Month: June 2021

I heard Dr. David Jeremiah, a pastor in El Cajon, CA, say something really neat yesterday. His words really ministered to my heart. Jesus is so wonderful and He becomes more wonderful to me with each new day.

Dr. Jeremiah said something like this. “It’s important to know God’s Word and to apply it to our lives. When we do, The Word stands guard over the door of our heart like a sentinel protecting us in so many wonderful ways.”

Wow, I thought of how God brought Annie and me to the point in our lives where we had to learn God’s Word and apply it to every part of life. Before we began doing this, our hearts were left unguarded and left wide open to such misery.

There is nothing like Jesus. His Word becomes more and more precious to us all the time. We’re so grateful for His Word, for Him.

And let the peace of God rule in your heart (Colossians 3:15a). Such beautiful Words of Life. That’s Jesus.

You can ask Annie and me about how much we love Jesus and how His Word has changed, and is still changing, and healed our lives. It’s why we’re so crazy in love with Him and it’s why we only want to tell others about Him. He has truly saved us.

20 He sent his word (precious Jesus), and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psalm 107:20-22

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

It’s so good to rejoice in the Lord always. It protects my mind, emotions and spirit. I wish I would have learned to do this decades ago. It would have spared me so much grief.

Rejoice in the Lord always. You’ll be so glad you decided to do so.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I hope I can make the following clear. Many of you are probably getting the same message from the Holy Spirit. That’s exciting. ☺

The more we’re distracted we are by this world, the more time we spend focused on the things of earth, the less aware of and prepared we’ll be for God’s pruning and spiritual battles.

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Ephesians 5:19

A few days ago, Annie and I were having to fight some more intense and longer-lasting spiritual battles. We kept encouraging each other and stayed focused on the new spiritual insights and victory we knew the Lord would bring to us at the end of these current battles.

We could even tell that God was pruning us more so we could take in more of His incredible life-giving and life-sustaining fruit.

We both sensed God was prompting us to be even closer to Him on a daily, and moment by moment, basis. He was pointing out the fact, again, that we must abide under the shadow of the Most High if we are to conquer what He has in store for us.

We could feel His love and desire for us to live more dedicated to Him. That’s when Annie said, “I bet the Apostle Paul wrote Ephesians 5:19 because he was realizing that we must be speaking, singing and making melody in our hearts more and more if we’re (Paul included – His trials must have made him realize he had to focused on Jesus more and more) to be victorious in the days ahead. God didn’t want us sharing our time with other things. No, He wants us more and more close to Him, to His wonderful, liberating Word, Life, and Love.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2

Surely God knows the beauty, mercy, grace, power, adventure and wonder of setting our affections on things above more and more as we come closer to Jesus in our relationship with Him. This is the reward for setting our affections above.

I saw the following while writing this email and thought it would be good to include Alannah’s insight below.

*******

What Jesus says in John 15:1-4 is a great reminder of the positivity and purpose of pruning. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit (like time we spend on things other than Jesus that make less and less sense to us as we follow Jesus more), while every branch that does bear fruit (Ephesians 5:19), he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me (Jesus), as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” Essentially, the things which don’t lead to Jesus cannot remain in our lives if we chose to remain in Jesus.
^{Taken from Christian Today, written by Alannah Francis}

*******

Spending more time in His company, in His Presence will change us in so many glorious ways we’re not even yet aware of. Time with Him assures us of His deep Love for us and will give us a foundation of knowing that He’s always working all things together for our good. What joy.

He’s our Father. Of course He wants us to spend more time with Him – Above…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

In Jesus’ day, the Jews were expecting a military leader. The Messiah was supposed to set them free from the Romans. Instead, Jesus had another agenda. He did many miracles. They were amazed. But, when it came down to it, they turned their backs on Him. Jesus asked His disciples if they were going to do the same.

What have I expected of Jesus? Who or what did I think He would be? What have I wanted Him to do for me? Hmmm…

Annie and I were sitting in a restaurant last night talking. We’re both pretty tired physically. Annie was talking about some things when the Holy Spirit began welling up in me. I said, “There is nothing as powerful and overcoming as the Name Jesus.” I looked around at the people in that restaurant, looked at the mountains and at the beautiful day it was. I told Ann, His Name is over everything we can see and all that the human eye cannot see as well.

We tend to think of things in our limited human terms in the secular society we live in today.

But, there is the Name that is ABOVE all. While it may not seem like it at times, and while others may not know about the Name, Jesus, and His Word, is all-powerful and we can always, always, always trust in His wonderful, delivering, comforting, secure Name. Always.

We don’t live by our strength alone. No matter how tired you are. No matter what is going on around you. Whenever you feel yourself getting caught up in the moment. Whenever you feel yourself begin to give into the flesh, remember to stay with God. Stay with the Word.

The Word – Jesus – is alive and so real.

Just say His Most High Name, “Jesus.”

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

What a blessing it is to be a Christian. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s so incredible that Jesus can help us transform our minds. Really something this Christian adventure…

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

God wants us – You and me. Just us. That’s it.

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

To be made perfect in love. This is His goal for each of us. It can seem like a dream, right?

I didn’t know Jesus. So much seemed wrong in my life. I couldn’t make a lot of life work. I felt piled on, jinxed and cursed. Some even told me I may have demons. I (Annie, too) was sure Satan was more powerful than God. And, I thought for certain that God was against me. As a result, I tried so hard to find my way back to Him. I was striving so hard to make Him and my parents happy. But, it didn’t appear to be working.

Finally, God began to help me understand what was going on – He was working His ways in me. There was purpose. My life would bring Him glory – And, way beyond my current belief, at that time, He was going to make me fall madly in love with Him.

Somehow, in the way only He can, little by little, He started telling me all of life was working together for my good. What an incredible thing. How could that possibly be? He told me to trust Him…

The most amazing and wonderful thing is happening in me. I’m no longer afraid of Jesus. No longer do I need to allow my fears to deny His power because His power is setting me free from all fear, from all confusion and misunderstanding. That’s what Love does. His Love perfects our relationship with Him, with The One Who is Love. And when this begins to happen in our hearts, Life becomes so rich – and free.

You’re Loved by Him, dear one. By Jesus. By God. And His Spirit is flashing His light all around in you and drawing you into His matchless higher realm where all around is Him – Love. Perfect Love is removing all – yes, all – fear.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:5

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

I needed Him. I needed Love. He was calling me to come boldly to Him, to my Father of infinite Love.

Why does anyone want to stay away from Him?

We can “be of good cheer.”

We no longer have to deny His wonderful, healing, secure, beautiful power. All He wants for us is His Love…Him.

And then, you find yourself falling madly in Love with Him – Forever.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I thought I knew the Father. But, if that was true, why did so much of my life not line up with the Word? Why did I still have religious pride? Why was there so much fear, bitterness, shame, strife, and unrest in me?

Jesus saith unto him (Mark, Annie, anyone else), I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6

No one can come to the Father for me. Even if I have many cheering me on to do it, I must do it alone. Ultimately, the choice to do so is mine.

I thought I knew what that verse meant and I was glad I had come to the Father through Jesus. But, what I’ve discovered is that I was living a shallow, superficial, counterfeit Christian life – Satan will do all he can to keep us in that position. I didn’t truly know the Father. I was still very much alive to the flesh, to self.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (Jesus), because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:18

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6

Most will not make the journey of dying to self. As a result, they will never know the New Life in Christ. They will never know how free they could be in Him now, in this life.

Fear will make you try and strive to preserve the flesh, to preserve “self.” I did this myself. I was scared to death to lose “self.” Self was all I really knew. But, self is exactly what needs to die in order to have Christ’s New Life.

The two – Christ’s resurrected Life and the flesh, or “self” – cannot occupy the same space no matter how much we think to the contrary. Jesus died to set us free from the bondage the flesh and self live in and are “at home” in. He died to give us New Life in Him, to set at liberty those captive to self, to the flesh.

Jesus was in the back part of the boat sleeping on a pillow. They woke Him up, crying out, “Teacher, do You not care that we are about to die?”
Mark 4:38

During the thorough transformation into Christ’s New Life, “care” and the impact of circumstances is replaced by being able to always trust Jesus – with everything; to now know that all things are working together for good; to a new peace you never had before, and so much more because His New Life is infinite. Now, trying to save face, to preserve the flesh and self,  broken hearts, the past (and that’s huge), striving and all the other awful deeds of the flesh are replaced with a “knowing” that Jesus is at work in all things and knowing that His work in you is all that matters because you now recognize how supernatural and beautiful His work is in you.

Now, His New Life in you is at work and you see and even feel (His New kind of knowing operating in you) the utter comfort, deliverance, beauty, wonder and amazement found in the words of verses like these:

for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:5b-7

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:11-13

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

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:2-3

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

Dying to self, letting Jesus bring His resurrected Life into me is the most transforming and healing experience He’s allowing me to live out. And, I know, even at 69 years of age, that this is just the beginning…

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Galatians 5:24

“They that are Christ’s.” Wow, what beautiful, life-altering words. What transformation takes place in those words.

And let the peace of God rule in your heart (Colossians 3:15a). Mmmm.

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might (fear, self), nor by power (pride, strife), but by my spirit (care is gone and all is at rest trusting in Jesus – This is where He’s taking us), saith the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6

But By My Spirit – What loving words of Life. What a promise.

Jesus…The Way, The Truth and The Life.  Boy, what loaded, New Life words.  

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6

Circumstances and the devil can make us feel like giving up. But, we live by the Word of God, not by feelings. This is why it is critical that we know and “do” the Word of God. The Word supersedes and has power over everything. This is why God tells us to only be strong and very courageous in the book of Joshua and that we can depend on the Spirit to work behind the scenes on our behalf to bring us the victory in Jesus Who is Romans 8:28.

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

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

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

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

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

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
2 Thessalonians 3:3

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:11-13

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

It’s such a huge blessing to stop and count all the people and things you’re thankful for. I’m so thankful for God’s Word, my family, and everything God’s given us to live this life. I have clean clothes and dishes and enough food to eat each day. I have a car to drive, and good neighbors. Thank You, God.

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

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Isn’t it wonderful that we’re getting to know Jesus better each moment of the day? When I think of Who He is, it just amazes me. And He loves you and me so much. So much.

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 (that peaceful Presence) of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

Nothing and no one can give us the peace, rest, assurance and joy that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords can give us. Jesus.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Wherever you are right now, look around. Jesus is with you right where you are. Really. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Never. That means He’s always with us. Yipee!

Don’t let yourself get bogged down with this life. Rejoice in what’s ahead for us each day – and into eternity – just because we’re His children. Doing so adds so much joy to today and every day…

13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Praise God. Soon, we’re going to be physically with Jesus – Forever. Keep your eyes on the prize.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14

Keep looking up, dear friends.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

“The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.”
Psalm 93:1

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.

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.
Matthew 10:29

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

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.

Dying to self is giving me the Life that’s ABOVE. What a difference Life makes. That’s our Jesus. True Life that is freedom we cannot have any other way.

Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:11

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
Luke 9:23-24

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark