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© Copyright 2023 Bob Arnold
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“The Human Paradox”
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Paradox defined means; “A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory … proposition that when investigated … may prove to be … true.”
Humans are a God created paradox.
(Genesis 2:8ff. ) “… God planted a garden in Eden, … He put the man he had just made in it. God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The 🌲 Tree - of- Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree - of-The -Knowledge- 🌳 of-Good-and-Evil…. God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order. God commanded the Man, ‘You can eat from any tree in the garden, except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don’t eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you’re dead.”
There is mystery in this garden and in the trees that inhabit it. To unlock the mystery and appreciate our Heavenly Father’s wise creation, we need to uncover the innate theological problems and practical questions that biblical critics use as debate issues:
🌳 Why did God place humans in such a garden?
🌳 Why did God create an evil tree?
🌳 Why was the tree in the center of the garden?
🌳 Why we’re Adam and Eve so weak?
🌳 Do we still face this ancient choice?
🌳 Where did Lucifer, the snake come from?
🌳 Why did God drive them out of the garden?
🌳 They didn’t really die, did they?
These are but a few of the many questions that both skeptics and sincere Bible students and seekers ask.
The biblical picture before us is vast and encompasses both the Old and New Testaments. The root of the issues is the historical paradox and conflict of the co-existence of good and evil in our world’s environment.
These two trees symbolize the conflict of the ages, and spans pre- human creation, reaching life in Heaven, of the Trinity facing a war between 33 percent of the created superhuman angel anarchists who are exiled from Heaven’s paradise, by God and His angel armies. This continuing conflict is as fresh as todays front page news in America. The two powers of darkness and light, good and evil, is chronic until our Father drops the final curtain and time’s clock stops ticking.
The devil is a false god, a reject and an outcast of heaven, an adversary, accuser, slanderer. He appeared as a serpent to mother Eve and to Adam, in Genesis. In (Matthew 4:1ff.,) “ … Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the test. The Devil was ready to give it ….” When John the baptizer raised Jesus up out of the Jordan river’s baptismal waters the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and led him to face Lucifer. (Luke 3:21ff.)The Holy Spirit directed Jesus, in our behalf, to face Satan. It was here that the first Adam had failed, but the Last Adam conquered in our favor.
There was no duplicity in Jesus, which is most unusual. Guile is a troubling appendage to our soulish nature. (John 2:47), “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him , ‘Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.” Guile is defined as, duplicity or double dealing. A psychologist friend who has had hundreds of patients, tells me that he believes that each one of us is, to some degree, a narcissist and has a duplicitous personality. In Jesus’ view Nathanael was a rare Jewish exception.
A gentleman endeavored to pay a compliment to a lady; “you are quite nice,” he told her, to which she replied, “not always.” She was unusually honest, she admitted her duplicity. Are most people double in their nature?
A young man said to me, “You would not help me if you knew what I have done.” Maybe many of us feel that way toward God, Adam and Eve did. After their cheating disobedience, they ran and hid from their best friend, the good Lord.
Moses realized how double minded God’s own people were. After leading them for fourth years from Egypt to the entrance of the promised land, in his final message to them he reveals their hearts: (Deuteronomy 31:23ff.) “… Moses … ordered the Levites …. I know what rebels you are, how stubborn … even today, while I’m still alive and present with you, you’re rebellious against God. How much worse when I’ve died!”
These are, “the people of God ,” that he is addressing!
I can hear someone say, “Well, those are Old Testament people, we’re different, we are New Testament saints.” Dear friends, it was after Peter was saved, Holy Spirit filled and had seen thousands saved under his preaching that the apostle Paul corrected him for his double minded, duplicity. (Galatians 2:11ff.) “Later, when Peter came to Antioch, I had a face to face confrontation with him because he was clearly out of line …. Have some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect? (No great surprise, right?)”
Listen to Paul’s personal confession concerning his own duplicity: (Romans 7:15ff.) “What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise …”
(msg.). So, the facts are, Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Peter, Paul and you and I each and all, via personal experience and repentant confession face double minded, duplicity, all too often. This is a sinful paradoxical delima that King David says started with the fall of humans in Genesis and is passed on to each of us via procreation. (Psalm 51:5ff.) “I’ve been out of step with you …. before I was born… “
(Genesis8:21 ff.) God, speaking of us says; “I know they have this bent toward evil from an early age.”
It was the Apostle Paul who God spoke these Words through; (Romans 3:23), “ … there is none righteous, no, not one.” We need to stop judging others. “It’s not my brother, it’s not my sister, it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” My sins stink just as horribly as yours. Internal, secret sins may be acceptable to the fellow members of our designated religious club, but they are not to our Heavenly Father.
When God created the biological human with living pulse, a beating heart, with sensory nerve receptors electronically connected to a living human computer and flowing blood and a normal digestive system and the necessary reproductive organs, He automatically produced the body’s necessary excrement, urine and our human urges, drives, pleasures and pains. The freedom to live and love necessitates the ability to not live or love. Life is marvelous but it is also messy at times.
Human sexuality can be approached through the door of lust or through the door of love. Love and lust, though opposites, can both be reproductive and rousingly satisfying. Lust 🌳 is all about getting, conversely, love is the giving 🌲 tree. Carnal knowledge will rape, impair or slaughter if necessary, to receive mental and physical satisfaction, Scripture refers to it as, “the 🌳 tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This,”tree is at enmity with God and the 🌲 tree of life. Two trees in the center of our bodies, one produces death, the other is the tree of abundant life. “Choose Life.”
The flesh does battle against the spirit daily. We are now in a process, we are daily being saved by grace through faith from the power of sin. (Galatian’s 5:17) “ … there is a root of self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, …. Choose to be led by the spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law - dominated existence.” (msg. Translation).
The daily battle continues, we need grace daily to stay on point. This daily battle between the selfish carnal nature and the unselfish, gracious nature is the internal paradox with each declaring dominion in our battle for our soul. The closer we come to being, “All In” spiritually, the healthier will be our spiritual equilibrium.
It was in my second year of Koine Greek studies that I began to understand the nature and power of Sovereign Grace. The theological impact so jolted me that it changed me spiritually. I had struggled with the perfectionism doctrine for years, knowing that although my Christian religious denomination, that I was reared in, taught it, something was drastically wrong with it. I was certainly aware that I was far from perfect and after meeting those who inviolably proclaimed, “perfect love holiness”, as a real experience in their daily lives and I could find no living example of such, especially from those who thought they were spiritually perfect, I struggled to achieve assurance of my own salvation. I would get Saved-lost-Saved- lost-Saved again and re-baptized two or three times. I was never followed up, never taught assurance and never discipled, neither were my fellow Christians. We did not know what disciple making was.
GRACE amazed me! Human duplicity had met its challenge when I discovered our Father’s Amazing, Sovereign GRACE. Some of my spiritual peers, theological students of Weslyian doctrinal persuasion (religion is a, “harness of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 msg.) debated with me in my quest for Bible truth. A few of my fellow ministers and theological professors were disappointed with doctrinal position, but the clear message of grace (Kharites) transliterated from Koine Greek, from which we cultured our daughter, Tamara’s middle name, Carese, our Father’s abundant generosity firmly lodged in our ❤️ hearts.
It was in those days that we discovered that Linda and I would soon have a new baby girl in our little family. Linda asked, what do you want to name her? We prayed about that and a few weeks later, Tamara Carese was birthed. Why didn’t we call her Tamara Grace? We just loved the crisp, fresh sound of the cultured Greek transliteration of Grace, Carese. Oh, and by the way, Tamara continues to communicate the fruits of GRACE and Truth.
Life includes several paradoxes but none more challenging than the coexistence of divine sovereignty and human will or, the duplicity of the flesh in contrast to the spirit or the temporary coexistence of good and evil. The interplay of time and eternity is another mystical paradox. By faith, made possible via Sovereign Grace, we accept and live in our Father’s paradoxical earth.
“This is our Father’s world,”
and we belong to Him; body, soul and spirit. He hates our sins but loves us and every sinner, so must we. The most high and holy God loves sinful, struggling human beings, what a paradox!
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“Transitions
Traditions
Truth”
Some one observed: “One of earth’s most constant character qualities is change.”
We have time regulators on earth, that are superfluous in heaven’s eternal sphere. We live on a relatively speaking small planet that is spinning at 1000 miles per hour, and is so smooth that we often feel and assume that we are static. This 🌎 earth changes much more and much faster than we calibrate. We earthlings rotate around the Sun ⛅️ once every 23 hours, 56 plus minutes. Earth is in a race with Mars to pass it up in the yearly cycle, which will reposition our nightly view of the planets. Earth’s spin is constant, but details of this too depends on what latitude you are located at. (space.com) our Father created a majestic universe, and is still creating. While we have been birthed into life and are learning to live in this environment we are now also being prepped, yes a transformation is in process, that will make us ready to enter a spiritual dimension.
The Bible tells us that we have double citizenship; one temporary citizenship and one permanent citizenship, (Hebrews 13:14) “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” (Philippians 3:20), “… our citizenship is in heaven …”, (Ephesians 2:19) “ … you are … citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
A friend, encouraging me on life’s journey during a critical phase, said, “ It’s all about how you look at the problem and how you chose to handle the issues involved.” I believe that my friend is right. Maybe there are several variant ways of approaching life and it’s issues. We are creatures very much alike each other and yet vastly different. Our basic creature status is similar to most other creatures of our species. As is true in other creature groupings, there are variants within our similarities, but the deciding differences reside inside the human frame. There are vast differences in how we see and what we choose.
Are human creatures animals or Spiritual beings? Genesis 5:1ff. “When God created the human race, He made it godlike, with a nature akin to God.” We understand that, “God is Spirit …” Something changed in man however, when Adam sinned, his whole life took on a selfish, driven Id/Ego existence. Some folks live like the animal they are while others live a spiritual life of godly balance of loving God and loving people. Human choice and the Sovereignty of God are both involved in our individual differences.
Some define a Homo Saipan as unique from other creatures in that they can: stand up, have advanced mental powers and can communicate with each other. Spiritually we see humans’ uniqueness in that they are trichotomous, spirit, soul and body.
Our human cycle of existence includes: conception, a development stage within mother’s internal protective care, birthing, progressive life development outside mother’s womb, yet within her cuddling, bonding developmental powers, procreation of future generations, and then, physical and mental regression, with increased spiritual activity and finally death, wherein body and soul separate.
The average length of life for humans from the womb to the tomb has been considerably altered over the centuries by our Creator and Lord of life; from just under 1000 years among, “The Ancients,” in Genesis, to under 500 years to 120 years to around 70 to 100 years of life on planet earth. As our Creator and Lord of creation, our Father has purposes for each of these changes, explanation of this will take considerable time in another message.
Transitions are a vital part of us being human. The “Id” or basic instinct drive, which is a brief, but necessary protective urge; however, with some bitter persons, this infantile state appears to dominantly control and therefore create some very dangerous persons in adult life. Most normal developing persons mature and are motivated and mastered by their “ego”, which endeavors to keep the Id in check. Dr. Sigmund Freud believed that there also exists a “Superego,” a powerful moral voice within humans which endeavors to sway decisions for the good and godly values in life. This dynamic process of developing of a higher, “moral code” by which society endeavors to struggle through in their daily lives creates Soup Operas, and acclaimed theatrical performances.
Oft times newly born infants communicate to us in the Id stage. They unashamedly yell, scream, throw fits, demanding that their momentary desires be satisfied at any cost. As the infant develops through loving, and wise discipline things usually change.
Children and young adults are more likely to communicate, compete and cooperate in the Ego stage. The ego educates the Id to seek a more civil way to see their desires and demands met. Using Freud’s terminology, some individuals act and react to life’s problems and pressures in an even higher manner of behavior, in a “Superego” behavior at progressive and varied stages of development, differing somewhat with each individual.
We can view both life motivated by basic animal instinct and life motivated by spiritual values in the lives of two children of our first ancestors Adam and Eve: Each of their sons brought a sacrifice offering to the altar of God. It was not what they brought that distinguished their actions, it was what was in their hearts. God accepted Abel and his offering but rejected Cain and his offering. Why? (Hebrews11:4) By an act of faith, Able approached God. It was who and what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed and approved of as righteous. “After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.”
Maybe Cain thought that what God required was too hard, human perfection is what Satin and religion require both historically and today. Cain, like his mother Eve, listened to the wrong, fake news, guide. The father of lies convinced Cain as he had convinced his mother that what God required was foolish and unnecessary.
Conversely, Abel approached God as a sinning person, unworthy, yet lifting up the blood of another, both accepting and offering to God, as God’s Spirit instructed him to do so.
Faith is an action of the heart and mind, made possible by our Father’s extended grace, in our spirit. By this faith we can see things from a spiritual perspective that others cannot see, they lack the necessary spiritual receptors enabling us to do so. Reality actually is a blur or an unsolvable puzzle to many people. Without eyes of faith, we too would probably choose false alternatives by which to interpret and live life. We would be persuaded and guided into an alternative reality by false prophets, secular educators in our government schools, Universities, Marxism, Materialism, cults, fake news commentators and the, “FAKE” list just continues to be belched out of hell by Lucifer and his demon servants in high places. Spirit controlled persons see and act by faith. Grace is the root cause of their practical daily lives.
Our internal motivation is the same as that of our Master, Jesus The Christ, “What will bring Life.” This simple Life philosophy is what decides our choices and actions. Without our Father’s Sovereign Grace there would be no human ability to choose and no faith by which to see or act. Grace creates the power of Saving Faith which makes all things possible for our Father’s children. Without this faith it is impossible to please God. We live, see and act every day on the premise of faith.
We are links in the chain of faith. It has been my joy and privilege to lead several persons to a saving faith in Christ, follow them up, baptize them and disciple a few of them. I, without question was only one link in an often, long chain. The Holy Spirit loved, worked through and witnessed through many wonderful, godly folks before I ever met the new Christian. There are some who feel that they are spiritual witnesses because they led someone in a written or memorized prayer, or enrolled them as new members at their “Jehovah Witness Temple.”But, it is doubtful if many person were ever genuinely saved through them. These are religious parasites seeking proselytes. There are other sincere Christians who feel anguishing failure in their efforts, but the fact is they were a living link in several seeking, life travelers, that will be with us in Paradise.
Satan and ritualistic, religious people continuously condemn us and attempt to keep us on a guilt trip because we are not perfect. I find these religious self righteous folks in all sizes, sexes and in all denominations, they have deadened many local congregations. The other day I saw one of the best political adds that I have ever read: “God doesn’t use perfect persons, He uses people who are perfect for the job that needs to be done.” How very true! It is also a fact that God is the person who orders the actions and the positioning of persons within our lives, including the timing thereof, these are the persons who will determine the divinely prescribed person that is mandated for the task at hand.
There are no perfect persons. The Bible agrees with this assertion that, “ All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, there is none righteous, no not one.”
God could have made us “Robot - Computer machines,” if that was what he desired. We are here as we are, at his pleasure and design. Failure experiences are our learning tools, He designed it so. A freely operating human will, with the capacity of real, genuine LOVE is of much greater value to our Creator, / Redeemer than static, ritualistic traditionalists posing as “Perfect persons.”
Our Father reveals and views reality very differently than many earthlings do. Ours is often an altered conception of what is normal or real. This humanistic, narcissistic viewing of life is due to our fallen nature (carnality, Adamic bias), which we were conceived in. (Psalm 51:5), “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
Our God even sent his fully human Son to earth to define reality, truth, through his unblemished human character. If we want to see what reality and truth look like to God our Creator, just look at his Son, Jesus, who says, “I am the real deal, I am truth, just look through my eyes and you’ll see reality.” The Father, then asserts, “This is my beloved Son … listen to him.”
Transitions come and go, they are a huge part of living life. Traditions stay for a while, some are good, others, not so much. But Truth, seen through God-given eyes of faith faith, will guide us through transitions and select and ofttimes supersede both transitions and traditions.
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“Impotent To Love”
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Some persons perpetually push away from themselves the greatest hunger of their broken heart ❤️🩹. They make themselves repulsive to the very persons that they desire to attract and often desperately need. Their capacity to either give or receive love is nearly zero. In their current status, they are unmarriageable and should avoid the pursuit of such a demanding relationship. A marriage void of genuine love is just a demanding business arrangement. Is this a hopeless state of affairs? No, thankfully, there is a biblical remedy.
Most and probably all of us have psychological oddities. Becoming whole requires several life processes. These begin pre birth and are developed in progressive stages, which we commonly refer to as,”maturing”. Bumps and scrapes along life’s trail create psychological bruises and, sometimes deep, ugly scars. Most of these are eventually amenable.
The basic teachings of Jesus, The Christ, were about relating to Father God any to our fellow humans in a very special way, so as to birth and build holistic health in both givers and receivers. God’s Word assures us that none of us attains perfection in these relationships, but we can experience more than civility, we can be made whole, making it possible to both receive and give real 💕 love.
The Bible tells us how in very simple and practical processes.
Not all are willing to become! This seems to be a ridiculous assertion, but it is true. Several years ago I preached a Sunday morning message on forgiveness. At the close of the service a large, middle aged gentleman by the name of Cooley came foreword for prayer at the old wooden altar. I knelt and prayed for him. He began to loudly week, he shook so unmanageably that the altar began to move and trembled. He then told me how furiously that he despised a certain man, who in a bar conflict slaughtered his drunk brother with a broken beer bottle. He gritted his teeth and related how he wanted to kill this, his enemy. I asked him if he would be willing to forgive this man and reminded him that God would forgive him. He firmly said no, that he would never forgive him. He continued to weep. I was asking the Holy Spirit to help me, to show me how to help him. The Spirit directed me to ask one final question; “Mr. Cooley, would you be willing to honestly pray this prayer, ‘Father God, I’m willing for you to make me willing to forgive, (The man’s name),’ this paused him, after several minutes he said yes, I led him and he prayed that prayer. Three weeks later he called me and told me that he had forgiven his bitter enemy. Our Father will work with us when we are willing to become, willing to be and do as he instructs through his Word and his Holy Spirit. The Amazing Grace of God can make us able and willing to become the person that he desires us to be.
While being 100 percent human, like the first Adam, before he sinned, Jesus Christ did not have a carnal, bent toward, sin, “Adamic bios or nature,” the selfish nature, which Adam had after he sinned, and like we are conceived and birthed with. Jesus is referred to and compared to the first Adam; (1 Corinthians 15:45 ff.) “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit …. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven …. as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly … “ kjv. Jesus Christ was conceived in the womb of a young virgin by God the Holy Spirit, without intercourse.
Jesus could not have accomplished his mission of bearing our sins for us if he had personally sinned. Sin is birthed in us when our human will says amen to the suggestions, temptations of the carnal desires. (James 1:15). Jesus was perpetually willing to become all that his Heavenly Father desired. He did always those things that pleased his Father. He did not have a root of self interest, like we do. The devil’s temptations were always there, but Messiah said,”no.”
Our, “bent to selfishness,” is not omnipotent, we also can say, “no”. Here is the beginning of healing hope for those who are unlovable and unmarriageable. SIN has a prominent (I) right at its center. Many persons with this personal impairment are incognizant of their narcissism, they defend and subliminally feed it, ever demanding exceptional treatment. These attitudes express their extreme selfishness, and alienate healthy relationships. God reveals the answer in the life of his Son and in several Bible verses. Narcissists are a slave unto their own ego and to Satan who manipulates them. Nobody desires to be around them, regardless of their age or condition. They are entangled in a yoke of spiritual bondage.
(Galatians 5:13ff. )
“ …brethren, ye have been called to liberty; Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows …. For there is a root of self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness …. Choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law - dominated existence.”
Jesus says that he didn’t come to earth to critique, criticize, condemn or complain. He came to serve, heal and forgive. Jesus brought Servant Solutions.
His disciples were repulsed at some of his servant mannerism’s. Peter reacted at Jesus washing his feet and rebelled when Jesus told him that He was going to the cross, be crucified, die, be buried and resurrected in three days. The power of being a servant is amazing. Servants break the bondage of un-forgiveness and ego inflations.
People who are impotent to love can neither receive or give real love. They often replace love with lust, indifference, hate and con-artist rituals. The law of the flesh is filled with selfies; “Life is all about me, Indulge, Eat drink and be merry, to hell with the rest of the world.” This law of sin and death, (Romans 8:2ff.,) is a self induced allergy to kindness, joy, worship of the Father, and selfless serving of others. It is repugnant to these narcissistic, wandering souls but God can deliver them and redemptively create a conscious, deliberate servant spirit which delivers us from this unwelcome deadly spiritual malignancy. “ …the law of the spirit of life has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2.
While still in Theological training, in Houston Texas, I served a local church as associate pastor. An elderly member of the congregation had a son who received a life sentence for his crimes. A criminal psychiatrist analyzed him and charted him as having, “No human conscience.” His mother and I prayed many prayers for his healing and miraculous deliverance. Within thirty six mounted he was re-diagnosed as having a normal conscience and released for time served. We serve an all powerful Heavenly Father who can do anything he desires to do.
Our Father will give us a servant nature if we ask him. When the Holy Spirit becomes, both resident and president of our lives, we, like our Master Jesus Christ, live to serve him and others daily. He will impart servant solutions for others through us. We will see strengths and solutions for and within others that they can now see through our eyes. Agape’ 💕 Love will breath into us and exhale from our hearts. We will no longer be impotent to love.
“The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell. It reaches beyond the highest star and to the deepest hell ….”
This LOVE lives in your heart!
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“The Power of a Personal
APOLOGY”
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This “Muse” is very difficult for me to share. Why, You may ask, because I feel that verbal, sincere admittance of mishandling life issues is one of the weaker misplays in my own personal character. Nevertheless, I have learned to admire genuine apologia’s sterling strength and it’s redeeming power in the marvelous relationship empowerments of those I most look up to in life. There are several concealed benefits and hidden energies within simple, sincere apologies.
Why do strong leaders avoid, seemingly, at all costs, this elementary act of relationship building? Is it always pride? Lack of self esteem? A weak ego? Lack of training? A weak link in personal character? What does God, our Heavenly Father, teach us concerning this character quality?
Staying, “in step,” with The Spirit of God requires an humble, corrective heart and mind. Our Father is very patient with us, but even more insistent in requiring his will to be done his way and in his time. He has never come to any of us and asked our advise. He is our source. He invites us to reason with him. He will observe situations through our eyes and lovingly encourage, council, direct and provide us our needs in his wisdom and generosity, and if asked, he will let us view issues through the eyes of his Son.
Personal or professional apology appears to be out of the question for kings, dictators, presidents and other authoritarian types. Any admittance of having acted wrongly appears to be a sure indication of weakness and lack of leadership skill or character. “Men will not follow a failing leader,” seems to be their basic thought. “Meekness is weakness,” is one of the pillars in their business model. Thankfully this false equation does not define all leaders.
(Numbers 12:3ff.) “ … Moses was a quietly humble man, more so than anyone living on Earth. God … said … Moses has the run of my entire house; I speak to him intimately, in person, in plain talk without riddles: He ponders the very form of God.” He readily accepted God’s correction and council. Apologies are conceived in this spirit of humble servitude to our Heavenly Father. Finding a more capable, astute leader than Moses would be difficult to find. A proper list and explanation of his accolades would require several lengthy chapters. He was certainly not a perfect person but he was perfectly fitted for the mammoth task which the Lord raised him up to perform.
Most of us find ourselves either endeavoring to live up to the expectations of peers, relatives and friends, or down to the demands and ruinous standards of competitive equals. In either example we tend to cower and cover our weaknesses and chapter flaws. Social embarrassments are to be avoided even at a high cost to one’s personal soul. A double life of self deceit or multiple personality disorder is often the result. King Saul exemplifies this spiritual malady in the Old Testament and in Acts 8, Simon the sorcerer is a prime example of this deceitful behavior.
Most of us want to be, “humble”, without being humiliated. In Acts 5 Ananias and his wife Sapphira felt pressured and challenged to be humble, givers to needy families in their church, but selfish deceit prompted them to lie. The results were not good, both of them perished. We desire to hold on to our self esteem (pride), and appear as humble servants. This internal, “respectable sin” is common in every denomination and most local churches, Ministers who refuse to play this popular church game, soon feel led to move on, or are forced to do so by the spiritual descendants of the Ananias’s And Sapphire’s.
Overwhelmed am I, by the person of our Heavenly Father. He cannot be over evaluated or praised in my mind’s heart. He is our living, loving and awesome Creator/Redeemer. The very fact that he, in his holy estate can and does forgive us daily from all, past, present and future sins sweeps over my soul in infinite spiritual crests of splendor. I truly stand amazed. Knowing this via personal experience how could I not forgive seventy times seven. How can I not obey his Son’s directive to go to those who feel that I have erred or wronged them in any manner? The original intent was that every relationship be holy in our Savior’s view. The value of one soul is measured in infinite standards that are beyond our paygrade.
King David grievously sinned. He and Bathsheba committed adultly. She became pregnant with David’s child. To conceal their affair from the public domain King David ordered the death of her husband, Uriah, the Hittite. So David was both an adulterous and a murderer. He made no apology for his sins. God confronted him and ordered the natural abortion of his son from Bathsheba’s womb. This greatly grieved David, who repented in sackcloth, fasting and bitter tears.
King David could not go to Uriah asking for forgiveness, he was dead and buried. The entirety of (Psalm 51) illuminates the brokenness of this man of steel. ( please read this crushing psalm again.) what was David to do? Apologies, seeking forgiveness from Uriah, his relatives, the kingdom of Israel, none of this was sufficient. The answer is found in (Psalm 51:4ff.) O God, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: …. I was sharpen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Notice; David knew that his sin was against God, and only God. (Psalm 24:1ff) “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
Uriah was God’s possession, he belonged, not to David, not to himself, he belonged to God. David had wronged Uriah, but David had sinned against God. Only God could clean up David’s mess, and only God the Son can clean up our mess.
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So how are we to know when and who to apologize to? None of us is capable of correcting every misdeed of our lives, we can’t even remember all of them and have not been cognizant of some offenses. (Matthew 5:23ff.) gives us the answer: “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.” Messiah desires that we live without unnecessary conflicts, angers, griefs, fears and worries. In this text, he places a very high priority on building and keeping personal relationships wholesome. These are Jesus’ teachings on the subject of apologies. The Spirit of Jesus will tell you who and when to apologize, as you draw near to our Father in holy worship.
Has anyone ever apologized to you? When someone apologizes to us, what happens if we refuse to accept their request? Remember when the disciples asked Jesus how many times they were required to forgive? 70x7 was his answer, in other words, always! When we refuse to forgive, our own sins remain unforgiven and God deals harshly with us, 😓 ouch! We cannot afford to not forgive (Matthew 18:21ff.)
When we are the one apologizing, it is highly important that, when, where and how we apologize, be in the healing Spirit of Christ. We may even need godly council and fasting prayer preparation ahead of our approach. Our Father is able to prepare both our heart and the heart of the person we approach. If we ask him the Holy Spirit will direct us and prepare us with his humble love and wisdom for our healing confrontation.
Secret sins don’t remain secret. The law of cause and effect deposits the smallest selfish seed of sin into the lives of unintended victims. The classic illustration of sin’s effects; sin, like a rock thrown into a pond causes a ripple that causes another ripple etc., is realistic. Gossip is a horribly destructive sin. It is also, “an acceptable sin,” like, “a little, white lie.” Gossip, which often accompanies broken relationships, whether true or false is destructive to both its carrier, its intended victim and often several other unintended victims. We best avoid trying to gossip to God. He will correct you! Some private and public prayer requests could be re-defined as gossip. 🤩
Genuine apology lightens the wounded heart of guilt, anxiety, fatigue and aimlessness. This is often true of both the person making the apology and the person receiving the apology, when they forgive the incident. Apology frees us to be our own best person. (Matthew 5:5) “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are——no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.”
Church revivals have been spawned from individuals setting things right among themselves. The healing of relationships can altar world economic and social conditions. Fear, anger and anxiety’s are leading causes of both physical and mental health issues, these are often solved and wholeness begun when real apologies are both given and received. The power of one apology is amazing. I have seen joy return to weary, wretched, lonely souls, healings of diverse issues, a return of prosperity, peace, family fun and a sense of well being, homeostasis of home and heart. Apology is a “Super Nutrient”, It is a rewarding enhancement to body and soul. Renewals in both individuals and groups invariably follow the healing of relationships, preceded by mutual forgiveness, ignited by sincere apologies.
Appreciation and apologies could heal many marriages. Love, forgiveness and generous giving of thanks were the three positive ingredients that kept my life time companion, Linda and I together for 51 years and 31 days. We were not even close to perfect, especially me, but the sweetness of our Father’s love lived in our hearts and home. We very often asked for and gave forgiveness to each other. Linda, though in chronic discomfort and pain, for many years, verbally, gave real thanksgiving several times every day, I’m not exaggerating here, I also told her often that I both loved her and was thankful for her. This was not a daily ritual, we communicated thankful love from our hearts, it was real. I treasure these living memories as gifts from our Father.
The atmosphere, aroma and attitudes of a house, elevate, modify and fashion it into a home. We create that which we live in. We are building, in our hearts and minds, the homes we must live in here on earth. Jesus the Christ is building the heavenly home we will inhabit there. Who knows, we may reside next door in that heavenly city to someone we knew, prayed for and endeavored to made things right with, or should have apologized to while living in today’s earth. Someday we too shall belong to the ages. Any good that we can do, therefore, let us do it now, personal apologies are powerfully good.
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🌞
"Life's Coordinates"
✈️ 🧭 🚢
When things go wrong, as they sometimes do, our true character surfaces. Relationships that appear to be, "stressed beyond repair," 💔 may not be beyond repair 💜! Sometimes we are unsure of what the, "right thing," is. This is when we desperately need Life's Coordinates. 🧭 Spirit impregnated truth is an energy flame that ignites the hungry soul of God’s elect. The Great Spirit and the sure Word of God; these are the internal coordinates that guide the weary child of God through inclement tumultuous sky’s and tempestuous, storm tossed, battering seas. Jesus seasoned his life and teachings with the original intent, purposes and underlying spiritual truths of the Old Testament. He fulfilled the Old Testament’s prophecies and laws concerning Messiah. No religion was or is necessary. God’s Word is the steady candle ever aflame, in the human heart’s window. And the Holy Spirit is our Father’s torch in the hail pelting, precarious winds of life. They burn ever brightly in the darkest nights of the soul. “The Dark Night of the Soul,” visits each of our Father’s children at our most inopportune, untimely occasions. Jesus told His disciples to not leave the city of David without both of these internal coordinates. The Holy Spirit within Him declared; “The Spirit is now with you and He shall be within you, don’t leave town without Him.”
It is possible to process life’s inventive angles through the eyes of another person’s being and philosophy. An unborn baby begins bonding and processing life through their parents as they both hear and identify their mommy and daddy’s voices of loving acceptance or conversely, cold-hearted, selfish rejection. We live in a confused, crippled, carnal and cruel world system. Without our Heavenly Father’s peace, power, personal presence and philosophical principals, as human beings, we loose. We, left to our own childish selfies, don’t even have the necessary authority or ability to effectively pray in our own name. It is in Jesus’ name and through His blood and supernatural Spirit that we are equipped to win! Human justice, it is argued by some, is the answer for our human delma. However, when void of the grace and truth principals of Jesus Christ, human jurisprudence, the rule of law can, on occasion be unfair, cruel and practically unlivable. The goodness within a person is much more than what is decided or acted upon in an unwise or foolish moment of weakness. The amazing grace of our Messiah offers second chances, while justice alone often doesn’t. Individuals who are cutoff from God’s Word and or God’s Spirit are traveling through life without an ample moral or spiritual compass 🧭. They simply do not have the essential coordinates for a successful journey into the eternities. Jesus, the Christ, promised us that His very Spirit, the same Spirit that conceived Him within the womb of a virgin, would lead us daily. We are being navigated daily in ways that we know and in ways that we know not. Like a divine, internal computer, The Holy Ghost, directs our path momentarily, often in directions that are unpredictable and even paradoxical to the carnal mind. He is both objective and subjective as He chooses our daily path and the persons he places upon that path. "Keep us coachable and useable Holy Spirit, and take us home when you are ready.” This is not an obsession nor a possession, this is a, present, continuous tense, infusion of His purposeful presence. He is in charge. We are programed nightly, in a non-conscious, conscious and a subconscious status by the Great Spirit to manifest daily, His Kingdom on earth. This is accomplished as we journey daily and as He through us creates the still waters and we ultimately arrive safely at a place called, "HOME."
The Father Sent The Son
🕊
The Son Sent The Spirit
🕊
The Spirit, Daily Sends Us.
🕊
While some folks are in constant Pursuit of the unattainable, We Are “Heaven-bound.” As the hunger for Home increases we feel like traveling on!
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🌞
"There is A Miracle
In Our Tears."
⛅️
The tears of Spring burst forth with regenerated hope as new life breaks into joy-filled 🎶 singing and life sprouts afresh from deep within our human spirits. We were birthed to shed forth both tears of grief and,"shouting tears,” of victorious Joy. Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY cometh in the morning! We came into this world with fresh tears and that warm moisture has returned to trickle down our cheeks on numerous special occasions. Human tears contain antibacterial agents which fight for and defend us from destructive foes of both soul and body. When we are moved to tears, those very same tears move the tender heart of our designer, who breathed our first breath of life into our infant lungs.Yes, beloved family, on special occasions, there is a deep stirring of the spirit, which only the quiet, humbling and or the joyous laughter of tears can rightfully express. These distinct interior movements of the Spirit of Messiah within our heart’s depths are the realizations of His anointed Presence🕊Power. It is a, Joy that is unspeakable and full of His glory!
🌞
"God Sees Our Tears"
🌧️
God saw the tears of the weeping Hebrew slaves in Egypt. And He also sees our tears. Human tears have a vital and mystical bonding with our inner-most spirit, “The Inner-most Person.” The weeping and deep groanings of our Father's children move both His hands and His heart to powerful actions. This was historically true with the patriarchs, prophets, priests, orphans, widows, Hebrew slaves and kings. Pity often precedes purification and power. Be forewarned in abusing God's orphans, widows and all of His elect! The tears of God's chosen stir the Spirit of Messiah. Jesus own siblings doubted him until his brutal, murderous crucifixion and glorious resurrection. His blood and tears moved their inner most being. He who leads captivity captive will prevail in our behalf. Our Father often uses tears to cleanse our physical and spiritual eyes so that we can find our way through the foggy shadows within the clouded journey of life. Tears may be more healing than we can possibly imagine. Tears prevent dehydration and regulate mental and emotional stability, modulating stress levels. Tears also regulate group homeostasis. We are to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. The entire complex human body is a miraculous creation. And tears are a small but vital part of that miracle. While animals produce biological tears, to lubricate their eyes, only humans produce emotional tears and those tears actually purify the human psychic, soul and our physical bodies. Authentic repentance, revival, revelation, reformation, restoration and resurrection are each a birthing of a spiritual homeostasis. These are miracles, often requiring the essence of fresh human tears as a prerequisite. Our tears maneuver the Holy Spirit's presence into a manifestation of vigorous spiritual fire. May our Father favor each of us with fresh tears. My tears are sometimes an uninvited embarrassment to my carnal nature; But, I'd rather be embarrassed in the flesh than be ignored by The Spirit. (Luke 6:21) “You’re blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning.”☁️ ⛅️ 🌧️ 🌅.
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🌞
“The Pea Green Hearse”
Bob Farr and I were fellow ministerial students at “Warner Pacific Bible College,” Portland Oregon. As college lads we formally requested permission to move from our comfortable college dorm to “Good Earth,” a fraternal log cabin located several miles east of Portland. "Good Earth" was a missions project birthed by our Sociology Department, located in the dense, wooded timbers of the extended foot hills of Mt. Hood. After several rigorous persuasion efforts, on our part of pleading meetings with our college President, Dean of students and the department head of Social Studies we made the move. We secured and drove an old, full length pea green hearse to and from the college campus.
We also purchased sleeping bags and if we were in Portland late for meetings, we slept in the hearse. Oh, Yes, we were just fine! Multnomah Falls was located in route to our cabin. The Columbia River locks faced us as we opened our front door and the majestic Mt. Hood was to our back. We felt a little bit of heaven surrounding us. All went very well until Winter appeared on the calendar. It was then that the pack rats began packing our food off and the batts commenced their nightly, routine, flights, like armed vigilantes, circling and dive bombing our winter residence in the woods, all of this was happening as we attempted to sleep in our very cool log cabin loft.
Of course, I'm sure that some of our more mature class mates thought we were crazy, living in the wild and daily arriving for classes in our pea green hearse. Now, I suppose that what we drive is important to many folks, but can I be so bold as to suggest that what’s really important is what is driving us. The things that provoke, please, push, prod and program others need not move us to anxiety nor to action. Life on this neat, little planet 🌎 moves us to both tears and laughter as we venture into both visions, venues and dreams, of our memories and imaginations. What passion drives us? Faith, Hope and Love abide for a duration and true love never dies. Age need not diminish our desires and passions for life’s ventures and lasting values. As senior citizens, we can often delay and, or, redirect dementia with mental and physical activities, plus reading and writing. We have the wisdom and will power to stretch our imaginations and relive our favorite memories and dreams. We can leave notes in our Bibles. We can laugh out loud, laugh again. Smile and daily make someone else happy. It is in making someone else’s day special for them that we are lifted out of our own mundane loneliness, lackluster, boredom and feelings of rejection, neglect or uselessness. Don’t wait, do it now! "You shall bless the Lord your God ..." I’d rather be a happy, silly, old man than a sour faced, sad old judge-mental religionist. We must stop putting ourselves down. Begin lifting others up. Lift 1, 3, 5 or 7 persons up daily in prayer, encouraging compliments, gifts and helpful actions and your depression just may, begin to die. Doing this for 21 days establishes a mental, verbal, behavioral pattern, a change in our psych. Negatives are replaced with positives and life becomes sweeter for all of us. Oh, and just so you know, that old pea green hearse has been exchanged for an old, candy cane red Cadillac. But that old classic, pea green hearse might be worth a fortune today 😇! 🚛 🚘
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“Life Levels”
On what level of life do we live? Messiah exposes at least four significant levels where earth’s residents are domiciled. If God promised us either 500 million dollars within 30 days or eternal life on a new, everlasting residence which He is provider, architect, general contractor, keeper and manager, which would we choose? We might wobble for a spell and assert that this is a fool's question, but we would not all make the same choice. Our emotional feelings and decisions are not always determined by wisdom or by our sound thinking, cognitive powers.
"Biblical Life Levels"
1. (Luke 18:1-8) Jesus’ story of an ungodly political leader who had no respect for God or man; like him, very few of us are able to rightly handle wealth, authority or power. These are dangerous persons, who are often void of a conscience. Evil bureaucrats do not rightly represent us, they instead, demean us and demand that we represent them with our votes, voices and valuables. They are type: “S” Satanic.
2. (Luke 10:30) “What is thine, is mine.” These are the robbers who stripped a traveler of all his possessions. They are type: “P” Selfish, Greedy Parasites.
3. (Luke 10:32) Busy Christians: “What is thine is thine, and what is mine is mine, sorry about that, I’ll pray for you, but can’t you see, I'm, busy, busy, busy."
Type: "R” Religious"
4. (Luke 10:33) “What is thine is thine and what is mine is a blessing to share and, Yes, I’ll help you.”
Type: “S” “
Part of Mine🕊Thine"
The, "Good Samaritans."
We each, must, eventually, learn to live with the person that we are becoming. Wrong decisions and wrong actions have consequences and can put an end to our own freedoms and they also altar the possibilities of a positive future. These decisive actions determine the destiny of ourselves and they also greatly effect the lives of others. Only Christ's therapeutic restorations within us and through us can redemptively alter this fact of life. On occasion, our Heavenly Father’s Good Samaritans are spiritual backstops for the vulnerable. This is the transparent trademark of "Good Samaritans,” and this is why hospitals, charitable ministries and passionate disciple makers are so often referred to as, "Good Samaritans." We can be one today. God’s Spiritual Dynamics are designed to work through each of us. We are called to, “Brighten the corner, where we are,” wherever that may be. Do not try to re-invent or relocate your setting, shine where you are. There are things that matter now and will matter later. Ours is a ministry of restoration. So, let the SON shine through you today. Without “Good Samaritans,” life is a cheat and hope dies; Through Good Samaritans, His Light radiates, life is continually refreshed and, “Life is Worth the Living! Jesus defined this as, “Being a good neighbor.” “So let the Son shine in, face life with a grin, smilers never lose and frowners never win ….”
“Savior🕊Samaritans”
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🌞
"The Humans"
In a class, unique unto ourselves, The Master-Mind, designer of all living creatures; cognated, created and is redeeming beings known as, "Humans.”
(Genesis 1:1ff.) AMP.
"In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned,) and created .... man in His own image .... male and female He created them ... and said to them, 'Be fruitful, and, multiply, and fill the earth , and subdue it ..."
Does God have a very special attraction, affinity, an awakening affection for humans? Do each of us in some powerfully, unique way express differing features of the attributes of the majestic Triune God-head? In His perspective of us individually, are we His jewels shining forever like the stars in the jaw-dropping heavens?
🌟 💎 ♦️ 💫 ☀️
"What are Humans, that
you art mindful of them?
... That you care for them?"
We are here deliberately, here for God's purposes. He even involves us in creating more humans. Procreation of the human species is inclusive as a function of creative activity. While God never changes, His drafts and dispensations have altered throughout the centuries. Designing a creature with a progressively limitless, everlasting, creative capacity and a limited free-will may not be limited to humans, it may have occurred through His innovative genius, in pre-earth creations; divine activity which He has chosen to not reveal to us. There are spiritual dimensions which we are incapable of entering into or even imagining, while within our present, limiting, dispensation's environment. Our belief capacity is constantly challenged and greatly impaired by our carnal, duplicitous natures; "A bent toward evil," (Genesis 8:21.) We exist and Live at His pleasure.
“How are Humans
To Function?”
Messiah summarizes previous commands, laws and covenants into two eternal life principals: Loving God and Loving each other. Fulfillment of these two essentials, creates a state of, everlasting potential and eternal purpose. The Kingdom of God through Jesus Messiah creates this pragmatic status of abundant living. The practical, daily living of these two eternal principals opens multiple doors of human perspective. Let us then love both God and each other with open hearts and helping hands. Our Father loves us even when we fail and remain, enslaved, sinning humans. However, when Jesus Messiah sets us free from those sins; we then are able to lavishly, participate in His Agape love, both receiving and giving, “Absolution Agape.” (John:20:23)
"The half has Never
yet been told."
He sees within each of us that which we cannot see within ourselves.
"Praise🕊Passion”
(Philippians 2:11)MSG.
“Jesus Christ … is putting everything as it should be.”
Super glue seems to work wonders. I was repairing a broken eye glasse’s frame, holding a small tube of supper glue too close to my right eye, when I very slightly twitched and it happened. Within an hour an eye surgeon, with one drop of a chemical solution neutralized the dried glue and, “Whosch!” All was well. (God takes pity on me in silly moments.)The ophthalmologist then explained to me that I was never in any real danger and that he, in fact, commonly uses supper glue in his eye surgery’s, to put everything as it should be! What an amazing, speedy tool for vision restoration and health.
We each, daily need some spiritual super glue to help us heal the brokenness we face in our upside-down world. The Spirit of Jesus Christ is the glue that bonds marriages and families together. He is the one, single, energy force that properly soothes, repairs, heals and seals wholesome relationships between both, ruptured individuals and group relationships. Some folks suffer from a divisive complex, an alienation addiction, this too is repairable. Messiah came from heaven to earth to reconcile us to God, to each other and to ourselves. Without Him we are scattered parts of a shattered puzzle. There is a daily battle for each of us to continue actively believing the Gospel of Christ. Life was happening to us until we, via faith trusted Christ. Now life is happening through us and for His eternal kingdom. He bonds the broken. He offers absolute and total forgiveness, but also requires us to forgive all others. The Bible portrays His Spirit as both; “Power🕊Peace.” He holds us together one day at a time, as He fine-tunes and makes adjustments in each of our lives, as He continues, "Putting everything as it should be .... "
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🌞
"The Greatest Gift"
December 25, 2022
Thanks for the Greatest Gift
We who have known and sought to follow the Lord for many years have received many, many blessings for which to thank Him. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19
But there is one blessing that is so great that it cannot even be put into words—it is unspeakable! That gift is so great that when we try to comprehend it, the sense of awe and gratitude becomes so overwhelming (or at least should become so overwhelming) that our joy is also unspeakable—indescribable! That gift, of course, is the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and Savior, “whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not,...ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8
It is significant that the Greek word translated “unspeakable” occurs only these two times in the entire New Testament. God’s unspeakable gift to us produces unspeaka ble joy in us. We who deserve nothing but eternal separation from God in hell, instead will enjoy eternal life with God in heaven, and all because of that amazing and truly inexpressible gift!
To think that the mighty Creator, God the Son, would not only humble Himself to become His own creature, man, but then also suffer the unimaginable agony of the cross and separation from God the Father in order to deliver us from the just penalty of sin! This act speaks of such love and grace that all we can do is whisper softly, “Thank you, Lord, for this unspeakable gift,” and then shout it over and over again in our hearts wherever we go and share its unspeakable joy and blessing with whomever will listen to its message. “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” ( Psalm 126:3 Thank you, Lord! HMM
"His Presence"
🔥🕊
" ... God called to Adam ... ' Where are you?"
(Genesis 3:9 MSG.)
"When Abram was 99 years old, God showed up..."
(Genius 17:1 MSG.)
"God appeared to Abraham"
(Genesis 18:1 MSG.)
"The angel of God appeared to him, (Moses) in flames of fire 🔥.. (Exodus 3:2 MSG.) " ... I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it dwelt on Him, never to depart." 🕊
(John 1:32 AMP.)
"Test The Spirits:"
⛅️. 💨. ⛈️.
There are many spirits which have gone out into our world, both good and evil.
"Evil Spirits"
👿
Is it true that, "In life, you
“Our Father, which art in heaven …. Deliver us from evil … for you are the … power source …”
(1 John 4:1 ff.) encourages us to test the spirits that appeal for our attention. Fallen angels are now demonic spirits who are under the dominion of Lucifer. These evil spirits will invoke us to err in our faith journey. Of the several Satanic influences that capture and inhabit persons; there are lying spirits, spirits of grief, depression, revenge, lust, hate, murder, bitterness, and the list bulges like an inflammation of the psyche. A demon does not remain alone very long within an empty soul.(Luke 11:24 ff. msg.) "When a corrupting spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along ... looking for ... some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil ... On return, it ... runs out and rounds up 7 other spirits ... and they all move in ..." . Evil persons don't plateau. Their corruption is a spreading infection.
🕊
The fact is that our Creator is long suffering and appeals to us in numerous ways, often through several different mediums, persons, dreams, visions, remembrances, human invitations and longings of our human souls.
The Spirit of Jesus Christ knows how to get our attention. He is, "The Mighty Magnet of Mercy." He is our deliverer. He is present here and now to set the captives free. He that is within our spirit is a mightier person than Lucifer's evil spirits or of Satan himself.
"The Holy Presence"
🔥🕊
God's Presence appeared to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, patriarchs, priests, prophets, kings. He appears in dreams, visions, pillars of fire, clouds and in a box referred to as, “the most Holy Place.” He shows up at a prayer altar, tents, tabernacles, the temple. Miracles were a sign ("God-Signs") of God's Holy presence when Moses stood before Pharaoh. Jesus Christ and His disciples also performed miracles which encouraged faith among individuals and masses of people.
"Presence via Incarnation"
✍️
(Hebrews 1:1 ff.)
"Going through a long line of prophets, God has been addressing our ancestors in different ways for centuries. Recently He spoke to us directly, through his Son .... "
"The Presence" was moved from a box in a building into an infinite God/man person.
Jesus told His disciples that His Spirit would dwell within them. Is this not amazing?🟰The Spirit of The Son of God, who both preceded and created the earth, sun, planets, stars, our galaxy, the universe, is sent from heaven into our spirits to abide, guide and empower us forever! Via His Spirit; He, "never leaves us nor forsakes us." This is His guarantee to us!
(John 14:16ff. MSG)
🕊
"ONE Spirit"
We can become at One with, in since with, the Spirit of God. "I will talk to the Father and He will provide another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth ... you know Him already because He has been staying with you, and will even be in you." The Holy Spirit was the sperm donor who conceived with a virgin named Mary. Jesus' blood 🩸 lineage was the Third Person of the Trinity. He appeared as a dove at Jesus' baptism, led Him through temptation, transfiguration, crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus cautioned His disciples, " Don't leave town without Him." While on earth, Jesus was absolutely dependent upon The Father and the Great Spirit, as we now are. We are instructed by Jesus to pray to the Father and obey the Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity abide in absolute ONENESS.
"Selling The Dead"
😈
A Spirit can Entrap us or Empower us, both evil spirits and the Holy Spirit knock at our hearts door. A medical doctor on America's East Coast, “A successful Manhattan Oral Surgeon,” Dr, Michael Mastromarino pled guilty to body stealing, was convicted of the crimes of, “Grave Robbing,” “enterprise corruption,” and “body harvesting, without a license.” He was even harvesting human body parts from diseased cadavers and then selling and shipping them by FedEx on to global markets. More than 25,000 persons in Western Europe and America have bought his stolen cadaver parts. One ounce of certain portions of his stollen body tissue sold for more than one ounce of gold. Some East Coast funeral homes were in on the scam, consequently, many grieving families were receiving "cremated ashes" that had no connection to their deceased loved ones. He made multiple millions, but died at the age of 49, in 2013. His criminal mind set was, according to him, out of his control. Dr. Mastromarino was described by the secular news media as, "having demons that were consuming Michael, that would bring him down." A spirit of greed, illicit sex, drugs, etc., enslaved him. His wife described him as, going from one criminally inspired enslavement to another. He would weep, when caught, but then find another criminal enterprise to satisfy the internal lust of the evil spirits, and there were several Satanic spirits that enslaved and held him in their bondage. 😈👿😈👿😈👿.
“Setting Captives Free”
🩸🕊🩸
In these last days the Sovereign Trinity is appearing on the earth through God's unique Son. His Presence in and through His Word and His Spirit are setting captives free from Satanic dominion. There are multitudes of His earth angels. They won't bend, they won't bow and they won't burn. The Spirit within them is mightier, by far, than the rotting spirits ruling America in Washington D. C., and in the corrupt denominational leaders of the perverted western culture. There is a host of godly disciple makers who are winning souls, discipling individuals and emancipating sincere God fearing persons and families. They can't be bought. They are ALL IN! A fresh boldness is pervasive within and through these warriors. May a great awakening transform those within our depraved culture.
The great red dragon of paganism has chased the woman, the church, into our worldliness of draconian destruction. Many of our religious leaders are spreading fake news. But our Savior's Spirit remains Sovereign strong.
🕊
"Placed into His Presence”
We come into this world crying. Many, maybe all of us, at certain points of life, don’t like the hand that we have been dealt. The huge choice before us from infancy is whether we embrace our life as it is and use our pluses, or accentuate the negatives, complain, criticize, blame and condemn both God and others. Our character is conceived and formed in both those early, and later choices. “Being,”produces choices which move the mind and the muscle of humans into action and thus we human beings become either thankless or thankful. Our creator was with us in the womb, and faithfully abides with us through the Spirit of His Son. From the womb through and beyond the tomb. He is our Daddy. When we are thankless and unfaithful, He abides faithful to His promises, His Word and to us.
He is present with us when we are conscious, unconscious and subconscious. He inspires us in creative thought, purpose driven dreams and wisdom from His throne, through which we behold vision. He creates within us godly attitudes, which inspire an atmosphere of hope, joy and peace on earth and good will among earth's inhabitants. American Indians referred to Him as, "The Great Spirit." A positive life force. The Word of God defines Him as, "The Holy Spirit." He is the constant in the attitudes and actions of Jesus Christ. He really is our ever present Best Friend. He abides within us and we abide in Him. In these last days, it is Him through His people that is “HIS PRESENCE.”
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🌞
"Our Spiritual Odor/Aroma?"
👃
Are we a sweet fragrance or a nauseas odor in the nostrils of God? God can smell us. The African elephant has the strongest smelling capacity in the animal kingdom, 5 times stronger than the average human's nasal, olfaction powers. Our Creators senses are infinitely superior than the elephants. His sensory capacities are alive, anti-matted and highly operative as we approach His presence. He can smell us approaching.
(Genesis 8:20ff.) MSG.
"Noah built an altar to God ... offered burnt offerings ...God smelled the sweet fragrance."
(Ephesians 5:2 ff.) KJV
"... walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savior. "
👃
The Old Testament provides many physical truisms which are introductory to spiritual, eternal realities that the Spirit of Jesus Christ continues to build into everlasting life principals. The prejudicial, “Slow of heart,” are often content to dwell upon the physical elements of God’s Word and are therefore often blind and deaf to the deeper spiritual realities of their truths and life principals. They decline in their spiritual lives into the willful status of accepting disbelief. They were even in denial of Jesus' obvious miraculous powers to control nature, to heal the lame, the blind, the deaf; even to bring Lazarus, a man who had been dead for four days, back from the stitch of death. They saw all of this and rather than accept Him and believe, they denied the obvious and despised Him. A little knowledge can be a very dangerous thing in the hands of a fool.
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Nicodemus was an example of this spiritual ignorance when he came to Jesus one night. Another case in point that illustrates this truism is found in John chapter two. Jesus and His disciples are near the physical temple in Jerusalem. As they approach the building, Jesus said to them: “ Destroy this temple, and in 3 days I will raise it up.” MSG. The response of the anti-Christ Jews was to debate and argue with him about the long history of their sacred building, later they even referred to this at the stoning and masterdom of Stephen.(Acts 7). The fact is that, Jesus was not referring to the physical temple, building. He was prophetically referring to his own resurrection. They literalized the very things that He spoke of spiritually. They completely misunderstood the nature of God and the root prophecies and truths of what the Old Testament actually means, many still do.
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Many today literalize many sections of the book of Revelation, which can only be properly understood via rightly deciphering the meanings of its several symbols. Persons who literalize the spiritual truths of God’s Word tend to live in inordinate fears, confusion, argumentation and anxieties. When Jesus commands us to trust Him and, fret not; T V preachers are often saying; “Worry a lot, and buy my books and cassettes.” “Go on cruses with me and send me your money.” They are high-pressure, professional promoters of their own selfish agendas. I once discipled a brother in Christ who, at the urging of a Televangelist, cashed out every one of his credit cards and sowed it as,"Seed Faith." Religion is a horrible thing, Jesus preached against it. Prostitutes, cheating tax collectors and Roman soldiers loved Jesus and came to Jesus repenting. Religionists demanded his credentials and later his crucifixion! All religions including the Christian religion are corrupted. We say, "NO! To religions. But we love Jesus, and welcome Him into our 🥰 YES!
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God no longer lives in buildings made with human hands. ( Acts 7:48) MSG. " ...the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands ...") His Spirit lives within our spirit., the heart of our being. The temple Jesus spoke of resurrecting was not, the one renovated, by King Herod, the Jerusalem temple. Jesus, himself at that time was and now we presently are the living, breathing temple of God. (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Jesus breathes life into the Old Testament scriptures by revealing their original intent, meanings, purposes and deeper spiritual revelations. Without Holy Spirit discernment, we are blind to much of the revelation of God and His Word. Jesus said to the religious leaders of his day,: “You are both blind and deaf.” (Matthew 13:14 ff.). In chapter 23 He referred to them as, “White washed tombs,”. They and their religion possessed and excreted a deadly, corrupt, toxic stench into the nostrils of God. It was and is a discharge of death. Every person spiritually smells like something to the Creator of the sense of smell. Without a doubt, there have been seasons in our lives wherein our Heavenly Father could hardly tolerate our spiritual odors; probably some of us, more than others of us. We can be real stinkers!
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“Smelling Ourselves”
As a farm boy, there were times that my dad and I would help neighbors who were going through tough times. On one such occasion we came to the aid of a neighbor farmer whose wife was suffering from terminal cancer. As she approached her final days on earth, she began complaining to her husband about the dreadful odor in their beautiful old Ohio farm house. He endeavored to help her discover its cause. After researching the basement, attic, garage and every room, he found nothing that could create such a dreadful stench. It was then that her compassionate husband broke down with a painful and pitiful wailing and with gushing tears rolling down his sun burned cheeks. The sudden realization was too painful for him to tell his lifetime companion that the corrupt, deadly odor that she said filled their house came from the disease within her own dying body.
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We each live within a dying, corrupting body, a mortal, daily dying, body. This is the normal within our present corruption filled, earth journey. What is not normal or acceptable to God or to us is when our soul, demeanor and attitudes become rife with the smell of selfish, carnal, bitterness and anger. There are no floret essences, perfumes, powders or aerosol sprays grown, manufactured or produced by humans that can vaporize away the odors of the sick, corrupt human soul. We will need God's help in getting rid of this repulsive, foul smell. The stench was not a part of Adam and Eve until after they sinned. “The wages of sin 🟰DEATH. And death stinks. Disease, corruption and death produce a noxious, poisonous, nearly unbearable odor to both God and human beings.
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According to the Bible, even in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, He had no corruption: (Acts 13:36-37). Sin produces disease, death, corruption and a foul smell. Salvation from sin, is in the process of redeeming us from each of these. This process includes our present earth journey's completion through our coming resurrection from the grave. This resurrection will produce a life free of disease, death, corruption and any foul odor. Jesus is incorruptible and we too shall be totally redeemed to a status of incorruption. We’re going to smell good!
We have been saved from the penalty’s of sin; we are now being saved from the powers of sin and we shall ultimately be saved from the presence of sin. Sin is a cancer of the soul. Jesus loves sinners and hates the cancer of sin, so must we! There are currently showers of blessings which freshen us up and delight us with seasons of a sweet aroma. After our resurrection from the grave all odors shall be replaced with a heavenly aroma of fresh life.
This mortal body will be changed into an immortal body, likened unto the glorified body of our Savior, The LORD Jesus Messiah.
AMEN !
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"The Preachers Kids"
"P K"
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Preachers are peculiar people. I should know, I've been one for well over half a century. They, however, like all other human beings, pro-create both godless and Godly children and future generational offspring, who greatly bless, or sometimes also, painfully cause many problems. The Bible illustrates this truth, with living examples of both blessed and plightful, problem driven persons. “Hay kids, look at you. Nobody tells you what to do.” These are the lyrics to a sick culture found in a recent song. These words also tell the story of an Old Testament preacher by the name of Eli. (1 Samuel 1 ff.). His two sons were the most popular, and at the same time, the most spoiled, problem filled, preacher’s kids of his era. Children who are reared by parents with a pejorative attitude, often cannot or will not overcome that negative influence as they mature. Eli exemplifies a father who was unwilling to properly love and discipline either himself or his sons.
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Samuel uses four biblical chapters telling the very sad stories of Eli and his ungodly sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Both sons were bloodied, beaten and battle slain in a war with the Philistines. The dismal downfall of Eli’s family began when Eli refused to be God’s man in his own house and in the house of God. Most of us have seen the results of an improper balance of godly affection and holistic parental discipline within christian homes. Every family is a challenge and each child is unique in their specific needs and developmental demands. Rearing children is tough. Being a godly grandparent, uncle or aunt also requires the wisdom that comes down from above.
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Jesus' legal parents, Mary and Joseph are a marvelous example of handling unique circumstances and adjusting to seemingly, "impossible demands." Their tasks, at several life junctures looked overwhelming. They must have felt totally unqualified at times. Their actions are exemplary. They reared the preacher to whom we each look to as the God/man through whom we each are begotten into eternal life. We are spiritually P K's. The preacher who introduces Jesus to the world, (John the Baptizer,) was reared by a priest/preacher. His parents, (Zachariah and Elizabeth,) while being godly, we’re no doubt, not perfect. Again, their task of rearing the greatest of history's human prophets could not have been an easy charge, but they beautifully accomplished their God- appointed labor successfully.
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Several decades ago it was my task to oversee several state youth camps. In my first year of doing so l sent 5 boys home on the very first day of camp for rebellious, insubordination. All of them were sons of well known pastors. Amazingly, I did not receive one complaint from preachers, parishes or parents. The second year, only two were sent home, and again they were P K's and after that year none were exited, I suppose the word got around! Anarchy and rebellion can be eradicated, but only with a firm, compassionate handling of the guilty, involved persons.
P K's are both highly favored and unrealistically, expected to be fashionably and exemplary, perfect. Each of us live in a real world, wherein failures are essential learning curves on the road to maturity. Never discipline children without feeling their pain with them and balancing the action with godly affection, clear explanation and forgiveness. The failure/learning curve principle applies to parents, pastors and professional educators just as much as it does to children and youth. None of us is an expert, Humility, forgiveness and second chances are essential.
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“Attitudes Produce Actions”
Persons with godly wisdom will invariably have the gift of godly discernment. Attitudes, even hidden ones, are sensed by wisely equipped parents and other godly leaders of children and youth. Creative correction of destructive attitudes will often preclude the necessity of correcting contagious, ruinous actions.
Those who are most schooled in this human skill are both positive, genuine, complimentary and giving persons. As I reflect historically to the years that Linda and I were raising our two children, one of my greatest failures was that I did not compliment our children enough. I was heavy on the correction but light on giving affirmative, well deserved complementation.
The ability to see the positive attributes of another person, including children, and motivationally, communicate such to that individual, is powerful to the unusually high level of, “Passion.” Persons are motivated to the level of becoming achievers by some person, other than themselves, who both sees creative qualities within them, communicates such to them and then continues positive affirmation that they believe in them. This is what creates,””Movers and Shakers.”
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“3 times 7”
My lead usher and I were having a conversation about one of his ushers who was miserably failing, unreliable, inconsistent and had an attitude problem. I made an excusing remark, to which he replied; “Pastor, he’s 3x7.”
That simple phrase lodged in my brain and I thought, “He’s Right.” At some point we each must stop making excuses and stop blaming others for our selfish immaturities. It’s not my brother, it’s not my sister, mother, father, neighbor —— It’s me O Lord.” Some of life's lessons are learned only through failure, pain and in some situations, death. This is not a pleasant truth, but, nevertheless, it is factual. There is life after failure! I have a dear brother in Christ who has experienced bankruptcy twice and is currently a multimillionaire. So, take heart dear fellow traveler. Pick up the broken pieces and "Press On.!"
"Admonishment"
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The most gentle form of corrective discipline is admonishment. It is similar to getting a warning ticket from a patrolman, for a minor offense. In Ephesians 6, the Bible instructs fathers to rear children up tenderly, "in the training and discipline and counsel and admonition of the Lord." Many of us parents and grandparents are saying, "I sure wish you had explained that to me years ago." It's not too late to converse with loved ones and compassionately share concerns and this Bible truth. Old bruises can be healed. That's what families do. Home is a very special place for mending the broken. It does require humble honesty and a forgiving spirit. Healing counselors get both parties on the same side of problematic issues and together they attack the issue rather than each other. We are commissioned to be our Father's peacemakers. "No" doesn't mean never. It just means find another way. Keep those children and grandchildren coming back home, that’s what makes a house a home. It’s sugar and spice and everything nice!
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“Spiritual Evolution”
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The misuse of a good word or concept can do great damage to its true and proper eternal, logical use and to its original meaning; such is the case with the word, “Evolution.” The theory of evolution by natural selection of the origin of creation is a tragic abandonment of proven historical truth. In is a hypothetical scientific nightmare, conceived in the minds of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. God created the genuine process of the progressive development of both the material and the spiritual universe, which can be defined as objective evolution. He set both creational and redemptive evolution into a foreword motion.
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"Destiny"
Neither the universe, nor any of its various elements determines our ultimate destiny. Our Heavenly Father, the creator of the universe, designed that He, himself would fashion each one of us to uniquely display certain of his several attributes, according to his pleasure. He fashions each of us within our mothers womb and through our many faceted earth journeys and develops our designated personalities. Developing individual and relational persons has been on our Father’s agenda ever since He said, “It is not good for Adam to be alone.” Persons and kingdoms have risen to prominence and perished throughout history. What are the goals of our divine designer?
“Seasons of Shadows”
(Colossians 2:26-17)
The Old Testament includes many shades and shadows of good things to come. In the Old Covenant we get a glimpse of grace, a dream of ultimate destiny, a slight appearance of Holy Spirit leadership and a future promise of a New Covenant and a Kingdom of God that will never end. The inner spirit of the Old Testament prophets and seers felt connected to future promises and longed to experience their realities. Life, in many ways, connects the present with both the past and the future. We are multiple-dimensional human creatures, created with the capacity to live in a present dispensation (dimension,) yet vividly remembering previous dispensations (dimensions and imaging future realities. Those persons living in the Old Testament dispensation, (era) foresaw our day and imagined its reality in dreams and visions. The law and the prophets were until John, (The Baptizer), since then we live in and proclaim the presence of the Kingdom of God. (John 1:17). The Gospel is “Good News,” it is the message of Grace and Truth.
Daniel prophesied that, like a stone cut out of the side of a mountain, without human hands, Gods Kingdom, sometimes referred to as, "The Kingdom of Heaven," and on other occasions, as "The Kingdom of God," would appear on the earth during the reign of the Roman Empire. Jesus the Christ was born during that Roman rule and came preaching the presence of The Kingdom of God. John came forth, saying, Look, the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Gospel, (Matthew 3,). Jesus came from Heaven declaring the presence of The Kingdom of God, (Matthew 4:17). The Old Testament saints longed to see the days of Messiah, much as we long to see His return to earth. God's kingdom is within us now, but our ancient foe and our carnal natures continue to oppose and war against our spirits and vigorously oppose the realization of God’s Kingdom rule within and through us.
"Spiritually Evolving"
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God's chosen people had a beginning. From the foundation of this earth, we were pre-planned to belong to our creator through His Son. (Ephesians 1:3-14) Those of us who are, "In Christ," are His chosen. Our history pre-dates earth's formation. We were pre-planned during dispensations that we know very little about. Both our history and our future are in the mind and will of our Father and His Messiah. We are created for both the present earth and the coming,”New Earth." 🌎 🌍.
It has been quite a journey, thus far: From His mind, into a Paradise Garden; A Great flood; Abraham's journey of Faith; Egypt's. 400 years of both salvation and slavery; Moses' the law giver's leadership; Judges and kings, Prophets and Priest's, temporary tents, tabernacles and temples; From a worn out Old Covenant to a New Covenant; from animal sacrifices to ONE, all-sufficient sacrifice of Messiah, at Calvary. From many High Priest's to One Eternal High Priest. From laws chiseled into stone, to the great commandment written into and upon our human hearts. Jesus referred to this spiritual evolution in His Sermon on the mount, (Matthew 5ff.), as He said; "You have heard, it hath been said ------ but I say unto you:” forgive and love your enemies, bless and curse not, etc.
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Many old traditions and customs are both fulfilled in Jesus Messiah and superseded with fresh Spirit and Grace infused truths in the New Covenant. The old wine skins are worn out and cannot contain the New Wine of God's Kingdom's Grace and Truth. (Luke 2:22).
And the journey is far from being over. We are time-bound, but only for a dispensational moment. The Judaizers from Jerusalem never were willing to discard the old , “Wineskins.” The Apostle Paul’s contention with them caused him much angst. His letters reveal a contentious strife which was not settled then and remains unresolved to the present day. The inside hide of the old wineskins keep flaking, and peeling off and otherwise disintegrating, making the sweet new wine of grace and fresh truth a religious toxin. There are still persons and groups of individuals endeavoring to blend the old wine skins and the new wine. There is a wide, desperate, definition disparity concerning the essential elements of Grace, among God’s children. It is the battle between Legalism VS Liberty.
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"But, I Don't Like Change!"
Many of us, "more mature," adults are caught in the great, "computer glitch/grip. We are highly dependent on an all encompassing system of our computer age, that we understand little about. While enjoying its positive benefits, we remain constantly frustrated by its controlling algorithms and socio/political influences in our daily lives. But, here is where we are and we must cope with these issues daily. There are many things all around us that are highly distasteful to us old schoolers but life zooms foreword, like a jet ✈️ powered plane with or without us! So, we shall live in a positive, contributing life style with love to our Father and fellow humans. We are blessed to be His blessers.
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God, our Father's clock is ticking. From kingdoms that arise and plummet into an eternal kingdom that shall never end. This kingdom is within us. The Great Spirit orders our lives daily, as He also ordered Jesus daily life. He constantly ministers to us and through us to those He selects. He daily places within our path the persons He chooses to minister both to us and through us unto them. His Word and His Spirit create, through us His Kingdom's rule.
"Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done,
On Earth
As it is in Heaven"
Amen!
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“Thine is the Kingdom,
The Power and
The Glory Forever
Amen!”
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"The Buy of a Lifetime"
(Jeremiah 32:24 ff.) MSG.
"' Oh, look at the siege ramps already set in place to take the city. Killing and starvation and disease are on our doorstep. The Babylonians are attacking! The Word you spoke is coming to pass---it's daily news! And yet you, God, the Master, even though it is certain that the city will be turned over to the Babylonians, also told me, Buy the field. Pay for it in cash . And make sure there are witnesses.'"
This golden nugget of historical truth often stays hidden beneath the next jaw dropping, declared truth; (:26) “… Stay alert! I am God, the God of everything living. Is there anything I can’t do?”
Our brief text, (:24), explains what it was that prompted God, our Creator/Redeemer to rhetorically ask; “Is there anything I can’t do?”
“Judgment in Jerusalem”
Rebellious Israelites awakened to a terrifying day. After 40 years of God’s warnings and pleadings, God, their own God, was allowing Nebuchadnezzar and his warriors to tear down Israel’s walls, do bloody murder in their streets, burn their sacred city to the ground and march their survivors off to slavery in a strange culture. As the Babylonians arrive outside their gates, God instructs Jeremiah to purchase a field of property with cash and do his due-diligence to guarantee the proven legality of his purchase. Of course this made no sense to Jeremiah. Why purchase land that within 24 hours would belong to an invading, foreign nation?
Jeremiah obeyed God, not his doubts, but the question remained, WHY?
"Security Guarantee:"
As God’s people saw their nation slipping away, Jeremiah assured them that after 70 years the nation of Israel would be renewed to life. The God of Israel’s remnant then gave an amazing order, (Jeremiah 32:24 ff.) to His prophet. Jeremiah was given very specific, detailed orders of purchasing a property at a most unlikely time. The full implications of this action is probably, only partially known, even today. Our current status can deceive us and cause us to loose godly objectivity. God’s prophet couldn’t understand, but he could trust and obey. Our Father is 100 percent trustworthy. God was saying to Jeremiah what God is saying to us, “Trust Me.” The property purchase was a security guarantee to Jeremiah, to the Jews and it is also a clue as to how we should continue to live in crisis and uncertain days. Wherever love abides, hope lives. If all hope dyes, only a cold existence remains. Our Father’s corrections, although often painful, are essential if we are to experience any real value in living. God, through Jeremiah was breathing a 70 year hope into a backslider, failed Israel.
"Angel Armies"
Divine Providence may be a mystery to us but it is no secret to God. He handles crisis as easily as we contend with smooth calmness. When we pray, really pray, we move the hand that moves the universe. My Grandmother, Nana Arnold, wrote: "God can do far more than we can think or ask Him to do." Both Heavenly and Earth Angels are at His beck and call. He moves the hearts and hands of national leaders, sets them up and eradicates them at will. Nebuchadnezzar was His tool to punish rebellious Israel. God made him a king and God brought him down to nothingness, down to eat grass with the cattle in his fields and live like a lowly beast. There are occasions when persons must descend to the nothingness of life, it is then that they may reassess life’s real values. Our Father’s Angel Armies are still at His command! (1 Kings 11:11), “God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is the way it is with you, that you have no intention of keeping faith with me and doing what I have commanded, I’m going to rip the kingdom from you ….’” Our Father pays close attention to our attitudes. It is He who raises people up and takes them out, at His timing. Sometimes it is what leaders, educators and scientists do not say, that makes them deceitful liars. Our Father's tolerance level is long suffering, but His memory is not short.
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem!"
Redemption is expensive. Jeremiah wept over the degradation of Jerusalem for 40 years, so much so that Bible scholars sometimes refer to him as, "The Weeping Prophet." There are persons weeping over America like that now! Jeremiah was not the only person in the Bible who wept over Jerusalem. (Luke 19:41 ff.) MSG. "... when the city, (Jerusalem) came into view, He, (Jesus), wept over it. 'If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it's too late .... your enemies are going to ... smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit." The Jewish historian, Josephus said that, "No other city in history has endured such ruins," as the Roman's destruction of both the temple and the city of Jerusalem, (70 A D). He wrote this document after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
"The Greatest Purchase"
Redemption is expensive!
(Galatians 4:4) MSG.
"....When the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent His Son, born among us of a woman ...." Creator time assumed dominion over cosmic time as our creator became incarnate with His creation. The Sovereign Designer became at one with human design as the infinite God/man was birthed in a lowly manger. The earthly mission of Messiah had begun its labor of making the mortal immortal.
The Messiah redeemed, (bought-back) much more than land, He Redeems lives. This is mystery but it is not magic, it is our amazing designer’s miraculous eternal plan in motion. Bible scholars have discovered over 100 verses that declare Jesus Messiah as our redeemer.
(1 Peter 1:18 ff.)
We are, "redeemed with the, Precious blood of Jesus Christ.” What a purchase! A specifically timed life-giving blood flows through our physical organisms right now. It is in the holistic process of continually carrying out our toxins and constantly replenishing fresh nourishment and energy to our physical bodies. It literally is our life blood, it, however will cease at some hour in our future. There is, however, a Redeemer who purchased for everyone of us a lifeblood that will never cease. It flows from heaven, like a pure river of life. Jesus alluded to it when he visited with the Samaritan woman at Jacobs well. He called it, "Living Water." I personally believe that its eternal substance was the sap in the tree of Life, located in the Garden of Eden. It is, 🩸 🍷 obediently symbolized by us when we observe the communion wine that we drink, at moments of the Holy Eucharist. 🙏
The purchase is complete. Our Redemption documents are signed in blood by none other than Jesus Christ himself. He did not make a down payment. On the cross he cried out: “It is finished,” and finished it certainly was. “Jesus paid it ALL.”
“PAID IN FULL.”
Sin always ends badly, but Jesus loves sinners and while we are yet sinners He died in our place. As mortals questing and reaching for immortality, we discover its only path is via a fully authorized Redeemer. “Redeemed, O how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed and so happy in Jesus. Redeemed through his infinite mercy, His child and forever I am, Redeemed, Redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!"
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"Persons Precede Petitions"
“SON Power Precedes
Sun Power”
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"God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn't get His approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk."
(Genesis 4:4 ff.) msg.
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How important are persons and their attitudes? How does our Creator view our attitudes? Is the person more important to God than their religious appeals and activities? It was the power of the Son of God that created the energy in the sun which shines upon the earth and supplies energy to our neat, little planet's resources and to our physical environment. As,"Son-Power and Son Light" preceded sunlight and as persons precede petitions; As, “Being” precedes doing, our Heavenly Father’s greater desire is to accept our personal hearts 🥰 as His own, before His acceptance of any sacrifice or religious offering that we might present to Him. The offering without the offerer is void of worth to our God. God disliked Cains attitude before He disliked his offering. (Psalm 51:17) kjv. explains why God rejected Cain's sacrifice and accepted Abel's offering. ("The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, 💔 O God, thou wilt not despise.") Both Cain and Abel were mutually, sinning sons of Adam. The innocence of Adam and Eve was history. Now each newly conceived human would come forth from the womb, tainted with, "A bent toward evil." A selfish, (Id/ego), fallen, "Adamic Nature." or, often referred to as the "Carnal Nature” (Psalm 51:5) (Genesis 8:21). We sin because we are sinful. As Christians we are often duplicitous. Our selfish. flesh, deformed geons, are carnally bent to a selfish, "survival at any cost," mental mode. Some folks believe that there is nothing worth more than the present life which we are now living.
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Contrasting this compulsive human selfish instinct is the internal presence of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul ran headlong into his own contrasting duplicate natures and describes his dilemma clearly in (Romans 7:15 ff. Amplified) “ … I do not understand my own actions (I am baffled, bewildered). I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe (which my moral instinct condemns)…. I know that nothing good dwells within … my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it …. Who will release and deliver me from (the shackles of) this body of death? O thank God! (He will) through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord!” Peter and the other disciples experienced similar bouts of duplicitous attitudes and carnal doubtings, and prejudicial patterns of social behavior.
"Institutional Christianity "
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The emphasis of the mass, within the contemporary church is little different than any other capitalistic business, it is all about noses and numbers.Jesus' emphasis was on a, "One on One Discipleship." Contemporary Christianity's emphasis is on 💵 money, mass manipulation, motivational programming and popular promotional show biz. Again, it's all about the numbers. The book of Revelation, via symbolism, describes the devil’s opposing forces to God's church as:
(1) Dragon 🟰 Pagan Rome.
(2) Beast 🟰 Popery.
(3) Image of the Beast 🟰
Protestantism.
These each and all continue to attack the Body of Christ, God's Family. Each of these three attempts to abuse and create an altered religious kingdom. God reforms His church, Lucifer endeavors to alter end divide it The book of Revelation, through a series of symbolic parallelisms, visually portrays the historical and current attacks these pagan, papal and protestant powers assail upon the Family of God, the eternal Kingdom of God and its clear, grace plus truth message. I know that this truth is unpopular in many preaching circles and among T. V. Evangelists, but it is sound both biblically and in objective secular history.
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“The Power of One”
One individual who will stand, irregardless of the price that must be paid, is immensely more powerful than a majority that can be purchased. Many persons are for sale, if the conditions call for it. Several persons within Jesus’ disciples were fickle. It is my opinion that well over 95 percent of our politicians, professors, philanthropists and preachers are for sale if the price is right. The Holy Trinity is so at ONE with each other that in (Deuteronomy chapter 6), God declares that; "The LORD our God is ONE." In eternity we are both individuals and yet our Father's plan is that we be one body, one family. This Oneness greets us in our God, in our marriage and in our Fathers eternal, big family.
Even now we can be so in sink with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that we are in a spiritual Oneness. This oneness prevailed as Abel brought his offering to God, but it was not there when Cain obligingly, but resentfully, presented himself and his offering. Now, how do we know this to be true? God rejected Cain and his attitude before he refused to accept his offering. Cain did not love God, he was just a religionist.
“Oneness is Optional”
“For a Season!”
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God doesn’t force His fellowship on any of us. However, if and when He withdraws His current, protective shield of grace from anyone of us, Lucifer makes his moves. In a manner that I can’t comprehend, our Heavenly Father loves us each in a very special way. If we study the context of Genesis 4:4 ff. We discover that, although God rejected Cains initial attitude and offering, He coached him to get over his childish tantrum and obey God’s continued loving leadership. Even after he refused and continued to rebel and murdered his own brother, God sought him out, looked out for his welfare, thus limiting Lucifer’s claws their full impact; check it out, you will find my assessment 100 percent factual. God’s love for us is much more long suffering and stubborn that we calculate it to be. What must God allow to happen in our lives, until we get with His plan? If there is an eternal insatiable love, God, our Daddy, has it for us. God can handle a broken heart a lot easier than any of us can. How many times have each of us disappointed ourselves, those we love most and the ONE who loves us most?
(Psalm 139:8) Asserts that even if we make our bed into the grave, (suicide, etc,) God continues to lovingly care for us. Humans do stupid stuff, but our Father’s love reaches to the depths of hell! Jesus went there for us! Our Father doesn't just care for us; He loves us with, "An everlasting love." ( Jeremiah 31:3) kjv. "I have loved thee with an everlasting love." There is Grace that is greater than the vilest sin. Hell was never created for humans. And we are not made to go to hell.
There, literally is an empty spot at the core of our hearts that is designed for The Great Spirit to inhabit. Nothing else will properly fit there, no matter how endlessly hard we endeavor trying to make it fit. Someone has referred to the Holy Spirit as, “The Hound From Heaven.” He will get our attention! Attitudes both precede and follow actions and attitude adjustments by the Holy Spirit are often necessary for healthy, balanced living. Getting ourselves into a peaceful, accepting state of mind is essential. Our hearts can say, "Amen" to His will.
💔
"Give Me thy Heart
Says the Father above,
No gift so precious to Him
As our Love!"
"Gratefully Trust Him
And Give Him thy Heart"
💔
...........
🌞
“Lucifer”
(What God says about him.”
🌧️
“ …. (Satan) said to the woman … you shall not surely die, For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God ….”
(Genesis 3:1 ff. Amplified)
"God singled out Satan and said, 'What have you been up to?' Satan answered God, 'Going here and there, checking things out on earth.'" (Job 1:7 ff. Msg.)
"Be ... vigilant ... for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring seeking someone to seize ... and devour."
(1 Peter 5:8 Amplified)
".... the Devil ... was a murderer from the beginning .... he is a liar and the father of lies ... " Jesus.
(John 8:44 Amplified)
"The Accuser of our brothers and sisters (is) thrown out ... they defeated him through the blood of the Lamb and the bold word of their witness."
(Revelation 12:10-11 msg.
“Lucifer”
🌧️
The fallen Angel of light, falsely, illuminates the darkest sin and, as our seductress, places those temptations to sin, appealingly before us. Earth's light has a source and it is not him, nor his fallen comrades nor anything that he has done or can do. If he could be a primary creator, he would do so, but, similar to humans, he has only secondary, (limited) creative abilities. God is the creator of genuine miracles, Lucifer, like Pharaoh's magicians, can "appear" as an Angel of truth, but in fact, he is the origin of deceitful magic, lies, darkness, blindness, bondage. He is pseudo. God, our creator is, Himself the origin and source of all energy. The idea of, “eternal matter,” or a supreme natural power source, separate from the Triune Godhead, is a myth. Atheists and agnostics endeavor to by-pass God and honor the creation as the source of energy, this is because their hearts are blinded by a fallen creature by the name of Lucifer.
"Energy cannot be created
Or Destroyed by
Creatures:”
Within our human element, we are no more able to create energy than we are able to create God. We live in the tyranny of a Luciferian, spiritual, world wide infectious malignancy. This moral carcinoma has infiltrated the air waves of the world system and is under the dominion of an evil prince; a fallen angel, created with a limited free will, and that, for a limited time. He was created by God, a righteous personality, with great personal powers and freedoms of will power, possibly much akin to ours, as human beings. His name is Lucifer, but he is also referred to by several other titles such as, “the Prince of the power of the air.”
Energy can be transformed endlessly or transferred from one form to another form and from one location to another, but only God who is light and embodies ALL of the essence of energy within our universe, is the original creator and the ultimate controller of all energy. Atheistic and agnostic educators and scientists are in denial of this eternal truth. It is their, illogical position that life can possess design and yet remain void of a Sovereign Designer. How anti-rational and non- scientific is that? What insane educational system would be so void of rational thought and sound philosophical logic, that they would ever bestow doctrinal degrees upon this, “acceptable, irrational, psychosis?”
Legitimacy requires a choice:
Is Lucifer a way for God to clean out the bad seeds? Or is God just using him as he used the Pharaoh of Egypt, as Moses rose to power? Some theology students would have us think so. Lucifer plays the god role with all who are blinded by him. He is referred to as, “The god of this world.” (11 Corinthians 4:4). Before God said, "Let there be light," this mad of matter that we call earth, was a dark, empty mess. When Lucifer, in self arrogance, rebelled against his creator, he went to the dark side and his degenerate, desire is to lure us to the dark side. He will endeavor to move us to also play the god role in our own lives, if we allow such. By doing so, he enslaves humans into an alternate, ruinous reality, a pseudo life style. Millions are bound, blinded and enslaved in their angry prison of unforgiveness. When we refuse to forgive others, we remain within the prison of the unforgiven. This condition cripples our capacity to live and experience freedom and joy. Those who live on the dark side of life lust to bring others hopelessly down. Conversely, those of us who live daily in the Spirit of Christ, rejoice as we lift up the despairing, the defeated and the downtrodden. Like our redeeming Master, we love righteousness. We intently desire to see losers change and win. Life can become, “out of control,” an erratic slippery slide down into the horrors of self destruction. Our aim is to lift up the fallen.
As Christians we experience, “Managed Life.” There is no instant fix that is enduring for the anti-Christian masses. The Great Spirit converts our soul and then actually becomes one with our spirit and redemptively changes us through a life time of progressive processing. It is He who determines both the length of and the number of, "in process adjustments," that we each uniquely need. The evil spirit keeps endeavoring to redirect our focus onto our own trauma, our own pain, ourselves. The result is our loss of ability to spiritually see our Father, and discern His future objectives for us. While Lucifer possesses his victims and binds them in confusion and chaos; conversely, the Holy Spirit freely leads us beside still waters as He daily shepherds each of us. Even in the valley of the shadows of death we fear no evil, because, He is with us and has promised to never leave or forsake us. He is not a hireling, He is the Good Shepherd and will never leave us nor forsake us.
Love always leaves its mark. It always costs the giver and the deliverer of agape love to those who receive agape love through us. Lucifer offers the insatiable lust of the flesh, Jesus offers The Love of God! We were created to be loved and to love our Heavenly Father and love each other. Our Father's children are not in love with themselves, they are willing to live or die for Christ. These dear ones defeat the Devil by the blood 🩸 of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Someone has said that our Father can work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedy. There are times when the battle between the Trinity of hell, (the world, the flesh and Lucifer,) warring against our soul, can get intensely bloody. But ultimately The Good Shepherd will lead, "The Final Victory Charge."
🐎⚔️ 🐎
...........
🌞
“The Gift of Memory”
🦃
(Malachi 3:16) msg.
".... A book 📕 was opened ... and minutes were taken ....
When the human mind shifts into reverse and the past invades the present, our copy of the book of our life brings both tears of joy and of pain. Memory is more, much more, than a mere survival of the past. It breathes the oxygen of yesteryears and whiffs of the sweet fragrances and bitter herbs of life's greatest joys and most wretched woes. As we mature in life we often enjoyably reflect on life's lessons and remember, with fondness, the old stories of life’s struggles. Refreshing family gatherings are relived including the events that have molded and shaped our faces and our futures. Memorial Day, Christmas and especially Thanksgiving are festive family and friend fun times.
In our Bible text, God is listening in, as His children enjoy such an occasion.
"Then those whose lives honored God got together and talked it over. God saw what they were doing and listened in. A book 📕 was opened in God's presence and minutes were taken of the meeting, with the names of the God-fearers written down, all the names of those who honored God's name."
Several translations refer to this event as, "A book of remembrance."
"Making Memories"
Life happens and then speedily moves on to the next pressing episode. Some events which seemed mundane and even boring at the time, now freshly remembered, will be recalled as priceless gems. We, sometimes deliberately and often non-intentionally, create memories which are, later in our lives, treasured as personal and family jewels. On this specific day of Gratitude, my wish and prayer is that, with great joy, you will both remember days of yore and anticipate family reunions and shared feasts in gracious future gatherings. Thanksgiving is both, history, the present and our future all shared around rich family cuisine.
"Thank you Holy Father
For this bounty of
Your Amazing
Gifts
🦃
We are endowed with spiritual gravitas and surrounded with the Spirit of Gratitude !
"Bob's Thanksgiving Sketch"
...........
🌞
The Positive Power of
ANGER
☔️
(Ephesians 4:26) Amp.
“When angry, do not sin… “
Human anger is a mental and physical fuel. It is untapped energy that can be unleashed for good or for evil, destruction or creativity, failure or success. There are persons who intentionally endeavor to both instill their anger into us and then use our anger for their selfish, destructive purposes. Anger is non-moral, neutral, neither bad nor good in and of itself. It is potentially whatever we will it to be. It can use us or we can use it. It is raw, non-directed fuel. It can heat and cool our houses or assault, and arson our homes and lives. Both debilitating fear and destructive anger continue to be unleashed upon western civilization. Our elitist enemies despise capitalism, our American constitution, and our middle class economy. The deep state fully intends to unleash a police state upon us through the federal bureaucracies of the Justice department, I R S and the United Nations. We are in much the same posture that Germany was in before 1935. In that era a German Lutheran minister exposed the German fed's, Gestapo. We would be wise to hear his biblical insights:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said: "It is worse to be evil than to do evil." He went further; "It is better for a truthful person to tell a lie, than for a lier to tell the truth." Is this just a bunch of double talk or does it bear fruit? He also asserted that, "To momentarily escape sins guilt may be the ultimate guilt." On April 9, 1945 at Flossenburg, Nazi death Camp Bonhoeffer was told, just prior to his hanging, "This is the end," to which he replied, "No!" False hope is the last temptation. But, his was a genuine grace conceived hope, tested in the fiery flames of atheistic, brute cruelty. "Believe in God and believe in the future, no matter what." Was his final pastoral council. In his final prayer, standing below his own hanging nose, he looked heavenward and made his devotions to his Triune God: "Father, give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give." Hanged for "Political High Treason." Less than one month later, May 7, 1945; the war was over. Dietrich Bonhoeffer like, his hero, Martin Luther, founder of the Protestant Reformation, before him, was God's Agent of Grace during one of the cruelest, angriest periods of human history.
"How Shall We Then Live?"
☔️
We are called to, "Be angry and sin not." We are also commissioned to, "Fear not..." Both of these spiritual injunctions call into question our Source. Our enemies used a "Plandemic" to divide us from each other and to inflict federally induced fear and anger into our psyche. Did Americans ever have real, honest elections, historically? We sure thought so. Did we at some historical date have safe borders? Why are the feds stirring up racial hate? As individuals, we are persons of many parts, often with contrasting interests and values. Many questions often flood our souls. We, therefore, need to pause and ask a fundamental, foundational, basic question: Who or what is our source? Do we have an absolute source of wisdom and moral values? Is there an anchor and a compass 🧭 for the soul of 🇺🇸America?
(Recommended viewing)
Amazon Prime
"Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace"
"Toxic Anger"
☔️
Anger often reveals (exposes) both the pains of the internal psyche and external physical sufferings. Worry and fear can be exhaled in angry expressions. The exhaust fumes of raw anger are often both contagious and toxic. The two persons we are often most angry with are ourselves and the God who created us. Possessed and mentally deranged individuals are often slaves to negative, destructive anger. Most of us have observed individuals who were out of con-troll, enraged persons who became fools at the demands of their own selfish exploding emotions. Demonic anger can deform sophisticated humans into rabid beasts. Jesus is a realist. He continues to prepare his followers with the wise council; "Don't be deceived --- in this worldwide corrupt, greedy, monetary system -- we will have tribulation, (Repeated Troubles). These pressures stir angry powers which either malign or motivate us.
☔️
"Losing a battle but,
Winning the Campaign!"
Turning Anger into a positive, creative motivation often has a rather tedious learning curve, requiring a few painful failures and repeated wearisome efforts. These failures can produce emotional self guilt and may even produce faltering friendships. Some educators and psychologists believe that the human mind is like an invisible magnet and thus, the more we think about something, the more we attract it and draw it unto ourselves. This psychic force can either work for our benefit or attract our demise. We are not the masters of our own fate; however, whatever happens in our lives can lead to better things, even the things that initially make us angry or fearful. There are chapters in our lives when we must wait until the time is right. The Bible refers to these occasions as, "Waiting upon the Lord." (Isaiah 40:31) As we wait until the clouds roll back and we can see more clearly, many times amazing coincidences occur. It was Einstein who said that, "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." I must insist here that the majestic Trinity is not anonymous, but fully represented and divinely/humanly revealed in Jesus Messiah. (Hebrews 1:1 ff.) Sometimes the persons that we angrily collide with in life have been divinely arranged connections. This is often to our long term benefit and can produce redemptive results to the individuals with whom we have impacted.
☔️
She was an R. N. Who, with most of her children, had recently joined our church family. She suffered from a Bi-polar Disorder, so, as her pastor, I knew that it would only be a matter of time until I would say or do something, or neglect to do something that would anger her. This happened for the first occurrence within 6 months of her bonding with our church home Her verbal anger raged and she endeavored to end our friendship bluntly. Before leaving, l looked her square in the eye and said; Marylyn, I know you are angry with me now, but I will always be your friend, irregardless of what you say or do and I will help you and your family at any time." She paused and appeared stilled. The next Sunday she and her whole family, including her husband, who had not previously been attending, were with us, and they continued to be a faithful members for many years. She became one of my strongest supporters, and remained my friend until her death. Self-destructive anger can be reversed, neutralized and transformed.
☔️
"Positive, Powerful
ANGER"
Wisdom slows the pace of fury, but does not diminish its force. As the lightening flashed, a live ball of fire struck the Air France's left wing, just out side my window seat, I had never seen anything like this before. As the supersonic jet warbled and endeavored to rise to 32,000 feet above France's stormy sky's. The Captain 👨✈️ informed us that we had been hit and would attempt a non-scheduled landing on Cyprus for repairs, before traveling on to our destination in Cairo, Egypt. The sheer power of storms has always intrigued me.
Someone described ☔️lightening and thunder as, "angry expressions of the wrath of God." I don't think that is true, but lightening can do great harm, and partially unknown to many of us, lightening is a helpful part of our biological life. Lightening helps the ground and the atmosphere exchange and balance negative and positive energy, thus, stabilizing physical life forces. Lightening also helps plants chemically in their productive cycles. Nature aggregates freezes, frosts, fires, and even the farts of animals to an equilibrium level, if we would just stop politicizing it. We have yet to fully learn how to harness many of the powerful elements of lightening's flashing exhibition of power in the heavens.
☔️
78 percent of the air we inhale is nitrogen, with 20.9 percent oxygen; Is it probable that this nitrogen, that we are breathing is infused or otherwise effected by bolts of power packed lightening. The Master Mind of creation has empowered both the physical and the spiritual world with energy. And, it is He who keeps it in balance. Spiritual power and balance from the heavens directs the anger of humans into positive, life giving ventures. Anger directs and maintains proper perspective, creative imaginations. The Great Spirit transforms illnesses and irritations into positive actions, discovery's and inventions. We need the power of anger. There is a wisdom that descends from the throne of God. This divine wisdom is referred, in the Bible to as ,"Heavenly Wisdom." (James 3:17). It commands our human anger into positive, creative life giving and life balancing Positive Power.
☔️
(Psalm 150:6)
“Let everything that hath breath: ‘Praise The LORD’”
There was a moment when Moses had the nerve to ask God what his name "IS and Will EVER BE". God was gracious enough to answer, and the name he gave is recorded in the original Hebrew as YHWH.
Over time we’ve arbitrarily added an “a” and an “e” in there to get YaHWeH, presumably because we have a preference for vowels.
But scholars and Rabbi’s have noted that the letters YHWH represent breathing sounds or aspirated consonants. When pronounced without intervening vowels, it actually sounds like breathing.
YH (inhale): WH (exhale).
So a baby’s first cry, his first breath, speaks the name of God.
A deep sigh calls His name – or a groan or gasp that is too heavy for mere words.
Even an atheist would speak His name, unaware that their very breath is giving constant acknowledgment to God.
Likewise, a person leaves this earth with their last breath, when God’s name is no longer filing their lungs.
So when I can’t utter anything else, is my cry calling out His name?
Being alive means I speak His name constantly.
So, is it heard the loudest when I’m the quietest?
In sadness, we breathe heavy sighs.
In joy, our lungs feel almost like they will burst.
In fear, we hold our breath and have to be told to breathe slowly to help us calm down.
When we’re about to do something hard, we take a deep breath to find our courage.
When I think about it, breathing is giving him praise. Even in the hardest moments!
This is so beautiful and fills me with emotion every time I grasp the thought. God chose to give himself a name that we can’t help but speak every moment we’re alive.
All of us, always, everywhere.
Waking, sleeping, breathing, with the name of God on our lips.
by Sandra TCspo
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🌞
“I Especially Agape You!”
🌠
While there is no favoritism with God. And while the New Testament makes it abundantly clear, in many places, that God is not a respecter of races of people or individual persons; the fact remains that our Heavenly Father is drawn to deep feelings of creative recognition and admiration of the unique God-like features 💎 ♦️ ⚡️ 💫 that each of us is endowed with as we, through the Holy Spirit, develop into spiritual pubescence. Therefore God especially admires and loves each of us differently. He loves God-like variety. We are each, "Diamonds in the rough." 🪨 💎 As we develop into adolescence our carnal nature often becomes more animated, brittle, and stoney. The prophet Ezekiel refers to this condition: (18:31; 36:26; 11:18.) "... a new heart I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh ..." God gave King Saul, King David, Saul of Tarsus and each of us, "a new heart." In the New Testament, this is referred to as, "Being born from above." It is at this spiritual catharsis that The Holy Spirit becomes resident and later, president within our intellect, emotions and will. Our Father is especially drawn to our purged and power infused soul.
"Sweet Servants"
We are each so alike and yet we are each so uniquely dissimilar. Our creator loves godly variety. All of the attributes of each of the three persons of the Holy Trinity have multiple features, of which we, at this stage of our journey, divine only a few. As God implants these unique features within us, we individually express some special feature of the Godhead. We are each, creatures endowed with variant attributes of our Master-mind prototype-Creator. These features are irresistibly admired both to many of our fellow humans and to our Redeemer. You may not think that you are special to anybody, but you are. We may have, "Look alikes," but there is not another you in space, history or any dispensation or segment of time. We are so blessed to bear unique internal and external images of our Designer/Creator. We are equipped by each person of the Holy Trinity for this Kingdom of God age: The Son bestows upon us His own grace-impressed Righteousness. The Father bestows within us His empowered Peace. The Holy Spirit bestows through us His overflowing, invigorating Joy. “The kingdom of God is Righteousness,Joy and Peace., in the Holy Ghost.” The Great Spirit through us, builds His Kingdom in the most unlikely domains. Jesus built it during Roman insurrection and in constant contrast to the stubborn presence of a fake Jewish religion, whose father was the devil. This was solidified within an agitated Israel. His selection of disciples still amazes both religious skeptics and professional experts. May it be known of each of us and our dwellings that, "The LORD is there!" We need not expect approval from contemporary Pharisees or Sadducees. The Spirit consistently operates outside the box. ("Outside,”) the religion camp. A great deal more than denominational accolades and credentials will be required by our New Testament, “Melchizedek,” High Priest. (Genesis 18:8), Psalm 110:1-4), (Hebrews 5: and 7:). We within the Kingdom of God are often a rejected brand, a different breed than that which, acceptable, contemporary religion produces and promotes. The Great Spirit inspires a fertile, disciplined imagination that is grounded upon an historical faith. Our faith in Jesus Messiah is built upon a foundation of absolute truth, absolute wisdom and absolute authority. Our Master uniquely awakens within us both dreams and visions as He researches the depths of our spirit and then whispers to each of us; “I especially love you!” 💍 The old prophets, apostles and disciple-makers have been historically quoted: “We would rather have the approval of God with the disapproval of all persons than have the approval of all persons with the disapproval of God.” He who corrects us also caresses us! 💎 ♦️ 💍
“I Especially Agape You”
Corrections🕊Caresses
...........
🌞
“God’s Paradoxes:”
❓❓❓
“God Moved David ….”
(11 Samuel 24:1)
“God had designs on me”
(Galatians 1:15)
Do we each have to discover our own destiny? Does the Master Mind Designer of the entire universe have designs upon and within each of us? God’s, “Movings” within our minds can be both persuasive and at times even pervasive. When the Great Spirit churns our interior human will to an activity level, He is often so repetitive in His insistent leadings that our hearts yield and say, “Amen,” to His will. Yes, our hearts bow low in humble contrition and our will says,”Amen,” to His WILL.”This happened to King David in our text. There are occasions in which the directions 🧭 of the Holy Spirit may seem irrational to our limited cognitive reasoning. The text in (11 Samuel) is such an invasive incident. God had used enemy nations on several occasions to punish Israel for her deliberate rebellion and disobedience to Him, case in point, He ordered the Babylonians to capture, kill and enslave Israel for 70 years. But the action that He provoked King David to do was a strange approach.
“Divine Paradoxes”
❓❓❓
Every day we relinquish our limited discernment capacity to His superior understanding and to His sovereign will, When we pray; “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven.” Jesus, while on earth, prayed, “ Nevertheless not my will, Thy will be done.” His will is at times perplexing and is , on occasion, a divine paradox to each and to all of us. In this text he, “MOVES” King David to a leadership action that will bring punishing, divine judgments upon David and his nation. In real time, the movements of God often do not make sense. We humans have many unanswered “WHYS?” At major historical periods of social and spiritual correction and transition, God sometimes utilizes unusual persons and disturbing events to turn the big ship of human history into an alternate direction.
❓❓❓
When God told Samson’s parents that their son was to marry Delilah, it disquieted and confused them and made no sense to them and probably even appeared to be a sinful decision. When Jesus refers to Judas Iscariot as, “Friend,” it would appear insincere, if we didn’t know the person and character of Messiah, Jesus. After Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River the Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that had just hovered over Him like a dove at his baptism, led Him into the wilderness where Satan spiritually assaulted Him. At that moment, this event seemed awkward and I’ll timed.
We usually don’t understand the medium and long range goals of our Father’s will, therefore, we find it difficult and sometimes, momentarily, impossible to calculate some of His movements on the big ♟ chessboard of life. A professional chess player commonly calculates 1-3 plays ahead., some have claimed as many as 10 plays ahead. Our genius Heavenly Father assesses movements far more complex, (including multi-generational effects,) than our psyche finds it difficult to focus on. Current historical events are presently in play, both within America 🇺🇸 and in the geopolitical world 🌎 stage that seem absurd to rational thinking citizens. And our Father’s repeated counsel to us, His children, is simply; “Trust Me!” This Is bemusing to many of us. Are His cognitive movements several plays ahead of our limited understanding? It appears so!
❓❓❓
“He Has Designs on us”
“Intentional concepts, both in mind and or on a drawing board, of future plans.” This blended definition of designs is what the apostle Paul’s intention was, in (Galatians 1:15) wherein he asserts that while he was yet unborn and living within his mother’s womb, God laid out His movements to create an Apostle Paul out of the incomplete spiritual loins of Saul of Tarsus. Saul of Tarsus was a murdering terrorist. God uses some mighty strange persons in the building of His eternal kingdom. Have we ever considered the fact that Jesus deliberately avoided the leading denominations of His era? When he selected his disciple makers, He went, “Outside the camp.” Jesus chose salty talking, rough, smelly fishermen, cheating Roman tax collectors, right wing political extremists and yes the fierce and angry terrorist, Saul. Which one of these could be voted in as a spiritual leader in any of our local churches?
I have a friend who pastors a local conservative Christian church which is located in a very secular, drug infested community. (Drugs have infested all of our communities, and both young and elderly folks, are victims.) My fried is within retirement years. My pastoring friend prayerfully met with the senior pastor of one of the fastest growing evangelical churches in Texas. After serious, sincere, wise listening, this veteran pastor suggested that my friend find someone like a converted Hell’s Angel motorcycle gang member, and ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance on the matter. Our Father has, “Designs” on people that we haven’t a clue as to His plans and movements. Jesus said to His disciples, “What I am doing now, you don’t understand, but later you will “Get it.”
❓❓❓
“God Moves us Along.”
Like David and like Paul, each of us ultimately prospers by the Great Spirit’s urgings. He has designed us and then in His own time, moves us forward in serving Him by serving others daily. Whatever we do for others, in His behalf, He illuminates as a service from us unto himself. An honest, “Thank you,” is as precious and powerful to Him, as luxurious gifts. Words and deeds of praise, thanksgiving, motivation, empowerment, encouragement and passionate, humble, sincere, personal prayers are great Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts surrounding the meek Christmas crib of the Christ. Never refuse to give or receive a prayer. Godly prayers never die. Someone’s prayers are still being answered in each of our lives. The greatest gift that people give me is their prayers for me. Even a cup of water given in His honor blesses both the receiver and the giver. We are equipped and commissioned to move persons on up to Him.
“We are here for His pleasure”
❓❓❓
Sometimes our lives are not quite what we had in mind, and that is just fine. What we want is not the only thing that matters. The important thing is that our lives become what our Heavenly Father has in His mind for us. This was true of King David and the 13th. Apostle, Paul. My belief is that it shall also be true of us. We are servants, serving the specific persons He moves into our daily lives. Our Father moves persons in and out of our lives at His discretion. He often designs unusual persons through whom He blesses us daily. Many of these chosen persons may not take shape in their appearance as we had imagined. Some of us have been in the presence of angels when we were not even aware of their presence. (Hebrews 13:2) We will not always understand but we can, with assurance, trust Him. As fellow believers, we live a God-managed life. We know that life’s greatest fortunes are those who are closest to us; beginning with the Spirit of Christ who lives within our hearts, by faith. Our trust level far surpasses our level of understanding! It may seem odd or even demeaning, but the eternal, unchangeable, fact is that we can trust our Father to do the right thing. Jesus loves us sinners, though we be, but hates our sins. We too can love carnal persons while still standing with Messiah against their sins. God does! This godly paradox is expressed in a marvelous contemporary prayer. Don’t we just love this rich, stimulating prayer?
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change; The courage to change the things that I can change and The Wisdom to know the difference.”
“The Serenity Prayer”
🙏
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🌞
“Determination Levels”
✡️
We each have different levels of determination. “C” is average because, although we live in denial of the obvious facts, that is the level of performance that most of us human beings are willing to accept from our own attitudes, behaviors and actions. And a “C” level spiritual performance is our daily spiritual norm of operation in the Kingdom of God. A quick study of the Apostle Peter’s life would grade him as average for most of his journey. Like him, most of us, do what is expected of us —— we are average.
1 and 11 Samuel, Chronicles and Kings contain the stories of the Kings of Israel. Some bad, some excellent, but most are, “Average.” Of course King David out performed each and all of them; so much so that Jerusalem, to this day is referred to as, “The City of David,” and glistens with, “The ✡️ Star of David.” It is in (11 Samuel 23) that King David’s finale’ is revealed in powerful display. This is where the stars shine most brightly. This is where his internal secrets are displayed in real time and living persons: (1: ff.) “These are David’s last words: … the voice of the man God took to the top … This is the listing of David’s top men … The 30 consisted of …. 37 all told.”
✡️
David chose 3 of, “The Thirty,” as his Top Trinity defense. These three men risked their lives to completely honor and meet his every desire. There was nothing they would not do with excellence for their king:
(23:13 ff.) “one day during harvest, the three parted from the thirty and joined David at the cave of Abdullah. A squad of Philistines had set up camp in the valley … David had a sudden craving and said, ‘Would I ever like a drink of water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem!’ So the 3 penetrated the Philistine lines, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. Now, David wouldn’t drink it; he poured it out as an offering to God, saying, ‘ There is no way, God, that I’ll drink this! This isn’t mere water, it’s their life-blood—— they risked their very lives to bring it.’” The military honor herein is heroically powerful, but so is King David’s awesome devotion and worship of his sovereign King; King Jesus, Messiah. The Determination level of these men is far superior to average, this is an, “A” plus level of devoted determination.
✡️
“Determination
Dictates
Destiny”
The most determined, will ultimately win. YES they will! The U S A exists due to some mighty determined, godly people. Our elections have become fraudulent, our leaders are fictitious, and our enemies are fierce, but there remains a most determined will of the heart and soul of America to stand firmly upon the Bible and defend our constitution. There was a leader whom I did not really care for. His personality was duplicitous, however, he came early and stayed late to all business meetings. Slow of mind,? Maybe! But irritatingly determined. And the result was that year after year he prevailed. Others came and went, but Henry triumphed. Turtles may be irritatingly slow, but they consistently show up and eat well. 🐢
And the winner shall be? The most double dogged determined!
✡️
“Divine Determination”
What a precious privilege to have friends that, although I never chose them, my Heavenly Father moved them to choose to be my friends. Carl Owens was a C P A, bi-vocational preacher and my neighbor pastor in my first senior clergy pastorate. His personality was irritatingly boring to me. I would either ignore him or disappear from his presence as quickly as possible at quarterly state business meetings. But Carl wouldn’t have it so. He would search me out, ask for my opinions, invite me to speak at his, much larger church, nominate me for positions, etc. In time, Carl became one of the most helpful and best friends of my entire life. He is one of the 3 most determined persons that I have ever met. His blessings to me have added greatly to any success that I have enjoyed. Our Father’s determination to both bless us and to make us a blessing to others is divinely sovereign. We are His Chosen. His Great Grace is sovereignly in operation in our favor daily.
✡️
“Determination Choice”
We may never be able to achieve great status in many character qualities or experience the giftedness of those about us, but any of us and each of us can choose to improve our determination level! Our Creator, throughout history, has both appealed, called and commanded us to be vigilantly determined to trust Him and obey His Word. He has made us and therefore knows our capacity to develop into creative, determined souls. We may be physically small, and even weak, but we can develop into spiritual giants in faith, grace and spiritual determination. God’s Angel Armies include Earth Angels. Without these spirited, highly determined individuals and groups, America would sink like the Titanic 🚢. We may not look like much to some folks, but, Warning! Don’t mess with God’s Elect!
✡️
“World System Perishing:”
The Bible describes, both, our physical,(“Outer Person”) and the world system as, “Perishing.” The spirit within is exempted from this decay and can actually even flourish, as the flesh and our political systems decompose. Spiritual determination need not be diminished during the continued dissolutionment of the fractured and growing corruption of the present world economic/politico systems. The Word and the Spirit daily guide our steps into fresh adventures of faith exploration. As I seek, daily, the Great Spirits directions, He assures me repeatedly, “TRUST ME!” This we must be DETERMINED to do.
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“Solitude”
“Silence”
“Servant”
🙌
Butterfly’s have a short life span, about 30 days, but they do experience those days providing uplifting beauty for those of us who celebrate the luster of their brilliant lives. We humans can successively live in excellent health for a long life span without strawberries 🍓, but most of us delight in their nourishing, sweet, juicy tang. Why did our Creator order their life on our neat little planet? Because He said, “I think my children on Earth would enjoy these, delightful health benefitting additions.” Our eternal Daddy loves to surprise us with living, beautiful and joyous blessings.
🙌
There are times when life gets overwhelmingly difficult; accidents, health issues, the passing of a close family member and beloved friend. At these junctures in life, we begin to wonder who we really are and what’s going to happen. Loneliness, loss of assumed personal self-values, decreasing abilities and the absence of old friends, family members and a lack of purpose can take the sparkle, and the “Zing” out of life. Loneliness, sensory losses and mushrooming dependence on technology and strangers can produce hopelessness, debilitating boredom, anxiety and catatonic depression as age determines the depreciation of both brain and body functions.
“Life’s Sweet Spots”
🙌
Commercial Aircraft endeavor to reach and maintain an altitude of 35,000 to 42,000 feet above sea level. This is referred to as their, “Sweet Spot,” the air is thinner, the flight more smooth and it saves multiple dollars in jet fuel for the air line corporation’s. Our time on planet Earth Also has,”Sweet Spots.” Life doesn’t always give us what we want and we do experience course corrections by our creator so that we each can reach His preferred altitude for our life in real time. These, “Divine Interruptions,” make possible the, “Successful Sweet Spots” which we would never be privy to otherwise.
A few decades ago I went shrimping for the first time, in the Gulf of Mexico. Bob Martin was the Captain of our little rig. Bob was pulling in the shrimp net and I was steering the boat in reverse as he pulled a very nice haul of shrimp into the back of the boat. Suddenly, Bob roared out to me in a demanding voice, “Watch what you’re doing, back the damn boat to your right, pay attention, don’t let the boat control you, take control.” Wow! Did that every jar me to immediate action. Bob was my parishioner, and I had never before heard that tone or those words from him.
This is similar to what God told Adam and Eve: “ …. and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over …. every living thing … Upon the earth.”
(Genesis 1:28 kjv.”
Bob Martin was saying to me; “If you don’t take dimension over the choppy sea, it will take control of us and we will lose these shrimp, Bob was 100 percent right!
“Spiritual Skill Sovereignty”
🙌
It is a frustrating sin to ask God to do for us that which He has already told us to do. Bad habits and wrong environments can be replace with wholesome life styles and emancipated relationships, transformed thinking and holistic behavior. Newly discovered potentials are gifts that are often wrapped in both pain and pleasure. Loneliness can be substituted with solitude and that can be further developed into peaceful security and contentment.
“Sounds of Silence”
🙌
Do we fear personal silence? Quietness is a healthy necessity for sleep, serenity and sound thinking. Some poor people never shut up, they just mumble and mutter on and on over stupid stuff. I’m speaking here of persons within our normal, daily population. There is a proper healthy distance from their dribble, find it! These poor folks are. often totally unaware that they are inflicted with, “vocal diarrhea.” Silence is a very necessary interlude in our daily lives, it often produces stability and is a genuine expression of wisdom, humility and creativity. A fool and wisdom are soon 🔜 parted by his own mouth. Scripture insists that, “Even a fool shows wisdom when he simply shuts up. (Proverbs 17:28). We have long ago, passed, “The Cute stage.” Our constant blabber is more than annoying, it has become self aggrandizing. Replace gossip and egomania with silence.
“Washing Feet”
🙌
Several years ago an associate pastor at the First Baptist Church in our city approached me with a request to work with me in ministry. His highly skilled gifts and professionally trained leadership extended our educational departments and went well. At Easter Season we shared an old fashion, “Foot Washing Service.” His response was, that he wanted, “Nothing to do with if.” He would let no one wash his feet and no one was going to wash his feet. He was adamant about the issue, so I made no fuss, just accepted him as he was. His tenure with us was brief. Jesus introduced this New Testament ordinance, of foot washing to which, the Apostle Peter also initially resisted. Jesus’ purpose was to create a servant hood contagion within his disciples and His church. The real spirit of servant hood is a good habit that replaces a few bad habits; arrogance, pride, narcissistism, bulling, inferiority complexes, insensitivity and several other spiritual/personality disorders.
🙌
“Addicted To Approval”
(Luke 6:26 ff.)
“Beware when all men speak well of you….. “ professional clergy and other servant solution’s personal are forwarded by Jesus in this text. Spiritual arrogance is both possible and probable for those active in this spiritual field. Solitude, Silence and Servanthood are anecdotes for this spiritual sinkhole. Addiction to approval and praise is common within clergy ranks, but can also afflict any of us.
“The Collectivity Spirit”
🙌
While other collectible arrangements age and eventually die, the, “Body, ,” “Bride,” “Building,” of Christ.” The Family of God” is eternal. We shall be together in a much more unified fashion when sin, carnality, Satan and his demon angels, death, the grave are all cast into Hell Fire. We can experience this divine unity to a limited degree, within our present positioning. This, “God birthed spirit,” of biblical unity will require us each having an individual, quality time of being alone with Our Father in Heaven. This is partially accomplished through the 3 S’s in this “Sketch” (Solitude, Silence, Servant Spirit.). In our present status we experience only very brief moments of absence from the powers and presence of corruption and carnality, Messiah took care of the penalties incurred but both from exterior forces and internal attacks, the war rages on. This will soon be changed and spiritual unity will be free, full and complete. We are currently in stage 2 of our eternal journey, awaiting stage 3. How many stages are ahead for each of us? That will be individually determined by our designer/Creator, as He Sovereignly wills it so. My guess is that there are many more than we imagine. We are, “moving on UP!” From 9 months, to 70 plus years to His future choices for each and all of us: Our mother’s womb was a place of development. Our 70 plus years on earth life has been a place of development. We each remain, “A work in Process,” each of us to varying degrees. Our Father’s processing will continue. Please be patient with us, God isn’t finished with us yet! ✔️.
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🦌
“The Refresher”
While the presence of some people drains us, to be near others, Is a refreshing delight.
This is partially true due to the endowed amalgamation of opposing personalities. Some folks overrate themselves and are often not aware that they drain the heart and soul of their friends, neighbors and every person they meet. Their entire interest, focus and conversation is all about themselves and their opinions. They are stuck on, “ME,” “Mine” and “I.” They just can’t see the other person’s point of view. Their minds are like aggressive BlueJays, 🐦 that appear, take what they please and disappear.” In their evaluation, other folks are either wrong in their opinions, less intelligent than themselves or they, “just don’t matter.” Does this sound harsh? But True?
How refreshing, then, to interchange life values, interests, varied points of conversations and events with those uplifters whom our Father provides for us along life’s path. Our Father knows that we need, “Refreshers.” There are moments when we each need to, “Come aside and rest.”
🦌
My Aunt Bertha was my refresher, both as a new born, baby boy and later as a grown up man. My mother birthed me but was too I’ll with rheumatic fever to care for me in my infancy. Her youngest sister, age 16, Bertha and another aunt, Hildreth, cared for me for 6 months. The bonding lasted. Bertha was a cheerful, benevolent, giving young lady. I was birthed in the gloom of disease, but then cared for by a loving, uplifting, healthy young woman who cherished and cared for me with my loving mother’s close supervision. Throughout my entire life my Heavenly Father has wonderfully provided
“Refreshers”
🦌
“Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—— … He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.” (Psalm 42:11 ff.) msg.
David is talking to himself in this Psalm. We are the second best counselor in our personal lives. We actually are endowed with the unique ability to, “step outside of ourselves,” and, in the third person, correct and counsel ourselves. John Milton once said, “The human mind is its own place.” After David’s corrections of himself he focused his attention on life’s greatest encourager, our loving creator and he accepted His Refreshing presence. The freshly encouraged are a healing breath of fresh air to those whom they cross paths with.
We need the individuals whom the Holy Spirit places within our lives. Father God supplies bubbling brooks of cool spring water to quench our thirst. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that He was living water.
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.”
(Psalm 42:1) kjv
🦌 🦌 🦌
I am sitting in my surgeons office as I write. He has been a General Surgeon for over 25 years and he is also a university professor of general surgery. He just told me that as a Christian doctor, he prays for each of his patients. I have never met a more Refreshing personality within the medical profession anywhere in my entire life. Our Father provides the best for us, His children, His anointed servants are all about us. This doctor is a great healer of both body and soul. There is much more than a physiological surgery taking place here, both for the surgeon and for me, the patient.
“The Great Refresher”
🦌⬆️ 🦌
“Sheep without a shepherd,” that’s what Jesus saw on the faces of those around him. Their religious leaders were, “hypocrites, frauds, hirelings;” those are not my descriptive words they were Jesus’ clear character analysis of them. They fatigued the common folks to tears when they preached. When Messiah spoke, they came by the thousands to listen and they were thrilled with his life-giving messages. He was and is the great, “Lifter,” the great “Refresher.” It took me quite a spell, but I finally figured it out, Jesus Messiah never did believe in that religion stuff. Religion is a carnal, human endeavor, wearing a spiritual camouflage, to appease their God or gods. But Messiah still restores, rejuvenates and refreshes persons through His Word and His Holy Spirit. The Great Spirit speaks and ministers His Word through multitudes of His chosen emissaries, world-wide and does that, continuously.
🦌
The Heavenly Father has placed several, “Ken’s” in my life. Each of these men has refreshed me in their own unique fashion as I travel forward on my journey. One of those, Dr. Ken Hatch, was one of the greatest pianists that I have ever heard. He was Television Evangelist, John Hagee’s musician for some years. Ken’s love for the Lord Jesus was authentic and fervent. As a professional entertainer, Ken had the artistic ability to lift you out of your seat and crescendo an audiences’ spirit. His special talents refreshed large and small audiences, whether in fancy restaurants or church cathedrals, he was a master Refresher. Was Dr. Ken a perfect person? Certainly not, none of us is perfect, although some of us think that we are. But we still can be lifters. Ken served as our church musician for over ten years. He walked in as a visitor one Sunday morning, loved the service and bonded with the body of Christ. Whatever our gifts and wherever we are placed, may we too, allow the sweet spirit of Jesus Christ to spiritually refresh one person or multitudes along life’s pilgrimage. Our Master didn’t come to criticize, condemn or complain; He came to lift us up to a refreshing LIFE! He modeled a Refreshing life style for us to follow. So, don’t be a religious windbag just going around “Leveling with people.” “Lift them up!” Make their day.
Be their “Refresher!”
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“The Cultured Spirit”
(1 Timothy 4:8) msg.)
“Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life is far more so, making you fit both today and forever …. Stay on your post reading scripture, giving counsel, teaching …. Cultivate these things …. Keep at it ….”
Some folks are so blessed with an effortless, natural, “I like you.” Smile. Most of us have to work at it. We want to be real and at the same time, we desire to be positive, kind and uplifting, so we culture pleasantness and endeavor to show it on our aging faces with a smile. What comes into view when we imagine the facial countenance of Jesus or the first Christian marter, Stephen or the servant who discipled Saul of Tarsus, Barnabas? What did their prevailing features and expressions resemble? Gentleness? Strength? Compassion? Fervor? Faithful? Forgiving? Accepting? Encouraging? “Yes!” These are qualities that I believe were empirically cultured in each of these 3 men; Jesus Christ and these two humble disciples. To culture a character quality can be very good or, conversely, very bad, depending upon the chosen character quality.
“Human Culturing”
👨
We are, a Spirit at the heart of a human Soul which is at the heart of the human Body. 🟰 One complete Human Being.
(1 Thessalonians 5:23ff.)
We can culture each of the three parts of our being. We are developing creatures. By nature we, as humans, are “Born in a Barn.” We live on the inside of brute bodies of a medium sized, animal creature. This may be offensive to the self- exalted image of some of my friends, but, nevertheless, objectively true. Body building, controlled diet, hormonal chemicals and, well managed, physical exercise can tone and culture the physical physique into a desired biological anatomy.
“The Cultured Soul”
🧠
“Self-Improvement,” books, seminars, educational endeavors, graduate degrees and many other personality helps abound. The Soul of humans includes our intellect, our emotions and our unique will: ( An indomitable, driving will to analyze, achieve, acquire and advance). Each and all of these 3 segments of our soul can be cultured to improvement and even refined into superior, high quality hybrids by diligent workmanship. Multi-generational, “up-breeding” is possible with animal creatures, including the humans. “Pure breads” have been the visions and desired end product of history’s monarchs, “Reichs,” come to mind. As glorious as the superior refining of the soul appears, it pails in comparison to the future of our Father’s humanly cultured Spirit. Our spirits will at some future date be functioning within our glorified, resurrected, human bodies. Our spirits shall be fear free, guilt free, corruption free. The human spirit will be equipped by the Great Spirit with features that we are currently ignorant of.
“The Cultured Spirit”
🕊
The Holy Spirit is often symbolized by a dove. At Messiah’s baptism He appeared as a dove hovering over Jesus, who was in the water with John, as God the Father spoke from Heaven saying, “ This is my beloved Son ….” (Matthew 3:13ff.). Here we see and or hear all 3 persons of the Holy Trinity at one and the same time. Our human spirit preceded both our physical, human bodies and our human souls at the creation in the garden of Eden. Our focus here is on the God created human spirit and how it can be cultured into a godly, useful maturity. The Holy Spirit appears to each of us in one of three ways: (1) He is knocking at the door of our hearts, requesting entrance. Or
(2) He is Present within our hearts. Or, 3) He is President of our hearts. It is within this third choice that He cultures our spirit. In our text Paul defines The Spirit’s culturing process within our spirits, as us: (1) Reading the Word. (2) Counseling the Word. (3) Mentoring or teaching the Word. As His Word passes through us in these 3 alternative manners, the Word cultures our own spirit and to a lesser degree, cultures those to whom we share the Word. Our Father’s methods are brilliant! Religion does not culture the spirit, but the Holy Spirit does. The Spirit of Jesus Christ is The Holy Spirit. He is the genetic sperm donor of the Lord Jesus. This very same Holy Spirit saturates our spirit and becomes one with our spirit. Through our spirits He controls our souls and our bodies. It is He who produces a wise sensitivity within and through all three functions of our soul. He aids us in getting through the unforeseen and learn from those timely life lessons. He is Lord of us as we daily serve Him. He cultures and matures us to understand that there is much more to our lives than what we personally desire. This is the, “Normal” Christian life, although, it is sometimes, far above, the “average” Christian’s life style.
“True Values”
⚖️
Physical culturing 20 ⚖️
Soulish culturing. 20 ⚖️
Spiritual culturing 60 ⚖️
Our choices have consequences and can produce valuable results. The fruit which the Spirit bears through us is eternal. We are each building our future, as the Holy Spirit directs. Our Spirit is eternal.
Build Wisely!
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“A Heart That Listens to God”
💜
A Royal Heart was Solomon’s request:
(1 Kings 3:5 ff.) msg.
“God said, ‘What can I give you? Ask’ …. Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart …. “
Some folks never hear God because they will not listen. Solomon asked for a, “Listening Heart.” This is such a precious request and our Father was very pleased with David’s son. At this designated moment in his heart, Solomon desired the right things, he desired with all of his heart to please God and shepherd his nation, Israel. There would be other occasions in his life’s journey when lesser, more carnal desires would win the vote and his “bent toward evil,” would divert his godly intentions. These, however were special days and nights of the young king’s godly dreaming.
“Godly Dreams”
Youth is such a special season in life’s calendar. Later in life, looking back it seems much too brief to many of us. It’s the joys of Spring, there’s nothing like it. Oh! How we want to stay in Spring! Everything seems possible. Visions are driven with the fresh energy and enthusiasm of creative minds and healthy muscle capacity. Solomon’s heart both heard and pleasantly obeyed God in the Spring of his life’s journal.
My childhood friend, David, an “A” student, had such lofty dreams; “Someday, Bob, I’ll be a successful doctor,” he would tell me, as we ran and played on our Ohio farm and into the woods. But drugs took their downward vestige as David began spooking weed, to be followed by heroin. His dreams died, as did he.
“Corrupt Choices”
Corrupt choices cancel our hearing senses. Solomon, like my childhood friend David, made some bad decisions in other seasons of his life. Most of us do so. Like his father Solomon had a sexual weakness. Satan convinces most of us that our weaknesses are our strengths. Solomon had 1,000 wives and concubines, legal prostitutes, many of whom worshiped pagan gods. He listened to them and their religious leaders and soon he could no longer listen to God. He was soon “Woke.” Bad decisions have destructive consequences.
“Ears That Don’t Hear”
Spiritual eyes and ears show us how God works. Many of the religious leaders of Jesus’ era were totally wrong about how God works and how He desired them to live. They were spiritually deaf and spiritually blind:
(Matthew 13:14 ff.), They rejected Jesus as God’s Messiah, they were stubbornly stupid, they missed it, Big time! This Scripture is just as true today. Religion is a blinding and deaf dealing disaster. Both God’s Word and God’s Spirit must be present and actively operative within us for us to both see and hear His designated directions. It is only what we digest that benefits us. Eating is one thing but we must take nourishment into our digestive track. His Word is then applied and becomes a part of us. The Holy Spirit is our digestive engines that make spiritual digestion possible.
“Keep Listening”
Growing up on an Ohio dairy farm did have some spiritual advantages. I milked cows, first by hand and later by electric milking machines. Mildred was one of my favorite cows, 🐄 because she gave the most milk. She was also my most unfavorite cow because she had 2 bad habits: (1) She sometimes dipped her long tail into the urine and poop gutter behind her. She would then suddenly swoosh her long, wet tail into my face if I took too long milking her. (2) When she became impatient with me and really wanted me to exit, she would lift her right, back leg, and, if I wasn’t careful, dump all of the fresh, warm milk in my milk pale into the gutter.
Now, I’ve noticed that we humans are a great deal like Mildred. 🐄 We are both very, very good on occasion and conversely, very, very bad at other times. I don’t have to leave my own person to view examples of both chapter qualities. The spiritual lesson here is to just keep listening to our Father’s wise directives and tune out the T V news and council of the Carmel world. The Great Spirit corrects and caresses me every day. What He does for me and others, He will do for you. He will give each of us a heart that hears Him, if we ask Him! Listening is not passive hearing. Listening is deliberate, active, intentional hearing.
A Heart That Listens to Hear God’s “Whisper,” That’s
WISDOM
💨
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“God”
“The Divine entity who supervises all existence.”
What does God say about Himself? How does He define His own character? How does He desire us to think of Him? A thousand objective and very personal questions flood our minds as we ponder our origin. What does He mean when He clearly appears as three unique persons and yet insists that He is ONE?
(Deuteronomy 6:4)
Can three different persons have one personality? What does our Creator expect of us? How are we, as created persons, expected to relate to our Creator? Is there a difference between sensory perception and spiritual perception? Are we equipped with both? Who, what or where do we find answers to these philosophical inquiries?
The Designer of all primary designs claims that He fashioned us in His likeness, with limited authority and powers, less than angels, but with more powers than lesser creatures, and He did so with His powerful speaking voice. The Creator/Designer declared us into existence. By His power infused words, we were configured from His own existential energy into matter which the Holy Spirit exhaled life into. We became His human beings as He continued designing our physical frame into the vision of His original human mold. We discover and experience our origin as we enter an eternal bonding with His person.
“Eternally Bonded”
Agape Love is forever, always has been, and always will be. This selfless love was the motivation which moved the Great Spirit to create us, the humans. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Three distinct persons living in absolute Oneness, are eternally in agape love with us. One single motivation advances their goals, decisions, actions and responses. This absolute, sovereign God-head invites us into their holy fellowship of redeeming love. God is both Creator and Redeemer of the human family. He who birthed us also bonds Himself with us. Our very life, past, present and future are in Him. He didn’t just give us our first breath, we live and have our continued being in Him. We are one heartbeat, one breath away from departure, at every single moment. He really does, “Hold the Whole World 🌍 in His Big Hands!” 🖐🏾 🤚 ✋.
“Words”
Words reveal and express what we think and they even expose what and who we are. Watchman Nee used to say, “Listen to what a person refuses to say, to what they are trying to say, to what their gestures and facial features are saying, to why they are saying what they are both saying and neglecting to say.” Analytical listening is often a great revelation of philosophical and practical reality. We can often discern the thoughts and intents of the heart as we spiritually listen maybe we need to stop talking and listen more. 👂
Our Heavenly Father desires that we know Him, therefore He reveals himself in, “The WORD.” His Word is both written and in living person.
(John 1)
“In the beginning was the Word …. The Word became flesh. “ Jesus Christ said, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father … “ God is spirit made flesh in Jesus Messiah. In all honesty I’ve see the spirit of God in some persons, whom I’ve met. We have the Spirit of Christ living within and through us.
“No Presumption with God”
(11 Samuel 22:22 ff.) msg.
“ … I’ve kept alert to God’s ways; I haven’t taken God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works.” We are here as a result of His deliberate decree. We live and breathe and have our being for His purposes. Our history will prove to be His story, written through our lives. We are a vital part of His story, (His History.) we are not Bots or robots, we are self willed cognitive creatures. He invites us into an eternal fellowship with the ONE- ness of the Holy Trinity, through, “the door,” Jesus Messiah. Our Daddy is the majestic God of eternity, the entire universe. “What a Mighty God we serve!”
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“Are They Coming Back?”
(11 Samuel 12:23) msg.
“ … now that he’s dead, … Can I bring him back now? I can go to him, but he can’t come to me.”
“The Devils Dagger”
There are pessimistic persons who define hope as, “a tease designed to help us accept and live with an intolerable reality?” These same wounded souls see faith as, “a desperate attempt to believe something that their minds tell them, “It isn’t true.” Life has bruised and beaten and broken some perplexed persons to this very confused and desperate level of hopeless despair. When we sin and God’s Spirit corrects us, how do we respond? When fate throws us a dagger how do we catch the death instrument, by the blade or by its handle? Catch it by the blade and it disables you, but if you, with godly wisdom, catch it by the handle you can utilize it as a redeeming tool for the remainder of your earthly life. King David was faced with this most unpleasant of all realities. Life hurts with its many jagged, cutting edges; but the death of one’s child is insufferably more painful. It is as acute as an Asian giant hornet’s imbedded stinger and it sometimes inflicts a life long injury to one’s afflicted soul.
“David Messed Up”
Yes, David had screwed up royally and the chickens had come home to hatch. David had an affair with Beth, she became pregnant with his child; he had her husband murdered. Many religionists would have thrown their hands up in disgusted, contempt and declared that King David was not redeemable, but not our Heavenly Father. To Him life is precious. God works out ways to get backsliders back, (11Samuel 14:14). God sent His prophet to confront King David. David repented and God forgave him but refused to allow David and Beth’s son to live on earth , with them. After fasting and prayer for 7 days, David cleans up and ate a meal. His servants questioned him about his behavior and within his answer is a God-revealing truth.
“Reunion is Possible!”
We can rejoin our departed loved ones. David knew that his baby son could not return to earth, but he also knew something even more important; David knew that he and Bethsheba would at some time in his future, behold and be eternally United with their son. Yes, David would join his beloved son in the eternities! Death either humbles or hardens the human soul. “Ashes unto ashes, dust unto dust,” is a vivid discretion of the flesh —- but never of the spirit!
“Reunion 🔜 “
As our physical bodies build in strength and stature, attain full structure, reach maximum maturity into an equitable, balanced physical fitness for a season; and then begin a decline, suddenly or slowly from sturdiness, balance and homeostasis, into a status of weakness, vulnerability and loss of both muscle and mental power, we each begin to consider future tomorrows. The measured skills of an individual’s wisdom or lack thereof, determines the range of future expectations planning and fulfillment. At the crest of time we shall behold ourselves as wise or foolish persons. The Eternal birthed us into time, but only for a brief, testy season.
This Mortal MUST put on Immortality. We are designed for multiple destinations and eternal dimensions. Human hunger for unlimited explorations and discovery’s shall be both expanded and satisfied in our Father’s new creations. So, when death comes knocking, we open wide the door to fresh, unexplored frontiers, and we will celebrate a family reunion greater than our memory can recall. We are the unfinished product of a Master Mind.
“Master Mind of Christ”
(1 Corrections 2:9) msg.
“ … No one’s ever … imagined …. What God has arranged for those who love Him. ❤️ ….
Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit.”
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“The Connector”
(Genesis 1:3ff.) msg.
“God spoke:’Light!” And light appeared…. God named the light Day, he named the dark Night.”
(John 1:5 ff.) msg.
“The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out… The Life-Light was the real thing …. Jesus, the Messiah ….”
“YES”
He has been there for us in all of our yesterdays; He will be actively 💝 present with us in each tomorrow. Messiah is the Eternal Connector. Jesus, the Christ, is the Living Seed connecting pre-time with post-time. Physical light 🌞 with Spiritual Light ⛅️., which is , “Light to live by.” There are 400 years between tho Old Testament and the New Testament. In the last chapter of the last book in the O. T. Both, Jesus’ coming to earth and John the Baptizer’s appearance are prophesied; in the first chapter of the first book of the N. T. Jesus is no longer in future prophecy, He is Present, in Spirit, soul and physical , human body. He is God’s Connector. He connects heaven with earth, flesh with spirit, time with eternity, God with persons. He connects all of the dots. Eternal purpose is fastened down to present reality. Jesus is the connector of the Sun with The Son. He connects matter with energy and holds it together. (Hebrews 1:3) msg. “He holds everything together by what he says —— powerful words!”
“Connection Corrections:”
✔️
The long suffering patience of our Father remains stunning to the expanded stretch of my rational reasoning. The fact that He is not willing that any should perish (11 Peter 3:8-9), should pause, disturb and encourage our cognitive corrections. Yes, like so many others, my patience runs devastatingly short with some situations. The corrective power of the Great Spirit alters the human will, even at the last moments of life. God annuls carnal stupidity. We must not be seduced by those who play the god role or think they speak with absolute authority, in His behalf, on matters that we, at best, “see through a glass darkly” on.
“Piercing Through Walls”
(Hebrews 4:12)
When necessary He, “divides the spirit from the soul and the body.” “ Spiritual surgery,” is doable. He connects, temporally disconnects, reconnects and, at death, permanently disconnects the spirit from the carnal mind.
Thomas was a doubter, even after Jesus’ crucifixion and miraculous resurrection. That did not cancel the high calling of Jesus on his life. The Spirit of Jesus Messiah will confront, conqueror and caress us in life’s confusing complications. Satan’s walls are pierced and shattered by this Great Spirit of the Risen Christ. He connects with us on the operating table, behind prison bars, within our most painful, pitting and perplexing plights.
I stood in the little town of Jericho where the obedient praises of Israel pierced the city’s walls, ushering in God’s authority and His people. This was now His dominion in their dispensation. We are often marching around what the masses consider, “the impregnable,” “ the impenetrable.” Our Master favorably connects us with the right people at the right time. Ask Him and watch, wait and walk at His sovereign directions. He will connect you! His Kingdom will come and His will, shall be done on earth as it is done in Heaven!
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“Spiritual Seasons”
“Get up. Let’s go. It’s time to leave here.” (John 14:31) “I’ve told you these things to prepare you for rough times ahead ….” (John 16:1)
“Changing of Seasons”
The changing of seasons happens in both the physical and spiritual world. Our Father put Jesus Messiah in charge of everything human. The very life of the Son of God is on display through us, His children. He reveals himself in all seasons and circumstances through us, both individually and as a family of believers. Living in Christ has seasons of both tenderness and toughness. The joys of honeymoon love, new life, fresh truth, crisp discoveries and passionate victories are counterbalanced by seasons of accidents, disease, family strife and a time to die. Some of us have been waiting for quite a long time. The Great Spirit shows up ⬆️ in each and all seasons of life.
“What is the Good?”
Shadows can darken life in any and in all of its seasons. The Good Life begins when heavens light chases the gloom away. A root of bitterness will create murkiness within the lives of persons at various ages. Christ within us replaces that bitterness with forgiveness, both from Him and others and also to others. Dimness is replaced with healing light, selfishness is converted selfless Christlikeness. In life’s springtime, the future visits us with energetic ambitions and visions of what can become. As senior years lead us into Fall and Winter, we remember and sweet dreams of life’s yesteryears. At every season Jesus passionately declares, “My Life is on display in them.” (John 17:10).
“God Authors Life:”
Bad things sometimes happens to our Father’s children. Christ transforms crucifixion into resurrection, loneliness into the bliss of solitude, problems into creative, power-packed possibilities. This is, “The Good.” Can the changing of the diverse seasons compliment each other? Yes, and they do so, both in nature and within our spirits. At the changing of life’s seasons we embrace whatever our Father prescribes, and we do so with a servant spirit. The changing of life’s seasons will make us bitter or better, our choices make all the difference.
“The Upward Way”
When Margie’s husband’s mental and physical health broke, she pooled her resources, got a government loan, purchased a very large, old house and opened a home for the Impaired and elderly, and moved her family of 5 into it. Her business flourished over many years. Does our Father prescribe the persons that chapter our life stories? At every changing of life’s seasons; worshipping our loving, Heavenly Father and cheering others upward, onward and foreword This is, “The Good Life.”
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“Another Friend”
“I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth…. you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you.” (John 14:16ff.) msg.
God is Spirit. (John 4:24) at the center of our soul we are spirit. When the Holy Spirit fills us He originates within our spirit, then into our soul and finally into our physical organism.
(1 Thessalonians 5:23). His control of us is often a lifetime process. We have been saved from the penality of sin; we are being saved from the powers of sin; and soon, we shall be saved from the presence of sin. He does good work in each of our unique persons! What a Friend!
“Would he ever change?” He, “just couldn’t be trusted.” That’s what folks said. Old habits that, “Can’t be stopped,” can be replaced. Let he that steals, steal no more and replace stealing with generously giving to others, in Jesus’ credit. That actually happened to Nicodemus, the tax collector.
The Great Spirit of Jesus Messiah appears in unlikely places as a divine catalyst. The song is correct; “He’s still working on me.” In our most vulnerable vexations, it is this precious, “Other Friend,” who infuses us with enduring energy, patience, grit, grace and faith to stand, and or, when and how to securely move foreword. We are created with a divinely designed, “hole in our hearts.” This vacuum is so designed that only the Holy Spirit can properly fill it. We have this unbearable emptiness. It is a consciously calculated void. We are His workmanship in progress. I most agreeably, appreciate the appeal; “Please be patient with me, God isn’t finished with me yet ✔️.” There are moments when He guides us to pause until things become clear, while at other junctures, wherein, he sends us into instant action. “God leads His dear children along ….” Our best Friend, The Holy Spirit of Jesus Messiah is persistently patient with each of us. “What a Dear Friend is the Spirit of Jesus Christ!”
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“Crafted Character”
“The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act…. the Father will be seen for who He is in the Son.” (John 14:10ff. msg.)
As the Father is crafted into the Son, even so, the Son is crafted into each of us, as fellow Christians. Jesus Christ is God, clothed in human flesh. To see Him, is to see God, our Father and God, the Holy Spirit. Jesus,so defines himself in John 14.
“Treasures of Memories”
During life here, we acquire a treasure chest of memories.
Have you ever seen a little or a lot of Jesus in the face, actions, attitudes and life of someone else. These are jewels that the Spirit of Christ has crafted into the essence of that person.
He was the greatest evangelist that ever lit up ⬆️ the pulpit that I preached from. A fiery Methodist preacher who was highly favored with prophetic Insights and an orators vocal cords. The genuine fire of the Great Spirit pierced the hearts of those in attendance.
Alone, in personal conversations, he listened and counseled with gentle, godly wisdom. Dr: Robert Coleman was aglow with the Spiritual Aura of Jesus when both in and out of the pulpit.
“Facial Features”
The imprint of someone is being forged into and upon our individual souls. We are in a, “becoming,” stage. Hardness or humbleness. A contagion of unforgiveness and bitterness or Blessing emanates from our presence; our focus makes all of the difference. When we center our attention upon ourselves our features become distorted into painful hurts, memories, failures, guilt, disappointments and anger. When we Focus on Jesus; persons will behold him when they see us. His character will be crafted into, upon and through us. May His image be visible in your person!
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“Trust Me.”
“…. The truth is that before the rooster crows, you’ll deny me 3 times. Don’t let this throw you. TRUST ME. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home.”
(John 13:38 -14:1) msg.
I was reared in a religious teaching of, “Sinless Perfectionism.” “Holiness”denominations, produced a theology of, “Perfect Love,” today it is often referred to as, “Positive Grace,” Both phrases contain some degree of truth, but when examined by objective, analytical, apologists, it is best summarized as, “Sinless Perfectionism,” although it is packaged and presented as Bible truth. After 2 or 3 acts of grace, believers are then expected to live daily with a total absence of sin in their lives. I fail to find “Gospel,” (Good News), in this definition of our Father’s amazing grace. I cannot find a living example of persons in any denomination who don’t require corrections from sinful attitudes and actions. The Holy Spirit corrects and caresses me daily.
“Phlegmatic Peter”
The Apostle Peter was far from perfect. In John 13 Jesus corrects him numerous times: (1) Unwilling for Jesus to wash his feet. (2) Asking Jesus for a complete bath. (3) Falsely claiming that his superior love for Jesus was so strong for Jesus, that even if every other disciple forsook Jesus, he would never deny Him. After correcting Peter’s phlegmatic assertions, Jesus unveils a cornerstone truth of the Gospel.
“G. P. N.”
Our place at our Heavenly Father’s table, our “Heavenly Home,” is not guaranteed by our lack of sinfulness, or our ability to live above sinning. Even before Peter denied his Master, Jesus was verbally guaranteeing him a room in His Fathers house. Our place in Heaven is not secured by us, it is fixed by the life and actions of Jesus Messiah. We do not live graciously and redemptively, to get saved or to remain saved, we do so because we are saved. We each and all are sinning, sinners, saved by grace plus nothing. (Grace Plus Nothing)
“G. P. N.”
We don’t wish to confirm it, but most of us are a great deal more like Peter than we wish to admit.” So, “Let not your heart be troubled … trust me …. I go to prepare a place for you.”
“TRUST Me.”
Jesus Christ
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“The Big Lie:”
“The Universe always provides?” “Father God and Mother Earth.” These are lying deceptions of our silly, pseudo educators, deep state, entertainers and commentators. The Bible identifies them in Romans 1:21 ff. “ … People trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives … illiterate regarding life … they traded the true God for a fake god “
(:25) they, “ … changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator ….”
“God Spoke,”
His energy created matter .
Every Word from our Heavenly Father is infused with the energy force of sovereign satisfaction. Nothing in creation is endowed with such power, not nature, nor humans, nor angels, nor demons, nor Satan, nor the entire universe with its multiple galaxies. 🪐 When we really pray, we are in tune with the power source of infinity, eternity, the hand that moves the universe. God did not start with, “nothing.” Matter came from power, and matter can be returned to atomic power. That power still resides in His Words! He is the sole Creator. (John 1:3) Through us He procreates, recreates and initiates human creativity. Nature possesses only secondary procreative, limited energy forces. Our Father is literally unlimited in power and can do anything that he selects. As humans, we are expert emulators of our Father’s creative genius.
He seemed very sincere, objective and friendly but I soon detected his pseudo knowledge as he replaced any acknowledgement of God and instead, referenced the universe and the creation as life’s source. He explained that order, meaning and design had evolved from a huge cataclysmic accident. Design did not require a designer? There seems to be something anti-scientific in that approach to logic. As I dug deeper into his life, I discovered that his real problem was not merely an issue of understanding. He was endeavoring to put a shroud over truth because his heart was far from God and he was unwilling to repent or change. It is from out of the heart that life’s issues arise. (Proverbs 4:23). As we are lied to daily by our anti-Christ culture, we have a choice; are we going to believe God or man? “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15).
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“Constant Cleansing”
“Go out into the world 🌎 Uncorrupted… “ (Philippians 2:15) msg.
“ … the blood 🩸 of Jesus Christ … cleanseth. (continually cleanses) us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
Without perpetual, constant cleansing, our bodies would quickly die. Constant cleansing and replenishing of nourishment is essential. Our entire human organism works 24/7 purging our multiple systems of toxins. The Creator put us together for time and for eternity. Temporary physical and soulish limitations will be replaced with unrevealed spiritual expansions in His timing.
Physical antibodies and sustaining sanitation’s are essential in both body and spirit. Our blood carries out physical and chemical impurities and the 🩸 Blood of God’s Lamb separates from us our spiritual, selfish, sinful degradations. “The Life is in the blood.” (Leviticus 17:14). That which our blood does within the human body; our Savior’s Blood does within our inner and inner- most person. Constant cleansing and empowerment are essential. His blood is the divine detergent. His Spirit is our divine energy.
“Necessary Failures”
Much of our learning skills and acquired knowledge are obtained through learning curves, which we commonly call human and moral failures. In our moral and ethical life departments, we often find this condition humanly, irritating. These, “mistakes” and sins plus our, “Bent towards evil,” (Genesis 8:21), make constant, soul cleansing essential.
Bobby, the son of one of my elders, was a chemical alcoholic. From the first beer that he drank to his goring death, he would consume any kind of alcohol available. He was both addicted to and allergic to alcohol. Bobby told me of his conversion to Christ and his Christian journey which included repeated spiritual failures. He was murdered on the streets of Houston. As I prepared to preach his funeral, my wounded heart broke for his devout Christian parents. Religious pride and churchy judging is also a spiritual entrapment. Bobby was trapped in chemicals and death was God’s way to break his dependent bondage. Does Messiah’s Blood reach that deep? Does our Father’s care for us plunge to the depths of disease, the grave and hell? YES! The love of God is far greater than we can think or imagine and reaches to the heights and depths of His children’s painful failures. All eternal, spiritual life is in the blood 🩸 of our Heavenly Father’s Lamb. His blood is constant in its cleansing power, even when we are inconsistent. We are each and all sinning sinners, saved by grace plus nothing.
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“Community of The Spirit”
(Matthew 18:18ff. msg.)
“…. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this… When two of you … make a prayer … my Father in heaven goes into action… when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
Sweet fellowship is a community of spirit. This relationship doesn’t require big numbers or a religious setting. The undergirding secret power in America is the multiplex of very small groups all across our country. Covid has not cancelled this spiritual dynamo. Meetings of 2 to 22 occur daily, and the Spirit of Jesus Christ shows up. Spiritual power does not reside in Rome, it is wherever Messiah shows up.
Harold Neal knocked on my office door early one hot and steamy morning, in S E Texas. Brother Neal was a seasoned, medically retired. pastor. He and his lifetime companion, Ruby, were members of the new congregation that Linda and I were beginning to pastor. We met for fellowship prayer and mentoring many times. He poured his very spirit into me and the ministry we supported. We shared a community of spirit. That is what, “mentoring,” is. There are two primary mentors for me since I moved to Tyler, Texas over 12 years ago and it is my joy and privilege to mentor to several persons both in and out of the states. The internet has opened up a vast host of such opportunities to many of us. Each of us can build networks around the world. My friend, Dr. Jose’ Pascua and his wife, Joyce, currently lead over 250 mentoring net works in every country in the world. (The International Joshua Generation). What others may abuse or misuse for selfish purposes, we can allocate for redeeming relationships. We each can start today and build a community of spirit. Why not?
“2 or 3 with God is
Majority!”
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“Deep Energy:”
There are levels of power within the human being.
(Philippians 2:12 ff.) msg.
“… Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.”
Build Deep Spirited Friends:
Esteeming others above ourselves may seem uncomplicated but, to live such requires living grace. This simple approach to others sets in motion an activity of the innermost person, (The Human Spirit), and is a key element in building deep spiritual relationships. Deep Energy is conceived within these mutual correlations. Deep Energy abides in the bosom of the Trinity. While each of the three persons of the Triune Godhead is unique in character, powers and attributes, they are ONE in motivation, purpose, eternal will and destiny. They desire to be at one with us both individually and collectively. We are created in a trinity of body, soul and spirit; in the image of our Creator.
“Power of Unity”
A 3 fold cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) When the Body of Christ is in sync, it is dynamic. Several small groups of business men and women meet regularly, for prayer, in Tyler, Texas. Of all the many places that I have resided, Tyler is number one in influential, spirit power. As l witness to others daily and individually disciple a few men, I meet many fellow Christians out in the highways and byways of life. Home churches and home schools, like those in the first generation church, have powerfully resurfaced in America. Plug into or create a small group of fellow believers. Create a three fold deep energy source, you will not be alone. The Spirit of Jesus will join your group, (Matthew 18:20).
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“Transitioning:”
“…. don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.” (Isaiah 43:18 ff.)
Our Father is eternally contemporary. His movements are historically connected but not bound to or limited to historical norms. He is not paralyzed into neutral or reverse. His vision is ever outward, foreword and upward. He freshly creates human-beings, not human has-bens, or human-will- bees.” He leads us into a perfect tense of present continuous cognition and ingenious discoveries.
I attended a local church denomination 4 years ago. It was dying, and nearing extinction. Yesterday I revisited the historically, “Old School,” congregation. It is now bi-lingual, moderate-contemporary and dynamically alive. The young Spanish American preacher was on point in every way. Did it please me, an 82 year old, philosophically conservative, “Old School,” American in every way? Of course not. But transitions are absolutely essential and we must humbly and holistically embrace them, they too are a part of our Father’s Will and plan for each of us.
We are Transitioning:
We shall leave these physical bodies and go through a series of transitions in the near future. With open arms and wide eye 👁 joyous expectations, we clasp to our hearts something good that will soon embrace us and carry us ⬆️ to a place called, “paradise.” Much the same as as our Savior was departed from his disciples in
(Luke 24:50 ff.).
“He led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” KJV
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“Is Life Complicated?”
(Philippians 4:11 ff.)
Msg.
“ …. I’ve learned by now to be content whatever my
circumstances.”
Life was not complicated on planet Earth until people appeared and made selfish choices. Even Heaven was unabated and non-threatened until a very bright angel became a narcissistic nightmare, temporally threatening the sovereign Godhead and forever became known as Lucifer. We humans are certainly a peculiar people. Our Creator must have a very high Grace- toleration level to love us and endear himself to the likes of each of us!
(11 Peter 3:8ff.)msg.
“God… is restraining himself on account of you … He doesn’t want anyone lost.”
(KJ), “… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
I’ve heard people say, “Those Jews are a rebellious bunch.” Yes, and so are all of us!
Our Father works with and through His children to make our lives make sense. It was He who said, “It is not good that the man should be alone ….” His greatest gifts to us are persons. Our Father has enriched my life with so many wonderful persons. Zula Ball was a sister in Christ, twice my age, who became my prayer warrior in my very early years of ministry. There was a gentle fervency in her prayers. She often wept as she and her wonderful husband, J. D. prayed over me. My Heavenly Father gave them to me, what a gift! May we never take persons for granted. God’s people smooth out many of life’s complications. Jesus is our hero, our Father’s greatest gift to us and our dearest friend. Do you know him, or do you just know about Him?
(Philippians 4:13) msg.
“ … I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”
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“The Intolerable Sting:”
“Jesus Wept.”
John11:35
Living on the edge of life, often capitulates with the sting of death. Why does the death of our beloved hurt so intensely? Even Jesus, who is both the resurrection and the life was moved to tears at the grave of his dear friend, Lazarus.
“The Creative Creature”
When a creator produces a secondary creative entity, the primary creator divulges some degree of unrestricted information, power and authority which can result in good or evil. This fact is exemplified in the creation of both angels and humans. We often don’t know how far the ripples of our decisions go. Adam’s and Eve’s decisions, thousands of years ago ripple down to us every day. Theirs was a secondary creature/creative power. Neither Adam nor Eve were afflicted with the weakness of, “Carnal Instinct,” until after their decision to obey Lucifer rather than to obey their divine Creator, our Heavenly Father. This, “Carnal Nature” is what God makes mention of In (Genesis 8:21), where He refers to it as a, “Bent toward evil.” King David identified it and wrote that, “In sin did my mother conceive me.” The Apostle Paul refers to it when he says, “that which I would not do, that I do ….” Sinning has consequences and so does its resultant ripples.
“I’m So Sorry”
He and his wife were visitors on a Sunday morning worship service. He was one of the surviving sailors on the sinking “Indianapolis,” war ship of the Second World War. He swam with the sharks in the bloody Pacific Ocean and lived to tell the stories of floating upper torso’s of his fellow sailers. These events permanently afflicted him. Cigarette chain smoking seemed to relieve the after shock syndrome of the war. His wife, whom he adored, was soon diseased with lung cancer from the secondary results of his Camel cigarettes. As she lay dying, he, through tears of deep regret said, “I’m so sorry, I killed the very person whom I have loved most.” The sting of death is intolerably cruel.
“The Last Adam”
(1 Corrections 15:45)
The first man, Adam left us a sinful, bent toward evil. The last Adam, Jesus Messiah, frees us from the penalty of sin. He is in the process of freeing us from the power of sin and He shall free us, at our resurrection, from the presence of sin. Sin is a terminal spiritual disease. Jesus Christ is sins only anecdote, remedy. The sting and stench of sin and death would eternally be our inheritance were it not for the fact that the Son of God defeated sin on the cross. He conquered death and the grave at His resurrection. (Ephesians 4:8)(1 Corinthians 15:55ff.) the eternal sting and stench of death and the grave will be cast into hell. When the flue or other disease leaves our physical bodies, our enzymes, elimination track and immune system casts it out, we are experiencing the process of healing. The disease of sin and death, likewise, cannot abide the presence of Jesus’ divine 🩸 blood and resurrection power.
Through both life and lip we share Him with others daily. Ours is a healing ministry, like our Master, who never came to earth to condemn any human, we are not here to condemn anyone. All sin is cruel to both its host, the person sinning and to the many affected by that sin. We, as believers, are both in the process of being saved from the powers of sin and being healed from its dominion and results. We are also daily, by both actions and words, allocating a healing anointing to others.
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“Broken Pieces”
What does God desire of us after our failures have mutated into ashes? He does clearly dictate His detailed desires for completely failed humanity, and it may not be what we would imagine. The prophet Jeremiah was called by God to preach to a devastated Israel. It was too late to salvage by repenting. They would be carried off as prisoners for 70 years. (Jeremiah 26-31).
“Live Well In Babylon”
(Jeremiah 29:4ff.) Msg.
“This is the message from God …. To the exiles I’ve taken from Jerusalem to Babylon:
‘Build houses and make yourselves at home … Put in gardens …. Marry and have children …. Work for the country’s welfare …. Pray for Babylon’s well-being …. Don’t let all those so-called preachers and know-it-alls … take you in with their lies …. I never sent them …. As soon as Babylon’s 70 years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up …. And bring you … home.”
Profit making Christendom, which I often referred to as, “Capitalistic Christianity,” is in a direct conflict with Jesus’ clear teachings of what His original purpose and intent was. Compare His greatest sermon’s basic tenants to what is promotionally delivered on Sunday morning’s T V, and radio’s daily religious stars appeals, ( Matthew 5-7).
“A Broken World”
We live within a broken world. How are we then to live? We are citizens of two countries. One is temporary, the other is permanent. Our Father’s directions to Adam; Noah. After the flood; Jeremiah, for Israel during 70 years of captivity in Babylon and to us today is very similar: Live well, be fruitful and multiply. Be a blessing, a bridge for the broken, right where you are. We have been designed for such a time as we now inhabit.
Doug was tired, defeated and disgraced. He was by no means a perfect husband or daddy, but now all seemed lost. He said that he had ruined his life. His dad was a well known radio preacher in his day. As Doug poured out his broken heart he confessed guilt, shame and utter failure. “I’ve lost everything,” he confessed, “what should I do?” My response, like many others, was simple, “God can mend broken hearts, broken marriages and your broken family if you will humble your heart and let His Spirit lead you.” He did just that and in a lengthy time period God did heal, “The Broken.” Years later Doug testified, “It is well, it is well with my soul.” We can be our Father’s Bridge for The Broken! They are all around us. There is someone who can make things right. His name is Jesus. Our prayer is simply; “Let my ♥️ heart be broken for the things that break the heart of our Heavenly Father!”
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“God Said, It’s Over!”
What’s Over? All of my life people have predicted the catastrophe of human doom. Every political election is, “more critical,” than all previous voting cycles, we are told. The, “political saviors,” that we vote into office never seem to solve our fearful, anger ridden problems. We usually vote for, what we consider to be, the lesser of two evils. So, in complete contrast, when the genuine, final authority of all living flesh declares, “ It’s Over.” We should pay close attention to what he means.
(Genesis 6:11 ff.) Msg.
“As far as God was concerned, the Earth had become a sewer … violence everywhere … everyone corrupt and corrupting … to the core. God said to Noah, ‘It’s all over. It’s the end of the human race … I’m making a clean sweep…’”
And then after the flood:
(8:21 ff.) “I’ll never again curse the ground because of people. I know they have this bent toward evil from an early age, but I’ll never again kill off everything living as I’ve just done…. For as long as Earth lasts ….”
“Covenants”
Divine Covenants are agreements which our Heavenly Father has made with his creation-posterity: Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, King David, The New Covenant, by and through Jesus Christ, which is defined by His life, actions and teachings. He that was at one time, “With us,” is now, via His Spirit, “living within us.” God’s agreements concern His relationships with both individual persons and groups of people. When God told Noah that, “It’s Over,” He was speaking of the persons of Noah’s contemporaries, with the exception of Noah’s family. Each Divine Covenant was specifically designed for the persons intended. Each Divine Covenant averts the eminent road to ruin for God’s elect.
“The New Covenant”
We are both cheered and grieved as humans, by each other daily. “The Last Days,” “The New Covenant,” “The Kingdom of God,” each and all are references to our present dispensation. All earlier dispensations fervently desired the arrival of this, “Kingdom of God,” era. Our Father is not through creating and we will be involved in His coming projects. We look foreword, upward and outward. May we keep our focus on Jesus as he continually orders us to, “Fear Not!” Yesterday I counseled with an 88 year old gentleman who, after over 60 years in his chosen business, still, daily, manages a multi million dollar business enterprise. His younger understudy is failing in business because he can’t successfully relate to people. The business will soon be in deep water and will possibly, ultimately collapse. We need to be much more Spiritually Sensitive to persons, to others and much less nerve impaired with this passing worlds freaky events. Turn off the “News.” Tune in to The Word and The Great Spirit. Replace fear with faith. Replace anger with acts of kindness. Replace negative speech with uplifting nuggets of hope and good will.
“Bless and Curse Not!”
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“When, good isn’t
Good Enough:”
“Why are you calling me good.?” (Luke 18:19 ff.) msg.
The credentialed, religious professionals routinely demanded proof from Jesus that he was politically correct and spiritually, “credentialed”.
(Mark 8:11, 11:27ff.)(Luke20).
They were agitated with His daily demonstrations of practical authority over sin, disease, life, death and nature. When he asserted that he was the, “I Am” of their historical scriptures, he became intolerable to them and they endeavored to prematurely murder him. (John 8:59). Jesus clearly believed that He possessed, “ALL” authority of both heaven and earth. (Matthew 28:18). These were explicit and obvious, facts that were publicly performed for all to witness and they were undeniable, but these smug religionists repeatedly, reacted and disputed their origins. They angrily, refuted reality. Therefore, when they referred to him as, “good,” to his face, he knew and quickly exposed their deceitful hypocrisy. Antichrist’s, both Jewish and others, continue to this very day, looking upon Jesus the Christ as their ancient nemesis. Defining the essence of Jesus, the Christ is more than difficult, it is humanly impossible and only partially defined at best. This is not a half man / half computer. This is not even a half man / half God. Jesus Messiah is fully God and fully human.
“Defective Sensors”
The Carnal Heart is at enmity with God as it fabricates its own defective, human sensors. Moral values are humanly redefined and, “good,” is drained of its original content, definition and intent and it is replaced with self serving, narcissistic motivations. Words, phrases and legislation which are deceptively revised. Original intent and meanings are often reversed. Our human minds, when void of the Great Spirit’s jurisdiction, are error controlled, due to the defective sensors which are created by, “The Carnal Mind,” (Romans 8:7ff.). This impairs human cognitive powers. Defective Sensors have crashed airplanes, created devastating malfunctions of normal daily life and ruined relationships. They now attempt to bury and rewrite history in America.
“The Real Deal”
We are never more genuine than when the Spirit of Jesus Christ controls our whole person. This is true Biblically and it is His own practical daily living utterance in and through us. Jesus, Messiah is not just good, He is God, living in and through his elect every day. He doesn’t ration His presence to us, He prescribes, in fine detail each unique expression and revelation.
On Monday of this week, I told a young lady that I saw Jesus in her person, which was true. That simple statement encouraged her with, fresh energy, renewed determination and JOY! May people look at you and me today and see Jesus living through us. Look for and see the Lord Jesus in someone today and tell them what you see. Jesus, through us creates fresh hope, peace, refreshed vigor and a joy filled Life!
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“God’s Perspective”
(1 Corrections 4:6) Msg.
“It’s important to look at things from God’s point of view.”
When our son Tim drowned to death at age 32, my life crashed. Linda’s health plummeted, we were in and out of the emergency room weekly. My business suffered greatly due to my absence and the church that I by-vocationally pastored, patiently and lovingly helped anchor my soul.
I would angrily wake up, nightly, at 2:22 A M in bitter tears asking God why He was so angry with me and why He hated me. This bitterness crashed in upon me one morning when the Great Spirit answered my accusations, as He did Job’s, by lifting me up out of my morbid self and allowed me to view my life and the “Crash,” from His perspective. It was the beginning of a new season of life for me. From that moment things began to make sense.
“Life’s Hard Times”
There is no other experience in life that has crushed me so much as losing a child. My wife’s long, tedious, extended illnesses and death was hard, but no comparison to Tim’s tragic drowning. Getting our Father’s perspective in such momentous tragic moments is essential for a healing ❤️🩹 homeostasis.
Life’s difficult times can help us put things in proper proportion, but, only after He lifts us up and allows us to see things from His perspective. The old hymn describes this spiritual lifting with its benefit of a fresh view: “Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith, on heaven’s table land, a higher plain than I had found, Lord plant my feet on higher ground.”
“I want to scale the utmost heights and catch a glimpse of glory bright ….” We need to see things from our Father’s perspective! It is then that real healing begins.
As I write this “Short Sketch,” just outside my window a shy morning dove 🕊and a very aggressive male bright Red Cardinal are feeding within the same bird seed 🍲 bowl, not because they prefer each other’s company, but for the need to replenish their hungry three chambered stomachs. They tolerate each other. We too can both tolerate and be a blessing to others even in non-perfect environments. Jesus does so with us daily. Through Him we see our Father’s Perspective on our individual, unique lives afresh every day.
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“He Picks Sweet Fruit”
The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit live in a non-created Agape Love relationship that has neither a beginning nor an ending. They invite us into that mystery/relationship, that is called, “Eternal Life.” Eternal life is much more than a duration or extension of time, it is a quality of living RELATIONSHIPS. There is both an, “Us-mess and a one-ness with God. The Lord our God is, “ONE.” Let US make man in, “OUR image.” Each of the persons of the Holy Trinity and their eternal relationships with each other is an enigma to us as humans. We can embrace this fact without understanding it or it’s complexity by a, “faith choice,” which is, “granted,” to us by our Triune Godhead. Religious professionals, like Saul of Tarsus, know about God. Spirit filled Christians, like the Apostle Paul, KNOW God through their fellowship with the Spirit of Jesus Messiah. “One heart and soul and mind they prove, that union heaven gave us.” “Oh Children, How this perfect Love unites us all in Jesus!” This fellowship includes both sufferings and sweet rejoicings!
(Genesis 5:1 ff. ) Re-tells the creation story in a briefed fashion: “This is the family tree of the human race: When God created the human race, he made it …. With a nature akin to God …. Adam lived … 930 years ….Seth lived 912 years …. Jared lived 962 years …. Enoch walked steadily with God … 365 years … and then one day he was simply gone: God took him.” (Did you get that?) God desired to walk daily with Adam and Eve but they hid from God, but not Enoch, he loved that Sweet Fellowship, that sweet relationship with God’s inner circle. Did God abbreviate his life span on earth, it sure looks like it, and if so, why?
A lover of fresh, sweet fruit, am I, and so is our Heavenly Father. On occasion, it is my belief, that He takes extended walks with some of our loved ones, including little children, infants and the unborn, and their destination crosses the time/eternity barrier into paradise. Others of us must make a few more trips around the block of life, sometimes as a ministry for the benefit of others and periodically for self development in our own behalf. The details for such intricate decisions are in the capable hands of our Master, the Lord of all life, Jesus Christ. So, the next time He receives one of our loved ones into Paradise, “early,” remember, “He Picks The Sweet Fruit.”
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“Making Things Right”
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“… I will make a fresh and true shoot sprout from the David - Tree. He will run this country honestly and fairly. He will set things right.”
(Jeremiah 33:15) msg.
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Our God is the Sovereign architect, engineer, contractor and builder of this majestic universe. A universe of multiple galaxies. He is also a very stubborn Savior! His purposes and pleasures preceded creation and very, very slowly they are revealed within and through his activities. His clear dealings with Abraham, Moses, several prophets, priests, and kings ushers in an evolution of revelation as human intuitive powers are refined by experiential knowledge, divinely granted, understanding and heavenly wisdom, which creates and refines human intelligence, creating cognitive powers that are fine tuned by divine revelation. Real Science 🧬 is the natural results of truth, explored and proven to be factual.
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Genuine biblical faith is built upon fact. God, our Father is Life, truth, justice, righteousness and grace. Each of these spiritual elements compliments the existential whole. Our Master Mind Designer creates both supply and demand. He balances both the seen and unseen universe. Harmony and symmetry are the natural sequel of obedience to Him. Disobedience creates the opposite; anarchy, deception, confusion, tyranny, wars, the butchering of the unborn humans, starvation, slavery, diseases and death.
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It was into such a status that God called Jeremiah to prophecy. He did not rebell against God, as Jonah did, but he didn’t really desire to do so either, but God required his devoted obedience, so, he complied. His relatives, fellow prophets and just about everyone else were offended by him and ashamed of him. Some folks mocked him, physically attacked and abused him, put him in prison, trapped him in muddy cisterns and considered him to be enemy number one. Many desired to kill him, but he obeyed God and warned them of the coming Babylonian disasters, while the other preachers in town declared that people should support the liberal federal leadership, remain loyal, positive and enjoy the, “Prosperity Gospel,” which they proclaimed. The public could see the prosperity which they convinced others of by viewing the new charities and beautiful stallions which carried these prophets through town or the multiple mansions which they owned and the fine apparel they and their families adorned. Oh yes, they indeed believed and proclaimed prosperity. They indeed were, “Profit-ters.” But God put a prefix before their title, “FALSE,” yes they were and are, “False- Prophets.”
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“Expensive”
Getting things right is expensive. There were intervals when leaders were approached by God’s prophets and were both forewarned and appealed to; that if they would listen and obey, their children’s lives and their lives would be spared, but they refused to listen and obey. As I write this Muse, America is being forewarned. We are in a pre- catastrophic mode. Our evil, demonic, federal bureaucrats are in a delusion. They call evil, “good,” and good, “evil.” The dark voices that guide them are from Lucifer. Getting out of our present dilemma will not be cheap, but, the longer we remain where we are, the more expensive life will become. This was the sad condition in Jeremiah’s struggle. Consider some of the cost for Israel:
👩⚖️ Their king and his sons slaughtered,
👩⚖️ Their cities burned into ashes.
👩⚖️ Their loss of every physical possession.
👩⚖️ 70 years of captivity to Babylonian lords.
👩⚖️ Death of a generation.
Their political and spiritual leaders turned a rebellious, deaf ear to Jehovah’s warnings and Jeremiah’s pleading tears. The general public was dumbed down and acted as though they didn’t know who to believe. Today a Christian lady told me that her church was losing members because their pastor would not take a spiritual stand on contemporary social/spiritual issues. Today in America 🇺🇸 many people don’t know who to believe and many in the clergy will not stand with God, as Jeremiah did. It might cost them something! However, more and more of the American public know what our deplorable, “Deep State” has done to our own citizens. Non legally elected politicians and bureaucrats secured a medical, “Emergency Authorization,” to politically force the injection of our citizenship with experimental drugs which have weakened multitudes of our immune systems and made millions of us vulnerable to diseases, weaknesses, infections and premature death. We are the Guinea-pigs of an insane governmental elite. Depopulation of the middle class, “the deplorables,” will expedite the repopulation, depopulation and redistribution of our citizenry, wealth and political power.
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“The Root and Offspring
Of King David:
(Revelation 22:16 ff.)
“I Jesus … am the root and the offspring of David …. “
(Isaiah 11:1 ff.)
“There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”
(Isaiah 9:6 ff.)
“The seed of the woman shall be born in the house of David.”
David was the progenitor of the seed of Eve, which is fulfilled in the virgin Mary’s first born child, Jesus The Christ, who fulfilled the divine promises and the hungry expectations of God’s elect. David’s father, Jessie and David both, were, “rooted,” in Jesus Christ. There is more truth in these two facts than I can cognitively process. It is also true that Jesus Messiah, is the, “offspring,” “Shooting Sprout,” Living “Stem,” of King David. Jesus both preceded and succeeded King David. David’s kingdom was an interlude whereas, Messiah’s Kingdom is everlasting. David will live everlastingly. Jesus, The Second Person of the glorious Triune Godhead IS Eternal, having no beginning of days nor end of years. He IS timeless. The poet, Faber declared of Him, rightly; “Eternal Thou, and everlasting, we.”
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“What A Mess:”
We celebrated my grandson’s thirtieth birthday recently. During the party, Lanedon shared some of the humerus events that he experienced, growing up as an dyslexic child, and there were several. One of them went like this: He took his dad’s ATV on a trip through a very dense patch of woods near their house and of course the tree limbs, debris and trees almost destroyed the Arctic Cat. What a mess, which required his dads hard work and expensive repairs. This is a picture of what Jeremiah foresaw. The nation of Israel had declined beyond repair. Judgment was now inevitable. The Babylonians were already at their gate, tearing it down. Their king and his two sons were doomed; the two sons were stabbed to death in their father’s presence and he was horribly enslaved and died miserably.
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“Life’s Finale”
The Bible is very descriptive of the events that transition us from this present earth stage and the soon 🔜 occurrence of Jesus Messiah’s return to planet earth. (Jeremiah 33:16 ff.), gives us a condensed summary of these events by simply declaring that Messiah Himself shall, “Make Things Right.” This is not Dante’s humanly conceived, fear ridden, “ Inferno.” This is not Satan’s pleasured, Hollywood’s dark side success. It is quite the opposite. The World System, The Devil, Death, Sin, the flesh nature and the grave will be cast into Hell. Jesus Messiah has already paid the cost for our redemption from all of these corrupt enemies. Jesus will rule as our Father’s Monarch. For the redeemed there will be a great judgment of rewards. Our weeping shall be transformed into laughter. The details of times and events and the theological differences and debates shall cease as reality replaces hypothesis and theory.
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“Focus”
Religious leaders use abusive fears of the unknown, eschatology, death, hell, Satan, and various interpretations of prophetic scriptures. With their bully pulpit, they enslave the ignorant and vulnerable and bilk them of their life savings and freedoms in Christ. They are religious profiteers. Everywhere Jesus went, He said, “Fear Not.” These false, blind, spiritual guides are saying, “Fear A Lot.”
As believers, we are covered with the precious blood 🩸 of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God actively lives within us and ministers through us daily. We both receive and bestow forgiveness on all. Our focus is not on ourselves or even on others. Our focus is on Jesus Christ himself; The Only One of His Kind, “Son of God.”
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“Seeing The Invisible”
He had just been released again from the county jail. Since his wife and children attended our church, I was asked to visit him. He resented my presence and it was obvious that I was unwelcome. After a couple endeavors to relate to him and show compassion and friendship, which failed, in silence, I asked The Spirit for guidance. That’s when this thought became words through me to him: “Jim, when I look at you, I see a diamond 💎 in the rough.”
That simple statement changed everything. We related. We communicated.
People desperately need us to see something of value in them and then tell them what we see. This is possible with The Holy Spirit’s help. He sees what we cannot see and will communicate it through each of us. “Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.”
( 1 Thessalonians 5:15 Msg.)
The Word and The Spirit give us eyes of faith, if we request them for unselfish purposes. We can see the invisible and rejoice as our friends, neighbors, strangers and enemies see hope through our eyes.
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“Be His Lifter”
Life can hit you in the gut and lower you to the dust. The actions and attitudes of others can also throw mud in your face. In my second pastorate, I was experiencing a, “Morbid Monday.” This happens with some of us in ministry. Sunday is a demanding high and Mondays can be a physical and mental downer. (“Come aside and rest.”) It was a chilly, damp Monday morning and I was headed to do hospital calls when I came to an abrupt stop as The scene in the street before my eyes shocked me into a fresh reality; A man with two canes and one good leg was struggling to cross the wet street in the frosty rain. It took every thing within him just to make it across that street.
My tears rolled down my cheeks as I asked our precious Savior to help him and forgive me for my self sympathy. Sometimes our attention gets stuck on SELF. Life’s answers often come to us when we find ways to LIFT someone else. Jesus lifted persons every day, so can we. “Levelers,” bring people down to their own self pity; LIFTERS lift persons up to Jesus Messiah.
Be His Lifter today!
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“The Unreachable?”
Do we each and all reach for the unreachable, and if so, why? A vision of a different life has lured many persons at some venturous moment. We don’t have to be on a sand blown desert 🐪 to envision a mirage. The vision can be good or bad. Open doors of opportunity have been guiding stars to young people on more than one occasion. Balance in life requires us to be contented dreamers. We are thankful pursuers helping others achieve their dreams. This is the wholistic person that we were created to become, experiencing the joy of living with others on this very neat little planet. This is Reaching The Unreachable.
May the unreachable become achievable in your life today!
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“Feelings or Faith”
Fickleness is a normal sequel to living on the sensitive edge of feelings. There is a therapeutic alternative. We can replace feelings with faith. Sarah had been to every counselor in town and neither their prescriptions nor their procedures brought peace to her aching heart. Healing therapy’s must reach deeper than surface feelings if they are to bring a lasting peace. Without faith it is impossible to know our Heavenly Father or the peace that he benevolently prescribes. Jesus Messiah speaks peace
to you!
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“Only The Lowly.”
🧎♂️
“…. Simon Peter … fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
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Simon Peter and his fishing co-workers had fished all night and caught nothing, it happens! Jesus shows up, tells them to move out to deeper water and cast their nets on the other side of the boat. The results are unbelievable to the Big Fisherman, Peter. 156 big fish fills two boats to a sinking capacity. Peter recognizes the obvious, he had never seen anything close to what was happening right before his eyes. This was a God thing! Suddenly, he felt fear as he looked at and reevaluated this person that he has started to follow, who is this “Stranger from Galilee?” Peter shockingly, suddenly realized that he was standing on Holy Ground, that he had entered the Holy PRESENCE of Jehovah. (“The Message,”) translation has it: “Master, I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.”
Peter the “Big Brave Fisherman,” was smitten with terror. He had, as a Jewish man, without warning, unintentionally, and “illegitimately,” entered The Most Holy Place, and he feared for his life until Jesus says; (:10) “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” Peter was kneeling before the genuine Temple, (Dwelling Place,) of God; later Jesus referred to his physical body as God’s Holy Temple when He prophetically declared, “Destroy this TEMPLE and I Will raise it up ⬆️ in 3 days.” Our bodies are also called temples, within which The Holy Spirit abides:
(1 Corinthians 3:16ff.)
God no longer dwells in buildings made by human hands. (Acts 7:48, 17:24).
The Old Testament Sanctuary, (Temple,) fulfilled its purpose, it contained a box called, The Ark of the Covenant,” within which the PRESENCE of God dwelt. God’s PRESENCE came to our planet in human form, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus is the I AM, He said to Phillip that, If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father. God now dwells within His people. We live within The Kingdom of God age! “Thy Kingdom Come, Now …. “ “Thine IS the Kingdom, present-contentious tense. “NOW.” Jesus and the Kingdom which he proclaimed was and is the turning point in history. God is no longer to be found in a box within a physical building, He comes to us in flesh and blood, symbolized by Wine and Bread. He has moved us from a man made temple with God in a box to the living God in a body. The eternal God/Man. His commandments are no longer chiseled on cold, dead stone, they are engraved into our spirit and upon the living, pulse beating hearts of the heirs of His Kingdom. We may come freely right into th inner most, Holy of Hollies to the throne of grace any day, every night and day to the Holy PRESENCE located within the temple located within our hearts. We are His living stones! He writes His Story through us every day. We are being written into His Book of ACTS.
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The last person that I baptized was a converted lesbian, she had become harsh and hurtfully brazen. Men had horribly mistreated and abused her, beginning with her own dad. Her response was to bitterly hate men and become enslaved to the lusts of other women. Like Mary Magdalene she needed to be loved by Heaven’s Gentle Shepherd, she shunned His PRESENCE until she lay broken and bleeding with a deadly carcinoma, consuming her body. It was at this delicate, lowly moment in her life that I met her and presented the Gospel to her. too physically debilitated to pursue water baptism in a baptistery, river or lake, yet intently desiring to know both internal and external cleansing; she asked me to pour water 💦 over her head as her method of baptism. After several appeals from me, that the saved thief on the cross with Jesus was Bible proof that a saved person can go to paradise, without water baptism, and with her insistent desire to obey Christ in this, her chosen manner, I, after many decades of pastoring, sprinkled a person in baptism for my first time. It was my joyous privilege, to see her rise from bitterness to brokenness and eventually, betterment, from hate to hope, from sin to salvation, and yes, from spiritual death to spiritual life. Religion can’t do that, but Jesus can and does. Jesus Christ lifts up the lowly and the fallen.
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Lofty attitudes are repulsive to the Son of God. Jesus, at 30 years of age, had observed both religious and non religious individuals for three decades, he preferred the nonreligious, probably because they were more genuine. (Luke 18:9 ff.) “He told his next story to some who were completely pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people:” why did Jesus tell the following story?
“Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ‘Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people —— robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’
Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ‘God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.”
Jesus commented, ‘This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God….
If you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”
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In these few words Jesus, God’s Messiah, enlightens us, as-to our Creator’s values, dislikes, toleration levels and the religious foolishness of institutional religion. Our Savior’s Kingdom is vastly contrasting to contemporary, Capitalistic Christianity. Jesus Christ did not come to earth to broker another religion, He established a disciple-making kingdom that will never cease. When religion, including the Various Jewish, Arab, Oriental and Western Christendom denominations becomes bureaucratic and political, as occurred with the Pharisees of Jesus’ experiences, and is now happening in America, they become intolerable to both God and thinking humans. On more than one occasion Jesus called them “Hypocrites,” to their face, publicly.
The,”Deep State” is politically active in both DC politics and Western religion. The Holy Spirit is shaking up the church and only, “the real” will survive. (Hebrews 12:18 ff.). (:26) “One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern.” Could this be the hidden, baffling mystery of why our Heavenly Father is currently allowing the U S A to plummet into Socialist, Communism?
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“Breaking Tradition”
Jesus insulted the religious traditions of the Jewish Fathers. Religious Bureaucrats placed more sacred worth on their man made traditions, distorted rules and selfish, corrupted values than they did on God’s clearly stated commandments and the daily leadership of the Holy Spirit. They wrested the Word of God, and Jesus called them out on it, therefore, they despised him. He never fit their mold, their faulted, perception of what Messiah should look and act like. This was true from His miraculous conception to his vicarious crucifixion and resurrection. Their god, loved placid, religious rituals and veneered, human perfection; Jesus loved sinners.
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A neighboring pastor and I were fishing together one day when he said, “Brother Bob, I sometimes wish that everyone of my deacons would mess up and openly sin.” As a considerably younger minister, I looked at him and said, “Why in the world would you want that to happen?” His response was classic: “Because, then, after they repent, they might get off of their rear end and actually do something.” They were content to be Stuck in neutral. They were, “At ease in Zion.”
Every great awakening breaks tradition. America broke tradition when it was founded. Luther, a Roman Catholic priest, broke tradition, and ushered in the Protestant Reformation. John and Charles Wesley were members of The Church of England, (Episcopal) broke tradition and birthed the Evangelical Revival, William Booth broke tradition and birthed the Salvation Army. Spurgeon, Moody, Graham and thousands more, like their Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, broke tradition. His Kingdom’s grace and truth brings life, hope and healing to a hurting 🌎 world, but traditions can’t.
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“Dirt Poor
Without a doubt Aunt Ruby was one of the most giving and loving women that Linda and I ever knew. We had relocated from Houston, Texas to the Piney Woods of central Louisiana. Sharp, Louisiana was a remote lumbering, small backwoods, unincorporated community. We were smack dab in the center of Louisiana, surrounded by thousands of acres of prime timber. The community was named after James Sharp who established the local U S Postoffice. His wife Vera, and his brother, Levi Sharp, attended the local church which we pastored. Levi was the chairman of our deacon board.
Next door to our church parsonage, about a mile away, in the secluded woods was a run down, unpainted, one room shack with an old, badly worn out, creaky wooden floor, which had some open holes through which you could see the dirt beneath it. Aunt Ruby lived there with her dog, cats and chickens. She lived on a small government check from which she both tithed and gave to those in need. Without question, Aunt Ruby was one of the poorest, kindest, most giving persons to everybody, that I have ever known. She asked for nothing, had nothing, but gave all, and was a happy person. Was she contented? Oh yes! She lived in peaceful harmony with God, her neighbors and with nature. Her love and devotion to Jesus, like evangelist Stephen in the book of Acts, gleamed and glowed from her face. She, indeed, was a lowly, lovely, elderly lady. There is a sweet presence of Jesus that only the lowly experience. They light up ⬆️ our Father’s spiritual universe as the nightly heavens are lighted by a brilliant sky full of bright stars and heavenly bodies 🌕 ⭐️.
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“Fasting”
(Psalm 35:13) “When they were sick, instead of eating, I prayed.”
11 Samuel 12:16 David humbled himself and refused food.
Matthew 4:1 ff. Jesus fasted for 40 days before his desert temptations with Satan.
King David was both powerful and very wealthy. He was a type “A”-personality, but he humbled himself by fasting and prayer. He became, “Lowly”. Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, came to earth in the most humble manner, born in a barn and wrapped in a blanket, Mary birthed him among the smell and sounds of farm animals.
When we exalt ourselves God humbles us, even if he has to allow us to humiliate ourselves to do so. This is an amazing spiritual principal. When we humble ourselves, sometimes through fasting, and servitude, He lifts us up to new heights. The greatest spiritual fasters are unknown. They fast and pray in secret closets, and tell no one. Physical fasting produces spiritual nourishment which desensitizes the lust of the flesh and energizes, sensitizes and sharpens the spirit. On occasion, when our physical bodies become ill, our brain and body initiate a, “natural fast.” Our appetite slumbers and sometimes sleeps for a season. My wife’s final three days at Hospice Hospital were illustrative of this fact. She slept often but when awake, her mind was sharp and sensitive as her body lost all desire and need for nourishment. She communicated a peaceful, “I love you,” “Good By,” and closed her eyes in a restful final sleep. There was no pain in her departure, she was at one with her wonderful Heavenly Father.
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“His Servants”
We serve Jesus when we, in his name, serve others, but oftentimes we must be brought down low so that we can live and serve the lowly. Last Sunday in a local church in the Tyler, Texas area an elderly gentleman visited in their adult Bible study. During the 45 minute class he said that he no longer believed that his life was worth living. He further mentioned 4 times that he was going to return to his house and overdose because no one cared anymore
In that class room sat a man who had served time for crimes that he had committed. The Holy Spirit urged him to follow the old man home and share his life story with him, which he did. The full results of that continuing servant ministry saga to a broken old man have yet to be registered. After sinners meet the Risen Christ, through His servants, they are uniquely equipped to serve the broken and life’s losers. Life’s Losers can help other losers. Jesus not only loves sinners, he calls them to fish for persons just as he did Peter.
🧎♂️
The future lies unseen ahead, It holds we no not what.
Our Father uses the lowly,
We must be lowly brought.
Both Prophets and Apostles, Sinners are they, one and all; From hopeless depths of hell, The Lowly serve at His call.
He reaches to me and thee,
As He did in days of yore;
To sinners such as we,
His lowly, we shall humbly be.
🧎♂️
Jesus did not come to earth to be served. He came to serve. Our Father gives us our daily portion of grace, truth and wisdom. His wisdom helps us discern the demarcation line between helping and enabling. We also need His Holy Spirits wisdom to understand the difference between moral guilt and emotional guilt. Satan manipulates over 80 percent of responsible Christians with emotional guilt and humanistic fears. Both guilt and fear produces psychological torments, which Jesus came to free us from, but, which religion controls the masses with.
“Who is that man, sitting on the corner of the street, With unwashed clothes, Having no shoes on his feet?
Doesn’t matter if we fly high, Or stumble and fall; God’s love reaches out to us, One and all.
Whether a pauper, or Angel
From above;
The Lowly are called to serve,
God’s amazing love.
(Hugh and Bob)
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“The Un-help-able”
“Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons.”
Denzel Washington
💫
We can often assist the hopeless, but rarely can we serve hope to the un-help- able. They will not, “Lower themselves,” to receive. They choose to remain in bondage. Denzel Washington is right. There were persons that Jesus Christ could not help, because they would not receive Him or his message. There were places where no miracles could be wrought. Jesus Messiah and his disciples, on occasion shook the dust from their sandals and moved on to the next village. The Holy Spirit will lead us in each servant solution setting. Human stars shine for a season, then they, blink, flicker and disappear; but our Father’s servants, “The Lowly,” shine forever. We shall shine, “as the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3)
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
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“Life’s Little Foxes:”
🦊 🦊 🦊
This “Muse” concerns my irritations with the old man, whose body I am obliged to live inside of. His little oddities and peculiarities, on occasion, exasperate me to no end, and they even embarrass me in some social settings. After searching the Bible for some spiritual insight on the matter I think I have a glimpse of God’s view on this issue.
(Proverbs 10:12) “…. Love covers all offenses.”
(Proverbs 13:3) “He who guards his mouth protects his whole body.
(1Peter 4:8) “ … Love covers over a multitude of sins.
(Song of Solomon 2:15)
“Catch … the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in bloom.”
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A careful study of the context of this last Bible verse makes it abundantly clear that Solomon is not talking about the relationship of small animals to vegetation. Revelations often contain two or more levels of interpretation. This revelation within its context, has at least three levels. We are defining level two within this Muse. Solomon is, in fact using the fox and the tender vines to illustrate the abrasions that often occur between two persons, or groups of people, who are friends. In this particular setting he is referring to the romantic bonding between two lovers, read the verses immediately before and following this verse’s very interesting choice of words.
❤️🩹
Relationships can be wounded, broken, repaired and even healed. Both deliberate and non-intentional words and actions, even very small expressions, can refresh or repel the connecting vines which we call, “Feelings.” Our sensors are both consciously and subconsciously, always active and turned on in our behalf.
When I was five years old our family lived on a tobacco farm near Williamstown, Kentucky. My dad was a non- identical twin, his name is Wilbur and his twin brother’s name, Willie. My uncle Willie and his family, on vacation, came to visit us from Dayton, Ohio and I was so excited! One day they decided that they were going fishing the following morning. I had overheard their conversation and since I had never been fishing, I began to picture myself with Dad, Uncle Willie and his son, my older cousin, Ronney, fishing together the next morning. I went to bed dreaming of what it would be like. That dream never materialized, because when I awakened the following morning they were already, “Gone Fishing.” The hurt wounded me deeply enough that here I am 77 years later in life, but I can still remember the event and the hurts that I felt. This, “SMALL Abrasion left a hurt in a little boy’s heart. I never felt anger about this misunderstanding, to my knowledge, only hurt.
Wars have been birthed and life-time friendships have been permanently destroyed, severed by, what began as a small misunderstanding or infantile personal or social bruise. Walls of social division are often built from a fabric so small as a misinterpreted, “Look,” 👀 .
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“Benevolent Communists?”
Is there such a creature as a, “Benevolent Communist?” Or Benevalent Socialist, or Benevolent atheist, etc. etc. Certainly, there are. We need to distinguish, however, the vast differences between the original, literal, etymological definition of words and the often twisted, contemporary, connotations that some ideologues have defiled and mutated these words into. They, often have besmirched original words, phrases and ideas into twisted concepts that have been spawned within a very immature and confused, collegiate populism. Very often, these twisters have actually reversed (Politicized), languages from their original meanings. Modern, Communism is definitely not, as their title implies, an equal distribution of goods, wealth and services, to the general public, which it claims for itself; it is quite the opposite, it metastasis into an elitist, pro-government police state. Contemporary Communism breeds evil dictators and breathes the venomous asp’s, toxic fumes of the deep state. There are both Democrats and Republicans who are benevolent Christians, some of both political groups desire the same pragmatic goals, but are in vicious disagreements as to how to achieve those goals. While, it is a fact that the Democratic Party is the party of death, inflation, high taxes and central government control; there are also some Republicans who are for these same disastrous social evils and they also want to disarm our average American families from the ability of protecting and defending themselves, while arming IRS agents to shoot, kill and cripple defenseless civilians. I am also acquainted with both liberals and conservatives who are greedy, selfish, cruel, unsympathetic, narcissistic bullies. We sometimes play political/philosophical mind games with ourselves and with others. God researches both our minds and our hearts. We may fool some people some of the time, but we never confuse our Father.
(Proverbs 4:23)
Life flows from our hearts, through our tongue, therefore, we must guard what our lips speak.
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“What the lips repeatedly say,
Within the heart it does stay.
💔
A few decades ago I taught a High School course on, “Personality Development.” Our syllabus placed, “Controlling our Daily Speech”, as the central session of the course. Both the tone and the content of our voice can build or banish the bridge of communication. If we start our day verbalizing negative remarks, such as, “I’m afraid that it’s going to be a bad day.” And If we tell that to 10 persons through the day, we have told it to ourselves 10 times and both our conscious and subconscious mind is convinced that we are, in deed, having a rotten day. Declare your fear and that fear will come upon you.
(Job 3:25). We become what we eat, what we read, what we believe, especially what we write down, and we also become that which we speak. Speech is creative! Never 👎 lie to yourself by asserting untruth, fears or damnable speech. We were created by a truly great person. We have been meticulously, purposely designed for fulfilling success. This is most often accomplished through learning curve corrections which we often declare to be, “human, failures.”
When we get saved we begin a long spiritual process, guided by a super computer that was implanted into our spirit at conversion. That, “Super Computer” is a living person, “The Holy Spirit.” He is the majestic, Third Person of The Trinity. When we begin to stray too far to the left, or right, He makes an, “in-course correction.” He says, to our spirit, “Back to the right, back to the left, back to the right,” or left until the correction is complete. We are designed, built, God-breathed, empowered, corrected and embraced by The Master Mind of the entire universe. ⭐️ 🪐 💫 our, “Inner-most-person”(Spirit) is energized to live forever. We are now living in stage two, getting ready to transition into stage three, and we’re just getting started!
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“Life’s Little Foxes”
In the Spring of the year, my Dad and I would search for wild mushrooms in the wooded section of our Ohio farm. My mother was a Kentucky gal, a delicious, Southern cook. She knew how to stretch a dollar and create nourishing, tasty, Southern Cuisine and this included the fresh, wild, edible mushrooms that dad and I brought home. One Sunday afternoon as we hunted mushrooms we saw three baby red fox 🦊 🦊 🦊 near their mothers den, but we discovered that their mother was dead, so we scooped them up and took them home. They were little, adorable, wild puppies, but they soon became our familiar wild natured, pets. All went well until our farm work multiplied and we had no time to daily pet and cuddle them. Their wild nature escalated and returned in force and we were obligated to return them to the Forrest. Their claws and teeth were not friendly and they longed for their freedom, which we gave them.
Little foxes 🦊 are cute until they get into the chicken coop, or destroy the tender vines in our gardens and then there’s a problem. There are several spiritual, species of, “little foxes,” which can destroy human relationships. Unresolved, little problems can and do grow large, sometimes swiftly, if unattended and neglected.
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“A Little Leaven”
Leaven is a yeast like substance, that puffs up its host. (Matthew 16:6 ff.) Jesus warns us, to beware of the leaven of religious people and other bureaucrats. We are each and all tempted to embellish facts and ideas to our benefit. This is often where half truths are born. Yeast adds an inviting appearance to its host and is in fact desirable to our taste buds for the moment. It puffs up ⚽️ expectations, enlivens taste buds and excites human emotions. Of course, Jesus was using physical yeast to explain a spiritual truth. When truths are falsely overstated, erroneously presented or blown out of proportion, they often mutate into heresy’s.
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I was making a late afternoon call, during our first country, pastorate, to a young couple who had been married a little less than five years. They were not members of our central Louisiana Parish, but were relatives of some of our church families. After visiting for half an hour or so, and nearing my exit, I saw in their living room, the largest Teddy Bear 🧸 that I have ever seen. After my commenting about its size, the young lady said, pointing to her husband, “Yes, when he gets really angry with me, in our conversations, he pounds the hell out of that bear.” I had already prayed with them, and this being my first pastorate, I was unsure how to follow up those sensitive remarks so I simply left, probably, a wise choice! 🤠
What is it in our little conversations that produces these annoyances within us? “Spiritual Yeast,” is the state of being less than genuine. Jesus declared that we should be cautious of, “the leaven of the Pharisees.” Exaggerations and avoidances within our lives and conversations produce multiple, gray area, questions that fester within our relationships and like a tea bag in boiling water, what’s inside boils up and finally surfaces and often blows up in our face. The art and science of honest, gentle speech is in a genius category of communication, skill sets. An honest heart with a gentle tongue will solace most agitations, and create an atmosphere of openness, objectivity and hearing hearts. We love each other’s unique differences until we don’t love them. We then become irritated with them. The irritation often becomes a cognitive inflammation and finally an unbearable vexation. Leaven is a little fox that gnaws irritatingly on our nerves and blocks the channels of creative, healthy relationships.
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“A Little Laziness”
(Proverbs 13:4)
“ The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing …”
These are God’s Words. They may sound non- sympathetic to some, but God is tough on lazy sluggards. If you have any doubt, carefully read His Master Mind comments:
(1Timothy 5:8),
(11 Thessalonians 3:10).
God had his Judge, Sampson, work as a Jackass; He had King Nebuchadnezzar eat and live like a cow; He disciplined a rebellious prophet, by having him live inside of a huge fish for three days and nights. Not all of His mannerisms are soft and smooth. Our Father is, by far the most benevolent person in the universe and His people are like him, but He is no fool and neither should we be. There are, unfortunately, evil, mean spirited persons dwelling among us who abuse, torture and murder the innocent and the ignorant. We are our brothers keeper.
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Our Beaumont, Texas local church family ran bus ministries into Vidor, Texas, which, at that time, was the office of the Texas KKK. One of our Vidor Families had a son, who had recently been released from a Federal Penitentiary. As I was visiting the Family one day this twenty some year old son appeared, to ask for money. Although he had been released for months, he refused to work and support himself. His parents and younger siblings were very poor, hard working folks. When they told him, “No,” that they were unable to give him more money, he threw a fit, right there in front of us. This sweet family had allowed him to bully them for several years. I looked straight at him and said to the family, “You folks need to throw this bum out on his ear.” To which, he retorted, “ You need to be careful preacher, I learned, in prison, how to handle persons like you.” Without a moments hesitation, I stared into his eyes and said: “Young man you think that because I’m a preacher, that I’m a pacifist, you are wrong. All of my guns stay loaded and if you endeavor to harm me or my family physically, I will shoot you and not call the coroner until after your body is cold.” I have never killed anybody and never plan to, but I will protect my family and defend myself. I will not be bullied! He left and I never saw him again.
(1 Timothy 5:8) Asserts that a person who will not provide for his own family is worse than an, “infidel.” Protection is certainly a provision.
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Irresponsible laziness is inexcusable, it has crushed many families and destroyed more than a few relationships. It often begins as a small puppy, but it can become a raging 🐺 wolf. Children who are not disciplined to be self supportive with self respect are abused children and they often, never recover. Jesus said that He and the Father work every day. We are made in His image to do likewise. As He rested one day a week, so should we. The biggest reason for divorce in America is a financial problem that can be partially solved by skillful, consistent sweat. Perspiration is a healing medication, that extracts both biological and psychological toxins.
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“Little Latent Longings”
Each of our lives is a book sectioned into several chapters. Not all books contain the same number of pages or chapters. We often grieve for those who are, “still born,” or experience an early departure from our current life, caused by accidents or diseases. Our sadness for them may be misguided, due, in part, to our current ignorance as to their present placement in our Father’s care for them.
Elder years often open doors to tricky little foxes. Regrets and unfulfilled expectations are but two of the several frustrating abrasions which visit us in midnight dreams and daily memories. The old man, whose body I reside inside of, awakens me on occasion with reminders of what coulda, ✔️ shoulda, ☑️ woulda ✅ been done at some earlier chapter in my life. Accepting who we really are, seems very difficult for most of us. Never envying the position of, or the success of, or the intellect of, or the ignorance of others, but embracing our Father’s choices of our placement in daily living is both wholesome and holy. Emitting a spiritual quietness and embracing others as joint heirs and fellow earth travelers is the natural results of being at one with our Father in His world. We, in our flesh nature, tend to either over-evaluate or under-evaluate ourselves. Most of us have experienced both of these, failing roles in our lifetime. You live long enough and you experience both the good and the bad, makes you appreciate the memories you have. These experiences can be learning curves within the several life cycles we labor through.
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We are one, of nearly eight billion persons (small images of our creator), currently residing on this neat little planet. We belong here, now, we are here by His choice. Those of us who are now writing ✍️ our final earth chapter in this segment of our eternal life, should realize by this time, that we actually are His drama. History is really, HIS Story. He procreated us when and where He desired us to be in His eternal portrait. That is right, we are each a part of a much larger picture and purpose, and, while we know a great deal more than we did while we resided within our mother’s womb, there is still a vast part of reality wherein we remain and function within dark shadows. We continue to reside in very limited intuitive insights, knowledge, understanding, wisdom and revelation.
At this particular life point, the most difficult person for me to deal with is the elderly gentleman that I live inside of. He keeps trying to transfer his guilts, failures, limitations, frustrations, daily blunders, increasing conversational repetitions, short term memory lapses and whatsoever else that he doesn’t like about life, to others, to God or the Devil and sometimes to you. This old guy is quite the trip!
But, what’s one to do? So, I suppose we’ll hang together for the rest of the trip. 🤠 👀.
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“God’s Love Language”
“Beautiful”
“Living Faith”
☔️
“Life happens, as we go ….. “
“As Jesus was entering the village of Capernaum, a Roman Captain came up in a panic and said, ‘Master my servant is sick. He can’t walk. He’s in terrible pain.’
Jesus said, ‘I’ll come and heal him.’ ‘Oh, No’ said the captain. ‘I don’t want to put you to all that trouble. Just give the order and my servant will be fine. I’m a man who takes orders and gives orders …. “ Taken aback, Jesus said, ‘I’ve yet to come across this kind of simple trust, in Israel, the very people who are supposed to know all about God and how He works …. Those who grew up ‘in the faith’ and had no faith will find themselves out in the cold, outsiders to grace and wondering what happened.”
(Matthew 8:5 ff.)
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“Body Life Hour”
Of all the Christian meetings, worship services, masses,seminars, etc. etc. that I have ever attended, none compares to a, “Body-Life Hour.” The book of Acts is a series, of the body of Christ in action, on the street, in homes, prisons, places of daily labor, in the court room, at the school house, wherever people mingle. It is an hour of power when average Christians report to the local body of Christ, what’s happening, out there. Spontaneous prayers happen. Praise and appreciation is encouraged. It is not a ceremony of a scripted religious ritual. There are awkward moments. Laughter and weeping naturally occurs.
Prayers of repentance, confessions, healings and intercession are heart felt and are both spiritual and spontaneous. The natural infusion of biblical truths are prayerfully applied to organic life. This is not a religious exercise, instead, it is a family time of sharing life, past, present and future. Most folks have never experienced this simple, spiritual family life time. The Living Body of Christ in action is an exercise of organic faith. Faith exercising, walking, listening, breathing, serving. “As you are going about, living your daily life win the lost, make disciples, lift up the downcast, heal the sick, encourage the neglected, etc., etc,. A beating heart, “Body Life,” happens, as we go, seven days a week. It is a Faith Forged life! “As Jesus entered,” a small village, (As he went along) healing Faith occurred. Daily, as we live our lives, Faith takes action (the contemporary Book of Acts) continues to happen and it is all recorded by the Holy Spirit in heavens library, and can be shared in both small and large, “Family of God,” settings.
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“Faith is God’s Love
Language”
(Hebrews 11:6 ff.) “ It’s impossible to please God apart from Faith …. “ some persons don’t believe you really love them if you don’t verbally tell them daily that you love them. Everyone of us has, “a love language.” To some it is letting them talk your ears off, to others, it requires them either giving or receiving a physical gift while to others, a physical hug or some other form of touch means, “I love you.” Our Creator knows that we love Him when we trust and obey him. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, till you trust and obey.”
Many folks are trying to get to God and communicate with him on their terms, using their own logic, while, sometimes borrowing the smart logistics of religious executives. Professional spiritual solicitors are often unfruitful and disappointed treasure seekers; likewise, the mystic’s Crystal Ball 🔮 also fails to offer a clear communication path into the guarded chambers of the Sovereign of the universe. Our Father can be found, but it will only be through the door of, simple, child like faith. Students and scholars may speak many languages, but when void of the communication, simple skill of faith, there will be no audience granted with the origin and keeper of life.
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“Just A Little Bit of Faith”
Max Fortenberry is the largest rancher that I have ever known. Max and Joyce were members of the last congregation that, my wife Linda and I pastored. They are true Texans, in every way. They ran cattle on 100, 000 acres in S. E. Texas. (To get some perspective of that size, The Metropolis of New York City, the most populated city in America, consumes only 3 times that acreage.) Max was a man, stalwart in both body and Faith. He was no, “Urban Cowboy,” he grew up with cow manure on his boots. I have known very few men who had such persevering faith as Max lived daily. He could face disease, disaster, failure and raw pain with both tears and an unquenchable smile. I was Max’s pastor for over fifteen years and he and I spiritually mentored each other in all of those years.
Our son, Timothy drowned to death on a Sunday. Linda and I flew to Oklahoma to move his family back to Texas. Our local church family was most gracious to us. A sweet healing balm of anointing seeped into our broken hearts and anointed our weary spirits. Max took our situation very personal and most seriously. Max and Joyce had come very close to loosing a son to a horrid, accidental, injury and only partial healing. Linda and I closely ministered to them during their crisis.
Max could sense my deep grief and pain as I slowly healed. He would call me aside and hold up his right hand, separating his thumb from his forefinger half an inch, he would say, “Pastor Bob, it only takes, just a little bit of faith to prevail through life’s hardest times.”
“Just a little bit of faith.” Max said those same words to me on numerous occasions. He got those words from Jesus:
(Matthew 17:20 ff.) Jesus compares prevailing faith to a very small mustard seed. FAITH is the iridescent, internal shining, spiritual jewel, born of God’s Grace hidden deep in the heart of God’s Redeemed. The Word of our Holy God calls us, “His Chosen.;” ‘The Elect’ of sovereign grace. We cost Him dearly. We really are, “The Apple of His Eye!” I stand amazed!
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“Beauty via Faith”
In Hebrews 11, God outlines over a dozen lives of Old Testament men and women, whose lives became beautiful through their tested, persistent faith. When John the baptizer was in prison awaiting his own decapitation, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was in fact the long awaited Messiah. Jesus answered by telling those disciples to simply tell John the results of his street ministry, which were numerous acts of saving, healing, resurrection, deliverance, restoring, fulfilling FAITH. When sinners get saved and baptized, it is beautiful, when sick people get healthy again, it’s beautiful, when dead people come back to life, we will be amazed at their Sheer Beauty! Persevering Faith creates beauty.
“Fresh Faith:”
One of our Father’s blessings that is, “Fresh” every morning, is faith for the new day. (Lamentations 3:22 ff.)
“God’s loyal love … His merciful love … They’re created new every morning, How great your faithfulness.”
Our Lord teaches us to live in a, “Day tight”, compartment.
(Matthew 6:34 ff.) “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what May or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
If we sincerely ask, the Holy Spirit will guide our daily activities. Yesterday morning my hands prayed openly, signifying that my soul is completely open to His detailed will for the new day. I didn’t hear a peep from Him, so I took my morning walk. I was about one fourth into my second round when He urged me twice to turn back, to which I obeyed. Rounding the corner and coming into view was a new neighbor sitting on her porch, reading. The Spirit directed me to join her on her porch. She accepted my offer to sit and visit with her. She was reading John 3:16-17. After a friendly chat, I inquired as to whether she was sure of her salvation. She told me that she was a P K, a preacher’s kid. She wanted to get baptized but her father discouraged her. After presenting Jesus’ plan of eternal salvation, during my prayer for her she reached out her hand, indicating her desire to accept Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, and she prayed the sinners prayer.
The Holy Spirit will lead us every day to touch someone’s life if we ask Him to.
(Isaiah 61:3) our Father bestows, exchanges, bouquets of beautiful 🌺 💐 🌸 flowers for ashes to the faithful.
☔️
“Feelings or Faith?”
Feelings are often fickle and feeble, while faith is bold and beautiful. Hugh is a brother from a Pentecostal background, a dear friend whom I am currently discipling. Through several near death experiences, Hugh is learning to spiritually transition from living by emotional feelings and fears to living by solid Bible faith. About one hour ago Hugh wrote the following message to me:
“Pastor Bob, God is blessing me with health. I haven't felt this good in several years. I'm able to work in the yard cutting trees and hauling them off, work doing fencing, I go to the store with Joanie and walk the whole store no problem, God has given me my health back and he did it in his time not mine. He let me get so low I was trying to die, then he said, “no” to me dying and started my healing process which began the next morning when I woke up …. like a new person, a rebirth, and it's gotten better each day. God has been dealing with me ….. Just want to please God, I owe him my life …. !!” This is what I call, “Beautiful Faith.” When Hugh was living by his feelings, he was down most of the time and becoming more and more ill. My counsel to all Christians is to turn off all TV news. I turned them off over a year ago and my psychic has improved exponentially.
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“Focused Faith”
Deep Sea Fishing trips 120 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico twice each month was an adventure that I managed decades ago. We left out of Cameron Louisiana with 16 plus’s the crew, on board for a 24 hour escapade. Among my rules for 🎣 fruitful saltwater fishing was: (1) keep you deep sea 🌊 fishing line in the water when we arrive on location and (2) We throw back nothing, keep it or use it for bait. In those days the catch was plenteous. On one such trip, we had a new man on board, Jock’ was a long distance 18 wheeler truck driver with a big beer belly. As we stood next to each other on deck fishing, his salt water rig screamed that he had a big fish on line. Jock’ set the hook and struggled to bring to the surface a large Red Snapper, but he let his line go limp when the fish hit the surface he lost his catch. He, in frustration and anger, banged the base of his fishing rod onto the wooden deck, “Thump!, “ and glared at me, as though it was my fault that he lost the fish. My spirit sought the Great Spirit as to how to help him. After a few silent seconds, I looked at him and simply said, “Jock’, rebait and put your line back in the water, there are a lot of fish in the sea.” He did just that, and in less than 5 minutes, struggled to land another Snapper that was even larger than the one he lost, true story! Beautiful Faith just doesn’t quit! (Ecclesiastes 11:1) “Cast your bread upon the waters and it will return unto you …. “ Beautiful Faith invests its life into Divine Directives. Put your line back in the water. Our Heavenly Father owns all of the fish in the sea of life. He has some good ones to share with you and me. Keep your focus on His Son, The LORD Jesus Christ! He will guide you in both calm and troubled seas. Peter walked upon the water until he took his focus off of Jesus and looked at his own feet.
“Prayer Alarm”
🙏
Is America now entering a Stasi police state like Germany was in for 40 years?
😈/🐉
Are we awaiting an, “emergency authorization,” from our criminal, pseudo “leaders,” in D C, both elected and non-elected, to be imperiled by three or more of America’s federal agencies to jail and, or slaughter those who oppose their efforts to financially redistribute Americas wealth and power? Will the additional 87,000 armed IRS tax collector/Agents confiscate our assets, homes, farms and real-estate holdings? Justice has been deformed into injustice in our once great nation. Will they rebrand our Christian resistance and us as, “Homeland Terrorists?” Taking a stand will be very costly in our immediate future. Many Americans have short memories and are too fickle to stand! It very well may be too late to preserve our once, great nation. There are many spirits of Antichrist; some may soon be knocking at our doors. Our, “Deep State,” is demonizing the Justice Department/ FBI into a Gestapo and the IRS into a secret police force/ KGB. But, fear not Little Flock, He who abides within us is mightier than Satan’s unleashed demons. Will Jesus find sweet, persevering, persistent, beautiful, Living Faith on the earth when He returns?
(Luke 18:1-8)
Study this passage closely, within it is the hope for The
U. S. A.
☔️
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“In or Out of Control?”
👑
( Acts 13:20 ff.)
“ …. Up to the time of Samuel the prophet, God provided judges to lead them. (The Jewish ancestors) But then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, out of the tribe of Benjamin. After Saul had ruled 40 years, God removed him from office and put King David in his place, with this commendation: I’ve searched the land and found this David, son of Jesse. He’s a man whose heart beats to my heart, a man who will do what I tell him. From out of David’s descendants God produced a Savior for Israel, Jesus, exactly as he promised …. “
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God is in Eternal Control: But is He really in daily control? Is there a big difference between the, “Permissive Will of God” and the, “Perfect Will of God?” As, “The Eternal One,” He is Creator of poly dimensions. His motives and motions are ever forward, upward and outward for the apple 🍎 of His eye, a redeeming humanity, named by him as, “The Kingdom of God.” The Kingdom of God is not political, but it is spiritual and it is personal. (Romans 14:17 ff.). It is not pie in the sky, by and by, Jesus announced its arrival when He appeared. The presence of the Spirit of God in human flesh is both the manifestation of His Kingdom and the daily reality of His dominion. Whenever and wherever Jesus is Lord in any environment, the Kingdom of God is realized.
“Nothing in life
Is Sure”
An old English by-word, like, “Nothing in life is free.” But are these oft repeated, daily, conversational bridges factual? When the Titanic sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, 🗞 newspaper headlines swung, like a pendulum from; “Unsinkable,” to, “Nothing in life is sure!” In life, we all have different parts to play, and we each must be allowed to play our unique part.
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We are all, “Damaged Goods.” We each have chapters in our lives that we’d prefer to keep unpublished. Each of us bears scars, both internally and often externally, some, for a lifetime. This was certainly true of both King Saul and King David. The Holy Spirit has ordered me on more than one Occassion to stand before the parish , to which, I was senior pastor and humbly ask forgiveness for wrong attitudes and wrong actions. On one such occasion, as I was preaching, the Spirit spoke to my spirit and corrected my attitude as I was preaching, telling me to ask the congregation to both forgive me and pray for me, which they did immediately. I have also seen spiritual giants fall. At the age of 15 on a sawdust floor in a camp meeting tent located in Springfield, Ohio I knelt at an old fashioned, wooden altar and repented of my sins and wept as the 🩸 blood of Jesus Christ washed my sins away. The evangelist in that Family Camp Meeting was later on his knees, repenting also, seeking forgiveness for his hidden, adulterous affair. The lead pastor of my home congregation left his wife and two sons and married his, much younger associate minister’s wife. Both of these two men, although guilty of severe moral failure, like King David, were outstanding, Godlike spiritual servants. Both grievously sinned and hurt many people; but later repented, asked forgiveness, received wholistic counseling and continued to humbly serve their Master, The Lord Jesus Christ. The real Gospel restores sinners and we each are called to the ministry of restoration and reconciliation, not religious retaliation.
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All of us sin, some remain in denial and are not correctable, as was Saul, others repent, seek forgiveness, reconciliation and continue a servant’s path. I have served on licensing and credentialing state boards, as both a member and on occasion, as a chairman; it has been my position to see the good, the bad and the ugly. On one such ugly case, a minister was guilty of moral sin. I recommended that he resign and receive corrective counseling, to which he submitted. The, then chairman of the disciplinarian committee recoiled and demanded stronger, destructive retaliation, saying that he, “wasn’t sure the repenting preacher was restorable.” As our Father’s servants, we are each enabled and called to the ministry of reconciliation, not retaliation. Within a few months that same chairman was forced to resign, guilty of similar sins that he was unwilling to forgive and restore his brother for. (“Judge not, lest ye be also judged”). This religious B. (bad S. (spirit) is exactly what was occurring with the Pharisees and Sadducees in Jesus’ day. They wanted to stone a morally, loose woman for the same sins that they were guilty of, and possibly with the same woman. From out of their vile, super religious, mouths they continuously hurled the venom of corrupt memories and yet to be fulfilled imaginations of their evil hearts. David’s sins were grievous and damning, yet, our Father disciplined and forgave him and lifted him out of them and restored his position as king. This was not the redemptive results of King Saul’s eventual blood bath. What is the difference in these two kings?
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“Motive of Behavior”
We see the images of Saul and David in real time every day. Saul is the person who goes through the motions for whatever self-serving gratification that tugs at their soul, but their heart is really not in it. Their goal is to appear to function at whatever level will reward them a pay check, an advancement or whatever selfie that they aspire to attain. They are narcissistic, self serving parasites. They really believes that they are smarter, stronger and more deserving and unfairly underpaid. They desire that people would appreciate and reward them to the level of perfection that they view themselves worthy of. They are users and self pleasers. like Saul they are a bully at heart! This is the person that King Saul had become. He initially began as an humble, God appointed servant but progressively declined into becoming an arrogant snob. He subjected reality from God’s objective platform to his own narrow personal analysis. He, only partially obeyed divine orders and would often even substitute himself and his personal choices as righteous replacements for God’s detailed instructions. He was now willfully disobedient. For a season our Father, long sufferingly, permitted this selfish behavior. God’s Permissive Will soon ran head long into His Perfect Will. His Perfect Will will always, ultimately prevail! For the moment, however, consumed by a false sense of pride, Saul progressed to an out of control condition and many would suffer the repercussions thereof. Misguided human will, can devastate the often ignorant and innocent masses of humanity.
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“Abominations”
Many of us pick certain sins and call them, “abominations.”
The fact is every sin and all sins are abominable to our Holy God. Heterosexual sins are just as abominable to God as are homosexual sins. There are no, “little white lies,”. The ground at the foot of the cross is level, and we each stand nakedly, equally guilty. To God, lusting after someone or something is just as abominable as acting upon that lust. Our legal analysis is certainly and necessarily different, some sins are legal, but others are classified as illegal depending where and when they are committed, however, in God’s analysis, we are each and all guilty of abominable sins. King David’s sins were, every bit as abominable as King Saul’s. So, what was the difference in the two men?
David’s spiritual desires and internal motivations, were radically different than those of Saul. Have you ever been served by someone who radiated a sincere desire to favor you? They were heart driven, to discover your most internal needs and desires and then bless you with both their spirit and actions. Our Father can motivate and equip a person to rise far above and beyond themselves, their limitations and expectations:
“I’ll put my whole heart
In His service and
Do all He asketh of me.”
That was, “A heart like God’s Heart!” That was David’s Heart. Like the smooth running of two perfectly timed, powerful outboard salt water engines, perfectly co-ordinated with each other; David’s heart beat in perfect symmetry with the heart of God. Today the ancient city of Jerusalem is not referred to as the city of Saul, but it is universally known as, “The City of David.” Jesus Messiah did not come in the linage of Saul but He did come, “In the linage of David.” Jesus Messiah will not sit upon the throne of Saul, but He will sit upon, “The Throne of David.”
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“Our Spiritual Patron”
“King Jesus”
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A British, partial definition of “Patron,” : “A person with the right to grant a benefice …” To grant by declaration blessings, favors, and standing. The unique character, calling and charisma of, “The Last Adam,” Jesus The Christ, enables Him to grant unto us, a complete pardon and a highly favorable placement into Eternal Life and everlasting blessings.
(1Corinthians 15:45 ff.)
“The first man Adam became a living being, The last Adam, a living spirit …. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven… “
(11 Corinthians 5:17 ff.)
“ … God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation …. He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf …. we … become the righteousness of God in him.”
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“Jesus’ Standing
Jesus’ humanity is not akin to the first Adam, after he sinned; rather he is completely akin to the first Adam before he sinned, and there is a big difference. Multitudes know about the historical Jesus but very few actually know his true chapter or even, who Jesus is. Unlike the first Adam after he sinned, Jesus Christ, although, completely human, and exercising a fully human will, yet non- carnal, void of a bent toward selfish depravity, and having no carnal, depraved, fallen, “Adamic nature.” Adam’s nature radically changed when he willingly sinned and ran to hide and escape God’s presence. David describes this extreme changed character in (Psalm 51:5 ff.) “I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong, since before I was born …. Commute my death sentence …. “ this was not man’s condition until after Adam and Eve sinned. They were built to live forever. Death is the result of sin. (“The wages of sin is death.”)Jesus’ human nature was like Adam’s nature before he sinned and plunged humanity into the selfish sinful persons that we have fallen to become.
Even after Jesus’ sinless life he had no corruption (Acts 2:31ff. 13:36ff.) in body, soul or spirit. His life had to be an unblemished, spotlessly clean, blood sacrifice in our behalf, for our complete redemption, and that, he most certainly was, and ever shall be. In several places in Scripture, Jesus is referenced as, “The Only Begotten Son of God.” We are sons and daughters of God. In many ways we are like him, but not in all ways. Jesus was Jehovah God before he put on human flesh and became, and ever after shall be, “The Infinite God/Man.” Jesus is creator, we are creature. Jesus is King, we are privileged to be his subjects. In his kingly standing, he can grant a full pardon to whosoever he chooses. He has ultimate and complete authority and control.
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“Act of God”
“An uncontrollable event caused by nature, for which no person is responsible,” is legally classified as, “An Act of God.” Nature is a secondary power created and granted by our sovereign creator. It could also be just as objectively asserted that evil activity is a secondary power allowed for a season, by our sovereign creator. When secondary will power is granted to creatures genuine love and genuine non- love are then possible and present and operative. To be real, love requires the power and ability to choose to love or to neglect and thus refuse to love. The ultimate authority and power grants human choice within limitations. God, for sovereign purposes draws lines of limitation at his own unrevealed designs and discretion. “God is in control,”
signs along our streets and highways 🛣 of life may raise more questions than they answer. Scientists, Satan and Skeptics are not in controll of the creation. It is true that our Heavenly Father is in ultimate control, but it is also true that corrupt persons activate atrocities which horribly seduce, smother and scar innocent persons. It is not possible for us to asses the whole of life at our present status and standing. Soon, however, 🔜 it will appear vastly different than some of us now view it to be, because the curtain of life shall be lifted:
(1Corinthians 13:9), “For, we know in part and prophecy in part … “ (:13) But, “We shall soon know …. “.
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“Are We Important?”
To God?
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God places persons in our lives and sometimes in our hands. Now and again he places us in other persons hands. On some occasions we know this principal is taking place, but often, we are not aware of the divine placement at the time it is ongoing. (True story: ) one hour ago I looked out my apartment window and observed a four foot 7 inch elderly lady on a walker trying to make it to our sr. living complex’s office to pay her monthly rent. Like me, she is in her 80s. She was quite a distance from her apartment on a very hot day and she didn’t know how to operate our security gate. She was stuck in 98 degree August heat. The Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit, “Help this, your new neighbor now.” He placed her in my hands immediately. While helping her, another lady showed up and we assisted her. Like many elderly folks, she was too independent to ask for help. God’s Word and God’s Spirit will direct us as to who, when, where and how to holistically assist others as he places them in our hands, for a moment or for a lifetime. Our companions are in our hands,“Till death do you part.”
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(1Samuel 24:1 ff.)
“… Saul took 3000 chosen men… set out to search for David (To murder him), there was a cave…. Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were huddled far back in the same cave… “ As Saul slept, “David’s men whispered to him, ‘Can you believe it? This is the day God was talking about when he said, ‘I’ll put your enemy in your hands … David held his men in check … and wouldn’t let them pounce on Saul … Then David stood at the mouth of the cave and called to Saul …. ‘This very day …. God put you in my hands …. Then Saul went home …. “.
Some of us are “Pre-Computer.” We were born and lived before cell phones and other computer devices both blessed and enslaved the human consciousness. The many benefits of computers are both necessary and obvious in our current social and business environment. But, their are downside’s to our constant dependence’s upon manufactured intelligence.
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Are we becoming de-humanized? Mechanized? A Cyborg? We often neglect to give our undivided attention to real persons. But we are sometimes so engrossed in our cryptic fantasy with our programmable electronic devices that our ears no longer hear the real verbal attempts of friends, relatives or neighbors to share their lives with us or even communicate intelligently with us.
I, at one time co-officed with a gentleman by the name of Bill. Both Bill and I had several people working for us. If I would go into Bills private office about a mutual business mater he would repeatedly answer his phone so many times that it was impossible to communicate with him, but if I went to my office and called Bill in his office, we could settle business decisions regardless of how many persons attempted to talk with him in person, within his office.
A group of children were given a choice between listening to their parents or listening to their computer, which do you think they chose? God, our Father bonds to us and attempts to commune with us as persons, not like machines: (Jeremiah 29:12) “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen …. “ A study of the context of this portion of Jeremiah’s prophecy will reveal that our Father made this promise to a backslidden generation of Israelites who were headed into 70 years of bondage to their Babylonian overlords. Our Father is not a machine, He has, “Isness”, “Presence.” He is personable, because we are persons with a God-like brain, sensory personalities and a dynamic, functioning human will. We are not an, “It,” instead, like Him, we are a living organism, a person and need to be treated like an individual person.
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Satan spins a captivating web
That entraps the curious human mind. He sometimes does this by motivating other persons to have their own agenda for our lives. Many of us endeavor to escape from what we don’t think we deserve as we judge ourselves unworthy of God’s goodness, however, by His grace are we acceptable and made worthy. We are both ,a creation of and an extension of our Creator/Father’s power, purpose and passion. His image are we, each and collectively. When our Father decided to reveal his most intimate self to us, He put on human flesh and was born of a fully human woman, impregnated by God, the Holy Spirit. The Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament, they are one and the same, God with human skin on his face! We are most favored and highly blessed by our heavenly “Papa.”
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Does our Heavenly Father deliberately place those prickly persons and uninvited interruptions on our path? Yes, He does! A study of 11Corinthians 12 shows the necessity of Thorns in our personal lives. The Apostle Paul was, “caught ⬆️ up into the third heaven and into Paradise and saw what heaven was like, from personal experience. To offset the possible pride that he might experience, the Great Spirit gave him, “a thorn in the flesh,” and refused to remove it during his entire earth journey. Paul pleaded with God to remove the thorn, God’s reply was, “No, but I will give you grace to both endure the thorn and use it in your ministry to me.”
Rose Thorns help roses survive the wiles of animals. They act as a shield, a line of defense against pests. Thorns protect us from unknown adversaries which would hinder our Father’s perfect will for our lives.
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“Nobody cares!”
Bitter and broken, he snarled at me, as he said, “Nobody cares about anybody in this world.” For a moment, I was silent. He had just been released from prison and was in a defeated, angry attitude. I was a young, ignorant preacher with lots of book knowledge and only a paltry provision of practical experience, but I did sincerely want to help this hurting young man who grew up on, “The wrong side of the tracks.” The Great Spirit put these words in my mouth and he heard me say; “Jerry, when I look at you, I see a diamond in the rough.” For a moment I wondered, “Where did that come from?” This caught him completely off guard and his spirit shifted. A healing relationship was forged. God can use us, even in our ignorance. He puts persons into our hands to be the bridge to a better life. The undesirable THORNS that we experience in our journey make us able to help others bridge the chasms of their lives: we could not identify correctly with them if our lives were roses without thorns.
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“ An old man going a loan highway, came at the evening, cold and gray, to a chasm, vast and deep and wide, through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim. The sullen stream had no fears for him:
But he turned when safe on the other side And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man, said a fellow pilgrim near, You are wasting your strength with building here; Your journey will end with the ending day, You never again will pass this way; You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide, Why build this bridge at evening tide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head; “Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said, There followed after me today A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been as naught to me To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be; He, too must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.”
“The Bridge Builder”
by
Will Allen Dromgoole
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“Little Things”
Of the many Melodie’s that my sweet wife, Linda, played for me on both our piano and organ, my very favorite was a beautiful little romantic tune entitled, “Simple Things.” (check on U Tube, “Simple Things” piano solo by Marie Garrett.) Within our hands are multiple Simple Things, little things that we can give or say or do for others. Sometimes the little things mean the most. Every good thing continually comes down from our Father’s hands to us. This especially includes the persons he places in our lives. In God’s broad definition of His vast creation 🪐 in Genesis, He only created one species in His own image, human persons, like you and me.
“Redeeming Love”
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We may find it difficult at times to believe in our Father’s Redeeming Love. Our repeated failures can crush the human soul into the dust of nothingness. When I was 6 years old my dad, Wilbur Arnold got saved near Williamstown Kentucky. He owned a farm and was a tobacco farmer. He quit smoking and announced to us, his family, that if he couldn’t smoke it , he couldn’t grow it either. He and mom sold the old Kentucky farm and we moved to a farm near Lytle, Ohio.
When I was 14, my friend Larry Johnson and I were fishing in Clear Creek and smoking cigarettes. From a distance dad saw us. He never said a word, but I could tell that it hurt him deeply. I’m 82 and I can still see the hurt in his eyes. Being hurt is part of being alive. Dad and mom loved us children dearly. My folks loved us with a redeeming love, a love that forgives and repurchases a broken relationship, making it whole. We were raised in Redeeming Love.
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“Pain before Gain”
Thorns on His brow and spikes in his palms made His Life giving Blood flow to you and to me. He paid your debt. You and I are most important to Him. From His hands to our hearts. From our hearts, through our hands to hurting hearts that He places in our path daily. What’s in your hand? Blesser or curser which will we be? The gain for the Blesser is defined in Scripture: (1Samuel 25:29 ff.) “Know this: Your God-honored life is tightly bound in the bundle of a God-protected life;”. And David’s response: “Bless you for …. Taking charge of looking out for me.” There are times when our compassionate Father places us into the redeeming hands of others. He restores us, and makes us blessers.
Dear friends, we are in the strong hands of a loving Heavenly Father. When Linda’s ( My lifetime companion), dad, Vince Turpin, was 65 he had an open heart surgery at Sr. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. In those days the heart procedure was , very much , In it’s infant stage. Vince said that the surgeons personal nurse visited with him in his hospital room the night before the surgery. As she explained the procedure and got his signatures, she paused and said: “Mr Turpin, tomorrow morning during your surgery the chief surgeon will completely remove your heart and I will hold your heart in these hands.” After answering Vince’s questions and before leaving his room, she assured Vince that his heart would be safely held by her loving, professional hands. The procedure was a healing success. In our most trying moments, our Heavenly Father holds in his loving hands our hurts, our past, present and future in his hands. Persons are what brings value to this planet. Our hearts hunger for His amazing love and are restless until we rest in Him. Our Father loves us and values us most highly.
(John3:16)
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My FRIEND
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“Most Unprejudiced Person”
(1Samuel 20:42)
“Jonathan said, (to David) ‘Go in peace! The two of us have vowed friendship in God’s name, saying, ‘God will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!’”
This level of genuine friendship is so rare that very few ever experience it and of those who do, it is most often a ONE time event in a lifetime! Some folks say that they have no use for stories, even true ones, this certainly is not true of me. Stories reveal real, often hidden motives and living facts of life to me. I open wide my heart as I share my testimonial of such a Godly friendship in my life:
The following life journey is a fact packed, true story: Springboro, Ohio was a destination point for the Underground Railroad slaves who were literally running for their lives. ( https://www.ohioslargestplayground.com/blog/ ), Of course I knew little about this during my 12 years of public education in Springboro’s public schools. I graduated in 1958 with 57 other seniors and only one of them was a black young man who was a mutual friend; (Numbers 35:9 ff.) God provided, “Cities of Refuge.” These were Sanctuary Cities, where abused persons could flee to, when they were being threatened or oppressed. Springboro, Ohio was a Quaker, borrow of safety for slaves fleeing persecution and death. I don’t recall any prejudice toward my black, fellow classmate or from him. After working in Dayton, Ohio for two years and practicing strict, frugal saving practices, I enrolled as a freshman at Warner Pacific University, Portland Oregon.
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It was there that I met a young man from Kenya, British East Africa. His name was Eishatemay. I had never seen anyone that black and he spoke with a British accent. When Christmas time showed up on the calendar, I asked Eishatemy where he was spending Christmas. He said, right here on campus. I further inquired if anyone had invited him to go with them to their home, and when he said no, I invited him to make the 56 hour drive with me to our family farm near Lytle, Ohio. He asked, “Bob, are you sure it’s all right?” My assurance to him brought a smile on his face. We had a wonderful Family Christmas together and enjoyed his British East African special meals as well as my mother’s wonderful southern cooking.
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It was some years later, in the 1960’s and I was attending an annual minister’s convention for pastors in Anderson. Indiana. Near the very end of a long line of registering ministers I met a new brother in Christ who was just behind me in line, Percy Lewis. Little did I know that I was meeting my soon to be best friend. When I finally got to the accommodations register, she looked at both Percy and me with a questioning concern and then said, “Gentlemen, we have a problem, my quess is that both of you need sleeping quarters and I only have one left, and it has one regular sized bed.” Percy and I both looked at each other. I said, “ Percy, that’s acceptable to me if it is with you.” We were two broke preachers and in those days black folks and white folks didn’t mix, but, like Johnathan and David, we were brothers! The week passed successfully and I didn’t see Percy again for several years.
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Linda and I were pastoring in Shreveport, Louisiana when Percy and his family moved and began pastoring a sister congregation and our fellowship was renewed. In less than two years we moved to Beaumont, Texas and began an advanced approach to soul winning evangelism in a very traditional local congregation. The church doubled in size and we began a new church as a result. I was eating breakfast one morning in a local Howard Johnson’s restaurant when I saw Percy and his family praying, before they ate at a near by table. Our fellowship was immediately renewed.
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Percy, soon thereafter became the president of Bay Ridge Christian College, Kyendelton, Texas. It was my privilege to preach, on occasion to his student body. Percy was awarded two doctoral degrees. He also pastored a church in Rockport, Texas on weekends. As the church grew he and his family moved to Rockport to pastor full time.
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“Most Unprejudiced Person”
Without exception Percy Lewis is the most unbiased, humble and non-prejudiced person I have ever known.
He was, “confrontationally unprejudiced.” I have never met another person on the planet who would actively pursue someone who was prejudicial and even arrogantly mean toward them, with the intent of solving issues and then personally blessing them. Jesus is the only other person that I have even read of that would do such a thing. Jesus did so with a lone Samaritan woman, with Saul of Tarsus, Judas Iscariot, and doubtless many others, maybe all of us?
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Many contemporary Christian men are gentlemenly wimpish. We have been cattled, silenced as sheep and intimidated by our depraved, politicized culture. The lies of C. R. T. Have muted into our Christian religion and their severed denominations. Institutions that were once founded on truth have capitalized to untruth. Many of us have lost 25 present, or more of our retirement savings under the criminal Biden family’s crooked leadership. The daily cost of living has risen at least 20 percent, placing the average American family in a 40 percent impoverishment level, and we still do nothing to solve the problem and better ourselves. Many Christian services are feminized and men submit to their, “proper role,” as quiet supporters of a fallen system. When one determines to change the social norms of a populous it requires confrontational men and women! We have been timidly silenced far too long. Our hypocritical, pagan politicians and scholastic leaders have deluded us for their own gain and have destroyed all confidence in each and all of our federal agencies, furthermore they have dumbed us down into wearing diapers over our faces and becoming their experimental subjects, as they inject us with Big Farma’s latest unproven drug. Unlike these ungodly, fake leaders, Percy Lewis was, like Jesus, boldly, honestly and passionately confrontational, but, probably not in the manner that most of us would think.
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We were saltwater fishing 🎣 one day and just out of the blue, Percy said; “ Brother Bob, can I make a request?” I looked at him and said, “Sure.” “Brother Bob, if I die first, would you preach my funeral service?” After a few seconds I responded, “Under one condition Percy, if I go first will you preach mine?”
“FIGHT IT”
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If there is something in life that is fighting you from being who you really are meant to be, then FIGHT IT! In the Bible account of Johnathan and David’s friendship, Johnathan was in line to be Israel’s next king, but God had other plans and both David and Johnathan knew it. At great cost, both men embraced our Heavenly Father’s orders. Our individual responsibility in life is to find the will of our Father and then do his will. Both men did exactly that. Johnathan’s father, King Saul hated both his own son, Johnathan and Israel’s next king, David as a result of both men’s willingness to obey God. There is often a severe cost to becoming the person our Father prescribes us to be.
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“Percy’s Funeral”
Percy preceded me in death and his wife, in accordance with his will, asked me to officiate at his funeral in the chapel at Bay Ridge Christian College. The chapel was packed to overflowing. Delegates from Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, and several other states were in attendance. College presidents, politicians, statesmen, ministers, business personal and other professional persons. Over 90 present were of African American ethnicity. The memorial bulletin printed me as the preacher of Percy’s choice to deliver the sermon, but the prejudice from black leaders towards me was so filled with rage that they denied me a seat on the platform. I sat on the front row and listened to nearly three hours of sermons by others. When my turn to deliver my message, ten to thirty of these religious leaders on the platform got up, turned their back on me and aborted the chapel. Did those, highly biased, politicized black leaders hate Percy as much as they despised me? They didn’t want to hear Percy’s stores, nor did they desire to honor him. They, for personal, political advantage attended the funeral and made their hate-point, and they couldn’t wait to exit the premises. As I waited their exodus I prayed for direction.
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The Holy Spirit whispered to my spirit and directed me to do the following:
Without introduction or announcement, the chairman was one of those who hastened to abort the funeral, I stood alone at the podium and said something of the following: “Greetings, family, friends and fellow colleagues of my dear friend, Dr. Percy Lewis.” I reminded the audience that since they had just heard five sermons, I was not going to deliver my intended sermon, but instead I desired to tell them why my dear friend, Percy Lewis was and is the most unprejudiced person that I have ever met. Percy knew what he was about and he well knew the repercussions of me, a white man being the lead speaker at his funeral. The week before he passed into heavens sheep fold, he had his wife remind me of my commitment to him and to his family at his memorial service. I assuredly believe that Percy both desired and foresaw exactly what I would deliver at this special family occasion, and deliver his story, I did, With clarity, certainty and with conviction.
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“Living Proof”
When Percy moved to Rockport to pastor he attended the local minister’s meeting and was dramatically and deliberately shunned. Black preachers were unwelcome in their assembly, they literally turned their backs on Percy and neither welcomed him or shook his outstretched hand. Now here is where we discover Percy’s secret; He continued to attend their meetings and prayerfully, with a servant spirit looked for doors of opportunity to minister to those religious leaders, both as a group and individually. True story, in one year, they voted him in as their chairman. Percy was not perfect, none of us is perfect, but they loved him as their brother in Christ. By now someone is probably questioning whether a person can be a real Christian and still be prejudiced. The Apostle Peter sure was and each of us is still endeavoring to overcome our own sinful selfishnesses.
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Can you sense this man’s spirit yet? Here’s another true example of why Percy Lewis, my friend, is the most non-prejudiced person that I have ever known:
When Percy’s family moved into their home in Rockport, their white mailman resented their community presence. Percy tried to meet him and befriend him but he literally avoided and would swiftly disappeared from Percy. He would run up to the metal mail box, quickly deposit the mail and run back to the street. The Spirit led Percy to pray and plan a new approach. One day Percy stood hidden, near his front door and just as his mail man reached the mail box, “Swoosh!” Percy opened the door to the fear-filled white mail carrier. In shock the man froze. Percy smiled, opened his arms, with his right index finger pointed to his black left arm and said; “I didn’t make it black.” The mail carrier asked, “What did you say?” Percy, still pointing to his black left arm replied, “I didn’t make it black,” and then pointing heavenward, toward God, he said, “He did!” I interrupted Percy at this point in his sharing and asked, “What did he say to that Percy?” With his typical smile and gentle laughter, Percy said, “ Brother Bob, that man burst into laughter, and I laughed with him, and after that we became very good friends.”
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Percy Lewis was and is, “The real deal.” He did not practice,”Passive Resistance,” when hatefully treated. It was an immediate challenge to his spirit. He did not return in kind. He didn’t try to correct them, he let the Holy Spirit do that. He returned good for evil. Those of us who live in the fleshly or soulish level of life will find this ridiculous and even offensive. We resent Jesus’ teachings of, “Turning the other cheek.” Percy pursued his adversaries with generous kindness, how foolish, some of us would say. Everybody is reaching for something. My precious friend, Percy was reaching unto our Savior, Jesus, to be like him as he passionately reached out to hurting persons, often shunned and deliberately abandoned by a fast paced world. Do I personally practice this principal? My failure to do so is embarrassingly high. Do I believe in the power of this spiritual exercise? Absolutely! I have seen it in action. I have not attained a meaningful degree of success thus far, but I do press on in this spiritual pursuit. I still have a great deal of prejudice against prejudicial persons, my Heavenly Father is definitely not finished working in and upon me, lots of rough edges remain in this old man! But I sincerely feasted spiritually, as I watched Jesus work through my dear friend, Percy Lewis; the most unprejudiced person that I have ever known.
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“Strange Fire.”
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Beware what you offer to God. An acceptable sacrifice to our creator is of critical importance to each of us. Moses’ two nephews were struck by bolts of lightening as a result of them offering, “strange fire” at the altar of God.
(Leviticus9:23 - 10:1ff.)
“Moses and Aaron entered the tent of meeting. When they came out they blessed the people and the glory of God appeared to all the people. Fire blazed out from God and consumed the Whole-Burnt-Offering and the fat pieces on the Altar. When all the people saw it happen they cheered loudly and then fell down, bowing in reverence. (10:1) That same day Nadab and Abuja, Aaron’s sons, took their censers, put hot coals and incense in them, and offered “strange” fire to God—-something God had not commanded. Fire blazed out from God and consumed them—-they died in God’s presence. Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what God meant when he said, To the one who comes near me, I will show myself holy; Before all the people, I will show my glory.’ Aaron was silent.”
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When, “Winning” causes Great Loss! All of us on occasion may take short cuts to attain our pragmatic goals. We each and all like to win, succeed and please those we work for and those we live with. Aaron’s sons were priests who were in the presence of fiery leaders who expected miracles and multiple mighty works often really happened. These two men knew something about their own hearts. Unlike their uncle Moses, they weren’t real. Our Creator considers our motives as well as the actions which those motives cause us to perform. What would induce these two young men to play with spiritual fire? Was it their goal to own the market? We’re they duplicitous, rebellious at heart but appearing priestly when in the public eye? Highly motivated religious and business seminars routinely suggest and define a, “Make it or Fake it,” approach to pragmatic success. Benny Hen’s pre crusade prep training programs were famous for teaching that the first 50 wheel chair patients down the isle would be fully, immediately healed. After an olive oil anointing and dramatic appearance of Benny on stage, they would stand up and of their own volition walk free of their wheel chairs. When asked how they could guarantee such success by a pastor friend of mine, the answer was; “Oh, those are our people.” FAKE!” Religion has become a shameful fraudulent business, both Roman Catholic and Evangelical branches are all too often corrupted. Some folks still pay for high priced indulgences every Easter to have their loved ones prayed out of purgatory. Thank God for the, often small but genuine free pulpits in America. They are a past generation memory in much of Europe and now, Canada.
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“Calling Down Fire”
Our Father is an inexhaustible energy source. His Fire can consume or it can be a non-consuming Fire from which he speaks to us, as he did to Moses and the Apostle John.
There are philosophical futurists who ponder the theory which asks a question that, like Job, are we the pawns on some bet with the devil, a back draft war between good and evil. This hypothesis must find its origin in Greek mythology of pagan gods in mystical warfare. Reality is that, we are in no delusional combat, the spiritual warfare we daily embrace is as real as it gets. As Moses and Aaron were called into the birth of a nation and Lucifer produced a fake Fire, a “Strange 🔥Fire”, in like manner we have both the true Gospel and we have the “Strange Spirits,” of religion present on planet earth right now. Pentecost is real, but Pentecostalism is a strange Fire. One is built on fact but the other is all about ecstatic feelings. Someone rightly said; “Emotions can trip you up every time.” Our Faith when built on our Master’s Gospel Facts will never cause us to falter or fall. Genuine Gospel comes forth from off our Fathers flaming altar, but “Strange Fire” finds its origin in the false flames of deception, magic, rebellion and religious feelings. These strange fires deceive many and multitudes follow their fan fare for a season, but they do not bring forth life, only momentary fortunes into the pockets and coffers of their false prophet-leaders.
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There is a Holy Fire that is never extinguished by alternative forces. It is always God who shifts the balance of history into our favor. He does this through the atoning work of His Son. Aaron and his sons had possibly become too familiar with their priestly duties. After God consumed 2 of Aaron’s 4 sons, due to their disobedience and open contempt towards both Moses and God, He warns Aaron with these corrective instructions: (Leviticus 16:2ff.) “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter into the Holy of Hollies, barging inside the curtain that’s before the Atonement-Cover on the Chest whenever he feels like it, lest he die, because I am present in the Cloud over the Atonement-Cover.” Aaron regarded the warning and detailed instructions very seriously: (Leviticus 16:34) “…. Aaron did it, just as God commanded Moses.”
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In my first pastorate as Lead Minister, I served in a remote, area 20 miles out from Alexandria, Louisiana. We were surrounded by thousands of square miles of Virgin Timberland, a section of the “Pinewoods” of Texas and Louisiana, “The Big Thicket.” Among our farming, ranching, loggers there were some rough characters. One of them, “Old Jim,” arrogantly, announced, and portrayed himself to everybody that, “he didn’t need God,” and that, in reality he didn’t even believe that there was a God, “I’m an atheist,” he proudly asserted. Big Jim operated a large Caterpillar. One day as he was clearing timber for my friend Levi Sharp, a lightening storm suddenly came up. A flash of lightening struck a tree near Jim’s big Cat. Jim raised his fist towards the fiery sky and cursed God. Within seconds another ☄️ ball of fire flashed, but this time it struck Jim’s big Caterpillar and after several minutes Jim awakened as he now found himself on the ground, he picked himself up, and fell to his knees, crying out to God for mercy. Brother Levi Sharp said that news was a community awakening unlike any on record.
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“Religious Rebels”
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There was an under tow of anarchy within the 2.4 million Israelite camp, always was true and remains true to this very hour. Many Jewish people remained in a remorseful attitude at having to leave Egypt. Moses’ own siblings and their children were both jealous and at enmity against both God and Moses. They created idols for themselves and their heathen sympathizers when Moses was busy getting directions from God. Moses’ own family were both a blessing and a curse to his leadership. The anguish of the 40-year endeavor in a wilderness journey with an extremely divided following was at times, doubtless overwhelming to Moses, “The Law Giver.” God has always had a remnant, only a small portion of faithful, genuine, loyal Trail Blazers. Jesus’ own disciples are sometimes referred to as, “A Rag-Tag Army.” The Apostle Paul addresses this Jewish divisive, confusion in (Romans 9:6 ff.) “The problem goes back a long way. From the outset, not all Israelites of the flesh were Israelites of the spirit …. A promise was made that took priority over genetics …. his purpose is …. a sure thing determined by his decision.” The Jewish people remain terribly divided on almost every subject, including their belief structure on who God is, what he is like and how should they live. Some of the vilest professed agnostics and atheists whom I have ever encountered professed to being Jewish. Most are extremely, academically and philosophically confused. Aaron’s two sons were anarchists playing with Satan’s Strange Fire. Their “Smart Spirit” attitudes sizzled them breathlessly and broiled their hearts to an electrocuted silence. Conversely, many persons of Jewish descent are God fearing, passionate followers of Jesus Messiah, they are a refining remnant who are loyal to our Father even unto death.
“Making It Real”
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Some Bible students believe that Moses was the greatest man of faith in the Old Testament, and he probably is such, but from Moses’ own perspective, he experienced his unique venture of faith from a strictly factual series of events. His life, experiences and teachings were facts. The foundation of his faith was solid fact. There was NO Strange Fire in his life. His life, from beginning to closure was not easy, it was hard and it was real. The same can be declared of the Apostle Paul. Moses viewed the fires and experienced the presence of God in the Old Testament Pentecost. Paul viewed the fires and experienced the Presence of God in the New Testament Pentecost and both are genuine and built on FACT. In each case there have been, self-deceived copycats, who replace the real fires with “Strange Fires.” Pentecost is not Pentecostalism or a self-induced charisma. Satan conceived, “Oneness Pentecostalism,” which procreated the strange Fire of fake Charismatic magic, which has now procreated, “The Prosperity Gospel,” fiasco. The real is built on biblical fact. The false is built on ecstatic feelings, similar to emotionally coaxed seances. The Bible never tells us to live by our feelings. That is man-made Christianity. It is a Strange Fire.”
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Aaron’s 2 sons endeavored to make something real that was not real, so does religion today. Jesus strictly forbids his disciples to produce strange Fire, (Luke 9:54 ff.) “When the disciples James and John … said, Master do you want us to call a bolt of lightening down out of the sky and incinerate them? (the Samaritans,) Jesus turned on them: ‘Of course not!’ (“Ye know not of what manner of spirit ye are of ….”) His correction was quick and sharp. He will not tolerate this, “Strange Fire!” Many years ago, I led a member of the Italian Mofioso to Christ and baptized him in what used to be George Jones’s and Tammy Wynette’s swimming pool in Vidor Texas. One day Johnny overheard some roughens expressing their anger about me and our ministry. The next thing I knew was, my Italian friend, Johnny ringing my doorbell. In his typical Italian brogue, Johnny said; “Now, Pastor, if you have any trouble, any trouble at all just, you call me, and I’ll solve the problem!” Of course, I reassured Johnny that I wouldn’t be needing his services. 😇 Strange Fire is the devil’s Fire and it remedies nothing, but it is both deceptive and ultimately, deadly.
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“Passions of FIRE”
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A Flaming Cup was offered Messiah Jesus in the Garden the Eve of his crucifixion. “Father, if there is any other way, let this cup pass from me!” We refer to these bloody events as, “The Passion of The Christ.” Jesus consistently refers to God as, “Father,” until he hangs bloodied and nearly naked on a cross with our sins hanging on and clinging to his blood soaked back. This is no ritual! This is not a religious Mass! We don’t pay a tithe or offering or the partial purchasing of indulgences or penance to possess this act of God. This is The Lamb of God slain and offered up as a full and complete sacrifice to once and for all eternity atone for ALL of our multiple sins, past, present and future. Catholics sell indulgences and Prosperity Profiteers sell “Seed Faith.” Both are Strange Fire. They are both Fake! They are both, “Snake Oil.” Contemporary, Capitalistic Christianity may replace the blood stained cross with a spinning globalist world, but our Father and his Son do not. We do not bow to or pay homage to Globalism. “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame …. “ We will cherish the old rugged cross and exchange it someday for a crown!” We each and all need redemption and the power packed blood of Jesus Messiah is our one and only way to get it! “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!” This is the only acceptable sacrifice for all of our many sins to our Holy, Heavenly Father.
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“Live Again?”
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(Genes 6:3ff.)
(11 Kings 20:1ff.)
Some folks have to circle the block several times to arrive at their proper destination. “Circling the block,” although repetitive, both resembles and includes challenging differences which we did not cognate on previous journeys around the same block. The reality is, that each repeated journey seems a little more difficult, or maybe we are just growing weaker and, hopefully, wiser.
“The Block,” in this muse, represents an extended period of time, which our Creator adds to our life. What is a, “Normal Human Life Span?” The ancients we’re vegetarians and some of them lived hundreds of years. In (Genesis 6:3 ff.) our Creator changed those numbers to around 120 years. In (Psalm 90:10) He changed it again to 70-80 years. Tsunamis, Pandemics and other natural and anti-natural occurrences can altar historical facts within seconds, but the usual expectation today is 70-80 years. Both genetics and environment play a balancing act in this equation.
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Have you ever requested another trip around the block, or have you ever been keenly aware of the fact that your maker had ordered another trip around the block for you? Has the death angel ever looked you squarely in the eye and said, “you’re next on my visitors list.” And whether it was you or a praying intercessor for you or “The Great Spirit,” himself prayed for an extension and another trip around the block was granted. Friend, I have been there on several occasions. History is replete with several life examples of persons in this critical position. Such is the life setting for one of the most God-like monarchs of Israel’s history, King Hezekiah. In God’s opinion he was a good king. He put his whole trust in the God of Israel. There was no king quite like him, either before or after.
(11 Kings 20:1 ff.) records the curious details of Hezekiah’s , “Another Trip Around The Block.” experience. “Hezekiah became deathly sick. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amos paid him a visit and said, ‘ Put your affairs in order; you are about to die——you haven’t long to live ‘ …. Hezekiah wept. Isaiah leaving, was not halfway across the courtyard when the word of God stopped him: ‘Go back and tell Hezekiah, prince of my people, God’s word, Hezekiah! From the God of your ancestor David: I’ve listened to your prayer and I’ve observed your tears. I’m going to heal you. In three days you will walk on your own legs … I’ve just added fifteen (15) years to your life;’”
This singular occurrence of a huge divine confirmation takes place in this rare biblical account, and it is accurately verified by real science (study chapter 20, ‘The great Time Reset’).
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We cannot but question the wisdom of King Hezekiah’s life extension as we muse the details and results of that life’s continued quality. The god-bestowed extension was a divine favor granted at the prayerful, desperately, tearful request of a dying king. There even appears to be a hesitation in the actions of God to empower his emotional desire for another trip around the block. Sometimes God gives us what we badger him for and it makes us sick. When we are in a reasoning inter communication with God, we need the wisdom of his spirit for the, often extended event. “Be careful what you ask for.” Several years ago a family in my pastorate went through a series of crisis, beginning with their 19 year old son’s near death in an auto accident. Their son was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced, dying on arrival. His mother refused his death declaration and continued to pray over his seemingly, lifeless body, insisting that he was healed. Amazingly, in less than an hour he revived. Both his central nervous system, brain function and body were each and all severely injured and never recovered to even a subnormal level of functioning operation. His complications were so appalling that in spite of insurance payments in six figures, his non recovery produced multiple complications that were devastating to both himself, his parents and all involved. His required demands upon his aging parents and upon life were not attainable and the family went down into dissolution, disease and death. When our determinate will’s demands overrule the directions of the Great Spirit, we open the doors of doom and destruction. The door of death can be our Father’s choice for us. It really can be a blessing.
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Our Spirit makes choices in our favor which often overrules the desires and plans of the flesh and the determinant will of the human ego controlled soul. The internal conflict which this sets into operation is certainly not pleasant, spiritual growth rarely is delightful to the flesh, and often at the displeasure of our feelings. Our ego does not appreciate being overruled by our spirit. The spirit directs with eternal passions whereas, the soul expresses timely wishes and its own pleasant purposes. When the Holy Spirit becomes one with us, he does so by becoming at one with our spirit. Soul and spirit are often at odds on eternal matters. Soul desires immediate fulfillment of plans and pleasures, whereas spirit always chooses eternal values and purposes as primary. The more spiritually mature we become, the less we are led by our intellect, emotions and human will, and conversely, the more we are led by The Great Spirit. In a normal spiritual maturing procedure, the Holy Spirit via our spirit, directs, first our soul’s activity and finally our, whole, spirit and Soul and Body: (1 Thessalonians 5:23) “May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together——spirit, soul, and body——keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.” There definitely are times when, “another trip around the block,” may be essential. Several of these spiritual life jaunts have been necessary in my personal, stubborn, life journey.
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Our spirits soar like honeybees 🐝 at the possibility of our earthly finale and consequential reunion with the spirits of all those who have been made just, in Christ and who have preceded us in death. There is a sweet gathering around the 🍯 honeycomb🎉 and even when the flesh hesitates at the gate of departure, the spirit rises with great anticipation of a rewarding gathering. However, on some occasions the departure is halted and we are called to make another trip around the block for the well-being of others. (Romans 14:7) directs us that we don’t live or die for ourselves. When we presented our lives to Christ, he assumed ownership and we really are not our own. The Death Angel is a servant to the Holy Spirit and is exclusively under his authority and directions. Satan does not decide our exit date, our Creator both gives us life and removes breath and heart beat at his will.
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Jesus Christ refused death until it was his time to transition back to heaven, thus extending his life on numerous occasions. “My hour hath not yet come.” Was his often used command, refusing death. Our Heavenly Father can repackage our lives. Jesus could accomplish in an hour more than multitudes could produce in generations. When it came time for the Son of God to leave this earth he simply said, my hour has come. He asserted that no man could take his life from him, that, in fact, he layed his life down of his own accord. (John 5:16-17) Our Savior asserts that both he and the Father are busy working every day. “My Father And I are working straight through, even on the Sabbath he is working, so am I.” Most life extensions are probably silent ones, some, however are quite apparent. Some of these are at our request and some are canceled at our request. While in training in Portland Oregon I oversaw nursing home, Sunday ministries for several institutions. Many patients wished to pass on and often requested prayers for physical departure. The gnawing question on most of their minds was, “Why am I still here?” We simply often do not know why. Many of the answers I have heard simply do not fit our Father’s character. His purposes are often difficult to assess on a human scale. Differing segments of our lives create skill sets and character maturity at varied levels of our spirit/souls development. We know only in part what we are to become. He does not stop working on us simply because we grow old. Learning to lean and learning to wait are often difficult but necessary.
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“Living Again”
He said; “Man, if I could just get a fresh start in life, it would be different.” A new life without a death to the old self doesn’t happen, but is possible with each fresh Sunrise 🌅. Like you, I have seen several persons try to start over, most, never succeeded, but a few actually did prevail and their life really did change. What makes the difference? Why, the many failures and the few successes? I remember two specific persons telling me the details of a genuine change that took place within their failed lives. With each person I asked for great clarification and specific details. After a lengthy interview with each and then profiling their lives over a lengthy period of time I was convinced of their radical change from complete satanic bondage to absolute change of character, habits, speech and appearance. They were changed persons with both a reworked historical past and a refreshingly new future. Whereas they were previously unmarriageable, they were now great Christian companions. So, my question remained, why does this work for some and not for others? In both of the successful change examples, I inquired as to who had consistently prayed for each of them. A faithfully praying grandmother was the mystery prayer warrior for one and a godly mother’s prayers had followed the other person for decades. Intercessory prayer was what the Holy Spirit had used in both successful deliverances. Prayer for another person can afford them real freedom, a life worth living, another trip around the block. For these two men, that transformation was just as radical and powerful as if they had physically died and come back into an extension of life years. One of those men’s heroin habit before his deliverance, demanded 1,700.00 dollars every day of his life. Our Father can give us, “Another Trip Around the Block!” Narcotic enslavement is so binding that few get totally free. Ruined lives are often diseased and otherwise devastated for life. Thank God for praying intercessors. These are often loving relatives who refuse to succumb to Satan’s discouragements. Few of us understand the power of our prayers! “Yesterday once more,” can be an exciting addition to our earth life. Some of our greatest treasures are to be found in yesterdays scrap book. The wonderful endowments found in repeated ventures around the block enrich our brief lives immeasurably. We may not always properly analyze all of our Father’s purposes within the many diverse segments of our journey, but someday, when he edits each and all of the chapters within our book of life, it will make perfect sense. We are His story!
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“No Extension”
Bud Perkins was my 76 year old salt water fishing 🎣 cofisherman. What a precious brother in Christ! Bud was painting one of our Sunday School rooms when he lost his balance and fell to his death from a four (4) foot ladder. When l met with Bud and conversed with him, only moments after his deadly fall, I felt sure he would recover from what appeared to be a minor accident. We prayed for healing and a full recovery and we fully expected such, but Bud was dead within seconds of our very earnest prayers! I couldn’t believe it. Juanita and Bud were childhood sweet hearts. They had been married in their teen years. Bud’s, “untimely, unwelcome death was a bitter unacceptable death for his injured companion. The big WHY? Question hung like a dark storm cloud over this injured little family. Why no second trip around the block? Why no extension? Only God knows. The sting of death bites into both soul and body. Juanita was so devastated that she declared, “No one ought to ever love someone else as much as Bud and I loved each other.” My corrective, response to her anguished statement was; “ O, Juanita, you were so unusually blessed to have been gifted with such a degree of blissful love, and that, for such a long period of time, I know women who would have died for such a soulmate.” The beautiful thing for Bud and Juanita is that real love never dies and death is a door, not a dungeon for our Father’s family.
Our Father is the great shape changer, he is the Sovereign of the earth, our galaxy, the universe and our heavenly home, his decisions are his choice.
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“GETTING EVEN”
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Numbers 12:11
“Lay not the sin upon us
… we have done foolishly.”
Good people, sometimes, do bad, even horrible things. Abraham lived a lie for extended periods of time and on numerous occasions. Sarah, his wife was bitter, selfish and lived those lies with her husband. Fool with Abraham, Moses or King David and you won’t be the victor, you’ll be dead. Peter and Paul were dangerously prejudiced against non-Jews. All of Jesus’ disciples were full of self interests and unreachable on various occasions. Many of God’s children are a real mess sometimes. There are moments when our actions and or attitudes have absolutely no relationship to the person that we really are.
At the age of 15 I suffered a brain tumor with all of the tedious repercussions of a slow, debilitating recovery. A year later and back into a public school environment I picked a fistfight with a fellow student, who tried every possible way to reason with me, but I was, stupidly determined to fight him. I lost before I took the first swing. He punched me one time and then apologized to me in front of several classmates. I was the one who was terribly wrong. My motive, who knows? Totally ridiculous! He was my friend both before and after the scuffle. He was not a fighter. That’s not who he was, and that’s not who I was either. When we are trying to figure out who we really are, we can say things and behave in a manner that is simply not us. Some folks need someone to tell them that they are a better person than the manner of their speech and actions indicates at weak moments. This simple action is a therapy and has aided many persons to begin to think differently about themselves and about life. We can thus be facilitators in the process of helping others to, “Get Even” (holistically balanced) with themselves.
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I have served as an ordained minister inside the institutional church for over 50 years. I have worked outside the instructional church in contemporary ministry among, “The Broken,” for over a decade and it is my firm belief and honest conviction that the same percentages of domestic and social behavior occur outside the institutional church as happen within that business. The same percentages of divorces, hypocrisy, saved, sinning, abuse, gossip and good deeds, openness to truth, etc. etc. . Many of those on the outside were once inside. Many of them pwant nothing to do with religion or religious people. Most of the elderly, whom I work with daily, love Jesus but have been severely injured, prejudged or maligned by religious people. (Study the bio of Gandhi). Some believe that by withdrawing from churchy people, they are, “Getting Even” with their perceived enemies. People who live in glass houses are Ill advised to throw stones, and believe it or not, we each and all live within a glazed exterior. The religion of Christianity and the living Spirit of Jesus Christ are often exact opposites and diametrical, philosophical enemies: Many of history’s bloody wars were perpetrated by religious leaders. The World religions including Christendom is arrogant and militant. Contemporary, Capitalistic Christianity has replaced the old rugged cross with a new magical spinning globe. The magic of Globalism has replaced the miracles of Christ’s Gospel. This pseudo Christian religion creates; a judging others mentality, arrogance, envy, strife, mega rules and rituals, divisions, pros elites and pros elites and ceaseless efforts to become a self made righteous person. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, this abated by some, “Free Pulpits.”
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The Spirit of Christ produces; “Judge not,” humble servants, 2 basic commandments, Love God, Love others. No rituals. Embracing all. Whosoever will may come. Salvation by grace plus nothing.
Institutional, “Non-Profit,” religion is now a huge, wealthy, Big Profit making business enterprise. It is a weighted down social/religious ship, encumbered with huge, multiple, humanly created barnacles. The Vatican greedily harbor’s an infected avarice including currency, huge holdings of precious metals, silver and golden trinkets, realistate holdings, volumes of classical art, and investment portfolios which value in the multiple billions. Religion insights retaliation, “Get Even.” Jesus the Christ, both forgives us and is teaching us to forgive others. It’s not always easy but it is always right to both ask forgiveness and bestow such on both friends and enemies.
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A mighty river begins its journey as a small, insignificant trickling stream. Israel, like that bubbling brook, was birthed from the barren loins and inoperative womb of an elderly couple, Abraham and Sarah, who were far beyond child-bearing years. Through their descendants, Jacob (“cheat”) renamed by God, “Israel,” (“Chosen,”) produced the 12 tribes of Israel. One of those sons, Joseph, was the game changer, through whom God multiplied the house of Israel to 2.4 million living persons, while living in Egypt. As this Jewish river flows it reached, what appeared to be an impasse with Joseph. But things are not always as they appear! Joseph’s half brothers despised their younger, spoiled, bratty brother. He was a dreamer, an irritating thorn in their flesh, a”tattle tale,” nuisance, but highly favored above them by their elderly father and they waited for the opportunity to get even. And get even they did; as the debated what they should do to him, their first choice was to murder him, followed by dumping him into a dried up, dusty cistern, followed by, selling him to a passing slave merchant, who sold him in Egypt for 20 pieces of silver to Potiphar, a high government official in Pharaoh’s administration.
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“Broken To Meekness”
Forgiveness is a holy tide of grace and comfort. Low tide Carrie’s out the toxic poisons and high tide brings in new healings, fresh hope and power. We will only be here for a short time but what we do changes the course for the future. Every obstacle can become a new opportunity. We can mature to a status in which we do not seek revenge, instead we seek reconciliation. LORD Jesus says; “ It’s your light that lights the world.” (Matthew 5:14 ff.) His light through us is unassuming, priceless and often subliminal. Forgiveness creates freedom. “Getting Even,” multiplies bondage, like a creeping virus that infects the soul. Revenge is a losers dream which belies the self destruction which it inevitably spawns. This fact is potently illustrated in our text:
Numbers 12 reveals a historical story of three struggling, adult siblings and their internal conflicts. Moses’ brother Aaron and their sister Miriam were experiencing sibling rivalry and jealousy against their older brother, Moses, when he married an, “Ethiopian woman.” Since she was not of their Jewish race, they were greatly upset. Their jealousy of Moses had preceded this marriage issue, but now they began a whispering campaign against their elder brother. (Numbers 12:2 ff.) “They said, ‘Is it only through Moses that God speaks? Doesn’t he also speak through us?’ God overheard their talk.” (He always does.) “God broke in ….descended in a pillar of cloud … called Aaron and Miriam …. The anger of God blazed out against them …. Miriam … turned leprous, her skin like snow…. - a leper! …. Moses prayed to God: Please God, heal her, please heal her…. So Miriam was in quarantine …. for seven days …. The people didn’t march on until she was readmitted ….” Moses never tried to, “get even.” (Numbers 12:3) “Moses was a quietly humble man, more so than anyone living on the earth.” Most, maybe all, of us must be broken to become humble. Moses many trials and tribulations melted him into a pliable soul in the skilled hands of the designer of spinning planets 🪐 and polished persons. 😇
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Does God give some people a window to get ready for their departure, before he takes them out? Did he do so with Moses? Does he give some an extension of time? Does he cut time shorter for others? Is Lucifer betting that he can break us by gigging our senses to get even? Alzheimer’s is not the only psychological nightmare, those who live and die to get even are in an, enslaving dead end nightmare also. Retaliation is a false positive that creates reverberating negative results. When we choose to not, “get even,” and not seek revenge, but allow our Father to meet out his purposes and vengeance as he chooses, the Spirit releases a healing psychological catharsis into the soul and physical anatomy. As a post deliverance are we also favored by the Holy Spirit in some eternal measure? Do we allow him to use us beyond our understanding? Our Heavenly Father is both our Creator and our Redeemer. Redemption conceives forgiveness both for us and through us to others who, like ourselves, do not deserve or earn it.
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Joseph is a perfect example of a person who chose to not get even with his enemies. Joseph and Daniel are sterling personalities. They each were gifted with an imagination that was imbedded with divine wisdom. A mental image of what the future should or would be like is defined as a vision. God makes himself known in conscious, visions and then follows up by giving specific, detailed instructions in subconscious dreams. (Numbers 12:6-7). Moses was the exception to this method: (Numbers 12:7 ff.) “My servant Moses is not so,…. With him will I speak mouth to mouth …. He ponders the very form of God.”
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One of the most striking statements in all of Scripture is voiced by Jacob’s son Joseph,at the death of his father. Joseph addresses his 11 brothers, who now fear for their lives, believing that Joseph will now get even with them. (Genesis 50:19ff.) “Joseph replied, ‘Don’t be afraid. Do I act as God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used these same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now —- Life for many people.” Our Father can redeem brokenness and transform this mortal into immortality.
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Aimless or misguided independence is a self destructive dependence upon negative predators. Cults and corrupt creatures prey upon these misguided souls. Those of us who are driven by revenge are also wanderers and our condition is far worse than those who simply lack purpose. The dark angels prey upon our intellect, emotions and human will. They eventually oppress us and if left unchecked, can possess us. Our penitentiaries and mental asylums are at capacity with them. As children of our Father, we need to set our face and establish our hearts against retaliation as we endeavor to restore both our friends and our enemies. There came a moment in time when Jesus set his face to go to the cross, where all forgiveness is vicarious. Study these words:
“Vicarious Forgiveness”
It is the transfer of guilt to the one who is doing the forgiving. This is the exact opposite of, “getting even.” This was Joseph’s standing; it was also Jesus’ position.
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There is most often a high cost to getting even. Dale Carnegie relates an event at Yellowstone National Park which vividly illustrates this fact: the huge Gristle Bears regularly ate at the large metal garbage barrels. When they appeared the smaller park animals disappeared, for obvious reasons. One swipe with their powerful paw would send the tops of the well-made containers spinning. One slight swat from this huge predator meant sudden death to the many smaller mammals in Yellowstone. There was, however, one exception. Dale was intrigued and entertained as one very small, assuming little creature waddled right up to the mammoth grisly and ate at its own leisurely stride, of course, it was a skunk. Mr. Carnegie would say, “Can you imagine how angry that bear was? But he lifted not a paw against his, uninvited, unwelcome, guest, and why would he do that? Because of, “The high cost of getting even.”
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“GRUMBLING”
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“The people fell to grumbling.” (Numbers 11:1)
2.4 million enslaved people went from spiritual groaning in forced slave labor while in Egypt to soulish grumbling in a deliverance status of freedom. They did not ascend or progress or advance to grumbling, they declined, came down to or fell to the level of complaining and becoming, “Grumblers.”
“The Trials of Travel:”
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“A Pack Negative Mentality,” pervaded the liberated Israelites as they traveled from bondage to a hope filled brighter future. Rather than rejoicing in their deliverance they focused their petty attentions on their, “deprived,” Egyptian food delicacies. Deliverance and development without destruction often requires a creative, delicate balance of labor and long suffering patience. Harsh reality is always better than false hope, however deliverance out of any entrapment has some harsh moments, laborious transitions and long suffering days. The Hebrews had been accustomed to a life of slavery for over 400 years. Getting out of Egypt was one thing but getting Egypt out of them was quite another problem. Old habits of daily griping often die grueling, and boringly slow. Their complaining discontent was verbally traveling with them as Moses got an ear full of it daily.
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Grumbling is a grievous sin in the nostrils of God: (Numbers 11:20ff.) “…. You have rejected God who is right here among you, whining to his face, ‘Oh why did we ever have to leave Egypt?’” To this day, the Western wall in the old city of Jerusalem is often referred to as, the “Wailing Wall.” Antichrist Jews who reject Jesus Messiah as God’s true Sanctuary, appear at this wall and wail and cry out that their physical sanctuary is missing. Rejecting the all sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Messiah, they have no available sacrifice to atone for their unforgiven sins. Having neither sacrifice, altar or temple, they grumble and wail at their, “Wailing Wall.” Jesus referred to the genuine, “Temple,” in (John 2:19ff.). There is a temple that is not built with human hands. (Acts 7:48, 17:24).
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Moses was the man caught in the middle of this 40 year grumbling life time journey: Can the spirit of a godly man be broken? Can the load get too heavy? Moses breaks down under this impossible load of pressure and prays for his immediate death: Numbers 11:11 ff.) “ Moses said to God, ‘Why are you treating me like this? What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Did I conceive them? Was I their mother? So why dump the responsibility of this people on me? Why tell me to carry them all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? …. I can’t do this by myself —- it’s too much …. Is this how you intend to treat me, do me a favor and kill me. I’ve seen enough; I’ve had enough; Let me out of here.”
