Month: June 2020

Posted on

Be Not Afraid Of Sudden Fear…Don’t Do It!

Think about it. Most of the time, the devil uses fear to try to steal, kill and destroy us, right?

But what if we (you and I (Jesus)) stand our ground right to Satan’s face, right to his best shot? “Are you with Me?” Jesus asks us.

Of course I’m with you, Lord. There is no other way to live. No other way.

“Behold, listen to Me” Jesus is telling us about this life. “Be not afraid of sudden fear…when it comes.” Okay, Jesus told me it would come and told me I never need to be afraid of it. Never.

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

I remember how sudden the Covid 19 event hit our lives.

I was listening to a pastor teach this morning (6-29-20) and immediately the above verse came to me. As Christians, we are commanded to not be afraid of sudden fear. God knew sudden fear would try to take our faith and trust in Him from us. That’s why He included verse 26 when talking about the sudden fear events that come to each of our lives. If we know Jesus, He’ll be our confidence (our comfort, our peace, our rest, joy and provision, our strength and assurance) during such times. He’ll keep our foot (our trust and faith in Him, in His care of our lives, etc.) from being taken. Even sudden fear cannot steal, kill and destroy our relationship with Jesus. In fact, just the opposite. He will be our confidence even when we’re tempted by sudden fear like Covid 19.

Fear not, precious one. Keep believing The Word. Jesus is our confidence in all storms. He will keep our foot from being taken. That’s His promise if we’ll trust Him even when sudden fear comes.

Sudden fear——>Confidence in Christ
Sudden fear——>Confidence in Christ
Sudden fear——>Confidence in Christ

Jesus has promised you and me that He will work even sudden fear for our good. Amazing. That’s simply amazing. And, confidence-building.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

Posted on

Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

I had another pretty hard migraine attack on Friday. I was having trouble breathing, and felt pretty bad with so many bad thoughts coming at me. I spent yesterday pretty much not caring if I lived or died.

Then, Jesus rescued me with this precious Christian hymn I used to sing in church while growing up. God is so faithful. We just need to keep going on in faith and praising and thanking Him in all things. He’ll come through for us…☺

Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
Christian Hymn by Elisha A. Hoffman and Anthony J. Showalter

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

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

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

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Philippians 1:6

Onward and upward for the Kingdom. ☺

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

 

Posted on

Care-Free, That’s Free Indeed

The other day, the Holy Spirit told me, “It’s time to let go of the things of earth.” Wow, that was really cool. I could sense He was pulling on my heart and wanting me to begin to realize that I’ll soon be in Heaven. What joy it was to have Him show me this. Soon, and very soon, we are going to see the King. Isn’t that wonderful?

God wants me to trust Him with everything. Everything…How precious is that?

As Christians, Jesus lives in us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to be with us. The tricky part is learning to let Him live His wonderful Life through us. As we yield to His Word, to His leading, to Him, we learn how wonderful He is.

I’m seeing so many pastors taking on so much care today. Others are as well. I even heard that many churches will not be re-opening after Covid 19 because the pastors say this whole matter is too much and too hard. God loves these people and He wants to take all care from them so they can live free indeed.

Some thoughts about what God’s saying to me right now regarding care.

It takes great faith and trust in God to cast all my cares on Him. But, that’s the point. He wants me to have great faith and to be able to live free while I trust totally in Him. That truth will make you rejoice with the angels. Hallelujah!

It is such a strong and often unconscious choice to take on care. It’s such an easy temptation to fall for. We seem to go out of our way to show others that we care without realizing the “care” we’re opening ourselves up to.

What am I doing trying to take on care? Any care. That’s God’s job. If He asks me to cast all my care on Him, it must be for very good reasons so I better do it. I can’t let pride make me think I can “care.” No, I need to humble myself by casting all care on Jesus. That’s where it belongs…If I’m not casting my care on Him, I end up all stressed out and life soon becomes really yucky.

strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Acts 14:22

It’s as if God is going to allow hardships in our lives to teach us that we must give Him our hardships and any “care” that accompanies them. He wants to teach us to trust in Him with all our heart with everything, every hardship, and every temptation to take care on ourselves. In order for us to enter the kingdom of God – that care-free place of complete trust, peace, rest, and joy – we must loose ourselves from any burdens that bring care to us. We can’t keep our “care” and enter His kingdom. Wow, such love beyond our understanding. All we have to do is be obedient to His Word so that we can enter His beautiful, care-free kingdom.

I know it can sound completely backwards, but it’s true. When we have “care,” we take on so much stress, strife and other bad things that hurt our minds and bodies. When we give all our cares to Jesus, which is where they belong, we free ourselves of burdens and it allows Jesus to handle whatever has brought us care. He’s simply telling us to release our cares to Him by casting them on Him. It’s His will for us, and I’m glad it is because if it wasn’t, I’d be sunk with so much care. Do you see how loving it is for the Father to take all our care only to take those cares on Himself? He’ll handle everything we give Him. He simply asks us to leave it with Him. Wow, no worries. Care-free. What a life He’s calling us to share in. Free indeed. Sounds really wonderful. That’s the kingdom.

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

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

We can’t take care with us into the Kingdom. It won’t fit through the gate. Through hardship and trials, God’s wanting to relieve us of all care so we can enter His wonderful, matchless Kingdom of light. That’s the plan. Give up care. Leave it. Humble yourself by casting it all onto Jesus, and enter the Kingdom of trusting Him, of His peace, rest, joy and care-free living. Amazing. What a Kingdom.

God bless you all,

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.

Posted on

I Need And Want Jesus 24/7

I know what this life can do to me. I can spend so much time doing what seem to me to be important things. If these things keep me from spending “still time” with God, I can start to act differently. I can begin to react to life in the flesh. That’s when I know I need to get with God. That’s when I know I need to still myself and get back to the secret place of the Most High in the shadow of the Almighty. That’s when I realize that I need Him in my life 24/7. Yeah, I need Him all the time. I mean, it’s taken me a few years to realize and to be truly convinced of it, but life in the Lord is the strongest, most merciful, graceful, happiest, joyful, most fulfilling, and most peaceful life there is.

I can be tempted to think that powerful people are god, that what they say eclipses what I know to be true by letting them influence my life in a way God doesn’t intend. At times, fear tries to assume God’s place in my life. This can be true of money, goals, my list of things that must get done, self-promotion, self desires, and so many other thoughts and things. I can so focus on them that they become god, so to speak. That’s usually about the time when God reminds me that He alone needs to be God in my life. That’s when all the pieces fall back into place in me and I feel His love, mercy, grace, peace and rest cover me once again.

Jesus: “Mark, he who dwells in the secret place with Me. Come here and know Me…”

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.

Posted on

Let’s Go…

Inline image

Think you’re in a rut? Being weighed down by doubt and care? Scared?

No way!

Feeling like there has to be more to this life? That’s because there is much more to this life. Life is Jesus, and He’s unlimited. He wants to renew us and show us His almighty, supernatural faithfulness and power. You can believe it.

We’re children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

So come with me and let’s get out their and discover what God has for us today and from here on out. Who knows where He might lead us as He shows us His great love for us as well as those around us. Pretty cool, huh? You bet!

Jesus lives in you! Let Him show you how alive you can really be.

Happy Wednesday!

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.

Posted on

“Know” His Eye Is On You, Dear One

Our (mine and Annie’s) lives used to be FULL of care. We constantly leaned on our own understanding.

The Story Behind His Eye is on the Sparrow

Civilla Martin was born in Nova Scotia in 1866. Her husband was an evangelist who traveled all over the United States. She accompanied him and they worked together on most of the musical arrangements that were sung.

In 1904 Civilla was visiting an ill, bedridden friend. Although discouraged and sick, her friend remembered that God, her Heavenly Father, was watching over each little sparrow and would certainly watch after her. Matthew 10:29-31: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Mrs. Martin was a poet and thought this would be a perfect idea for a poem. She jotted down the idea and by the end of the day, had completed “His Eye is On The Sparrow”.

The entire poem was sent to a well-known composer of that day, Charles Gabriel. His lovely music has carried it all around the world in small churches and great crusades.

Once I “know” He over watches me, I’m free indeed. “Know” is that wonderful place of relationship with our Savior, with our Father, in His peace, security, grace, mercy, trust, rest, joy, and love, dwelling in the supernatural provision, in that blessed place that only He can bring us to. And, oh, what a palace of splendor His dwelling place is. “Know” Him, and enter His Kingdom. All is finally at rest – All. Oh, sweet Savior…Oh, Sweet Jesus.

Don’t wait til Heaven. Know Him, and begin to know the place He’s gone to prepare for you, now.

His Eye is On The Sparrow

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free. And now, I know He watches me.

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.

Posted on

Those Who Trust In The Lord…

Inline image

Annie and I get tempted and faked out by the enemy from time to time. We can begin to take on frustration, anger, care, fear, disbelief. Then, thank Jesus, we see what’s going on and we run back to our Father. We’re so thankful He’s showing us how to recognize attacks and how fast we can return to believing the One Who died to set us free.

Jehovah
Song By Geoffrey Thurman

Consider the lilies of the field,
Solomon dressed in royal robe
Has not the worth of them.
Consider the lilies of the field.
He takes after each and every need.
Leave all your cares behind,
Seek Him and you will find
Your Father loves you so.

Consider the creatures of the air.
For all of the diamonds in all the earth
Have not the wealth of them.
Consider the creatures of the air.
Jehovah loves them with tender hand.
He knows your every care,
His touch is always there
To see you through the night.

And Jehovah I love You so,
And Jesus I want You to know,
All you’ve done for me to set me free,
I’ll never let you go.
And Jehovah I love You so,
And Jesus I want You to know,
All You’ve done for me to set me free,
I’ll never let You go.

Consider the lilies of the field.
For how much more does He love His own,
If Yaweh cares for them.
Consider the creatures of the air.
He takes after each and every need.
If we ask Him for bread,
Will He give us a stone?
Jehovah loves His own.

And Jehovah I love You so,
And Jesus I want You to know,
All you’ve done for me to set me free,
I’ll never let You go.
And Jehovah I love You so,
And Jesus I want You to know,
All You’ve done for me to set me free,
I’ll never let you go.

Inline image
God bless,

Mark

Posted on

And Know That He Is God

Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10

Inline image

I used to sit in business meetings and ask Jesus to show me what we should do while others were discussing their ideas about this or that. It was amazing how He’d speak to me and how peaceful His advice and wisdom were. I love His Presence, His all-knowing understanding. Without mentioning His Name, I would often share what He was telling me and everyone agreed it was the best thing to do. I just smiled in my heart and silently thanked the Lord.

Inline image

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2

I still myself in His Presence in order to look up. There is no place like being still before Him. And I can do it any time of day by acknowledging Him in each moment of my day…Even right now.

Look up, and realize that He’s with you – every minute of your day. There is nothing like the Lord’s still, calm leading…

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.

Posted on

But Be Of Good Cheer. Amen!

Did you know that, as a child of God, you’ve not been given a spirit of fear?

I’ve been getting spiritually attacked lately. It’s been really heavy. The really cool thing is that God has been telling me to walk it out and that He’d have a number of great things to share with me. Boy, He is so faithful.

Covid 19 – and anything else that comes along – is nothing more than a tribulation, a trial, a testing of our faith. The devil wants us to make a huge deal out of it. That’s what he tries to do with everything in order to get us to swallow his lies, become fearful, and to get our attention off God. But, the devil’s a liar and the father of lies. Don’t believe him. Simply stop believing his lies and keep your focus on God, on His truths. Live by faith – be of good cheer – and watch God back you up.

33 These things I (Jesus) have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (nothing new, right?); but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (Covid 19, and all the rest in the world).”
John 16:33

But be of good cheer! Praise God!

Now, let’s get going and see all the good things God has in store for us today and every day as His child.

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.

Posted on

How To Get God’s Joy

Wow, I was listening to a sermon while working the other day, and the Holy Spirit shared this with me. “Mark, you never had or knew My joy until you began to do My Word.”

His words caught me by complete surprise and, as I look back over the last several decades, I knew He was right.

Look, it might be hard to do God’s Word, to let it control you and operate in your everyday life because we’ve been doing our ways for so long, and because the enemy, the devil, hates for us to discover how to do God’s Word because it means his (Satan’s) influence in our lives is coming to an end. But I can tell you from personal experience that you will never experience the joy of the Lord, His backing up your efforts to do His Word, until you step out in faith – Yes, faith – and do His Word. Once you make the decision to do His Word, you begin to pick up spiritual momentum and even if you get knocked down now and then by the enemy, God gives you His joy and encourages you to try again. This occurs over and over again and you begin to get stronger in the Lord and you trust Him more and more. The joy you experience as He rewards you for doing His Word is like nothing else. It is the greatest joy in the universe and it’s unlimited because God is unlimited.

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.

Posted on

Who Am I Wrestling With?

The thief (the devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10

We need to be mindful to be hugging each other more, to be patient with and love each other right now…and always. We need to be quick to obey God’s Word so we do not take on an attitude of pride, become stiff-necked or stubborn concerning His truths that make and keep us free in the joy of the Lord.

After all, the Kingdom is coming, and faster than we realize. Thank You, Jesus.

Right now, the devil is trying to get us to wrestle with things on earth, and with each other. But God’s Word clearly states, “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.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Be testing the spirit behind your thoughts and actions. And remember the following scriptures. They’ll help to “keep” us free indeed.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Romans 12:19

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31-32

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

But I (Jesus) say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Matthew 5:44-46

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 5:3-5

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

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

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
Colossians 3:15a

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Amen!).
Psalm 119:105

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:4-5

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 4:8

We love you all. ☺☺

God bless,

Mark and Ann

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.

Posted on

Near To God

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw
nigh to you.
James 4:7-8a

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.

Posted on

Heaven

Inline image

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.

Posted on

Spending More Time With Jesus

Am I spending time with fearful people, or am I spending time with Jesus? Jesus was so bewildered at the lack of faith people had in His time on earth. And the Jews were versed in the law and their traditions. You would think they would have great faith, right?

Conformity and the fear of man was so strong in my life that I was afraid of looking like a fool to others. I mean, what would others think if I really followed Jesus in the way I felt He wanted me to go? Jesus was getting ready to remove all care, the fear of man, and all the rest I was bound by. Fortunately, I was so sick, I had to follow Him at all costs. I no longer had the energy it takes to not trust Him completely. I had to learn how to rest in Him or I was not going to make it. I had to be totally separated from the fear of what others thought, from my own ways, from the traditions of man, from conformity to this world in order to be set free in Jesus. This was His wonderful plan.

28 Come unto me (Jesus), all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

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.

Posted on

Circumstance-Driven

We have unknowingly settled for so much “death” in our daily life. The reason I can say that is because Jesus is full of life and He’s only beginning to show my wife and I how true it is.

I can’t find or buy God’s kind of rest, peace and joy at Nordstrom, at a bar, in drugs, on Wall Street, or at Walmart. They’re not available outside of God doing His work in a life. And, they’re not available to those who are not willing to let Him work in their life.

Boy, I get so worn out when I’m not trusting God in all things. And, I get so rejuvenated when I get back to trusting Him in all things.

I was a circumstance-driven Christian for so many decades – and I drug my precious wife and daughters into that lifestyle as well since it was the only one I knew. For the most part, every Christian I knew was this way. Until Jesus shined the light of His truth into my darkness and showed me I was circumstance-driven, I had a miserable, fearful existence. With His leading and help, I discovered that by allowing myself to be circumstance-driven, I was shutting Jesus’ delivering power out of my life.

Circumstances will leave you with no resolve. Left unchecked, eventually, they’ll take all hope and faith out of your life. You’ll be left lifeless. Satan knows this. That’s why he’ll do everything (like sudden fear, care, the fear of man, religion, etc.) he can to keep you circumstance-driven.

These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer (I can be of good cheer as long as I’m trusting Him in all things); I have overcome the world (God’s “got me” and I can rest in that fact).
John 16:33

Jesus is saying that in Him, we can stop being circumstance-driven Christians because He’s overcome the world and its circumstances. He is in control of our lives regardless of circumstances (tribulation) so we are now free from them…All of them. Oh, hallelujah!

What a mighty God we have. What good news! We’re free from circumstances. All of them! We can now thank and praise Him in all things. What freedom. What deliverance. Wow.

The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (through circumstances that try to crush life out of you): I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (always trusting Jesus. Always).
John 10:10

Jesus: “Believe Me, I won’t let any circumstances destroy you, My child. In fact, I’ll use them all for your good. That’s how much I love you. That’s how powerful I am.”

The abundant life Christ offers us is a life free from the impact of all circumstances. It’s a life that trusts the Lord at all times because I know He’s working all things together for my good. When I’m believing this, I’m in His rest. I’m dwelling in the secret place of the Most High.

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.

Posted on

Jesus: The Good Life

The good life just keeps getting better…

Annie and I talk about Jesus all day long. We talk about the wonderful life He’s bringing us into. What a marriage God has given Annie and me. We’re each other’s faith partner. We build each other up in Jesus and remind each other about “doing” His Word. We’re best friends. We often laugh together about the joy Jesus has brought into our lives as He continues to renew our minds to His Word. This is such incredible love. God has truly blessed us with being able to help each other through life by living in Jesus. Life’s not about money, bank accounts, clothes, vacations, prestige, pride and all the rest. Life is about Jesus.

Ann and I are discovering something wonderful, something the devil never wanted us to find. God is rewarding our faith in Him, in His Word. When we believe Romans 8:28, God backs it up by working all things together for our good. When we release all of our care, God tells us He’s in control of whatever tried to make us “care” and that He’ll work it out for our good. When we get tempted with “sudden fear,” God reminds us that He’ll take care of us and that we don’t need to be scared. What a wonderful life we’re experiencing in Jesus. God is actually showing us how to exchange our limited human understanding for His promises, provision, rest and care of us. This is the good life. It’s simply amazing.

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9

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.

Posted on

My Life Belongs To Jesus, and His Joy Is Everything

Every so often, I’m tempted to think my life is my own. But, I gave my life to God when I was 14 years old. My life is His to do with whatever He wants. The only time I get in trouble is when I forget that my life is His. I experience such times of refreshing whenever He brings me back to that blessed truth. It’s so liberating to remember and live in the fact that He has my life and that all I ever need to do is relax in that fact as He leads me where He knows is best.

What am I lacking? What have I missed in life? Which of my plans have not worked out? These thoughts came to me yesterday (6-5-20) when, immediately, the Holy Spirit began to minister to me. He said, “Right now, thank and praise me for everything you think you’ve missed out on, are lacking, have not had come to pass, etc., – All of it. Praise and thank Me for it all and watch what will happen in your life.”

Wow, that really ministered to me and I suddenly felt the power of God’s joy come in and lighten my heart. It was wonderful. He is so wonderful!

I may not have my joy, but I have His joy and what a difference His joy is making in my life.

So you know what I’m going to say. ☺

So come on, let’s go, and see all of the wonderful things Jesus has in store for us. Amen! Hallelujah! Praise You, Mighty God!

Happy Monday, everyone.

Inline image


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.

Posted on

Keep Looking Up To Jesus

Wow, the news regarding the end times just keeps coming out full throttle. God is truly speeding up the end times. So many billions are going to receive the “Mark Of The Beast” that is coming very soon.

Saw this article this morning. https://www.yahoo.com/news/2-billion-doses-oxford-coronavirus-093503412.html. It’s always about the money.

First the unproven vaccine, then the Mark.

Keep looking up, Christians.

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.

Posted on

Let God Lead

I’ve had many times when I’ve thought I needed to rush off and do something, get something done, take matters into my own hands, get ahead of God, get all panicky and anxious and run off on some wild goose chase. CCPTSD can make me super-susceptible to this type of living. I believe that was why God told me He was going to teach me to hear His voice. He wanted to bring His mighty healing into my life. Amazing how much He loves us.

I was going to send out another email today, but the Lord came on me saying, “Wait on Me. Simply let Me lead in your life. Rest in me – even now. Don’t be afraid of sudden fear. I have not given you a spirit of fear. Be careful (anxious) for nothing. I have your life in My hands. All you ever need to do is wait on Me and let Me lead.”

He loves us so much, people.

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.

Posted on

Soldier Of God

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:13-14

The times ahead are going to be unlike any time in history. Covid 19 is just a small sample of what lies in store for our world.

And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he arised to shake terribly the earth.
Isaiah 2:19

Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
Isaiah 13:13

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it [is] a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry [land];
Haggai 2:6

So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that [are] upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
Ezekiel 38:20

Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Hebrews 12:26

Soldier of God Requirements: To Know, obey and stand on God’s Word at all times because they now know God will work everything for their good. Because they have learned that precious secret, they praise and thank Him in all things. This makes the soldier into the overcomer God blesses. The soldier knows he/she will be kept by God no matter what.

The soldier of God can be anybody. He/she can be someone you know. They do not need special, physical prowess. They do not need to be intellectually superior, have wealth, worldly connections, etc. The soldier of God is the person who is constantly dependent on God, on the Holy Spirit. He/she will obey and stand on His Word at all times come what may. They know and want no other safeguard. They’ve come to know the still, safe, wisdom and strength contained in humility and in waiting on the Lord. They have seen and walked the narrow way and have grown to love wherever it leads. This is how they become immovable in whatsoever state they find themselves. He/she is the one who will personally witness and see great and marvelous things because God always backs up His Word and He always rewards faith in Him. Always.

He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock (Jesus).
Luke 6:48

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.