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27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:27-29

I was watching a talk by Dr. Tony Evans about things that can be shaken and the fact that our God is a consuming fire when I had the thought that I am so thankful to God that He has and is skaking and consuming all the consumable things in my life that are being replaced by His unshakable Life. He has been so faithful to replace generational sins and strongholds, those damaging things the lies of the enemy have planted in me with His immovable, liberating, supernatural truths and character. It’s funny that at one time I thought I knew so much about God only to discover that unless God is living in me on a moment-by-moment basis, I really didn’t know Him. Only by having Jesus live in and through us can we be free from the scary things that can be shaken.

Care, fear, the fear of man, offense, jealousy, the love of money (mammon), unforgiveness, self-preservation, the need to control everything, the fear of death – and so much more – are being shaken and consumed as they are being replaced by Jesus. It is an amazing experience.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

Am I the devil’s bait or God’s clay at any given moment? Will I choose to stay in bondage or to be set free indeed?

“God kindly revealed to me my need to settle down and trust in the gospel for my indentity, not in my performance.” (Taken from page 185 in the book, “When To Walk Away” by Pastor Gary Thomas)

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

We’re all still a work in progress and we will be until Heaven. Where God leads in our lives is making us into the vessel He wants us to be for His good pleasure. As a result, we learn more about abiding in Christ and how our lives become more and more beautiful.

The life God’s given me is His gift to me. The more He shows me that, the more I love Him and the more I believe and live in the freedom Romans 8:28 provides.

Again, I am so grateful to God for Ann’s love, patience and support. She is absolutely the wife God knew I needed. I grow more in love with her daily.

I was driving back from taking Annie to work today (3-8-23) when I felt the Holy Spirit asking me if I will follow Him no matter what. It was a sweet time of reflection and comfort because I realized (with tears of His joy now living in me) He knew I belonged to Him and that I needed to be His all along. There was to be no other Life for me.

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:31-32

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Jesus: Mark, what if I (Jesus) allow you to have to use food stamps and be on welfare; to go through heavy family issues; to give up your understanding for My peace; to walk through shame; to want to give up many times; to feel what it is like to not measure up to others; to have disabling pain and health issues that prevent you from working so Annie has to go to work; to be misunderstood; to envy others; to feel deep frustration, unforgiveness, depression, jealousy and bitterness, along with all the rest that lies ahead so I can use your life to touch others who need My Love so they too can be saved by coming to know the powerful, delivering reality of Romans 8:28? Will you still follow Me?

Yes, Lord, I will. I now know there is no other Life for me than the secure, peaceful, carefree, resting, joyful Life You have for me. And now I know the greatest need I have is to be Yours. Thank You for loving me and for encouraging me to follow You all these years, Lord.

65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
John 6:65-68

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

Yesterday while doing some things in the morning, God gave me a vision of Romans 8:28 encapsulating my thought life. Romans 8:28 was a glass ball and all the things I think about are contained in that ball. I could see the things I think about on a regular basis were inside Romans 8:28. He was telling me to rest in the fact that He’s working everything together for my good and He would show me how that can take place within the environment of His Love – Romans 8:28.

It’s okay to let Romans 8:28 live in your thoughts. That verse is a huge part of letting God’s peace reign in our hearts. It is one of the most beautiful parts of God that He wants us to enjoy. No matter what has kept you from being able to rest in the comforting thoughts of knowing God is working all things together for your good, let Him in. Let Him make you secure in this part of His healing, restful, almighty Love.

28 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

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

Annie and I love to discover new information that helps us to become more like Jesus, to become more free, to experience all that He has for us as His followers. We’re reading, “When To Walk Away” by Pastor Gary Thomas. It’s the kind of book and insights where you’re highlighting every page. The things Gary shares are such spiritual food for us. We really don’t want the book to end.

I’ve never been to Israel, but I’ve been told about and seen pictures of the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee.

The Sea of Galilee has an inlet and outlet meaning that water comes into it and water goes out of it at another point. On the other hand, the Dead Sea has just an inlet and nothing lives in it. In some ways, it reminds me of having an unrepentant heart that no new life can happen in.

When Annie and I began meeting with a church counselor (Chuck) in Oregon in the 1980s, we were pretty much like the Dead Sea. In our first meeting with Chuck, he told me we were in the condition we were in because of me. That hit me right between the eyes. I decided I wanted to get healed no matter what it took. I loved Annie and wanted to make our marriage work and thrive if that was possible. While it’s been a challenge to make all of the changes God has asked of us, the path to freedom in Christ has been so worth it. Today, our marriage is thriving. We’re best friends, help each other all the time and laugh together. Just this morning, we were talking about Jesus (we pretty much talk about Jesus all the time really when we’re together) again and all of the amazing beauty He has brought to our lives, to our marriage because we made the decision to let Jesus into our lives in the 80s.

