Category: Husbands and Wives

Self-sufficiency is such a powerful, deceptive distraction that can keep us from living in God’s will and bound.

I really thought (my weak flesh thought so) the road to the end of self-sufficiency (such pride that kept me from God) was all uphill with no turnouts and no let up in sight.  What I’m discovering is that when I begin to experience Christ replacing my self-sufficiency with His provision that life is downhill from that point.  I’ve lived with so much shame (mainly of not being able to live up to everyone’s expectations nor being able to provide financially for my family) and last night, God told me that my shame was the result of my desperately wanting to hold onto self-sufficiency.  Wow, that was a revelation.

If I come to Christ, I must be willing to die to self.  What is Mark’s self?  Selfishness, bitterness, unforgiveness, fear of man (nearly paralyzed by what others think of me), jealousy, coveting, strife, the love of money (mammon), wanting my way (I won’t be free in Christ if I cling to wanting my way), not loving my wife the way I should (never a good thing), fear, worry, anxiety, the weight and illusion of self-sufficiency (so deceptive and binding), and my one of my favorites, self-pity.

These are what Jesus is asking me to die to.  Pretty ugly list, right?  And SO spiritually H-E-A-V-Y.

Thank you, Jesus, for asking me, and for showing me how to die to self, how to relieve me of “self.”  It’s so wonderful to be able to unload self (my ways), and to exchange them for Your light beauty.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me (for my liberty and salvation from self to live in/with Christ).
Galatians 2:20

Jesus is SO amazing.  And, this life in Him just keeps getting more joyful all the time.

God bless,

Mark

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:8

God’s love is all-conquering, just, discerning, merciful, and full of grace.  It draws those who have ears to hear (Matthew 11:15) to the narrow gate, and safe way (Matthew 7:13-14).  His love demands justice and truth, and it commands the universe.  From cover to cover, the Bible contains and describes God’s love and all He will do to preserve it.

How powerful is God’s love?  Well, it’s so powerful that, when placed in God’s almighty hands, in His time, it can bring victory, peace, rest, contentment and great joy out of any circumstance or situation…Any.

How’s God going to work all things together for good?  Honestly, I don’t know. But, He does, and He has the power to do it.  That’s one reason that life with God is the adventure of a lifetime.  He loves to show us His plans and surprises in His perfect timing with His ongoing love story for each of us.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…Truly, there’s just something about that Name.  After all, Jesus is the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19

God bless,

Mark

If you’ve ever had an emotionally up and down life like I’ve had, you find that it’s such a marvelous thing to meet someone who appears to have the joy of the Lord and Christ’s peace living in them.  All questioning and fretting seems to be gone from their life.  You just want to stay with them and absorb their Heavenly character, their ability to rest in and trust Jesus.

I’m finding that it’s much more important who I am than what I do for a living.  While God leads us into our life’s work, He wants to develop His liberating character in us because He knows that’s what will make us truly happy and secure.  When we have Jesus living on the inside of us, we’re at peace and have all of the other fruit of the Spirit alive in us.  We soon learn that it’s so much more rewarding to have Christ than anything else.

Jesus loves us so much and desires that we live in His peace all the time.  He helps us by giving us the Holy Spirit to plant and grow the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  The more we trust Jesus, the more of each of the fruit of the Spirit we’ll have operating in our lives.  Isn’t that wonderful?

5 Trust in the Lord with all (All of Him and none of me.  All sounds so restful.) thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

God bless,

Mark

I told you how we’ve been getting attacked spiritually for the last few weeks.   Well, it all began just before Christmas and has kept up since then.  The Lord woke Ann up in the middle of the night about a week ago and had her write down some things.

This morning, I woke up with more attacks and began praising God in bed.  After we got up, the Holy Spirit put a song on my heart and wanted me to listen to it.  Funny thing is, I couldn’t remember the song’s name so I kind of shrugged it off.  Ann and I were talking about the new ideas God’s giving us and sure enough, I was reminded of the song’s lyric and found it on youtube.  I played it for Ann and we were both lifted up by the Holy Spirit.  I couldn’t even talk as my eyes filled up with tears of the joy of the Lord.  It was like He was telling us to keep on trucking in Him and that He would always be faithful to bring us through storms and spiritual attacks.  Ann’s been sick with a cold and could hardly make a noise when she tried to speak this morning but that didn’t keep her from talking about a new web page and all that God wants to do.  I just love my incredible wife.

