Month: March 2023

The devil and his lies can make life loathsome. Annie and I know that first hand. But God…

God is in perfect control over His creation. Keep looking up. It is so exciting to do so…

So much I want to say today. God is so faithful. He’s working His end times scenario out perfectly right in front of our eyes. How wonderful is that? Amazing to see Him work in the world and in our lives every day. We have such an incredible Savior.

Oh, Jesus, thank You SO MUCH for loving us like You do. We are so blessed to be Yours.

Go ahead, be happy and comfortable in the Lord. He gave you Life to show you His great, almighty Love.

Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord.

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.

for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].
James 1:20 AMP

It is so wonderful that God teaches us not to be angry, and instead, to trust Him. Him teaching me not to be angry with this or that in life has been such a huge blessing. Instead, I’m reminded to replace my anger with His peace that passes understanding. Amazing. Learning to trust Him with everything is making me free indeed. There is nothing like letting God make His loving changes in me.

“You couldn’t of told me I’d find what I found
Contentment and peace from above.”*

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

*Lyric from “Feeling At Home In The Presence Of Jesus” song by Bill and Gloria Gaither, and Christ Christian

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.

There is nothing in this life like getting to know your true Father. The Christian Life is so amazing and full of His Life living in you.

Only when we began to renew our minds to God’s Word did we truly begin to know Him. As Joyce Meyer has said, “If we don’t do His Word (If we don’t apply it to our daily lives), we do not know Him.”

God is replacing the fear we used to live in most of the time with faith in Him. He’s renewing our strength. What a blessing to experience this change taking place in us. (Isaiah 40:31)

Sudden fear used to rock Annie and me whenever it wanted to. Not anymore. We may get caught off guard at times, but we recover in Jesus much more quickly these days and that is such a huge blessing.

Sudden fear? > Only be thou strong and courageous knowing Jesus is with you.

There is a lot of sudden fear these days. We’re told that we are not to fear it. Hallelujah. Instead of letting your mind and emotions run off with the sudden fear, think about Jesus. Let His peace keep you. He’s promised He will never leave nor forsake you. Never.

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked (those who do not know Jesus), when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence (your secure dwelling place) and shall keep thy foot (your faith in Jesus) from being taken.
Proverbs 3:25-26

Trust in the Lord with all your heart leaving no room for sudden fear. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Praise God, Heaven is on the way, precious people.

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.

God told Annie and few months ago that the migraines aren’t the issue. He told me the same thought the next day. God was getting at my heart. That was what He was healing. He was going to make me victorious over my health and past. Amazing.

26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:26

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10

Another pretty tough migraine attack yesterday. Praise God. He’s teaching me to live ABOVE the migraines – My life isn’t about the migraines, it’s about following Jesus and letting Him show me victory no matter what.

When my vision returned, I watched a news event about how awful the world is. I was curious as to how the reporter was handling the news. I had to turn it off because of Matthew 6:10. So many today are getting trapped in this world and the end times. They’re not looking up as Jesus commanded in Luke 21:28. You can tell men’s hearts are fearful and it’s spreading.

All I could think of last night and this morning when talking to Annie was, “The Kingdom is coming. Instead of getting sucked into what is happening on earth with what the Bible clearly calls birth pangs (see Matthew 24:8), we should be so excited because Jesus said to look up.”

Folks, this is no time to get fooled into “care.” Truly, there never has been a time to get weighed down with care. Jesus came to set us free from this world and its suffocating, destructive ways of darkness. This is a time (really it is what the Christian Life is all about) to rejoice, to count it all joy (see James 1:2). We’re saved and the Kingdom is coming. Hallelujah.

Like I often tell Annie, I was down for so many decades and Jesus has set me free from the circumstances of this life that will rob our joy if we let them. No way.

Annie and I look out the back window of our condo and look at a panoramic view of a lake and mountains. We often tell each other, “Look where we live.” We know we have this wonderful home because of Jesus. It is the only reason we’re here. I told Annie, “Look where we live” referring to the spiritual Life He’s given us as well. He’s given us Romans 8:28 and all of the other verses He put on my heart while living in Oregon. Living in those verses and having them live in us is so beautiful and wonderful.

Jesus living in us is the Kingdom coming into our lives setting us free indeed from this world. And as they are right now in Heaven, in the Kingdom, God wants Annie and me to live ABOVE. What a changed Life.

NOTW – Not of this world. Act like it by letting Jesus radically change you. Live free.

This world is passing away at a fast pace. Let go of it. Take your eyes and emotions off this world. Do it. Look up, the Kingdom is coming. Rejoice!

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.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated (easy to yield to), full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
James 3:17

Last Friday, I had another migraine attack. The odd thing was that the visual aura (VA that is the visual disturbance of the migraines I get) lasted about 20 minutes. Normally, the visual disturbance lasts at least 45 minutes. I was thinking since the VA was shorter that the headache would not be as difficult to deal with. I was wrong. The migraine was simply “presenting” differently. A few hours later, I was feeling angry and pretty upset. I even felt mad at God. It was pretty upsetting. After another couple of hours, while showering, I began singing the song, “He’s The Savoir Of My Soul.” I didn’t feel at all like singing that song, but I felt I needed to break the dark thoughts I was having and thought singing it might help. It did help. The darkness immediately began receding and then God spoke up. He said, “Calm down.” His words began searching my heart and healing me in some ways clear back to my childhood. Amazing. Needless to say, His two words began ministering to me in some powerful ways – they were definitely easy to yield to as they brought me comfort.

Later that day, I told Annie what God said. We talked about “calm down” here and there over the weekend and how it applies to all of life. Truly, He is Life. We thought about how loving God was to share these words with us. We’re so thankful for God’s faithfulness, for His wisdom from ABOVE.

Calm down. Mmmm…

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.

After another migraine attack yesterday (3-23-23) Annie asked me how I was doing this morning. I told her, “Choosing Jesus every day.” She said, “Me too.”

Annie and I focus on, talk about and learn about God all we can these days because we used to focus on so many things other than God and found that to be a very difficult journey to an inevitable dead end. Worry, anxiety, fear – and all the rest – used to consume us. Now, more and more of God’s character resides in us and it has – and is- changing our lives.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

And the Lord God commanded the man (Adam), saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 2:16-17

We listened to another “Bait Of Satan” youtube video the other night. They’re good videos.

You can read about the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3.

Ever notice how we can focus on something to the exclusion of so many other things? Satan tempted Eve to focus on the one thing God had told Adam not to eat – The apple on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve had all of the rest of creation to enjoy and spend their time thinking about. The Devil called God’s faithfulness into question by pointing out the one tree they were not to touch. I can be like that. I have so much, and I can still put so much of my attention on something I don’t have. What a waste. So much of not being thankful for what we do have can lead to death in one way or another in our lives.

On the other hand, living a life of thankfulness to God for all He’s given you leads to Life.

Be thankful today for all God has provided you with.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

After having more bad dreams last night and waking up a little down this morning, I was reminded again this morning that I need to be deliberate in my thinking and thought life. “Jesus, keep me deliberate in my thought life so I can live free and become more like you in all my ways.”

Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

Praising and thanking Him in all things

All things work together for good to those who love Him.

Hallelujah.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

Choose: to select freely and after consideration; decide; pick; to want; desire

The darkness of this world had so damaged me, us. I finally decided I had to do something about the hopeless, seemingly bottomless misery my mind was trying to cope with. By the grace of God, we had been listening to some teachings by someone else who had to choose to follow God at all costs because their life was so distraught. They could no longer deal with the fear and disappointment they had been drowning in. As a last resort, they chose to believe God’s Word. They had to find out if it was true and if it could deliver them from the impact darkness was having on them.

Many have come to the same conclusion brought on by the defeating circumstances they were trying to overcome without success.

Choosing Jesus at all costs is the best decision Annie and I ever made. It set us on a path straight to the Kingdom and all of its supernatural, spiritual riches. It has been a long and difficult process to renew our minds to God’s Truth. We still have so much to learn and to enjoy in His vast, wonderful, liberating Kingdom. We’re being drawn more and more by His matchless Love that is healing our minds.

We were talking about some things yesterday during lunch. We talked about Ephesians 6:10 (see below) and how we are actually experiencing the power of His might, how it is making us strong in ways we hadn’t dare imagine. We can feel God’s Light reaching into our souls while it dispels the darkness we’d been trapped in for so long. That His power can actually make it possible for us to trust Him and to believe Romans 8:28 is a miracle when we consider where we’ve come from.

The power of His might. Wow, what power. It is really something. We’re seeing more and more that the power of His might is not about worldly possessions and success. No, it’s about making our minds and spirits restful, secure, safe and strong in His care of our lives at all times. It’s about giving us the unsurpassed ability to trust Him with our lives no matter what, to truly count it all joy. That is a mountain top that cannot be reached without Christ living in us. His Word living in us and keeping us from the harm darkness had been strangling us with for so long is truly remarkable. We are so thankful and now rejoice that God made it obvious that we needed to choose Him at all costs.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Ephesians 6:10

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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

What a beautiful, loving portion of scripture that verse is. What heavenly peace, love, rest and joy for those who are on the path to learning to trust in the Lord with all their heart.

I didn’t have anything to share today until I remembered what the Lord told me two days ago that was so beautiful and freeing. I’ve been having several new migraine attacks per week that have really slowed me down. I was thinking about everything I could have done with my life – and in this life – had I not had the migraines. Immediately, God said, “Your life is not about what you can/could do. Your life is about what I can do.”

Someone may need to hear that today. It hit me again just before I wrote this email. What God told me gave me so much more peace about how my life has gone. In fact, His words put my life in His hands where it belongs. I never need to stress about this or that concerning my life. He’s in control. I just need to leave my life in His care and follow His lead at any given moment. I don’t need to spin my wheels rehearsing things in my own understanding. I can simply trust God with it all and actually be excited about what He’s up to without even knowing the details. My life is His to bring Him glory however He sees fit.

“It’s not about what you can do. It’s about what I (God) can do.”

God bless 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.

Notice God does not specify what type of trouble. He doesn’t limit Himself to a list. He includes all trouble. After all, He is all-powerful. I don’t know what kind of trouble you may find yourself in today. You may in the trouble of unforgiveness, bitterness, family, job failure, health or financial issues, fear of the future.

God is with you.

I will be with him in trouble;
Psalm 91:15b

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

As I said the other day, Annie and I are reading a good book (When To Walk Away by Pastor Gary Thomas) in the mornings during our coffee time. The latest section talks about the lives of many changing for the better. Their lives changed because Jesus gave them the opportunity and heart to do so. Ann and I are so thankful Jesus gave us the chance and power to step into newness of Life in Him. He’s still making all the difference in all areas of our lives. As a result, we fall more in love with each other and Jesus every day.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

Annie and I read the book, Bait Of Satan. It is very good and talks about getting set free from being offended. Offense leads into so many traps of the enemy. Annie and I have lived with offense for so long. It’s a horrible thing to live with and it reaches into so many areas of our being.

Pastor John Bevere has 12 youtube videos. We like to watch number 5 over and over. The truths John shares in it are so good for us. The entire series is super helpful.

I really hope you’ll watch this 5th video in the series. It can really help you to get set free in some powerful ways. John may seem a little hyper at times, but it is only because he is so passionate about what the Lord taught him about being offended. I really like the line in this specific video where he says, “When you get this into you, who can harm you?” It is so wonderful when Jesus gives us this kind of liberating truth. The story in this video about the insurance executive is really amazing.

The Bait Of Satan Lesson 05

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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 remember there was a time in Oregon when Annie and I knew Satan was stronger than God. That was what we were experiencing with setback after setback with no letup in sight. That kind of living will beat you up something fierce. I’m not saying the devil is God’s match, but that was the reality we were living in for years. We even shared that thought with my grandma back in California. That we would say such a thing took her by complete surprise.

The devil (the thief) is like a burglar trying to get into your home (in this case, your mind) to steal, kill and destroy.

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. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify
your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:7-8

Resist the devil and he will flee.

I used to live with the devil, and I was a Christian. What? It’s true. We were double minded at best and that is a horrible no man’s land at best. Until I began to renew my mind, until Annie and I began to put up verses on the walls of our Oregon home, until we memorized passages of scripture God was pointing out to us, we lived with so many dark thoughts. Unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, frustration, offense, fear, confusion, shame, jealousy, pride, the feeling that nothing could possibly be working for our good, our own understanding…We were stuck, couldn’t resist the devil, had unrenewed minds and kept taking on more of the dark, destructive thoughts the enemy was bombarding us with. Unless you begin to resist the devil by getting to know and use God’s Word like the mighty weapon it is, you will not be able to resist Satan. This is what submitting ourselves to God is all about. We can stay put as the prey of the enemy or we can learn to live in the victory God desires.

This is why Annie and I are such proponents of renewing our minds and want to be transformed by not conforming to this world and its ways. We know the stark death and Life difference between living with the devil’s influence and then tasting and enjoying the Lord’s precious presence by memorizing, doing and experiencing God’s Word alive in us.

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

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:27-29

I was watching a talk by Dr. Tony Evans about things that can be shaken and the fact that our God is a consuming fire when I had the thought that I am so thankful to God that He has and is skaking and consuming all the consumable things in my life that are being replaced by His unshakable Life. He has been so faithful to replace generational sins and strongholds, those damaging things the lies of the enemy have planted in me with His immovable, liberating, supernatural truths and character. It’s funny that at one time I thought I knew so much about God only to discover that unless God is living in me on a moment-by-moment basis, I really didn’t know Him. Only by having Jesus live in and through us can we be free from the scary things that can be shaken.

Care, fear, the fear of man, offense, jealousy, the love of money (mammon), unforgiveness, self-preservation, the need to control everything, the fear of death – and so much more – are being shaken and consumed as they are being replaced by Jesus. It is an amazing experience.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

Am I the devil’s bait or God’s clay at any given moment? Will I choose to stay in bondage or to be set free indeed?

“God kindly revealed to me my need to settle down and trust in the gospel for my indentity, not in my performance.” (Taken from page 185 in the book, “When To Walk Away” by Pastor Gary Thomas)

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

We’re all still a work in progress and we will be until Heaven. Where God leads in our lives is making us into the vessel He wants us to be for His good pleasure. As a result, we learn more about abiding in Christ and how our lives become more and more beautiful.

The life God’s given me is His gift to me. The more He shows me that, the more I love Him and the more I believe and live in the freedom Romans 8:28 provides.

Again, I am so grateful to God for Ann’s love, patience and support. She is absolutely the wife God knew I needed. I grow more in love with her daily.

I was driving back from taking Annie to work today (3-8-23) when I felt the Holy Spirit asking me if I will follow Him no matter what. It was a sweet time of reflection and comfort because I realized (with tears of His joy now living in me) He knew I belonged to Him and that I needed to be His all along. There was to be no other Life for me.

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:31-32

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Jesus: Mark, what if I (Jesus) allow you to have to use food stamps and be on welfare; to go through heavy family issues; to give up your understanding for My peace; to walk through shame; to want to give up many times; to feel what it is like to not measure up to others; to have disabling pain and health issues that prevent you from working so Annie has to go to work; to be misunderstood; to envy others; to feel deep frustration, unforgiveness, depression, jealousy and bitterness, along with all the rest that lies ahead so I can use your life to touch others who need My Love so they too can be saved by coming to know the powerful, delivering reality of Romans 8:28? Will you still follow Me?

Yes, Lord, I will. I now know there is no other Life for me than the secure, peaceful, carefree, resting, joyful Life You have for me. And now I know the greatest need I have is to be Yours. Thank You for loving me and for encouraging me to follow You all these years, Lord.

65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
John 6:65-68

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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

Yesterday while doing some things in the morning, God gave me a vision of Romans 8:28 encapsulating my thought life. Romans 8:28 was a glass ball and all the things I think about are contained in that ball. I could see the things I think about on a regular basis were inside Romans 8:28. He was telling me to rest in the fact that He’s working everything together for my good and He would show me how that can take place within the environment of His Love – Romans 8:28.

It’s okay to let Romans 8:28 live in your thoughts. That verse is a huge part of letting God’s peace reign in our hearts. It is one of the most beautiful parts of God that He wants us to enjoy. No matter what has kept you from being able to rest in the comforting thoughts of knowing God is working all things together for your good, let Him in. Let Him make you secure in this part of His healing, restful, almighty Love.

28 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

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

Annie and I love to discover new information that helps us to become more like Jesus, to become more free, to experience all that He has for us as His followers. We’re reading, “When To Walk Away” by Pastor Gary Thomas. It’s the kind of book and insights where you’re highlighting every page. The things Gary shares are such spiritual food for us. We really don’t want the book to end.

I’ve never been to Israel, but I’ve been told about and seen pictures of the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee.

The Sea of Galilee has an inlet and outlet meaning that water comes into it and water goes out of it at another point. On the other hand, the Dead Sea has just an inlet and nothing lives in it. In some ways, it reminds me of having an unrepentant heart that no new life can happen in.

When Annie and I began meeting with a church counselor (Chuck) in Oregon in the 1980s, we were pretty much like the Dead Sea. In our first meeting with Chuck, he told me we were in the condition we were in because of me. That hit me right between the eyes. I decided I wanted to get healed no matter what it took. I loved Annie and wanted to make our marriage work and thrive if that was possible. While it’s been a challenge to make all of the changes God has asked of us, the path to freedom in Christ has been so worth it. Today, our marriage is thriving. We’re best friends, help each other all the time and laugh together. Just this morning, we were talking about Jesus (we pretty much talk about Jesus all the time really when we’re together) again and all of the amazing beauty He has brought to our lives, to our marriage because we made the decision to let Jesus into our lives in the 80s.

It is never too late to let Jesus into our lives. He takes us just as we are and begins to build His wonderful ways in our lives that make Life so joyful and worth living.

We love you all.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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 your heart. Go ahead. Do it and see what He does with your effort to do so. He’ll lighten your load. He promises to do so…

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.
Matthew 11:28-29

It’s simple…Smile more.

We used to be so much more serious about so many toxic things crowding our minds. Annie and I laugh so much more these days. And when I sense we haven’t been laughing as much together about this or that, I ask God to give us some things to laugh about. And I’m telling you, He always answers that prayer. It’s so wonderful. Laughing is so good for us.

We listened to a Christian speaker over the weekend who said to simply smile more. They said to close your eyes and smile as an exercise.

Praise Jesus that He brings so much Light into our lives. Any of us can be so tempted to be down and defeated about so many things. God simply refuses to let us stay there. Ask God to give you more to laugh about and see what happens.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.