Let His peace reign in your heart as you follow Him this week. Let Him show you all the wonderful things He has in store for you.
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Choosing Jesus Every Day Will Set Us Free In Ways We Can’t Yet Imagine
I don’t remember if I’ve shared the following. It keeps coming and growing. It’s so light and easy to do. It’s like, “Why was I ever holding back?” ☺
And said, Verily I (Jesus) say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3
being confident of this very thing, that He (God) who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
Wow is all I can say. Jesus makes life so fun and full of adventure like only He can.
God is working a new thing in my life. He’s being so faithful to keep doing the work He began. He’ll do it for anyone. The other day, He began moving in my spirit. I heard Him say He wanted me to begin walking around the house reading the Bible out loud with the help of the Holy Spirit. He meant He didn’t expect me to do the reading in my strength, but by the power of His Spirit. This is the best I can describe it. Next, He wanted me to start praising Him and praying in the Spirit out loud in the power of the Spirit. Doing these things in the Spirit is so light and free. It takes almost no human effort.
Then, God said, “This is the person I created you to be. And there is much more ahead.”
God is so liberating. He merely asks us to listen to His Spirit and act on what we hear without giving any regard to our “reputation” or the fear of man in the process. Pretty amazing stuff.
Keep looking up, my friends. God is so good all the time. Lighten up. If you’ll listen, you can hear His voice and discover just how good He is as He works all things together for the good of those who love Him.
Yipee!
Like a child, believe Him and hold nothing back from Him. He’ll bring His freeing power into your life and change you from glory to glory. Fun stuff…
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Care –> Jesus
It’s a really miserable life to be full of care. I know first hand.
Because of where I’ve come from, I can’t be around people who take on care, fear, and talk a lot of unbelief for too long. I need to be around people of faith, people who truly believe God is in control and working all things together for their good.
Moses in The Chosen series: “I’ve learned to obey Him without questioning.”
We live in amazing times. It never ceases to amaze how Jesus wants me to give Him all my cares. At one time, I was full and overflowing with “care.” It was so bad that it spilled onto many others.
I was thinking about our car repair yesterday, Covid, the recent elections and some other things. That’s when Jesus broke into my thoughts and said, “How do you know that all of these things that cause you care are not somehow a blessing? I have this, Mark. Rest, relax, drop the anxious thoughts care brings to your mind. Trust Me. I can bring blessings out of anything for those who trust Me.”
I could feel His immense, supernatural Love in what He was saying to me. It was so soothing.
I was so sick with care. God saw my need and broke into my life with His love, truth and mercy. I’m so thankful. I’m so thankful I can’t live for long without Him bringing me back to trusting Him with it all. He’s truly teaching me to obey Him without questioning. That’s where true liberty and rest are. He’s so wonderful. He has me.
And, dear one, He has you as well…☺
We love you all. ☺☺♥♥
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.
At The Cross
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away.*
I’ve had so many burdens in my life. I really could find no rest for my fretting mind and emotions.
Are you weighed down with any burdens today? Jesus wants to relieve us of them all. Honestly, He’s the only One Who can.
Jesus saith unto him (Mark, and any one else who’s tired of burdens), I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
Jesus: “Mark, come to Me with all your burdens, so I can bring you to My Father. You will never be the same. I promise.”
It’s such a wonderful thing…
There is so much power in the cross of Jesus.
What can wash away my sin (my hard heart filled with burdens, my stubborn resistance to His cleansing blood and love for me)?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.**
The more I take up my cross daily, the more I surrender to Jesus, the more I’m willing to exchange my old habits and strongholds of insecurity, bondage, bitterness – and the rest of my list – for Him, the more His penetrating, healing and liberating Love ministers to me. He is just so incredible. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There is so much in Him and so much He wants to lavish on us.
I no longer look at the cross as something hard and impossible because at the cross, I’m finding Him and He’s releasing me from every burden. I’m discovering new, abundant Life and it’s all possible because of Jesus.
He knew the cross would be the biggest blessing for me. He knew it was the only way for me to let go so I could find His Life in order to be set free indeed.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself (my anger, pride, self-pity, frustration, unforgiveness, selfishness, care, worry, fear, etc.), and take up his cross (and find True Life), and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life (hang onto heavy burdens) shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:24-25
Oh, the joy we find in Jesus as He removes our burdens so we can truly live free indeed in Him. When Jesus replaces burdens with Himself…Mmmm. Hallelujah.
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark – ChoosingJesusEveryDay.com
*Taken from “At The Cross” by Isaac Watts
**Taken From “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus” by Robert Lowry
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.
No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus
I was loving on Annie this morning. I was telling her how I was so taken by her beauty the first time I saw her. I was telling her how blessed I am to be her husband and how her life has helped to bring me closer to Jesus. I love to love her. I love it when Jesus loves her through the love He’s given me for her.
No one cares for us like Jesus, precious people. His love shines through His Word and in so many other ways throughout the day. What a precious Savior He is. Always pointing us to all that He is and all that He has for us in Him.
No one ever cared for me like Jesus
By Charles Weigle
I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus,
Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true.
I would tell you how He changed my life completely;
He did something no other friend could do.
Chorus
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.
All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me;
All my heart was full of misery and woe,
Jesus placed His strong arms about me
And He led me in the way I ought to go.
Chorus
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.
Ev’ry day He comes to me with new assurance;
More and more I understand His word of love.
But I’ll never know just why He came to save me,
Till someday I see His blessed face above.
Chorus
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Jesus Is Our Shepherd
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Conformity To This World Will Steal, Kill and Destroy Us
We’re so afraid of not being like the world, of not fitting in. The devil wants us to fit in to the world. He will do everything he can to make sure we don’t have changed lives. So we swear, we drink, we get angry, frustrated, resentful, and bitter when we don’t get our way, we worry, we’re greedy, we strive, we work towards the pride of life, you name it, just like the rest of the world does.
You will be so messed up if you think you can be conformed to this world as a “Christian.”
This is not what Jesus has for us. He wants us free from the world and all of its trappings – traps kill. Jesus died to give us the opportunity to come out of the world by living free in Him, by doing His will, by believing and letting His Word live in us right in the midst of this world.
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Good Tidings Of Great Joy
Wow, God has given us the opportunity to believe Him. It’s the most valuable gift we can be given.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
This passage of scripture is the best news ever given. God was about to save us from the fall. He was about to restore the relationship He had with us in Eden. What great joy it is. We can cast all care on Him. We can trust in the Lord with all our heart. He will keep us in perfect peace as we keep our minds stayed on Him. He will never leave us nor forsake us. His peace can reign in our hearts at all times. We are more than conquerors through Him Who died to set us free from our sins of worry, doubt, anger, pride, and all the rest.
He has dealt with fear. He is trustworthy.
Good Tidings Of Great Joy…
Hallelujah!
Believe and keep believing – watch Him move in your life.
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.
When These Things Come To Pass…
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luke 21:28-33
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Only Be Strong And Of A Good Courage
No matter what your condition or circumstances, we can be strong and courageous in the Lord. This is what “good courage” is all about. We trust Him and follow Him at all time, regardless…
Be strong and of a good courage…Only be thou strong and very courageous…Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: For the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest…Only be strong and of a good courage.
From Joshua Chapter 1
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Loving Each Other
And thus you shall greet him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.
1 Samuel 25:6
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matthew 7:24
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Psalm 127:1
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
Proverbs 24:3
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
Isaiah 32:18
I am so blessed that in the midst of today’s world, God keeps showing Annie and me how to love and appreciate each other more and more. It’s so wonderful and we’re so thankful. We love loving each other and God keeps emphasizing that we can have in joy in our marriage and home at all times. He’s so amazing.
25 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.
Ephesians 5:25-27
Keep loving your family and keep your home a sanctuary full of His grace, mercy, love, rest and joy. Ask God to help you. He loves families and He’ll show you how to do this.
We love you all,
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark and Ann
Blessing
The Lord’s blessing (the joy that accompanies right living – righteousness) is on all those who follow Him, who do His Word, who keep growing in Jesus, who keep being set free and willing to change in order to become like Jesus in all their ways.
Hallelujah!
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Stayed On God
I’m seeing God raise up more and more people who are committed to keeping their minds stayed on Him. Their focus is becoming sharper and more determined than ever to this mind set:
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalm 91:1-2
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Counting On Jesus, The Word
Ann and I count on Jesus (The Word) every day. We count on the Word (Jesus) all the time. And we’re learning more and more about how to count on Him Who is The Word. This is why we emphasize memorizing The Word. This is exactly why we encourage everyone to get to know Jesus, God Almighty. This is the most important thing we will ever do in this life.
Do you count on God working all things together for the good of those who love Him? Are you learning to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ? Are you learning how to quench the fiery darts (lies) of the enemy by praising and thanking God in all things?
So come on. Let’s go and count on Jesus today, and every day. Put getting to know Him above all else. When you learn to count on Him, Life takes on a whole new excitement, contentment and clarity. He brings all of His joy to your life. There is nothing like Him. It’s what God intended.
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Keeping My Eyes On The Prize
He sent his word (Jesus), and healed them (those who believe), and delivered them from their destructions (fear).
Psalm 107:20
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you (put your name here), saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (to plunder the enemy’s (fear’s) camp).
Jeremiah 29:11
This is so cool. The Holy Spirit is so faithful and awesome. When He shared this with me, I couldn’t wait to get it to you. Truly, God’s infinite love for us knows no bounds.
I couldn’t stop writing so I finally had to hit “Send.” ☺
Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). What an enormous understatement.
Having grown up with so much fear, that I was scared out of my mind so much of the time, I can honestly tell anyone that when you’re scared to death, Jesus is there. It’s true. I know it’s true. Jesus can step into your life and turn it all around if you’re willing to follow and believe Him.
25 Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.”
26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
27 They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”
…53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.
Did you get that? Here’s this giant of an experienced warrior who was scaring all of the troops of Israel. He filled them with fear to the point that no one had courage. They were filled with dismay. They had no idea what they were going to do…
And then David comes along. And David is so full of the Lord, of God’s faithfulness, that he wants to know what he’ll get for killing Goliath. The Lord had so trained up David that the fear of an enemy like Goliath meant nothing to David any more. David had learned to believe the Lord where the others had not. What a contrast. At this point in his life, David’s eyes were now on the prizes God had in store for him. Wow…
Look up, precious Christian. There is no fear for those who have believed and learned to set their eyes on the prize that awaits them. Heaven, Romans 8:28, Jesus and His favor in our lives – All of the promises of God are ours. Rejoice! These are the stones in our slings that will fill us with thoughts of prizes, with looking up and asking, “Tell me again, Lord. What do I get for learning that fear is a lie, that I really can trust in the Lord with all my heart, that I can always believe Him, for being willing to have learned how to follow the Lord into victory after victory?”
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Goliath Taunting You?
When Goliath shows up things begin to get exciting.
45 David said to the Philistine (Goliath), “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.
1 Samuel 17:45-53
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Blessing
For the longest time, everything but the peace of God ruled in my heart.
As long as I set my affections on things of the earth, I was easily swayed this way and that – I was tossed to and fro as the Bible states.
God saw the need of my heart and knew what He could do for and in me.
When Jesus began to teach me how to set my affections on things ABOVE, my whole life began to be healed. I started to understand that letting His peace rule in my heart was the most important thing I could do. It allowed me to trust in Him with more and more of my heart and to really stand on and truly be delivered by Romans 8:28. Fortunately for me, I was so sick and lost in fear that Jesus left me no choice but to turn to Him with all my heart. I still slip up from time to time, but, for the most part, I dwell in His secret place apart from fear, striving, and all the rest that had me locked up in bondage for decades.
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His (Wonderful) face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you (Think about that for a moment) and bless you in Jesus’ Name, That Name that is ABOVE every other name.
His truth shall be thy shield and buckler…*
And when that occurs in your heart, you’ll never be the same…☺
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
*Taken from Psalm 91 KJV
The Peace Of God
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
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 careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
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
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Whose Mind Is Stayed On Thee
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee (God): because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
True Liberty In Christ – Every Thought Captive
There is true liberty in Christ.
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
“Holy Spirit, please remind me and give me Your mighty power to renew my mind to Your liberating thoughts. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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.