Category: General Christian Living

In the 80s, popular Christian songwriter Keith Green’s “No Compromise” album cover pictured Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego not bowing their knee to the king’s edict. They would not give into his command. They did not fear him. They chose to bow down to nothing and no one but their God, the true God. Don’t bow your knee to fear in any form. Don’t do it and watch God cover you like He did with those three (see Daniel chapter 3).

What are we rehearsing? What are we choosing? What posture am I used to living in and reacting from? Is it fear or FAITH?

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh (Yes, fear will come and try to make us bow to it. The question is, what will we do when it comes?). For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 3:25-26

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

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death (fear), blessing and cursing: therefore choose life (faith), that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20

What are you choosing each day?

Be not afraid!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:11

Sinning against God is so harmful to our lives. A lot of the time, we don’t even realize we’re doing it, and so often we sin against Him by conforming to this world. He has so much for those who will seek Him.

No God, no peace. Know God, know peace. This is so true. I’m a living testament to it.

Years ago, I thought I knew God. I thought I was doing all the right Christian things. I thought I knew what God wanted, what He was up to, etc. But, I still didn’t really know Him. I still didn’t have His peace. I thought I did, but I didn’t.

I used to get offended and kind of angry when others would point out something in my life they thought was not good for me. I didn’t like it when God’s Word spoke about something in my life I thought I didn’t seem to have any control over. But, the longer I live, the more I listen to the Holy Spirit, the more I realize God wanted me to follow Him, to know Him so I could be free from things that could harm me clear down to taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Wow.

He merely wanted to set me free so I could live in the love His Word has for all of us. God wanted me free and I used to fight His freedom. Hmmm…

Thankfully, He kept pursuing me and wouldn’t let me wander off from His intense, all-consuming love for me.

He loves you, precious one. Let Him have His way with you. He only wants to make you free indeed.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalm 91:1-2

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Psalm 84:10

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

It really doesn’t matter how I “feel,” Jesus’ Truth still works. His Truth will dominate all else when put into use. It’s up to me to choose His Truth (Him) over how I feel so I can have the victory in my thought life. This is so important. It’s the difference between spiritual life and death.

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

Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.
2 John 1:3

I was telling Annie about some thoughts I woke up with that tried to bring “care” on me. The next thought I had was to praise and thank God for exactly how my life has gone and to thank Him for the wonderful future He has in store for me. It’s amazing how thanking and praising Him cancelled out my own understanding and brings His liberty back into me. Using His understanding, that is, thanking and praising Him in all things, sets me free like nothing else. His truth, His Word, Jesus, is so freeing.

His grace, mercy and peace truly belong to anyone who will continue to choose to live in His Truth and Love.

Then said Jesus to those Jews (and anyone else who continues to believe on Jesus) which believed on him, If ye continue in my word (This is key), then are ye my (Jesus’) disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth (Wonderful Jesus), and the truth (Jesus) shall make you free (from lies that try to snare us and bring us back into bondage).
John 8:31-32

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.

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 4:18-19

God is always in the “now.” He’s always working all things together for the good of those who love Him. Right now, right now, right now, right now – all day long, God is working all things – all things – together for our good. What amazing favor, protection, security and love.

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.

Right now, God is working on your behalf. And with God, it’s always “now.”

Hallelujah!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Ann and I watched this earlier in the week (By the way, you may want to order the book like we did). The program aired on Focus On The Family. This pastor has some really great insights into how the Bible fits with what people say they’ve seen in Heaven. We hope it brings you the same joy it brought us. ☺☺

Holding On to the Hope of Heaven – John Burke

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.

Let His peace reign in your heart as you follow Him this week. Let Him show you all the wonderful things He has in store for you.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I don’t remember if I’ve shared the following. It keeps coming and growing. It’s so light and easy to do. It’s like, “Why was I ever holding back?” ☺

And said, Verily I (Jesus) say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3

being confident of this very thing, that He (God) who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

Wow is all I can say. Jesus makes life so fun and full of adventure like only He can.

God is working a new thing in my life. He’s being so faithful to keep doing the work He began. He’ll do it for anyone. The other day, He began moving in my spirit. I heard Him say He wanted me to begin walking around the house reading the Bible out loud with the help of the Holy Spirit. He meant He didn’t expect me to do the reading in my strength, but by the power of His Spirit. This is the best I can describe it. Next, He wanted me to start praising Him and praying in the Spirit out loud in the power of the Spirit. Doing these things in the Spirit is so light and free. It takes almost no human effort.

Then, God said, “This is the person I created you to be. And there is much more ahead.”

God is so liberating. He merely asks us to listen to His Spirit and act on what we hear without giving any regard to our “reputation” or the fear of man in the process. Pretty amazing stuff.

Keep looking up, my friends. God is so good all the time. Lighten up. If you’ll listen, you can hear His voice and discover just how good He is as He works all things together for the good of those who love Him.

Yipee! 

Like a child, believe Him and hold nothing back from Him. He’ll bring His freeing power into your life and change you from glory to glory.  Fun stuff…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

It’s a really miserable life to be full of care. I know first hand.

Because of where I’ve come from, I can’t be around people who take on care, fear, and talk a lot of unbelief for too long. I need to be around people of faith, people who truly believe God is in control and working all things together for their good.

Moses in The Chosen series: “I’ve learned to obey Him without questioning.”

We live in amazing times. It never ceases to amaze how Jesus wants me to give Him all my cares. At one time, I was full and overflowing with “care.” It was so bad that it spilled onto many others.

I was thinking about our car repair yesterday, Covid, the recent elections and some other things. That’s when Jesus broke into my thoughts and said, “How do you know that all of these things that cause you care are not somehow a blessing? I have this, Mark. Rest, relax, drop the anxious thoughts care brings to your mind. Trust Me. I can bring blessings out of anything for those who trust Me.”

I could feel His immense, supernatural Love in what He was saying to me. It was so soothing.

I was so sick with care. God saw my need and broke into my life with His love, truth and mercy. I’m so thankful. I’m so thankful I can’t live for long without Him bringing me back to trusting Him with it all. He’s truly teaching me to obey Him without questioning. That’s where true liberty and rest are. He’s so wonderful. He has me.

And, dear one, He has you as well…☺

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.

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away.*

I’ve had so many burdens in my life. I really could find no rest for my fretting mind and emotions.

Are you weighed down with any burdens today? Jesus wants to relieve us of them all. Honestly, He’s the only One Who can.

Jesus saith unto him (Mark, and any one else who’s tired of burdens), I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6

Jesus: “Mark, come to Me with all your burdens, so I can bring you to My Father. You will never be the same. I promise.”

It’s such a wonderful thing…

There is so much power in the cross of Jesus.

What can wash away my sin (my hard heart filled with burdens, my stubborn resistance to His cleansing blood and love for me)?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.**

The more I take up my cross daily, the more I surrender to Jesus, the more I’m willing to exchange my old habits and strongholds of insecurity, bondage, bitterness – and the rest of my list – for Him, the more His penetrating, healing and liberating Love ministers to me. He is just so incredible. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There is so much in Him and so much He wants to lavish on us.

I no longer look at the cross as something hard and impossible because at the cross, I’m finding Him and He’s releasing me from every burden. I’m discovering new, abundant Life and it’s all possible because of Jesus.

He knew the cross would be the biggest blessing for me. He knew it was the only way for me to let go so I could find His Life in order to be set free indeed.

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself (my anger, pride, self-pity, frustration, unforgiveness, selfishness, care, worry, fear, etc.), and take up his cross (and find True Life), and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life (hang onto heavy burdens) shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:24-25

Oh, the joy we find in Jesus as He removes our burdens so we can truly live free indeed in Him. When Jesus replaces burdens with Himself…Mmmm. Hallelujah.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark – ChoosingJesusEveryDay.com
*Taken from “At The Cross” by Isaac Watts
**Taken From “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus” by Robert Lowry

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 was loving on Annie this morning. I was telling her how I was so taken by her beauty the first time I saw her. I was telling her how blessed I am to be her husband and how her life has helped to bring me closer to Jesus. I love to love her. I love it when Jesus loves her through the love He’s given me for her.

No one cares for us like Jesus, precious people. His love shines through His Word and in so many other ways throughout the day. What a precious Savior He is. Always pointing us to all that He is and all that He has for us in Him.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus
_{By Charles Weigle}

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus,
Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true.
I would tell you how He changed my life completely;
He did something no other friend could do.

Chorus
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.

All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me;
All my heart was full of misery and woe,
Jesus placed His strong arms about me
And He led me in the way I ought to go.

Chorus
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.

Ev’ry day He comes to me with new assurance;
More and more I understand His word of love.
But I’ll never know just why He came to save me,
Till someday I see His blessed face above.

Chorus
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 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

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

We’re so afraid of not being like the world, of not fitting in. The devil wants us to fit in to the world. He will do everything he can to make sure we don’t have changed lives. So we swear, we drink, we get angry, frustrated, resentful, and bitter when we don’t get our way, we worry, we’re greedy, we strive, we work towards the pride of life, you name it, just like the rest of the world does.

You will be so messed up if you think you can be conformed to this world as a “Christian.”

This is not what Jesus has for us. He wants us free from the world and all of its trappings – traps kill. Jesus died to give us the opportunity to come out of the world by living free in Him, by doing His will, by believing and letting His Word live in us right in the midst of this world.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Wow, God has given us the opportunity to believe Him. It’s the most valuable gift we can be given.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

This passage of scripture is the best news ever given. God was about to save us from the fall. He was about to restore the relationship He had with us in Eden. What great joy it is. We can cast all care on Him. We can trust in the Lord with all our heart. He will keep us in perfect peace as we keep our minds stayed on Him. He will never leave us nor forsake us. His peace can reign in our hearts at all times. We are more than conquerors through Him Who died to set us free from our sins of worry, doubt, anger, pride, and all the rest.

He has dealt with fear. He is trustworthy.

Good Tidings Of Great Joy…

Hallelujah!

Believe and keep believing – watch Him move in your life.

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.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luke 21:28-33

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

The Lord’s blessing (the joy that accompanies right living – righteousness) is on all those who follow Him, who do His Word, who keep growing in Jesus, who keep being set free and willing to change in order to become like Jesus in all their ways.

Hallelujah!

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’m seeing God raise up more and more people who are committed to keeping their minds stayed on Him. Their focus is becoming sharper and more determined than ever to this mind set:

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalm 91:1-2

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

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark