Category: Family

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

God bless,

Mark

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

Happy Monday, everyone!

Keep trusting Him.

God bless,

Mark

What has you upset today? Anything?

I’m asking God to help me make this easy to see and understand because it is such an integral part of learning to have God’s joy and victory over this life all the time.

Maybe you can relate –

I wasn’t doing a very good job of being the shepherd of my life. I even thought I’d turned my life over to Christ. But I hadn’t. Not really. God knew I needed the true Shepherd to watch over me and to guide me to green pastures and still waters. In order to do so, I needed to lay pride and all my other issues and burdens down at the foot of His cross. ☺

I’d developed a hard heart. I was confused and mad at life and God until I gave up, until I genuinely and continually surrendered my life, my condition, my plans, my future, control over my life, my health, my circumstances – to Him.

For me, that was the turning point and when I began to thank and praise Him even though I didn’t feel like it or really understand why I should praise Him in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 34:1). When I look back, in my case, that was when I began to become a true believer. That was when I began to try to believe that He really was working all things together for my good (Romans 8:28). That was when the Holy Spirit began, ever so small, to convince me that God was really capable of working all things together for my good.

You have never walked in my shoes, and I haven’t walked in yours.

But God has…

He already knows each day of your life. He’s designed a perfect plan for your life. One that includes really being enabled to live free from the impact all circumstances. In fact, it’s a life that lives with Christ above this world by having joy – His promise of joy – in all things.

Praise Him in all things and watch His grace sustain you and give you a joy you never knew before as He teaches you to overcome this world by His power.

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

There is no place like His home – And I will dwell in the house of the (my) Lord forever.

God bless,

Mark

The False Grace message is sweeping across the church. Basically, it’s leading people to believe they do not need to renew their minds to the Word of God and that’s so damaging and leaving people in their destructive sins. This is an excellent video regarding this super-dangerous and deceptive issue misleading so many today.

God bless,

Mark

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Psalm 121

Happy Monday, everyone.

“So come on and I’ll show you all the wonderful things I have in store for you, my child.”

God bless,

Mark

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

At times, we may be tempted to stray from Jesus, from The Prince of Peace. We may let something upset us that leads us away from Him. Thankfully, our need always brings us back to Him, to Who He is…The Prince of Peace. Back to the safe, and secure dwelling place of the Most High.

Wow, I was just sitting here doing some work while listening to some beautiful Christian harp music when I really sensed the Prince of Peace here in the room with me. I’m telling you, folks, Jesus really wants to heal us and give us Himself – deep in our souls. He wants to calm us down and bring all that He is to our deepest parts. That’s so loving, encouraging and reassuring. He hasn’t forgotten about our need for Him. Just the opposite. The fragrance of His being to our souls is so wonderful. So relaxing and soothing.

I’m seeing a number of Christian ministry workers getting burned out and letting their families suffer for it all in the name of “ministry.” I’m seeing signs of this in their messages. If they’re becoming angry, impatient, and weary, what are they really communicating to the world? So many are getting so worked up. Yes, I know it’s the end times, but Jesus is still The Prince of Peace. Let’s keep letting Him minister all that He is to us. I believe that’s what He meant in Matthew chapter 24 when He said to “look up” when they saw end times events “begin.” He doesn’t want us to lose Him, His precious work in our own lives. He wants us to continue setting our affection on those beautiful, matchless, abundant living things above.

He’s just sitting here with me letting me enjoy His wonderful Presence this morning. He’s incredible…

Early in life, I was taught a lot about Christian apologetics. We had apologists come to our church and impress us with their arguments and facts. I even relished the thought of knowing all about it and being able to debate others on that level. I was kind of led to believe I should be in some position in “the ministry.”

But, the Lord began to make me uncomfortable with wanting to do that. He showed me that I didn’t really have peace when I was getting into apologetics. In fact, it was producing pride and anger. All those facts swimming around in my head and spirit just didn’t give me rest – Yes, I know the Bible says we should be ready to give an answer regarding the faith we have (2 Timothy 2:15 above), but I also think God wants us telling people about how much He’s doing in their lives and hearts as well. I may have had a lot of Jesus facts in my head but I really needed Him in my heart and life. I needed to experience His love, peace, rest and joy in my life before I could tell others about the “hope” in my life.

