Category: Family

At times, we can get hit with fear. Often, when fear comes, we’re tempted to feel alone, abandoned, on our own, marooned on the island of our own understanding. But, God is with us and reminds us of that fact with His Word. We can take fearful thoughts and times captive to the obedience of Christ. We can praise and thank Him in all things. We’re reminded that God is working all things – even this temptation to fear – together for our good. Remembering His Word reminds us that we’re His child and that we’re never alone because our Father is always with us.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 43:5

Jesus: “It’s okay, I’m here.”

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Let Jesus do His mighty, loving work in your heart by removing everything else that really doesn’t matter anyway. Jesus is teaching us to focus on Him, alone. And, as He does this wonderful work in us, we find that He alone is our desire.

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

Jesus, our Prince of Peace…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I won’t look to the left or right
My only goal is keeping You in my sight

Lord, I’m keeping my eyes on You
Following You, following You
My Lord, I’m keeping my eyes on You
Following You
Following You, my Lord*

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:25-27

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark
*Lyric from Keeping My Eyes On You by Twila Paris

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.

The Word is our sword. It does us no good if we don’t learn how to use it and if we don’t take it out and swing it around when the enemy attacks.

The Word of God is SUCH a blessing. I’m always amazed at its power and what it can do in me.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God cuts to the heart of the matter because God wants us free and victorious. Praise God!

Ann told me, “Thank God for how you were feeling when you first got up, Mark (see the regular CJED email for today). He’s showing you how to live in His Might by taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Hallelujah!”

She was right on.

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I don’t like brats and bullies. Never have…

Got up today feeling the depressing, weakening emotions of the migraine I had Sunday. The enemy’s lies were flying all around me. “You’re a victim, you’re a victim, you’re a victim…”

I had enough. I got out my Oregon list of verses and began saying them out loud. Soon, The Truth of God’s Word began to change my mind and emotions and I became strong in the power of His might.

The devil wants us feeble-minded. He wants us spiritually weak in our minds.

The devil will do all he can to keep you a victim in life, to keep you reacting to all of life from a victim mentality and stance. I know this firsthand. On the other hand, Jesus died to make us victorious over all of life. Lies keep us victims. Jesus, Who is The Truth, sets us free to be victors.

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Hebrews 12:1-3

Fear thou not; for I (God) am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (The Truth).
Isaiah 41:10

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

The best thing I can do when I get hit with fear or some intimidating spirit is to step back and ask God what’s really going on right now. I let the initial impact of fear go by and then react in Jesus. I let His peace rule in the situation.

God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). That means fear can come from only one other source – Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44). Lies create fear.

With all of the changes taking place these days, it’s easy to be consumed by all the lies flying around. The enemy is so active with his poisonous lies. This is why it is imperative that we’re in God’s Word, The Truth, as much as we can be these days. This is why I say the Word out loud as often as I can. Doing so expels fear along with the principalities and powers of darkness we wrestle with in the spirit realm.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 John 1:4

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.

Then said Jesus to those Jews (or Mark, Ann, and anyone else who will take up the challenge to believe Jesus) which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:31-32

The sooner we get onto the fact that Satan is a liar and only wants to take us down, the sooner we can get with God’s plan for our lives by studying and living God’s Truth that sets us free from the devil’s lies and plans for us.

Satan has one life for you and God has another. I was living listening to a lot of the devil’s lies and it made life unbearable. God’s Truth is setting me free from the lies that had me believing that I was not worth anything to anyone, that my life just made everyone else’s lives more difficult, and so on.

God has a plan for your life no matter how difficult it may seem. He wants to redeem us from destruction and He’ll do it if we’ll let Him transform us with His Truth.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Thank You Lord For Saving My Soul
^{Lyrics and music: Seth and Bessie Sykes}

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free

So come on, everyone. Let’s go and find out what Jesus has for us this week as He continues to show us His great love and faithfulness.

Praise 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.

30 As he (Jesus) spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (from the devil’s lies that attempt to impact and destroy our lives).
John 8:30-32

10 The thief (the devil and his lies) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus and The Truth) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (the abundant life is one lived free from the devil’s lies).
John 10:10

I can attest to the fact that lies lead to PTSD and then to even deeper CCPTSD – YOu can google the list of deadly CCPTSD symptoms. Lies lead many to so many wrong conclusions about themselves, their past, and their future – in general, life. Living in the lies of the enemy leads to passing lying, destroying, oppressive, tormenting strongholds onto future generations. The Truth of God is the only thing that can stop lies and their destructive impact.

