Category: General Christian Living

So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
Isaiah 59:19

The enemy loves to scare us into submitting to worry and into dropping our faith. This is always a lie. It doesn’t matter what the source is. The sooner we learn to recognize this, the sooner we’ll be able to recover when tempted to lose faith.

When you get tempted to fear or feel confusion, keep praising God because He will show you the way back to strong faith. Always remember, God inhabits our praises and that means we will win! He will always give us the victory in every battle if we’ll believe and continue doing His Word. When God inhabits our praise, He displaces fear and instills almighty faith in Him and His faithfulness.

Be strong and of a good courage…Only be thou strong and very courageous…Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: For the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest…Only be strong and of a good courage.
From Joshua 1

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Conditions on earth are pointing directly to Christ’s soon return and to the tribulation period the Bible speaks about. So many will find life unbearable in the coming days. As Christians, we know the conditions we see around us are leading to life in Heaven with Jesus. What joy lies ahead for those who know Christ, for those who hear Him say, “Look up.”

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

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I’ve heard a lot of good Christian teaching and solid sermons over the years. I attended a number of Bible colleges and worked in ministry.

While taking Ann to work this morning, I was listening to a really great, and challenging talk by a radio minister. It dawned on me that unless I put what he’s saying into practice, what he’s saying does me no good.

God wanted Annie and I to put His Word into practice in our everyday lives. He would see to it that that happened. We’re so thankful for His faithfulness to bring that about.

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27

Years ago, one of my co-workers (my manager) asked me, “Are you from here (Southern California)?” Ever had someone ask you that? I could tell he was asking me that question because I didn’t seem “normal” to him. I actually told him I needed Jesus and that I could not live apart from Him. Don’t know what he thought of that, but he appeared to respect my reply. A couple of years later, my manager was being threatened with losing his job at the company and I was the first person he came to about it. He was pretty upset and I tried to calm him down the best I could…

While growing up, very few homes on my street had families who didn’t attend the church of their choice each week. As a result, life was totally different from today.

The New Normal – Ann and I wanted so much to have a “normal” life – Good job, nice home, family, dog, neighbors, vacations, and retirement. We found out the new normal Jesus had for us was, “when you seek me with all your heart, you’ll find Me.”

Our normal was going to be knowing Jesus with all our heart. Jesus was not going to let us find any other kind of “normal” because He knew the normal life we wanted could never save us from our destructions, from the plans Satan had for us, and from the “perfect life” we sought, but would never truly be able to find in this world. Because He knows the future, God knew we needed to plant our feet on the rock (Christ) and to leave behind the type of life that tends to build on the sand – on anything other than Christ, alone.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, 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

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

The Holy Spirit points out areas He wants to bring His healing touch to. Isn’t that amazing? He wants to minister to us in so many wonderful ways. As I do His Word, I realize more and more how much He Loves me. I simply need to let Him Love me with His Words of Life that massage His Love deep into every area of my life. Wow.

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

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Have you ever had a massage? Has anyone ever rubbed your head, shoulders, back or feet? I love to be rubbed. It relaxes me, calms me down, makes me feel loved, makes me sleepy and even rejuvenates me…and more.

I was saying my verses this morning when I realized I was being so ministered to by Jesus. His Word ministers to me. As I agreed with The Word I was reading, it was like He was massaging me deep in my heart with the Love in His Words. It was so soothing and wonderful. He is so wonderful in His Love for us.

This precious little verse stopped me and really captured my attention. Believing and “doing” this one scripture has been so soothing to my life that had so many knots, and sore muscles of fear, bitterness, striving, shame, doubt and so many others.

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

Hallelujah! It is my Father’s will to give thanks in everything. All He wants to do is minister to me through this precious, soothing verse. God knows just where I’m sore and rubs me with His Loving hands of mercy, grace, peace and joy.

And this is just one of the verses He uses to bring His all-knowing, strong hands to bear on my areas that need His healing, loving touch.

What an amazing God we have. Jesus. What a Savior. Let Him minister to you, child of God. He knows just where to rub.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

These passages can really calm me down and remind me to trust in God’s Word rather than my own understanding.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

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

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; 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. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Matthew 5:44-46

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Can I always trust God? Yes. Trusting God puts us inside His protective, secure and comforting peace that passes understanding. Truly, the joy of the Lord – all of Who He is – is our strength.

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

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

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

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psalm 46:1-4

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

Doing (applying it to our lives each moment) God’s Word places us ABOVE our circumstances as we reside in His matchless dwelling place where He alone is our refuge and fortress.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

I emailed Annie earlier this week at work telling her I was having trouble breathing and feeling really panicky. I told her I was okay because I was trusting God with how I was doing physically following my recent Botox treatment for my migraines.

Here is her great reply.

“Yep. We’ve both had to take authority over how we feel a lot over the years. It’s not fun to have to do it… but HE has taught us how to do it and then walk in His freedom and peace that passes understanding. If everything is fine, we don’t need His peace … we have peace that we understand. His peace is the unfaltering solid rock!”

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

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

It’s easy today to be caught up in so much of the pressures, fear and negativity of the times. God really wants us to keep focusing on Him and all that He still has for each of us as His child. He still wants us to know that He’s able to keep working all things together for our good. He’s still working in the lives of those who keep seeking Him and letting Him set them free in ways they never imagined regardless of circumstances.

I hope you’ll listen to this great, short teaching the Lord had Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn share.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:8

Only God could remove our double mindedness and bring stability to our lives.

Hebrews chapter 13 is a wonderful passage of scripture because it provides the key to ending the super-testing wilderness time and experience in a person’s life. The wilderness is where our faith and unbelief seesaw and we walk in the awful place of a spiritual no man’s land. We are totally prey to double mindedness.

And to whom sware he (God) that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Hebrews 13:18-10

They entered not into God’s rest because of unbelief. It’s really that simple. That’s how it was for Annie and me. Some people believe some of the Word, but they stop there and never come fully out of their particular wilderness because they stop believing at some point and refuse to continue taking the promised land God has for them.

The wilderness Ann and I experienced when we were first married was really hard. We could not find rest and could not understand why others seemed to have found God’s rest. We found that we liked hanging around with others who were still stuck in their own wilderness experiences rather than choosing to hang out with those who had a confident assurance in Christ and His faithfulness. That seems pretty funny to me now that I write it down…

Thinking back on our lives in Oregon, Annie and I only began to come out of the awful wilderness we were in when God encouraged us to start doing and believing His Word, to begin to believe God. As a result of our obedience to believe God, we began to experience some spiritual breakthroughs and momentum. Some of our friends and family didn’t necessarily like that and even said we were “holier than thou” and acting “self-righteous.” More and more, we began to not care what they thought because we knew – really knew – God was directing us and healing us of the burden of our unbelief. He was bringing us out of our wilderness.

This morning (3-10-21), I was reading about how God told the children He was going to put on them all the things they complained about. Only Caleb and Joshua would enter the promised land because they believed what God said. I will be in the awful wilderness until I begin to believe God and silence my unbelief by doing His Word. This is how faith in God begins and continues developing. There is no other way.

Believing is the way out of the wilderness. God sets before me each day – beginning today – belief (life) and unbelief (death). Depending on which one I choose, I can either stay in or come out of the wilderness.

By the way, the three kingdom keys (we’ve shared over the last several months) God showed me years ago are His faithfulness to Ann and me making the decision to follow God out of our own wilderness.

God is so good and loves us more than we ever imagined. That is why we love sharing about how God has, and still is, teaching us the value of trusting Him and believing and standing on His mighty-delivering Word. There is nothing like it. Nothing.

These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

And, because Jesus has overcome the world (the lying fiery darts of the enemy, our flesh, and all of the world’s unbelief all around us), He’s given us the victory over unbelief and we no longer need to revert back to unbelief whenever tribulation and trials come our way. Romans 8:28 (Jesus) can keep us believing because our precious, almighty high priest and Savior, Jesus, is working everything together for our good.

Believe and enter into God’s rest.

Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I still pray for Bill Gates and the others whose plans are quickly leading us deeper into the end of days. I still don’t want anyone to go to hell – forever.

Sometimes I get angry about the choices people are making. I’m so thankful God has given me a love for those who choose not to follow Him. It’s better than living angry towards them.

So much tension and anger out there today. So many people taking sides and throwing verbal stones at each other. God said it would be this way in the last days…

I was thinking about all the anger and negativity in the world this morning (3-11-21) when the Lord said, “I’m still here. I’m still in the room with you. There is as much of Me here as there ever has been. I’m still available to heal marriages and to renew minds. Nothing has changed as far as My Spirit, My Peace and My Love for people is concerned. My dwelling place is still reachable – no situation can change that. All of Who I Am is still as close as ever to anyone who will come to Me. All one needs to do is to come away from the world and focus on Me and all that I Am and have for them. I will be their Father and they will be see how blessed it is to be My child. Come be with Me.”

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Song Of Solomon 2:10

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

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

Oh, Lord, there is nothing like Your precious glory that changes my life and blesses me in so many ways.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18

“From glory to glory.” I was thinking about this and talking with Annie about it the other day. It was like the Holy Spirit was saying, “You won’t always see how I’m changing you from glory to glory at first. It may appear to you as though something’s wrong or you may be afraid of what I’m doing at first. Initially, when I begin a new work in you, you may feel strange or uncomfortable. Keep walking with Me and you’ll see what I’m up to as I take you to new heights of My glory. As My child, I only intend to set you more and more free in My Love, trust, liberty, peace, rest and joy. I love you so much, My child.”

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Yesterday, I came across some news so incredibly hideous regarding these end times we’re living in. It was so diabolical that it was hard to believe a person could give themselves over to the devil to the point they would use fear on children – in one of the largest school districts (Los Angeles) in the US. God reminded me to keep my eyes on Him so I could remain still in Him by looking up whenever I see these types of end times things occurring.

The Lord bless you and keep you (as you stay in Him)
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace (especially in the end times “storms” erupting all around us)
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

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

As a Christian, I now have the chance to be like Jesus. Are you kidding me? I can actually become like Jesus? That’s what the Bible says if I’ll continue in Jesus. That’s overwhelmingly circuit-blowing in the most exciting way I know of. I love the times when I know I’m being like Jesus. But, to be like (in the Lord) Him all the time? Wow.

Then said Jesus to those Jews (and Mark and Annie) which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth (Jesus), and the truth (Jesus) shall make you free.
John 8:31-32

I used to think doing the Word was too hard, burdensome and even legalistic. I was wrong. God knew I was wrong and brought me to the place where I’d begin applying His freeing Word to my life.

I’m not a super-Christian. I’m (Ann, too) simply someone who needs God’s Word in order to be freed from all the bondage and spiritual heaviness my ways were bringing me.

I hear so many saying we don’t need to “do” the Word today. And, like I did, most of those same people have so much care in their lives – They’re not still. They display so much striving in their efforts to not be what they’ve been deceived into thinking and labeling as “legalism.” They don’t realize how free (still in their spirits because they’ve discovered how to be in Jesus) they could be if they’d continue in God’s Word like the Lord wants all His children to do.

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 Corithians 12:10

When you begin to sink into the immense blessing that verse brings to your life, you change and begin to rest more deeply in His Love and strong protection for you.

Ever notice how when you’re tired that it can be easier to give things over to God? When I’m weak, I find it easier to let Jesus handle things, it’s somehow easier for me to trust Him with “it.”

I love those times when I begin to get too into the flesh (you know, you begin to tempted to take on too much care, frustration, disappointment, resentment, etc.) about something and God says, “Let go of it and give it over to Me. Let Me work in the situation. I’ll do what’s best for everyone.” I absolutely love how as the older I get, the easier it is for me to give more and more to the Lord for Him to work out. It’s much easier to cast my care on Him and it’s such a joy to rest in giving things and situations to Him, and then to wait on Him and watch how He smooths things out and covers and cares for me.

I love casting my care on Jesus. It’s simply lightens my soul and is so wonderful as I feel Him taking care from me.

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

Mmmm…

Thank You, Lord, for Your liberating Word that continues to set me free indeed.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Annie and I sang this hymn yesterday. It’s one of our favorites…

I Come To The Garden 
_{Christian Hymn by Charles Austin Miles}

I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses
And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am his own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known

He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet
The birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He give to me
Within my heart is to ringing.
And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am his own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known

I stay in the garden with Him,
Though the night around me is falling.
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Those moments when Jesus tells you you are His own.  Such blessed moments…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.