Anyway, here’s the song God gave me this morning – while it’s kind of a comical video, the song has a powerful message, and one I needed to hear today.  It truly reminded me in the Holy Spirit to “Keep on telling people about Jesus, and that that’s enough for me.”  God is answering so many prayers and His answers are coming on the heels of some pretty heavy spiritual attacks.

Just want to encourage you, again, to keep running after Jesus with all you’ve got.  You’ll never regret it.

Gaither Vocal Band, Jake Hess – I’m Gonna Keep On [Live]

We love you all.

God bless,
Mark

Our flesh is prideful, arrogant, lazy, fearful and wimpy.  It wants its way and often resists the change and growth Jesus has for His disciples.

Like you, we’re still growing in the Lord (and will be until we reach Heaven) and want all that He has for us on earth.  He died to set mankind free and we really desire to walk away from the flesh and into all of His Heavenly provision.

11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:  notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force (With the Holy Spirit’s help, we need to stay strong and courageous to take out the enemy of the Kingdom).
Matthew 11:11-12

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (like self-pity, discouragement, depression, etc., at any given moment).
Hebrews 4:12

19 Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness (He’ll deal with our wilderness and bring you out if we’re willing)
And rivers in the desert (living apart from His liberating ways).
20 The beast of the field will honor Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because I give waters (He makes His ways known to us) in the wilderness
And rivers (of living water found and discovered in His Word) in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen.
21 This people I have formed for Myself;
They shall declare My praise.
Isaiah 43:19-21

I hope the following lifts you and is clear enough to say what’s on our hearts.  We hope it’s helpful.

Lately, Ann’s been getting a new vision for “Choosing Jesus Every Day.”  Seems as if God’s telling her we need to find a way to reach those without hope and who are discouraged and depressed with no apparent resolve.

We’ve been talking and praying about this and this morning, Ann, started talking about it some more…

Ann was telling me about how violent the Bible is in parts.  She told me she thinks we’re too complacent in our Christianity and how the Kingdom suffereth violence and how the violent take it by force.  She agreed that we always need to be led by the Holy Spirit in all situations but thinks we’re being determined enough when it comes to renewing our minds or that we don’t realize the precious gift and opportunity we’ve been given when it comes to renewing our minds to God’s Word.  The Word is so powerful if we’ll use it.  It’s such GOOD NEWS.

I was in a little bit of a spiritual fog this morning (Ann could tell I was entering a desert or wilderness).  I didn’t know it, but my wife saw it.  She asked me what I was thinking.  When I told her, she told me self-pity was trying to control me and that I needed to stir myself up in the Lord.  She was right.

Misery loves company and keeps many of us from the strength and liberty the Lord has for each of our lives.  Honestly, the love and familiarity of and with misery often keeps us from renewing our minds in the Lord.  We get so used to woe and self-pity (and any other harmful strongholds and damaging thought patterns that have taken root in our lives over the years for various reasons) that we don’t really know how to grow beyond them or entirely exterminate them from our being.

On the other hand, when we stir ourselves up in the Lord, when we take Him at His Word, when He shows us something that’s harming us and how to overcome it, others will want to stir themselves up in the Lord as well.

We can’t be passive when renewing our mind.  It takes Holy Spirit inspired, deliberate action.  That’s why we must learn the Word.

Like David, we need to stir up the gift of salvation the Lord’s made available to us.  When the Lord points out the fact that our discouragement is not from Him, but is rather an enemy attack, no matter how subtle it is and no matter how it’s framed, we can stir ourselves up in the Lord and the power of His might.  We don’t have to live with discouraging and depressing thoughts.  We don’t need to have those types of thoughts harming and limiting our strength in Jesus.

2 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

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

Boy, I just love how the Word is alive and active helping us discern spiritual matters and setting us free indeed.  It’s simply amazing.  And all we have to do to be set free indeed is to be willing to keep following Jesus.

God bless,

Mark

Here’s a great way to start off the new year:

Three keys to living a victorious Christian life regardless of circumstances.

(For (because) 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 10:4-5

Take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.  Test the spirit behind any thought and if it’s a discouraging thought, take it captive, immediately.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

God is working all things together for good for those who love Him.

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

Praise and thank God in all things.  Doing so brings Him on the scene and provides us with all of the resources of Heaven.  Nothing like His Presence to help us throughout the day.

God bless,

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why does God have us praise Him all the time?  Well, I know that when I praise Him, it brings His Presence on the scene.  With God inhabiting my praise, fearful or discouraging thoughts are taken captive, I get clearer thinking and the answers I need, I have more peace, and a knowing that God’s working all things for my good.

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

 

 

 

 

God bless,
Mark

Jesus is the light (all of the glory, and righteousness of the Father, and Heaven) of the world.  And, in Him, there is no darkness (no sin, no shadow of turning, only liberty). ☺

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people:  but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isaiah 60:1-3

Merry Christmas!

God bless,

Mark and Ann

God loves to rescue us from ourselves, from the influence and impact of our enemy and this world.  He’s truly our Redeemer.

Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs?  No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.  If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
James 3:11-13

Please understand that the following is shared out of love and not out of condemnation.  I just know what God has done for me and I want to share His loving deliverance with as many people as I can.

My wife and I have been around a number of folks lately whose lives are greatly impacted by always being upset, by anger, injustices, and unforgiveness that keeps piling up in their lives, and keeps them “jacked up.”  Their “day talk” involves so much of this they never seem to be able to truly calm down – especially without having alcohol.  Except for using alcohol, I can relate…I was the same way at one time like a boiler, without a relief valve, ready to blow.

Why is it SO important that we become doers of the Word?  Well, one thing that comes to mind is unforgiveness and all its repercussions.  Not forgiving others was causing me an overwhelming amount of torment.  My mind was fenced in by angry thoughts and I could find no real peace and rest for my weary soul.

Like many others, my life had been so full of injustices and problems.  It got so bad that my mind was full of confusion, unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment.

Fortunately, God doesn’t leave us in this type of condition.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.  And God is faithful.  He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.  When you are tempted, he will show you a way out (for me, it was memorizing scripture and praising God in all things) so that you can endure.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

Two important things happened in my life that began to turn things around for me in my thinking that started me on the path to a renewed mind, of learning of how to cast my cares on the Lord.

Although I didn’t always feel like doing it, I was motivated by how sick and tired I was of the condition I was in.  I began to memorize scripture and I learned to praise God in all things – God gave me the grace and will power to put these into practice.

Now, it took a little while to really coat my spirit with these two important activities, but things began to turn around and the Lord led me out of the miry clay of sins (unforgiveness, anger, jealousy, fear, worry, etc.) I’d been stuck in for years.

Check your “day talk” and see if it’s causing you tension, stress, worry and unresolved anger.

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Song Speak
By Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

Zimmer is one of the biblical words for song. Ephesians 5:19 says, “Speak to one another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.”  Think about that.  How do you speak in songs?

You have to learn to talk in “song speak,” to speak in such a beautiful way that it could be a song.  When you speak, there’s no real melody, harmony, orchestra, accompaniment, or musical instrument.  Yet, you’re to speak in a song.

To speak in song means your words make up for the fact that there’s no music and become themselves a song so beautiful it needs no accompaniment.

Ask yourself, if somebody took a transcript of your daily talk, could they write a godly song from it?  Would it go to music?  Talk of anger, fear, blame, pride, conceit, and emptiness doesn’t make godly music.  What kind of talk does?  Talk of love, faith, peace, hope, praise, thanksgiving, encouragement, mercy, God, and scripture.

Stop merely speaking and start learning how to speak a new language today, the language of song speak.

Today’s Mission:  Today, practice thinking and talking in “song speak.”

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Psalm 35:28

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God bless,

Mark

Boy, I have to tell you that it’s really fun to be able to share these emails with you.  It’s so joyful.  That’s our fun and faithful Jesus! ☺

I have to credit Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn (really, the Holy Spirit through Jonathan) with teaching me to look for God in the midst of attacks, and it’s been a real revelation in my life.

For example, yesterday morning, I got up after having another night of really bad dreams.  Then, my computer had an issue and I was “feeling” like things were really starting to stack up on my spirit – darkness loves to gang up on any injured spirit.  Suddenly, I was reminded to praise God.