“The evil kingdom holds its power by one thing – lies. And that’s what (The Apostle) Paul said (in Romans 1:25), “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie.” The evil kingdom gains its power by lies. It holds its power by lies by suppressing The Truth (of God). What the evil kingdom fears most is Truth. Truth.”
^{Taken from the youtube video titled, “Where We Are Now” by Pastor John MacArthur while speaking on Romans chapter 1}

Here is the rest of Pastor John MacArthur’s timely, and excellent teaching, “Where We Are Now.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TDlc6axH2o

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 (Jesus) 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

Only God can remove the evil, anxious, striving thoughts (enemy lies) associated with “care.” By telling us to cast all our care on Him, we take “care-derived” thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and experience His peace. His peace is so freeing.

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

The devil can so deceive us with “care.” He’ll disguise care any way he can to get us to carry it. It can come through hurt, anger, unforgiveness, striving, responsibility, pride, and so many other avenues. And, he lies to us making us think we must continue to carry cares.

With CCPTSD, I was in an IC (Intensive Care) for many decades. Only Jesus could release from the prison the devil’s lies had me living in.

Oh, precious Jesus, please set us free from all care as we agree to cast it all on You, wonderful Savior, for you to deal with. Thank You so much for lightening us from the heavy burden of care. You truly are the Good Shepherd. You are the Good Shepherd. You are the Good Shepherd. You are the Good Shepherd. Thank You for watching over our minds, bodies, emotions and souls. Lord Jesus. Thank You that you will be faithful to do Your almighty work in our lives. Hallelujah!

I don’t know what kind of “care” you’re trying to carry these days, but I do know the One Who wants to set you free from all care, and He’s so loving, powerful and wonderful. Casting all my care on Him (where all care belongs) is one of the most fun things I can experience. Really!

Doing God’s Word has nothing to do with legalism. It has everything to do with setting me/us free indeed. The more I follow the Word, the more I’m enjoying Life. ☺

Yipee! Jesus is setting me free!

I’m getting so blessed obeying the Holy Spirit. He keeps surprising me with how much more “care” I can cast on Him and how He’ll take “care” of whatever I agree to give Him to work out however He wants to in His time. It just keeps amazing me.

I knew the Bible verses that indicated Christians should and could have God’s peace, rest and joy. I knew a lot of them by heart. But I still didn’t have those Spiritual attributes operating in my life. As time went on, I met Christians who seemed to be able to trust in the Lord at all times – how I did not yet know. And to make it worse, some believed in Romans 8:28 and said it gave them peace that put a stop to their worrying and fussing. For the first time in their lives, they knew God was in control of their lives and it made such a difference in their lives. Knowing God was in control of their lives gave them a new sense of calm and control in life.

Well, I knew I had to have what they had. When I found out how to go about getting what they had in Jesus, I began doing what they did to get Jesus’ peace – Really, it was getting Jesus into me. And it worked!

That’s why I write Choosing Jesus Everyday emails. I want others to know Jesus and His incredible faithfulness, peace, rest and joy. There is simply nothing like Jesus living in me.

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, Everyone!

I want to share something wonderful with you – you probably already know this. As long as I was operating in my own understanding instead of trusting in God with all my heart, I had a very difficult time believing and living in the amazingly freeing truth of Romans 8:28. My own understanding (not filtering something through the Word and Holy Spirit, but rather trying to deal with it in my own, limited flesh) about something would block and blind me from seeing the blessing God had in store for me in a situation. I simply could not believe or acknowledge that God could use it for my good as long as I was not trusting in the Lord with my whole heart.

As a child of God we have this enormous blessing of being redeemed not only from our sins when we ask Jesus into our lives and repent of our sins, but we have this incredibly powerful Savior redeeming everything in our lives each second. This is what Romans 8:28 is all about and it’s one of the most loving things I know about Jesus.

Romans 8:28 is key to being able to take all thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. There is so much freedom, peace, rest and joy when our thoughts obey Christ.

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.

