Month: January 2019

Our Father loves us SO MUCH. More than we know. Each day, He wants to show us, and come to understand more and more of His love.

Is it really possible to acknowledge the Lord in all my ways? Can I really be careful for nothing? God says we can live this way in His Word if we’ll step out in faith and follow His lead to “do” His Word even when it seems inconvenient to us. With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

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

The Grace and Wonder of Staying in the Lord –

At times, in our day, we’re tempted to act apart from the Lord. We’re tempted to take matters into our own hands without consenting with or being mindful of Jesus…

Here’s a simple, loving lesson the Lord allowed me to experience the other day.

Our car battery was really weak and barely started our car Monday morning. After dropping my wife at work, I took our car to Walmart which is where I buy my car batteries. I’d gotten there early and was first in line in the oil and lube line so I moved my car over to another lane since I needed my battery checked. I had to wait about 45 minutes for Walmart’s automotive service to open so I grabbed some peanuts and sat down in the auto service waiting area. I noticed that when they opened, two other cars I arrived ahead of were being waited on and neither driver said anything to the technician about me being there first. I thought, “That seems inconsiderate.” The Lord immediately told me not to “take” that thought and that He was with me.

About 10 minutes later, a technician came over to the car and tested my battery. After the test, he told me it may take a charge and that it would take about 30 to 90 minutes for them to determine that. He walked off with the battery test printout. About 5 minutes later, another Walmart technician came over and asked me if I’d had my battery checked. When I told him it had been tested, he asked me where the test printout was. I told him the other technician had it. I told him the printout had said my battery needed to be charged for 30-90 minutes to determine its status. He asked me to drive my car over to the other side of the auto service area, but I told him it may not start. He asked me to try it. The car started and I drove it over to the other side. The technician met me on the other side, lifted the hood and tested my battery again. This time, the printout said the battery needed to be replaced. I was so happy. The technician told me a new battery would be about $120. At that time, a third auto technician walked over and asked about the battery test printout. When he read it, he told the other technician to replace my battery and that it was free since I was still within the battery warranty period. Happy, Happy, Happy.

Now, what I want to convey in this email is that whenever I was tempted to become impatient, whenever I began to get in “my flesh” about this situation, the Lord kept reminding me to wait on Him and that everything was okay. In fact, He kept asking me to be extra patient and kind to everyone. He was with me, knew all about my wanting to get going so I could get some things done, etc. He told me He would make sure I got everything done I thought was so important if I just gave this situation to Him and followed His lead.

It was so neat how everyone around me responded to His leading in my heart. I calmed down, gave Him the situation and was like a spectator watching Him work all of it out for me. One of the other customers who’d come in after I’d arrived, and had his car serviced before me, went out of his way to find the auto service department manager for me so the manager could printout the transaction paperwork so I could be on my way.

It’s so wonderful when we yield to Jesus, when we say “No” to our hurried, worried, impatient, selfish flesh, and keep our spiritual ears tuned in to Him even though our flesh is wanting its way. God is so faithful if we’ll just be willing to be “doers” of the Word, if we’ll keep the faith, if we’ll be His people especially when we’re tempted to not want to do so at any given time throughout our day.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:6-8

Listen to Jesus, and let His “rest” keep you each moment of the day. That’s what He wants for us. He just wants to love us and give us His amazing peace – even in what seem like small matters. He’ll make sure we get everything done and be blessed (and be a blessing to those around us) in the process.
God bless,

Mark

Hello, Everyone –

When I opened up Yahoo this morning, I saw that President Trump wants to bring his favorite book, the Bible, back into public education. Wow, what a blessing that would be…

Jonathan’s new year message was really good so I thought I’d share it with you…

Blessings in Messiah For The New Year!

Many of us grew up being taught that Isaac Newton came up with the law of gravity after having an apple fall on his head. The story is most likely a fable, but Newton did formulate the law of gravitation. We generally think of gravity as the force that makes things go down. But gravity is really not a force that pulls down, but rather, it’s a force that pulls objects to each other. The closer you get to an object, the more you’re affected by its gravitational pull. This is true for stars and solar systems, planets, moons, and satellites. It’s even true for small objects. Every object has a gravitational pull.

At this point, you might be asking, “But what does this have to do with my spiritual life?” Everything. Every believer deals with habits, sins, temptations, things they want to overcome and break free of. Hidden in the law of gravitation is a spiritual principle and secret that can change your life. Just as physical entities contain gravity – a gravitational pull, so also do spiritual entities. And what this means is that the closer you get to an object, the more you come in contact with its gravitational field and pull.

Thus, if you hang around people who are into a specific sin, you’re more likely to be drawn into that same sin. If you hang around with people into gossip and negativity and complaining, you’re more likely to be pulled into that same gossip, negativity, and complaining. It means that if you’re tempted with romantic feelings that are outside God’s will, the closer you stay to that person, the object of the temptation, the stronger the temptation becomes and the greater the chance you’ll fall. It means that if you’ve had a vulnerability to alcohol, then the closer your proximity to a drink, or to a bar, or to an event where alcohol is served, the greater the gravity and chance for falling. It the same way, if you’re struggling with lust, the closer you are to that magazine, or that television show, or that website, or whatever else it is, the greater the gravitational pull toward falling will be.

In the inverse of this law comes the secret. If you want to break free from any sin, habit,m failure, the first and most basic thing you have to do is get out of its gravitational pull. In other words, get as far away from its proximity as you can. The farther away you go, the weaker its gravitational pull will be, the weaker its force and influence on your life. This can be something as simple as getting out of the situation, our of the relationship, out of the house, out of the room, out of the area, our out of the gathering. Then you want to keep going farther away. You’ll want to get yourself away from even the possibility of temptation. The word of God tells us not only to stay away from adultery, but stay away from the door of the adulteress. In other words, protect yourself not only from the sin, but even from a situation that might leave the door open to that sin. If you’re more vulnerable to falling when you’re tired, then leave the situation before you get tired. If being in a certain room could open the door for temptation, then don’t just avoid going in that room, avoid the house, avoid even the street if you have to. It works for temptation, it works for idols, and it even works for distractions. Get away from the gravitational pull and it will weaken.

Once you do this, you can move to the next stage of freedom. You can start moving even your thoughts out of the gravitational field of that sin. Start practicing moving your thoughts as far from that sin as possible. Direct them to a new gravitational field – the gravity of God, His word, and His love. Replace the unclean thing with the pure and the holy. Replace the temptation with the joys of the Lord. The more you get away from the gravity of this world, the more you’ll be free to dwell in the heavenlies and vice versa. So get more and more into the joy of dwelling with God every day in His heavenly places and you’ll live in greater freedom, for there is no gravity in heaven!

“And God raised us up with Messiah and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Messiah.” (Ephesians 2:6) If we are raised up with Messiah then the gravity of earth will ultimately be powerless over us! Rejoice today and make a commitment to move farther and farther away from earthly gravitation to take up your rightful place in the heavenly realms where there is no gravity.

In His Love and Service,

Jonathan

God bless,

Mark

And he (Jesus) arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:39

Peace, be still…Wow, such loving words for someone like me whose life was so filled with storms that I often found it difficult to breathe.

When I have thoughts that are contrary to my usual, fleshly thoughts, that’s the precious Holy Spirit working in my life taking control of my thought-life, setting me more free. I love it.

For instance, I’m finding that I’m not really waiting on God any more. Waiting seemed like a race horse waiting at the gate. Now, it’s like the Holy Spirit is relaxing me even more and wants me to sink down more in His love and simply do whatever He wants me to do with my life each day. This posture He’s showing me is healing me even more deeply. I think this must have been what the Apostle Paul must have experienced when he wrote, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” in Philippians 4:11. God knows that from where I’ve come from, I need contentment deep in my heart whatever may come.

