We fell into sin and now must become reconnected to God again through Jesus’ death.  He paid our sin penalty so we can rejoin the family of God.

1. You can click the link to read Revelation 14:1-20 and
2. Psalms 104 (Read the whole chapter)

 

The Creator Can Live and Guide You

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By McBride April 9, 2020

Eternal Blessing For God’s People

During this pandemic many hearts suffer from fear.  This lead many to react with hostility.  Your answer to all your problems rest in establishing a relationship with your Creator/Father.

When you reach out to Yahweh to ask for His forgiveness for the sins you’ve sinned against Him, He will hear and respond.  He will speak to your heart and bring peace to your soul.  He will let you know He loves and forgives you.  He will bring you lasting joy and peace when you walk daily with Him.

How do you walk with God?

You can walk with God daily through the reading of His words in the Bible and through prayer.

Yahweh’s Abundant Favor–Psalm 65

Focus: Psalm 65:2-3

Yahweh Forgives Our Transgressions and Removes Them From His Sight

2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

When we repent and ask for forgiveness, Yahweh hears our prayers and forgives us.  We must pray with a sincere heart.  Yahweh knows our hearts and He will respond when He hears a heartfelt cry for help.

Choose Life By Fleeing Sin–Isaiah 65

Focus: Isaiah 65:8-9

Would You Like To Live With Joy, Peace And Abundance, Inherit Eternal Life  And A Place In Yahweh’s Kingdom?

8 Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

11 But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. [Isaiah 65:10-12]

In God’s Holy Kingdom 

21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.

24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. [Isaiah 65]