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The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Galatians 5:17

If The Truth (Jesus) will set me free, then lies (Satan) will bring me into bondage.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my (Jesus’) sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:25

I was conformed to this world. I was earthly-minded. And, I was trying so hard to preserve and save this wrong, sinful way of life. I didn’t know it until God began to show me what I was doing, what I was involved in.

I’m a sensitive guy. For far too long, I was sensitive to the wrong things. I was sensitive to shame due to my health, I was sensitive to what others thought of me, to the fear of man, to fearing not having enough money, to wanting nice vacations, to pride, to religious pride, to wanting the world, to “care,” to handling things in my own strength, to sudden fear, to wanting to be accepted and to be like everyone else around me. Being sensitive to these things was making me weak, robbing me of all that God had for me and taking me deeper and deeper into bondage. And, I didn’t really even know it because I thought it was normal to react this way.

This was my life. It was what I knew and was familiar with. And, I was doing all I could to keep my life this way. Crazy, right?

What God wanted for me was for me to be sensitive to Him, to His will, to His Word, to be Heavenly-minded. It was the only way I’d ever be able to be healthy as the sensitive person God made me. Being sensitive to God, to His ways, truth and life would set me free in ways I could not conceive before, and make me strong in Him. I would find His peace, love, rest and joy by giving Him my attention, by turning my sensitivity over to Him and His will. This was the life God had in Mind for me. He said if I would lose my “earthly” life by turning from the way I thought I should live as a sensitive guy and focus on Him instead, He would save my life and I would truly find Life, I would truly experience His Living Water and no longer thirst for the wrong things.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

God loves us enough to not let us take our own paths. He will do all He can to make sure we walk in His paths of Life. When you let that sink in, you recognize how much you’re loved by Him, by The Eternal One.

10 The thief (Satan – The Father of lies that lead to our destruction) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10

Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, “This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might (strength) nor by power (force), but by My Spirit,’ saith the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6

So much of life is only discernible through the Spirit of God. There’s simply no other way to detect it, to see it, and then to live in it. This is why it’s so important to learn to walk with the Holy Spirit each moment of the day. He loves us so much. As we choose to walk with Him, He shows us more of His love every day in every way.

Through CCPTSD, migraines, a broken back, the fear of many, and so many other issues that were weighing heavy on me for decades, the Lord was showing me I needed Him. I needed to cast all my care on Him. He was about to begin to show me how to do that.

Truly, The Gospel, Jesus, is GOOD NEWS!

Wow, I read the Jeremiah 6:16-19 passage (below) this morning as part of my reading through the Bible each year. I knew these words were for Annie and me right now. The passage totally reinforced what God has been teaching us over the years. God wants to take all our care so we can rest in His loving, all-knowing, all-powerful care of our lives. He wants us to give Him everything, to hold nothing back from His love over our lives. He wants us to completely stop leaning on our own understanding that often contains so much camouflaged care and to trust Him with all our heart. His power and love are so far reaching, all consuming, peaceful, merciful, restful and joy-filled.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (This scripture is a real place to live in. It’s part of the dwelling place of the Most High. The Holy Spirit can make its words a reality in our lives if were willing to let Him do this sweet, mighty work in our hearts, minds and spirits.)
Proverbs 3:5-6

Is there anything in your life God wants to relieve you of? Not sure? Ask Him to show you anything that He wants to bless you with by taking it on Himself and off of you. When He shows me something He wants me to give Him, I’m always amazed at the weight that comes off my spirit.

Judah Rejects the Lord’s Way (Mark and Ann, too? Not any more when He points out to us where we may be rejecting His way.)

16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stop at the crossroads and look around (Often my crossroad is where I ask myself, “Am I trusting in the Lord with all my heart or leaning on my own understanding?”).
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
17 I posted watchmen over you who said,
‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’
But you replied,
‘No! We won’t pay attention!’

18 “Therefore, listen to this, all you nations.
Take note of my people’s situation.
19 Listen, all the earth!
I will bring disaster on my people.
It is the fruit of their own schemes,
because they refuse to listen to me.
Jeremiah 6:16-19

Ask the Lord what is stealing, killing and destroying you. Do this as often as He reminds you to do so. He will be faithful to show you where you may be – knowingly or unknowingly – rejecting His ways so you can be restored by and in His truth that brings us back to His peace, rest, and joy.

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.

Happy Monday!

It’s true, when we’re trusting Jesus, it’s easier to be happy.

Ever feel yourself begin to believe Satan’s lies? Is there anything in your heart you’re having trouble trusting God with?

Annie and I were talking yesterday about some things the devil’s trying to bug us about.

Here’s the thought we had from the Holy Spirit while talking about the lies of the devil and how we just need to trust Jesus – all the time:

“Bottom line, all the devil wants you to do is to not trust God. That’s how this whole mess started in the Garden of Eden.”

Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.*

So come on, everybody. Let’s get out there and trust God while He shows us all of the wonderful things He has in store for us. Amen?

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark – 
_{*Lyric taken from the Christian hymn, “Trust and Obey” by John H. Sammis.}

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.

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;
12 Corinthians 10:5

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 5:20

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

So come on, let’s go, my friends. It’s Monday and that means another grand and glorious week full of opportunities for Jesus to show us His faithfulness and love.

Look for His favor!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Revelation 3:22

20 Behold, I (Jesus) stand at the door (of our heart, mind and emotions), and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (This is the greatest opportunity in the universe).
Revelation 3:20

It is nothing short of supernatural to do God’s Word with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Doing God’s Word brings such amazing blessings in our spirits and lives. We have to experience it to believe how magnificent His deliverance is. He’s just waiting for us to come to Him, for us to realize how much He can bless our lives with His rich spiritual blessings.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Annie and I had an incredible time with the Lord the other morning (9-19-20) – lots of cleansing tears that blessed us so deeply. Ever so gently, God showed us how we were leaning on our own understanding in a matter instead of really turning the whole thing over to Him and trusting He that knew exactly how to handle it without any intervention on our part. He delivered us and we never saw it coming. He is so faithful. Truly, His Truth and His ways set us free deep in our spirits.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness (didn’t want to leave their ways and turn to God) rather than light, because their deeds were evil (apart from God’s ways). 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God [accomplished in God, divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].
John 3:19-21

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out (it’s so wonderful/refreshing to have your sins, your ways, replaced by God’s ways), that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Acts 3:19

28 Come unto me (repent), all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (rest by exchanging our ways of living for God’s ways of living). 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me (be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind); for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke (God’s ways) is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Sin is missing God’s mark. It’s living life our way instead of living life the way God intends for us to live – free indeed.

Repenting, turning away from our way of living to live God’s way, is often associated with guilt, condemnation, and even anger. These days, it’s often viewed as judgmental, legalistic and completely unnecessary. Nothing could be further from The Truth. Repentance gives us the opportunity to line up with God and His ways that bring times of refreshing to our lives. The changes (refreshment) God can make in our lives when we repent are often deep and spiritually cleansing. I know in my own life that I often experience a lifting of a load off my spirit, a load I had no idea I was carrying that was making life so much harder for me and, often, for those around me.

God is so freeing and loving. What a matchless, wonderful thing it is to actually feel Him work deep in your spirit as He sets you free indeed.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Wow, sometimes, I don’t even know what to say or what to send out. I’m writing down so many of the glorious things God is sharing with us. Too many to send out. Maybe we can put them in a book someday.

God is saying and doing so many wonderful things to us and in our spirits. These are freeing Truths He’s going to let us live in. Wow, how fun and healing is that?

Just yesterday, I was walking through our home when the Holy Spirit reminded me of the scripture, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth…Ephesians 4:29f.

Immediately He told me He was going to remove all fearful communication from Ann and me. He was going to do a deeper work in us by letting us walk in more and more of Heavenly faith. He was going to do this to make our lives even more free in His wonderful love. This isn’t living in fantasy land. It’s Him – The Truth – living more and more in us. We can feel His Presence working in us. Boy, oh boy. I don’t even know if I can put this into words or make it clear, but it’s so wonderful and more of His precious healing work in our lives. And He’s confirming everything He’s telling us with more and more pieces of information He sends us. Even the book, Walking Among The Unseen (by Hannah Hurnard) our good friend Kimberly just sent us, and the devotional we got from The Chosen movie series reinforced what the Holy Spirit said today.

God is SO faithful, precious people – I know, you already knew this, right?

Follow where He leads. His steps lead to the Kingdom and what a blessed Kingdom it is. The Kingdom is full of Jesus and all of His beauty. And, we’re only seeing just a small part of Who He is. Much more to come. Yipee!

He’s taking us deeper and deeper into His peace, joy and rest.  How good does it get?  Who knows, but what’s up ahead is going to be more of Him, more love and fun times. 

We love you all. ☺☺♥♥

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark and Annie

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.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 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.

13 I can do all things (I can face anything He in His wisdom allows in my life) through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:9-13

In whatsoever state is one of the most important ways God is making my paths straight, how He’s calming me down, how He’s healing my CCPTSD, how He’s making me like Him (free indeed deep in my spirit), how He’s filling me with being able to always trust Him. What deep healing He’s doing in my life by teaching me that He is with me and in control…always. For so much of my life, I didn’t know this.

As He makes my paths straight, I become more like Him, I spend more and more time in His dwelling place, I abide in His wonderful rest and care.

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.

I remember how faithful God was to get Ann and I into a counselor early in our marriage. We met with him for about 2 years. Our pastors, and many of the people at Christ’s Center Church in Junction City, Oregon also taught us so many wonderful things about marriage. It was such a blessing to have the opportunity to have so much good input and such healthy examples of what marriage could be in Jesus. We took what we learned and applied it to our lives, and we keep adding Godly insights to our marriage at the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Here’s a great way to start out the week. Ann and I heard a Family Life program last week on KPRZ here in San Diego that talked about having a healthy marriage (it can be applied to other relationships as well). They said this was key.

“The six most powerful words in a marriage are, “I was wrong, I am sorry.” If you want a great marriage, make sure those words are a regular part of your vocabulary. If those words are absent from your vocabulary, or if just one of you is saying those words consistently, then it’s a dysfunctional situation that needs help and you need a counselor.”
_{By Pastor Scott Sauls, author of the book “A Gentle Answer.”}

The Heavenly atmosphere that can be brought into a home and marriage is so wonderful when we humble ourselves and follow Jesus.

We love you all. ☺☺♥♥

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

“In the pursuit of His Presence, He’ll fix all things that need to be fixed.”

Amen. What Love.

Draw Me Into Your Presence
By The Maranatha Singers

Draw me into Your Presence
Draw me into Your Presence
Draw me into Your Presence
I want to know You

For there’s life in Your Presence
Yes, there’s life in Your Presence
There is life in Your Presence
I want to know You

Where else can I go
Where else can I hide
Only in Your Presence, Lord, can I find peace of mind

I want to know You

“When you rest in His Presence, you rest in the knowledge that He is in control.”

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.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Psalm 91:14

God’s “high” place is so beautiful. It’s where He dwells. It’s a place filled with Him, with Who He is. His place is filled with His matchless peace, grace, mercy, quiet, rest, love and joy.

Because he hath set his love upon me. Wow. As I set my love upon Him, as I choose to dwell with Him, I have access to Him. He is so beautiful. He is exactly what I need.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psalm 91:4

Under His wings, I reach the heights of His love and protection I need in order to live free indeed.

His wings are always there just waiting for us.

Mmm…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I always wanted to be in control in life. God had other ideas. He wanted to be the One in control. Praise God!

After having 38 shots in my head last Thursday, having more migraines and continuing to try the different meds the neurologists is giving me, life can get challenging. This morning, I was feeling really wiped out all the way around. God said to keep going and to simply trust Him. What a blessing it is that we can simply choose to put our lives back into His care and walk out our every day lives choosing to trust Him.

Trust God. ☺

We love you all.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark