Month: April 2020

The antidote to fear is faith in our Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ.

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

There is only One Perfect Love. His Name is Jesus.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Song of Solomon 2:4

God’s love for us is full of fear-extinguishing faith. This is made crystal clear in the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews.

When He set them free from Egypt, God set the children of Israel free from their 400 years of slavery. God had heard their cries and decided enough was enough.

While leading the children into the Promise Land, God told them to “take the land.” The children had to fight for it and some of them would die in the battles it would take to enter the Promise Land. The children had to choose to love not their lives unto death if they were to follow God.

There is no way to overcome the devil and all of his fear aside from following Christ.

The US flag (banner) is representative of the land of the free and the home of the brave. It’s representative of Americans who left the bondage of the tyrants they lived under across the Atlantic ocean – and all others who left their bondage in other lands to come here. Fear is not freedom because it makes us its slave and it makes us scared and wimpy in our souls. Faith in God is freedom because it frees us and makes us brave – even unto death.

Annie and I are buying a flag to fly over our back patio (it can be seen best there) as a reminder and statement of who we are in Christ.

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave – Because of what Christ has done in our lives and because He gave us the precious opportunity to choose Him everyday!

And they overcame him (the devil and his fear) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 12:11

Fear will keep me loving my life. God wants me to live by faith and to not love my life unto death. That’s because He knows there is no true, Godly freedom in loving my life, in trying to hang onto what God knows will keep me in bondage. It’s only when I “love not my life unto death” that I’m truly free in this life.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

Praise Jesus!

God’s Word, His Truth, His Love is so powerful, fear-consuming, and liberating.

Ann and I are so thankful Jesus is setting us free from the tyrant of fear.

In Christ alone – Live free in 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.

Regarding fear and faith, whatever you put in you is what comes out of you. FIFO – First in, first out.

Here’s something we never used to think about until Ann and I began memorizing and applying God’s Word to our everyday lives: Refusing and stopping to live by fear and instead choosing (yeah, it’s a deliberate choice) to live by faith is really what repentance is all about as far as God’s Word is concerned.

Annie and I used to believe so many of the enemy’s lies and the lies had us living in such strangling fear. Satan told us our marriage wouldn’t make it, we’d be on welfare and food stamps forever, that we were bringing such shame to our families, that we would never know God’s rest and that our lives would always be full of striving, that we would never escape the fear of man, that I (Mark would/should take my life) that we would never be able to overcome our past, that we didn’t have what it would take to live by faith in God, that our future was doomed to be the same, that our ill health would keep us from all the spiritual blessings that God had for us, and so much more. It was awful.

Many people try to stand on their faith to get what they want and when they don’t get it, they get mad at God and others. They may even dump God. What they don’t realize is that faith isn’t a one-time experiment. It’s a way of life and God loves to show us how faithful He is as He leads us into His beautiful, matchless will and plan for our lives.

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 NIV

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
John 11:40 NIV

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:4

Fear wears us out. Faith rejuvenates us and gives us the power and ability to overcome this world through Jesus Christ.

You know, at times, it’s too easy to forget that God is supernatural. His power and might know no bounds and are not limited to science and the seen world.

God has the supernatural power and might to give us faith right in the face of fear – in the presence of mine enemies. And there’s nothing like God’s faith and the ability and desire to back it up.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

God can recognize faith in us. He responds to faith. It’s what His Word says. When we choose faith – when we trust Him – something in the heavenlies sounds and summons His attention.

Annie and I got fed up with fear. We got worn out from how it abused us by making our lives miserable and nearly intolerable.

Like most people, Annie and I get tempted with fear (we get tempted to walk by sight and not by faith), but now we react differently than we did a few decades ago. God really honors and backs up faith (Hebrews 11:1, 6). It’s a real battle to renew the mind to walk by faith and not by sight, but it can be done with the help of the Holy Spirit, learning to deliberately act on God’s Word and living with a God-given tenacity. God wants everyone to be able to live by faith. Everyone. That’s how much He loves this world.

Annie and I live and love to tell people to do The Word. Doing God’s Word is what is setting us free from the impact this world’s situations and circumstances used to grip our lives with.

It doesn’t matter how far this world, its ways and the lies of the devil (unbelief, hurt, disappointment, fear, drugs, mammon, pride, religion, fornication, greed, shame, unforgiveness, you name it) take you away from the Father, once you turn back in His direction – with His almighty, supernatural, all seeing and knowing vision – He will see you and come running in your direction with His arms held open wide. Amen!

Faith in His Word is changing and has changed our lives. We know what fear did to us. We’re learning how much faith can set us free.

The Kingdom of God (faith, trust, belief, and all the rest) is at hand.
Matthew 3:2

Fear or faith? Faith is as close as The Word, as close as Jesus, as close as your hand. Get to know the power of faith in Jesus. Have active faith. In other words, apply it to every minute of your life. Grab faith and live boldly in Jesus with the very power of His resurrection. Annie and I (and so many others) can tell you you’ll never be the same.

Hallelujah!

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.

For so long, I was stuck in thinking I could keep my flesh, my plans – and my will – and serve God at the same time. Now, I can’t believe I thought that was possible. My attempt to do so nearly wore me out.

I was just thinking about how God chose to begin to set me on His path for my life. He simply asked me to happily take out the trash each day. Pretty religious, right? Wow. And then I thought about how a fellow we know, Bob, told me how God spoke to him to love his wife Carol in a whole new way and how it was changing their lives. Repentance is so life-giving, life-changing, refreshing and amazing…

In my One Year Bible, I was reading the Old Testament Bible passage for April 25 when the following verses spoke to me.

Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time…My heart is with the commanders of Israel, with those who volunteered for war. Praise the Lord!…But in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision (double-mindedness). Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds – to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? Yes, in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision. Gilead remained east of the Jordan. And why did Dan stay home? Asher sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors. But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.
Judges 4:4; 5:9; 15b-18

God loves to bring people into our lives He knows will help us to become more free in Christ – Our time in Oregon, Merlin Carothers books, other books, the Bible, and so much more is what God used and is using in our lives to transform us into His liberating, peaceful, restful, glorious, joyful, triumphant image. One of the most important ways He motivates us to be free is by being doers of His Word, by continuing to be His disciples indeed (John 8:31-32). God wants all of Him for us and knows how to bring that about. Deborah, a judge in Israel, was such a person for her time. God used her life to give Israel great and new freedom.

Ann and I love to be around people who are doing the Word and who keep being willing to let God take them into all righteousness by replacing their ways with His ways. Renewing our minds is such a wonderful and rewarding journey. It’s just so fun to follow God and to see where He takes us, and what He does along the way. Nothing like it.

Wow, Annie and I received a huge revelation from the Lord on Saturday, 4-25-20. We were never going to have God’s contentment and great gain until we became who He made us to be, until we did what He wanted us to do. For a long time, we were fooled/deceived into thinking we could be happy if we tried to attain fulfillment in the flesh – And we were “Christians.” We didn’t know it at the time, but we were still so much like the world. Honestly, we didn’t really know what being transformed into Christ’s image even looked like.

But Godliness with contentment is GREAT GAIN (1 Timothy 6:6). Satan, the world and the flesh can never give us Godliness, contentment or great gain. Apart from renewing our minds to Christ, Godliness, contentment and great gain are not attainable.

God is showing us that no one will never be truly happy until they become who God made them to be… Breaking through to be the mighty warriors for the Kingdom of God who have chosen Jesus, those who are seeking God’s will, who are letting go of their hurt and past, who are throwing off the fear of man and the flesh, who are loving and dying for their wife like Jesus did/does for the church, who are coming out of the deception and lies the enemy has them believing and living in so they can truly experience and see the Kingdom of God in their midst.

Hallelujah!

The contentment and great gain – and all of the incredible adventure along the way – that God has for us cannot ever be matched by those who choose to live for and in the flesh, for those who choose not to renew their minds, for those who choose to stay conformed to this world. The journey and road’s end for living for the flesh is boring, unrewarding, defeated and dismal at best.

Dump the interruptions/distractions of the wimpy flesh, Satan and this world, and move into who God has called and made you to be – Godly, and content with great gain.

Godly (true) contentment and great gain has nothing to do with the flesh – money, bank accounts, cars, homes, vacations, etc. It has everything to do with Godliness because only Godliness contains His contentment and His great gain.

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 didn’t put the title of this email in the form of a question because in Jesus we can know what the future holds – every day. ☺

In Jesus, we can put a stop to the often gnawing need to know what the future holds for anyone of us. In Romans 8:28, God comforts us so deeply by declaring, “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.”

We don’t need to see a list of things God will work for our good because He will work all things together for our good.

What does the future hold? God working all things together for my/your good. Honestly, that’s all I need to know about my future. Praise Jesus! What a blessing.

Constantly having more of the love of God pouring out of His amazing Word and setting us more and more free indeed. God’s faithful, loving, all-encompassing Word holds our future. All things for our good…

Wow, what a future.

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.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Romans 8:15

When little kids are afraid, they run to a trusted parent for security. That’s what God is inviting us to do, to run to Him with everything we’re tempted to worry about or be afraid of, tell Him all about it. Then, trust Him to take care of us.*

Why not be afraid and worried? Because Jesus said we don’t need to be. Do we believe Him?*
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Mark 5:36

God bless,

Mark

*Taken from Life.Church site

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.

Jesus just keeps giving us more and more of Himself. He’s so wonderful.

It’s taken longer than we wished it would have taken for us to realize it, but Annie and I know that nothing other than Jesus will ever satisfy and keep us in this world.

I’d Rather Have Jesus
^{By Rhea F. Miller and George Beverly Shea}

1 I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand

Chorus:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway.
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

2 I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame.
I’d rather be true to His holy name [Chorus]

3 He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs.
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. The Lord [be] with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Amplified Bible

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.

When our girls were young, we wouldn’t let them play in the street because of cars. We knew the danger that was there. If we were with them, we could let them ride their bikes in the street.

A lot of people let their hearts be troubled including 85% of the church according to Dr. Neil Anderson. So much of our conversations revolve around and contain fear and trouble instead of faith and peace. We make many of life’s decisions based on fear. Fear destroys so much of life if we let it.

Jesus wants us to know that, as Christians, we are not to let our hearts be troubled like we let them be troubled when we were in and of the world, you know, before we came to Him and made Him our Savior, our Savior from trouble and fear as well.

We no longer need to let our hearts be troubled. Why? Because He’s with us and is working all things together for our good. We can be in the world, but we no longer need to be of the world letting our heart be troubled. We’re His and He’s overcome the world. He’s overcome trouble. Through faith in Jesus, we can stop trouble before it reaches our heart.

Jesus wants us to stop letting our hearts be troubled. He wants us to trust Him in all things because He knows we can if we’ll be obedient to trust Him.

Let’s be different. Let’s live free in Jesus. Let’s shine His light in a world that too easily lets trouble into their hearts. And maybe, just maybe, those who don’t know they can stop letting their hearts be troubled will want Jesus.

My peace I give unto you. His kind of supernatural peace that only He can give us. Mmm…

You no longer need to let your heart be troubled. It’s true in Jesus. He’s with us.

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.

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

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

Be careful (anxious) 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.
Philippians 4:6-7

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

God wants us to take this life one day at a time and to trust in Him every moment of each day. What a blessing.

So come on, everyone. Let’s run out there and see what our precious Lord has for each of us today and this week. ☺

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 more Ann and I love each other with our words and actions, the more we find ourselves following Jesus. And, the most amazing thing happens. We want to love each other even more. How great is that? That’s Jesus. He’s amazing…

Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading in our lives helps us be better mates and the rewards are supernatural. God gives us a special knowing that righteousness – His right ways of living life – is so much more wonderful than we knew. It goes beyond our expectations and what we thought about righteousness.

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.

5 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:25-32

It’s wonderful how God uses my loving Ann to tune my ear to Him, to help me live more and more in His amazing ways that bless Ann and me in so many ways. As I’m more gentle with her, as I listen to her more, as I’m careful to be more attentive to her needs, to tell her how blessed I am to be her husband and how beautiful she is, God makes me more sensitive to His will which is to bless both of us as I love Ann more. Learning to love Annie has made me more like Jesus, and there is always a blessing in becoming more like our blessed Savior and Lord. Always.