Do we sometimes come to life’s, “Breaking Points?” Yes we do.
This morning I received the following message from a cancer patient who is at the breaking point:
“ Pastor Bob the devil is
trying to kill me but I won’t let him. I hurt so bad I wanted to die, they put 2 connectors in my chest so I can o in three ties and have my blood drained and cleaned. I prayed God would take me. I put my pistol to my heart pulled the triger hard but it didn't go off, I couldn't understand, the pistol has no safery. I pointed it at the floor and it went off. I'm isupppse to suffer! I don't know what God wants?“The following is my reply to this patient in crisis mode:
“——— I am so sorry that you are suffering. In moments like this, and I do have them too, I open wide my arms and tell our Heavenly Father that I accept both the bitter and the sweet and ask him for mercy that I might bear the trials.
‘And my heart says AMEN to thy will Lord, and I know that thou lovest me still, as I bow low in humble contrition and my heart says, AMEN to Thy will.’” Holy Father, I lift my brother ———— to you. In Jesus name Amen.”
(This is shared with proper permission to do so.)
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“God Will Provide”
Our Father provided earth angels to help Moses his entire life. His parents, siblings, Pharaoh’s daughter, his wife, Zipporah and father-in-law, Jethro and doubtless many others, whom we have no knowledge of. There was also, a very special assistant by the name of, Joshua. (Numbers 11:28), “Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ right-hand-man since his youth … “. In his teen years God gave Moses a great, life time gift, a godly friend, who would defend him, investigate for him and lead Israel into the promised land after Moses’ departure into Paradise. He was Moses’ silent shadow for a lifetime. What a dear friend! The greatest gift our father provides to us is his select people, beginning with his own beloved Son. Every good gift comes to us down from the Father above. (James 1:17). He is, “The Great Provider.”
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Einstein said, “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others remains immortal.” The truth is; That which God does through us bears fruit that is eternal. Our Fathers home is an atmosphere of peaceful love and adventuresome creativity. Attitudes create an atmosphere and heaven is an atmosphere of expectant joy and tranquil reflection.
Our Father does not tolerate grumbling, mumbling, whining, complaining conversations and attitudes. He changes the conditions causing the morbidity, as he did with Moses and the Israelites and he replaces the persons causing the social/spiritual inflammation. Our spirit is highly contagious and transferable,(Numbers 11:25).
Don’t hang out with grumblers, unless you want to be one also.
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The opposite of grumbling is a spirit of thanksgiving and praise. In discipleship training, there comes a time when both persons are disciplining each other. This occurred with Barnabas and Paul, and happens quite often. Several years ago I discovered a new disciple in Houston Texas. Dr. Jose’ Pasqua who created, “The Joshua Generation.” This world 🌎 wide discipleship ministry currently has disciples internationally. Jose’ and I have discipled each other for several years. His mission outreach now has active disciple makers in over 150 nations of the world. If I were to choose the most outstanding chapter quality of Brother Jose’, it would have to be his consistent, radiant spirit of Thanksgiving and Praise. I have never known another man, who, in both cheerful and in painfully sad times consistently communicates the spirit of appreciation and worshipful praise. He and his godly wife, Joyce, are some of our Father’s greatest gifts to my, gradatory companion, Linda and to me. We would have been married 60 years. Today.
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“Fickle Feelings”
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“With the arrival of Jesus … A new power is in operation. The Spirit of Life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.”
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Don’t wait for successful or victorious feelings, just do the godly thing and you’ll have the power! Spiritual discernment and godly wisdom results in fresh opportunities of achievement far beyond our comfort zones greatest imagination. There is an uninhibited energy force available to the children of our Heavenly Father who live and walk by faith rather than living their lives on feelings. Feelings are very fickle, whereas faith is built on the strong foundation of our Father’s Word. This source of power continues to be available as a direct result of the indescribable damage that Jesus Messiah did to the source of all evil and dark power, at his vicarious death and imperial resurrection. Lucifer’s kingdom, including the gates of death and the grave is shattered, his code of corruption is uncovered and his dominion is exposed to everlasting ruin. Satanic captivity has been broken by the stronger man, described in, (Mark 3:22 ff.) Lucifer tempts us on the soulish, feelings level, as he did Mother Eve. We can chose to verbally assert the energy force of The Lamb of God’s Blood and the Holy Spirit’s power of Life, at each confrontation with our ancient enemy. Jesus came to defeat the enemy, (1 John 3:8). The Devil and his demonized angels are no match to the eternal life found only in the Life Blood of Messiah. Jesus, established his kingdom on the premise, of the strong foundation of who he is and his perfect obedience to his Father’s righteous Word. We are a part of his kingdom right now and that positioning, by him, is unshakable and eternal.
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Discerning the things that matter: our senses are of primary importance to us in daily activities on planet earth. While vitally assisting us, especially in this computer era, they can also, on occasion, mislead us in spiritual matters. Lucifer appealed to Eve’s senses in the garden of Eden. She obeyed her sensory impulses rather than obeying what Father God had clearly instructed her husband and her to do and what to not do. Bots, (computerized, minute robots equipped with Sentience abilities now pretentiously, voting and acting as parasitical humans within our computers technology ability, that can both receive sensations and respond without the ability to think.) The ability to feel, void the ability to cognate, can be compared to humans who are either drugged or drunk. Satan’s seductive presence powerfully affects the human will. We are no different, in many ways, than our ancient, first generation parents. “If it feels good, do it,” is the M.O. of many persons, to others, the main business of life is the acquisition of memories. Contemporary advertising appeals to our senses and selfish, inflated egos to move us into their desired response, which favors their economic advancements, and evaporates our finances.The objective truth is that, on occasion, our feelings do correctly, spiritually serve us. When The Word and The Spirit agree we have full spiritual clearance to go forth, but when our feelings tug in an opposite direction from the clear teachings of our Father’s holy Word, His Word takes president. “Let God be true, even if every man is a lier.” (Romans 3:4).
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Will things turn out right? We each desire to encourage our children and every loved one that, “The wrong shall fail and the right will prevail,” even when it doesn’t appear so in the present world system. Our senses may often misguide us, but our Father’s clear instructions will not. There is a difference between the, “Soulish Minded Christian”, and the, Spiritually Minded Christian.” While both are saved, the soulish minded person will be much more fickle than the spiritually minded Christian. Some believers are about as stable as Jello, while others are unshakeable. Some folks need a lot more religion than others. The Apostle Paul deals a little on this subject (1Corrinthians 8:), (Romans 14:). There is more than one, “fold,” kind of good Christian. We don’t all worship our Father in the same manner, Time, place, and that is according to his unique plan. We have variant gifts, maturity levels and peculiarities. As different parts of the same body of Christ, we each do what we can, what we have been gifted and enabled by the Spirit to do. Our Heavenly Father loves all of his children equally and embraces the diversity which he both creates, procreates and redeems. His Word instructs us to also embrace that which he embraces. The Great Spirit loves diversity, just look around at his many faceted creation. When we change our mind on any issue, we have chosen to disagree with ourselves and this is often a good thing! We can disagree with others and even ourselves and yet remain good spirited, creative, kind and agreeable. Much of the time, we are only partially correct, if correct at all and room for improvement is wholistic. The vast majority of us learn most of our practical life lessons through repeated failures that we refer to as, “learning curves.”
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God’s Non-Fickle Love:
I have cognitively wrestled with the temperature of my genuine love for my Heavenly Father, which is the greatest commandment, and Satan has repeatedly accused me, many times, of my lack of love for my Father in Heaven. In searching prayer, the Holy Spirit has helped me to more thoroughly understand some facts about Agape, (God’s Love.) While our Father’s Love does have feelings, it is not, “A Feeling.” God’s love goes deeper than feelings, it is a rock solid commitment, including a will to obey Him. It is not conditional nor coerced. The exact opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is indifference. Our Heavenly Father loves us when we neither love Him, others or even ourselves. Very few persons in the Old Testament rightly understood our Father’s love or the coming Grace and Truth of Jesus Messiah. Most of the Jewish religious leaders and followers at Jesus Messiah’s appearance rejected both him and his message of Grace and Truth. “He came unto his own and his own received him not.” (John 3:). Multitudes do not know or receive Him and his message today. Human nature is fractured, (Romans 8:3ff.) “God … sent his own Son. He didn’t deal with the problem (of sin and death), as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, He personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law,… weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that…. And now what the law asked for … is accomplished in us as we … simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.” The Holy Spirit is continuously, actively working within each of us uniquely as he wills. We should not compare ourselves to others, we are not them nor are we exactly in their condition or nature. God’s love flows into our hearts daily as The Great Spirit both orders and delivers his Amazing Love!
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“Continuous Crises”
Both Political Science and Biological, Natural Science are approaching Critical Mass in our present World. Without a Redeemer, we are bonded to failure, disease,death and the grave. Much of our world lives in a fluctuating fear of war, natural disaster, pandemic diseases, starvation and nuclear destruction. A dominion of uncertainty pervades our social structure and this includes The United States of America. Socialism fogs the human brain, calling evil good and clear biblical truths and standards evil. Erasing history and the lines of black and white, socialism makes everything gray. Logical persons describe our present disorientation as, “cultural and moral insanity.” A financial infection is plunging us into a terminal national malignancy. The Scriptures have a wonderful manner of describing our present social/political environment: (Romans 8:19 ff.) msg. “The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation … All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us …. We’re also feeling the birth pangs.” In the very presence of this continuous crisis, we have no pause button, and we have no time to die until our Father calls us home. Our Father doesn’t tell us many of his secrets. We have no human ability to understand the vast majority of them and would, possibly, misuse others, to our own detriment and to that of others. His Spirit will be exciting our spirits with fresh exhibits of himself and his creative genius throughout the unceasing light years of infinity. We will soon be rescued from this continuous crisis to an unlimited, wholesome, Godly creativity. The best of, “Home,” here is both temporary and incomplete in comparison to the eternal home that we were created for and are being fashioned for. We grow weary here, but never there. We shall not only be a permanent part of his creation, we shall share in his unlimited creativity. Our spirits are pregnant with expectations of the fulfillments of his sure promises to us. Our cognitive powers shall be righteously unleashed. We will not need humanly produced space ships, super computers, robots or any other humanly engineered devise, we shall travel at the speed of cognitive thought. A divine calm shall replace our present Human crisis!
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“The God who offers
Redemption to ALL”
Dying blood speaks: Not all dying blood speaks the same request or message. Cain slaughtered his own blood brother, Abel. As the last breath left Abel’s body his blood cried out for vengeance against his brother, (Genesis 4:10) msg. “God said …. The voice of your brother’s blood is calling to me from the ground …. “ (Hebrews 12:24) msg. “ … The murder of … Abel… — a homicide that cried out for vengeance …. “ Although Abel was righteous, Abele’s death was a bitter dying experience, he wanted vengeance. He requested that God judge, and divinely punish his blood brother. Do we all desire to, “Get Even?” Requiring requital is almost universal, especially in the initial stage of recognized damage and grievous hurts. Anger, retaliation and bitterness is conceived within the heart and birthed into the senses, demanding vengeance. Payback is seldom the finale in life’s real soup operas. In real life the innocent are often the most damaged.
This was not the spiritual atmosphere of Jesus’ death or that of the bloody martyrdom of deacon, evangelist, Stephen. Both Jesus and Stephen experienced a radically different martyrdom experience than that of Abel:
(Hebrews 12:24 ff.) “You’ve come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. He is the mediator of this covenant. The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel’s—-a homicide that cried out for vengeance—- became a proclamation of grace.” (Luke 23:34) “ Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing …”. (Acts 7:59 ff.) “As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, ‘Master Jesus, Take my life …. Master, don’t blame them for this sin —-his last words. Then he died.”
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Jesus’ kingdom, revealed by him in the New Testament, is the New Covenant. The Old Covenant approached sin and death with, an eye for an eye and a death for a death. Abel expresses this Old Covenant at his death when he cries out for vengeance against his own brother. Contrasting this old covenant approach, which Jesus in his own body, completely fulfilled for everyone of us, is the New Covenant, which he birthed at his death. (Hebrews 9:16 ff.) “Like a will that takes effect when someone dies, the new covenant was put into action at Jesus’ death. (When did the new covenant start? “At Jesus’ death.”) His death marked the transition from the old plan to the new one, cancelling the old obligations and accompanying sins, …. He brought together God and his people in this new way.” msg. This New Covenant is beautifully and simply summarized in one New Testament verse; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish , but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). kjv. Whosoever will, may come!
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We are the product of a majestic genius. His labor with each of us is a process in continuum. There are stages in our development that produce sensations of pain, uncertainty, disbelief, belief, pause, pleasure, remorse and multiple other perceptions. Our spirits were breathed into flesh and blood and our creator is encouraging us to replace feelings with faith and learn to live by faith, not feelings, in a spiritual relationship with him and each other. To be, “Born Again”, means to be, “Born from Above,” or to be born of the spirit. This seems foreign to our human, flesh nature, but The Holy Spirit helps us in each period of change. We will not understand each stage and certainly not “feel” good about it, but change is essential. As we mature we should begin to grasp spiritual truths and spiritual realities more quickly. To walk in the spirit we must crawl out of the flesh. Crawling was a significant stage in our physical development and is equally important in our spiritual maturation. Those who are not spiritually minded will, for a season, think this is foolish mental jockeying. “Walking in the spirit,” is both biblical and eventually, this mortal must put on immortality, it is essential. We may go around the block multiple times, but to reach our spiritual destination we will eventually press on from living to please the carnal appetite to, with joy, walking in the spirit.
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When Jesus Christ explained to the Jewish leaders that he preexisted Abraham and that he is the, “I Am that I Am,” God, who spoke to Moses in the burning bush, and they rejected that fact, he stopped sharing spiritual truths with them. Saul of Tarsus continued kicking and fighting for a long time. Moses escaped from Egypt for fourth years, before he pressed on. At some unforeseen episode the spiritual light breaks forth, old delights diminish and the Great Spirit guides us into a spiritual dimension. We are being formed and fashioned for eternity in this womb of physical/spiritual life. We didn’t choose to be here. We are not Lord. He is LORD! We can fight Him or embrace both Him and his will for our lives and his Journey of Faith. Don’t follow your fickle feelings, follow, by faith, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
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“Godly Groanings:”
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“God listened to their groanings.”
(Exodus 2:24) msg.
Human languages are sometimes totally incapable of conferring the deep hurts and majestic, “Hallelujah’s” of the human heart. Earlier today I parked my vehicle and while exiting the car, a young lady cried out, “I am having an emergency, my dad is at the Veteran’s medical facility in Tyler, something is wrong with his heart, can you help me?” Her facial expressions and voice of immediate urgency caused me to put my personal business on hold and the critical needs of her family, rightfully, took president. This illustrates our Father’s immediate response when our spirit or The Holy Spirit, in our behalf, “groans,” before his throne. Spiritual Groaning is deeper than verbally requesting something, deeper than human emotion, deeper than our soul’s pleadings. When the spirit is groaning the human appetite fails to hunger, personal plans become secondary, our minds are blurred in circular confusion or are blinded into a state of non function and deep in the human soul the human spirit erupts into wailing tears and cry’s out to God, “I Have An EMERGENCY!”
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Abraham’s descendants, enslaved in Egypt, amounted to a population of an estimated 2.4 million of which 600,000 were numbered as adult, fighting men. (Numbers 1:26) As contemporary Westerners, we have a very difficult time understanding the cruel, non-human environment of slavery. The Israelites had no rights, no hopes for a better tomorrow, or freedoms and cried out to God for help, but God appeared to be deaf to them, until their spirits began to,”GROAN.” (Exodus 2:23ff.) msg. “… The Israelites groaned under their slavery and cried out. Their cries for relief from their hard labor ascended to God: God listened to their groanings. God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw what was going on with Israel. God understood.”
When their spirits groaned,
God listened,
God Remembered,
God Saw,
God Understood.
God’s timing to redeem the enslaved Jews from Pharaoh and from bondage had preceded their dystopia by decades, when he had Moses birthed on the Nile River and placed in a water-proofed basket boat. (Exodus2:). Both of Mose’s parents were of Levitical linage, Pharaoh’s daughter’s timing of bathing in the Nile River, Moses’ sister Miriam’s appearance and council to the Princess, Moses’ own biological mother nursing him for three months, and being paid to do so by Pharaoh’s own treasury, and all of the intricate details of his scholastic training in Egyptian philosophy; God was building his deliverer. Our Father uses persons to accomplish his purposes and plans that we are often unaware of. Our father’s timing often appears to be in error to us, but it is not. He created time and knew how to make time work for our eternal good. His long-suffering patience toward us, our friends, neighbors and enemies is essential in his eternal kingdom’s strategic plan. God’s, “Burning Bushes,” are timed to perfection in our earth’s journey.
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Both blessings and curses return to us when willed and or spoken. However, denied reception by our intended receiver, reversed the curse or the blessing to us. This is a Soul Principal that is brilliantly illustrated by Joseph and his Hebrew siblings and by Moses and Pharaoh. Pharaoh despised Moses, his Fellow Hebrews and their God. The damnation that he both spoke and willed for their destruction was denied by Moses and his, “I AM” God, and was boomeranged back upon Pharaoh, his family and his nation.
Jesus Messiah teaches this Bible fact, among other spiritual truths in (Matthew 12:43ff.) msg. “When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone it drifts along … looking for … some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn’t find anyone, it says, ‘ I’ll go back to my old haunt.’ … That person ends up far worse off …”. As disciples of Jesus Christ we are both covered with his blood and his Spirit now resides within us, leaving no exposure or room for ungodly spirits. We sometimes hear people damning others, how foolish and dangerous. The curse often returns to themselves and their habitation. We have the power to bless or curse. What do we desire to return to us, our families and our habitation, curses or blessings? Many people in anger toward themselves or others or God damn others and their spoken curse returns to themselves, their family members and their habitation. On occasion we may bless others, if the blessing is refused it also returns to its sender. Be a Blesser, it lifts both its sender and receiver. Bless and curse not!
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Cursing God, verbally, has always been a very serious offense to God. My dad would, on an anger explosion, take God’s name in vain and curse him. The Holy Spirit corrected him each time. Now, how do I know this? Every time this happened in my presence, he would stop, turn to me and ask me to forgive him. Every Time! This anger- verbal, damnation problem came to a critical point with him when he was hoeing in the garden one morning. As he worked in the garden he was also in prayer. He felt so guilty and such a failure that he said: “God, I hate hypocrisy and I can’t seem to control my tongue, so I am no longer going to claim to be a Christian.” He told me that the words had just been spoken when a sharp pain struck his heart, he stumbled to the earth and cried out to God for help and forgiveness. The Great Spirit then directed him, that even if he must stay on his knees the remainder of his life, he belonged to God as one of his sons. Cursing God pronounces a curse on ourselves and those whom we love the most. God’s Son was covered with our curses and paid for them at Calvary and henceforth, God refuses to accept our verbal curses, therefore every one returns to us and our house.
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We are not the only person who groans over our adversities at our Father’s throne. The sensitive, Holy Spirit feels our infirmaries and prays to our Father in our favor. This is the Spirit of God who, before time’s clock ticked, “… brooded like a bird above …” the pre-formed earth that, “… was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness … the watery abyss.” (Genesis 1:2) msg. This same Great Spirit spoke: “Light!” And light appeared..” He is the one praying and, “Groaning,” for each of us. (Romans 8:26), “… the Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” kjv. We have an advocate,(attorney of record) with The Father. We have the superlative prayer warrior of history who, in our behalf, groans to our Father, our deepest needs and desires. “Pretty Prayers,” do not impress our Father, but when The Great Spirit groans out our deepest hurts, our Father’s heart moves the persons and pages of history.
“Jesus’ Gift to us”
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The Holy Spirit, (The Spirit of Jesus, The Christ) is the ancient, “Promise of the Father.” He is Jesus’ continued, “gift” to us, his followers. He is actively alive within and through us every day: “The Spirit of God is arousing us within…. God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows far better than we know ourselves … and keeps us present before God …. every detail of our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” (Romans 8:22 ff.) msg. What a precious gift, what a precious Friend is He! 💝
Jesus, our Savior and our Master has put everything on the line for us. Jesus embraces each of us, Just as we are! We live in a weeping world. The closer we approach the final chapter of His-story, weeping will endure - but, “JOY” cometh with the dawning of a New Day! Don’t let anything or anybody steel your joy, but neither let anyone quiet your groanings before our Father’s altar. Build a prayer closet where you can both shout and groan. My wife, Linda’s mother was about 25 percent American Indian. She is one of the few spiritual mystics that I have ever personally known, spiritually connected with and understood her passionate love for her Savior. When she visited us over extended years, I observed the manner and methods of her daily devotion to her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. She would find an East window, lay a blanket on the floor, cross her legs, and read God’s Word, softly hum, whisper, cry, laugh, and groan at God’s altar for an hour or so before others rose from their sleep. There was a quiet spiritual aura that preceded and followed her throughout the day. Godly Groaning is both biblical, spiritual and absolutely essential for victory in our daily lives. 😪 Everyone of us needs a quiet place, a sanctuary, a safe place where we meet with our Master every day. This becomes a reality check, a sweet hour of prayer. If we ask him, The Spirit will direct this special, creative time and place.
Yesterday, in a restaurant, here in Tyler, I asked my waitress if she talked to Jesus daily. She, without hesitation answered, “Yes, and he talks to me every day through his Word and his Spirit.” Godly, Spiritual Groaners, “Raise us Up,” in our most trying, lowest ebbs of life. This experience can be ours also. Often it’s a whisper, sometimes a shout and on occasion, we will Spiritually Groan at our special,private, prayer closet.
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“Destiney’s Demarcation”
“You’re just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times…”
(11 Corinthians 1:7 ff.) Msg.
There is a line, that once chiseled into the human will, all of hell cannot displace it. Messiah Jesus illuminates this factoid as, “The stone cut out of the mountain without human hands.” A solid, unmovable bolder. Daniel 2:45) He is, “The cornerstone” of God’s Kingdom. In (1Peter 2:4ff.) Our Father describes his Son as, “Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in him shall not be disappointed.”
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This stone (Christ) is God’s Demarcation line of destiny. The prophecy includes a very visual warning, “The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” (Isaiah 28:16), This prophecy was and continues to be fulfilled by Christ rejectors, both with Jews and gentiles. Some of us seem to stumble our way through life and get offended by both large and small issues, while other folks just continue to, “press on.” What character quality determines the difference between those who continually get, “stuck” and those who press on? There actually is a demarcation line separating these two very different types of human behavior.
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One of the basic tenets of beings, who are human, is their innate, structured ability to chose and the will power to change. We are not, “Human Has Been’s,” or “ Human Will Be’s,” we are present, continuous tense, “ Human Beings.” We are continually in the process of, “Being.” Our Creator made us thus. Persons who believe that they cannot change believe a non truth that cripples and critically limits them. Change is rarely easy but often necessary for healthy, successful living on our neat little versatile planet. Old, destructive habits can be replaced with wholesome, creative mental and physical behavior patterns. Deeply rooted false beliefs can be replaced with truth. Indifference, anger, bitterness and hate can be rooted out and substituted with endearing care, passion and sincere love. God can actually give us, “a new heart.” (Ezekiel 11:19). It may take more than a lifetime for some of us to get our self limiting kinks out of our personalities. Our precious Father will help us if we will ask him. Examples of him doing so for numerous persons are recorded for us in intricate detail, both in the Bible and all around us. We can change!
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“Prayer Among Cows” 🐄
My dad, Wilbur Arnold, was my prayer warrior, as a distraught kid. Upper respiratory illnesses, multiple bouts with pneumonia and strep throat, have agitated me from birth. I honestly can’t remember one day in my life without a sinus attack. Tests prove that I am allergic to literally every green, growing plant. These physical limitations caused me to experience many limitations. In my sophomore year of high school I had a brain tumor that both physically, scholastically and socially nearly destroyed me. At the age of 18, both the U S Marines and the U S Navy rejected my applications due to my health history. Both of my parents rejoiced that my application was refused. These health challenges to me were met head on by my godly mother and father.
My dad was an Ohio dairy and corn farmer. In my teen years I discovered his spiritual secret. When tough times appeared in his family, he retreated to the milk barn and prayed among the mooing 🐄 cows. My siblings and I were so blessed and highly favored to have praying parents. Without hesitation, both of them would hug us, kiss us and pray with and for us. I am absolutely sure that it was this spiritual environment that moved the, demarcation lines of destiny in our humble, simple domestic farm lives. Prayer changes destiny!
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“Jump Children Jump, and
Shout Children Shout, but,
When you come back down,
Walk the Walk!” Don’t just, Talk the Talk. “Having Fun”, has, in our Western Culture, somehow been elevated to such a superior position that to many people, it is the most valuable goal in life. History’s philosophers refer to this as, hedonism. Americans, for three generations continue to believe that the world owes us something and we have therefore become a thankless generation. Humbled persons of our world come to America seeking an opportunity and some of our preachers, professors and politicians demand that we give them a handout, financed by hard working, lower middle class citizens. Crazy persons kill our children and we blame guns, their manufacturers and sales personnel, and defend the murderers, this is insanity! Should we stop driving and outlaw automobile producers because road rage freaks maim and murder the innocents in their insanity?
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When a society plunges to the moral depravity which we now tolerate in our western culture, it should be classified as insane. Politicians have greedy goals and selfish agendas. Ester and her uncle Mordecai, in the Old Testament book of Ester, were in danger of being murdered by politicians. Tough times are the natural results of such depravity. Trust, free speech, and truth are each sacrificed on the altar of greed and as a result, integrity disappears. Not one of our federal agencies in America is genuine or even honest. Even our, “Fact Checkers” lie every hour of every day. At 82 years of age I can only remember one of our presidents that promised to lead us into a better America and then did what he said he would do. Inflation is the most damaging of all taxation methods. Mr. Biden lied and continues to both live a lie and speak lies every day. America has murdered more innocents than Adolph Hitler did. When America chose to tolerate corruption, America ceased to be good! Our ultimate demise is a ticking time bomb of destruction in mindless Joe Biden’s frail hands. Putin is a murderer, but no more so than Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi. These wicked persons are evil. Evil found a crack in our political system. We actually viewed Nancy tear our liberties to shreds on Americas public television stations as our President spoke to us. Both Republicans and Democrats are as guilty as Lucifer. These, “leaders,” actually desire for America to fail and fall prey to the world’s elitist’s. These corrupt pseudo leaders are actively endeavoring to steel America from us every day. What would have to change for America to be great again, or for this world to be a safe world? I do not believe that humans are capable of making it happen. We desire a cheap, painless healing. Only The Christ can heal the nations.
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At an altar of prayer, a young man repented of his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and His blood as full payment for all of those sins. With joy and elation, his counselor happily told him that his troubles were over and that a great life was his future. The older pastor of the church overheard this conversation and rushed to the altar to correct the conversation. He informed the new Christian that Jesus’ teachings include the facts that the future path for each believing Christian includes trials, troubles and testings as well as blessings.
This is exactly what our text is referring to; (11 Corinthians 1:3ff.) “… God … comes alongside us when we go through hard times,… We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, … Your hard times are also our hard times….
When we see that you’re just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you’re going to make it, no doubt about it.” msg.
This is where destiny is determined. The Christian life is real and it is a real mix of trials and victory’s. (John 16:33). Your cross is just as heavy as mine, it may be different, but it is just as difficult. Christians are not the main character in their lives. Jesus Messiah supplants the human ego, as Lord of life and a new Spirit directs us. Fresh winds lift us up to fresh visions. Destiny’s Demarcation occurs when our determination embraces both enduring the hard times and enjoying the good times. This is what makes marriages work, graduations possible, illnesses, diseases, the many limitations brought on by elder life, and countless losses and disappointments are each and all a normal part of responsible living. Jesus’ life was not easy and much of ours won’t be either. The Great Spirit comes along side us in our low ebbs and the tides of life forge open new doors. Most often, “The end of the road,” is not the end at all, it is only a curve in the road leading to a fresh new, improved future direction. The Rock in our path can be either a stumbling stone and rock of offense, or a Corner Stone offering the possibility of building a brand new structure, a New Opportunity. It will be what we will it to be. Life and death are on our path, choose LIFE! So, “Press On.”
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“Check Points”
Those testy check points that determine a very large portion of our individual destinies appear every five to ten years or so. They can be physical or mental health issues or a verity of other problems; domestic, economic, natural disasters, pandemics, socio/political eruptions, career changes or corrections, deaths and many other variants. These are check points, that, once holistically handled, life moves on to a more peaceful pattern for a period of time. Wisdom, objective understanding and correct timing are necessary at each of these life extension and quality determinants. Prayer and godly council are often necessary and may even be essential. These are Destiny Demarcations. Our Father provides both his Word and his Spirit to steer us through these troubled seas. Calm waters are ahead!
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As our Father preceded Moses on his life journey of 120 years, so also he proceeds us every day. In life’s routine or crisis moments we may question his purpose or even his presence, but he does not flinch, our Father, unlike us is never fickle. He knows and understands our weaknesses and loves us irregardless. Our deep respect for him stirs him to embrace us: (Psalm 103:13 ff.) “As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud. Men and women don’t live very long; … God’s love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear (respect, honor) him, making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said.” Wisdom invariably takes the longer view. Our Heavenly Father sees us, both in the moment of time we view life and in his eternal view of us, our eternal best and chooses wisely for our best favor. Our human will may override his perfect will for a season, but it will often be painful and relatively brief. He will have the final word on each of us as he did with both Moses and Pharaoh. We can will to will the will of God. Barney Warren faced our Heavenly Father’s, “Check Points,” and wrote a song about it: “And my heart says AMEN to thy will Lord, and I know that Thou lovest me still, as I bow low in humble submission and my heart says AMEN to Thy will.”This is a Devine Determinant and a Destiny Demarcation.
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“Old People Aren’t Pretty Yet.”
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“You plant a “dead” seed; soon there is a flourishing plant.” (1 Corinthians 15:37ff. Message Version)
American women will spend an estimated $225,360.00 (This statistic was updated January, 2022)), on beauty care in their lifetime on planet earth. Our women want to look their best, even in elder years, and our men agree with them. Our men spend less and usually don’t look as pleasing.😇 Regardless of how hard we may try, it becomes increasingly more difficult, for most of us, to look our best as we age. We are residing in a temporary structure. Fresh paint, a face lift or two and polish may pleasure us for a season, but it too is impermanent. From our first breath we were pre-programed to have a last breath. This flesh is dusty and shall return to the earth from which it came.
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We are each an individual of many parts with both unique differences and likenesses.
One of our greatest likenesses is our mutual distaste and fear of the unknown and of death. Conversely, our greatest desired treasure for both our loved ones and for ourselves is immortality and a future resurrection. (Jeremiah 29:11 ff.) and (John 14:1 ff.) are two of the most quoted verses in the entire Bible because in both the Old and New Testaments, in moments of disparity and death we cry out for a hope that only our Creator/Redeemer can supply.
Several years ago in upstate New York a little girl, whose parent’s were divided on the subject of spiritual values, stood with her agnostic father at the open grave of her mother. Looking up to her broken hearted father she asked; “Daddy, who do l believe, you or mommy? She told me about Jesus and heaven, but you laughed and said she was foolish, Who do I believe?” Her grieving Father, looked into her tears and replied, “ Honey, your mother told you the truth, your daddy was wrong. Mother is with Jesus right now.” Death is real, it shakes us and often jolts us to face reality, but death is no more real than our coming resurrection!
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We walk the earth in a body that will soon be transformed and changed beyond our most fertile imagination.
(1 Corinthians 2:9 ff.). The many things which our Father continues preparing for each of us is greater than what we can possibly expect. In our fetal pre-birth portion of life we had neither capacity nor capability of seeing what life would be like on planet earth. Comparatively, we are vastly incapable of, even imagining what life will be like without sin, temptations, illnesses, greed, selfishness, guilt and death. As we swam before we crawled and walked, so also we live in a limited time vacuum before we shall span light years of time and space in a superior eternity where our Heavenly Father lives, in a place called, “Heaven.” This present earth experience is a “womb,” status of our eternal life. “Eternal Life is both a quality and a duration of, “Really Living.”
When our son, Tim was birthed, Linda had been in hard labor for many hours. Doctors and nurses had to use forceps to bring him out. When I saw him, moments later, he appeared injured. This was shocking to both Linda and to me. He was soon fine, a beautiful normal baby boy. His developing physical looks were remotely similar to his initial appearance, but greatly improved. Tim, years later drowned to death, again his physical appearance was marred, but when we behold Tim at both his and our resurrection, he will look better than we have ever viewed him. Big surprises await us at the resurrection! Old people aren’t pretty or handsome, yet, but just wait!
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There is considerable debate concerning where our eternal home will be. Scripture reveals, (11 Peter 3:10 ff.) that our Creator/Father will in the future create new heavens and a new earth, and we are informed by Jesus/Messiah that we are to address God as, “Our Father, which art in Heaven.” Messiah Jesus also assures us that he has preceded us in resurrection and is, “Preparing a place for us.” (John 14) Our Father Has created us in his likeness and he knows both our needs and unselfish preference’s. It is very likely that all of this is part of his plan for both now and later. Can we even imagine what life will be like without greed and selfishness? The nature of our resurrected, “Glorified Human Bodies,” will compliment the eternal environment that we shall actively abide within. The core, unique features that identify us to our Father, are deliberately determined through both genetics and environment by our creator.
We are His Story and we uniquely illustrate some feature of His personage. When the, “Time Process” ends the, “Eternal Process” continues unabated. We are his creation, chosen by Jesus Son of God for redemption and shaped and fashioned by The Holy Spirit. We are here at our Triune God’s pleasure.
We didn’t, “just happen” or “hatch” we are created human beings, created and designed in the image of, “The incomparably wise God,” and his Son Jesus Christ. (Romans 16;27).
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God, our Father is the absolute value quotient, his creation and most essentially we human beings, are the relative value quotients. Without humans on the earth, how valuable would the total sum of earth be? Humans bring value into organic presence. Only our Creator can properly define absolute value. Human’s relative value is determined by their moral purity which is radically altered and elevated via the imputed blood atonement of Jesus Messiah. Because of the Life within the blood of Messiah and it’s application via grace through faith into both body and soul, the value of one redeemed human being becomes as infinite as eternity. We were everlasting before Christ redeemed us, He added the quotient of Eternal Life to us, who would otherwise be hopeless, and would soon become valueless at our death. (“He that hath the Son, hath Life.”) A “Living corpse” awaiting death is just existing, whereas, a Christian with Christ resident, is both living and eternally valuable. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Collisions 1:24 ff.). Jesus Christ Redeemed,(Bought Back,) the original, infinite value of the human being. The next time we view the corpse of a valued friend, we need to re-evaluate the infinite worth of our Christian friend after their resurrection. What we are viewing now is just a seed that shall soon be a beautiful flower decorating the tables at the wedding ceremony of our LORD. 🌺 He makes our soul’s value infinite! Jesus sees you as most valuable, a diamond in the rough, a beloved member of our Father’s eternal family.
I’m so glad that we’re a part of The Family of God.
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The ultimate value which the Apostle Paul places on his own resurrection is note worthy: (1 Corinthians 1532 ff.) Msg. “Do you think I was just trying to act heroic when I fought the wild beasts at Ephesus, hoping it wouldn’t be the end of me? Not on your life! It’s resurrection, resurrection, always resurrection, that undergirds what I do and say, the way I live…. Don’t let yourself be poisoned by this anti-resurrection loose talk.”
When comparing the body we bury to that same body at resurrection, Paul says; “Their is no visual likeness between seed and plant …. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrected body that comes from it will be dramatically different.”
(1 Corrections 15:33-38 Msg.)
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When I see myself in my mirror I see similarities of what used to be me, but I also, through eyes of faith, look deeper and I view the person that I, by his grace shall soon become. Age, illnesses and the worn out results of tribulations, testings and multiple trials that have left their indentations on this wearied old body that I live within and through sinful attitudes and actions, I too have been unkind and even unmerciful at times to this physical frame. But, now I pause and realize that what I am looking at is only a physical seed. (1 Corinthians 15:37), that shall soon die, return to this dusty old earth and be resurrected into a living beautiful flower. There shall be some likenesses in that flower to the personal body which I now live in, but there will also be major improvements because this deterioration and dying shall cease. This mortal shall become immortal. There is an old English saying; “You must keep things in proportion,” which simply means, we need to not undervalue nor overvalue the elements that make up life. We each err sometimes in this area. What is really everlastingly most important to everyone of us is our own personal, future resurrection. What could be more important or valuable than this? We are physically, daily dying, BUT, death shall yield to LIFE and we shall die no more, ever! Weakness shall yield to strength. Illness shall yield to wholeness. Time shall yield to eternity. Reunion shall flourish and we shall be at Home.
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In my second pastorate in Shreveport Louisiana, it was my privilege to pastor a sweet lady by the name of Frankie. She was a beautiful soloist. Frankie became a terminal cancer patient in a hospital in Shreveport. My final visit to her found her self professed atheist husband sitting in the room with her. As I stood by her bed and looked into Frankie’s eyes I viewed the death angels presence. Frankie truly loved Jesus, she looked up at me and had one final request; “Pastor, I want to go home, please pray, ask God to let me come home.” Her husband said that she was delirious and wanted to go to their house, I knew better. The sweetest spirit under his roof would very soon take flight to her home. We prayed that our Heavenly Father would receive her into his home and he did. Now, when I see Frankie at the resurrection, she will look very different, recognizable, oh yes, but beautifully different. The best days of our lives are straight ahead. There really is a great day coming for each of us. Soon and very soon we’re going to see the King and see loved ones we have missed so much. We’re going to see them alive and at their best ever! O Yes !
Soon, and very soon, we’ll have a new body, we’ll have a new life, and we’ll be radiantly alive!
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“Never Posturing,
Always Positioning.”
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As members of God’s Eternal Kingdom, we are commissioned to actively pursue and persuade our fellow earthlings, benefitting them with eternal blessings and the unearned favor of our mutual Maker. Scripture guides us as to how to, for their benefit, get into their minds and hearts. (Philippians 4:5) Msg. After telling us to live in a positive, hopeful daily attitude, our Master instructs us to; “Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them….” Jesus was the exact personification of this approach to persons of all philosophical opinions. He never coaxed or conned persons but he identified positively with differing, opinionated persons: military personnel, tax collectors, religionists, prostitutes, Samaritans, businesspeople, government leaders, rank sinners, etc.
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Our calling is never to manipulate or misguide anyone. We are called to Pursue our Heavenly Father’s, “Positive Visualization.” For each person He assigns to us. He places us daily in th path of those we are to minister to. There is a spiritual discernment ability, whereby our Father’s servants can see inside a fellow human’s mind and soul, cognate chapter qualities which the other person has and needs to see; and then reveal those hidden chapter details to them. The Holy Spirit’s gifts and ministries are essential in the effective creation of disciples. This is one of the reasons why Jesus was so insistent that the disciples must wait in Jerusalem until they were filled with the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus’ own presently abiding spirit on planet earth, before they began their soul winning and discipleship ministry. (Acts 1:4ff.). We are equipped to storm, “the gates of hell,” those barriers cannot prevail against Christ’s disciples. (Matthew 16:17ff.)
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We are commissioned by Jesus Christ to do the same works that he did. (John 14:12ff.). He often looked into the lives of others and perceived their innermost motives and thoughts. Eg. Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary, Peter, Mary Magdalene, Nathanael, King Herod, to name only a few. Most of the persons we meet have a serious need of spiritual sight and a positive, uplifting Word. The Holy Spirit gives his equipped servants spiritual eyes of faith that can see what is, “On the other side of the hill,” and to discern the internal motives, duplicities, desires and dilemmas of others. This is included in what the Apostle Paul is referring to when he encourages each of us to: “Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see…. “. (Philippians 4:5ff.) msg. This does not mean that we are to believe everything they believe. We must love and edify the person, even when, on some occasions, we abhor their selfish, sinful lifestyle, Jesus did! We are called and commissioned to forgive, not condemn. (John 20:23 msg.) “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?” The Holy Spirit prepares us for what is being prepared for us and he can, through us, prepare others for what is coming their way. Our spiritual placement is one of being in total agreement with our Savior’s forgiveness of the sins of others. We are positioned where life and death collide and living souls are caught in the cross- fire spirits of destiny. Living friends and neighbors will soon be shifted and weighed in the balance of judgment. We are positioned by Messiah to both forgive and to bless others in his name. What an awesome and wonder-filled calling is our Master’s positioning of us!
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Posturing is; preconceived actions or speech that is used to impress, mislead or, is calculated to deceive and misguide a person to a pre conceived agenda. Religious and political leaders of Jesus’ days on earth and in ours, use these deceptions repeatedly. T. V. Adds are designed to posture. Half truth sells in huge volumes. The “Prosperity Gospel” is replete with the magic charm and smiling, charismatic faces of those who are posturing their presentation and packaging it’s, “Miracle” products to enslave and sell to a mass of unsuspecting minds. Jesus, Peter, Stephen, Paul, Luther, D. James Kennedy and many others expose these fraudulent, magic charmers. Genuine servants of Jesus Messiah never posture! The righteousness which we are covered with and present to our relatives, friends and neighbors is not cultured by T. V. Cameras or charismatic practitioners, it is imputed to us in the same manner that Abraham and Saul of Tarsus received it, by grace through faith. Our Heavenly Father positions us to both receive and administer this Gospel through his Son, our Messiah. We are positioned, never postured.
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Jesus accused the Pharisees of posturing: (Matthew 23:15ff.), “they were not soul-winners or disciple makers, they aggressively proselyted followers and taught them to posture and corrupt their religious victims. Non-profit religions in America have increasingly deteriorated into a very profitable, posturing business. Many faithful Christians no longer believe it to be worth their time and effort to get up, get dressed, get prepared and attend the perverted, heathen, orgy fashioned, drumbeat, “music”, of organized religion’s, Saturday and Sunday performances. The “MAGIC” of Hollywood and Vegas entertainment with its sights and sounds has replaced the simple Gospel of free grace via faith and our Father’s genuine mission of making disciples without the posturing, necessities of, “seed faith.” Many of us are simply weary of their “show biz.” These theatrics originated in our universities, Bible Colleges and Seminaries. What we are sick of is “Processed Christianity.” It is seminar to processed foods and it is readily available and highly advertised, but anemic and unhealthy. It is produced and marketed as a kinder, genteeler religion. Many mature Christians flee these pseudo prophets in search of our Father’s, “Pure Christianity” ✝ of grace and truth. “Give me that old time, grace infused, Gospel, it satisfies my soul.”
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The enemy, Lucifer, has falsely convinced others that they are hopelessly trapped, that they are a sexual misfit, that they are atheists or agnostics, that they have gone too far in their sin and can never be saved, that they have committed the unpardonable sin, etc. Jesus Christ says that Lucifer is a lier. Our wonderful Savior gives hope to the most hopeless. He died for every person, no exceptions. He paid in full our debt. (Romans 10:13) He guarantees that whoever calls upon Jesus to be saved, will be saved. Jesus did not make a down payment on our sins, he paid our debt in full. He said, “It is finished.” We are placed here, at this very time and this very place to set our loved ones and strangers free. He chose us for our position. We are divinely, deliberately placed in this life for such a time as this.
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Posturing is a negative, dark energy, while Holy Spirit positioning is a positive power. Gospel does not criticize, condemn or complain. Gospel compliments, courageously confronts and comforts. Jesus is called, “The Last Adam,” with, “A Life-giving Spirit.” That is the Spirit that lives within us and ministers to others through us. The Spirit that Jesus gifts us with is a life-giving Spirit. We are his funnels. He pours forth help, hope, healing, blessings, practical guidance, answers, wisdom, His own presence, practical possibilities, whatever is needed. He empowers and equips us and in ways we understand only partially, he places us when and where he wants us to serve. What we are commissioned to share with others daily is the best news possible: (1 Corrections 15:57 ff. “ … now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—- sin, guilt, death —- are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. thank God! … stand your ground (your position) … don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. “ We are significant but neither superfluous nor self-important. We, like his angels are, “Ministering Servants.” It is our Joy and privilege to never posture but to be his servants to others. Harmless as 🕊 doves but armed with the superior strengths of 🦅 eagles!
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“Generosity Conceives
Contentment”
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(Philippians 4:17), “…. I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.”
What is the net value of contentment? Americans are spending $ 500,000,000.00 dollars a year on anxiety and mood medications. We are socially and financially living the economic dream of our grandparents. Poor people from around the world are willing to pay dearly just to get into our country. Most of these new arrivals do not have ulcers until they have resided in the U. S. A. For a lengthy period of time. In America our competitors become our enemies. We endeavor to keep up with the Jones’s, whom we dislike and sometimes even despise or ignore. Paul, the Apostle, tells Timothy and the Philippian Christians that Godliness with contentment is great gain and that he had learned to be content with much or little of this world’s things.
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We can pray and live with close fists or open hands. The difference is the contrasting life maxims of getting and giving. Jesus told Saul of Tarsus, “ It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.” The Holy Spirit was using tough love to knock Saul down so that he would listen to God’s voice. Gods way up is often down first, and we do not like it! Contemporary entertainment and amusements in our Western civilization are dependent upon violence, vicious sex, vengeance, vile language and Vegas behavior. We have become a very blood thirsty nation. Many of us exist somewhere between life and death and are on a holding pattern to be taken out. We, in grisly fashion Murder our unborn and maliciously defraud our elderly of their frugally earned retirement savings and conceptive values.
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Curated truth or Core truth, which do we live by?
“Core”, equals principled, objective, non edited truth without commentary. Our Father’s Word, the Bible, reveals his divine, eternal principals of Life by his Son, through whom he speaks to his creation and children in this final chapter of earth’s journey. Contrasted to Core Truth is, “Curated truth.” This, humanly fact checked and professionally selected, cultured and organized, “truth,” by carnal, “Fact Checkers”, this homogenized information is properly defined as, “propaganda.” It is often Satanically organized, non truth, or twisted truth, in other words it is the daily dribble we see and hear from our journalists and their corrupt bosses. Dustin Broadberry wrote on May 8 2022: “…. facts have been reoriented into fiction and fiction into facts…. Life as we know it has morphed into a sort of science-fiction, soap-opera … it goes beyond fiction to predictive programming.”
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(John 16:7-10) Msg. Translation: Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit from heaven, (:7), “I’ll send him to you. When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin,…. He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above….” So, where does righteousness come from? Not a confession both, or a Eucharist, communion wine or a Sunday religious service in a house of religion, it comes only from heaven through Jesus Messiah. This sin drunk world does not have the power or the capacity to produce non- carnal, non- corrupt righteousness. The Apostle Paul experienced and aggressively expounded, and evangelized this message of grace - faith salvation. “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” He is the righteousness that came down from Heaven. “He that hath the Son hath life.”
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Paul was exceedingly aggressive, both before his Damascus road experience and afterwards. He was an example of a type “A” mover and shaker. Can God condition such a person to experience genuine contentment? The undeniable truth is, Yes!” When a broken Saul of Tarsus said, “Yes,” to Jesus at his dramatic conversion, his life’s mission found the powerful purpose for which he was conceived and birthed. With this calling came many daring, near death struggles. He faced both poverty and plenty and was as delighted with one as the other. How can this be true with such a driven type “A” personality? He, in, (Philippians 4), gives us his answer. A higher purpose than achievements and goal attainment now drove him. He surrounded to servant-ship.
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Servants give all, own nothing and consider themselves to be stewards. But others, looking upon their lives from a distance believe they are owners. Paul learned this from Jesus directly. Our Creator/ Redeemer is the most benevolent, generous personality in the universe. Part of the mission of Messiah is to teach us the importance of being thankful and generous. Jesus both exemplified and preached this essential principal for a happy, contented life. Just after Paul’s conversion Jesus, personally took him aside, in solitude for extended meetings to prepare him to be the Apostle to the gentiles. (Galatians 1:11ff.) “Know this … friends——this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism …. I got it straight from God, received the Message directly from Jesus Christ.” Paul goes on to inform us that it was three years after his conversion to Christ before he went up to Jerusalem to confer with church members and leaders.
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Our Father has designs on us while we are yet unborn. Our selfish nature impedes us from becoming thankful and generous, and consequently being contented. We really are a first class mess! It’s all about us. We per-sue and pout, persuade, procrastinate and panic, if we don’t get our privileged positions. We need a lot of pills to remain in this driven delirium. The carnal, selfish heart can beat and bray as easily in capitalism as it can in communism. Our Father allows breakers to abide upon our path until, in brokenness we humbly become his servant, it is then that we become useful, thankful and generous to others, but not until we are, “broken.” Saul of Tarsus is a prime example. Study any of God’s children in both Old and New Testaments and we find that God only blesses the humble, broken and contrite. He also uses the arrogant as, “bit players,” in the drama of His divine, “What will bring life?” plan of the ages. Romans 9:17 ff.) Msg. “ …. God said to Pharaoh, ‘ I picked you as a bit player in this drama of my salvation power. A bit player is an actor who has a small, minor role in a theatrical production. Our Father’s heroes are not the bit-players, they are the humble. Moses was the most humble of all persons, (Numbers 12:3.) God has both the first and last word in which way we play our part for good or evil. Generosity conceives and births an attitude of thanksgiving and Godly contentment. Real contentment does not just happen, we are born crying but when we surrender to a thankful, generous spirit contentment is conceived and soon birthed into action.
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Children who are unfortunate enough to be reared by parents who spoil them are seriously abused and deprived of a normal healthy life. They become thankless, unmarriageable, miserable persons who think that life owes them. Their capacity to be a friend is greatly impeded. Terrible, “trust babies”, who never find fulfillment in daily living are produced by very unwise parents. A friend of mine asked the hand in marriage of his fiancé. Her mother responded; ‘Oh, you have my blessing, but you need to know that there is not a man alive that can please her. I spoiled her and she will never be truly happy.”
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Conversely, children who are taught to be thankful, gracious, givers, hard workers and to be personally responsible are the truly favored. The Bible asserts that, parents who do not discipline and love their children are a curse unto them. (Proverbs 13:24), “A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.” Biblical child rearing is a full time job. Susana Wesley, Charles and John Wesley’s mother, had 19 children, she developed a method in rearing them. Mrs Wesley was a devout member of the Church of England, English Catholic. Her Christian faith required daily, extended periods of solitude with her Savior, Jesus Christ, so she developed the method by which the eldest child, trained by her to, in attitudes and actions, work diligently, be grateful and gracious, show up on time, be respectful and obedient and be generous with compliments and sharing. The key element in her (M. O.) Method of Operation, was that now that the oldest child, taught by her was to train the second oldest, and that method was repeated to each coming child. This method, ridgidely overseen by her, allowed mother Wesley her quality, lengthy quiet, contentment. Many of us believe that, it was this method that sparked the origin of the, “Methodist Church.” Many mothers would be wise to study the manner in which she fulfilled her calling. Creative, contented marriages, families and children are not spawned, they are deliberately built by grateful and generous parents whose spirit becomes contagious within a Christian home. The attitude of gratitude is contagious. This is how To get old gracefully. Take no blessing for granted, we are being deliberately favored by both our Father and others.
We give what we are, and when we become thankful givers it changes what and who we are. The Spirit has to often direct and correct me in these areas of being a thankful and gracious giving Christian man. The results are a calm, gentle contentment. Generosity Conceives Contentment!
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“The Fragility of Life.”
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We are a wisp of vapor, a mist that is visible for a little while and then disappears into thin air. (James 4:14 Amplified version). Messiah prays specifically for you and me in John 17:9 ff., “I pray … for those you gave me … I’m no longer going to be visible in the world; They’ll continue in the world while I return to you ….” Just before Jesus’ death he prayed for his disciples, both those living then and for each of us in the future. This is often referred to as, His, “High Priestly Prayer.” It is within this prayer that he illuminates the fact that very shortly he will not be in a visible state on planet earth. The slight curtain of death falls on each of our lives, at our Father’s timing, and every time it does we are reminded of the fragility of our lives on planet earth. Our rare possibility of even being here was slight and our departure is certain. Like a flickering candle in the night breeze, we really are fragile.
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“Good bye’s have been spoken from my lips on both sides of death’s slender curtain. I have both been, the one staying and the person leaving. What privilege was mine to hold my companion’s hand and exchange good bye whispers as she silently exited this visible life. Seventeen years ago in an out of the body experience I was in the grip of a severe heart attack in a hospital in Nacogdoches, Texas. I felt my soul leaving my body and asked my nurses to bring Linda and Tamara my daughter, immediately to me, I felt that I must say good bye, and assure them that I would greet them at heaven’s gate. The agonizing realization that I might pass before they could be by my side was verbally interrupted by a still small voice to my left that said, “Not on my watch, you’re not.”
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Within micro seconds after the good bye’s I was elevated above my gurney, looking down on my body, no flashing lights, or passing through a long tunnel; After leaving my body, I had fully expected to wake up in heaven, instead I awakened later that day in a hospital recovery room, what a disappointment! I could hardly believe it. Possibly, the greatest disappointment in my life. As I awakened to consciousness, my spirit sensed the presence of my guardian Angel, to my left. His presence had never left me, he was my unseen guardian sentinel , I had never been alone throughout the painful and deadly ordeal. Since that experience, I’ve never doubted his no visible presence and I have seriously endeavored to stay on My Father’s clock. His timing is always, “Right on time.” All fear of death died on that occasion. His assurance that, I am on, “His Watch,” gives constant renewing faith to my trusting soul.
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The length and brevity of life often reinforces the fact of how fragile our lives are. Life is a whisper, a flicker, a fleeting aroma, a delicate sampling of bliss; as quickly as birth can occur, or conversely, seem to last forever, so the transition of soul departure, in retrospect seems awe inspiring. Life is much more fragile than a feather carried by formative wind currents. We may be in a preparative stage, awaiting a loved one’s departure for months or even years and yet when the moment arrives we are shaken in body and soul. Life and death are fragile, silencing seconds. The unknowable creeps into our unsecured presence and shocks us back into a sudden consciousness of eternity’s demanding reality and unseen presence.
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The sounds of silence can enrich our lives. We can, “will”to allow solitude to replace loneliness. Loneliness, on the other hand, if left unchecked, can cripple us, it can become habitual and deform us into a neurotic or even psychotic personality. The body and mind hopefully mature and age concurrently, together, however, as we age, this is often not what happens. At eighty two, my mind often decides to engage in plans and activities which my body repeals. Enduring illnesses, domestic crisis, medications, both prescribed and abused, accidents and political/social eruptions can alter our normal balance of physical, psychological homeostasis. We are complex organisms with multiple sensors which can lose objectivity and default, causing us to become dysfunctional, and live in an alternate reality. Theologically these problematic conditions find their origins in the complex fallen character we refer to as, “The fallen, or Adamic Nature.” Jesus, our Messiah, lived, died and was resurrected without a carnal, fallen nature. (Acts 2:31ff.) Like the first Adam, before his sin, he was and is completely human without a corrupted or, “Carnal Nature.” This, however is not our condition, even after our spiritual conversion to Christ and after the precious Holy Spirit becomes Lord of our whole being, we daily battle the world, the flesh and the Devil. This was true of Peter, Paul and each of the early church leaders, and it is true with each of us.
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Spiritual and religious perfectionists are in denial of this truth, and all too often that is to their peril. While in Theological training, a fellow classmate whose dad was a Wesleyan minister, fought a losing battle with lustful sex thoughts and masturbation.
After severe guilt spasms and multiple, repeated failures he reached such a guilty conscience that he emasculated himself, severing his penis from his body. Suicide remains one of the most common flights for both heterosexual and homosexual victims. This is not a Wesleyan issue, this, however is a moral and psychological problem that, whether still in the closet or in the public domain, all of our families now must come to grips with. We are our brother’s keeper. Sin is sin and none of us excuse, or are in denial of such. Each of us in the Body of Christ is a sinning sinner, saved by grace plus nothing. “ALL of our righteousness comes down from above.” None of us is God. Our posture is not one of condemning others, that was not our calling, nor was it the calling of Jesus Christ. (John 3:17, 12:47). We are to hate sin as we hate cancer, but love the sinner. This is indeed a delicate balance. Only God can change the hearts and lives of others. Our Father loves the people that live with these issues and fight these demons of the soul just as much as he loves us. Our relationships with each other are fragile.
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The Spirit of Jesus The Christ lives within our spirit and He is, “a Quickening Spirit.”
(1 Corinthians 15:45) As His connectors to others, we are a life breath, a refreshing breeze, a light of hope in the despairing darkness. It only requires a very small amount of faith to persevere in the most desperate trials. We are our Father’s “Lifters.” Every day we are surrounded with, “The Broken.” As I approached my elder years, after serving as senior pastor for several years, my last charge was for fifteen years in Pt Arthur, Texas, I asked our Father, “What do you desire from me?” Without hesitation the Holy Spirit directed me with these simple words; “ Bob, I give you, ‘The Broken.’” I now reside among,“The Broken.” Many of my neighbors in this retirement community view our living status as, “ A holding pen.” “We are simply here, waiting for our turn to be called up,” one neighbor told me.
I love and pray with and for my neighbors daily. I share the Gospel, communion, baptism, daily counseling and more, whatever is necessary. Depression, death, loneliness, boredom, fears, gossip and sometimes anxious despair are all around me, but my Master is the quickening Spirit who resides within and ministers through several of us in this often neglected mission front. We can be a very thin layer of hope to those who feel hopeless. People on the dying edge are fragile.
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A tranquil presence can abide with us as we transition from the waiting room we now reside in. There is a quiet repose that surpasses logic at the modulation of our soul’s passage. (Philippians 4:7) describes this, “Peace that passes understanding.”
Strife ceases to strive, anxious thoughts are replaced with serene, “ fear nots,” body and soul relax into the strong arms of our beloved Heavenly Father. The tranquility of pre death for the child of God is amazing to me. These are tender moments of fragile fulfillment. All is well. “ It is well, it is well with my soul.” These were my sentiments as body and soul separated, though only for a moment in time. Fear of death and the unknown are fictitious alarms. We can embrace both life and death. Messiah’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection. A fragile vine is difficult to sever because it bends, rather than breaks. Our fragile faith is capable of embracing every opportunity and opposition. Through Christ, we are, “ More than Conquerors.” (Romans 8:31ff.)
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Dear friends, we truly are blessed and highly favored as we live on the fragile edge of life. Our security is not that we have embraced our Father’s Messiah, rather, our security is that, He has embraced us. (Romans 8) Jesus Messiah, brought Life to a world of death. His blessings flow to us daily and can live through us as he brings those he daily chooses to place upon our path. We receive his bounty daily, enabling us to be givers, blessers and lifters. We are here, not to be served, but to serve. Fragile persons will allow us to pray for them and with them. “Out in the highways and byways of life, many are weary, hopeless and sad. Make me a blessing to someone today!”
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“We Are His Confirmation.
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“True Vine Winery,” is the name of a winery that I drove by recently. This is a borrowed name from Jesus’ words in John 15. The relationship of Jesus to God The Father and his relationship to each of us is a spiritual mystery revealed and explained by Jesus as, The Vine proceeding from out of Heaven, reaching down to the lowliest of us on planet earth. This is a living vine, reminding us of the Tree of Life in our Father’s Garden in Eden. Could the living sap of that tree be comparable to the eternal blood flowing through the veins of Jesus Messiah and symbolized by the wine that he served in the Upper Room to his disciples? Jesus Christ instructs us that each time we receive the bread and wine, we are to synchronize in our minds and hearts the bread to his body and the wine to his blood. We do this in remembrance of him.
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Jesus is, “The real vine.” What does it mean to, “Really Live?” The other day, in one of America’s large cities a teenage boy was murdered on the street and his new shoes were stollen by another teen. Things are of more value than person’s lives in many people’s evaluation. Satan will pay a higher price for one living soul than many of us will, because he knows something of the value of one person. We are often dazed and blinded by temporary glitter and gain. These are the pseudo vines that entangle, enslave and finally strangle life from us. Jesus, the real vine, connects us to the living, both in Heaven and on earth; both in time and eternity, our history and our future. He knows the true value of one living person. He really is, the human/divine connector, “The True Vine.”
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The Spirit of Jesus, the Christ remains on the earth, daily confirming his practical presence with us, enabling each of us to validate his purpose, authority and power to facilitate spiritual life on planet earth. The Holy Spirit continuously confirms everything about Jesus, The Son of God, through each of us believers to the spinning masses. Our faith is the confirming testimony that enables a living hope to those in the despair of death gripping sin’s enslavement. Our living presence is his confirming evidence. (John 15:26-27). He has made our lives as vital as salt and light to this death gripped world. We are each a unique, living branch, connected and organically part of our Father’s deep, reaching love for each inhabitant of a very demented human race. There is no other hope, no, “Plan B.”
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Being one of his branches is no superfluous or secondary calling. Our timing and positioning, by the Holy Spirit is a vital and deliberate placement, even when we don’t view it so. We are the only Bible that most of our acquaintances are reading. When mental failure and physical suicide is seen as the only alternative where else can the masses look but to a living light of hope and faith which they subliminally see daily in both our routine and crisis encountered lives? We are the, “sent.”Messiah said, “Just as my Father sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21). Our individual genetic construction is specifically and uniquely designed to illustrate a diverse characteristic of our triune Godhead. We are created deliberately different from all other human beings. No two human environments are exactly alike. We may not always appreciate our unique self, but our Father willed it so. We are programed by and for him. The wicked world system may hate and reject us, as they did Jesus, but our Heavenly Daddy loves us. We are here on purpose, His purpose.
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The Father himself is the, Husbandman, and as such, cuts off the dead wood and, “prunes,” each living branch as he chooses. Pruning is not pleasant, but often painful for all concerned. His Words and his Spirit are the pruning shears. According to our, “Master,” we can, “Live in Him,” (John 15:4ff.) “Live in me just as I do in you … I am the vine, you are the branches…(:8) This is how my Father shows who he is —— when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.” The connection of the, “Vine of Life,” extends from The Heavenly Father to Jesus The Son with the very same Agape love which flows from our Messiah Jesus into each of our hearts. (John 15:9 ff.) “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me…. “.
This, “Living Vine,” connects Father, Son, Spirit, the initial disciples of Jesus Christ, you, me and millions, past, present and future eternities! We are connected. There is a living, vital relationship between each of us that extends, through The Christ, from eternity into eternity, in circling all of time.
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The Holy Spirit makes each of us a living link and a confirming evidence of our Father’s creative and redemptive work through his Son. As gentiles we have been grafted into the vine that originates in heaven’s gardens. (Romans 11:11 ff.). The, “Garden of the gods,” is a myth, a fantasy, but The Garden of God is a fact. Our God portrays himself as a Gardner before we see him as the carpenter in Joseph’s work shop. The spiritual preceded the physical and will exist and live eternally as the present physical elements fade into oblivion. This mortal, physical, “must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:53ff.) God creates fact, humans copy and produce facsimiles. Spirit created matter, then fashioned it into a clay formation and breathed into it the breath of life and humans became, mortal, physical Beings! The powers of procreation were genetically created within us by this same breath of the Holy Spirit. We are his living breathing miracle. Nothing that humans create even comes close to what our Father has created via his energy. His power, at his command became matter, and at his decree matter shall return to his own energy. We were not created from nothing. We were created from His energy force. To this, we each are a living fact, His conformation.
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Could our physical Sun be a replica of God The Son? Could each of the heavenly physical bodies be replications of spiritual beings, of whom we know only a few? (Daniel 12:3) “Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.” I have seen that spiritual glow in the eyes and faces of some of our Master’s servants. Moses is an example of this, “Shinning,” in the Old Testament. Two of Jesus’ disciples , walking with him on the Emmas road is an incident of such in the New Testament. I have seen the pulpit become ablaze with shekinah glory like lightening flashing as The Word was preached with Holy Spirit anointing. The energy of the universe resides in the heart of our Redeemer, Jesus The Christ. We are eternally redeemed and confirmed by our Father through his Christ’s blood and infused with his Holy Spirit and thus fully equipped to be his testimonial confirmation on planet earth. Worship Him! We are His living, breathing confirmation to our neighbors and to the nations.
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“Jesus, The Unknown God:”
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Several years ago I worked side by side a fellow employee who identified himself as, “One of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” In daily conversations, he would endeavor to convince me that Jesus Christ was “a” son of God, like all believers, He was not, “The Son of God.” The New Testament refers to Jesus with a unique word in Koine Greek; “Monoginese,” which translated into English means, “The only one of his kind.” Our English New Testament often interprets it, “The only begotten son of God.” ( John 3:16).
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Since that initial introduction to this pesky cult, they have knocked at my door often. Some of them have appeared to be sincere, if so, they are sincerely wrong and dangerously misleading our friends and neighbors. Cult members know about Jesus as a historical religious leader, but they do not know him as their personal Savior and Master. 33 percent of those responding in a recent public pole indicated that the Jesus they believe in sinned during the 33 years while he was on the earth. The Jesus of the Bible is both sinless and fully divine. Members of these cults do not know the Jesus that we know.
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After years of study, I find the foundational doctrines of the Jehovah’s Fake Witness cult not just questionable but heretical. The other day, in Walmart, a very nice young woman told me that she had been one of, “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” all of her life. My unplanned response, without hesitation was, “ I’m so sorry to hear that.” My reaction to her was not an effort to demean her, she had been trapped in the tentacacles of this occult ideology from birth. We have no godly purpose to be condescending with anyone, each of us has errors that we need truth to liberate us from. That being said, we have no choice but to stand for biblical truth and historical facts. The, “Jehovah’s Witness” cult has falsely predicted the return of Jesus Christ to planet earth five individual times, this we have documented proof of! They have been false prophet on multiple occasions. Our Father says that if a prophet predicts a thing that does not occur one time, they are a false prophet. (Deut. 18:22), (Jeremiah 23:15 ff.) The Jehovah’s False Witness cult is governed by lying leaders and teaches lies. They are false prophets.
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Legions of humans have looked straight at Jesus and not known him. My latest encounter with a False Jehovah’s Witness was last week. A new neighbor has moved into our small retirement community. She seems cordial and will hopefully be an asset to our group. A question I often ask a new acquaintance is, “Do you know Jesus, or do you know about Jesus,” to which she responded, “I both know about him and I know him,”. Her local, “Kingdom Hall” is indoctrinating her about Jesus. The problem here is that they don’t know Jesus Messiah. Having studied their “bible,” I can verify that they wrest and twist the Scriptures to fit their preconceived teachings, the technical word for what they do is, “eisegesis.” They deny the foundational truth that Jesus is The only one of his kind, Son of God.
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Jesus Christ’s mother, Mary, was a 100 percent human creature and his biological father, The Holy Spirit, was 100 percent God, Creator. Jesus is both Creator and creation. To see him and not recognize him could be a common human error, such was the situation with Mary Magdalene, after his resurrection, but to refute clear biblical facts that declare and define his, fully God, fully human biological and spiritual chemistry is heretical. The doubting Thomas had viewed the beaten and bloodied, dead body of Jesus Messiah and found it impossible to believe that his body could come back to life. It was after personal, physical contact and communication with the risen Christ that Thomas worshipfully asserted to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
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Cults uniquely vary from each other, yet they similarly error on their doctrines of who Jesus is and the basic elements of the Gospel he declares in both his unique personage and sermons. Cults know about Jesus, but they are far from knowing Jesus. We know about George Washington, but we don’t know him. Jesus communes with us more often, day and night, than most persons whom we know well. His Spirit literally lives within our spirit. Communion with him is a two way communication. We pray and his Spirit guides and supplies his wise council and generous bounty.
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Athens Greece, the very center of Greek culture and philosophy was part of the Apostle Paul’s spiritual venue. It was there, on Mar’s Hill that Paul viewed their multiple pagan gods. One of those, “gods,” was called, “The Unknown god.” Paul quickly saw a natural opportunity, “Open Door,” to explain Christ to this heathen crowd of intellectuals. He, referred to this, “Unknown God,” and then introduced them to an unknown God to them, Jesus Christ, the “Only One Of His Kind, God.” Paul took them from their unknown god to Jesus Christ the infinite God/man. One of the clearest and most remarkable verses in the Bible about the eternal character of Jesus is found in Hebrews 1:8, where God the Father refers to Jesus; “ …. to the Son, He sainth, “Thy throne O God is for ever and ever, a scepter of righteousness, is the scepter of thy kingdom.”
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It is our mission and joyous purpose to make Jesus known to everyone we meet. We do this by both life and lip. Sometimes it is as simple as giving a cup of cold water, in his name. At other opportunities we can show and tell others the Good News of who Jesus is and his generous offer of salvation by grace, through faith. We are servants of him and to others. What we are and do for others, is our gift to him. We are a city set on a hill, a house with a firm foundation, salt that both flavors and endures, a light within the world’s darkness, an anchor that holds. Satanic cults may rock and roll, but our anchor holds. Jesus still quiets stormy seas!
He is our solid rock, our anchor.
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“Covid Anxiety”
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Hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical clinics in our area are experiencing difficulty getting patients to show up for their medical appointments, I usually get three reminders asking for affirmation of my appointments, a few people avoid all social groupings, because they are afraid of contacting the Covid, “Virus” within their medical facility. This is an unfriendly anxiety which has permanently affixed itself to many people in both our social and political environments and our intimate psyche. It is now a spiritual bondage, fed by Luciferian forces. This fear is not therapeutic and does not find its origin with our Creator/Redeemer.
Negative, destructive fear is a war strategy which demoralizes the opponent, and once debilitated, the strongest opponent or combat enemy is subdued or annihilated. Illegally elected and non elected spiritual enemies of America now rule us and impose their anti-godly philosophies upon our children, families and our entire western culture. They conquered us via entrance through the veins of ignorance, fear and impuissance.
Our American prosperity is being drained of abundance of food, fuel and natural, domestic, God given, commodities. Most of our federal leaders should be in federal penitentiaries. They have abused our constitution, destroyed our borders and are impoverishing our, once Great nation. Free, real elections are possibly a past reality. We know what our enemies did to us, how they did it and why they did these things to us, a free people, but we seem either unable or unwilling to do what it takes to change the situation. If some of our leaders did what must be done their companions, children and grandchildren would be in jeopardy before tomorrow morning’s sunrise. We have feared a thing and that fear has come upon us! America is in a state of spiritual bondage! Where is our Paul Revere?
Now that I got those facts off my chest, let’s discover how the Bible tells us to live within this current despotic status, which every indication informs us is even now pressing upon us. A close comparison in history is discovered in the prophetic ministry of Jeremiah. The seer Jeremiah was commissioned to a task which so irritated him that, like Job, he cursed the moment of his conception and the day of his birth,(Jeremiah 20:14 ff.). As was true with the prophet Jonah, he was frustrated and doubtless tempted to flee his post of responsibility, but he remained steadfastly true to God and his calling for decades. His fellow preachers, priests and prophets, passionately hated him, had him imprisoned and demanded his execution. (20:7), “O LORD, thou … art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, everyone mocketh me.” He hated that which he was called to do: (20:8ff.) “ For since I spake, I cried out …. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire … and I could not stay,(keep quiet.).” Jeremiah felt that neither speaking true prophecy or shutting his mouth brought him peace, so he sided with God and spoke, which brought persecution from his fellow humans. There aren’t many Jeremiahs. We need some godly ones in America.
Our Father holds to his declaration that his Son’s Kingdom will outlast every nation, and that it is eternal. This is a fact even though he must sometimes seriously judge us and even send us into the captivity of our foes. This, he did to Israel for many decades. Our wester culture in America is now so blighted that our political leaders from both of our fallen major political parties have elected, for us a, life time, Supreme Court Justice who refuses to define what makes a woman a woman. Our pseudo educators are redefining our children and convincing the boys that they are actually girls and conversely, convincing the girls that they just might really be boys. Insanity is the proper defining of our leadership in everything from sports to daily public education. How will our nation be spiritually and morally corrected? How will the institutional Christian Church be restored to the original intent and commission of Jesus Christ?
When God’s church changed it’s mission and it’s purpose from making disciples to making money, our nation and western civilization devalued itself into a secular humanistic philosophy and socialism is now opening our borders to Marxism. Our seminaries have become cemeteries. Our prophets have become profiteers. Our churches have become social clubs and, like our European neighbors, they will soon devalue their expensive buildings into museums or Mosques. Islam will purchase them at bargain prices. Do I think this is occurring? We all know it is. It had to happen sometime, I just didn’t think it would happen in my time.
Capitalistic Christianity is alive and asking us to buy their books, tapes, trinkets and send in our tithes, love gifts and seed faith money, every hour of every day. Many of these preachers are of the same spirit as those who endeavored to silence, imprison and murder the Old Testament prophets of God. Look up on the internet, “Net Worth,” of today’s T V evangelists, they are worth multiple millions, at the expense of widows, the poor, infirm and orphans. They do not make disciples, they make dollars! They are greedy money merchants. They are the Barnum Bailey’s of our era. Barnum and Bailey operated under the psycho/social approach that, “There’s a new sucker born every minute.” Their “fruit,” is their financial wealth and their real estate holdings. As the “church” goes, so goes the world. God asks His people to repent first. (11 Chronicles 7:14).
Jeremiah 29 is one of the most quoted scriptures in the Bible. It is usually quoted, either without its context or out of its context. (29:11) “… I know the thoughts that I think toward you, sainth the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” This majestic promise is made to a people that have just, under God’s fierce judgment, lost everything they owned, including their country. They will spend seventy years in captivity. In their desperate state, our generous Father spoke hope into their weary hearts, as did Jesus to Peter after he forewarned him of his coming denial of him three times. The very next verse is (John 14:1); “let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me … I go to prepare a place for you …“. Our God is a kind, forgiving, generous Father.
The New Covenant has both arrived and is now activated by the Spirit of Jesus Christ to full operational capacity. The Old Testament prophets declared that God would enact a New Covenant or Testament in their future.
Jeremiah 31:31ff.
Ezekiel 36:26ff.
Hebrews 8:6ff.
The Old Testament Covenants with Noah, Abraham, Jacob, David, and their heirs each and all, placed in view a superior, eternal covenant which Daniel prophesied would appear during the age of the Roman Empire, (Daniel 2:1-43) (Daniel 7:18, 9:25ff.). It was during this Roman Empire that Jesus Messiah was conceived, born and introduced The Kingdom of God.
Jesus Christ came, proclaiming the presence of this Eternal Kingdom. (Mark 1:15ff.). He said the Kingdom of God was, “at hand.” (Present and in operation.) All nations, including the U.S. A. Will at some date go down, but the Kingdom of God is eternal. It grieves my heart to see America in spiritual and moral decline, because I know that is the beginning of the end of a great nation. Jeremiah wept for forty years as he saw the corrupt dissipation of his nation. The hope of his nation was their coming Messiah and his Eternal Kingdom, and that is also our solid hope! He looked forward to the first coming of Jesus Christ. We look back to that historic event which ushered in The New Covenant and we, with him look foreword with great anticipation to His eminent return. “Even so, come LORD Jesus!”
Why should my heart be troubled, why should the shadows come? His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. “Let not your heart be troubled.” “God will,” bring you back from all over the scattered earth in his time, to this promised land. This was the comforting council from Jeremiah to his fellow Hebrews as they were carted off to Babylon. A complimenting Scripture in the New Testament (John 14:1ff. ) Jesus asserts, “Let not your heart be troubled … I go to prepare a place for you…” I’m coming back for you to abide with me in that heavenly Jerusalem!
When Satan hurls anxious fearsome arrows toward our hearts, the All-mighty Holy Spirit whispers to our ears, “Fear not, Stand and TRUST me!” Anxiety is replaced with Assurance from the Awesome, Father of Heaven’s Angel Armies. Someone counted 365 “Fear nots,” in the Bible, one for every day of the year. Obey The Spirit and the death of fear is certain.
Paul, the apostle laid his life on the line for Jesus many, many times. In Acts 20 the Holy Spirit moves him toward Jerusalem, a Roman occupied city, with the clear warnings that he would face, “hard times and imprisonment …. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started.” Like Paul, hard times are ahead for many of us. We must keep a godly, Holy Spirit, perspective. What is this view in a practical outlook?
(Philippians 4:6ff.)
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Our Father helps us live in uncomfortable circumstances when necessary. Times change, troubles come and go but our Father stays steady and so can we under his wings!
“Under His wings we are safely abiding.”
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“Scripture, Spirit, Saturation”
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The Spirit and The Word were there with The Father in the first book, first chapter of, “The Book.” Scripture and Spirit saturate the essence of life from its source. Jesus said, “The Words I speak unto you are spirit and they are life.” (They are living. John 6:63). Scripture and Spirit, like sperm and egg are always in unison, creating life. This was true in the Genesis of life and remains, both fixed and existentially true.
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Does divine sovereignty supplant or nullify objectivity and human will power? No, our Father’s Sovereignty creates and establishes objectivity and the power of human choice. He creates and establishes all lasting foundations, including the support system of our little planet, earth. (Psalm 24:2), “He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods.” He wills that we have limited choice. Human, absolute choice would be disastrous, because the heart of man is, “desperately, wicked.” (Jeremiah 17:9)
Spirit speaks Scripture into our Soul between the seconds of our lives, so that we can both live and speak the Living Word, bringing healing, hope, love, forgiveness and life to those we live with daily. The Holy Spirit and The Holy Scriptures are the two primary guiding lights of our lives and they are the two witnesses referred to in the book of Revelation 11:1ff., slain in the, “Dark Ages, but resurrected to life in the Reformation. Both are vitally necessary in our daily lives. They are both very active in both Testaments. They Saturate both history and the future, human memory and imagination.
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The Spirit and the Word continued to work together after the Genesis of earths inhabitants. (1Samuel 10:1ff.) “….Samuel,(God’s prophetic Word) took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, … He said, Do you see what this means? God has anointed you prince over his people… and… the Spirit of God will come on you and …. You’ll be transformed. You’ll be a new person.” Both the Word (Scripture) and the Spirit, working together made it possible for Saul to be transformed and become God’s King. Wherever, whenever, whoever these two eternal witness’s appear, saturation occurs and whatever job we’re given, we are enabled to accomplish via this saturation.
All moments in time are not equal. There are very special seconds when we are saturated with the divine presence. This was true with Samuel, Saul, David, the apostle Paul, John, Peter, Luther, Billy Graham, and many others, including you and me. Our Father is no respecter of persons, what he has done in and through others he can do, uniquely, through us. The successful mix in our lives will always include Scripture and Spirit. Saturation makes possible overflow and it’s the overflow that saturates the hearts of others. Overflow moments are so special.
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The Scriptures will lead you to the Spirit and the Spirit will hunger your heart for the Scriptures. We have the ability to trash stuff, but only God can delete sin, whether in our memories or in our imaginations. Through decades of ministry as a pastor many fellow Christians have inquired about their unwelcome nightmares, emotional guilt, dreams of hurt feelings and broken relationships. Satan knows how to plant desires, guilt and bitterness both in our conscious and our subconscious mind. However, our wise Father supplies both Scripture and his Spirit to Saturate our innermost being with rational and miraculous solutions.
God has the divine ability to remember everything he desires to remember and to forget everything he wishes to forget, we don’t, but he does. (Hebrews8:12), When he forgives us, He, “ Remembers our sins no more.” And, by his amazing grace, we can choose to remember them as, “Paid in Full.” This is a fact. Every genuinely God forgiven person relies exclusively on the blood of Jesus Christ for God’s total redemption.
“What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Both Scripture and The Spirit Saturates our ❤️ hearts with this Amazing Truth.
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“A Visitation of God:”
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There are special moments in time when God just,”Shows Up.” Like a flame of fire, within a mysterious burning bush, That’s not being consumed, or a moving pillar of fire appearing in the night time sky, a G. P,. S. Leading God’s people to his mapped out destination for them or Holy Spirit Tongues of Fire speaking to people of seventeen different language groups the heavenly message of grace and truth and each one hearing in their native tongue. Our Father shows up when and where he chooses. His map is sheer mystery to us, it is like a blowing wind that, we don’t know where it came from or where it’s destined for. The gates of hell cannot prevail when he shows up. Both life and death yield to His omnipotent Breath!
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He orders our steps. (Psalm 37:23) The steps of a good person are ordered and established by the Good Lord…. He opens and closes doors for us. He provides persons along life’s path. There are both heavenly and earth messengers and both are sent to us by our “Heavenly Papa.” Through Jesus Messiah, He is both our Creator and our loving Daddy. Jesus tells us to address Him as, “Our Father ….” Some languages translate it; Papa or Dada or Daddy and it is the same as us saying,”Father.”
The Bible is replete with Our Father’s visitations with varied persons in multiple life settings: He comforted and corrected Job in his tragic sorrows, He walked, in the cool of the evenings with Adam and Eve, He led Abraham and Sarah in search of their new country, He delivered Joseph, his siblings and his father Israel from starvation in Egypt, He visited Moses, both while he was a child and ion numerous other occasions, He visited David as a shepherd boy, giant slayer and as King of Israel, in the New Testament He dwells with us mortals as “Son of Man / Son of God” He visits and calls Peter, John, Paul and multitudes of others including you and me.
Father God pre designed each of us individually different. We are both genetically and environmentally unique. He is able to reveal elements of his divine character and nature in each of us that is different from all other human beings. You and I are beings in his creative process, we are each an unfinished being. When he “visits us,” it is with eternal purpose. He is eternal light, (1John 1:5) and each of use, with his catalytic impartations within us, can radiate various shades, colors, reflections and characteristics of His eternal being. Each of his visitations with us can be dissimilar. We are children of man in the transformative process of becoming children of God. (Zechariah 12:1) Our God is, “Forming”, our spirit within us. We are eternal beings, becoming eternal in appetite, goals and character. The Holy Spirit is our creative designer, architect, engineer and contractor.
Someday we will walk right out of this flesh into an intermediate spirit body. At our resurrection we shall be changed into, a, “Glorified”
(1 Corinthians 15:53ff.) (Philippians 3:21ff.) body, like the body of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. “We’ll have a new body, we’ll have a new life.” When we were birthed into planet earth we were, and still are an unfinished product. We are now at the stage of being an apprentice with the creative capacity to work with our Creator / Redeemer. He often works with us in our subconscious as we sleep. When we pray for others, pray for them while they sleep. The Holy Spirit works while we sleep.
There are many occasions when we are awake and active that our divine designer visits us. The greatest gifts God gives us is persons, beginning with his own Son. He visits us through many other persons, both those we are close to also, strangers, even distant individuals. Dreams and visions will come to both our conscious and subconscious mind. The Creator made us creative. We are living, breathing super computers. Our capacities reach far beyond the I. Q. Level of cognitive measurements. We are prepared and packed for everlasting production. It has not even entered our human imagination, the plans that our Father has in his mind for each of us. (1 Corinthians 2:9ff.)
If we sincerely desire to know what God is like, how he thinks and what his plans for us individually are, then research this Scripture, (Hebrews 1:1ff.) “Going through a long line of prophets, God has been addressing our ancestors in different ways for centuries. Recently he spoke to us directly through his Son. By his Son, God created the world in the beginning, and it will all belong to the Son at the end. This Son perfectly mirrors God ….”
As he daily and nightly visits us, we too will mirror the very essence of our Father in Heaven. You and I are on his visitation schedule. He is daily headed in our direction. This is the same Heavenly Father who visited his children in Egypt, visited and opened the womb of barren women, visited Mary who miraculously conceived the Messiah, while remaining a virgin. Our Father is both powerful and amazingly generous.
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Jesus is a busy person. Luke 7 gives us a picture of his typical daily schedule; having finished his sermon and coming down from the mountain, he enters Capernaum and meets a Roman Captain whose servant was on his death bed. The Jewish leaders request Jesus to come to the aid of the Roman Captain, who has befriended them in earlier relationships. Jesus heals the servant and marvels at the faith of the Captain, who realized that, our builder and maker is the Son of God.
Next, Jesus sees a mother in a funeral procession as he enters the nearby village of Nain. He becomes spiritually one with her in her grief and then he lays his hands on the casket and resurrects the dead body of the grieving mother’s son. The crowd viewing these miraculous actions, suddenly becomes awe struck that a divine visitation is occurring right in front of their eyes, (:16) “They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful —— and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, ‘ God is back, looking to the needs of his people.”
Being in the presence of the Son of God can sponsor a sense of Holy mystery, it can evoke laughter, weeping, shouting or a quiet soft silence. When the Spirit of the Son of God shows up ⬆️ light shines, life lifts the helpless and the hopeless. He places you in contact with the right persons. Gospel happens! Jesus Christ can show up in and through each of us and forgive sins, heal the broken, lift up the neglected, forsaken, ignored and abandoned. He gives us heavenly wisdom and imparts directives. What he has done through others, he can do through you and me. (Acts 3:19ff.) The Holy Spirit prepares his people through special times of visitation. We are being prepared for that which is being prepared for us. God has fashioned us so as to abide within us. Neither religion nor legalism could ever serve as a substitute for reflecting God’s truth and grace in everyday living. He blesses us and he blesses others through us, this can happen daily and it would be perfectly normal. God wants to, “Show up”, through you and me!
“He is just the same today,
Yes he healed in Galilee,
Set the suffering captives
free and he’s just the
same today.”
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Hot Air"💭 or Holy Fire🔥
Churchy hot air is both trivial and toxic. There are at least two hot air balloons that infect and disease our local churches: (1) On Their worship day some folks appear very religious, but spiritual values have no practical relationships to their daily lives. "Compartmentalized Christianity,” is the vogue of many within our westernized, contemporary church attendees. When our spirituality or the Holy Spirit is thus pigeonholed, it soon suffocates and materialism's love of mammon, assumes dominance of its host's victimized soul. The fact is; None of us can serve two masters. (2) Scripture also alerts us to irritating hot air from proselytizing religionists.
(Colossians 2:16 ff.) Msg.
"Don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship days, holy days .... don't tolerate people trying to run your life ... they're a lot of hot air, that's all they are ."(Luke 6:37) msg. These are clouds without water; "Religious show-biz." When we think of the genuine Kingdom of God, what do we expect? (Luke 7:18-23). Religious hot air soon evaporates and disappears, but there is a spiritual fire which the world, the flesh and the devil cannot extinguish. Listen church people:
“Don't pick on people."
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Kingdom-Come Adversaries:
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Opponents and competitors are often not adversaries. However, that is not to say that we don’t have an ancient nemeses who attempts to defile our destiny. (11 John 1:7) asserts that many deceivers have been dispatched into our contemporary world system. These each are “Kingdom Blockers,” and they are within leadership roles of our major denominations. It is possible for Christian leaders to loose their, "First Love" for Jesus Christ. When this spiritual passion dies it is often a contagion that irritates, that creates an inflammation and finally a terminal infection. This is a critical condition within the denomination, necessitating either replacements or revival within the body. A severe spiritual purging is a prerequisite to genuine revival. It is a spiritual incision that is never pleasant. Revival begins with impromptu and often protracted tears of repentance and, genuine revival, consummates with the death of materialism’s enslaved grip and the worship of mammon by the human soul. Revival conceives a strong spiritual vigor, corrective moral changes occur and it continues with non-programed contagious tears of contrition/rejoicing. This indeed is a season of, "Spiritual Plenty." The cruel, greedy chains of monetary materialism are broken. The ID/Ego with it's flagship, fragrance is mournfully, repentant and humility replaces selfish pride. Scheduled expectations become less important and are often reassessed. Life values may be reassembled. Renewal is often the bridge from spiritual idealism into spiritual reality. Revival is not the highly dramatic, super imaginative attainment of ingenious persons. There are no "special effects" desired or allowed. It is much more than a humanly devised and programed religious crusade. Conversely, it is a divine intervention of the Holy Ghost into the spirits of average believers. It is not a human invention or highly talented production, It however, often spawns a highly motivated, inventive human soul. The Spirit infuses the awesome power of God's Word into human persons, as they work God’s Word into their daily lives. We become spiritually renewed, like the infusion of open empowered circuits of pure energy. It is not entertaining, it is often abrasively sincere and interrupting. When the Great Spirit retrofits a local church family, we are sometimes, initially disturbed, "put upon" and reticent to His action as the revival initiator. Looking for the Real Thing? God is! (11 Chronicles 16:9) “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” Jesus Messiah’s Kingdom is the only everlasting kingdom. He is the real! The God of Heaven has set up a kingdom that shall never end. (Daniel 2:44 ff.).
Are the embers of a 1970 revival fire reigniting a🔥 fresh revival flame in the small village of Willmore, Kentucky? It certainly would appear so. Asbury University is located in Willmore Kentucky, A small, community with 2 traffic lights. Our Heavenly Father is not a respecter of persons. He cannot be conned, tricked or bought. He shows up when the spiritual mix is right. This spiritual mix needs to be subjectively analyzed in each of its unique appearances. Our Master taught us to daily, pleadingly pray: "Thy Kingdom come ...." (Present tense.) "Thy Kingdom come now." Our very sick world is in desperate need of a, “Kingdom Come” Awakening church. Revival restores God’s church to a reproductive life state. Spiritual sustainability requires Kingdom of God revivals. Our western culture’s emphasis is to live in harmony with nature. The Kingdom of God’s emphasis is to live in harmony with God. Revival is a refreshing realization of both. Fresh spiritual fruit is preceded and produced by a fresh soul cultivation and cleansing with a heavenly lifeblood 🩸 installment from Messiah. God and His people become at oneness again. This occurs within those He forgives, heals, resurrects and ministers to and through. This is happening through our loved ones who have preceded us in death. Dearly beloved, this is neither new nor extra-biblical. Our majestic Maker/ Messiah can do and in fact, is doing, whatsoever He divines. Some of us can positively affirm that He continues ministering through our living fellow believers and those who have physically preceded us in death. Only our creator can determine when we have fulfilled His destiny for each of us on planet earth. Infusion of redeeming power from the Christ through His Holy Spirit within us is the source of these miracles. This Great Spirit can move through each of our local churches ⛪️ as a refining fire and a rushing mighty breath from Heaven.
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Prayer🕊Revival
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HTML is 💙
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