Knowing The “Word”

Hello Fellow Christians,

God gave us the entire Bible for a reason…

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Timothy 4:1-4

I heard a Joel Osteen youtube video the other day.  In it, he told the interviewer he doesn’t like to talk about hell and other related, “heavy” topics because “people are so beat up and beaten down” that he feels it’s not right to talk about those subjects.  He wants to talk about topics that lift people up.

I know my gift is to encourage others as well and I have to admit, I’ve gotten some good insights from Joel.  But, even Jesus talked about hell and other themes Joel stays away from.  If the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), I want to know how not to sin, how not to miss God’s mark, how to live God’s ways that will bless my life.  If Jesus taught these points, shouldn’t we, especially in today’s environment?

The truth (Jesus – John 14:6) will set us free.  If Jesus didn’t, then we can’t conveniently omit topics that are actually meant to set people free.

I’ve been listening to some folks talking about all of the confusing “Christian” doctrines being slung around these days – They stated that there are very few churches they’d recommend.  Reminds me of how important it is to know the Word, the Bible.  Knowing what the Bible has to say keeps us from getting lead astray by “every wind of doctrine.”  It’s also important to pray about teachings and to ask God to show you if the teaching is out of order or not in line with His will.

Whenever I hear of some new movement in the church, I watch it for a while and note what some others are saying about it.  I don’t just jump in and I don’t get on the “band wagon” until I’ve tested what the ministry is saying and teaching overall.

Lots of times, when a new ministry or church begins talking about and emphasizing money, I get really cautious.  Sure enough, most of the time, the teaching begins to sound “off” when compared to what the Bible teaches as a whole.

There are many groups and teachers talking about the gifts, money and being seeker-friendly these days.  Be careful, people.  If the teaching isn’t talking about Jesus, the cross, eternal salvation or damnation, laying your life down, loving your wife and family, etc., be very leery of it.

By the way, recently, I read that even the people attending the famous Willow Creek Community Church aren’t satisfied with the shallow, seeker-friendly atmosphere.  They want to go deeper in Jesus and the leaders are somewhat confused on just how to do that…

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Ephesians 4:14

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13

God bless,

Mark

I Want To Be More Like Jesus

Even a simple smile can really make someone’s day…=)

I Want To Be More Like Jesus
By Keith Green

As each day passes by,
I feel my love run dry.
I get so weary, worn,
And tossed around in the storm.
Well I’m blind to others needs,
And I’m tired of planting seeds.
I seem to have a wealth,
Of so many thoughts about myself.

I want to, I need to, be more like Jesus.
I want to, I need to, be more like him.

Our fathers will was done,
By giving us his son,
Who paid the highest cost,
To point us to the cross.
And when I think of him,
Taking on the whole world’s sin,
I take one look at me,
Compared to what I’m called to be.

I want to, I need to, be more like Jesus.
I want to, I need to, be more like him.

Remember, there’s no greater love,
Then to lay down your life for a friend.
The end of all my prayers,
Is to care like my lord cares.
My one and only goal,
His image in my soul.
Yes my weakness is revealed,
When by his stripes I’m healed.
Hes faithful and hes true,
To complete the work he begins in you.

I want to, I need to, be more like Jesus.
I want to, I need to, be more like him.

‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:18

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:44

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you.
John 15:12

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
Romans 12:10

Love does no wrong to its neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.
Romans 13:10

The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14

and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
Ephesians 5:2

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:34

God bless,

Mark

Rejoice, Rejoice, Oh Christian!

He is not here:  for He is risen, as He said.
Matthew 28:6a

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

“Who is this King of glory?  The LORD of hosts, he [is] the King of glory.  Selah.”
Psalm 24:10

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts:  the whole earth [is] full of his glory.”
Isaiah 6:3

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.  Selah.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:  God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:  he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah.
Psalm 46

I played and sang to the following precious Christian hymn over and over yesterday.  Boy, it just lifts your spirit and brings joy to your whole being – it makes the fact that Jesus lives in you really come alive in your heart.  How can anyone be down when they sing and apply the truths found in the song’s lyric?  Praise Jesus.  We win, precious people!  Let Jesus live in your heart by yielding to His Lordship all day long, dear ones.  He changes everything!

No one and nothing like our wonderful Jesus…

He Lives!

I serve a risen Savior
He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me
I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary,
I never will despair;
I know that He is leading,
Through all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing
Will come at last.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs
To Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him,
The Help of all who find,
None other is so loving,
So good and kind.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

God bless,

It’s really pretty simple…
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

Mark

Works Of The Flesh And Fruit Of The Spirit

God’s so attentive and faithful to help us monitor our hearts so we’re kept safe from care and worry, to maintain our love and peace.

Lately, I’ve been around some folks who are pretty worried about one thing or another.  I don’t know how people can live with such worry, strife and stress.  But, then I remember that I was the same way before Jesus began to show me how I could be set free from strife, care and worry, and that He would show me, really show me in my heart, that He’s working all things together for my good.  Truly, I don’t know what I’d do without Jesus in my life.  He’s totally changing me for the good.  He really does keep His covenant with those who have asked Him into their heart.

One link about Galatians 5 was titled “The Obvious Works Of The Flesh And Fruit Of The Spirit.”  In other words, God is telling  us how to discern if someone is living for their flesh or living for Jesus.

In verses 17-21 below, we see the evidence of someone choosing to live after their flesh.  It’s not pretty and will eventually lead to eternal separation from God.

On the other hand, verses 21-26 portray the blessed fruit of the Spirit of God as a person seeks after God and denies their flesh.  This person will live with God forever in Heaven and will reap the benefits of the fruit of the Spirit operating in their life while on earth.

The comparison between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit is pretty obvious.  In Matthew 7:16-20, the Bible tells us “you’ll know them (people) by their fruit.”

I love how the Lord points these lessons out to us.  It helps to keep me lined up with the fruit of the Spirit, with seeking God with my whole heart, and to not let any works of the flesh deceive me.  For instance, if I begin to lose my peace, or any of the other fruit of the Spirit, I pray and ask the Father to help me get back on track with Him.  In other words, I repent and begin, again, seeking Him and His Kingdom with my whole heart.  He’s so faithful to answer that prayer.  ☺

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Keith Green – How can they live without Jesus?  How can live without God’s love?  How can they feel so at home down here when there’s so much more up above…

God bless,

Mark

Sinners

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8)

Hi Folks,

Satan would have us think that we’re better, or more important, than others.

Aren’t you glad we’re all sinners.  It’s a prerequisite for being saved.  Being sinners kind of levels the playing field, so to speak – In God’s eyes, no one’s better than anyone else.

I heard a funny comment the other day.  A fellow said it to someone who had a lot of money and the money man was trying to use it to influence the fellow.  You could tell the man with the money was used to getting his way due to the importance he thought his money gave him.  The fellow said to the rich man, “Your money doesn’t make me stupid.”  The rich man didn’t have a reply…

We’re all in this life together.  We all need a Savior.  We’re all susceptible to the sins of idolatry, anger, pride (religious pride, too), arrogance, unforgiveness, selfish ambition, drunkenness, bitterness, hurt, insecurity, lust, jealousy, the love of money, resentment, and a false sense of importance.  These types of sins, of missing God’s blessed ways of living, eat away at our lives.

why we need to come to the Lord.  He’s the one Who can place His Holy Spirit in us to help set us free from the sin that tries to steal, kill and destroy us.  Jesus revitalizes us and gives us wings like the eagle as He removes sin from our lives (Isaiah 40).

We’re all sinners.  We all mess up.  Jesus can come into our lives to help us get free from sin’s impact.  This is why I choose Jesus every day.  After all, I’m a sinner and I mess up. ☺

We love you all.

God bless,

Mark

Beginning The Week With Adoration And Praise

23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.  24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.  25 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.  26 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.  27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.  28 Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.  29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.  30 Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.  31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”
1 Chronicles 16:23-31

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:  2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
Psalm 92:1-2

God bless,

Mark

Heaven and Money

Hello Precious People in Jesus’ Mighty Name,

The other day, Ann and I were talking about the man who took his life because he was afraid of losing all his money.  The man had been a multi-billionaire and had recently lost a couple of billion due to the crash in 2008.  He still had billions…

Do Not Be Anxious – There is a great secret to be learned here.  And, God can show us how to discover this hidden jewel.  Somehow, we can trade anxious for His peace.

Wow, I want to learn how to let God make the following scripture passage a true reality in my life.  I want to live as carefree as the sparrows as a result of seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness by exchanging my earthly ways for His supernatural, life-transforming ways.  I know God can do it or He wouldn’t have included it in the Bible.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air:  they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’  or ‘What shall we drink?’  or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:25-33

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans 14:17

I don’t want to do a quick “drive-by” and just shrug off these types of passages thinking they’ll never really become a reality in my life so why give them my time.  I want to live them.

Money takes up so much of our life on earth.  In Heaven, money’s no object.  If the Kingdom is truly at hand (Mark 1:15), and if money’s no object in Heaven, can that become true in my heart while I’m on earth?

It’s going to be such a relief to be free from money.  That’ll be nice.

Take time to think about Heaven and the joy that Jesus can bring to us even in this life if we’ll let Him teach us how to rest in His love and provision, both physically and spiritually, for us.

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

God bless,

Mark

Through

Praise God, we’re going through.  ☺

One day, we’ll be through with “this.”

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:32

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

When He set them free from the Egyptians, God had the right route planned out ahead of time for the children of Israel to reach the promise land.

Why do I have to go through “this?”

I’ve been thinking about that thought lately.  Lots of folks, including me, are going through some challenging times in their lives – I just need to remember that challenges are meant to grow me into God’s character, to strengthen me, to give me great faith, joy, peace, love and rest.

It was like the Holy Spirit said that the key word in the sentence is “through.”

Like the children of Israel in the wilderness, He’s setting us free from the “Egyptians” in our lives and He’s taking us through.  We won’t always be going.  We’ll finally be done with whatever the “this” is in our lives and will have arrived intact at the destination God planned for us to reach all along.  The place God wants us to reach will be worth anything we’re going through to get there.  We just need to trust Him.

Fear not, people.  God has everything in control.  He knows right where we are in our walk with Him.  He knows the best route for us and He’s bringing us through to a blessed place.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:17-18

God bless,

Mark

The Way Of Love

I’ve found that I’m more open to God’s love when I’m weak.  More grace operates in my life when I’m weak as well.

I have to say that the more the Lord shows me that I need to have more of His love in my heart, the easier life becomes.  Life becomes more enjoyable and less stressful.  I’m a better husband, father and neighbor.  My mind slows down, it has more peace, and I can relax more.  I listen more, I’m more patient, compassionate, have more Godly wisdom and understanding, and I’m more gentle.  His love reminds me of how wonderful it is to be loved by someone who is allowing God’s love to live through them.

God’s love brings a lot of comfort to us if we’ll ask Him to produce it in our lives and yield to it each time He shows us how to live it out.  What a blessing God’s love is to all it touches.

The Way of Love

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.  As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians Chapter 13

God bless,

Mark

Finding Jesus

I just love it when Jesus interrupts my day to remind me to find Him…

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

Why does Jesus encourage us to seek Him with all our heart.  Because He knows that only in Him is the self-control, gentleness, peace, mercy, love, joy, rest and fulfillment that will satisfy and bless our soul’s deepest needs and desires.  Nothing else in this world can do that.

Nothing like finding Jesus, our Savior, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

God bless,

Mark

We Want Challenges So Our Faith Will Grow

We actually want challenges so our faith grows strong.  Wow, how cool is that?

I had a really challenging dream and lots of challenging panic attacks last night so I’m pretty weak today.  But, that’s okay because…

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:  for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10

Boy, I live off these types of teaching.  I just love how Jonathan builds us up by showing us the tremendous advantage challenges offer us.  Rather than running from challenges, he encourages us seek them out.  Wow, that’s revolutionary and so uplifting.  We don’t need to fear challenges, we need to develop an attitude of embracing them.  Amen!

Lots of other Jonathan teachings talk about facing off against fear and how he’s seen God show up time and time again to deliver him from evil and fear.  That inspires me and keeps me fighting the good fight of faith.  Knowing the Lord’s with me is everything.

Below is the transcript of Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s message excerpt, “The Resistance Secret.”

*******

The Resistance Secret
By Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

The principle of exercise, something we’re aware of in the physical realm, but it’s revolutionary when you take it to the spiritual realm.  And that is, how do you get into physical shape?  You exercise.  You use your muscles, you use your heart.  The more you use it, the stronger and more healthy you become.

So how do you become spiritually fit or spiritually strong?  You use, you exercise your spiritual muscles.  The more you exercise your faith, the more faith grows.  The more you exercise forgiveness, the more forgiveness grows. The more you exercise worship, the more worship grows.

Something so simple yet something so radical.

If you don’t exercise these things, they shrink.  God made the body so that if you don’t use something, it gets less, and weaker.  And, that’s true in the spiritual.  If you don’t exercise the things of the Spirit in your life, they get weaker.

But, here’s another very important key.

Exercise, generally, while there’s different kinds, but this is one of the most key, most basic kind involves resistance.

You must flex your muscles against something, you must move against something that is hard to move.  The more powerful you want to become, physically, the more resistance you need in the exercise.

Therefore, if you want to grow spiritually strong, you have to involve yourself with resistance.

What is resistance?  Resistance is whatever blocks your way, whatever resists your way, whatever is hard to do, hard to move, hard to lift, hard to press.

What’s hard?  Well, for instance, problems are.  Problems are resistance.  Trouble is resistance.  Challenges are resistance.  Obstacles are resistance. Things not going your way is resistance.  That traffic jam is a resistance.  Trials, when people are coming against you, that’s resistance.  Testing in the Lord is resistance.  Difficulties, hardship, when things, you know, we want things to go our way all the time, but it’s when things don’t go our way, that’s when we have resistance to grow stronger.

The things that are hard to do are what gives you strength in the end.  The very things we complain about are the very things we try to avoid, the very things that make us stronger in God if we apply it.

One of the reasons many Americans are out of shape is cause they try to avoid any kind of strenuous anything.  Any heavy labor, anything labor saving all the time.  We have all these labor and time-saving devices, and we have no time.  How did that happen?  We should have all the time in the world, but we have no time.

You know, we got a car at one point and the light didn’t turn on automatically when it got dark out.  And it was like, “Wow, how could this not happen?”  We never had that before.  But now, you get used to not doing anything at all.  We have GPS so we don’t even have to think anymore.  You know, what happens to your brain?

Many Americans are out of shape because they’re trying not to have any resistance, any kind of labor.  And so, they end up being fat, and weak, flabby and unhealthy.

In the spiritual realm, think about it, we seek to avoid resistance, or problems, challenges.  We want life to be smooth, everything to be smooth, but you’ll get weak in the Lord.

We think the most successful life is a problem-free life.  That’s not so. It’s not.  Paul didn’t have that and he was successful.  That’s the very life that keeps us weak, and flabby and unhealthy in the Spirit.

The very resistance you have in your life is the very thing that will allow you to grow stronger, better, higher.  If you didn’t have problems, you’d have to seek to have problems so you could have something to give you resistance if you want to grow strong.  When you’ve got problems, instead of seeing it as a problem, say, “This is my resistance training.  These are my weights.  I have to lift them with the muscles of the Spirit.”

Now we say, “No pain, no gain.”  Well, I don’t know if it has to be that, but no resistance, yes.

It says in the Bible, “We persevere…” (as in 2 Peter 1:5-7).  And as we do it, things grow in us.  We get fruits of the, we get all these qualities by persevering in the Lord.

You know, sometimes the very things that happen against even, you know, God calls you for something, there’s resistance that comes and we think the resistance is bad.  But, the resistance allows you to exercise God’s Presence in the situation.

For example, if you have hate around you, that’s when you can exercise, truly, the love of God.  And so you’re actually given the chance to show that.  And when you exercise, you’re actually choosing to have resistance, you’re actually choosing, “I want this weight in my life.”  Why?  So you can get stronger.

And so, that’s the point here…

One of the key things about exercise is it has to be regular and consistent.  That means you have to in your life, if you want to grow, you have to say, also, “Listen, I don’t want to just stay where I am, I want bigger challenges in the Lord.  I want challenges.”

It’s not just about avoiding challenges, I want challenges.  That should be our attitude if we want to grow.

What does it mean to have challenges in your life?  It means to choose, listen, here’s a challenge that’s going to stretch me more than I’ve ever been in the Lord.  Or, my challenge is I’m going to spend more time in the Word than I ever have before, I’m going to witness more, I’m going to share the Word more, I’m going to be more.  That’s the challenge.  Take it up, if you want to grow stronger, you have to take on the challenges.  And, stop avoiding challenges because that never will make you stronger.

And you have to say, “The object in my life is not to avoid any discomfort.  My object in my life is to do the will of God. And I’m actually going to look forward to dealing with challenges because they are for my good and in them, I can grow and manifest the power of God.”

And so, from here on in, I’m actually going to look forward to dealing with challenges.  If that’s your attitude, you’re going to have no problems in your life.  Why?  Because every problem is not going to be a problem in your life but a challenge for your own good.

That’s a whole different attitude, but what a better attitude.  That’s an attitude of advancing and not retreating because through whatever challenge I deal with, I will become stronger.  It changes the way you deal with it. If it’s just a problem, “Oh no, it’s just this problem again, and it’s happening again, and/or this person’s talking about me. ”  Now, these types of situations are just challenges and I just need to do the right thing.  “Lord, show me how to exercise my faith here.  Show me how to have victory here, show me how to exercise Your love here.”

And when you get that done, then you can move to a higher level.  So don’t fear challenges, but embrace challenges in the Lord for the joy of victory, for the growth God wants.

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God bless you all,

Mark

Peace That Passes Understanding

But without faith it is impossible to please him (God):  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

One thing’s for sure, God knows the future and is working all things for my good.  I don’t know the future and I need to learn to trust God with it, to be happy and content letting Him be God.

Something came up the other day and I got stuck in trying to understand.  Years ago, I used to “have” to understand all the time and it got me no where most of the time.  I was so tormented with spending so much time trying to figure things out.  In fact, I could get into fear, care, anger, frustration , bitterness and resentment when the understanding didn’t come or when a matter didn’t make sense and appeared to be unfair.

The other day, when what was on my mind began to bother my spirit, I asked God to help me have peace about it even if I didn’t understand it.  I told Him I didn’t need to understand it, I just wanted His peace.  So, as the above verse states, I sought Him – aren’t you thankful that scripture tells us what to do when we need help?  I asked for His help believing He would help me (I was trying to exercise my faith in God).

Well, God gave me His peace and it was wonderful.  His peace is so precious and comforting.  It gave me joy again.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

My heart and head say, “I don’t get it.”  Faith says, “I’m going to trust God when I don’t get it.”

Maybe you’re like me.  I can’t always get peace by trying to understand a situation and understanding doesn’t always come at the time I feel it should.  That’s why I’m really grateful that I can ask for God’s peace that passes (instead of, in place of, leaving the situation with God, etc.) understanding.  Instead of being able to understand, He gives me peace when I can’t, or don’t, understand.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your peace that passes understanding.

God bless,

Mark

Good From Bad

Hello Everyone,

Being able to console each other is one of the most wonderful things to experience in life…

The following is taken from a Joyce Meyer daily devotional for July 5th.  It’s a really good reminder that God is able to work all things together for our good when we trust and wait on Him.

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Good From Bad

As you for, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day.
Genesis 50:20

God wants to restore your soul.  The closer you get to Him, the more you experience His healing, strengthening, restoring power.  He’ll take you back to where your life got off track and make everything right from that moment forward.

Joseph is the classic biblical example of how God takes what was meant for evil against us and works it for our good.  In that dramatic scene where Joseph is speaking in Genesis 50:20, he tell his brothers that the evil they meant to do to him (and it was truly evil), God had used for good to save them and their families and hundreds of thousands of others in a time of famine.

In my own life, I cannot truthfully say I am glad I was abused.  But through the power of forgiveness and yielding my pain to God, He has healed me and made me a better, stronger, more spiritually powerful and sensitive person.  He has restored my soul and driven out the fear and insecurity.  I can trust, love, forgive, and live with simplicity in my approach to life because God has restored my soul, and He can do the same thing for you.

If bad things have happened in your life, remember this:  Only God can restore your situation.  He can bring good from bad.

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Honestly, the longer I (Mark) walk with Jesus, the more He’s showing me that He’s able to turn the sting of hurts I’ve experienced into consolation, compassion, peace, rest and joy.  It’s amazing how He’s able to do that in my heart and understanding.

By the way, I heard a more recent account of Joyce talking about the abuse she experienced in her life and she has even thanked God for it, and is glad it happened, because she can now truthfully see that God is using that experience to help bring His loving healing to so many.  She would not have had this opportunity (and her life’s work) to share God’s love with others if she’d not been abused and received God’s love, compassion and understanding for others.

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. We just need to keep walking with Him and let Him take the time necessary to show us how He can, miraculously, work all things together for our good if we’ll stay in faith and trust Him.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

What an all-powerful, loving God we have. ☺

God bless,

Mark

Keeping Your Heart From Deception

There’s so much that comes to mind about today’s topic.  Here’s some of what’s on my heart this morning.

Some people learn about how to stay away from trouble by reading, some by observing others’ mistakes, and some just have to learn by making their own mistakes regardless of being warned ahead of time.

Safe in the arms of Jesus…No place like it!

“Looks like there’s a few weeds growing in the back yard.”  “I know.  There aren’t too many yet so I’ll get to them next weekend.”  “I don’t mean to nag, but that’s what you said last weekend.”

For, “In just a very while little, He (Jesus) who is coming will come and will not delay.
Hebrews 10:37

Who/what are you bonding with, Mark?  Are you procrastinating, compromising, being complacent or nonchalant in an area of your life regarding your spiritual life?  Are you getting comfortable with something you shouldn’t be allowing?  Are you thinking, “It’s okay, I’ll deal with it.  And, anyway, it’s not that big a deal?”

I was at a computer training center taking a class in the new version of an application we used at my workplace.  I was with another person from our company.  We’d finished that day’s session and my peer asked me if I wanted to go grab a beer.  To my own surprise, I told him I couldn’t drink any more because that’s how I started to fall away from the Lord at one time in my life and that I knew I probably wouldn’t survive another falling away from God since it is so hard to come back to Him.  He was okay with my answer and even appeared to respect my position on the matter.

There was a time in my life when I wasn’t guarding my heart like I am today.  I thought my heart was safe, but I was being deceived.  I thought, “I got this.  I’ll be okay” with an unfamiliar arrogance (God’s protective humility was slipping away from my heart.  Humility is such a crucial spiritual barometer).  What I discovered is that this kind of thinking is super-dangerous.

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:  I hate the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me.
Psalm 101:3

What had happened is that I began dating a really popular girl.  As a result,  I was becoming pretty popular with some classmates who weren’t close to God but who were recognized as the “in crowd” at my school.  And, I kind of liked it.  I thought I could handle more and more of the worldliness I was subjecting myself to and letting into my life.  I didn’t realize that I was really being pursued and seduced by darkness – Satan will do whatever it takes to destroy your walk with the Lord..

Without really realizing it (Deception’s trick), I was spending less and less time with the things of God.  Unperceptively, gradually, I slowly slid then fell away from Jesus, and my heart became “hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

In His faithfulness, the Lord allowed a few hard lessons (a bad car wreck and being held up at gun point to name a few) to bring me back to Him, but the prodigal situation I’d been living in cost me all the fruit God had grown in my life up to the point before I fell.  It would take decades to grow that fruit again.

I can’t even tell you how important it is to guard your heart with ALL diligence.  I discovered that no one else can do it for you.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you must monitor and protect your heart from every tentacle of darkness that tries to deceive you and lure you away from the precious, safe dwelling place of the Most High.

The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near.  So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12

But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13

And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Revelation 12:9

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
Galatians 6:7

The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!  (I remember the devil telling me the same thing.)
Genesis 3:4

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
Psalm 91:9

In Psalm 91, the writer implies that the protection mentioned in this passage is only for those who have made the Lord their habitation, their dwelling place, the place they live, where they spend most, if not all of, their time.

Above all else, guard thy heart; for out of it flows the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23

Please make sure you’re guarding your heart with all diligence.  Ask God to show you how you can guard your heart and if there’s anything in your heart, in your life, that may be deceiving you, that may cause you to eventually lose your relationship with God.

Blessed (safe, at peace, joyful, resting, not fearful) is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Psalm 40:4

Because he hath set his love upon me (God), therefore will I deliver him:  I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:  I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation (God rescued me from the destruction pride, arrogance, fear, jealousy, lust, drinking, swearing, anger, frustration and other attributes that darkness had brought into my life by my falling away from Jesus).
Psalm 91:14-16

God bless,

Mark

Ek-Ballo

Then said Jesus to those Jews 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 following was taken from Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s June 2017 newsletter.  I thought it was excellent and a blessing for us to remember once again that Jesus loves us and strongly desires for us to remove all darkness from our lives so we can live free in His will.

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Spring is the time of Passover, the season in which the children of Israel left Egypt for the Promised Land.  Note that they didn’t just inherit the Promised Land. They didn’t just one day decide to enter in and set up houses.  Others had occupied before them.  Therefore, for the Israelites to inherit the land, they had to fight.  They had to drive out those who were there before.

This gives a key to our spiritual lives.  You, too, have been called to inherit the Kingdom.  But the Kingdom of God isn’t just inherited – it’s battled for.  The enemy has strongholds.  Sin has strongholds.  So in order to take ground in the Lord, it is not enough to believe for it – you have to fight for it.  If you want to grow in the Lord, you have to fight a spiritual fight.  You have to dispossess the strongholds that sin has maintained.

One of the powers that Messiah gave to His disciples is that which is called in Greek, “ek-ballo.”  Ek-ballo means the power to cast out.  It’s a crucial power.   It’s not only the power of casting out demons from the possessed – but also the power to cast out any darkness that has occupied or gained a foothold in your own life.

You have the power now in Messiah to cast out fear, to cast out bitterness, to cast out lust, unforgiveness, depression, and any other dark thing that has replaced the Kingdom.  Many believers make the mistake of accepting these things in their lives.  They make truces with them and they live the rest of their lives compromised.  That’s the same mistake many of the Israelites made when they didn’t drive out all the inhabitants from the land.  They ended up living a compromised, hindered, and paralyzed life in God, without seeing the victory.  Don’t make that same mistake.

God has called you to inherit the land, but you have to fight for it.  And the way you fight is you drive it out.  Light will always drive out darkness.  Good will drive out evil.  And the Presence of God will always drive out sin.  So exercise your power of “ek-ballo,” the power to cast out – starting with your own life – for God has given you the power to cast out so you can enter into the land and life of blessing.

May God equip you and strengthen you as you cast out and enter into the life of blessing that He has for you.

Your brother and fellow minister in the Great Commission,

Jonathan

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God bless,

Mark

The Gospel (Jesus) Is GOOD NEWS!

I want to start off by telling you that, almost more than anything, I wanted to be a “man.”  I wanted to command respect, to take on responsibility and to get things done.  I wanted the respect of others and to be filled with the pride and satisfaction of a job well done and a disciplined, beautiful family.  This desire drove me to the point of spiritual, emotional and physical exhaustion.  Believe me, I know what I’m talking about in the areas of fear, worry, pride, strife, and care.  It caused me to want to take my life, many times over…I now know that was satan’s intention.

As I’ve stated many times before, I was raised in a religious environment.  My father was the president of a well-known Christian ministry and many of my relatives were pastors or employed in Christian work.  My father ended up having an emotional breakdown because he worried a lot and never learned how to cast his cares on the Lord even though many tried to help him get free in Jesus.

While growing up in a very large and proud Baptist church in the Southern California area, I was told not to drink alcohol, not to use cuss words, not to smoke, not to hang out with the wrong crowd, etc.  Now those things (except  pride) were all good for me, but what I didn’t realize until later in my life is that, by their actions, most Christian leaders taught us to worry, to take on care, to strive, and to stress out until others felt sorry for us.  I often heard the words, “He’s such a hard worker” about those who were so heavily burdened with care.

We weren’t encouraged to cast all our cares on the Lord even though we were taught the verses that clearly stated to do so.  We were taught to memorize the Word, but applying it was another thing altogether – I wonder if this is why so many leave the church after a while.  We’re not transferring our cares to Jesus.  Even our pastors often looked weighed down with care and responsibility.  At times, it could make me wonder if Christians were really any better off than the unsaved.

I worked with a lady in an accounting department while living in the Tulsa, OK area.  Whenever she sensed I was taking on too much work and becoming too stressed out about it, from behind her cubicle wall, Amy would say, “Hey Mark, how much does it weigh?”  She meant, how much does the world weigh today?  Her comment was always followed by a contagious laugh.

This was Amy’s way (God was enabling her to help me) of getting me to lighten up and to let go of the weight of work – I learned that letting go actually made my work more pleasant and easy to manage.  Amy was a real God send and often said things to remind me that God wanted me to always be casting all my cares on Him.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me (Jesus), because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor.  He (God) has sent Me (Jesus) to proclaim deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19

Folks, it took me a really l—o—n—g time to discover that the gospel is good news, that it’s not some heavy, religious thing.  As the above scripture proclaims, Jesus came to set an example for us.  He came to set us free, to show us how to get back to the joyous life Adam and Eve lived in the Garden before the fall.  I believe this is why the Holy Spirit keeps speaking to my heart about Heaven and to keep looking up.  To me, it’s as if He’s saying, “Don’t let yourself get bogged down with earthly circumstances.  Cast all your cares on Me.  I want you to be a joy-filled man who will reflect my love and redemption to those who are captive to anxiety, depression, strife, the cares of this world, etc.”

I (Mark) love each of you and just want to help us all to keep our eyes on the prize that is set before us.

The Bible says it’s going to be difficult to be a Christian during the end times.  I can think of two reasons for this.  First, lawlessness will abound making men’s hearts grow cold (Matthew 24:12), to grow more selfish and arrogant, and to, thereby, lose love for our fellow man\lady.

But, I also think that we can become so bound (so horizontally focused instead of vertically focused by keeping our minds on Heaven’s joy) by what’s happening on earth that we’ll lose our joy, our focus, our purpose which is to live for Jesus and to help others with the joy of the Lord He’s shown us we can have if we’ll simply keep looking up by remembering that He’s working all things for our good, by praising Him in all things, by taking care-filled thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and by letting the peace that passes understanding fill our souls, hearts and minds.

Cast all your cares on Him, and teach others to do the same.  You’ll save yourself and others much misery.

Casting all your care upon him (Jesus); for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7

to proclaim deliverance to the captives – those (Like I was captive for too long) captive to care, worry, anxiety, depression, other lies of the enemy of our souls, you name it.

Come unto me (Jesus), all ye that labour and are heavy laden (anyone labouring under and laden with fear, worry, anxiety, depressive thoughts, strife, circumstances, trying to always understand…), and I will give you rest (Jesus can and will remove all those things from us).  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.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Be freed from all care, precious ones…Leave all your cares at the foot of Jesus’ cross, and help others to do the same.

After all, that’s the Gospel (Jesus), and it really is GOOD NEWS!

God bless,

Mark

Keys Of The Kingdom – Three Keys To Renewing Our Minds

 

 

 

 

 

Some time ago, the Lord impressed upon my (Mark) heart three important elements we needed to pay particular attention to.  God stressed the fact that, regardless of how we may be feeling, we couldn’t be nonchalant about our Christianity in order to follow His leading in our lives.

The devil will do everything he can to discourage you from truly believing and acting upon these three keys.  But, if you persist and renew your mind to these three scripture truths, you’ll be well on your way to discovering an abiding peace, rest, joy and true liberty in  Christ.

Often we combine all three, but there are also times when one or two of them come to mind just when we need them.

The first key was to learn to take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:3-5

I (Mark) was having so many defeating thoughts and didn’t feel like I could overcome them.  Jesus taught me to “change the channel” (take thoughts captive) whenever harmful thoughts came to mind.  For instance, when we were on food stamps and welfare, I felt so ashamed, embarrassed and worthless.  Jesus told me that when those negative thoughts attacked me that I was to say or think Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Doing so would take my mind off the attacking, lacking thought and remind me that God would provide for us.  This verse gave me a way of extinguishing the enemy’s fiery darts.  If the fiery dart was regarding my past or hope for my future, I was to remember Romans 8:28 and the fact that God would and could use anything for my good.

By showing me this second Kingdom key, God was going to add more liberty to my thought life by helping me to always remember that He’s working all things (like welfare, ill health, or a questionable future) for my good even though I could not understand how He was going to do it at the time.  I believe that when a Christian has this rich truth developed in their heart, that it produces a liberty and peace of mind beyond words.  The protection that the power behind this verse contains is so supernatural and freeing.

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

Romans 8:28 can bring great deliverance to a person who’s dealing with panic disorder and anxiety disease.  It has the power to disarm fear and change anyone’s outlook by turning any situation into an opportunity to cast care on Jesus.  I really believe this verse leads to perfect love casting out fear (1 John 4:18).  Just writing this puts a Holy Spirit smile on my face.

The third key is praising God in all things.  Praising God no matter the circumstance can bring His Presence on the scene and intercept enemy attacks of hopelessness and despair.  At times, when I have trouble sleeping, I begin praising God and the next thing I know, I’m waking up after having fallen asleep.  I also use praise to intercept satanic lies.  Praising puts me in a God frame of mind.  Never forget, satan wants our attention and tries to grab it with his fiery darts.  Praising God can instantly place our attention back onto God and His faithfulness.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
2 Thessalonians 5:18

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1

The Three Keys Are:

1. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

2. Remember that God Almighty is working all things for your good

3. Praise God in all things

 

 

God bless,

Mark

But The Lord Is Faithful…

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV

The Promise
By The Martins

“I (Jesus) never said that I would give you silver or gold
Or that you would never feel the fire or shiver in the cold
But I did say you’d never walk through this world alone
And I did say, don’t make this world your home

I never said that fear wouldn’t find you in the night
Or that loneliness was something you’d never have to fight
But I did say I’d be right there by your side
And I did say I’ll always help you fight

‘Cause you know I made a promise that I intend to keep
My grace will be sufficient in every time of need
My love will be the anchor that you can hold onto
This is the promise, this is the promise I made to you

I never said that friends would never turn their backs on you
Or that the world around you wouldn’t see you as a fool
But I did say like Me, you’ll surely be despised
And I did say My ways confound the wise

I didn’t say you’d never taste the bitter kiss of death
Or have to walk through chilly Jordan to enter into rest
But I did say I’d be waiting right on the other side (yeah, yeah, yeah)
And I did say I’ll dry every tear you cry

‘Cause you know I made a promise that I’ve prepared a place
And some day sooner than you think you’ll see Me face to face
And you’ll sing with the angels and a countless multitude
This is the promise, this is the promise I’ve made to you

So just keep on walkin, don’t turn to the left or right
And in the midst of darkness, let this be your light
That hell can’t separate us and you’re gonna make it through
This is the promise, this is the promise I made to you, oh
This is the promise, this is the promise I made to you”

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 AMP

God bless,

Mark

People Need Jesus

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.  Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 18:9-12

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

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

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:33

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

We visited a garage sale in our area on Saturday.  Huge home overlooking our lake.  The man who owns it is in the oil business.  He has homes all over the world.  Anyway, the renters of his home were the ones having the garage sale.  The house is for sale so they have to move.  The renters had a lot of neat wind chimes all over the yard and around the outside of the home.  The man renting the home was selling a number of Bibles and other Christian books in the garage sale.  I wondered if he ever really knew Jesus and if he was merely backslidden.

Ann and I walked around to the back deck looking at the wind chimes.  We found a wooden one we liked and bought it.  While we were on the very large deck, the friendly man renting the home came out back.  We chatted about the home for a few moments.  Then, the man told us why they have all the wind chimes around the house.  Without pausing, he said they’re supposed to keep evil spirits away.  Ann and I just looked at each other.  The man looked like he had fear issues and I wondered what he did for a living to be able to rent such a large, beautiful home.

Anyway, we left and when I got home I couldn’t believe I didn’t share Jesus with the man.  I dug out some Christian books for him and plan to take them by there today.

Wow, as the world becomes more and more secularized, fear and the other works of the devil are going to spread.  Once people turn their backs on God, in the great falling away the Bible talks about, the vacuum created will be filled with everything else.  As the world becomes more hostile, the enemy will have a field day stealing, killing and destroying all those who have lost their discernment and aren’t protected by having a relationship with Jesus, our present day ark, with perfect love.

It’s everything to know Jesus today, saints.  It’s everything to trust Him, to thank Him in all things, and to know that He’ll never leave you nor forsake you.  It’s everything to know that He’s with you working all things for your good and that you can cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you…

God bless,

Mark

Jesus Helps Us Live For Him

Learning to be like Jesus is a process…

I’m so thankful God is patient with me as I grow in my Christianity, that He somehow works all things together for good – even my mistakes along the way.

At times, it can be easy for me to drop my love guard – Jesus’ love for others operating in my life.  I can become so distracted by everyday life that I forget to yield to the Holy Spirit when interacting with others…

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

For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:37

Am I loving my neighbor as myself?  Loving my wife and kids like Christ loves the church?  Laying my life down for my brother?  Praying for and forgiving those who persecute me, despitefully use me and speak all manner of evil against me?  Loving the Lord with all my heart?  Loving my enemies?

Maybe, like me, you’re still not able to do these things.  It’s true, we’ll never be perfect in this life.

I’ve found that I can’t do what God knows I should be doing – living in a way that will bring others and me blessings – because I just can’t do them in my own strength.  That’s why I need Jesus.  Apart from Him, I can’t do these things.  Only with Him living in me and me yielding to His Spirit can I attempt to live and love as He lives and loves.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Oh precious Jesus, show me how to love like You do.  Set me free to live the kind of life you lived while on earth.  Let me live in the blessed peace, compassion, rest and joy that being like You brings.  Help me to make a difference in this life You’ve given me to live for You and others.

God bless,

Mark