Category: General Christian Living

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 was in the kitchen this morning thinking about someone when the Lord said, “Walk hand in hand with Me each day.” His Words gave me a new way of looking at that person and their situation. He reminded me of how much I need Him each moment. I need Him to keep me close so I can dwell with Him and enjoy all of the wonderful things He is.

How does God keep our hearts and minds? Through Christ Jesus. If I don’t know Him like I need to know Him, I won’t be kept, and I’ll often meander off on my own way. It’s that simple.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Picture yourself walking hand in hand with wonderful Jesus right by your side. It’s such a blessing. Keep close to Him…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Drop your doubts. In fact, flee them.

Annie and I pray for parking spaces. We pray while shopping. We pray about most everything when we remember to do so. Why? Because we’ve learned what a joyous blessing it is to walk with precious Jesus all the time. To be mindful of His Presence all day long is just so much fun, security, peace, rest and joy. It’s really that simple.

Spiritually speaking, the blessing is serious business. It’s representative of God placing life and death before us each moment of every day. The blessing will do its wonderful work in our lives if we believe the words in the blessing. Become like a little child again. Believe and see the blessing cover, protect, and deliver you every moment of the day.

It’s just so fun to walked around each moment of the day being blessed. ☺☺

Jesus bless you and keep you
Jesus make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
Jesus lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put Jesus’ Name on you and bless you with His Name that IS ABOVE every other name. Believe it!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

A popular greeting today is, “How are you doing?”  It doesn’t matter how I’m doing or feeling, Jesus is Lord and in control.  I’m trusting Him.  That’s all that matters.

20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.

21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.

He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
Mark 9:20-23 NLT

In the early 80s, fear chased us around and had us really scared most of the time while living in Oregon. Spiritually (and that impacts everything else in a person’s life), Ann and I were so lost until we began believing, memorizing, and applying God’s Word (Jesus) to our lives while living in Oregon in the 80s. Yes, it’s true, Satan will attack your efforts to walk by faith. Nothing new about that. But, in Jesus, we win the faith battle.

Now, God has pretty much turned us into storm chasers. He’ll be faithful to do the same with anyone who will attempt to stand up to fear and to say, “Enough!” When we see others (and there are so many today) being harassed by storms, we want to run after them and set them free by teaching them to have faith in Jesus.

It doesn’t matter what label we put on “storms,” on any situation or event the devil tries to steal our faith and to eventually kill us with. Covid, past hurts, resentment, being tempted to think Jesus has let you down in some way, the fear of man, finances, family, job, health, stormy waves out at sea like the disciples faced with Jesus asleep in the boat. All storms are powerless in Jesus’ Name.

Jesus will always have the same reply to our lack of faith – “Why is your heart hard? Why don’t you believe in Me? Where is your faith? How long must I put up with this faithless generation?”

Jesus, The Name that is ABOVE every other name. Believe, and live Free in Jesus.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I love to dwell in the house of the Lord. He leads me beside still waters…

Mmmm…

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

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

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

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

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

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23

His house is made up of “surely goodness and mercy” – and so many other wonderful, comforting furnishings.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Several years ago, I’d been upset with Jesus about something. I’d gotten up early in the morning and then came back to bed. Suddenly, a power came flooding into me and it seemed to be coming down through the light above our bed. The love and presence was unstoppable, and overwhelming. Ann woke up next to me and asked me what was happening. I told her Jesus was filling me with His amazing love. That His love was so void of any condemnation and that I could not stop the flow of the love pouring into me. I began to heave I was crying so hard. I know it seems strange, but I was crying because of the pure love and joy that was flooding me. I wanted so much to stay in that presence…

Jesus’ Presence is so overpowering, all-consuming, and wonderful. We are going to be so completely overtaken by Him in Heaven. We will be drenched in His love for us in ways we can’t imagine.

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 His 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

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Psalm 139:16-18

Imagine Heaven book, page 172 –
Dean recognized him immediately: “Jesus is pure light! His brightness was before me, around me, part of me, and in me. He is brighter than the noonday sun, but we can still look at Him in Heaven…Jesus is more beautiful, wonderful, and glorious than I can explain…Everything about Jesus is love. His love for you is so personal it seems as if it is only for you. You come to realize that He has cared for you forever. His love is alive. It is more than just a sense. You are becoming His love. You are His love. Jesus loves us completely…It was like I was the only one He loved in all of His creation. I knew He loved others, but is seemed as if I was the only one.”

Truly, Jesus, Your Presence makes me whole.

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Jeremiah 31:3

You are so loved, precious one.

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 you obey My decrees and my regulations, you will find life (this is so true for Annie and me) through them. I am the Lord.
Leviticus 18:5

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

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

Do Ann and I have perfect peace all the time? No. We get hit by the devil’s fiery darts, get weary and tempted to give up just like everyone else. But God, our loving Father, keeps encouraging us to continue following Him and to keep seeking Him with all our heart. He reminds us that He’s always been faithful to us and that He always will be. God is taking us to the place where we’ll reside in His perfect peace by renewing our minds to His Word. He’s taking us to the place in our walk with Him that we’ll have His assurance and spiritual strength all day long. He’s showing us more each day about how to dwell in the secret place of the Most High – and it’s wonderful.

Through a series of events, Ann and I were desperate for Jesus in the early 80s. Thinking back on that time makes me realize that all people are desperate for Jesus. But, most will not choose Him over the world, over the darkness. The Bible tells us why most don’t choose to become and continue to be Jesus’ disciples, His students.

One way or another, Satan keeps people from believing The Word, and from desiring to be free in Christ. He can use the fear of man, lust, greed, the flesh, the world’s enticements and a number of others excuses and deceptions to keep people from desiring and following Jesus.

How does God keep Annie and me today – and ever day?

Years ago, He told us to get into His Word. He led us to specific verses to focus on. We were prompted to print out those scriptures, to tape them on the walls of our home, to memorize them, to say them out loud and to believe them with all our might. Today, we are kept because we were obedient to God’s leading 38 years ago. We tell anyone who will listen to do the same things God told us to do because this is how our minds are being renewed to The Word. This is how our lives – Our minds and emotions – are being transformed. This is how we are becoming stronger and more free all the time in Jesus. Anyone can do this. It’s up to them. They can either stay in the world, in the darkness, or they can be transformed. It’s this simple. And still, most will not do it.

Please, take up the challenge to follow Jesus no matter what. He will take you on the most fantastic journey of your life.  You’ll become like Jesus.  He will take you to the dwelling place of the Most High.

1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:1-3

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

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

Why does God tell us to set our affections ABOVE? Because He knows – He really/truly knows – that any affections we have on the earth can be used by the devil to make you question and turn on God. The devil will use anything he can to get you to believe his lies. Once he has tricked you into believing his lies, it’s harder to turn back to God’s Truth. Satan knows this. When God tells us to trust in Him with all our heart, He does so because He knows we can trust Him, that He won’t let us down, and that trusting Him with all our heart protects us against any lies of the enemy that try to tempt us into not trusting God – It was true in the fall in the garden of Eden. There is such a huge blessing in store for those who choose to trust God with everything – with all their heart (affections).

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6

Be still (Trust Me), and know (and you’ll find out) that I am God:
Psalm 46:10a

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
Colossians 3:15a

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:24

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Jesus is healing Annie and me in so many wonderful ways – With His Truthful, healing Ways. He is so amazing and faithful.

Over the mountains and the sea
Your river runs with love for me
And I will open up my heart
And let the Healer set me free

I’m happy to be in the truth
And I will daily lift my hands
For I will always sing
Of when Your love came down, yeah

I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever*

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.

Annie and I are discovering how ABOVE Jesus is. Come with us. ☺☺♥♥

Open up your heart and let the Healer set you FREE…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark
*Lyric from “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever” by the Delirious band

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

The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I (Jesus) will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’
Revelation 2:7

God just brought the following to mind…

You don’t need to lose your life in order to save it, right (See Matthew 16:25)?

I’ve (maybe you have, too) heard many say it over the years without realizing that they’re believing the lie.

“But, it’s hard to follow Christ, to do His Word.” No, this is a LIE from the devil who the Bible says is the father of lies. The devil will make you “think” it’s hard to be a Christian – and, with a sigh, most agree with him. The devil’s lie could not be further from The Truth. The devil will tell you it’s easier to follow him, his ways – and, of course, he’ll never lead you to believe that his ways end in destruction. Just the opposite, in fact. But, it’s a lie and he knows it. He’s setting up anyone who will believe his sickening, life-draining, killing lie. Most won’t even realize they’re being lied to by Satan. As a result, they never let God’s Truth in to change their lives and they never get to the victorious, overcoming Life Jesus has for them.

It’s too hard to follow Christ, to do His Word…

That lie comes from one source. Don’t believe the lie.

Jesus Christ, The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

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

Jesus said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13

Wow, reading the “Imagine Heaven” book has given me a whole new understanding of what Jesus meant when He taught us how to pray in the above scripture. Thy Kingdom come – The Kingdom is full of wonderful, exciting, adventuresome, joyful, loving Jesus. There is nothing and no one anyone could ever desire that is as wonderful and life-jolting as Jesus. As the Apostle Paul tried to express Life in Jesus –

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
(1 Corinthians 2:9)

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

Jesus is way ABOVE in every good way imaginable…And more.

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.

There are no words to describe the difference God’s peace makes in our lives. It’s something each person must experience for themselves. You’ll know you’re experiencing God’s supernatural Shalom when your own understanding no longer oppresses or torments (to me, it’s like the “chaos” in Kimberly’s Shalom definition below) you. You’re at a place where you can simply trust God with circumstances.

God wants to transform us so that we can live life like He would have us live it – free from the fear and care of being upset with situations our weak flesh flinches at.

We can’t buy God’s type of peace (Shalom). That peace comes from Him alone and it’s always available to those who will take it in and let it change their lives inside out.

I could have billions of dollars and still not have a mind that has been renewed and transformed by the Word of God.

I’ve just received an email reply from our dear friend, Kimberly, regarding the comforter email I sent out . Kimberly sent me the definition of Shalom. After looking at the definition, I realized again that our greatest need isn’t money. In fact our greatest need has nothing to do with agreeable, satisfying circumstances. Our greatest need is to have God living in us. To have His peace in all situations is such a luxury and blessing. We are so rich when we are most like Jesus. Peace, contentment, rest, love, self-control, joy in the Holy Ghost…Nothing compares with Jesus. Nothing.

Today, we really need to let God comfort us. We need to have faith in His unfailing Word and Love for us. The Truth is, God has always been faithful throughout all of time. He’s not going to change now. That’s impossible. ☺

For I am the Lord, I change not;
Malachi 3:6a

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

Here is the “Shalom” email I received from Kimberly. Enjoy –

So Good (Regarding The Comforter Email)!
Reminds me of the meaning of shalom (peace) I recently read about:
Shalom is the Hebrew word we translate as “peace”. This word means much more than peace. It means wholeness, wellness, well-being, safe, happy, friendly, favor, completeness, to make peace, peace offering, secure, to prosper, to be victorious, to be content, tranquil, quiet, and restful. The pictographic symbols for the word shalom (shin, lamed, vav, mem) read “Destroy the authority that binds to chaos.” The noun shalom is derived from the verbal root shalam, which means “to restore,” in the sense of replacing or providing what is needed in order to make someone or something whole and complete.
So shalom is used to describe those of us who have been provided all that is needed to be whole and complete and break off all authority that would attempt to bind us to chaos.

Sweet Peace – True Comfort

GOD bless your day!
~kimberly

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:2-4

Persevere with God. Let nothing keep you from finding more and more of Him. The rewards for doing so never cease. His blessings – Who He is – just keep unfolding right before your eyes.

Hard times are “good” for us. What? It’s true. As much as I’ve complained about my health, job situation, and all the rest over the years, God meant those “hard” times for good. He was teaching us that He could “keep” me and to trust in Him with all our heart. We still don’t “trust in Him with all our heart” perfectly, but He’s promised to take us there if I’ll apply His awesome Word to our lives each day. The victory in life is to apply Christ to our lives each day. To win the battle in our minds is the goal. Then, like the Apostle Paul, we will have learned that Jesus can make us content in whatsoever state, or situation, we find ourselves. This is pure joy. Coming to live in His contentment is dwelling in His supernatural rest.

Over time, He’s taught Ann and me something huge. Through it all, He is really teaching us to think of Him first when difficulty tries to discourage us. This is so valuable to us – especially considering where we’ve come from. We experience so much of His great mercy, grace and love for us as we think of Him first when sudden fear knocks on the door of our hearts.

God has been so faithful to show us that our greatest need was Him.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I had another migraine the other day. That’s two in a week, and I’m on Botox. After the second migraine attack, my mind wasn’t working right and it scared me as it can. That was when Jesus reminded me of the three Kingdom Key verses I share with you from time to time. I knew He was with me, and knowing that fact gave me faith in Him that expelled the fear.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus
^{Christian hymn by Joseph Scriven and Charles Converse}

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

The Lord bless you and keep you (He loves and lives to do so)
The Lord make His (matchless, comforting) 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 (sweet) Name that is ABOVE every other name.

Jesus is near and loves us so much…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

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

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

Jesus: “It’s okay, I’m here.”

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

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

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

Jesus, our Prince of Peace…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark