Month: February 2020

So, after I had received Dr. Robert Jeffress’ email (the one I sent out in yesterday’s CJED email) last week, Kimberly sent us the below emails. Kimberly’s timing in sending us emails is amazing. Her emails (and others of you) are further confirmation to us regarding God’s plan for Ann and me.

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I am so grateful for all of your wonderful reminders! Thank you SO MUCH for living your lives for the glory of our KING!
Last Friday your email inspired! This is the mindset we truly desire to live in, every moment of every day! The great cloud of witnesses are thinking of us and cheering for us, the bride. Your email reminded me of the song by Passion with Kristian Stanfill (I think Chris Tomlin did a version of the song too).
Even So:
“Like a bride waiting for her Groom,
we’ll be a church ready for YOU
Every heart longing for her King, we sing
Even so come, LORD JESUS come
Even so come, LORD JESUS come”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBHcvJhc6Pk

I have a fun story for you:
Along with many of our neighbors, we have always kept bird feeders around our home, welcoming little songbirds to perch and feast, and sing their praise songs. All of our homes are nestled in a green belt with foliage towering over every roof – a beautiful welcome mat for every genre of birdsong passing through. This has been a joyful noise in our neighborhood for many years! Such a delight! Especially in the Spring! The melodious singsong mimics sounds from the tropics!
Well, a couple of years ago, we had a group of hawks move into our neighborhood. At first we noticed a few Cooper Hawks, but this year it’s a larger species – the Red-tail Hawk. We often see two at a time sitting on the branches of our mature trees watching our bird feeders! They have been picking off our little song birds, and a great hush has descended upon our neighborhood. The joyful songs went into hiding as the intimidating screech took dominance in our community. (I can picture Ann shaking her head at this point saying, “This is NOT a fun story!”… But hang in there, Ann – there’s an amazing spiritual parallel!)
About 3 weeks ago, I saw 2 hawks on my property and I walked out and spoke to them, declaring softly, but firmly, “You have three choices here! You can become vegetarians,.. You can pick up your home and move out of this territory,.. Or you can drop dead! Let it be done.” And I felt such great confidence that it was done! Thankfully, we didn’t see much of those predators afterwards! Victory!
So the other day, imagine my outrage when I looked out my dining room window and witnessed a hawk 25 feet up in my neighbor’s tree. It’s head was going down and coming back up over and over. As the head came up, little pieces of grass and feathers floated down. I realized a precious nest was being torn apart, and I was furious! I’m a farm girl. In that moment, I wanted to open my window and to grant myself some target practice time! But my conscience convicted me…. “obey the laws of the land – shooting hawks is illegal.” So I brought my complaint before the ONE who cares the most for HIS lovely creation.
“GOD! The hawks are still here! I want the song birds to move back in!”
In that moment, one small bird flew up and landed on the branch above the hawk! It swooped down and dove at the intruder! Then a blue jay and a mocking bird joined the small warrior! Our LORD used this scene to remind me that HE is in control of the predator… the predator is not the one dominating over this scenario – GOD IS! And HE is using the dark predator… but only as long as it takes to glorify HIMSELF in the greatest way possible! HE knew the song birds would become stronger and more bold and courageous!!!
GO SONG BIRDS!
That’s my new chant! HE is raising up stronger song birds to glorify HIS HOLY NAME.
GO SONG BIRDS!
I felt that peace… you know the peace I’m talking about. That peace that passes our understanding…. it washed over me in a relaxing calm. I smiled and looked back out the window at the hawk. “Your days are numbered.” I declared with quiet, settled assurance! And I apply that to all that concerns me today.
The enemy sent his hoards to trap my precious daughter in darkness this year. GOD is using my foe to bring about a Glory greater than we can imagine! The enemy’s days are numbered! And I found my song – I have my voice back! We are no longer in hiding!
GO SONG BIRDS!
Every encouraging email you send out is a precious song!
GO SONG BIRDS!
Even when we can’t feel it, HE’S working –
Even when we can’t see it, HE’S working –
GO SONG BIRDS!
And every time we praise HIM in the midst of our circumstances,
Every time we move our focus from the power of the storm to the Power of the ONE who controls the storm,
Every time we consider it all joy,
Every time we rejoice –
It’s music to HIS ears!
GO SONG BIRDS!

With Love,
With Joy,
With Hope,
With great Peace,
kimberly

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And another one of Kimberly’s emails sent the day following her above email:

Oh! What a beautiful song!
GO SONG BIRDS!
Thank you for sharing…
And don’t give up, my friends. Total restoration and redemption belongs to you.
As I’ve prayed for you, GOD has assured me HE is healing you completely – in every way!

I am completely undone by the truth that our LORD only trusts HIS most beloved with pain too great for the crowds. HE is so patient.
We are for HIM as much as HE is for us… the invitation is intimate relationship – to truly bear HIS image – but not just in the suffering.
Sometimes I get stuck in the suffering… we bear HIS image in the victory and Resurrection too!
I see HIM crying with us when the attacks are the strongest, and HE’s patiently trusting us to rise up and be HIS bride. We do this together. And HE is not concerned with how long it might take…. we are not time beings. We just surrender to HIS work and trust.
Joining HIM in the dance that fulfills HIS heart! What an honor! What a Joy! Oh, how HE loves us!
And the intimacy HE is drawing us into! Oh! How fulfilling! Healing! Truly satisfying!

It has been a true pleasure to be on this unexpected path. Life definitely has not turned out the way I was expecting. Thank YOU, JESUS! In every twist and turn, the surrender to the new direction has brought greater expectation and hope! Releasing the idea of homeschooling all my children, watching marriage slip through my fingers, relinquishing my ideas of being a worship leader… accepting with joy, the new ways – the new paths – has brought more peace than I thought possible. Like watching the hawk and accepting that GOD is the ONE directing EVERY step, every peck, every screech. We can patiently observe calamity with great assurance in our Loving ABBA who controls the storms. The wind still knows HIS name! HE has done exceedingly abundantly more than I could have ever even imagined. And all I want to do is praise HIM, sing for HIM, worship HIM, and spend the rest of my days in Love with HIM.

…………. I know you know this, Mark ….. Ann knows too …… May I remind you? Because I love you both so very much …..
You were never meant to carry the burden of providing for her. You both have a much better Provider! Not being able to provide was a turn in your path that GOD intends to use for a greater glory – a greater provision – a greater joy than you can imagine.

Keep praising. Keep worshiping. Keep loving.
GO SONG BIRDS!

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God bless,

Mark – ChoosingJesusEveryDay.com

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

I’m sharing the following because I believe it’s important for all of us to know that we all have issues in our lives the devil can use to attack and discourage us with. Mine is mainly CCPTSD. I hope the following is a blessing to you in your own walk with Jesus.

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An amazing thing happened last week. I was talking to God about some things and even wondering if I should continue writing and sending out the CJED daily emails. Mainly, I said the following to Him.

“I was suffocating under the weight of shame, guilt and responsibility I thought I must take on as a husband and father. I kept thinking, “Why would God have so many commands in the Bible for husbands and fathers and then not enable me to be able to carry out His wishes?” As a man who was trying to do everything he could to be a good, obedient Christian, was it okay for me to admit to my Heavenly Father that I was unable to obey His Word in the areas of being an appropriate father and husband? “God, I can’t do Your Word in this huge area. Is that okay? Do you still love me? Do You still approve of me? Or, like I felt my parents did, will You reject me as a failure and embarrassment as well? Do You understand how awful it feels to not be able to bless my wife and family by not being able to do Your Word in those roles? God, I think my seeming failure in these roles is why I find it so difficult to believe that You really do love me like You would if I were able to be a good provider, husband and father. God, what are You trying to tell me about all of this? Are You really able to work all this together for good? How? When will I ever really know that it’s all for good so I can stop living under the awful strain of the PTSD symptoms? In all of it, are You merely trying to show me that my salvation really is all grace? That it really isn’t dependent on my performance, my ability to keep your Word? How can that be?”

That’s it, isn’t it? I can’t obey You in my role as provider so I don’t feel You approve of me. This is what’s causing a lot of my PTSD. On the famous BiMart day, when I felt completely free and had no anxiety whatsoever, was it because I felt like I was going to be okay without performing perfectly as a son, father and husband? Did I somehow cross over into grace in a way that meant it was okay not to have to strive to be a perfect Christian? Hmmm. I wonder. I’m not perfect. And, I’m never going to be. Is that okay, God?”

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Well, the next day, I received an email from Dr. Robert Jeffress who is the well known pastor of a Baptist church in Dallas, Texas. His email was a miraculous answer to my talk and prayer to God just the day before. Here is his email from his daily devotional series I receive each day.

Refining Our Humility and Contentment

Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.
–1 Kings 17:9

Zarephath was a place of refining for Elijah. What did God want to refine in Elijah–and in you and me as well? First, our Zarephath experience refines our humility. God said to Elijah, “Go to Zarephath . . . and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you” (1 Kings 17:9). Think of the humility that required. God said to this great prophet, “I want you to go to a widow and depend on her for your daily sustenance.” In Elijah’s time, widows were on the bottom rung of Israel’s economic ladder. Widows had very few resources. It was humiliating enough to place yourself as a dependent to a widow. But this wasn’t just any widow; she was a Gentile widow. Gentiles were viewed as scum because they weren’t God’s chosen people. Notice what Jesus said about this in Luke 4:25-26: “There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.” Jesus’s point was that God’s plan has always been to incorporate Gentiles as recipients of His blessing. God sent Elijah to a Gentile widow to refine his humility. Don’t be surprised if God makes you go through humbling experiences as well.

Second, God uses our Zarephath to refine our contentment. Look at 1 Kings 17:10-11: “When he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, ‘Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.’ As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, ‘Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.’” Now, providing food was a problem, because there was a famine in the land. She said, “I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die” (v. 12). That’s pretty bleak, isn’t it? You would think Elijah would say, “I’m sorry.” Instead, he told her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain’” (vv. 13-14). He was saying, “Do what God has commanded, and afterward God will provide you an inexhaustible supply of flour and oil to eat until this famine ends.” What did she do? She “did according to the word of Elijah, and she and her household ate for many days. The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord” (vv. 15-16).

God wants us to learn to depend on Him. It is hard to be content, isn’t it? We have this insatiable desire for more, better, or different. But that is an illusion. The only way to truly be satisfied is by learning to depend on God for your well-being. Extraordinary people learn the lesson of contentment like Elijah did.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Secret #3: Wait on God’s Timing” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2017.

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God answers prayer, precious people. ☺ And there’s more to come about this…

God bless,

Mark

In Luke chapter 13, the Bible tells us there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in hell for all those who rejected Jesus while on earth, for all of those who are forever separated from God’s love with no hope of ever repenting of their sins. That’s when it hit me that my life on earth can be hell if I don’t accept Jesus and live by His Word. Let me explain…

I used to get so mad, stubborn, bitter, unforgiving, and even vengeful when life seemed unfair and when my goals and plans weren’t turning out the way I wanted them to. And, I didn’t simply gnash my teeth (grit my teeth) in my heart, I made the angry, gnashing faces as well. I didn’t want to wait for God to work all things together for my good. I wanted my way – now.

I was this way for decades until God began to rescue me from this awful, sinful way of living.

Annie, Faith and Hope, please forgive me for this great sin of teaching you to not trust God when things don’t go your way. I’m truly sorry for planting this awful sin in your hearts. I know that God will help us all to have victory over this important area of our lives and replace the tendency to get angry with His peace, trust, rest and joy.

Mainly in the book of Matthew, the Bible tells us that in the tribulation period, God is going to try to get the unsaved to come to Him as they struggle with all of the terrible circumstances that will be coming on the earth at that time. The Bible tells us that instead of turning to Christ, many will become even more mad at God to the point that they’ll gnash their teeth at Him in their anger. I used to think, “Wow, what will it take for those who gnash their teeth to surrender their will to God and turn to Him for help in their troubled times?” Then, it hit me. Am I prone to not giving God enough time to work His will in my life and become bitter towards Him and others? Do I lean on my own understanding and stop listening to God? Do I gnash my teeth at God in my heart when things don’t go the way I want them to or the way I think they should? Do I turn my back on God and get angry with Him by not believing – and thereby being delivered – by verses like Romans 8:28, by refusing to take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, and by not obeying the Word to thank and praise Him in all things?

“Jesus, I realize now that my anger only makes life worse. Please forgive me for getting mad at my circumstances and at You when things don’t go the way I think they should. Please help me to choose to trust You in all things so times of refreshing can come into my life and so I can rest in You knowing that You will always work all things together for my good. Instead of getting angry, as is my tendency, I want to be totally transformed by knowing that, no matter what, You are working all things together for my good. I want to live in the joy Your transforming Word offers me, Lord. Thank You for the supernatural joy Your awesome Word brings to our lives. I praise and thank You, Lord. Amen.”

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

God bless,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3

God’s putting His new song in our heart. He’s enabling us to become like Him. He’s building a testimony in each of our lives as we praise Him. And, many shall see our testimony – our lives – and they will desire to praise and trust Him as well. Isn’t that wonderful? That’s God. ☺

Yay God.

So come on, let’s go…

Happy Monday, everyone!

God bless,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

By not believing Romans 8:28, I was refusing God’s love for me. In essence, I was refusing to love myself by accepting the fact that God really is working all things together for my good.

Wow, this was a real eye-opener for me. It never ceases to amaze me how much God loves us, and that His faithfulness to cleanse us of everything He knows can hurts is so deep and great.

No One like our Father.

God bless,

Mark

Believing and Trusting God At All Times – The End Of The Temptation To Continue Being Oppressed With Awful Double-Mindedness

Thank You, Jesus, for my beautiful, wonderful, precious Annie. Thank You for giving her the grace to love me. You knew she was the one for me, and You knew she would stand with and by me. You knew she would give me the greatest gifts possible – Herself and You, Lord. I’m SO grateful for her faithful love.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33

God wants to be first in our lives. He even commands us to put Him first so that all of life will be more blessed when we live and see everything through Him as His righteousness living in us enables us to see the beautiful, inspiring reasons for the details of our lives.

Today (2-18-20), I’m having a difficult time breathing. My last couple of migraines have caused this shallow breathing issue I’m dealing with. One of my eyes has something in its vision that’s making it more difficult to see. I had another migraine attack yesterday and had CCPTSD-induced nightmares again last night. I’m feeling pretty weak, and dazed in my thinking.

But God! Yay God! Praise You, Lord! You know all about my every moment.

I’m writing the following because I want others to know they can follow Jesus through all of life. He will be there step by step to bring us His great love, peace, compassion and matchless victories.

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10

I have been prayed for more times than I can remember. The answer has always been the same. Grace.

So far, God has chosen not to heal me. So far, His grace has been sufficient. And, the longer I live, the more powerful and clear His grace becomes in my life.

The power of Jesus’ blood, cross and resurrection are more mighty than I thought. And, I’m only beginning to understand how almighty they are.

Can I live with some faith sometimes and lots of fear at other times? I thought I could. After all, I honestly did not want to appear to be a Jesus freak or overboard in my faith, right? I’d been challenged by others’ (my parents included) comments about my appearing to be self-righteous and holier than thou. I now know they could not possibly know that I was merely doing all I could to keep my head above water in life.

I have a great advantage. You see, I know I’m alive because Jesus lives. Honestly, there is no other explanation for my life.

I have CCPTSD (Complex Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and it has changed my life in so many ways. The biggest change is that because of CCPTSD, I cannot live on the fence as a Christian any more than a diabetic can take their meds sometimes and not at others. That’s not bragging. It’s the bottom line truth.

God showed me I was going to have to be “all in” with Him if I was going to survive this lengthy, strong CCPTSD trial. I had to come to the point where I had to make the decision to stop being lackadaisical about my faith in God. Was I going to fully follow Him no matter what, or was I going to continue living with some faith and mostly doubts believing God sometimes and believing Satan and his fear at other times?

Follow God wherever He leads. He has a good plan for our lives and, because He loves us so much, tells us to trust Him in all things. Wow, what a blessing and comfort that He tells us to trust Him in all things. What a privilege to be able to do so. Being able to trust Him in all things is such a game changer. It’s made all the difference for me and for so many Christians who have gone before me. What joy to be able to trust Him all the time.

When the going gets rough, we don’t give up on God, we don’t get angry with Him, we see all things through in and with Him. In trying times, we look for His protection, covering and favor as we walk things out with Him. He’s always faithful even if it takes us a little while to truly realize that He is. Stay with God, praise and thank Him in all things, see all things through with Him. You’ll be amazed at the strength He gives us – especially in our weakness. That’s why we really can rely on Him in all things.

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

I can tell I have a ways to go before I’m totally His. But, He often reminds me that He’ll be faithful to complete the work He’s begun in me. Totally His – Wow, what an awesome day and relief that will be. Mmmm…

For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:19-20

Always in Jesus…Thank You, Lord, for loving me, for not giving up on me, and thank You for prompting me to choose You every day.

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1

God bless,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

I’ve been having a slew of migraines again so I hope the following makes sense. I can kind of write all over the place when I’m having a bunch of migraine attacks. Praise God in all things!

I feel like one of the most blessed persons on earth. The other day, God told me – again – He has so much more joy He has in store for our marriage. He just keeps telling me to love and enjoy Ann more and more every day. What an amazing God we have Who constantly loves to grow marriages as we seek Him.

Let Him show you how to love each other beyond your own love. He will show you how boundless love can be when it comes from Him. In Jesus’ wonderful Name, love each other.

Even if you think you have the best marriage on earth, ask God to bless it more and more. I’m telling you, if you’re willing to learn how to love your spouse more and more, God will answer your prayer for more love, fun, peace, and joy in your marriage than you can imagine. He has infinite ways to bless you and your spouse with each other’s company and love.

Renewing your minds together builds excitement, adventure, intimacy, passion, infinite love and purpose. It can create a legacy for future generations to follow. And the opposite is possible as well ending in an unfulfilling, dormant relationship. When the husband and wife choose to renew their minds together in God, it opens marriage up to God’s infinite possibilities. Otherwise, marriage is in danger of being finite, restricted, limited, apathetic, and destroyed. I believe this happens because the couple runs out of each other, they run the danger of running out of the finite.

Regarding marriage (just as it relates to all of life), God sets before us life and death and tells us to choose life – To choose Him and His ways.

All we have to do is ask Him to show us how to make marriage thrive in Him.

God bless,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
Isaiah 52:14

You may have already thought about this…

God wants us to know something really incredible. The Bible tells us Jesus was tempted in all ways like us yet without sin. Wait, Jesus was never tempted with polio, with being divorced, with all the other things that all of mankind has lived with throughout time? He didn’t live with losing a limb in war. He didn’t struggle with being a father, mother or being orphaned, right?

Temptation brings pressure on us. It bears down on our minds, emotions and souls trying to get us to give into the temptation and to sin.

Maybe not in the same exact way, but Jesus has felt every bit as much pressure to give into temptation as anyone ever has. The type of temptation isn’t the issue. The issue is the pressure to give in to sin.

On the cross, Jesus took on Himself the sin of the whole world. All of the temptation and sin that all of mankind would ever experience and give into was downloaded into Jesus’ life as He hung there on the cross. And, it was the supernatural, all-powerful love of God that kept Jesus alive on the cross until the very last sin that would ever be committed by man was placed in Jesus. No other power could have kept Jesus alive like that.

A jar of sour wine was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in the wine, put it on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.
John 19:29-30

No one can take my (Jesus) life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
John 10:18

No one killed Jesus. Satan can’t claim that victory. The very power of Almighty God kept Jesus alive on the cross – even after He’d been beaten so badly that the Bible records that He was not recognizable as a human being at that point – until “It was finished,” until all of sin, all of that pressure was placed on Him on the cross so it could be forgiven through His blood and death. It had to be this way for God’s plan of victory over the devil and death to be accomplished. At the very second Christ realized the last sin had hit Him, He said, “It is finished” and He gave up the Spirit. Jesus was Lord even over His own death. He is Lord of ALL. Satan didn’t kill Christ. Jesus was in control even to the point of rescuing all of mankind from sin through His timely death.

Satan did all he could to kill Jesus before all of the world’s sins could be placed on Jesus and be forgiven. Much to his dismay, the devil’s plan was foiled.

Truly, we are no longer the slaves of sin. We have been bought with the precious blood of The Lamb of God.

Hallelujah, Father! Thank You, SO MUCH, for the victory you gave us through Jesus’s cross. Thank You, Jesus, for being willing to face the type of cross You bore to make me free!

God bless,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9

Just how good of a deal is our salvation in Christ? Well, I’m finding it to be worth much more than anything and that it’s far beyond what I thought it could bring me like a peace of mind I never knew, and the insurpassable pleasure and joy of knowing God is working all things together for my good because He loves me. And, Ann and I know we’re just beginning to tap into how great this salvation in Christ really is. One of the most wonderful things about it is that salvation in Christ is infinite meaning that all of the wonderful blessings He brings to our lives just keep going deeper and more rich in their delivering, life-giving and life-changing power. Sure, there are some intense spiritual battles the enemy engages us in, but God is giving us more strength, determination, and spiritual stamina to be able to stand in and see the battles through with. We’re actually anticipating the joy at the battle’s end now and that’s a whole new area of amazing growth Jesus is giving us.

To Him who alone does great wonders, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
Psalm 136:4

“For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.
Luke 1:49

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 1:18-23

Stay tuned…☺

God bless,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

Let go and let God. It’s more than just a nice expression.

The doing is in the believing…☺

When Ann and I finally began to be able to apply, believe and trust in the three keys God gave us, we found it much easier to let go and to let God realizing that He really is able to work all things together for our good. All things…

For example, yesterday, Ann and I met with a new doctor. Our other doctor left the medical group we used for years so he could take some time off.

When asked, I told the new doctor about any areas of my health I’d like to work on. He told me none of the three non life-threatening areas I shared with him were curable. Not exactly the news I wanted to hear.

But God…

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I (God) have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Ann and I constantly talk about the three keys of taking all thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, praising and thanking God in all things and believing that God truly is working all things together for our good.

I heard a famous person once say that if he goes down, he’s going down shouting, “In the Name of Jesus.”

The other day, the sweet, powerful Holy Spirit told me, “I want you to know that you’ll never go down. You’re going up.” Wow. that really spoke to me and gave me an incredible lift in the Lord.

God is so good all the time, and, all the time, God is good. It’s true and becomes a part of your believing when you learn to put the three keys into practice every day. That’s choosing Jesus every day.

We’re not going down, precious people. We’re going up!

Ah – To let go and let God. What an amazing blessing for those who love Him. Life only gets better from here on out.

In the Name of Jesus, we’re going up! How fun is that?!

God bless,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

So come on, let’s go and discover the life-changing life Jesus has for us today and this week. To be made into His image is everything. So rejoice. He’s working on our behalf and in our midst each day. Hallelujah!

Happy Monday, everybody!

God bless,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

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

2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34: 1-4

Thank You, precious, loving, reassuring, calming, restful Jesus…

God bless,

Mark
Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

The following is taken from Ravi’s youtube message titled, “Though The Fig Tree Does Not Bud – Stand Alone”

“If you go through the scriptures you will see some of the most passionate people who served with a very devoted heart had the toughest and the most emotionally driven questions. You know, faith is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all its conquerors. It will always be hammered. It will always be attacked, but the Bible will always rise up to outlive its pallbearers. Those who try to bury the Word find out it survives all those attacks.”
Ravi Zaharias quoting GK Chesterton

*******

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
Habakkuk 3:17-19

Amen!

God bless,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

Yesterday, I began taking on some of Satan’s lies. Didn’t know that was what was happening. He’s pretty clever at camouflaging his lies in half-truths. After having another nightmare last night, I woke up at about 2:30am and then got up at 3am. I was still taking on fear. Ann and I came out to have our morning coffee and began talking. That’s when I knew I had to begin fighting back against the devil’s lies, the heaviness I was experiencing. I put on the youtube video “The Resistance Secret” by Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn. After hearing that a couple of times, I began saying the 91st Psalm out loud over and over. Next, I said all of the verses God gave us while living in Oregon. Finally, the oppression began to subside. Thank You, Jesus!

Jesus commands us to use His Word like the mighty sword of the Spirit that it is (Ephesians 6:17). Say it out loud (swing it around at the enemy), and watch deliverance flow in your life. Because the enemy is a liar, he can’t stand God’s truth. He can’t be around it for long without it doing him major damage so he flees.

If we want to live free in God’s truth, sooner or later, we must learn to use His Word in the battle for our minds.

He (His Word in my mouth) brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings.
Psalm 40:2

Using God’s Word will set our feet upon a rock (Jesus) and establish our goings (our lives and what Jesus has for us to do in His Name.)

Self-pity trying to wreak havoc in your mind and life? Jesus wants us free from all defeating thoughts. That’s right – Free!

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

I don’t care what lies the enemy of our souls is trying to get you to accept, believe and live with. Don’t take fifteen cents worth of nothing off the devil! Don’t do it. Hallelujah!

How do you discern the devil’s lies?

If thoughts are oppressing, tormenting (squeezing your brain and clouding your thoughts with despair) you and making you feel defeated, weary, hopeless, like you’ll never get over your past, hurts, anger, etc., they’re lying thoughts. Believe Ann and me, those kinds of miry clay thoughts are not from Jesus. Jesus’ truthful thoughts – His Word – will set you free from Satan’s lies. Jesus’ thoughts will make you victorious, strong and courageous.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 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 10:4-5

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

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

So come on, let’s go, and I’ll (Jesus) show you all the wonderful things and truths I have for you this week!

Happy Monday, everyone.

God bless,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.