Category: General Christian Living

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

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Keep dwelling…

God bless,

Mark

The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
Proverbs 20:27

The Lord’s light. Mmmm… Aren’t you glad and grateful that the Lord doesn’t leave us in the dark and to our own devices? He rescues us from our ways to bring His times of refreshing into our lives.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 14:12

Maybe you’re like me. I have a difficult time loving my enemy (real, or perceived) when I’m operating outside of Christ (in my ways), away from His shadow and dwelling place.

When I’m “in Jesus,” I’m safe and things are okay. When I’m “in Mark,” not so much, and I can be caught off guard and react from “my flesh,” react from “my ways.”

Whenever I get caught off guard, whenever sudden fear or hurt or disappointment come up, I try to make a habit of stepping back and listening to the Holy Spirit before responding or reacting. That’s why I memorize scriptures (like the one in Matthew above) that help me overcome negative strongholds that may be at work in my life. God’s Word will turn those negative strongholds into His mighty, overcoming, resting, joy-filled strongholds. I can’t even begin to tell you how thankful I am that He’s replacing my old, harmful strongholds with His ways. I was heading for an awful life without Him.

Matthew 5:48 above says to be perfect just like our Father. Why be perfect? Because doing His Word keeps us safe and in His joy as we incorporate His ways into our everyday life.

30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried (proven by those who do the Word): he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

31 For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
Psalm 18:30-32

The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.
Psalm 29:11

God bless,

Mark

If anyone ever had a reason to be angry or mad, Jesus did.

Any one of us has the ability to become angry and then to keep it suppressed while it seethes and works its evil in us.

Joyce Meyer used to be a very angry person. Who could blame her. I remember watching a Joyce Meyer youtube video with Ann a while ago. In the video, Joyce breaks down, and with tears says, “I now know that God allowed all the years I was raped by my father so that He could bring about a work to reach so many hurting so they could experience His healing. Now I know He really is able to work all things together for the good of those who love Him.” Until you walk through something like that, you cannot possibly understand the mercy, grace and tears of joy the Holy Spirit can give you as He transforms your anger, heals your emotions, and allows your testimony to bring His powerful forgiveness and love to so many.

All that I am,
All I can be,
Jesus, take all of me

Take all of me
Take all that I’ve got,
And make me what you want me to be
Light of the world, Jesus take all of me

Take all of me, take all that I am
And all I ever dreamed I could be
Mold and make me, Jesus, take all of me
Lyric from “Take All Of Me” by Wayne Watson

*******

Thankfully, God is so faithful to show us our heart and what resides there so He can do a mighty work to release us from any sin that’s destroying us and those around us.

And because iniquity (lawlessness) shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold.
Matthew 24:12

There are so many Bible verses addressing anger. One of the most popular ones is Ephesians 4:26. It commands us not to let anger make us sin and to not let the sun go down with us still angry lest we give the devil a foothold. The Bible (the book of James, etc.) is full of verses about anger and warns against it for good reasons.

Have you noticed? The devil is fanning the flames of anger today – His own jealousy, pride and anger caused him to fall from heaven. He’s taking full advantage of our fallen nature. And, according to the Bible, anger’s only going to get much worse with lawlessness abounding and hearts growing cold. It’s one of Satan’s most powerful lethal weapons because it’s so easy to fall prey to it and to justify it. Anger can make us feel smart, and responsible. It can prevent us believing verses like Romans 8:28 and keep us from trusting God. It appeals to our pride. Anger is the correct response to being wronged, right? Anger prevents us from looking up (Matthew 24). Anger makes us question God’s very existence, His love and will for us and our lives which is VERY dangerous to do. Anger can turn us into manipulators. It can make us even more angry when we don’t get our way. Anger makes us feel empowered. It gives us something to do about things. It helps us rationalize our position in a situation. The devil knows it can keep us from trusting God and enables us to spread our anger, unforgiveness and bitterness to others. It robs us of joy and saps our energy while it causes us much mental and physical anguish.

Anger is a setup and we must be very careful not to enter into the devil’s anger snare lest we be consumed.

The really scary thing is that the devil knows what type of situation will make you the most susceptible to anger.

Honestly, I believe anger is being used to separate the sheep from the goats. That’s why it’s so important to obey God in all things.

It’s really been pointed out to me that I can’t change anyone. Only God can really change us. I can write about how He’s setting me free, but it takes His leading and power to cause any one of us to want to change. One of the ways God points out the need for us to change something (like anger) in our lives is to allow us to become so sick and tired of something that, under the load of what’s negatively impacting our life (anger?), we become pliable and willing to let Him work in that area to set us free.

For a man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires.
James 1:20

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:9

I pray each night before bed that God will protect me while sleeping…

I had another one of my really bad nightmares last night – It’s the one about being laid off at my last work place. I woke up scared, confused, angry and questioning God. For about an hour, I laid there wondering why I have to keep having this awful nightmare – going on 15 years now. Finally, God said, “You’re mad.” I thought, “Well, yeah. Who wouldn’t be.” He said, “Praise me for the nightmare. I want to show you something vitally important.” I began to praise God for the nightmare. As I did, something happened in me. I began to thank Him for the nightmare as well. That’s when God said, “It doesn’t matter what happens in your life, I want you to always praise and thank Me. You must do this. It will keep you from letting anger get a foothold in you to control you. Anger will only lead to destruction and death, and especially today when fear and anger are becoming rampant. Praising and thanking Me in all things will keep anger away from you. Doing so will “keep” you. It will allow you to trust Me in all things by allowing you to cast all care on Me. This is so important today. It will enable you to allow Me to work in all things (including this nightmare you have) in your life and to follow My lead with peace. You must believe Me, Mark, this is best.”

One more important thing God shared with me regarding anger. He told me it didn’t matter how significant or insignificant the situation or circumstance was that was tempting me to become angry or mad. He told me to simply thank and praise Him in the situation in order for me to give it to Him for Him to work for my good. He said that, by my responding this way, He would be able to keep me. This is how I was going to be able to keep dwelling in His shadow, protected in the secret place of the Most High.

Israel is back in the land and we’re in the end times. God is getting ready to pour out His wrath on this messed up world. He’s going to do so to make a last attempt to get people to look up to Him and to desire a relationship with Him. This is what the Bible teaches. Crazy things are going to be taking place that will tempt us to become angry, bitter, resentful, and even to give up trusting God and to leave our faith in God. This is part of what the Bible calls the great falling away.

I’m telling you, get right with God in the area of anger. Ask His help in identifying anger you may be harboring. Confess any anger you have and ask Him to help you overcome anger before it takes you over. Ask His forgiveness for the sin of not trusting Him in all situations. Get in the practice of praising and thanking Him in all things before you develop a hard heart, a heart that’s beyond repenting.

Here’s a test – Is there anything – circumstance or situation – in your life (past, present of future) that you can’t or won’t thank and praise God for? If there is, you’re probably dealing with anger that needs to be repented of so you can be free in Christ.

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (including anger).
1 John 1:9

A really good resource for overcoming anger and one that can lead you into trusting God with your entire life is Merlin Carother’s powerful book, Power In Praise.

God allowed last night’s nightmare to show me something SO important. He will use it for good. He reminded me that He has the power to do accomplish that fete. He said I can learn to respond to challenges, trials and upsetting circumstances in one of two ways. I can either get mad and angry, or I can choose to give them to Him and trust Him with working it all out and using it for good. One response leads to death and destruction. The other leads to life.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24

“Jesus, forgive me for my anger, Lord. Please, now, take all of me, and all that I am including any anger I cling to…”

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 bless,

Mark

Ann and I have lived being scared, fearful, depressed, mad and angry. We’ve worked in and been through a painful church split. We’ve had to split from family in order to go on with Jesus. We’ve had hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank, and we’ve been on welfare and food stamps. We’ve each had total emotional breakdowns. We’ve lived lives where we were not thanking and praising God in all things. We’ve lived with the choices of our own understanding by not believing that God was really working all things together for our good. Fortunately, God allowed us to be put in a position where we had to take a leap of faith and to try to take Him at His Word. We wish we’d taken Him at His Word a lot sooner…

Ever thought to yourself, “I know better than to do something like that” when it comes to putting any part of the Word of God into practice in your life? I have. And it always cost me dearly. No doubt about it. I never enjoyed not doing God’s Word. Never.

The entire 11th chapter of the Bible’s New Testament book of “Hebrews” is dedicated to the men and women who chose not to lean on their own understanding, and instead, chose to follow and trust God at all costs.

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

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Romans 11:33-36

When I lean, I’m beginning to go in a direction. I may not have started down a certain path, but I’m intending to do it when I lean in a direction. It’s the first action leading to carrying out a decision I’ve made.

God never told me I could wait to “do” His Word until I understood it, until I understood (my own understanding marred by sin) why I should do it. He expected me to just do it. His ways are much higher than mine, and even past finding out (Hebrews 11:33-36 above). If I wait until I have His understanding before I obey Him, I could wait forever. This kind of reminds me of Jesus being amazed at how little faith people had in His day.

Ann and I are well aware of the fact that many (including many Christians) think we’re really weird by praising and thanking God in all things. It’s okay though because we realize how powerful a weapon it is in the spiritual weapons arsenal God’s building into our lives. And we realize that we need to keep doing it so others will take the same leap of faith we took in praising and thanking God in all things. The reward for doing it is so real and exciting in the spiritual realm. And doing it motivates us to want to be obedient to more and more of His Word that leads to the incredible spiritual blessings contained in His liberating ways.

Ann and I were talking this morning (Monday, 8-12-19) about thanking and praising God in all things like He tells us to do in various Bible passages. I told Ann, “People can have a difficult time believing they should and can thank and praise God in all things. I told her I am so thankful God showed us to thank and praise Him in all things because it has really given us a powerful weapon against discouragement, sudden fear, not trusting God, and in so many other areas in our walk with Jesus. I said, “I wonder what keeps us from obeying the scriptures about thanking and praising Him in all things?” That’s when Ann said, “We’re leaning on our own understanding. That’s what keeps us from thanking and praising Him.” Wow, her words were so powerful. They stopped me in my tracks, and really took me by surprise. I could tell the Holy Spirit was speaking something super-meaningful and liberating. This topic is so deep and wide, and involves everything in our relationship with God, with His Word.

Once I began doing what God asked of me, little by little, I began to gain His understanding of why I needed to thank and praise Him in all things. This is so true of most things God asks of me when I don’t yet understand why I should obey a piece of scripture. He’s asking me to step out in faith and to take Him at His Word whether I understand it yet or not. Satan will do all he can (“Hath God surely said? What will your friends and family think if you do it? You may look like a fool. Are you willing to risk that?”) to keep us in our own understanding so we do not get free in Jesus. God’s truths set us free and the devil knows it which is why he uses fear (like the powerful fear of man) to keep us trapped. And I can honestly tell you that I’ve been the devil’s fool by leaning on my own prideful, limited, pitiful understanding. All I ever got out of it was unforgiveness, doubting God, depression, misery, unrest, fear, worry, jealousy, the fear of man, bitterness, anger, insecurity, competition, confusion, pride, etc. Ann and I have made the choice to be God’s fools, to be doers of His Word, and to follow Him into all the freedom Jesus paid for on the cross. And, God is having us (and many others) do it so others will want to do it as well.

For the longest time, I didn’t thank and praise God in all things. I thought doing so was ridiculous and crazy. I mean, really, in all things? It just didn’t make sense – I was leaning on my own understanding and it was preventing me from using this powerful weapon and from getting free in Jesus in the area of thanking and praising Him in all things. I was being held prisoner in my own understanding – Satan loves it when we do this. As the morning moved on, the Holy Spirit began speaking to my heart and I wondered what other areas of my life were still being held captive to my own understanding. I thought about the unsaved people of this world and how they are being held captive by the world’s understanding. This is huge.

I thought, “Where did thine own understanding originate?” In the Garden of Eden, of course, when Satan said, “Hath God surely said? God knows you won’t die if you eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil.”

This is where our doubts, confusion and questioning God has its roots – This is where all sin, all rebellion against God began for mankind – With the father of all lies. This is when and where faith became fear. This is where we lost our freedom as children of God. And we’ve been building on our own understanding for thousands of years now. And the sin of pride keeps us growing it, expanding on it, and trapped in it. We love knowledge (it feeds our pride), we idolize it and worship it to the point that it robs us of our relationship with God and His Word. And so we stay bound. Think of it. How many more of God’s blessings are we missing out on because of being held back by and stuck in our own understanding? This is huge…

God sets before us each day “life and death.” He tells us to choose life. He’s telling us to be doers of His Word at all costs so we don’t perpetuate the death that keeps stealing, killing and destroying us.

Please remember, you are not fighting against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers of darkness in your struggle to follow Jesus to freedom (Ephesians 6:12). The same lie Satan used in the Garden is being used to keep you bound. “Hath God surely said?”

Is it hard for you to do the Word? Are doubt and fear keeping you from doing it? Do you find yourself leaning on your own understanding? Will you let Jesus set you free from the darkness holding you back?

Praise and thank God in all things and become FREE. Just do it and watch your relationship with Jesus grow beyond anything you thought could be achieved in Him. You’ll be so glad you did and you’ll be well on your way to becoming unbound, and free indeed.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:36

Choose to LIVE FREE – INDEED!

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

Am I willing to let God direct my paths, or am I going to direct my own paths? Will I obey Him by walking by faith? More on this powerful scripture tomorrow. This is so incredible…

Jesus: “So come on. Let’s go! I’ll show you all the wonderful things I have in store for you today and this week.”

Happy Monday, everyone!

God bless,

Mark

Whether anyone believes the following or not, it’s the truth, and everyone will discover it – sooner or later.

Isn’t it funny that we can try all kinds of things to change our lives – to de-stress, to be more happy and carefree? We can do yoga, transcendental meditation, gurus, drugs, alcohol, seminars, running, weights, bike, you name it. But, if we think of getting into God, into His Word, or begin going to a Bible-believing church, people think we’re weak or that we’ve gone off the deep end. That’s because Satan will do anything he can to keep us from discovering God Who is The Way, The Truth and The Life. Satan will let us do a myriad of things as long as they don’t involve God or His Word. The devil is scared to death of God and His Word because he knows it is the only thing that can defeat him, his lies, and his wicked plan for our lives. The Bible is kryptonite to him and he knows it all too well.

Jesus came to set us free – Free from our ways, from the devil and his destructive plan for our lives. No one and nothing else can do what Jesus came to do for us.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth (Jesus), and the truth (Jesus) will set you free.”
John 8:31b-32

God bless,

Mark

I’ve been having more migraines lately so I hope my writing is clear enough for you to be blessed.

Praising and thanking God in all things. ☺

*******

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

You know, Mark, I just can’t believe God’s Word. At best, I stumble in my trusting God and I have a real hard time casting all my cares on Him, not being afraid of sudden fear, seeing trials through with patience and joy, believing that God really can work all things together for the good of those who love Him, and on and on.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:4

Number one – be patient with yourself as you grow in Christ. No one can do any of the above on their own or in their own strength. But we have the Holy Spirit living in us if we’ve asked Jesus into our hearts and are His disciple, His follower, and a doer of His Word.

Here is the really great news. You can learn to trust Jesus and to rest in all of the above (not being afraid of sudden fear, and all the rest – I can do all things through Christ) and have His rest in your heart, mind, and emotions through Christ. It’s His promise. God sent the Holy Spirit to bring us in to all truth, to show us how to and to enable us to live in His truth, everyday.

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

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13

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

Keep believing the Word and walking with Jesus. As you cooperate with His leading, as you “do” the Word, He will do His mighty, liberating work in you and you’ll be blessed beyond measure.

God bless,

Mark

 

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

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Peter 5:5-8

Fear will torment you. It will keep you restless during the day and keep you up at night. When we come to God and cast our “care” (which is really fear) on Him, we leave our concern with Him trusting Him to work things out for us however He, in His loving wisdom, knows is best. Any more, Ann and I are always casting our care on God. It didn’t used to be that way. We used to care about everything and it was killing us. We thought we were just being responsible people trying to handle things, but God showed us we were actually carrying all this care around with us and it kept tormenting us and making our lives miserable.

Release all care (fear) to God. Be free from fear and its torment. It doesn’t matter what the “care” is that is weighing you down – Money, the future, family, job. Cast it on God. Give it to your Father. Do it now. Say something really simple like, “Fix this Daddy.” Leave it to Him. That is where it belongs.

Will you give Him your care? You can. He’s waiting for you to do so. He loves and lives to have us trust Him.

God bless,

Mark

In the days that lay ahead, Jesus will be our shield. Nothing and no one else will be able to keep us.

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Psalm 3:3

Get in the Word of God and make Jesus your shield. When trouble comes, He will keep you. That is His promise to all who love and abide with Him.

Happy Monday in Jesus!

God bless,

Mark

I come from a “Christian” family that really didn’t like conviction (being made aware of sin). That’s putting it mildly. If something was pointed out to them, they clung to their religious pride instead of humbling themselves and repenting (See King Rehoboam’s story in 2 Chronicles and how when he finally humbled himself, the Lord helped him), instead of becoming free from a sin, they’d often become hard-hearted and not repent (Hebrews 3:15). I’m learning to love conviction (For years now, I’ve had to learn to lay down any of my own lingering religious pride because of my upbringing) because it’s how the Lord removes the sin in my life that will steel, kill and destroy me. It’s how He sets me free indeed. I want so much to love conviction more and more so I can be all shiny and new in Him, in His love dwelling with Him in the secure, secret place of the Most High.

Do you love conviction? Do you love it when God shows you something He wants you to give up, to give to Him? If not, you can learn to love conviction. And it will be the most liberating place and soul perspective the Lord has ever led you to, my friend.

I love it when God shows me my true self. He’s so faithful to search my heart to see if there is anything there that may lead me into sin and bondage (Psalm 139:23-24).

22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matthew 6:22-33

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2 Timothy 2:24

Trying to make your dreams come true? Wow, doing so can become so HEAVY, COSTLY, and CONSUMING.

Striving?

Are you angry? Do you seem to have anger issues? Is something lying just under the surface of your mind, emotions or will lurking and coming out when you least expect it. Do you get “set off” by something? Do certain unmet desires really make you mad? Do you wonder why this happens?

We all have dreams, goals and desires. Some people even become Christians thinking God is some kind of genie Who will meet all their goals and make all their dreams come true. Now, God may make all their dreams come true, but not before they lay them down and surrender them to Him. If they don’t surrender them to Him, the thing, or things, they want will be idols and become a weight on their souls and lives.

“No one else is going to protect “this” (or make sure it happens) so I have to do it.” Wow, this kind of thinking (and idol worship) will only bring us under bondage. I know first hand. Whatever your “this” is, lay it at the foot of the cross. Give it to Jesus for Him to handle because if you don’t, it will consume you as you try to carry it, as you try to make it happen. It will be an idol in your life and idols always destroy us.

Why does God command us to have no idols before Him? Because worshiping anything but Him will always become a burden of sin, bring us under the expensive burden of striving, and separate us from His will and love. One of the most valuable lessons we can ever learn from God is to let Him give (see verse 33 above) us what we think we want in His perfect timing. And, we need to be so free in Him that if what we want doesn’t come to pass that we can rest in Him knowing that desire (or thing) would have caused us great harm.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11

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

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24

Today, ask Jesus to show you anything in your life that you have before Him, that’s making you strive, that makes you angry because you don’t have it, anything that won’t let His peace rule in your heart. Give that thing to Him and be free. Put it down before it puts you down. Let nothing keep you from entering His amazing rest and will.

God bless,

Mark

Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life…

Ever feel like you’re facing some awful, taunting, intimidating giants in your life?

And David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done to the man who killeth this Philistine and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1 Samuel 17:26

Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?

Ever feel like something’s mocking your efforts to believe in and wait on God? Ever feel like it’s ridiculous to try apply God’s Word to everyday living today? Do you wrestle with faith one minute and fear the next. Wrestle with keeping the faith?

Do you have any uncircumcised Philistines in your life?

Maybe you do and you don’t even know it. For the longest time, I didn’t see the ones operating in my life. God showed me to pray so they might be revealed to me and dealt with by the Word and Spirit. Some of mine were/are the lack of money, pride (religious or other), inconsistent job history, hopelessness, worry, anger, resentment, bitterness, depression, unforgiveness, religious pride, shame, fear, insecurity, unrealized goals and dreams, unmet expectations, annoying health issues, self-pity.

Maybe you’re being bothered by immorality or addiction. Whatever…

These can all be idols if we have them in front of the Lord in our life. God wants us free from all idols because they keep us in bondage.

Anything in our lives that tries to get us to question God’s love for us is just like the evil spirit that was in Goliath. It’s all lies and if you counter the lies with God’s truth and learn to stand on His truth while He deals with the liars, you will have and see the victory in any area the “Philistine” has tried to occupy in your life.

Now, for the rest of the story about David and Goliath…

32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”

34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”

38 Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.

“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head.

Israel Routs the Philistines
When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath[g] and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 Then the Israelite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp. 54 (David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he stored the man’s armor in his own tent.)

55 As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?”

“I really don’t know,” Abner declared.

56 “Well, find out who he is!” the king told him.

57 As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. 58 “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said.

And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”
1 Samuel 17:32-57

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What has God already brought you through?  How has He been faithful to you in the past?

Let it be said of us like it was said of David above. And Mark/Ann replied, “My name is Mark/Ann (put your name in here), and I live in San Marcos (put the name of your city or town here.)

The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

Praise God!

Have a blessed (Happy) week knowing that, as you choose to follow Jesus everyday, God is revealing and dealing with any uncircumcised Philistines that are lying to you. God will set you free and you’ll be able to hold the head of that thing high to love and encourage others that victory is theirs in the Name of the Lord, The Most High!

God bless,

Mark

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (Jesus), because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:18

Wow, what an incredible verse of scripture.  Amazing, in fact. 

Most of the time, I can recognize someone who’s in bondage within a matter of minutes.  It’s because I used to be in so much bondage that I literally could not turn my neck from side to side.  Really.  Now, I can tell when someone needs Jesus to set them free.  And, He came to set captives free.  Isn’t that GREAT news?

I can go to Bible school, know all about the Bible, and be the member of a church for years and still resist letting the Holy Spirit work in me. It’s true. I can still say “no” to His promptings to help me become free. And, my resistance can last a lifetime and even take me away from God. I can want my bondage more than the breakthrough He has for me.

I can choose not to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work in my life. It’s true. And it will always be to my detriment if I choose not to cooperate with Him. I can only be set free indeed if I choose to be willing to be set free. If I resist the Spirit, I cannot be set free in any area the Holy Spirit wants to work on in my life.

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench (stifle, restrain, extinguish) the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19

Does this happen to you? Through a song, sermon, Bible passage, friend, or some other means the Lord uses, you become aware and convicted of a sin in your life, you sense something you need to change in your life, only to suddenly feel something well up in you that resists, that tells you not to repent, that you’re okay just the way you are? You may feel offended when something’s convicting you and instead of coming to terms with the sin, you hang onto it out of possible embarrassment or pride? Don’t let Satan trick you into thinking you don’t need to repent. Don’t listen to him. He wants you to stay trapped and he will use whatever is at his disposal to keep you bound.

Free indeed.

Wow, those two words just hit me again this morning. It was like the Holy Spirit just made them come alive for me by showing me, again, that anything else we try in an effort to make us free cannot make us free like Jesus’ freedom can. All other things we try to gain freedom from are just idols, false, counterfeits, and have no power to set us free indeed.

If the Son (Jesus) therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:36

God bless,

Mark

God wants us to take on His character. He wants us to be like Him.

God doesn’t care about odds so He wants us to not care about them as well. He just wants to teach us that He can always be trusted, that we can always rest in Him.

I’m reading through the Bible with a one year Bible. Time and time again, I read in the old testament where kings of Israel and Judah were about to be attacked by kings with armies much larger than the armies of Israel and Judah. The overwhelming odds brought great fear on God’s people – we’re no different. When the people of Israel, out of intimidation and fear, sought God and asked for His help, God would help them by destroying the advancing enemy army, one way or another. In the end, God delivered His people when they sought Him and promised to turn from their wickedness to serve only Him.

One old testament example of odds and ends is found in the story of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37.

What God is trying to tell us is that, with Him, odds don’t matter and we don’t ever need to fear any odds that cause us fear, intimidation, insecurity, or inferiority. We don’t ever need to despair, be discouraged, or in dismay. Why not? In the end, God will always work things out for us. He’s always at work in our lives showing us that He’s working all things (odds as well) together for our good, showing us that we can trust His Word, showing us that we can always rely on Him and His faithfulness to us.

Sooner or later, we begin to understand what He wants us to know. Odds need never scare us. Regardless of odds, He will always lead us where He wants us to be, where He wants us to go, and show us what He wants us to do.

Feeling competition at school or on the job? Feel like you don’t have enough money? Is your health an issue?

Whatever odds you feel are pressuring you to give into fear are only there to show you that, in the end, God is always faithful. When you learn and remember that you can rely on this truth, you can live free from whatever used to be overwhelming odds in your life. The odds will then be in your favor all the time because God will have done this wonderful work in your life of being able to trust Him at all times.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (odds), to give you an expected end.

12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13

Fear not. With Jesus, the odds are always in our favor because they’re no longer an issue. Rest in that truth.

God bless,

Mark

A friend of ours (Thought it best not to mention their name) sent me the following the other day. I really feel led to share it with you. The timely words the Lord had them share with us really helped Ann and me this week and I hope they minister to you as well.
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Thank you SO much for the daily blessing you speak over us, Mark! It has been a gift from GOD to receive that every day!

I’m praying for you this morning – that you will be brought to that place of freedom you are destined for – in this lifetime. 🙂

These are a few thoughts I woke up with this morning. I just felt prompted to share them with you today:

A Warrior knows opposition is coming. Trained for battle, he does not fear the opposition, but expects it. As a Warrior, we are trained in patience – waiting. Not just waiting for the sake of waiting… but waiting to hear, to be given direction and strategy against the enemy. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us our enemy roams about as a roaring lion. He makes a lot of noise so we will be distracted from receiving our instructions.

It’s vital that a Warrior learn to quiet themselves and listen. Without Divine direction, we will be trying to make things happen on our own. We will fall into traps of obligation or manipulation. There is a way that seems right to a man, but that path leads to destruction. Proverbs. 14:12

There’s a big difference between making something happen – like manipulating a friendship or a career move or financial decision, and letting something happen while listening to the LORD’s instructions for that situation. A Warrior is unafraid of what approaches – doesn’t try to prevent it or manipulate it, but lets it come. Then stills himself to hear from the General of Heaven to know how to fight the battle. Be still and know that I AM GOD. Psalm 46:10 We don’t win battles by trying to prevent opposition with manipulation and making our own comfort zone to live in. We win battles by allowing the opposition and joining with our LORD to receive instructions for victory! The greater the opposition, the greater the opportunity for victory! Because our GOD truly works ALL things together for good for those who love HIM and are called according to (and in agreement with) HIS purpose. Romans 8:28

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Thank you, my friend (you know who you are), for sharing the Lord’s thoughts with me/us. I know the words will help many.

God bless,

Mark

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:16-17

God’s righteousness, His life, ALL that He is cannot fit into our flesh, our old wine skins. His life, or our flesh – One or the other must go. Our strongholds (many we’re not even aware of yet), our “why me,” our complaining, our tendency to want to trust in our intellect or our credentials or our heritage/lineage, our bitterness, our desire to control our lives, our addictions, our selfishness, our unforgiving heart, our pride, our lust, our jealousy, our insecurity, our disappointment and anger, our dreams and goals, our impatience, our greed, our hurt and wanting/striving to understand, our desire to think our way out of messes, our fear, our worry, our religious heart, our depression, our hating our enemies, our fighting God – these cannot contain Him. In order for Him to come into our lives, these (our flesh) must go. There isn’t room for both.

Double-mindedness (So many religious people live with double-mindedness. I did and God is still cleansing me of it.) will tear our wine skin (our lives) apart and make our lives miserable until we willingly relinquish all of us to Him. Conformity to this world, to the flesh, will never give us the opportunity to be transformed into His precious, liberating image and likeness.

The only question that remains is, will I get out of the way for Him to enter in? Will (and it can take a long to remove our stubborn, sometimes fearful, and proud “will.”) I pour out my life-depleting flesh so He can come in and make me whole?

“God, please show me how to die to my heavy, life-draining flesh so I can drink You, with all of Your righteousness, in so I can be made new, whole and full of Your supernatural peace that surpasses my natural understanding, so I can be filled with Your wonderful, infinite wisdom, hope, contentment, mercy, grace, peace, rest, love, and joy.”

God bless,

Mark

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