For my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

It’s easy, especially today, to think of His riches as money or things. But, for me, His riches include the precious gift of feeling content in my soul that was “troubled” and without His peace for so long. His riches heal our lives and bring us closer to the Eden life we had with the Father.

Oh, the riches of His glory…And there was a great calm.

God bless,

Mark

Happy Monday, Everyone!

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7  King James Version (KJV)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified Version (AMP)

God bless,

Mark

Praise The Lord
Written by Elliot Bannister and Michael Vincent Hudson

When you’re up against a struggle that shatters all your dreams
And your hopes have been cruelly crushed by Satan’s manifested schemes
And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fears
Don’t let the faith you’re standing in seem to disappear

Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seems to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him

Now Satan is a liar and he wants to make us think
That we are paupers when he knows himself we’re children of the King
So lift up the mighty shield of faith for the battle must be won
We know that Jesus Christ has risen so the work’s already done

Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seems to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him

Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seems to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him

Praise Him, praise Him
When you praise Him
When you praise Him
When you praise
The Lord

---

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luke 2:6-20

Ann likes to look at a local web cam on top of a mountain across the valley. We went to the web cam link this morning, and while it was dark with some city lights shining, the moon was shining a bright moon beam on the land (you can make out the moon beam in this picture. It’s on the right and was much brighter when we first viewed the web cam earlier this morning). It reminded me of the Luke passage above. The angel came at night in the darkness. Wow, that’s how Jesus comes into our lives. He says to each of us, “Fear not. I bring you good tidings of great joy. I’ve come to set you free.” He comes into our darkness – our past hurts, shame, tendencies to worry, fret, fear, etc. – and shines His bright light of freeing truth into our lives.

Ann and I were talking during our coffee time this morning about how much Jesus is helping us, setting us free, bringing us out of darkness, shining His liberating light into our lives. It reminded me of how faithful Jesus is. I thought of how there was a time when I was so bound up and how Jesus had us begin to memorize verses that began the process of Him setting us on a path to know Him, to find out how free He can make us, to experience Him cutting us loose from the chains that bound us. Wow, to be getting set free from all the things that bound us. Darkness like the fear of man, uncertainty about the future, confusion, hopelessness, bitterness, worry, fear, care, anger, frustration, shame, and on and on. Truly, Jesus’ truth is good will toward men, good tidings of great joy. What great joy Jesus is to those of us who’ve been bound by darkness. Such good news.

And the chains that bind you serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you when you praise Him.

We love you all.

God bless,

Mark and Ann

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Deuteronomy 30:19

the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
Ephesians 1:18-19

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Psalm 112:6-7

When I pray for someone, I take them to the cross immediately. I never carry them because I can’t. Only Jesus can. He designed it that way. Thank You, God.

Please don’t let the devil convince you that you do not have to take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. Don’t let Satan make you think you can be lazy about this. He wants us to choose death each day. Remember, he a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

I know it’s a real battle to learn to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. With panic disorder, anxiety disease and other issues, it’s been hard for me to take every thought captive. But with the help of Holy Spirit, we can obey God’s Word in this arena. Please never discount taking thoughts captive, precious people. It’s one of the most important ways that God sets “life” before us each day. If we choose life, we choose to take defeating and care-filled thoughts captive to Jesus. All care, worry, insecurity, inferiority, anger, bitterness, fear, you name it, begins with a thought. We were never designed to carry these heavy things. Take your cares to Jesus and His cross and leave them there. That’s where they belong. Jesus desires for us to live free from the weight of care and all the rest of the above listed items. Take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. It’s not a suggestion. It’s a liberating command from the lover of our souls, Jesus.

Come to me (Jesus, and one of the major ways we “come to Him” is by taking thoughts captive), all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

I love you all.

God bless,

Mark

Good Monday Morning, Everyone!

Here’s what I initially jotted down this morning: The Holy Spirit told me this morning that I have the life He wanted me to have including my upbringing. God’s doing things in my life that could not have happened any other way. I need to line up my heart with this and learn all He wants me to learn about what He’s allowed in my life. If I don’t, I can feel like a victim, become bitter, feel ripped off, like the world owes me, develop impatience, and who knows what else.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things (Including thought patterns that keep us bound) are passed away; behold, all things (even what we think was a mistake) are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Brothers and sisters (that’s everyone on my email list), I (The Apostle Paul and us, too) do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14

You (God) saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Psalm 139:16

Boy, what a great day. Ann and I could sense the enemy was trying to get us stirred up this weekend and this morning, too. After not sleeping well and having the enemy tell me I’ve been ripped off in my life in certain areas, I was “feeling” a little frazzled lying in bed. I got up and began making our coffee when the Holy Spirit said, “Mark, I want you to know that it was no mistake that you were raised in the home you grew up in and the health issues and DNA you acquired from your family. If I’d wanted you have a different growing up experience and different DNA, I would not have had you born into the family you had. If you’ll let Me, I’ll use all of it for My glory, and, through it, show you My love, grace, and mercy for you as well.”

Boy, I hope that helps someone cause what the Holy Spirit told me was huge for me. What He shared can completely do away with feeling badly about my past and set me free in incredible ways including removing all self-pity, anger, bitterness, not liking myself, etc. It can set me on a path for God to use anything He’s allowed in my past for His glory. I can go on from here trusting totally in Him, His plan, His future for me that’s more glorious and bright now that I know none of my past was a mistake. It was His plan and He’s going to show me all the wonderful reasons as I continue to walk with Him.

Talk about the super-natural power contained in Romans 8:28. Wow.

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

Forgive me, God, for not trusting you with what You’ve allowed in my life. Help me to move forward free in You as you work out Your perfect plan for me.

Praise Jesus! What a blessing this morning was. Everything in our past can be redeemed by Jesus. In fact, He allowed it for His purposes to be carried out.

God doesn’t make mistakes. In Jesus, everything is redeemable and made into blessings by His great power. We’re truly FREE in Christ! Hallelujah!

God bless,

Mark

Time for one of my all-time favorite topics.

I’m so thankful for everyone I send these emails to; my wife, daughters and sons-in-law; to have a nice pillow and cozy bed to sleep in; to have shoes and clothes; toothpaste; a shower; to have a home; people who love me; enough water and food; trash pickup; working toilets; to be saved; and to have God’s Word so I can learn how to live more and more free.

What are you thankful for today?

God bless,

Mark

Jesus knows how to fix things. That’s such good news…

Romans 8:28 – Places Where Grace Is Soon To Be So Amazing

Unredeemed by Selah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-I6YcLSB1w

The cruelest word
The coldest heart
The deepest wound
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter nights
The wasted years

Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered is laid before the lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every lie that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing (Through His mighty grace, God redeems trials)
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered is laid before the lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

No, no…

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

*******

Early in life, I (Mark) had to turn to Jesus because I literally had no one else to fall back on. I had to prove His Word and love or I was not going to make it.

He (God) sent his word (The Bible), and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions (like He’s doing in my emotions, mind and spirit). Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psalm 107:20-22

Something in me made me stubborn and resistant to believing Romans 8:28. I just had a difficult time accepting its truth in the midst of trials and when I could not see where seemingly negative conditions (my finite perception of things) were leading me. I could not count it all joy when I fell into diverse trials (see James 1:2-3). When I finally began to stop fighting that God was truly working all things together for my good, I honestly began to enter God’s joy, mercy, grace, love, forgiveness, peace and rest. I entered into a place where I was willing to let God work all things together for my good in His time. This gave me a peace I’d never known before, a peace that truly was willing to let God show me how to let Him surpass my limited, impatient, short-sighted understanding. This brought me to the point where I could lay down the burden of always trying to find the answers and having to understand everything. I just needed to surrender to letting Him be God in my life. That’s when being able to trust Him was born in my life. What a calming, reassuring gift that is. His truth was keeping me. Although I’d asked Jesus into my life and was eternally secure, His truth coming into my life was keeping me from reacting to life in the old Mark, the yet unredeemed Mark who was depressed, fearful, jealous, full of shame, bitter, unforgiving, without God’s hope, peace, rest and joy.

I love it when this happens during my day:

Mark: “Whoops, I messed up.”
God: “It’s okay, I’ll make it work for your good because you’re my son and because that’s Who I am and what I promised to do as your Father.”
Mark: “Right now, I’m scared, God.”
God: “I know. That’s why I’m teaching you to believe that I work all things together for the good of those, like you, who love Me. Once you know My love for you in this way, you’ll never have fear.”

The joy of the Lord is for those who believe; for those who keep on renewing their mind; for those who refuse to give up when they get knocked down; for those who ask Jesus to help them be persistent and tenacious in their desire to be free indeed. If I believe He’s always working all things, all situations, all circumstances for my good, I can always have the joy of the Lord. I’m also finding that believing, while God will always be faithful to convict me of any sin in my life that has the potential to destroy me, Romans 8:28 is silencing satan’s attempts to bring me under his condemnation, to believe his original lie to Adam and Eve, “Hath God surely said?”. I can always rely on God’s love to bring me through and to lead me to spiritual victory. Always.

I could have all the money in the world and still be afraid of losing it if I didn’t know the following that brings me the surpassing gift of being content, of having God’s love and assurance in all things.

I’m finding that all enemy oppression and torment (fear has torment) is leaving as I let the perfect love (God’s perfect love) I’ve found in believing Romans 8:28 (in believing God) have preeminence in my life. Truly, God’s perfect love is able to set us free to live, enjoy and love life to its fullest. Believing is better. Believe me, I know firsthand. ☺

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love (I was like that. I was not made perfect in love because I wouldn’t believe Romans 8:28. I was constantly battling satan’s lies and fear).
1 John 4:18

And we know (to know it is to be living in its blessed truth, daily) 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

Now unto him (Our precious Jesus) that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jude 1:24

Romans 8:28, the grace promise from our Great Redeemeer, Jesus. Just watch and see, precious one…

God bless,

Mark

Because the devil will do everything in his power to keep us from believing Romans 8:28, I greatly encourage you to surround yourself with people who truly believe Romans 8:28.

And we know (to know it is to be living in its blessed truth, daily) 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

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 was out walking on this cool, wet morning in San Marcos. It was really refreshing. I had the thought, what an amazing thing it is that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Then I thought, wow, no wonder God commands us to renew our minds to His Word, to Jesus. He can actually give us His thoughts, His character, His overcoming and all-powerful life living in us if we’ll renew our minds to His Word, to what He says about us if we’ll exchange our fallen nature for His nature. We can be changed inside by His supernatural genes, His Word. That’s amazing.

God’s making me into an eternal optimist like He is by taking my old nature and transforming it into His nature as I adopt His ways. Simply incredible…Incredible.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18

He’s working all things together for my good. All things. Every day is glorious because He’s using everything to teach me how much He loves me. His truth, His perfect love (1 John 4:18 above) is removing all fear because I don’t ever need to fear as long as I know He’s always working for my good. Always. It’s true, and it’s the most wonderful truth to know; to have backing me up all the time; to always be stopping the enemy’s lies that attempt to make me doubt and fear God’s perfect love; to have operating in my spirit rescuing me each moment. Just tremendous.

What a wonderful Heavenly Father we have. Oh, thank you, God.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things (fear, doubt, unbelief) are passed away; behold, all things are become new (I can now believe and apply God’s truths to my life and live in His love free from my old nature of unbelief and fear).
2 Corinthians 5:17

God bless,

Mark

My wife and I listened to a Dr. Charles Stanley youtube video the other day titled, “Waiting On God’s Timing” – Part 1. In the video, Charles talked about a prayer he prays each morning. Good way to start the day…☺

Lord, I thank You that You have a plan for my life today
I thank You, Lord, that Your timing is perfect
I thank You that You’ll bring into my life whatever You need to bring; You’ll protect me; You’ll guide me; You’ll lead me
If I go through any kind of suffering, or hurt, or disappointment I’ll trust You to bring me through that
I want to thank You that today I am going to walk obediently before You
I’m going to trust that the Holy Spirit will be speaking to me to give me guidance and direction, and to give me Your timing
Whatever You have for me, I’m available to wait
I know that waiting will grow me up, strengthen me, and prepare me for what You have
I want to thank You for this day
Lord, let my life be fruitful all day long

Happy Monday, everyone.

God bless,

Mark

When I got in bed last night, I realized I’d forgotten to send out a “Blessing” email yesterday. A migraine attack had left me a little dazed…☺

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

The love of God, how rich and pure,
How measureless and strong
(Lyric taken from The Love Of God by Fredrick M. Lehman)

One of the beautiful things my wife said to me this morning after we’d talked about the following was the lyric from Keith Green’s song “Your (God) Love Broke Through.” I know this is a longer email, but I wanted to include Keith’s lyrics before I get to what the Lord shared with me this morning thinking the song’s words may bless someone:

“Like a foolish dreamer, trying to build a highway to the sky
All my hopes would come tumbling down, and I never knew just why
Until today, when you (Jesus) pulled away the clouds that hung like curtains on my eyes
Well I’ve been blind all these wasted years and I thought I was so wise
But then you took me by surprise

Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed
Until your love broke through
I’ve been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me
Until your love broke through

All my life I’ve been searching for that crazy missing part
And with one touch, you just rolled away the stone that held my heart
And now I see that the answer was as easy, as just asking you in
And I am so sure I could never doubt your gentle touch again
It’s like the power of the wind

Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed
Until your love broke through
I’ve been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me
Until your love, until your love, broke through”

---

Wow, Jesus just continues to blow me away with His truths that set us free. I keep being amazed at how “unconditional” and indefinably faithful His love is for those who love Him.

Yesterday, I had another migraine and felt pretty bad physically, emotionally and spiritually. I was weak, felt like caving in, like I wanted to give up. And, in the midst of these feelings, God still allowed me to praise Him. Jesus never leaves us nor forsakes us. He never gives up and is never taken aback just because I have times when I doubt Him, when I feel weary.

Often, we can live with things for so long that we just accept them as part of life and can even become numb to them being there, being a part of who we are, a part of life. That’s when Jesus, Who is true life breaks through with His liberty and does more work to set us free indeed.

Wow, when God’s love breaks through…

Over the years, I’ve heard pastors talk about “This is the year for your breakthrough.” It almost always had to do with money or business or some other condition. “God’s going to make you super-successful this year” was their promise to their listeners. Unknowingly, I think somewhere in my heart I had a condition (and I’m sure there are others He wants to free me from in my soul) between me and God. I think I’ve felt like when God gives me the chance of having a financial breakthrough, when He finally allows me to provide for my wife, I’ll feel like I’ve finally arrived in life, whatever that means. I’ve been focused on the condition and not Jesus. Boy…

This morning, I was reading where Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac. I read about how God had blessed Abraham and made him a very wealthy man…

Right in the middle of my reading, the Holy Spirit told me His love for me is unconditional. At that same moment, He asked me if my love for Him was unconditional. I sat here thinking about His question. It dawned on me that I wasn’t sure if I did love Him unconditionally. Did I have conditions on my love for Him? If so, what conditions? And, if I have conditional love for Him, does that mean I have idols before Him?

I shared all this with my wife during our devotional time this morning. She told me I didn’t have unconditional love for God. Wow, her immediate response caught me off guard. That’s when one of the things she told me was, “I’ll feel loved when…”

“When? When what?”

Boy, a lot of thoughts raced through my mind just then. I felt condemned, guilty, immature as a Christian, spiritually naked before God and my wife. I felt bad, frustrated, weighed down with the sickening condition of “conditional love” for my Jesus, etc. These are the types of symptoms we can live with often without even being aware of them because they’ve become such a part of us, of who we are. Jesus wants to step in and show us Who He is by bringing these symptoms to mind to heal us. What an unveiling this was.

God’s love for me is unconditional. Is my love for Him unconditional? If not, what idols do I have before Him? What hidden burdens am I carrying?

What the Holy Spirit was saying to me is , “You can love Me unconditionally. You can be free from the heaviness of conditional love.” Wow, what a revelation that was for me. What an offer and tremendous gift God was wanting to give me by pointing this all out to me.

It’s truly amazing how deep God will work in our lives. His love for us is so much stronger than I can even imagine. It’s so unlike and far beyond human love. He doesn’t give us everything we want. Instead, He frees us from the burdens we carry in our “want” list. Amazing. Simply, and powerfully, amazing.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Romans 11:33-36

God bless,

Mark

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!

My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.

They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!

For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.

O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Psalm 84

God bless,

Mark

and those the LORD has rescued (like Ann and me) will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Isaiah 35:10

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Philemon 1:7

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9

The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
Proverbs 10:28

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.
Hebrews 12:1-2

As most of you know by now, when Ann and I got married, Jesus took us to Oregon to put us on a path to heal us of many things. One of the most important areas I needed healing in was how to be a husband and father. I also needed to know that Jesus could keep me regardless of circumstances, to learn to be content in whatsoever state (condition) I am. And the list goes on and on…

Over the years, Ann and I have had people comment on our walk with Jesus…Some negative and some positive. When I sent out last Friday’s email about falling on my face spiritually, a good friend replied with the following along with a book recommendation.

“Mark, Thanks for the honest reflection this morning. It proves you’re not super-Christian after all. :)”

I had to smile reading their comment about not being a super-Christian. Their observation is correct.

Ann and I aren’t super-Christians. We’re two people God brought together for the purpose of learning we could love each other and help each other grow to be more like Jesus, to experience His love, faithfulness, rest, peace, mercy, grace and joy. We both had a deep need to have Jesus help us come out of some difficult times and backgrounds, to get set free by following Christ. Jesus has been so faithful to bring us along in our relationship with Him and we’re so thankful He’s setting us free in so many areas of our lives.

No, we’re not super-Christians. We’re just two people who desperately need and want all that Jesus can show us in this life. He’s definitely put this desire in us. And, whenever He leads us to do so, we share Him and the liberty we’ve found in Him, with others hoping the Holy Spirit will inspire them to want to follow Jesus as well.

While thinking about this email this morning, I wrote and told Ann, “One day, we’ll look at each other in Heaven and smile with the joy that He let us live this adventurous life together, MY love.”

Desire Jesus above all else, precious people. He alone is the living water that can truly satisfy us and bring times of refreshment and rest to our souls.

Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Isaiah 51:11

With the help of Jesus, we’re running the race set before us…

God bless each of you,

Mark and Ann

I sent the following to a friend I may not see again for a long time and maybe not until Heaven. I wanted to remind them of some of the wonderful keys God’s given me to keep me on the narrow path to Heaven. Reading them again is a good way to begin the new year.

1. God works all things together for good for those who love Him.

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

Remembering that God is working in every situation in my life helps me to continue trusting Him with my whole heart. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

2. Thank and praise God in all situations and circumstances.

The Bible talks about praising and thanking God in all things and how doing so stops enemy attacks and causes our enemy to flee in confusion. Praising God in all things brings God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit on the scene.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 5:20

In every thing give thanks: for (because) this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1

3. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

If a thought is making you feel defeated, know that the spirit behind that thought is not from Jesus. As David once said, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”
Psalm 42:5

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
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: 3-5

The Aaronic Blessing Taken From Numbers Chapter 6 –
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

Live in this life like you’re already in Heaven because God already sees us there with Him where He’s already wiped away all tears. Praise God! Hallelujah!

God bless,

Mark