Husband, love your wife…What a blessing God has in store for us when we love our wife as Christ loves the church.

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’m (Holy Spirit) not asking you to do anything hard like to stay living in the flesh.

I want you to come away with Me (Holy Spirit)…

Guys, I (Holy Spirit) don’t want or need some big religious relationship with you complete with incense, white robes, super-serious, shamed-face looks and all the rest. I just want you to do things “right.” That’s what My righteousness is all about. It’s about right because all of my attributes, that can be yours, are contained in doing things right. My ways – right ways – will bless your life with adventure, keep you safe, secure and full of My love, peace, rest and joy. When you “do” what I’m asking of you, you will experience Me in ways you never could have known any other way. You will experience the supernatural power contained only in My ways that will bring you My powerful and wonder-filled love, peace, security, rest, and joy that know no bounds. We will become so close to each other and you will be amazed at what I will do. You will think like I think and I will fill your days with Me. Everywhere you go, we will go together. You will feel a kind of detaching from this world, but you will enjoy My creation more than you could have apart from Me. You will be filled with knowing why all of creation awaits my next move – to create a new Heaven and a new earth. And, oh, the glory we will share…Forever.

I have such rewards for those of you who will be taken over by My Holy Spirit, for those who will let themselves become Mine. And then, I’ll bring you home to dwell in My house, forevermore. And, that’s a whole other beginning…

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.

Trouble isn’t necessarily something we seek out. And God wants us to adopt His ways to keep us from trouble. But when troubles come our way, we can rejoice. ☺

Ann told me the Lord emphasized a Psalm 91 verse to her yesterday. It was verse 15.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
Psalm 91:15

She told me, “Mark, God will be with us in trouble. Isn’t that wonderful? We’re not alone and left to our own resources and fear tendencies in times of trouble. Rather, we can embrace trouble because God is near us, with us.”

She went onto say that we can be excited about trouble because God’s telling us He’s near at those times. Wow, how freeing is that?

When we realize Who God is and that He’s (and all that He is, and all that is at His disposal all the time) with us in trouble, it changes the whole picture. Now, we can focus on the “I will be with him” instead of giving whatever is troubling us our attention. Amazing. It’s not the trouble. It’s Who is with us that makes all the difference.

What peace. What love. What security and rest.

So come on, let’s go and see how much fun God has in store for us today and this week. It’s all fun. After all, He’s with us.

We love you all.

God bless,

Mark and Annie

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.

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
Psalm 27:8

Ann and I never felt safe and secure, we were never delivered from all the fear that was coming against us, until we sought Jesus’ face by getting into and doing His Word – see the verses on the “Verses God Gave Us” link on the ChoosingJesusEveryDay.com site. There is freedom in doing His Word, in seeking His face. This is why we tell others to do His Word. We know they’ll be amazingly blessed by doing so.

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.

Just because my life can be challenging at times doesn’t mean God isn’t faithful to me. He’s always working all things together for my good. In fact, those challenges are just His way of showing me that He can be relied on all the time – even when my feelings are trying to tell me otherwise. “Otherwise” isn’t a part of His vocabulary. He’s just plain faithful, period. Isn’t that great news? You betcha. ☺

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
Luke 6:46

Wow, this is what the Lord asks me all the time. An enemy dart strikes, my weak flesh complains, or I begin to let myself be conformed to this world. I’ll let myself slip into self-pity, jealousy, fear, anger, greed, pride, etc. Then, in His faithfulness to me, He reminds me of how wonderful it is to “do” what He tells me to do in His Word. His reminder sets me free from any “out of His will” thoughts that are trying to snare me and pull me from His mighty, safe, secure, joyful and restful dwelling place. I’m so thankful He reminds me that He’s Lord of my life. He’s so faithful. What love.

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.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:37-39

The Lord reminded me of this Bible passage this afternoon (4-7-20) and assured me that life is going to get pretty much back to normal in order for the above scripture to take place since marriage is pretty much on hold during the current covid 19 situation.

Pretty cool. Annie and I just rejoiced at what the Lord shared with us and we wanted to pass it on to you.

We love you all. ☺☺

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.

According to Luke 19:44, those in Jerusalem at the time of Christ missed the time of their visitation. Wow, when the Holy Spirit approaches my heart with a scripture He knows I need to “do,” – a portion of His Word He knows will save me from harm and bring His blessings into my life – I want to not miss the time of my visitation.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold (pay attention to what I’m saying), I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For (because) unto you (that’s you and me) is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

And the angels are saying the same thing to you and me, Fear not.

God knows how much great joy there is in the “doing” of His Word, of following and becoming like Jesus. The angels were proclaiming that our captivity to sin was over. Messiah was coming to earth to set us free. Free!

I never got very far with God’s ways unless I was pretty aggressive with implementing them in my life. I think God’s looking for us to go all out with His Word and knows how blessed we’ll be as a result.

I think it’s like this. Am I going to break through, bounce off or not even try to have faith in God’s Word, in what He’s commanding me to do?

I was doing some push ups this morning (4-6-20) when I had this thought. The Bible seems to be full of faith challenges. They’re kind of like what I would call “believing barriers.” “Believing barriers” is the term that came to me while doing the push ups. ☺

Each time we read something like “Praise and thank God in all things, or taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” we’re challenged in our faith. Will I obey the Word here or not?

Sometimes we choose not to do what the Word says to do out of arrogance, a hard heart, pride, laziness, refusing to give our heart to God, thinking I don’t need to do the Word, spiritual blindness, fear, hurt, hopelessness, discouragement, embarrassment, or just plain rebellion. And sometimes, we may even think “I don’t have to do the Word because of grace” – What deception. I’ve had these kinds of excuses myself.

Satan does not want your life to be blessed by “doing” God’s Word. The devil loves “hearers only” of the Word because they’re no threat to his kingdom of darkness.

I’m finding that if I’ll do what God is commanding me to do in His Word, that it sometimes takes a valiant effort to be consistent with doing it – I ask the Holy Spirit to help me. But, what I’m learning is that there is always a blessing or blessings in what I’m being asked to do – And the blessed reasons for God including a faith challenge in His Word just keep multiplying in me as I do what He wants me to do. One thing for sure, it never hurts to obey God’s Word and it will almost certainly mean I’m stuck in some kind of spiritual rut until I take Him up at His Word and step out to break through one of His believing barriers, one of His faith challenges.

I admit, I didn’t really think there was anything to the “praising and thanking God in all things.” (Same is true of “Husbands love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.”) But once I experienced what was happening in my spirit and life as the result of being obedient to God to do it, a real change began to take place in my life. Now, I want to encourage everyone to indulge themselves in the blessings loving their wife like Jesus loves the church, and praising and thanking God in all things will bring in their life. With the reminder of the Holy Spirit, stick to it and you’ll be amazed at what powerful weapons just these two scriptures (and the Bible is full of so many other blessings) can be in your life.

Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Proverbs 16:20

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Jeremiah 17:7

O LORD of Hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Psalm 84:12

I want to find out how blessed I can be in the Lord. There is nothing like the power of His might.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know (experientially know intimately) the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:31-32

Free from myself, this world and the lies of our enemy. To find myself absorbed by and living in The Truth, in Jesus. Wow.

“God, please make me hungry for Your Word. Encourage me and help me to do Your Word so my life can be blessed by it. 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.

God knew exactly what He was doing when He told us to praise and thank Him in all things. I can tell you from personal experience, like so many others, that praising and thanking Him in all things is transforming me and my walk with the Lord. Praising Him put the sun back in my spirit and raises me ABOVE any circumstances as He takes me high up to His joy.

The following was sent to me by my good friend, John, in the LA area. ☺

Thanks, John.

A MIRACLE STORY OF PRAISE

Miracles happen when we praise God. I once heard a story about a woman missionary in China many years ago. She contracted a deadly disease and was given up to die. For days she lay quarantined in her bunk, with no medical help—it was a hopeless situation.

The only thing she could do was pray. So hour after hour, she pled with God to heal her. Then suddenly the Lord gave her a vision. She saw an old-fashioned scale, the kind often seen on justice statues, with a fulcrum and plates held by chains on each side. This scale she saw was heavily weighted on one side, while the other side was way up in the air because it was empty. The scale was clearly out of balance.

The Lord revealed to her that the heavy side was her prayers—she had certainly prayed many prayers—while the empty side was her praise. God quickened to her that the praise side needed to be filled to outweigh the trouble she was facing. When the scale was balanced, her healing would be manifested.

So this desperately sick woman stopped pleading for her healing and started praising God. She praised Him for His greatness. She praised Him for sending Jesus and for all His benefits. She praised Him for being her savior, her healer, her provider, and for everything He’d ever done for her.

At first, she was so weak that her praises were mere whispers. But as she continued to do nothing but praise and worship God all day and all night, she grew louder. As the people outside her room heard her fervent praises they feared for her life, thinking that maybe she was delirious with fever. You can imagine how amazed they were, several days later, when she walked out of that room on her own, totally healed! She had taken “the praise cure” and she was completely made well.

There is power in praise! When we shift our focus from our troubles to God’s greatness by praising Him, miracles can happen.

_______________

So come on, everyone, let’s go out and see all of the glorious things God has for us this week as we learn to become more and more like Jesus. After all, He’s overcome this world and knows we can do the same in Him. Hallelujah!

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.

We have such a need to know our God saves – From eternity in hell, yes, and from whatever currently has us under bondage. It’s always been true of Him.

Can I really trust God with all that’s ahead, with the unknown? Can I give Him all of my life? Let go and let God. Give Him the pen of your life and let Him write a story beyond your dreams.

Mourning turns to songs of praise
Our God saves, our God saves
^{Lyric Taken From “Our God Saves” by Paul Baloche}

Kim Meeder lost both her parents at an early age. The father she adored shot her mother and then took His own life. Her book, “Encountering Our Wild God,” talks about how wonderful our untamed God is. Kim didn’t have to decide to follow God when this huge tragedy took place in her young life, but she did. And today, God is reaching out to, loving and saving many due to Kim trusting, thanking and praising Him in and with it all. She took a step of faith and believed that in Jesus, there’s so much more. That’s faith. And that kind of powerful faith has no bounds, overcomes all obstacles, and offers one the kind of supernatural joy and peace that only the Father can provide to those who continue to trust Him.

Anyone who chooses to trust God in all things will find that God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. He’s more wonderful than we can even imagine. So much more…

Today Is The Day!
^{By Paul Baloche}

I’m casting my cares aside (what a relief)
I’m leaving my past behind
I’m setting my heart and mind on You Jesus

I’m reaching my hands to Yours
Believing there’s so much more
Knowing that all You have in store for me is good, is good

Today is the day
You have made
I will rejoice
And be glad in it

And I won’t worry about tomorrow
I’m trusting in what You say!
Today is the day!
Today is the day!

I’m putting my fears aside
I’m leaving my doubts behind
I’m giving my hopes and dreams to You, Jesus

Today is the day
You have made
I will rejoice
And be glad in it

And I won’t worry about tomorrow
I’m trusting in what You say!
Today Is The Day!

I will stand upon Your truth
All my days, I’ll live for You
I will stand upon Your truth
All my days I’ll live for You

Today is the day
You have made
I will rejoice
And be glad in it

I won’t worry ’bout tomorrow
Giving You my fears and sorrows
Where You lead me, I will follow
I’m trusting in what You say
Today is the day!

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

Wow, God’s ways are so liberating. Jesus loves us so much that He wants us to give Him all of our cares.

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

When I repent of something I’ve had before Jesus, something I’ve been carrying that He knows is hurting me and my relationship with Him, the time of refreshment from the Lord that comes over me is amazing – I’m released from any associated fear as well. I feel a new, deep, abiding freedom (revived) I didn’t have before I turned the issue/sin over to Jesus, before I repented. I’m experiencing revival in my life.

Today – And every day – let’s go and see what our loving, incredible Heavenly Father has in mind for us. Hallelujah to our King!☺

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.