Often what we perceive as the “good” things of earth can lead to pride, jealousy, fear, worry, striving, stress, and restlessness.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Matthew 7:11

Today, as I look back on life, I can see how God has (and still is) given me so many “good” things. These are the things that have replaced worry, fear, shame and stress with His love, peace, mercy, faithfulness, joy and rest. I now have a “knowing” that He’s always with me working all things together for my good now that I didn’t have for so many years. And I wouldn’t trade this “knowing” He’s given me for anything.

Truly, God gives so many “good things” from ABOVE where moth and worm cannot destroy. These are the most valuable things we can ever be given.

Thank You, Father.

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven (God’s good things found by doing His Word), where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (When my heart is abiding ABOVE, I have His peace, contentment, covering, mercy, favor, rest and joy – I have Jesus).
Matthew 6:19-21

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

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus
^{Lyric taken from Give Me Jesus by Fernando Ortega}

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

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 must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
^{Lyric from I Must Tell Jesus Christian hymn by E.A. Hoffman}

Some (like I did for decades) trust in chariots, and some in horses: but (this is the truly saving turning point) we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 20:7

Like many in America, I spent many years trusting in chariots and horses – things the world learns to focus on and trust in. These are the “sand” most of us build our homes on without even realizing it’s what we’re doing. God saw where this would lead me and, just in time, stepped in to teach me how to remember the name of the Lord.

Build Your House on the Rock
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine (Jesus) and “does them” will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and “does not do” them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

I can’t take any credit for learning how to apply God’s Word to my life, for learning how to build my life on Christ, The Rock. Yes, I did take the time to memorize pertinent scriptures God gave me to help me heal, but His leading and motivation in my life are what determined how things have turned out. Today, thanks to His faithfulness, I have a peace, rest and joy I can only attribute to Him – to His mighty Word – that’s changing me inside out.

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.

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 affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Happy Monday!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
2 Kings 6:15-18

God: “I’ve got this.”

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

So much could be written about the shaking the Bible talks about and what it means to each of us.

What are your “buttons?” What can set you off, make you mad, etc?

The devil’s a thief. He’ll steal anything he can from you. And, he’ll take your Christian witness and testimony from you if you let him. It’s true.

The thief (the devil) 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

In the above scripture, we’re told that the devil only comes to steal, kill and destroy. He does nothing but this. That’s how miserable and awful he is. And he wants to infect as many others as he can with his tormenting, consuming, suffocating, killing power.

Many today are opening themselves up to the devil. He’s hitting a lot of their “buttons.” People are letting in his anger, division, rage, revenge, hate – all sorts of evil. These same people have little to no spiritual discernment in the things of God. As a result, they’re going to become Satan’s prey to the point that they will do whatever he wants them to do. This makes these kinds of people and their agendas very dangerous – spiritually and physically.

These days, what can be shaken will be shaken. If we try to hang onto anything today, we take on the chance of becoming angry if it looks like “it” can/will be taken from us.

The enemy wants us to be angry. This is his area of expertise and his arena. He knows how to get to us and to get us to do his bidding. Those who let themselves be taken in by the enemy will have a very difficult time as they open themselves up to injustice, fear, worry, pity parties, pride, disappointment, discouragement, dismay, depression, anger, unforgiveness, resentment, hate, revenge, and all the rest.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Romans 12:19

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9

If you feel yourself becoming and staying angry, ask God to help you see what is happening to you. The devil tries to get a foothold in our hearts through anger. If he succeeds, he’ll pour more of his poison into us to the point that we’ll lose the work Jesus has done in us. We’ll become open to things that will attempt to steal, kill and destroy us.

Thou (God) wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

Pray for each other that God will keep your discernment clear is these last days. Be in the Word. And if you feel yourself beginning to be consumed by anger, ask God to help you flee that trap. He’ll be faithful to provide the way of escape.

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.

Annie and I were discussing today’s world last night and I told her how the Lord had been showing me how exciting our times are and how He can work all things together for my good. It was powerful, fun, and I felt I can’t wait to see how things unfold knowing I’m His child.

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

God alone has the power to make all things work for our good.

No matter what, my friends, keep believing Romans 8:28. This is what Jesus continues to impress on me. When you cover today’s world with Romans 8:28, life is exciting and an adventure only God could create.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow. Hallelujah!

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.