Author: Mark and Ann

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

Annie had a wonderful understanding come to her the other day…

Only God is perfect love. Only He can cast out fear.

Perfect love casts out fear, right? You and I will never have perfect love on earth. Only God has perfect love. God and His Word, Jesus, can cast the fear out of our lives. This is why we study God’s Word…to let it cleanse us of fear. Jesus, God’s Word, is perfect love. He will lead us into His peace by showing us His power to remove fear from our thinking and lives as He shows us His Love as we trust Him with our lives.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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 is so wonderful to keep showing us more of Himself and the incredibly blessed Life we can have by choosing to follow His lead. Praise Jesus.

Focusing on the problem is somehow focusing on yourself. I praise God to get His peace, to get in my thinking the “knowing” that He knows whatever I’m facing or whatever I think I need. I need Jesus above all – I’m still learning that key. He is always the answer to whatever I need because He is the victory I need. Knowing He is here, that His Presence is with me is so powerful, delivering and comforting. His Presence supersedes all else including anything I think I need.

We don’t realize how many are with us when we feel we’re facing challenges. We can’t see into the spiritual realm so we can be tempted to feel alone. But when we praise God, we are rallying all of the Hosts of Heaven. It reminds me of the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6 when the Lord opened Elisha’s servant’s eyes and he saw the chariots of Heaven in their midst.

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17

Praise and thank God in all things. It is the command of the Lord and for very powerful and important reasons.

This teaching by Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn is so powerful. The spiritual insights and understanding gained by listening to it is so delivering when put into practice in our lives.

Thank God Before The Battle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWcBYj4DVd8

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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.

Renewing the mind can’t merely be talked about. It must be chosen and experienced firsthand. God knows this. This is why He puts before us each day life and death telling us to choose Life, His Life, by agreeing to renew our minds (Deuteronomy 30:19). What a blessed journey.

God’s Love – all that it surely entails – is so enticing. His righteousness is so freeing and beautiful.

your (God’s) kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (doing so cleanses our minds from the impact sin has had on our thinking), that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (to live with the immense blessing His ways and thinking can have on our lives).
Romans 12:2

God’s perfect will is for us to live our lives inside His Kingdom of Light as much as we can on earth. Think of that – In His Kingdom. Wow, what a spectacular opportunity He’s inviting us into. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s like walking back into Eden letting go of this world with each step as we obey Him to renew our minds to His supernatural Word. What liberation. What Love.

I keep hearing Jesus say, “Come and experience My Kingdom.” As we learn to walk with Him, we shed our earthly ways making room for His amazingly joyful ways that bring health to our spirits in so many wonderful ways. It is so marvelous to feel Him actually changing you as you drop this world’s ways by the side.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your consistent faithfulness to keep us coming further into Your exciting Kingdom of mercy, peace, rest, and joy.

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

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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.

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

To have my eyes opened to see what conformity to this world was doing to me was a miracle. I am so thankful God opened my eyes.

Many years ago, while we were still dating, Annie had a vision (the ox cart vision) of getting free indeed in Jesus. At the time, we were dating, and we didn’t really have any idea what, specifically, that vision meant for us. What a blessing that vision from the Lord was and Jesus is being faithful to see it carried out in our lives. Hallelujah.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32

He sent His word (His powerfully, liberating ways) and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psalm 107:20

The first step to getting set free in Jesus is to stop being conformed to this world – to stop this world from making our lives miserable. If we get in the Word, we can see how the Lord wants us to live and then we have to make the choice to live that way or to continue to live like the world does. It’s up to us. We can stay bound to this world’s ways, or we can follow Jesus out of this world’s ways and into His liberating ways. Living in the world’s ways is like living in dense smog and living in Jesus’ ways is like breaking above the smog. It is so refreshing to follow Jesus. And that is a huge understatement. To be set free indeed is so amazing and it gets better the more we agree to follow Him by adopting more and more of His precious, freeing ways. This is what true repentance is all about. Repenting (or refusing any longer to live in the world’s ways) of this world’s ways enables us to live God’s ways and Life.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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.

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 (Ephesians 5:20),

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 you chose to follow and grow in Jesus, you begin to let go of so many things you thought were so important to your happiness and wellbeing. I’ve found that all the other things I thought were so important become dull and drop by the side when I find out that Jesus, and all that He is, is what I really want and need. So much of the time, when God sees my need, what God provides for me is Himself, Jesus. Honestly, Jesus is what and Who I need when I don’t know what to do and especially following a migraine attack. Jesus is what we need, people. Discovering that is entering His rest. All is well in Christ. I forget that sometimes when I think my life is about me.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

Mark

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

I had another migraine last night.  When I woke up this morning, I was reeling from the post-attack symptoms.  Right then, I knew I had to choose Jesus before the enemy began to defeat me in my thought life.  Praise God.  He is so faithful to remind us to choose Him.  

God has always wanted us to look up, to remain calm with our focus on Him. That is what He means when He tells us to come to Him all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). God wants us to trust Him in all things. This is how we rest in Him.

And when these things (the end times) begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:28

When Jesus tells us to look up in the end times (“these things”), He’s telling us He has control of everything and that we should concentrate on that instead of end times events. When we look to Him, we can remain calm in the midst of anything. He’s got us. Let the end times happen. Don’t be bogged down with them. Look up, be still in your spirit and know that He is God.

It’s okay to calm down, to abide in Jesus and to let Him work all things together for the good of those who love Him.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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.

Come unto me (Jesus), all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

I used to be so full of striving (labour) and heavy laden with control, care, bitterness, and all the other things weighing on me. It made me so sick. Jesus stepped into my life to begin fixing me. I will never be able to thank Jesus enough that He is showing me how to enter His amazing rest.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

Mark

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

I’m sitting here listening to a song about the Glory of His Presence. It is going to be so amazing to be there, precious people. So much Love and wonderful glory in His Precious Presence. We love You, Jesus.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

Mark

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

I’m really beginning to believe (and I’m convinced the Bible backs it up – see Luke 6:46f) that people who refuse instruction and correction cannot really be Christians. After all, repentance is necessary to follow Jesus into the incredible liberty He has for those who continue in His Word. They’re the ones He knows and they are the only ones who will be free indeed from the devil’s schemes.

He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
Proverbs 15:32

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.
Hebrews 12:6

Ann and I were talking during this morning’s coffee time. She pointed out something she’d read in the “Bait of Satan” book she’s reading again. A lack of obedience will cause us to live in sin and sin always leads us away from the safe, secure, liberating secret place of the Most High. We must be in the Word and applying it to our lives every moment of the day in order to get and stay free in Christ. I had been sliding into some old, generational thought patterns and what Ann shared with me snapped me out of it. I quickly went online and began reading Psalm 91 out loud over and over and over. Sure enough, I felt completely different. The Word will deliver us if we’re obedient to do what it says to do. Otherwise, we’re open to this world’s ways and the enemy’s suggestions that lead us into his traps.

Jesus wants us free. Stay open to instruction and correction. Stay free in Christ.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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.

Whenever I hear this song, I think of the times when I’ve felt Jesus’ Presence fill me. There is nothing like His Presence. It is so amazingly powerful, cleansing, moving and wonderful – you can tell it’s from another dimension. His Presence chases away everything that is not Him and you bask in His supernatural Love.

Jesus, Oh Jesus
By Benjamin Dube

Jesus,
Oh, oh, Jesus
Jesus, Oh Jesus
Jesus, Oh Jesus
Your Presence makes me Whole
Jesus,
Oh, oh, Jesus
Jesus, Oh Jesus
Jesus, Oh Jesus
Your Presence makes me Whole

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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.

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 1

A “good” courage takes God at His Word and moves out even when in the midst of fear.

I’ve been having more and more migraine attacks. I was sitting with Ann this morning during our coffee time feeling afraid, timid, and dealing with a lot of migraine-induced brain fog. Annie and I were trying to figure out why I’m having so many migraine attacks again. Annie is dealing with some battles of her own as well. That was when Holy Spirit broke into my thoughts and merely said, “Only be thou strong and very courageous.” Wow, His words really hit me and freed me from the dismay I was feeling.

We don’t have to have everything figured out about something…

Only be thou strong and very courageous. God’s children were made for war. It’s true. They were made to be conquerors by believing God and taking Him at His precious, all-powerful Word. In the above Joshua chapter 1 passage, God commands only that we be strong and courageous. He will be with us as we step out in the strength that Jesus provides by being faithful to us. When we anticipate Jesus being faithful, we can be strong and courageous. Go with God. Be thou strong and courageous. He is with you. Hallelujah.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

Mark

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

I had a really great dream last night for a change. In the dream, I was around a number of people who were really down and discouraged and I got to encourage them in the Lord. That was really wonderful and fun.

I’ve had two migraine attacks in the last 27 hours. One on each side of my head – at least I’m balanced. ☺

Why am I writing you about this? Because it doesn’t matter what comes up in life, Jesus is still King of kings and Lord of lords. That will never change.  Being reminded of that can allow Jesus to “keep” you and even inspire you to thank and praise Him in all things. Rejoice in the Lord always. It’s Life advice.

King of kings and Lord of lords – Jesus…Always.

I love you all.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

Have a blessed day, week and life as you learn the immense blessing of learning to rejoice in the Lord always, precious people.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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.

As Christians, as children of the Most High, it is important that we remember we belong to God. Our lives are no longer our own. We have given God our lives to do with as He pleases and how He sees best so we can touch other lives with His truths and comfort, and so we can bring Him glory. If we praise and thank Him in all circumstances, we will live ABOVE and free in Jesus in this earthly life He’s chosen us to live. This week, I was reminded of this when I felt badly following Sunday’s migraine attack. I was feeling kind of melancholy until God showed me once again that I am His. That really helped me get free of the post-migraine blues. Thank You, Jesus, for Your timely faithfulness.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I (Jesus) have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Hallelujah!

God bless you all.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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.

As most of you know, a while ago, God asked me to live like I’m already in Heaven. What an amazing thing to be asked to do while on this earth. God is so awesome.

Here is an excellent 3-minute talk by Johnathan.

Have a blessed day living ABOVE.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

Mark

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

I had a migraine attack last night…

I woke up this morning with the “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” song in my heart. What a blessing. God is so faithful. Look for God’s faithfulness today and this week, precious people. How fun is that, right?

Decide each day to follow Jesus. Your Life will be filled with Him.

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
By Simon Marak

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
no turning back, no turning back.

2. Though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
no turning back, no turning back.

Jesus is everything to those who follow Him. That’s why I love following Him. He puts a song in my heart and keeps me every day. Hallelujah.

Thanking and praising God in all things (Ephesians 5:20),

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.