I could hear geese honking above the dense Oregon fog…Immediately, God said, "I'm going to teach you to hear My voice." Little did I know how much I needed Jesus.
Like He’s done for so many, God showed Ann and I something years ago when we had pretty much come to the end of our ropes. And we’re having more and more victory by believing it: There’s no victory in not doing the Word. The victory is in the “doing.”
When Ann and I began doing the Word, we had to act on it in faith – We had to step out in faith and trust that what it was telling us to do would work in our lives. We didn’t yet fully believe it. We took it on faith. When we were tempted to not trust in Him with all our heart, we had to fight that temptation with Proverbs 3:5-6 which is the verse that commands us to trust in the Lord with all our heart rather than to lean on our own fearful and misguided understanding. God has rewarded our attempt to have faith – to live the Word and apply it to our daily lives no matter how hard the enemy tries to get us to give up believing God’s Word. There’s a difference (there’s a real, substantial and sustaining “knowing” that comes with believing) and we’re so grateful and blessed to be walking in belief in so many new ways in our hearts, minds and emotions today.
6 Be careful for nothing; but (instead) in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 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
The Word is so life-changing. It takes over our lives and has the power to transform us if we’ll let it. To be careful (anxious about) for nothing is so incredible. Especially in today’s world where anxious, worry, doubt and fear are becoming so much more prevalent.
Keep believing. God will change you as you let Him have His way with you. I know He can change anyone because He’s changing us right in front of our eyes.
“Thank you, Jesus, for reminding me that I don’t ever have to be anxious. All I ever have to do is to pray and turn things over to You knowing that You’ll work it all out and work it for my good.”
Then said Jesus to those Jews (and to each of us as well) who believed in Him, “If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed. John 8:31
A few decades ago, Ann and I were living totally defeated Christian lives. Nothing really turned that around for us until, out of desperation, we decided to become “doers” of the Word. We had heard some teaching about battling the devil and how others were becoming victorious in their lives by doing the Word.
If there is one thing I want to leave everyone with, it’s to become “doers” of the Word…And, to keep going in the Word and following Jesus into all the freedom He has for us in this life.
Thanking and praising God in all things is a large part of being a doer of the Word.
Many today do not do the Word because they’re afraid to enter the spiritual battle God calls Christians to – I’ve heard them express it. I was that way until Ann and I got so sick and tired of getting pushed around by not doing the Word that we finally came out of our miserable corner swinging and began pushing back against the darkness that was ruining our lives.
In these end times, the delusion is going to be so strong, and it will be so easy not to obey God’s Word, not to apply His ways to our life as hearts (yes, even the hearts of Christians) grow colder and colder, as more and more fear is unleashed upon the world.
There was a time when I thought I’d have to be crazy or commit theological and intellectual suicide by praising and thanking God in all things because nothing in my life was working out the way “I” wanted it to. I could see no point in always praising God until I saw a real turn around in my everyday circumstances. I was being rebellious and stubborn and I was not willing to change. I was deceived, the enemy knew it and was making sure I stayed that way.
But God was stronger…☺
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17
But you (God) are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
We praise God in church, at times when we’re home alone and things are going our way, and sometimes when we get together with other believers. But we don’t praise God all the time in our everyday life. Kind of funny isn’t it.
The devil does not want us to get the victory God knows we can walk in if we’ll praise and thank God in all things so Satan keeps us from praising God outside church, and from thanking God in all things. When we finally see this in our spirit, we become convinced of what the devil’s up to and it’s easier to see why God wants us to praise and thank Him in all things.
God knows the spiritual freedom and breakthrough we’ll have when we decide to stop listening to the devil and walk in obedience to God’s command to thank and praise Him in all things.
Believe me when I tell you that the devil wants you to live in the no man’s land of not being able to trust God in all things. Satan wants you to live in the misery of being double-minded as you trust God sometimes, but not at others. Satan loves inconsistency in our Christian witness and walk. There’s no way the devil wants you to be set free by believing Romans 8:28, and he’ll do all he can to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Don’t let the devil rob you of the blessing/victory God wants to give you as you praise and thank Him in all things.
Praise and thank God in all things…And keep at it. You will see the purpose for it and walk in the spiritual victory God wants to bless you with.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 5:20
“Nobody who locates the ways of God and walks in them ever ends up a loser! If you allow God to lead you, He will take you to high places in life. … Divine direction also eases life for you.”
“Divine direction eases life for you.” Thought that was a great quote. Ann and I have found that knowing and applying God’s Word to our lives, even though it may be tough to do so due to resistance from Satan, has made life much easier for us.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6
God will never tell you not to be a doer of His Word. On the other hand, the devil wants you to make provision for your flesh by being a doer of the flesh. As a result, Satan will always tell you that you don’t have to be a doer of the Word because he knows doing the Word brings you blessings and that the Word defeats him. The devil understands the power in the Word better than we do (James 2:19). If anyone, and I don’t care who they are (especially pastors), ever tells you not to do the Word, don’t believe them. It’s merely the devil trying to keep you bound and defeated, and to keep you from becoming a threat to his kingdom of darkness.
When you become a doer of the Word, you will have many more spiritual battles which means you’ll have many more spiritual victories. One thing Ann and I have learned is that even though we have many spiritual battles on our way to renewing our minds to God’s Word, we also now have God’s rest in a way we could have never had if we had not decided to be doers of His Word.
Another blessing we’ve come to know is God showing us more about how things operate in the spiritual realm. This is such a blessing because God gives you clearer insight into how the enemy works, how to do battle, how to reach victories, and how to rest in Him while heading towards victory.
God has brought us from hoping in His Word to trusting in His Word (and there’s a big difference between hoping and trusting) in so many areas of our lives. When you trust in His Word, there’s a strengthening knowing and a resting contained in the trusting that God keeps you with. It gives you the sweet, incredible assurance that God is in control in all things.
Like a lot of other things, fear can become an idol. We can actually let it run (and ruin) our lives…
And be not conformed to this world (to its fear): but be ye transformed (to live by faith) by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (the truth, God’s Word, sets us free). Romans 12:2
As Christians, we’re not called to be idle. When we get saved, we enter a spiritual war with Satan. In the spiritual realm, idleness (idol-ness) will lead to a life of misery. This is why God tells us to renew our minds to The Word, to Jesus.
Happy Monday!
Why can we be happy today? Because we’re in the truth. We’re in Jesus. Hallelujah!
Fear is afraid. It has no courage. When we stand against the principalities and powers that come to us in the name of fear, they have to retreat because of the faith we’re combating fear with. Our faith is based on The Truth, and their fear is based on lies. There is no truth in the enemy’s lies. None. On the other hand, Jesus is THE TRUTH.
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
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13
Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn: “The enemy always attacks God’s purposes. He will especially attack before the big things are coming of God. He attacked Moses when he was a baby. He attacked Messiah when He was a baby (through King Herod). He attacked the church when it was beginning. He tried to stop Israel from coming into existence by the holocaust – That was fury because of what God was going to do.
So the thing is, we have to realize something. If you’re in God’s will. The main thing is to be in God’s will. If you are in His will, and you’re being attacked, you’re being harassed, you’re being threatened by the enemy, DO NOT FEAR. In fact, be encouraged. It’s a great sign. It means God has something great for you. The enemy doesn’t waste his time. He knows what God has for you. Be strong and overcome and you’re going to enter into what God has.”
As with anything else in the Christian walk and life, we can’t do it on our own, in our own strength. We need to do what we can as Christians, and ask the Holy Spirit to help us grow in the Lord knowing that apart from Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
“Jesus, help me to apply the following to my life so it will become a reality in my everyday living. Thank you, Jesus.”
Wow, Ann and I listened to this message (see the youtube link below) by Pastor Paul Daugherty last night. It’s so true and really powerful. I hope you’ll view it.
“When you renew your mind to the Word of God, you begin to walk/live in the fear of God instead of the fear of man.”
“You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.”
“When I’m not trying to impress you, I’m actually able to love you more. When I fear you less, I can love you more. When you fear people less, you can actually love them more. You think you’re loving them by trying to be everything they want you to be, but as long as you’re fearing their approval, you can’t love them authentically. The authentic love flows from placing them off of the throne of your heart and putting God on the throne.” Pastor Paul Daugherty
Without renewing your mind to the Word of God, you will not know where your identity lies.
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Galatians 1:10 (NLT)
Don’t imagine us leaders to be something we aren’t. We are servants of Christ, not his masters. We are guides into God’s most sublime secrets, not security guards posted to protect them. The requirements for a good guide are reliability and accurate knowledge. It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don’t even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless. I’m not aware of anything that would disqualify me from being a good guide for you, but that doesn’t mean much. The Master makes that judgment. 1 Corinthians 4:1-4 (MSG)
Don’t miss who God has made you to be. Be free in Him. Choose to walk in the fear of the Lord.
Below is a depiction of where your Father dwells in Heaven. This is all taking place right now. Isn’t that incredible to think about?
He loves you so much and can’t wait until you’re there with Him.
He also wants you to dwell in Him while on earth. That’s why He sent us Jesus, the Holy Spirit and His Word. His Word points the way to doing His will, to living close to Him while here. He loves for us to live in His shadow (in His ways) where we experience and walk in His great love, security, protection, mercy, grace, peace and rest.
Now the works of the flesh are (and I had many more than the ones listed by the Apostle Paul in this Galatian scripture) manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (not only the kingdom in Heaven, but not being able to live in God’s ways (His kingdom) while on earth – what a horrible thought and existence). Galatians 5:19-21
As long as I’m not willing to part with my flesh, I will remain unrepentant (and therefore unable to escape the flesh, and reap what my flesh sews – Galatians 6:7), and impede Jesus’ work in my life. I’ll remain in the darkness and will not come into the light of His marvelous truth, way and life.
Ran into a door in the dark this morning. Really startled me. Funny thing is it reminded me of all the darkness I used to live/walk in and all the times I’d run into and get tripped up by all the potentially harmful, different things hiding in the dark like bitterness, unforgiveness, pride (including religious pride)unbelief, anger, frustration, mad about my past, shame, hopelessness, confusion, self-pity, selfishness, didn’t know how to love my wife and family the right way in Jesus, jealousy, embarrassment, inconsistent job history, letting health issues get to me, etc.
I’m so thankful that Jesus has overcome the world with His light, and that He’s showing me I can do the same by becoming a doer of His Word, by applying Him (The light of His Word) to my life. I can’t even begin to express my gratitude to Him for His love, mercy, grace, and patience as He’s intervened in my life.
Today, when the darkness tries to trip me up, Jesus reminds me, that because I belong to Him now, I don’t have to give in to bitterness and all of the others. I can immediately take those dark thoughts captive to Him and move on in His ways. What an indescribable blessing and difference Jesus has made in my life.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26
This way – His way – of life brings such peace, joy, rest and contentment.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever…
1 After this I (The Apostle John) looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation Chapter 4
It’s so fun just to stare at this picture. Boy, Heaven’s going to be amazing.
Lately, the Lord’s been teaching me in a deeper way to rely totally on the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to me and for everything else in my life. I love it when God speaks these types of lessons to me. They bring me such comfort and strength in Him. They make me realize how beautiful it is to know that apart from Him I can do nothing knowing that, in Him, everything can be accomplished.
35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. Mark 5:35-42
Ann and I were talking about Psalm 24 this morning. I was reading it very slowly out loud to us. The Holy Spirit was really speaking to us through that passage. That’s when something about Romans 8:28 came to mind.
We, again, compared Romans 8:28 and the way the world tells us to act when something potentially upsetting comes up in our day. The world’s way, the way most of us have been taught to respond while growing up, is to get uptight, to respond in stress, to get frustrated, angry, feel ripped off, lose hope, etc. On the other hand, Jesus says I’ve overcome the world – the way the world acts and lives – so, in Me (Jesus), you don’t have to respond the way the world has taught you to respond. Instead, you can relax and have My peace knowing that I’m working everything, even this situation, for your “good.” Most Christians still do not believe and know that God is working all things together for their good. It can almost seem like they’re afraid to believe it (For decades, which is way too long to live and suffer in unbelief, I was that way.) To them, passages like Romans 8:28, are still out of reach in their spirits. It still takes a lot of faith for them to believe it. This is why they can get upset with anyone who brings up Romans 8:28 during times that challenge their faith in God.
This is when Ann brought up the story of Jairus’ daughter in the Bible as seen above.
Jesus said Jairus’ daughter was not dead, but merely sleeping, and the people their laughed Him to scorn. That’s when Jesus put the people out from where the little girl was. Will we be like Jesus? Will we believe? Or will we join the scorners? When someone tells us to believe Romans 8:28 (and the rest of God’s Word) will we laugh them to scorn, or will be believe it, act on it, and have our sleeping faith revived?
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Do not be afraid to believe Romans 8:28. Believe it and see your faith wake up and come alive in the power of Jesus like Jairus’ daughter did!
My precious wife reminded me this morning that God knew where I’d be and everything about me right now before I was even born? It’s true. He knows what we’re dealing with and how He’s working in our life to bring us closer to Him. He’s working in us all the time. That’s the work of grace in our lives. That is so comforting.
You (God) brought my inner parts into being; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder; marvelous are Your works, and You know me completely. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth.. Your eyes saw me unformed, yet in Your book all my days were written, before any of them came into being. Psalm 139:13-16
Have a great day in Jesus knowing that He’s already seen this day in your life.
“If we just open our eyes and our hearts, we will see the truth…”
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins (that cause us such heartache) to rescue us (Like He’s done, and is still doing, for Ann and me) from the present evil age… Galatians 1:3-4
Jesus saith unto him (and to each of us who have ever lived), I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
Seriously, Mark (Or anyone else)? You can’t make it being double-minded? You can’t play around with not believing the Bible, or with believing parts of it and not others? You can’t take the chance of believing the devil’s lies and living with the destroying consequences of doing so? You must not fool around in this life playing with the devil’s fire only to go to hell apart from Me, forever…
Some people think Ann and I are naive, silly, gullible, and pretty stupid to believe God the way we do. Ann and I know how bad off we were when we didn’t believe God’s Word and when we weren’t trying to live it out on a daily basis. Over the years, we’ve observed the lives of many who did not take God at His Word, those who did not apply it to their daily lives. Believe us when we say that believing His Word and applying it to our lives is the smartest decision we ever made.
Ann and I battle to keep the faith just like anyone else does. We learned a long time ago that we were going to have to take God at His Word or live totally messed up lives. We came to the place where we had to begin believing God’s Word or be miserable and possibly divorced. In fact, if I had kept going in the direction of not believing God, I would probably be dead by now. No kidding.
PTSD, and all of my other challenges, have been the greatest blessing in my life – Ann agrees. Why? Because these things forced me/us to turn to Jesus and to live all out for Him. He knew it was the only way I would choose Him with my whole heart. And, He knew He wanted to use me/us to communicate His hope, His truth, love, joy, peace and rest to others so they could come to know Him as well. What incredible joy.
Following Him I know I’m right, He watches o’er me day and night…
We know we must apply Bible verses to our lives every day. That is how “Choosing Jesus Every Day” began. We wanted to remind our daughters to choose Jesus every day once they got married and left our home. Now, others receive the same encouragement to choose Jesus each day.
God has done all He can to help us. He’s put His Word out there for us to believe so we can be delivered from our destructions, from our weak flesh, the world, and the devil’s lies. It’s up to us to believe it. No one can do that for us. It’s up to each one of us to make the decision to believe God’s Word, to follow Christ, to choose LIFE.
Ann and I read the Word daily. We talk about it all the time. We watch programs and listen to music that build our faith. We encourage others with what we’ve learned. It’s how we keep The Truth at the forefront of our minds, emotions and spirits.
You see, Jesus really is all the world to us, our life, our joy, our all. We want to live in victory because we’ve lived in defeat and we know what that was like. We have to live free. It’s the only life to live and it’s the very thing Christ died on the cross to make available to each of us.
O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Psalm 34:8-10
Ann and I know we belong to Jesus. We’ve tasted of His truth, mercy and grace and found that He’s delicious to our lives. We know He really is our strength from day to day, and when we’re sad, He makes us glad. Truly, we need no better Friend than Jesus.
Please, make the smart choice. Believe. Take a stand for the Word, and apply it to every moment of your life. God, your true Father, will back you up and your life will change for the best, forever.
I don’t want to waste this life You’ve given me, Lord. Open my eyes, Lord. I want to see Jesus.
“Jesus, I need and want to know You more. I want You to be all the world to me, my Life, my Joy, my All. Whatever it takes, Jesus, please bring me to the point that I choose You every moment of my life.”
Jesus Is All The World To Me Christian hymn by Will L. Thompson
Jesus is all the world to me, My life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, Without Him I would fall. When I am sad, to Him I go, No other one can cheer me so; When I am sad, He makes me glad, He’s my Friend.
Jesus is all the world to me, My Friend in trials sore; I go to Him for blessings, and He gives them o’er and o’er. He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest’s golden grain; Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, He’s my Friend.
Jesus is all the world to me, And true to Him I’ll be; Oh, how could I this Friend deny, When He’s so true to me? Following Him I know I’m right, He watches o’er me day and night; Following Him by day and night, He’s my Friend.
Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better Friend; I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when Life’s fleeting days shall end. Beautiful life with such a Friend, Beautiful life that has no end; Eternal life, eternal joy, He’s my Friend.
We’re pastors, business owners, managers, office workers, writers, computer field experts, department heads, teachers, medical professionals, students, husbands, wives, family members, providers, comforters, and more. First, and most of all, we’re Christians. We carry His Name. The Name that is ABOVE every other name. Never forget how important you are and where you’re headed for eternity. And, always remember Whose you are. While caring for you, He neither sleeps nor slumbers.
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Did you know that the devil wants us to believe that we’re fatherless; that we’re orphans? He wants us to believe that we’re on our own and that we must fend for ourselves in this life because know one else is going to do it for us.
No, the devil may be without a father. But, as Christians, we have the Almighty One as our Father.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord (My Father), which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord (My Father) shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121
He (God) sent his word (Jesus), and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord (Their Father) 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
Ann and I encourage ourselves every morning by talking about Jesus. We choose to build up our faith. That’s right. It doesn’t matter what is going on in our lives. We don’t let ourselves live by our feelings. We live by the Word as much as we can and choose to let it override everything else.
For instance, we choose (That’s right, we choose) to believe Romans 8:28 and that God really is working everything together for our good. We know He’s certainly capable of doing so. We were talking about Romans 8:28 this morning and what believing it has meant to our lives and marriage. We had the thought, “Why would anyone choose not to believe Romans 8:28?” Why would anyone choose to believe that some, if not all, things were not working for their good? The devil wants us to believe that. What a horrible way to live. What a lie to live with. We used to live believing that nothing was working for our good and it was like hell on earth. Really.
We have a choice every day to believe Jesus, to believe His Word that He sent to deliver us from our destructions.
Romans 8:28. What will you believe? A lie? Or THE TRUTH?
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
Very few today are actually walking in the newness of life the Bible makes available to us – Only 15% of Christians according to Dr. Neil Anderson. Today, many who are attempting to walk in Christ’s newness of life are being made to feel strange and like they need to apologize for it.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
The wages of sin is death. The wages of following Christ, of repenting, of doing the Word, is LIFE. We’re going to get paid wages one way or the other. We all choose which currency we want to be paid in.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins (that lead to death in so many ways) may be wiped out, that times of refreshing (Life that only God can give us) may come from the Lord, Acts 3:19
Ask God to show you how to become a doer of the Word, how to be paid in LIFE currency. He’ll surely show you.
I don’t like temptation. The author of the book, “The Prayer of Boas” had a really good comment regarding temptation. He said that as much as he can help it, he stays away from temptation. He doesn’t let himself be led into situations where there is temptation. I like his thinking.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23
And before him (The Son of Man, Jesus) shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:32-34;41
I’ve (Mark) lived long enough to observe the lives of those (I could tell you story after story) who think they beat the system, that they can live in the world, or dabble with the world and not have it harm them. And, I’ve seen the end result. It’s never good. Never.
But now I (The Apostle Paul) am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. (Why not hang out with such people? Well, the Bible tells us that we should not even associate with such people because their lifestyle may influence us to the point that we compromise and become trapped by the devil ourselves.) 1 Corinthians 5:11
I’ve (Mark) lived a worldly life and I’ve lived close to Jesus. My wife’s father was an alcoholic. For a few years, I played the drums in rock and roll bands. We even played at the Hollywood Teenage Fair.
I worked for a construction-related company in the San Diego area in the early 70s. After we finished for the day, we’d head over to our favorite bar. We’d order beer by the pitcher – We each had our own pitcher. I thought I was pretty cool back in those days. Boy, was I wrong.
I was never really happy living like the world. In fact, living like the world really took a toll on me. I was so deceived. You see, I let the devil get a foothold in my life back then and it led to more deception and misery. I was held up at gun point, totaled a car we were test driving, and had lots of other trouble while living apart from Jesus. I’m so grateful and glad that Jesus arranged the circumstances of my prodigal son-type life to bring me back to Him. The world has nothing to offer us, people. Nothing. And I pray it will become more and more obvious to us as the “end times” progress, as God separates the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32-34).
Famous Evangelist: He was asked, “Do you believe once saved always saved?” He answered, “No, because it gives to much provision for the flesh.” Next, he was asked, “What do you think about drinking.” He answered, “I don’t think about it at all.” At another time, he said, “People are always trying to get me to accept the world. I began drinking at the age of six. I used to drink a whole fifth of whiskey in the morning, and more at night…Every day. I was really good at sinning. Why do we (“Christians”) want to be like the world? Why do we search the scriptures for verses that allow us to live like the world? Regarding drinking – I don’t look for verses in the Bible to appease my flesh. I look for verses in the Bible to crucify my flesh. What do you guys want to do? What’s next? Women? For some crazy reason, the church is looking for things to do that the world does. Everyone’s trying to figure out what to do next that the world does. What else do you want to do that the world does? How many of these lines are we going to cross over? Why do we take the flesh side of the scriptures? Why don’t we take the crucifixcion side?”
knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; Romans 6:6
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24
that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, Ephesians 4:22
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. Colossians 3:5
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
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31b-32
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14
Ann and I have lived battling fear for a lot of years. We’ve learned that faith in God is better. It’s so much better to live trusting God in all things. So much better…
This very short video is excellent. It teaches us to look to Jesus, first, and to see things His way – Including the end times. And, that makes all the difference.
Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn – “Learn to question your fear.”
Why Do You Fear (‘The Storm King’ #2106)
Happy Thursday! So come on. Let’s go and I’ll (Jesus) show you all the wonder-filled things I have in store for you, My child.