It is never too late to let Jesus into our lives. He takes us just as we are and begins to build His wonderful ways in our lives that make Life so joyful and worth living.

We love you all.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Go ahead. Do it and see what He does with your effort to do so. He’ll lighten your load. He promises to do so…

28 Come unto me (Jesus), 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.
Matthew 11:28-29

It’s simple…Smile more.

We used to be so much more serious about so many toxic things crowding our minds. Annie and I laugh so much more these days. And when I sense we haven’t been laughing as much together about this or that, I ask God to give us some things to laugh about. And I’m telling you, He always answers that prayer. It’s so wonderful. Laughing is so good for us.

We listened to a Christian speaker over the weekend who said to simply smile more. They said to close your eyes and smile as an exercise.

Praise Jesus that He brings so much Light into our lives. Any of us can be so tempted to be down and defeated about so many things. God simply refuses to let us stay there. Ask God to give you more to laugh about and see what happens.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

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.

Letting Jesus show you how to live ABOVE – Mmmm…

I know I’ve written about that topic before (The Power Of His Might), but I just had to write some more about it. The power of Christ’s might is so liberating. It crushes pride and so many other enemy lies attempting to keep us bound in darkness. I don’t know what your specific struggles are but I know how free I become when I let the power of His might shine His Light into any darkness trying to operate in my life. Darkness is so deceptive, and it can be so comfortable and convincing to each of us. Ask Jesus to shine the power of His might into your life and then watch what He points out that may be tripping you up. Praise God for His delivering power that brings us times of refreshing and what refreshment it is.

Years ago, I thought I had my Christianity pretty much “together.” I thought I was the one who needed to be teaching others about Jesus (I was walking in the power of my might so to speak – not good). When we think that way, we need to be careful because we can shut down the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Like a little child, stay open to the Lord. Stay teachable and always be ready to repent so you can walk into new freedom in Christ all throughout your life. If you sense you’re stubborn or that you have a hard heart about something, go to Jesus and ask His forgiveness so He can soften you up and bring joy, peace and rest to that area of your life. When I stay open to Jesus, I discover that He loves me far more than I love myself.

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,

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.

And let the peace of God rule in your heart. Wow. I can let Jesus rule in my heart any time of day or night. What an immense privilege and blessing it is to be his child.

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 matchless Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that truly is ABOVE every other name in so many precious, life-transforming ways.

Jesus guards my heart.

Know His Word and know Him Who is The Prince of Peace.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

There is such a blessing and covering on anyone who “does” The Word. It’s amazing how I’ll start to sense fear trying to steal my faith. Fear comes to me through circumstances and thoughts. It knows it used to take me down with its lies and cause me such hopeless misery.

But God!

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.

With CCPTSD, and all the rest that’s come against me and tried to take me out, I could have tried to find my escape through alcohol, drugs, and any number of other things.

But God!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I (Jesus) am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman (vinedresser). Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:1-2

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.

The more Jesus works in our life, the more we let Him take out of us anything He knows is/will harm us, the happier and more free we become. Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus, for Your unwavering faithfulness and love.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Is God in control? Is He?

It depends on if you think He is in control or if you think He’s not in control.

I had just sent out the CJED email about the beauty of waiting on God and allowing Him to produce His supernatural patience in our lives. Next thing I knew, I was getting spiritually attacked (6-10-21). I could tell because, through a series of events, I started thinking defeating, self-pity thoughts about how my life’s gone. I was feeling bad about all the things Annie and I’d missed out on due to so many circumstances and situations. My faith began to wane. That’s when I began praising God. Suddenly, the darkness broke and I began having some revelations about this particular spiritual attack (and test of my emergency faith backup system :)) and thanked God He was taking control of my thoughts at that moment.

I don’t mean to be unkind, but Christians need to stop saying God’s in control of this but not in control of that. Now, I must admit, I lived the same way until I realized I was living a confused, see-saw, defeated, double-minded life.

In any given situation, you can be tempted to believe God’s not in control. That’s our choice which is exactly why I choose Jesus every day. This is precisely why we’re told to put on the whole armor of God. We have real battles and God wants us to win them in the Spirit.

You see, the thing that matters is what you’re thinking, you know, what’s going on between your ears. If I apply Romans 8:28, take all thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and praise and thank Him always in all things (Ephesians 5:20, and many other similar scriptures), He’s in control. In other words, I put God in control just like Paul and Silas (and so many others like King David, Esther, Ruth, and Joseph in the Old Testament) did while in prison. On the other hand, if I choose to fear, to doubt, to take on enemy thoughts, etc., I give my flesh or the enemy control, and I’m sunk. Next thing I know, I’m sidetracked or derailed. It’s honestly that simple.

I’m finding more and more that when I’m in a test or trial, God is showing me to focus on the victory, on the message He’s going to give me, the growth He’s planting in my life as a result of the trial, and it’s amazing how He’s coming through for me. He blesses our faithfulness to obey His commands. That’s why I encourage everyone to simply do the three kingdom keys in the above paragraph. Doing the three kingdom keys intercepts my own negative thinking and any enemy plots/schemes sent to defeat me during the day or night.

Concentrate on the victory, new insight or spiritual freedom (maybe all three) God will give you following any trial and do the three kingdom keys – Put God in control. Your life will change. I promise you. And, God’s Word is full of His promise to deliver anyone who will choose Him. Remember, He inhabits the praises of His people (Just ask the Apostle Paula and Silas) – He comes into the situation and into our minds to set us free with His triumphant thoughts. When God is in control of me, of my thought life, He’s in control. This is God in control!

God is good all the time and all the time, God is good. When He controls me, my thoughts, He’s in control – No matter what. Hallelujah!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I just can’t say enough about how huge a blessing God’s Word is in my life. Today, when so many are dying by being shackled with fear and so much pressuring sudden fear, God is setting His children more and more free through scriptures like Psalm 91.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it (unbelief, fear and sudden fear) shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked (those choosing not to live by faith in God).

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation (make faith in God your habitation. Know and have the courage to live by God’s Word);
Psalm 91:7-9

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 truly is ABOVE every other name.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Jesus, The Prince Of Peace, bless you and keep you
Jesus, The Prince Of Peace, make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
Jesus, The Prince Of Peace, 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 Prince Of Peace, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

God is amazing. He’s involved in the whole world and each individual life. Somehow, with all that’s going on today, He still takes time to speak to our individual needs setting us free on a daily basis. Jesus Saves – And, He continues to save us by working in our lives to set us free in ways we couldn’t imagine. The work of the Holy Spirit is so precious and life-giving.

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.

From glory to glory – He continues to renew our minds. Amazing…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I had a few nightmares again last night. I got up feeling pretty defeated. Ann came out to the kitchen where I was making our morning coffee. She asked me how I slept and I told her I had more nightmares and that I was tired of them. Her first words were, “Let’s thank God for the nightmares.” Immediately, I felt a spiritual change in the room. I knew she was right. It was such deliverance for me. Soon after, God began giving us so many new insights about getting more and more free in Him. We couldn’t write them all down fast enough. It was fantastic. What a time of rejoicing. He’s faithful!

He really does work all things together for our good. Why should that surprise us, right? ☺

Again, God told me, “Mark, don’t be caught up in the battles. Focus on what I’m going to bring you at the end – the victory itself. I will be faithful to give you more freedom through every battle. The battle is nothing when you know that I will give you more victories through them.”

Hallelujah! God IS GREAT!

God is SO good – all the time. This is what Romans 8:28 is all about. He IS good – allways.

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face 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

Truly, Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life. We are forever grateful that He’s producing His Life in us.

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 had a really bad dream last night. When I woke up, I had to do spiritual battle with a lying spirit trying to get me to compromise. I told the spirit to go to hell, to get out of my thoughts and that Jesus was my Lord. Eventually, the lies stopped and I was able to go back to sleep.

There is no one like our Jesus. I know I say that a lot. It’s because we’re in a real war and we must win it – or live defeated. Jesus has overcome this world. There is no defeat in Him. And, He’ll never, never, never, never, never leave us nor forsake us. Praise God!

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.

God was even able to use my bad dream to help me fight off the enemy and to make me more tenacious and hungry for His Truth operating in my life. I just love Romans 8:28.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I’m not going to worry, and I’m not going to fret. I’m going to believe God will work it all for my good. The Word is true, and I can choose to stand on It. Praise God!

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’ (He is Romans 8:28 – Believe Him!) Name, the Name that is ABOVE (It will be ABOVE in our lives if we’ll believe It. Yes, it’s that simple.) every other name.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

It’s so wonderful when Jesus tells you a trial is meant to bring you more of Him in ways you can’t imagine beforehand. That just makes trials more delicious. ☺

No wonder He tells us to count it all joy when we fall into various temptations like trials that test and build our faith in Him. (James1:2-3)

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 so far ABOVE every other name.

Oh victory in Jesus, My Savior forever…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark