Month: March 2018

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

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

I have to tell you that when my wife and I began getting into the Word (seeing what it had to say about our spiritual condition), copying down verses the Lord led us to, taping them up all around our home, and saying the Word out loud, we felt a little funny because we’d never done this before.  BUT, we were so sick of the spiritual oppression, the fear, the worry (We didn’t even know or realize these were sins.  Once we knew they were sins, with God’s helps, we could deal with them in our lives), the generational strongholds, the defeating thoughts Satan was pounding us with that we finally resolved to “do” the Word no matter what.  That’s a good place to get to in life.  It means you’re on the road to spiritual recovery and the renewed mind.

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The Sword Of The Spirit
By Joyce Meyer

The attacks of Satan against the church are more intense than ever before.  So many people are experiencing tremendous attacks against their minds and enduring great attacks of fear.

A person who learns to abide in the Word of God and let the Word abide in them will have a two-edged sword with which to do battle.  To abide means to remain, to continue in, or to dwell in.  If you make God’s Word a small part of your life, you will know only a partial truth and will experience only limited freedom.  But those who abide in it will know the full truth and will experience complete freedom.

My life used to be a mess because I was ignorant of the Word.  For many years I was a Christian who loved God and was active in church work, but I had zero victory because I did not know the Word.  Thankfully, I can now testify that the Word of God has caused me to be victorious and to recognize the attacks of Satan.

Learn the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to wield it by speaking, singing, or meditating on the portions of Scripture that you feel He is placing on your heart.

If you keep your sword drawn, the enemy won’t be so quick to approach you.  Speak the Word!

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God bless,

Mark

Happy Monday!

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk (live in His ways) ye in him:  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding (with large amounts of His life operating in your life) therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7

It’s the sweetest thing I know of just to stay surrendered to the Lord.  It makes my life simpler, takes all the striving out of me, and leaves me trusting in Jesus’ mercy, grace, peace, rest, joy and love.

God bless,

Mark

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For (Because) the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 3:25-26

We all get hit with and tempted to give in to “sudden fear.”  God has provided a way of escape when things take us by surprise.  He tells us He’ll keep our foot from being taken.  He’s telling us He’ll protect our faith by reminding us that He’s working all things together for our good.  He’s constantly teaching us that He’s trustworthy so we can change the way we react to sudden fear by remembering God’s love for us, and His faithfulness.

When you get tempted to fear, exercise your faith.  Stop, take a deep breath, and “let” the peace of God reign in your heart (Colossians 3:15).  God’s in control and leading in everything.

God bless,

Mark

Boy, there’s nothing like the refreshing that comes from having sin pointed out and then repenting of it.  The heaviness sin brings just falls off us.  Jesus is so good to us.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Psalm 119:71

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

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (He sets us free from our sins).
2 Corinthians 3:17

Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed (free from the weight sin puts on us).
John 8:34-36

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 12:2-3

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts (this is accomplished as we learn to live in the blessings of God’s ways),
Colossians 3:15a

Set your affection on things above (God’s ways), not on things on the earth (man’s ways).
Colossians 3:2

Honestly, I’m thankful God allowed so many issues in my life to get my attention onto His liberating Word and ways.  Whatever God uses to bring us to His loving ways is worth the trip.  There’s simply nothing like learning to be like Christ, to come into His peace, love, rest and joy in every area of our souls.

As I’ve mentioned many times in the past, many damaging generational strongholds were passed on to me.  Sins like unforgiveness, the fear of man, bitterness, emotionally mistreating your spouse, insecurity, inferiority, holding grudges, jealousy, coveting, worry, mammon, and being easily offended were not repented of in my home.  There may have been times when my parents tried to step out of these sins (many of which were passed onto them by their own parents), but true repentance of them was never long-term.  I’ve found that unless God motivates (often, He has to really get our attention through whatever means He deems necessary) those raised in such environments to want to repent of these awful soul-destructing sins (that eventually take a physical toll, as well), they’ll perpetuate to future generations.

In this youtube video, Katie points out some really freeing information about repenting from being easily offended.  In this youtube video, Katie points out some really freeing information about repenting from being easily offended.  I especially liked what she says about what we say when we’re offended.  I hope what she shares is a blessing to you.

Katie Souza on It’s Supernatural with Sid Roth – Stay Unoffendable

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Acts 3:19

God bless,

Mark

Here’s an incredible story from our dear friend, Gary.  We get so blessed interacting with him and talking about Jesus and all He means to us.

Here’s Gary’s story –

This text communicates what I feel was a near death experience for me when I was in my early 20’s.

As a young man I was working as a Mechanical Engineer for an Idaho company in 1978.  One of my duties involved traveling to Los Angeles, California in September 1978.  As I finished my tasks in Los Angeles my company asked me to fly from LA to San Diego.  My company booked me a flight on PSA Airlines, flight number 182 on September 25, 1978.  The day before I was to board my flight from Los Angeles to San Diego my company changed my travel plans which delayed my travel to San Diego by several days.  To this day I believe it was the Lord who was watching over me.

On final approach to San Diego, PSA flight 182 hit a private plane and both the jet and private plane crashed, everyone was killed on both planes.  I was shocked when I heard the news and saw the picture as I was scheduled to have been on that flight.  For me this was a lift changing event.  I became terrified to fly, and in fact I did not fly for many months because of my terror.

I eventually began to travel and fly again, but to this day (now 40 years later) I remain fearful to fly and before I board any flight I prepare myself mentally for the possibility to die on the flight.  I always remind myself that the Lord was watching over me 40 years ago.  He intervened to change my original travel plans in September 1978 because His plans for my life were destined to take a different path rather than death at 23 years old.  At 63 years old I count my blessings and remind myself frequently that He saved me that day so I could continue walking in His presence for the remainder of my life.

God bless,

Mark

But my God shall supply all your need (including the necessary weapons for defeating our enemy) according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Like Elisha’s servant, may your eyes be opened to the multitude of God’s warriors surrounding us every day.

The enemies of God know their time is short.

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 3:25-26

Last week, Annie and I visited our Jewish friend who has a jewelry store.  We were looking at wedding rings for a friend of my wife.  Our Jewish friend knows many people in Israel and often tells us very encouraging stories about events in the Middle East.

Our Jewish friend told us about how close the Jews are to rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.  We talked about other end times events and he told us he sees “all hell” breaking out in the Middle East within the next 4-5 years.  I’m not a prophet, but with Trump in office, and with the Jews (and God’s enemies) feeling like his presidency gives them a limited time and window in which to act, personally, I don’t think it will take that long.  The month of May, alone, will be interesting for many reasons…

Read Ezekiel chapters 38-39.  Be encouraged!

I had another one of my infamous bad dreams last night.  Then, this morning, I was reminded of some of my lingering health issues.

Feeling puny, dismayed, weary, fearful, confused, defeated, down?  Letting some self-pity into your thoughts and spirit?…Repent of those thoughts and feelings, and charge the enemy.  Don’t take anything off him.  Remember, Satan is the father of lies, and there’s no truth in him.  This is war, and God’s given us mighty weapons for this war.  Heaven’s so close, and WE WIN!  Don’t let enemy’s thoughts take you captive.  Take his defeating thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.  God commands us to do so for good reasons.

Our redemption is drawing so near.  We’re so close to living in the ecstasy that will be ours when we go to be with our Lord, forevermore.  Look up!

Happy Monday!

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary
Psalm 107:2

O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption.
Psalm 130:7

In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.  This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
Isaiah 25:9

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.”  Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:17

God bless,

Mark

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.  And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
Galatians 6:1

The Bible’s full of verses (especially the book of Proverbs) that warn us to keep company with those who are strong in their faith and to stay away from those who would lead us astray, even other “Christians.”

Boy, I can relate to the following youtube story.  Even though I (Mark) was a Christian, it happened to me in the late 60s.  I began hanging out with people (They were the more popular kids and I thought God was blessing me by having them take an interest in me.  Not good.)  The devil had a well-devised, camouflaged plan that caught me off guard.  I wanted to be accepted and that desire kept me from guarding my heart with all diligence.  The result was costly…

I listened to a youtube video about a man who’d been saved, been filled with the Spirit, and had been given many incredible Heavenly visions.  The program’s host then asked the man how he came to backslide after all that.

The program host:  “After having so many encounters with God, how did you come to fall back?  How did you backslide?”

The man:  “Well, it happens little by little.  You don’t get up in the morning saying you’re going to turn your back on God today.  Instead, you find yourself hanging out with people who don’t have the same fire and passion for God that you had.  You find yourself compromising, and hanging out with people who go to church but who live with some church and some of the world, and little by little – the devil’s so sneaky – you find yourself in things you said you’d never do or go back to.  And that’s what happens to many.”

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:23

God bless,

Mark

One Step At A Time
By Joyce Meyer

He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ…developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Philippians 1:6

When I speak on healing of emotional wounds, I like to hold up several different-colored shoestrings tied together in a knot.  I tell the audience, “This is you when you first start the process of transformation with God.  You’re all knotted up.  Each knot represents a different problem in your life that has developed from the things you have gone through.  Untangling those knots and straightening out those problems may take a bit of time and effort so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen all at once.”

If you want to receive healing and come into an area of wholeness, you must realize that healing is a process.  Allow the Lord to deal with you and your problems in His way and in His time.  Your part is to cooperate with Him in whatever area He chooses to start dealing with you first.

In our modern, instantaneous society, we expect everything to be quick and easy.  The Lord never gets in a hurry, and He never quits.  Sometimes it may seem that you are not making any progress.  That’s because the Lord is untying your knots one at a time.  During the process, we are learning to trust God, and we are developing a close and intimate relationship with Him.  God always finishes what He starts, and you will see freedom and victory in your life!

Don’t give up!

God bless,

Mark

Wow, so many wonderful things to write about and share with you these days.  It’s hard to know what to say first…☺

Your Barucha For Everything
By Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

Barucha is Hebrew for blessing.  The Jewish people have many baruchas or blessings.  In Jewish culture, there’s a blessing for everything.

At a Bar Mitzvah, there’s a blessing over the boy, over his parents, over the bread, over the washing of hands, and probably over the chopped liver at the reception.

If you’re born again, you’re a child of Abraham in spirit and now able to walk in the blessings of Israel.  Learn the blessing of having a blessing for everything; a blessing of thanks, of praise, of appreciation, of joy in and for everything in your life.

God promises to work all things out for your good in your life for blessing.  So everything in your life, no matter how big or small, no matter how good or bad it looks or feels is, in the end, a blessing from God.

Learn the blessing of giving thanks and blessing God for everything, no mater what, and you will live a blessed life.  That’s a guarantee.

Thank Him for everything in your life…even the chopped liver.

Today’s Mission:  Today, speak a blessing over your day and everything in it.  Come up with a blessing for every experience you have.

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9

God Bless each of you,

Mark

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

I’m far better off when I’m dwelling in the secret place…I have to discipline my mind and emotions to dwell there.  This is how I train myself to think of God first when unexpected matters pop up in my life.

Pride and the fear of man can be such hindrances to our lives.  They keep us from humbling ourselves to the Word and from acting on it more often.  They can distance us from the secret place of the Most High.

I believe I didn’t get serious about being deliberate in my thinking until I thought I could really take the Word of God at face value.  Until I was ready to memorize it in order to protect myself from the fiery darts of Satan, until I truly applied it to my life, I was, at best, double-minded (acting on some of the Bible some of the time, and then reverting back to my own, fleshy, weak thoughts and remedies at other times) and had victory sometimes and was defeated at other times.  I wish I’d taken what I merely thought were God’s recommendations as His commands at first.  I would have been a lot better off faster.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

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

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 3:25-26

Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:  for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9

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

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11

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Thank God, whatever’s going on, one of the key things when you’re dealing with something – things are going crazy – one of the key things that’s kind of hard to first get into your head is that the tendency, the temptation is to focus on all the stuff that’s happening.  And the first part of victory is not to focus on everything that’s happening.  No, the first thing of victory is to focus on the Lord and not the problem.  You have to start with the Lord if you’re going to have real victory over the problem.

So one of the first things to get, the first victory is getting your mind off all the stuff, the fear, the anxiety, and get it onto God despite it.  And, just by doing that, you’re already saying, “I am not under the storm, I’m under God.”  The fact that I can even let go means that God is more important than the storm.
Excerpt from “The Storm King” by Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

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And be not conformed to this world (they don’t have God so they tend to think of the problems):  but (we who have asked Jesus into our hearts) be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (Christians have the tremendous blessing of being able to think of God first), that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (It’s God’s will for us to have His peace, always).
Romans 12:2

I’ve truly found that as I renew my mind to God’s Word, and the more I yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit throughout the day, the more I think of God first.

God bless,

Mark

Feeling trapped or confused by a “Pharaoh” of some kind?

Like me, someone needs to know the battle is the Lord’s.  Amen! Praise God!

As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them.  They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness?  Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt?  What have you done to us?  Why did you make us leave Egypt?  Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt?  We said, ‘Leave us alone!  Let us be slaves to the Egyptians.  It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid.  Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.  The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.  The Lord himself will fight for you.  Just stay calm.”
Exodus 14:10-14

He (Jahaziel) said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem!  Listen, King Jehoshaphat!  This is what the Lord says:  Do not be afraid!  Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
2 Chronicles 20:15

God bless,

Mark

Hello Everyone,

Because we’ve felt exactly like the disciples in the writing below, I read the following to my wife Saturday morning.  We knew we needed to send it out to you.  We love you so much and know that God is in complete control of your lives. ☺♥☺♥

Happy Monday!

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“Yet it was the Lord’s good plan to bruise Him and fill Him with grief.  But when His soul has been made an offering for sin, then He shall have a multitude of children, many heirs.  He shall live again and God’s program shall prosper in His hands.  And when He sees all that is accomplished by the anguish of His soul, He shall be satisfied; and because of what He has experienced, My righteous Servant shall make many to be counted righteous before God, for He shall bear all their sins.  Therefore I will give Him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because He has poured out His soul unto death.  He was counted as a sinner, and he bore the sins of many, and He pled with God for sinners” (Isaiah 53:5-12).

Jesus knew that His crucifixion was not a thwarting of God’s plan, but a fulfillment of it.  The disciples, however, didn’t understand (I can be like that when I stop believing God’s with me).  They saw the crucifixion of Jesus as an end to all their hopes and dreams for the future.  They didn’t remember Jesus’ words when He told them, You have sorrow now, but I will see you again and then you will rejoice and no one can rob you of that joy (John 16:22)

The disciples weren’t looking forward to seeing Jesus again, and when they were told that He was no longer in the tomb, they thought His body had been stolen.

Later that day, two of Jesus’ followers walked along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  They were talking about Jesus’ death when suddenly Jesus Himself came and walked beside them.  But they didn’t recognize Him.

He looked at their sad faces and said, What are you so concerned about?  One of them named Cleopas, said, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about the terrible things that happened there last week” (Luke 24:17-18).

Jesus listened as they poured out their sad tale to Him, about the wonderful Jesus of Nazareth who had done such great miracles that they were sure He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel, but the religious leaders had handed Him over to the Roman government and He had been crucified.  The men spoke as if they had just witnessed the greatest tragedy the world had ever known.  On top of it all, they said the body of Jesus was missing from the tomb and some women said they’d seen angels who told them that Jesus was alive.  The men seemed certain that the last bit of news could only be a fairy tale.

Then Jesus said to them, You are such foolish, foolish people!  You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures!  Wasn’t it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His time of glory?

Then Jesus quoted them passage after passage from the writings of the prophets, beginning with the book of Genesis, and going right on through the Scriptures, explaining what the passages meant and what they said about Himself (Luke 24:25-27).

By this time they were coming near Emmaus, and since it was getting late, the two men asked the stranger to spend the night with them.  They still hadn’t recognized Him!

Jesus came home with them, and when they sat down to eat, He asked God’s blessing on the food and then took a small loaf of bread and broke it and was passing it over to them when suddenly – it was as though their eyes were opened – they recognized Him! (Luke 24:30-31)

At last they believed.  But for so long they had been able to see only the outward circumstances and had completely missed seeing God’s perfect plan unfolding.

The disciples had seen their leader crucified, an apparent triumph of evil over good, and they had taken it as proof that God was not present with them.  Yet, had they believed God’s Word spoken through the prophets, they would have taken the same circumstances as evidence that God was with them and working out His plan.

We, too, are like the disciples.  When trials and sorrows come our way, our first reaction is, “Oh God, why have you forsaken me?”

But Jesus said, Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world (John 16:33)

If we truly believed these words of Jesus, we’d see our circumstances as evidence of God’s presence with us, and we’d praise and thank Him for them instead of complaining and grumbling.

We shake our head at the world conditions as if to say, “Now there is plenty of evidence that God isn’t doing much these days.”

But Jesus told His followers to expect wars, earthquakes, famines, insurrections, epidemics, and so on down the list – a perfect picture of the world we live in, and a promise that it would be getting worse.

Jesus said, Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing hear (Luke 21:28 RSV).

When things get worse in this world of ours, it is no evidence that God is absent or indifferent.  Quite the contrary.  All these signs are evidence that God is very near, that every part of His plan and purpose is being fulfilled just as His Word has promised us.

Jesus told His disciples to rejoice with Him over His crucifixion.  Had they been able to trust in His word, they could have experienced joy instead of grief.  God’s Word tells us to rejoice in our trials.

Peter wrote, “Though not seeing Him you trust Him; and even now you are happy with the inexpressible joy that comes from heaven itself” (1 Peter 1:8).

So what will you (Mark – put your name in here) believe?  Will you walk along your road as did the two men going toward Emmaus, saddened and preoccupied by the outward circumstances, convinced that God is far away?  Or will you let your eyes be opened and be thankful?

Receive the love, the peace, and the joy that Jesus is offering you.  Believe that Jesus is with you and that God is working in every circumstance of your life to meet your need.

The very thing you think is painful proof of God’s absence from your life is in fact His loving provision to draw you toward Himself – so that your joy may be full!

Look up and praise Him!  He loves you and He dwells in the praises of His people!
Taken from “Power In Praise” by Merlin Carothers – Edits mine

God bless,

Mark

It’s the most wonderful thing that God has made “His ways” of living this life available to us.

Why is it important to know what the Bible has to say about how we should live?  Why “do” God’s ways?  Because His ways are true life.  Doing His ways will protect us, heal us and meet our true needs.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do (put into practice):  and (if you “do,” then) the God of peace shall be with you.
Philippians 4:9

And the God of peace shall be with you.  Such a sweet, sustaining reward for “doing” what God tells us to do, that which will bring us His peace, rest, love, abiding joy and Presence.

God bless,

Mark