Month: November 2017

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners (like when I was living “my ways.”), nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night (now that Jesus is teaching me His ways – they’re better).  3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19

I wasn’t always the super-fantastic guy I am today.  Yeah, that’s where you’re supposed to chuckle…☺

All kidding aside, when God began working in my life to help me come away from “my ways,” He began changing me a little bit at a time.  He knows what needs to happen in our lives, and the order of changes that need to take place so we can experience more and more of His love, rest, peace and joy.  A lot of growing in Jesus takes time and for good reason.  We learn a lot about the fruit of the Spirit while growing slowly but mightily in Him.

With me, the first step I remember was taking out the trash without complaining about it.  I know it might sound funny and not very spiritual, but God wanted me to begin to love Annie in this practical way (Jesus is really practical) and knew it would mean a lot to her heart for me to pursue her by being joyful about taking out the trash.

Let God show you how to begin to turn things around in your heart and life. He’ll be faithful to bring you along in His timing.  He loves us SO MUCH.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

God bless,

Mark

Hello Fellow Christians,

In the past, I’ve actually been tempted to worry about my kids thinking doing so would somehow keep them safe.

I’ve worried about money thinking we’d never run out if I just kept worrying about it.  Pretty silly when I think about that just now and how much Jesus wants us to cast our cares on Him so we can rest in Him.

Over the years, I’ve often noticed that people at work who looked like they were worrying about their work and the company, and appeared to be weighed down with responsibility, were the very people who got raises and promotions.

When the Lord began to set me free from the anxiety and panic that had wreaked havoc in my life for so many decades, I had a real dilemma.  How could I be truly free of worry, let Jesus develop His joy in my life and keep my job, or expect pay increases and promotions?

Well, I had to decide if I was going to follow Christ or this world’s ways.

I needed Jesus so much due to my health issues that He showed me I didn’t really have any other choice than to follow Him away from anxiety, panic and the heavy weight of “care.”  I did get a few raises and a promotion, but eventually I got laid off even though the owner of the company expressed my great work ethic in front of a number of company people.

Now I’m not saying I was laid off because God was making me over with His peace, rest and joy, but I’m sure glad I didn’t choose to mimic the people who looked full of worry and responsibility.

I wouldn’t trade what Jesus has done in me for anything this world offers.  No way.  I don’t know exactly what the Lord has in store for providing for us regarding the rest of our lives, but I do know He’ll be faithful and keep us growing in His matchless liberty.

The “rest” is leaving it up to Him and His timing in all things.

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:  many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3

God bless,

Mark

Happy Monday,

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves:  but he (Jesus) was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?  Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Matthew 8:24-27

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

“You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power.  Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding.”
Psalm 139:5-6 GNTD

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:5

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20

God’s on His throne and in control.  He’s working all things together for our good.  He’s helping us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  As a result, we can praise and thank Him in all things.

that even the winds and the sea obey him! ☺

Have a blessed week in Jesus.

God bless,

Mark

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:  be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For (Because) the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5

It’s amazing that we even know Jesus, that He’s called us to be His children.  Choosing Jesus Every Day is all about choosing His ways every day to live the abundant life He made available to us through His example and Word.

Thank you, Jesus, for dying for us and for showing us The Way to true life.

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

God bless,

Mark

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:6-7

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:15-17

10 Be still, and know that I am God:
Psalm 46:10a

It took me a while.  Guess I’m a slow learner when it comes to learning the value of, and adopting, God’s ways.  I was kind of a strong-willed person and could be a clever manipulator.  It certainly never brought me true peace and rest, and I definitely wasn’t “still” in my emotions, mind and spirit.  God had to bring some real pressure on me to help me see that doing things His way is best so I could have His peace and enter His rest.  His ways give me His joy.

I came across a really great quote yesterday.  It reminds me of how important it is to renew our minds to the Word of God, to His ways.  He loves us so much and wants to bless us which is the result of living this life according to the teachings in the Bible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s why I choose Jesus every day.  His peace, rest and joy is what I need every day.

God bless,

Mark

The Fought-Over Life
By Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

Tiny Israel is the most fought over land in human history.  Fought over by the ancient pharaohs, Amorites, Canaanites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persian, Romans, Mohammedans, Mamelukes, Crusaders, Ottomans, French, British, Arabs, and finally Israel again – the Jewish people

You’d think with all that fighting, Israel was filled with natural resources and riches.  It has almost nothing except that it belongs to God which makes the stakes there especially high.  From there the kingdom and the blessing will come.

You might feel like life is a battle.  The reason is because you belong to God and your life is precious.  There’s a high calling on it and a promise of great things to come.  It’s worth the fight, and the enemy knows it.  His job is to discourage you from persevering and inheriting the blessing.  He knows how precious and how high the promise and the calling is on your life.

Be encouraged, fight the good fight, and keep going until you inherit the blessing.  You knew you had a fight, but now you know you’ve got something worth fighting for.

Be encouraged, take the fight and the resistance as a sign of the greatness of God’s blessings, and press on!

10 A final word:  Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.  12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.  Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.  15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.  Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Ephesians 3:10-18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God bless,

Mark

Wow, so much to write about these days…God is so good…All the time.  I’m seeing this more clearly each day.

Even in the Great Tribulation spoken about in the Bible, God is doing everything He can to get people to look up, to repent and to be saved from destruction.  God is so amazing.  His ways are beyond finding out (Romans 11:33).

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2 Peter 3:8-10

4 They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

17 And in my vision, I saw the horses and the riders sitting on them.  The riders wore armor that was fiery red and dark blue and yellow.  The horses had heads like lions, and fire and smoke and burning sulfur billowed from their mouths.  18 One-third of all the people on earth were killed by these three plagues—by the fire and smoke and burning sulfur that came from the mouths of the horses.  19 Their power was in their mouths and in their tails.  For their tails had heads like snakes, with the power to injure people.

20 But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.  They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk!  21 And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Revelation 9:4; 17-21

I’ve been reading through the Bible’s New Testament and have finally gotten to the book of Revelation.  I read chapter 9 yesterday and stopped to think about what I’d just read…

I just kept thinking, “Why did You put Your seal on me, Lord?  You could have so easily just skipped over me and not picked me to live closely to You.  It makes no sense to me that You love me like You do.  I can’t understand such wonderful grace – It’s far beyond human comprehension.  It would have been so easy for me to have been one of the “people” You talk about in verses 20 and 21 in chapter 9.  God, I want You to know that I’m thankful beyond words or feelings to have been saved from destruction.  I want to thank You for helping me to cling to You when I am weary, whenever I feel like I can’t go on in my walk with You.  I don’t know what else to say other than thank you, Jesus.”

I have to tell you, folks, that I’m SO thankful for my infirmities, my health and work issues.  It’s true.  For the longest time, before I began praising and thanking God for them (1 Thessalonians 5:18 as well as other verses), I was so confused and angry about my health and work situation.  But, you see, I’m realizing more and more that they were the very things God allowed in my life to keep me focused on Him and His ways, the very tools it took to plant a broken heart and a contrite spirit in me.  I know this to be true in my heart.  I’m sure that without them in my life, like David, I would have gone astray (Psalm 119:71).

I’m merely a child of His grace and mercy.  Grateful beyond anything I could ever write, say or do for You, Jesus…

God bless,

Mark

Hello Dear Christian Brothers and Sisters,

I (Jesus) am the vine, ye (anyone who’s asked Him into their heart) are the branches:  He that abideth (learns about and grows in Jesus’ character) in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5

When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”  But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:25-26

In our own strength, it’s impossible to have a change of heart (repent), to become like Jesus, to live the abundant life with all of its benefits and blessings.  But, with God all things are possible – Repentance; becoming unselfish; healthy, loving marriage; forgiveness; a changed heart; Godly love for others; patience, understanding, compassion and mercy.

Once we ask Jesus into our hearts, we can simply ask Him to help us change and to become more like Him.  Although it can take time for change to take place in our lives, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus will help us become more like Him while we learn the joy and protection of living in the secret place of the Most High.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

It’s wonderful that God doesn’t ask us to strive.  He asks us to seek Him and His help as we learn to be like Jesus.

God bless,

Mark