Category: Husbands and Wives

This is a great, short (just over 3 minutes) excerpt from a program Jonathan spoke on.

Also, while I realize our physical bodies can also have issues that we need to address, God can heal us of anything whether He chooses to do so through a miracle or other means.

I’ve included a transcript of Jonathan’s video below in case you wanted it.  Again, I hope you’ll listen to Jonathan’s video.  It’s very timely.

God has called us to stand against the gods of the age.  In America, they don’t talk about idols, but the idols are just as real now.  There’s political correctness.  The thing that happens is, you know, for, if Moses did not stand, nothing would have happened.  You know, we can not accept, the enemy wants all to bow down before him.  He’s the one who wanted Messiah to bow down and so one of the things you see in the Bible is that the people of God are always called to that moment when they have to choose, “I’m not going to bow down to this.”  Moses, “I’m not bowing down to those gods.”  Daniel, “I’m not bowing down.”  Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego didn’t bow down.  The Maccabees would not bow down.  The Apostle Paul would not bow down.  Mordecai wouldn’t bow down, and the Christians wouldn’t bow down which is why they were killed.

The reason was very specific, they would not bow down to say that Caesar was God and offer a sacrifice.  So, all that came from that – Not bowing down is so crucial.  We are called to stand, and this is our time.

You know, we don’t have a choice.  You know, the Jewish people, I said, you know, we have “almost fight” stories, but once they went back to Israel, that was all over.  They knew they had to fight.  If they didn’t fight, they don’t live.  And in the same way, we are called to fight the fight.  We cannot give in.  And so one of the things I say first of all in this age, it’s a prophetic age.  We’re like Elijah.  Elijah would not bow down my knew to Baal.  Well, we are, you have all these things where everybody’s saying you have to accept it, you have to go along with it, you have to be quiet, you have to…We must say, “No, I will not bow down to that false god.  I will not bow my knee to Baal.  I will not give into political correctness, I will not fear.  Come what may, I will only bow down to the living God, and no other god and no other idol.  I will not serve it.  I will not give into it, and I will stand against it.”

We are called to do that, and when that happens – the reason Christians are so in the cross fire now is that we’re the last holdout that’s not bowing down or those who are true, the enemy hates that.  That’s why there’s always fury against those who will not bow down.  But this is our time, and we must stand against the gods.  And, not only prophetically, but even personally, that is that the enemy is always trying to make you, make God’s people bow down to fear, bow down to worry, bow down to temptation, bow down to depression, bow down to discouragement, bow down to your past, and you have to say, “No, I don’t have to take this.  I don’t have to give into this.  I’m gonna fight it.  I’m gonna fight that depression.  I’m gonna fight that god.  I’m gonna fight that fear.  I’m gonna fight that gloom.  I’m gonna overcome because there is only one God.  Therefore, I do not have to bow down to the god of fear, or the god of anxiety, or the god of shame, or the god of impurity.  I can overcome all those things because I have the living God.”

And the other thing is one last thing is that, the other thing we got to know about the enemy, and we were sharing this before, that is, when the enemy always attacks God’s purposes, so he attacks it.  He will especially attack before the big things are coming of God.  He attacked Moses when he was a baby.  He attacked Messiah when He was a baby.  He attacked the church when it was beginning.  He attacked and tried to keep Israel from coming into existence by the Holocaust – That was fury because of what God was going to do.

So the thing is we have to realize something.  If you’re in the will of God – The main thing is to be in God’s will.  But, if you are in God’s will and you’re being attacked, you’re being harassed, you’re being threatened by the enemy, do not fear.  In fact, be encouraged.  It’s a great sign.  It means God has something great for you.  The enemy doesn’t waste his time so he knows what God has for you.  Be strong and overcome and you’re gonna enter into what God has.

God bless,

Mark

Yithazzeq – Hebrew for “to encourage yourself in the Lord.”

Jonathan’s words encouraged my wife and I to encourage ourselves, and each other, in the Lord even more.  I really hope you’ll listen to this short video by Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn.  It is so timely for today.  We need to encourage ourselves in the Lord.  To do so is an incredible weapon in today’s world.

God bless,

Mark

 

 

 

 

Just like each of us, I need my soul to be restored from the impact the fall in the garden had on mankind.

“For His name’s sake.”  Wow, I’m so thankful God keeps drawing me closer to Him because of His covenant with me – for His name’s sake.  His unfailing faithfulness is such a wonderful blessing in my life.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

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

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

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.

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

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

The more I get to know the Lord, and the more time I spend with Him, the more I want to dwell in His house of green pastures, and still waters as He continues to restore my soul.

God bless,

Mark

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?  or, What shall we drink?  or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:30-33

Why does God ask me to seek His kingdom, first?  Cause He knows if I don’t, I’ll likely become too conformed to this world.

When I seek His kingdom, first, I tend to let His peace reign in my heart; I live knowing that He’s working all things together for my good; I tend to cast all my cares on Him; I’m more likely to take sudden fear thoughts captive to Christ’s peace and control; I’m more loving and have more compassion, and a forgiving lifestyle; I’m more likely to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit throughout my day, etc.

When I seek first the kingdom of God (when I give it preeminence in my life) and His righteousness (Living this life the way He tells me is best in His Word), when I’m spending time reading and thinking about the Bible, when I’m listening to Christian music, or talking to my wife about God, I live in the shadow of the Most High in His secret dwelling place where I feel safe, have more peace, love my wife the way God wants me to, I have more of His understanding, love, and joy – it’s the happy place where I’m the most secure.

And, He adds everything else I need…☺

When I look at life that way, it’s really pretty simple, and sweet.

God bless,

Mark

Come unto me (Jesus), 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 (because) my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Such precious words from our Lord…

“Jesus, please make Your living words a reality in our lives.  Let us walk with You (be yoked up with you) every minute of the day so we can live in Your rest all the days of our lives.  Teach us how to do this, Jesus.  Thank You, Lord.  Amen.”

God bless,

Mark

Now unto him (Jesus) that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.  Amen.
Jude 24-25

Falling away from the faith, from Jesus, begins with a thought.  We all know that.  So how do we keep from falling for even 5 minutes throughout our day?

Take discouraging thoughts captive…Now unto Him (Jesus) Who is able to keep you from falling.  Don’t fall for the enemy’s lies.  Test the spirit in the thought and take defeating thoughts captive to Christ Who is our hope of glory, Who keeps us moving on into more and more freedom in our thought life.  Keep the faith by taking harmful thoughts captive to Christ, to the One Who loves you and is taking care of you this very moment.

Happy Monday!

God bless,

Mark

Jonathan’s words really spoke to us this morning.  We want to flow with the Spirit and not be driven, full of strife, fear, etc. ” Jesus, please teach us to flow with Your Spirit, Lord, more and more each day.  We need You so much, Jesus.  Lead us into Your everlasting ways.”

The Flowing Life
Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

Isaiah 55:12 says, “You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace.”  The word “led forth” in Hebrew is “yabal.”  Yabal also means to “flow,” like a river flows.  God’s Spirit is likened to water that flows.  So, when you’re living in God’s Spirit and being led by Him, you’re going to flow.  Is your life characterized by flowing or is it being driven, pressed, and compelled by all the things that are happening around you?  Are you rushing and running but not being led?  If you’re not being led, then you’re not going to flow.  Anger, jealousy, fear, and depression have no flow.  A life that’s driven, forced, and pushed has no flow because it’s not led.  But if you’re led by God, you have the quality of flowing.  Love, faith, mercy, kindness, joy, and peace flow.  That’s how you are to go through life; flowing in God’s Spirit.

Don’t be driven, but instead, be led.  For when you are led by His Spirit, your life will flow like a river.  Then you shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace.

Today’s Mission:  Today, follow the leading of the Lord.  Be led forth by His shalom and flow forth in His Spirit.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19

God bless,

Mark

The Unexpected Lives Of Ruth
By Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

The Book of Ruth starts out one way and ends up much differently.  Naomi – expected to stay in Israel her whole life, see her sons marry Israelites, and give her grandchildren.  Ruth – probably expected to remain in Moab, marry a Moabite, and live and die that way.  Boaz – undoubtedly expected to marry an Israelite, but then he got older and probably thought he wouldn’t marry at all.  Then Naomi moves to Moab, her sons marry Moabites, and her husband and sons die.  Ruth marries a foreigner who dies.  Then Ruth returns with Naomi to Israel where Boaz is now an older man, expecting never to marry.  But the old bachelor marries, Ruth becomes an Israelite, and the bereaving Naomi is comforted and rejoices.  Nobody’s life went as planned.  So, too, if you follow God, your life may not go according to your plans.  But God’s plans are better.  He never promises a perfect picket fence life.  He promises a redeemed life.  It will turn out better than your plans for a “perfect life.”  Go God’s way for His way is better, and His life is better than what you planned.

Today’s Mission:  Today, choose to walk in God’s plan for you life and not your own.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my (God’s) ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9

God bless,

Mark

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23

In the garden when Adam and Eve fell, sin entered the world and they died, spiritually…

God absolutely does not want to leave us in our sins because He loves us and because the wages (payment, what one earns) of sin is death.  He sent Jesus to rescue us from our sinful ways the devil is using to steal, kill and destroy us.

The thief (the devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10

Does God desire to modify (change, conform) our behavior?  Yes, definitely.  The devil greatly modified our behavior (the result was our sin nature) through the fall in the garden.  He wanted (and still does) to destroy us.  Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God made it possible for mankind to reverse the impact of the fall.  God wants to restore us (See Romans 12:2) to the relationship He had with us in the garden.  God tells us to renew our minds (modify, if you will) to His ways in order that we might no longer be conformed to this world’s destructive behavior (our fallen ways).

And ye shall know the truth (God’s ways as discovered in the Bible), and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2

I can honestly tell you, dear friend, that as I cooperate with God’s work in my life, as I learn to yield to His lead, His truth is modifying me and it’s the most wonderful experience I’ve ever known.

God bless,

Mark

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

This precious piece of scripture can really slow and calm me down, and make me rest in God’s love, care and provision.

Happy Monday, everyone.

God bless,

Mark

It takes the mighty hand of God to soften our dry, hard clay, to change us, to set us free, indeed.  Nothing less can do it.

Rejoice in the Lord always:  and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

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

Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:7-8

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 3:25-26

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 5:20

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

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

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  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.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  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

These precious scriptures (and so many more) were beginning to have an impact in my life and it was such a relief, so reviving, and SO refreshing.

I’m finding that the reward for following Christ is to have victory over my flesh and this world.  It’s worth everything.  Trading me and this world in for Christ’s mighty hand is SO wonderful and life-changing.

I hope the following is clear enough to encourage you to keep following Christ.

The fear of man, the devil, and pride were keeping me from the freedom Christ had for me.

Finally, I came to the place (really, God allowed me to come to the end of my rope which is always a good thing) in my life where I was ready to apply God’s Word to my everyday situations and circumstances – nothing else I was doing was working.  I was finally ready to humble myself under the mighty hand of God – Before that, I was pretty much on my own as far as handling life went.  The clay (me) was ready for the Potter’s hand.

Most of the time, we react to life from the way we were raised, the flesh, and the world’s ways.  God was wanting to show me that I could react to life differently by applying the Word to every situation I encountered.  Little by little, I began to experience God’s mercy, grace, strength, peace and freedom in my spirit and my willingness to follow His Word began to change me on the inside – This change was His reward for my efforts to choose Him every day.  I was truly finding that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

This is why humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God is so important – Doing so changes us inside in our spirits.  We begin to respond to this world with faith and trust in God and really believe that He’s in control while working for our good.  It’s such a relief to get to this point.  It can be a battle to continue growing in God, but the effort is so worth the liberty He gives us as we remain faithful to apply His Word to life.

Humble yourselves under the mighty (The Name that is ABOVE) hand of God?  You betcha.  Search as we may, there’s no other way to be set free in life, and no other way to enter His rest.  Really!

God bless,

Mark

I didn’t know I was operating in my own strength.  I certainly didn’t realize that I was full of pride or that I was operating “under my own hand.”

Some years ago, basically, God said to me, “Son, do you want to continue down this road you’re on and go crazy?  Or would you like Me to teach you how to cast all your cares on Me?  Are you willing to humble yourself in order to learn to apply My Word to your life and to discover that I (God) can take care of you by showing you how to enter My rest?”  I was so worn out at that point that I said, “Yes, Lord.  Do whatever it takes.”

And, I feel like I’m only beginning to understand the “rest” I can have under the mighty hand of God.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7

6 But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:6

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

God bless,

Mark

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, 18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.
Proverbs 24:17-18

I read this verse the other day and it really hit me.  It’s so natural to be happy when an adversary “gets what they have coming to them.”  God doesn’t want us to have that kind of attitude and it keeps our hearts in His peace to obey His command in Proverbs 24.  I’m continually amazed by how much God covers my emotions and how He keeps developing His love in my life.  His ways really can bless our lives if we’re willing to follow His lead by doing His Word.

God bless,

Mark

When this happened the other day, I knew the Lord wanted me to share it with you…

The other day, with a smile on their face, someone dear to me told me, “Have a nice day.”  They’d gone out of their way to say this to me.  Immediately, the Holy Spirit prompted me to tell them, “I love you” and gave them the “thumbs-up” gesture.  I love those kinds of moments when the Holy Spirit leads me to encourage someone, to lift them up, to let them know I’m with them, that I’ll always love them and be available to them, and to encourage them in the Lord.

Love someone dear to you today.  Affirm them with your love and with the love of God.  God will never leave us nor forsake us and we all need to be told that and know that through the love we have for each other.

Happy Monday!

 

 

 

 

 

God bless,

Mark

Heaviness comes to us in many forms.  Feeling down and dealing with a heavy spirit?  Boy, it seems that so many people have heavy spirits today.  I was being influenced by one when the Lord reminded me that He already sees me in Heaven with all tears wiped away.  I love it when He speaks to me this way.  It’s so easy to take thoughts that begin to weigh us down in our souls – especially when I’m on antibiotics.  Want to be set free in Jesus?  Read chapters 60 and 61 in the Old Testament Bible book of Isaiah.  It will really pick you up and give you Jesus’ garment of praise.

In Jesus, we’ve won.  Like He reminded me, keep acting like it. ☺

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:3

God bless,

Mark

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Just talked with my wonderful wife again about taking thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.  I love this topic because it’s vital to our Christianity and victory in Christ.  My wife mentioned that, lately, she’s been asking herself if each of her thoughts are building her faith and glorifying God.  If she has a thought that doesn’t seem to be glorifying God, like thinking negatively about something or someone, sensing that a thought is putting a dent in her faith, she changes her thoughts and moves onto something that brings glory to God like encouraging someone, etc.  At times, and often before we know it, what we’re thinking can start to have a negative impact on us and our day.  So many of our thoughts can weigh us down, spiritually, and one way to become aware of this behavior is to ask God to help you test thoughts.  He’ll be faithful to help us in this arena.

Such a wonderful Heavenly Father we have as Christians, as new creations by being born again in the Spirit.  He’s always teaching us to have His thoughts of edification, encouragement, faith, hope, love, mercy, grace, rest and peace.

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Romans 1:12

God bless,

Mark

Judging or Loving?

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive (wicked, harmful) way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24

“Is there anything in my life that You want to change, Lord?  Like David, in the verse above, please search my heart…”

The devil wants us to stay bound by sin.  He’ll plant every excuse in the world in our minds to keep us from obtaining Jesus, to keep us from Jesus’ liberty, love, grace, peace and rest in our souls.

I was thinking that Mary was probably like Martha before she came to Jesus.  I believe this is true because Mary wept at Jesus’ feet when she had her initial encounter with the Lord.  Sometimes, repentance (a desire to leave the life we’re living in exchange for God’s ways of living) includes tears of release from a sinful lifestyle that had us bound and miserable.

So many today are using words like “judging and judgemental” about having something pointed out in their life that the Holy Spirit, a friend of family member shares that may be harming them.  In the Bible, many such situations were merely times when Christians, out of love for each other, were ministering to each other (especially Jesus and the Apostle Paul in the Bible’s New Testament) and being accountable to each other, being their brother’s keeper, and helping each other grow in the liberty, grace, love and mercy of the Lord.

I was raised to think like Martha in the Bible story in the book of Luke.  I was a lot like Martha – I think I was worse. I was worried and upset about many things and didn’t realize that Jesus could change me – In fact, I didn’t think I needed to change.  Like my parents, and many other Christians I knew, I thought I’d been seeking Jesus, but He knew I wasn’t really seeking Him to the degree that I needed to in order to come away from all my worry and being upset about many things so much of the time.

Jesus tried to help Martha see something (Him and the beautiful life she could have in Him) that would help her in her life.  He took the opportunity to minister some important truth to her that He knew would help her.  He said to Martha, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen (she chose Jesus instead of the life she’d been living before) what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42 NIV

Maybe like me, the Lord has spoken similar words to you in order to spare you from some harmful behaviors in order to bring you closer to Him, to His green pastures and still waters, to restoration of soul.

Jesus was pointing out a life-important truth to Martha and, like each of us, Martha had a choice to make.  Like many today, she could have gotten offended, thought in her heart that Jesus was too judgemental and said, “Don’t judge me,” and stayed the way she was.

Or, she could have refused to be offended, stopped what she was doing and thought, “You’re right, Lord,” received Jesus’ words and recognized the Holy Spirit’s love for her as He drew her closer to God’s true will for her life which was to spend time with Jesus so she could be set free from the “worried and upset” condition in her life.

Today, if the Lord helps you see something He wants to change in you, be open to the Holy Spirit.  Instead of refusing His helping, loving, healing touch in your life, ask Him to show and help you become free in Jesus.

I’m still being healed of worry and being upset about many things, but I’m so thankful that when Jesus saw my need that He called me like He did with Mary.  I’m so grateful that what He’s given me (New life in Him) “will never be taken away from me.”

God bless,

Mark

I’ve lived in the miry clay of unrest when I couldn’t find the peace of God.  It’s a horrible, tormenting dwelling place that I wish on no one.

The other day, I caught myself losing Jesus’ peace about something – Having severe PTSD and anxiety for so many decades, Jesus helped me to get to the place where I test thoughts and take them captive to His obedience, to my Prince of Peace.  When I took the time to listen to Jesus about the matter, the Holy Spirit showed me He wasn’t the one who was stealing my peace.

Jesus does not lead us away from His abiding peace.  The devil is the one who will do everything he can to steal the peace Jesus has for us.  Jesus says our peace is not circumstantial – Be of good cheer, I (Jesus) have overcome the world (John 16:33).  The devil tries hard to have us think otherwise.  Even regarding the end times we’re living in, Jesus says to look up when we see end times events occurring.  The devil would have us be consumed by worrying about end times events.

Stay close to Jesus in the dwelling place of peace found only in The Prince of Peace.

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Is it Worth It?
By Joyce Meyer

Therefore love truth and peace
Zechariah 8:19 NLT

It is God’s sincere desire for you to live a life full of peace.  The closer you get to the Lord – the more you depend on Him – the more peace you will have.

No position or possession is worthwhile if you don’t have peace.  Money, status, popularity – it’s all meaningless if you don’t have peace.  You simply cannot put a price on the value of peace (So true for me – Mark).

Many people spend their lives trying to climb the ladder of success, but every time they go up one more rung, they lose more of their peace, joy, and time to spend with their family.  Their whole life is consumed with the pressure and stress of trying to keep what they’ve gained.  But we are never truly successful unless we have peace.

Some even work several jobs to acquire what the world dangles in front of them, saying, “You must have this to be truly happy.”  They get those “things,” but they still don’t have any peace.

Romans 14:17 tells us, “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink” – it is not things that money or status can secure – but it is “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (KJV).  The kingdom of God is found in knowing who we are in Christ and having “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7NKJV).

God wants you to have your needs met abundantly and be in a position to bless others.  Never doubt that God wants to bless you, but don’t seek to have anything if you cannot have it peacefully.

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Remember to always test the spirit behind thoughts.  If a thought has you losing your peace, get back to Jesus and rest in His care for you.

God bless,

Mark

This was such good word this morning that knew I needed to pass it onto you.  It’s taken from Joyce Meyer’s daily devotional titled, “Closer To God Each Day.”  I hope it’s a blessing for you like it was for us.

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For who has known the mind of the Lord and who has understood His thoughts, or who has (ever) been His counselor?  Romans 11:34

Life would be so much easier if we would live in the realization that God is smarter than we are.  No matter what you or I may think, God’s way is always better than our way.

We are often tempted to think we know what is best, and then we throw all our energy into bringing it to pass.  We experience a lot of disappointment, which hinders joy and enjoyment, due to deciding for ourselves that something has to be done a certain way or by a certain time.  When we want something very strongly, we often try to convince God why it is important and why He should bring our will to pass, instead of simply trusting He knows what is best for our life.

As Romans 11:34 reminds us, God has no need of a counselor to tell Him what He should do for us.  His will is perfect, and He has good plans for us to become all that He intends us to be.  The prophet Jeremiah says, “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome” (Jeremiah 29:11).

When you face puzzling situations, I encourage you to pray, “Well, Lord, this may not make sense to me right now, but I trust You.  I believe You love me, You are with me, and You are doing what is best for me.”

God does not need your counsel in order to work; He just needs your faith.

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God bless,

Mark

I’m on medicine and haven’t had much sleep lately, so I hope I can convey what I feel so excited about this morning.  God is so good, all the time.  I just love looking for His favor no matter how the day or week starts out just as I stated in Monday’s email.  God will always come through for us if we’ll continue to walk with Him. ☺

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And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

In John 1:14 above, God told us that Jesus is the Word.  When I read the Bible, I’m reading about Christ and all He’s made available for me as His child.

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 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 10:4-5

Wow, my fantastic wife’s been having the Holy Spirit speak to her lately about “to the obedience of Christ.”  She told me Jesus wants us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ to protect our lives.

I know that the only time I (Mark) get in trouble in my own thought life is when I don’t take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  For example, if I don’t forgive someone when I think they’ve wronged me, I’m not taking the unforgiving thought captive to the obedience of Christ which tells me to forgive everyone all the time – doing so keeps me from having a root of bitterness planted in my spirit.  Jesus tells me to live a forgiving life for good reasons.

Another example is if I’m being careful about something instead of casting that “care” on Christ.  I start to take on care instead of being obedient to Christ.  And this kind of lesson covers all of life as outlined in the Bible.  This is why it’s so important to study and know the Word of God, the Bible.  If we don’t know the Word, we don’t know that we can take certain thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, and, instead, we live in bondage to those thoughts instead of living free from them to/in the obedience of Christ.  Boy, this is so powerful.

In His love for us, God gave us this precious scripture to liberate us from sin’s (doing things our way instead of God’s way) grip on our lives – and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  He gave us these verses so we could live His way which leads to life instead of living our way which leads to such bondage and death in so many areas of life.

Husbands, love your wives (Ephesians 5:25) is another way I can be obedient to Christ.  When I’m loving my wife, our marriage and lives thrive.

There are so many of these types of scriptures in the Word of God.  When we discover them – like “be careful for nothing” – we can choose to live in “to the obedience of Christ” and live in the liberty only Jesus can give us.

This is so wonderful.  Christ has set us free from the consequences of sin by showing us how to be obedient by taking thoughts captive to His truths as spelled out in the pages of the Bible.

God bless you, precious people of God.

Mark