But you (God) are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.
Psalm 22:3

And, He really did inhabit my praises…

That’s usually about the time the Holy Spirit steps into my thoughts by reminding me that when I’m being tempted to walk by sight instead of by faith that I can rest assured that God is about to show me His favor.  Now that may sound weird, but it happens more and more often and I’m so thankful for God’s precious faithfulness to interrupt discouraging moments with His promise to turn things around for me.

Sure enough, I could “feel” the Holy Spirit encouraging me to look for His favor as I ran a number of errands in the morning.  It was just so great to witness God working as I met nice person after nice person and smiled and lifted others with the love of God as I went from place to place.

Let that be an encouragement to us all.  Always, no matter what’s going on spiritually, look for God to bring joy to your day as you depend on His faithful love, peace and joy.  His favor and Presence is always with us.  That’s His Name, Immanuel, God with us. ☺

My day went from being potentially bad to good that fast.  Truly, if we listen to His voice, our days will be spent in victory…

Why art thou cast down, O my soul?  and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God:  for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalm 42:5

Now the Lord is that Spirit:  and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:17

God bless,

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

God bless,

Mark

Hello Fellow Christians, ☺

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casting all your care upon him (Jesus); for he (not me, I’m not designed to and can’t take on “care” without it harming my soul and countenance) careth for you (why do I try to do Jesus’ job by taking on care?).
1 Peter 5:7

‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For (Because) the battle is not yours, but God’s.
2 Chronicles 20:15b

Jesus was asking me to stop hashing out “my” issues.  He wanted me to stop talking about them.  The Holy Spirit shared with me that this is what true faith is all about.  It’s turning our situations over to Jesus for Him to carry and to resolve.  Then, I trust Him to do it in His time however He sees fit.

God doesn’t want me to sin by living with unforgiveness, bitterness, self-pity, jealousy, fear, etc.  He also doesn’t want me to live with worry.  No, instead, He wants me to bring anything that causes me to worry – to fret over, to wring my hands over, to try to carry in my soul – to His cross and leave it there.  He wants me to know that He knows all about the situation and asks me to be thankful and to praise Him in all things – all things.

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Developing Trust
By Joyce Meyer

So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock (the Rock of Ages).
Isaiah 26:4

How many times have we allowed trying situations that come our way to frustrate us and get us needlessly upset?  How many years of our lives have we spent saying, “Oh, I’m believing God.  I’m trusting God,” when in reality, we are worrying, talking negatively, and trying to figure everything out on our own?

Sometimes we think we are trusting God just because we are saying the words, but inside we are anxious and panicky.  It is good that we are taking the initial steps to trust God, but we must also realize we can still grow in trust.  Trusting God is more than just words – it’s words, attitudes, and actions.

Trust and confidence are built up over a period of time.  It usually takes some time to overcome an ingrained habit of worry, anxiety, or fear.  That is why it is so imperative to “hang in there” with God.  Don’t quit and give up because you gain experience and spiritual strength as you go through situations.  Each time you become a little stronger than you were the last time.  Sooner of later, if you don’t give up, you will find yourself in a place of complete rest, peace, and trust in God.

If you are in a time of trial, realize that worry is completely useless, and use the time to built your trust in God.

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God bless,

Mark

“Pray about everything and fear nothing.  When fear knocks at the door, let faith (what you know to be true about Jesus and how He’s working all things for your good) answer.”
Joyce Meyer (Edits Mine)

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

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

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

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

But the Lord is faithful (Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us), who shall stablish you (He’s producing His peace, rest and joy in us), and keep you from evil (fear).
2 Thessalonians 3:3

Until my wife and I began memorizing and using the Word (like the scriptures above and those found on our web page, choosingjesuseveryday.com>verses God gave us), the Sword of the Spirit, against the enemy’s lies and spiritual attacks, we were living defeated Christian lives.  Now, we rely on God’s Word and the way He’s taught us how to use it in the battle the devil wages against our minds and souls.  Learning how to use the Word is vital.

God bless,

Mark

1 I love you, Lord;
you are my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3 NLT

Boy, God is good all the time, all the time, God is good.  His love and protection over our lives is so soothing and liberating.  His truth endures forever, and with Him, His truths, operating in our lives, we endure and overcome, forever.  Praise Jesus!

Happy Monday, everyone. ☺

God bless,

Mark