And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 12:11

But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15 AMP

Jesus was already at work in my heart wanting to give me His peace, Himself. My ability to debate and regurgitate a lot of facts, even though they were based on Christian truth, wasn’t nearly as important as the inward work He wanted to do in me. I mean what was I really communicating to others if not the work of God in my own life? God wants to heal us. He doesn’t want us to skip or overlook His healing work in us, our marriages, our families. He doesn’t want us to put the fire out in the city – so to speak – when we, and our own homes, so desperately need His loving, living water restoring our emotions, minds, hearts and souls. Isn’t that wonderful?

God bless,

Mark

After listening to this video with me, Ann said we needed to send it out to everyone.

Do you know someone being influenced by New Age? Maybe they think yoga is okay. Into meditation apart from Jesus? The two people in the following video – who were very well known in New Age and making a lot of money in it – were saved out of New Age. Their simple, clear view of the Gospel and faith in Christ is so refreshing. Doreen Virtue says she loves conviction because of what the Holy Spirit does for her through it. Amen, Doreen!

How To Leave The New Age w/ Doreen Virtue

In this video, sister in Christ and I Doreen Virtue talk about what it means and looks like to leave the New Age…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs8V0kC9YUA

God bless,

Mark and Ann

Learning to walk with God is learning to talk with – and listen to – Him more and more each day. You might start out talking with Him and listening to Him for just minutes a day. But as you grow with Him, you begin to experience more of His peace, love and joy, and find that you’ll want to be in constant communication with Him every moment of the day.

The Holy Spirit dropped this song into my heart Sunday morning. I said, “How did you know I’d be so blessed by this song, Lord? I wasn’t even thinking about it this morning.” He said, “I made you. I know you well.” ☺

I found the song in youtube and put it on “Loop.” Ann and I played this song all day long and were both really ministered to by it playing in our home. We thought someone else might be blessed by it.

He Is Lovely
Maranatha Singers

I can see that you love Jesus first
It’s plain to me
And that you sit close and hear His heartbeat

For in your eyes I see shinning love
That speaks so clear
And I can hear them saying so sweetly

He is lovely
He is holy
Gave supremely
That all men might see
He is gentle
Tender-hearted
Risen Savior
He is God

Master Maker, Life Creator, come
And dwell in me
That my heart may know
Your tender mercy

Shine through me that all may see Your love
So full and free
And I’ll declare Your praise
Through endless ages

He are lovely
He are holy
Gave supremely
That all men might see
You are gentle
Tender-hearted
Risen Savior
He is God

You are lovely
You are holy
Gave supremely
That all men might see
You are gentle
Tender-hearted
Risen Savior
You are God

What a loving Heavenly Father we have.

God bless,

Mark

Great way to start the week – Three Kingdom Keys (They only work if we apply them to our lives and situations. This is what it means to be in Jesus. Only doers of the Word are in Jesus. They’re the ones that Jesus can keep.)

Romans 8:28 – God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him

Ephesians 5:20; Psalm 34:1 – Always thank God in all things, and praise Him continually.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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;

Have a blessed week in Jesus.

God bless,

Mark

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Song Of Solomon 2:4

Got up this morning and thought, “Wow, Romans 8:28 is God’s banner of love over my life. What could be more loving than Someone Who has complete power always working all things together for me.”

That’s when Ann said, “In order for Romans 8:28 to work for us, we have to keep surrendering our will to God so He can have His will in our lives. When we yield to that portion of scripture, we can rely on God to work everything together for our good. That puts us in the right frame of mind and calms us down so God’s peace can reign in us.”

Let Romans 8:28 work for you today and everyday. It will bring such comfort to you every moment of the day. Remembering that God is working all things together for your good brings Him into our thoughts and soothes us. It brings us back to trusting God and that’s such a pleasant place.

What love. ☺

God bless,

Mark

Thinking life’s unfair, you’re a mistake, why did God make you this way? That’s the type of thinking the devil wants you to think and be stuck in. But God has meaning for your entire life and how and where He’s made you, and where He has you.

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

You’re “the called.” Keep believing even when it’s hard to do – Don’t let the devil win the battle by making you think you need to abandon the plan God has already won in your life. God has a “purpose” for who He made you. That’s right! He’ll see you through to restoration (believing, trusting and resting in the Word – in Jesus) and give you a testimony meant for others just like you who need The Answer – Jesus.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire (the lies of the enemy we believe).
He set my feet on solid ground (Christ, our Rock)
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed (God is building His testimony in your life).
They will put their trust in the Lord.
Oh, the joys (the joy of the Lord will become your strength) of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
Psalm 40:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

God bless,

Mark

I was reading the Bible the other day and said to Ann, “It’s funny how flat the words on the pages of the Bible can seem until the Holy Spirit begins His wonderful work in our lives that reveals some of the glorious depth of His Words.”

I know what “great gain” might mean to me while I’m “in the flesh” on earth. But, what must the Lord mean by “great gain?” I want to know what He means for it must be beyond my understanding. And I want to go beyond my understanding to experience His understanding, His great gain.

I’m sitting here feeling something of the weight of God’s glory and I want to try to express the thoughts I’m having this morning.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6

Great gain. Wow, how understated those words of our Lord must be. They seem so shallow and one-dimensional to our flesh. We can only truly discover the depth and glory of those words if we choose to follow Him to that marvelous place of “godliness with contentment,” to the Holy, joy-filled place of “great gain.”

I promise you, Godliness is what you really need. And, it’s what He knows you really want.

I wanted to share something the Holy Spirit just revealed to me, again. I’ve never been happy, satisfied or had peace insisting on my desires, my will. That always only led to strife and contention between myself and Jesus. I’ve really only found Jesus’ matchless and surpassing peace and joy – real peace and joy – by submitting my will, my plans, my dreams, and goals to Him, to His will for my life. When you experience the Heavenly joy only Jesus can give you when you submit your flesh to Him, you’ll never be satisfied with anything else. Nothing can compare with His reward of joy for choosing to be willing to follow Him, His lead into His promise land for you, your life.

Oh Jesus, I want more of You. I want so much to be better at longsuffering. I want to finally be at peace and content, always, where the great gain is. I want to be better at letting You provide all that I need however You choose to do it, Lord.

Wholly Yours, Jesus. That’s what I need because the tastes You given me of Yourself far exceed this life and show me that nothing can compare with being totally Yours.

Godliness with contentment. What great gain He has for us there. Surely, there is nothing like the weight of His glory. What other-worldly joy must fill one there.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5

Oh, how great (how deep) are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! (Surely, we can only begin to understand and partake of God if we’ve asked Jesus into our lives.)
Romans 11:33

God bless,

Mark

The devil will do anything he can to steal our joy. He hates our praise and grateful hearts as we lift our praise and worship to God.

No matter how dark life may get at times, the joy of the Lord is MY STRENGTH. I will praise and thank Him in ALL things. And the more I praise and thank Him in all things, the more I remember and believe Romans 8:28, the more I sense His precious Presence and support in everything every day. Really. Put it to the test and find out for yourself.

This little, but MIGHTY, song says it ALL. ☺

Joy of the Lord (Lyric Video) | Worship Together Kids Anthem Series

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8bf-D2-WDc

The Joy Of The Lord Is My Strength (Hallelujah!)
By Benson Music

Though the tears may fall my song will rise, my song will rise to You
Though my heart may fail my song will rise, my song will rise to You
While there’s breath in my lungs, I will praise You, Lord
In the dead of night I’ll lift eyes, I’ll lift my eyes to You
When the waters rise I’ll lift my eyes, I’ll lift my eyes to You
While there’s hope in this heart, I will praise You, Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance in the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength

When I cannot see You with my eyes let faith arise to You
When I cannot feel Your hand in mine let faith arise to You
God of mercy and love I will praise You, Lord

How You shine with glory Lord of light I feel alive with You
In Your Presence now I come alive, I am alive with You
There is strength when I say I will praise You, Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance in the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength

The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance in the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength

When sorrow comes my way You are the shield around me
Always You remain my courage in the fight
I hear You call my name Jesus I am coming
Walking on the waves reaching for Your light

The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance in the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength

The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance in the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength

God bless,

Mark

In the above video, as you listen to the waves coming on the shore, I want you to think of our Father’s love for you. Like the constant waves, in His infinite, faithful, endless love – all that He is – He keeps pouring onto us.

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

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23:6

Go ahead. Take the seat. There’s no other life like it. It’s so good to be still in His endless waves of love. Mmmm…

God bless,

Mark

Folks, I’m no different than anyone else. We all have issues in this life. Circumstances put a ring in my nose and were jerking me around all over the place, up one minute and down the next. Mostly, down. When I finally got so overwhelmed with the things I was facing, I had to find an answer out of my problems. And, I found that Jesus is the only way out. I promise you. Jump off the seesaw of conditional living and get onto Jesus, The Rock. He will always remind you to be glad – always – in Him.

When you get free of the impact conditional living can have on your life, your mind, emotions, and spirit, you’re free, indeed.
_______

It just dawned on me again that I’ve been battling so many health issues all my life, and this morning, I was feeling a little strange in my head again. I was kind of dizzy and tempted to take on fear. Nothing new there, right?…☺

I thought, “I’m not going to give into my circumstances.”

That’s when this song came to me. Thank You, Holy Spirit! Sooooooo, I cast all my cares on Jesus, found the precious, simple song on youtube and began singing it. Sure enough, He made me glad and put a smile on my face. It’s such a wonderful and liberating thing to learn “in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content (Philippians 4:11),” and to have the Holy Spirit enable you to count it (whatever is trying to steal your joy in the Lord) all joy (James 1:2-8). Hallelujah! Thank You for Your GREAT faithfulness, Jesus.

I Will Enter His Gates
By Leona Von Brethorst

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart,
I will enter His courts with praise,
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made,
I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

He has made me glad, He has made me glad,
I will rejoice for He has made me glad,
He has made me glad, He has made me glad,
I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5

God bless,

Mark

The following is taken from Joyce Meyers’ “Closer To God Each Day Devotional.” When I read it this morning, it really ministered to me and I sensed the Holy Spirit wanted me to send it out to you. ☺

_______

Avoid Comparisons

…When they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely.
2 Corinthians 10:12

If you’ve dealt with insecurity in your life, an important key to overcoming that insecurity is this: Never compare yourself with anyone else because it invites feelings of inferiority.

I really want to encourage you to stop comparing yourself with other people about how you look, what position you occupy, or how long you pray. Comparison puts the focus on self and thwarts God’s plan for your life.

In the same way, we would be wise to avoid comparing our trials to those of other people. You may be going through something difficult, but don’t look at somebody else and say, “Why is all this happening to me while you’ve got it so easy?”

Jesus revealed to Peter ahead of time some of the suffering he would go through. Peter immediately wanted to compare his suffering and his lot in life with somebody else’s by saying, “What about this man?” Jesus answered by saying, “If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of yours?] You follow Me!” (John 21:22).

That is His answer to us also. We are not called to compare, only to comply to His will for us.

God wants you to know that you are unique and He has an individualized, specialized plan for your life.

_______
God bless,

Mark

Jesus is the Word. So Jesus is Romans 8:28, Colossians 3:15a, and all the rest. Whenever I get anxious about something, the Holy Spirit reminds me about Romans 8:28 and that God’s working all things together for my good. That reminder helps me to let the peace of God reign in my heart. My anxious thoughts are replaced with God’s peace as I turn the situation over to Him – again.

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

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
Colossians 3:15a

Happy Monday, everyone.

Jesus: “So come on, let’s go, and I’ll show you more of the wonderful things I have in store for you as My child…”

God bless,

Mark

God wants us to be free in all of our day-to-day activities and interactions. He wants to unburden us from the weight this world and life attempt to make us carry.

God knows that, beyond all else, we need His kingdom in our lives. When we have His kingdom operating in our lives, we know how to cast our care on Him, we’ve learned not to be afraid of sudden fear, to let His peace reign in our hearts, and how to be still in all circumstances as we rely on His faithfulness, mercy, grace and love. And, the fruits of the Spirit are operating in our lives making life abundant and care-free. Christians have such a great salvation.

One of the greatest gifts God has for us is for us to learn how to live this life casting all our care on Him each moment of our day. Doing so enables us to live care-free and that’s a life worth living and celebrating. His salvation is so wonderful. And, it includes a care-free life.

“Oh, thank You, Jesus, for constantly reminding me to cast all my cares on You, my precious Lord.”

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength (in your inner man where we tend to take on “care”) through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Ephesians 3:16-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

What love God has for His children. He takes on all of our care and shows us how to live our daily lives trusting in His care for us. What freedom, joy and rest.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart reminding that He’s my help.*

There’s no other path like the narrow way. To know Jesus…Mmmm, that’s true salvation.

Because He lives, I can “fear not!” The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find, none others is so loving, so good and kind.*

That’s Jesus.

God bless,

Mark 
*Lyrics taken from “He Lives” Christian hymn by Alfred Henry Ackley

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.
Romans 6:17

God knew, that among other things, I was a slave to “care.” I’m so grateful He came into my life to begin a new work in me. One that would free me from the restless, tormenting burden of care.

Like me, keep casting all your care on Jesus, precious people. This habit will pay off with a new peace, rest and joy that only He can provide. This is one important way we come to the Father through Christ.

When you’re tempted by “care” today, cast it on Jesus.

“Father, in the mighty Name of Jesus, please take this care and give me Your reassuring peace that passes my understanding. Thank You, Father. And now, let me be a blessing to everyone I meet today. Give me Your favor. Protect and cover me. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

God bless,

Mark