Lessons Worth Re-Learning

What Is Useful in God's Eyes

2010-09-03T11:51:00.001-07:00

I just got this devotional from David Wilkerson and as usual, the Lord's timing is impeccable. I very rarely get any feedback on my blogsite from people that just happen on it. I often wonder if it reaches anybody or helps anyone. The Lord in His lovingkindness gently reminded me that was none of my business, it was His. Am I looking for my rewards now, or am I looking for my rewards from God in eternity? Anything other than pleasing God is vanity, wasted time and energy.

Please take the time to read this message at: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/devotions/2010/keep-yourself-in-the-love-of-god

From Linda Rosenbaugh

Last Day in the Mall

2010-08-29T14:40:00.001-07:00

Well, this is our last day in the mall in Joplin. Moving out is always bittersweet because I look forward to the next location and that is exciting. But I don't like leaving behind all the good friends we made. I hope I got everyone's e-mails so we can stay in touch through my blog. I intend to keep it up better.

From here we go to the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson that starts Sept. 10th. Maybe if you can make it, we'll see you at the fair!

Links To My Favorite Posts

2010-08-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

Christian Music Videos

2010-05-07T13:04:00.005-07:00

I listen to Christian Music quite a lot, and worship is a big part of my life. Here is a music video that uplifts me and I hope you will like it too.

The End Times

2010-04-22T14:12:00.002-07:00

There have been many people who think they can second-guess God and fortell the end of things. Even Jesus said only the Father knew. He did say that you can discern the events leading up to it. But it's still like sitting at a red stop light. You know it's going to turn green, and you sit there and say, 'Now!' and that wasn't it. And you say 'NOW!' You were wrong again. Sooner or later the light will turn green, all on its own timer.

Don't be mistaken by the long duration that we have waited. Don't be deceived into thinking that it won't happen. Stay in the Word, keep praying, and build your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. There will be counterfeits, and you will only know the truth if you know the Truth, the real thing. You can only pick out counterfeit money if you know what the real stuff looks like. Take a bill and really look at it. Could you pick out a counterfeit bill?

I, myself, have to really watch myself and the image I portray to make sure I don't come off as a hypocrite. And it's really hard. The unsaved are watching us and holding us up to a magnifying glass that is cloudy because they don't have the truth. If I am to portray a risen Savior to the world, am I living as a worthy servant?

We are living in the end times. There are many things happening in this world that are clear indicators. When Jesus returns, will we be about the Father's business as portrayed in Mark 16? Or running around like chickens with our heads cut off, worrying about other things? When we pray that the Lord of the Harvest sends laborers to the fields, are we expecting Him to send someone else?

I am out here in a field, and there are a lot of unsaved people in it and time is running out. So are you. And I feel incredibly unprepared for it. But that is when I look at it with human eyes. God says to depend on Him FOR EVERYTHING. He is our All in All. Our Beginning and the End.

He is my God, my Healer, my Financier, my Bread, my Water, my Very Breath. I have come to depend on Him for everything. Commandment #1: "I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before or besides Me." Amplified Bible, Exodus 20:2-3

When I study the names of God, I see that He wants me to depend on Him for every aspect of my life. When I don't, I am insulting Him.

I still pray that I can say that one thing to that one person that changes their lives to believe in Jesus.

Merry Christmas !!!!

2009-12-08T15:21:00.002-07:00

As I write this, I am sitting in a large mall. The mall has decorated somewhat, albeit, sparsly. They finally started playing Christmas music over the PA yesterday because they were getting complaints from the public. Most of the stores in the mall have not even decorated. People say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". Any reference to Jesus' birth is frowned upon.

It is clear that commercialism and materialism is pushing it's ugly head to replace the celebration of the birth and appearance of our Dear LORD and Savior, Jesus the Christ. I'm not going to lie, this last year has been very trying. Our finances are bad and sales are not picking up. I'm tired of satan's constant attacks. I'm tired of being a slave to our bills. I'm tired of losing my joy because of worry. And yet as I go over my blogs for the last year, it is obvious that God is still with me! I love Him more each day.

I was going over all my blogs and it dawned on me, WHY AM I NOT READING MY OWN BOOK?! I read the introduction, and God reminded me why He gave me the book, to help me when I get depressed. He did it to help me then and every time I need it. Lessons Worth Re- Learning. God is good, ALL THE TIME.!!!!!

From now on, I will start each day with "Praise to the LORD! His mercies are new every morning!". And every night "Praise to the LORD for He is good. His mercies are everlasting!" And I will say "Merry Christmas" to all my customers.

Remember the Reason for the season, folks. Jesus was born, God came to Tabernacle with us. Never trivialize His mercy or His grace.

Have a Very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!

Happy Sukkot!

2009-10-07T08:40:00.001-07:00

Greetings in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ!

We are in the Jewish feast of Sukkot which is the last and most important feast in the Jewish calendar. We just finished with Yom Kippur, the Days of Awe and Repentance, when we reflect on our sins and repent of them. Sukkot is the Feast of Tabernacles and represents the time of restored fellowship with the LORD, when we rejoice in our LORD's relationship with us and His provision in our lives. It represents Him as He 'tabernacles' with us here on earth. In the Old Testament He tabernacled in the Temple of animal skins as a foreshadow of us living with Him in our hearts.

One thing they teach you in Christian schools is that when you pray, to start with praise, then supplication, and finish with praise. I have gotten in the habit of praying this way, "Oh Father, LORD God Almighty, Creator of the heavens and the earth, you are the King of kings and the LORD of lords and You are my GOD." Little did I know that the Jewish blessings start simularly; "Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, King of the universe, Creator of . . ." whatever you are using the blessing for.

So many people say, "I can't serve a god who is so egotistical that he requires constant adulation to feel good". What I say is that He knows who He is. It is WE who need to be reminded of just who and what the LORD is. When I praise the LORD I am reminded of all the blessings I have received from Him and how much He loves me. I feel something inside me just melt and a peace surrounds me and fills me and strengthens me in an inexplicable way. The Holy Spirit comes to me and meets my needs again. You CANNOT outgive God!

I have been studying at a website called "Hebrew 4 Christians" www.hebrew4christians.com
It has been a great source of information. I just wish I could remember things like I did when I was younger! The man who writes this site is John Parsons, an accomplished Hebrew language professor who does this with no financial support at this time. Visit http://www.hebrew4christians.com/About_HFC/Site_News/site_news.html to learn more about him and his ministry. I encourage you to study at his website and to find it in your hearts to support him with prayer and maybe some financial support.

I praise the LORD who reings in our hearts and in glory and who teaches us by His Most Holy Spirit!

Pictures of Tribble and Kandi

2009-09-09T18:44:00.007-07:00

I promised you pictures of our gliders and now we have a WHOLE LOT OF PICTURES!

This is Kandi with her bread in her paws sticking out of my pocket.

This is Tribble. He's a real camera hound, so most of the pictures are of him.

They had their first birthday, August 8th, 2009. They sure have been a joy in our lives.

Is Jesus in your boat?

2009-08-28T14:39:00.008-07:00

Mark 4:35-41 (NKJV). " On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Have you ever watched a TV program called "The Deadliest Catch"? It's about crab fishermen in the Bering Sea. They work in incredible conditions, storms, freezing seawater, their boats overcome by the waves. They have enormous courage, I'm scared to death just watching them!

Now, I imagine myself in that little boat. The lightning is flashing and there are thunders that pound my chest. The waves are twice as high as that boat swamping it with every wave. The bow digs in deeper with every surge. Soon, I can no longer see the edges of the boat above the water. Sometimes, this is what life feels like. And satan takes advantage of my tumultuous emotions and the thoughts are constantly, "You deserve this. You don't live right. You are just suffering the consequences of your sin. You are all alone."

Read the scripture again, can you hear the panic in their voices? "Master, don't you even care?".

At this point they haven't fully comprehended exactly who Jesus was. They merely thought he was a holy man with miraculous powers. And he was asleep (of all things) in the stern of the ship. We don't have that excuse. We know who Jesus is. We know that they were never in any danger. Their boat would never have sunk with Jesus on board. And if it did, they would have gone to paradise with Him. We know this with in our heads. So what are we panicking for? Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us. He is always with us. He is always in our boats if we have Him in our hearts. We must do as the psalmist says repeatedly, "Call My name, and I'll be there!"

God's Wings

2009-06-18T10:08:00.002-07:00

I don't know if the story is true or not, but it still gives you pause.

God's Wings

A little something to put things in perspective. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park , forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast ...because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live...

'He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.' (Psalm 91:4)

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life.

Remember the One who loves you, and then be different because of it.

Clay Dyer

2009-05-26T16:47:00.004-07:00

This is the most amazing video I have seen yet on YouTube. This really makes you think about your struggles and troubles and how small they may be in the grand scheme of things. My hat's off to him.

Push-Ups

2009-04-12T19:02:00.003-07:00

I would like to wish to you all a "Happy Resurrection Day", as Steven so aptly reminded me. And thanks to Ann, who sent this e-mail to me. Thanks, I needed this. Luv ya all, Linda

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.

Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery.

Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. 'How many push-ups can you do?'
Steve said, 'I do about 200 every night.' '200? That's pretty good, Steve, ' Dr. Christianson said. '

Do you think you could do 300?'

Steve replied, 'I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time.'

'Do you think you could?' again asked Dr. Christianson.

'Well, I can try,' said Steve.

'Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I needyou to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,' said the professor.

Steve said, 'Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.'

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts.

No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an earlystart on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, 'Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?'

Cynthia said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?'

'Sure!' Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk.

Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, 'Joe, do you want a donut?'

Joe said, 'Yes.' Dr. Christianson asked, 'Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott.

Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'

Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own push-ups?'

Dr. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.'

Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.'

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.'

And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'

Sternly, Jenny said, 'No.'

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?'

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, 'No!' and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next.

Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?'

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.' And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason , a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, 'NO! Don't come in! Stay out!' Jason didn't know what was going on.

Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'

Professor Christianson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?'

Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of theway right now. Jason, do you want a donut?' Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. 'Yes,' he said, 'give me a donut.'

'Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular.

Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda, do you want a donut?'

Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'

Professor Christianson quietly asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. 'Susan, do you want a donut?'

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. 'Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?'

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book.

Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.'

'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?'

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, 'And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.'

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

'Well done, good and faithful servant,' said the professor, adding, 'Not all sermons are preached in words.'

Turning to his class, the professor said, 'My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid.'

'Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?'

Share this with someone. It's bound to touch their heart and demonstrate Salvation in a very special way.

To My Sis

2009-03-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

My sister Vivian passed away today. My world definitely got a little smaller. She died from the complications of cirosis of the liver, alcoholism, and depression.

You see, her life-long husband, her soul-mate if you will, died a couple of years ago. And although she drank before this, the depression and loneliness was eased a little by the alcohol.
Because of the depression in me, I can blame myself in part for her depression. I'm not much of a telephone caller or letter writer. But I guess at times like this we all have a tendency to blame ourselves.

The truth of the matter is this: you can ask an alcoholic to quit drinking, but unless they want to, they won't. You can demand they quit drinking, and they will just hide the liquor. You can empty out their cupboards, but they will buy some more. Even if you live with them, you can't help them. Or make them help themselves. They have to want to change. And change is scary. So pass me another beer.

And you can't blame yourself. There's absolutely nothing you could've done.

As for the depression, I have so many people that say, "Why don't you cheer up?" And, "If you just stay busy, you wouldn't dwell on the negative so much".You just can't change the broken record in your mind that easy. It takes constant work. And sometimes you just get tired. So pass me another beer.

And you can't blame yourself. There's absolutely nothing you could've done.

The cirrosis of the liver was the infection that actually killed her. But a broken heart was the cause of it all.

All Praise and Honor and Glory to God!

2008-11-19T12:48:00.003-07:00

The Lord has shown me that throughout all the scripture, and my personal experiences as well, God's hand is moved repeatedly when His people; 1) fast and pray, and 2) Praise and Worship.

In 2 Chronicles 20 (for example), a very large army of 3 different countries aligned themselves to take Judah. The first thing King Jehoshaphat did was to seek the Lord and declared a fast in all Judah.

Now, fasting is not some sado-masochistic thing we do to de-evaluate our self esteem into false humility. It is not some way to manipulate God so He'll feel sorry for our pitiful selves.

Fasting is simply acknowledging to ourselves AND God that we are sincere in our efforts to seek His face and His wisdom and His intervention at the same time getting ourselves out of the way. He already knows who we are and what we need. He wants us to know that He alone is the answer.

Everytime there was a major need for God to move and/or give wisdom, God's people fasted and prayed. God's Word came and one of the most beautiful promises of God came forth:
2 Chronicles 20:15 "Do not be afraid nor dismayed (anxious) because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's."

This was a situation that would have been impossible for them to win in the natural. It was a supernatural problem and needed a supernatural solution.

In fact, they didn't go to fight at all. They praised the Lord. They sang, they shouted, they went to the battlefield, and found that the enemy had destroyed themselves!

They sought the Lord, and praised Him for the answer, never doubting! Faith in their God. Irrational to the world, but the world failed, not God!

Praise to God! For His Mercy Endures Forever!

Back from the Fairs

2008-11-10T15:55:00.003-07:00

Well, the fairs are OVER! What a relief and what a mess! When you are gone from home for 3 months there is a lot to catch up on and I am just a little overwhelmed at the moment. The fairs were not as good as previous years. Enough said. I am back to working my license plate trailer on the weekends. Go to my website and look at all the things I can do with my laser: www.laserengravingonline.com . We also enlarged our family while we were gone. We got a couple of sugar gliders named Tribble and Kandi. I hope to get some really great pics of them posted soon. They are such clowns!

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV) "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no heard in the stalls -- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Politics

2008-09-30T15:32:00.001-07:00

I am no longer going to send political e-mails. Because that is just participating in all the mud-slinging and gossip and backbiting. We don't know what the truth is. I do encourage everyone to go to the library and start digging and reading and researching both candidates. Do what is best for America.

And then, after the elections, pray for the wisdom of God and the hand of God to direct their paths. Pray for our troops always. Ask for God to forgive us and to return to our country.

One Possible Cure for Depression

2008-09-24T14:53:00.002-07:00

July 28, 2008

One Possible Cure For Depression?

Alright, here is my opinion: Depression is caused by a life apart from God. The answer: Repentance.

We cannot receive the Comfort of God while at the same time denying that we carry attitudes of immorality and actions of sin. Sin comes when lust becomes actions.

James 1:12-17 (NKJV) "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

Sin separates us from God. The Law is to teach us and give us knowledge of what sin is. It is not only the things we do or say. It is the underlying belief system that directs us to think the way we do. It is the attitudes and morality in our hearts. The things that come out of us, our words and deeds, are expressions of what lies deep inside and they defile us because it exposes our heart, our concept of what is right and wrong. I'm talking about our attitudes toward God and what He says is right and wrong: God's standards.

Knowledge of sin is acknowledging that you have fallen short of God's standards. That is why Jesus could say, "To look at a woman lustfully means you have already committed adultery with her in your heart" and again, "To speak in rage with someone is the same as murder."

Matthew 5:27-28 (NKJV) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I (Jesus) say to you, that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Matthew 5:21-22 (NKJV) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in hanger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire."

Repentance is a turning from that belief system and its consequences, which is a life without God, separation from the giver of life. Life without God is an eternal death separated from Him in hell.

Repentance that brings about a true sorrow for your sin brings redemption. You must come to a realization that you are a sinner and have come short of the Glory of God, the standard that God has set out for us.

Jesus died on the cross to take the penalty for our sin. He alone has the power to forgive.

Jesus Christ paid the price for all men, everywhere, for all time.

God, by His Holy Spirit, came and was born a human baby (Jesus), to live a sinless life and take the death penalty for our sins! When you come to the realization that you are a sinner and repent from your sins and accept the atonement of Jesus Christ by asking Him to be Lord of your life, then the very Holy Spirit of God will come to dwell in you to teach you and to comfort you and to bring you joy.

There, the answer to depression is a submitted life to God the Father by His Son, Jesus Christ, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit who bears witness to your regenerated life! Building a relationship with God (not a religion) through His Holy Spirit brings completeness and a joy that no one or no thing can take away!

Exodus 20:2-3 (NKJV) "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me."

The first commandment is that you recognize that there is a God and that He is it! Then you give Him your allegiance. Everything else is meaningless until you come to this realization. If you do not believe that there is a God who is alive and real, then the question of sin is of no good. Because if God is not a force to be reckoned with, there are no consequences for sin. Sin and morality become relative and subjective because there are no consequences.

Without God's standards, your own standards (which fluctuate with every emotion) are good enough. You and your own opinions become your standard of measure, your god. Your life follows this swelling and receding tide and changes with every doctrine or belief or opinion that you choose to consider.

James 1:8 (NKJV) "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Knowledge of sin and a relationship with God? That becomes totally irrelevant and is replaced by man's philosophies and a world view of humanity: humanism. We pursue the good of humanity, and become good people doing good works, devoid of the joy that such a good life should engender. We do good works for the sake of good works and good appearances to our peers.

So, just what is it that is troubling us? God placed a consciousness in our very human nature. We are aware that things are not right without anyone having to tell us. We are aware that something (God) is missing in our lives and we desperately try to fill that void with anything. Philosophy, alcohol, drugs, people, exercise, work, family, and for some, church activities. But all that does is deaden our feelings and emotions and harden our hearts. God is the answer. He made the way through His son, Jesus.

He is the Creator and He gives life. Jesus said, "I come to give you life, and on top of that, abundant life!" Not a depressed existence. Paul the Apostle said, "He quickens our mortal bodies."

John 10:10 (NKJV) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Romans 8:11 (NKJV) "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

To submit to God is to crucify the old life. When you ask Jesus into your life, you're giving up. He becomes Lord and you become a new creation. The more you submit to this new life, the more you change. It's a metamorphosis.

Ask Jesus (who is God in the flesh) to expose your sin and cleanse you with His sacrificial blood. Let His forgiveness fill your heart with His Holy Spirit, who comforts us with true comfort and teaches us. Let His Presence fill your being with His light and bring forgiveness and healing!

You see, life here is temporary. Life there is eternal. Are you prepared?

1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV) "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

The End Times

2008-08-27T10:07:00.003-07:00

There are several things that have been rattling around in my head lately and I have decided to post some of them.

First of all, have you wondered just what the Lord expects from us all? Read Micah 6:8 (my wording) "God has showed you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

And when Jesus left this earth, He told us in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. and these signs shall follow them that believe; in My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't believe in serpent handling to prove how holy you are. That is 'presumption' and that is wrong. Jesus was referring to what happened to Paul when he was on the beach building a fire. A viper bit him and he threw it away. He should have died from the bite but he was protected by the Lord. It was a great witness to the unbelievers with him. And because of the other signs that followed him, they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ also. Signs follow us, we don't serve the Lord because of the signs and wonders. We don't chase the signs and wonders.

I do believe that when we bless our food, it is blessed and we rest in that. In this day and age, we are told not to eat eggs because of cholesterol. We can't eat red meat because of mad cow disease and cholesterol. We can't eat chicken because of bird flu. We can't eat turkey because of the same things. E-coli, salmonella, diseases, etc. So, no meat. But the vegetables are just as bad. The tomato scare just recently is case in point. Even the water supply is tainted. We are overpopulated and our nation is in trouble. It's going to get worst, not better. We bless our food, and worship our God, and we will not be harmed. It is going to become clearer and sharper as time goes on. Christianity will be shunned and even become against the law, but we will be healthy and prosperous. Just like the Jews of old. It will be like the difference between light and dark. The world is going to say, "Why aren't you sick like us? What is the difference?" And it will be an open door for us to witness to the Love of Jesus Christ.

In other words, we are to be Jesus to the world. What did Jesus say His commission was? Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." This was what He read in Isaiah 61:1-3, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty of ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

Why do we make it so complicated? Our lives should portray our faith in Christ without any extra effort.

Now here's my question: If being a Christian were against the law, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Because when it gets difficult, and it will get difficult, will you turn away also? When they say that it is wrong to stand against homosexuality (oops, it already is) will you stand with God and say that it is an abomination? Or will you agree with them? When they say that you are narrow minded, will you change your point of view. When public opinion says that Christianity should be outlawed because it causes too many people 'distress' instead of love, what will you say?

This is already happening, folks. And it is going to get worst. When the government 'suggests' that we need to go to a New World Church, or whatever they choose to call it, what will you do? Will you join with the others by believing, "Oh, well, it's not that big a thing, I don't want to cause trouble."

John 6:66-67 (NKJV) "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?' "

Then Peter said these words, "But Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' " John 6:68-69 We have to remember that it is all about Christ, not us. We need to stand firm. Stand and know that Jesus is God. Wait on Him.

Scripture Snacks

2008-08-20T15:34:00.004-07:00

If you are like me, finding time to just sit and read the Word can be quite a challenge. While working the fairs (and other times) I use what I call "Scripture Snacks". I buy 3" x 5" index cards that have a spiral binding on the top. You can find them anywhere they sell office/school supplies. They cost around $1.00. Then, when I am reading and a find a scripture that really speaks to me and I want to remember it, I write it on one of the 3x5 cards with the reference. They are small enough to carry around in my purse and when I have some spare minutes, I will take them out and read one. It's like having a different scripture everyday like on the calendars. I find that the Lord always has one show up that I need for that day to encourage me or lift me up. It keeps my spirit fed with the Word.

Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV) "And He humbled thee, and suffered the to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know. That He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."

Fair Season is here!

2008-08-01T19:43:00.005-07:00

Well, here it is again, fair season. We will be doing 5 state fairs with the simulator from now until the latter part of October. I will try my best to do some blogging while we are on the road, but please forgive me if it is not too regular.

Here is a picture of the simulator:

So, if you see us anywhere you can come by and say, "Hi!"

Here is the itinerary:

Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL Aug. 8th - 17th
DuQuoin State Fair, DuQuoin, IL Aug. 22nd - September 1st
Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson, KS Sept. 5 - Sept. 14th
Tulsa State Fair, Tulsa, OK Sept. 25th - Oct. 5th
Arkansas State Fair, Little Rock, AR Oct. 10th - Oct. 19th

See You At The Fair!!

You, O God, will keep me in Your Perfect Peace as long as I keep my mind focused on You because I trust in You! Isaiah 26:3

Through All The Years

2008-07-29T17:29:00.002-07:00

One of my favorite songs that I can't add to the playlist is, 'Through All The Years' by Greg Long and Joanna Carlson from the Album "My Utmost For His Highest: The Covenant". Since I can't give you the music, I am going to type in the lyrics. So here goes:

Yesterday
You broke into my life
It took my breath away
To see me in Your eyes
And so today
I shed a tear
To find that You'd been here
All throughout the years
Holding my hand
Lighting the way
You understand me
Oh my God!

Chorus:
How could I live without You
Through the years
You have been faithful
How could I breathe without You
It seems so clear
That even in the shadowed moments
You were there
You were there
through the years
All my life

Tomorrow I'll
Step through the darkened glass
And straight into the arms
That led me through the past
Forever I
Will touch Your face
I'm covered by Your grace
You'll love me for always
Holding my hand
Leading me home
You understand me
Oh, my God!

Chorus.

Isn't that just beautiful? I am believing God for some pretty BIG stuff. And I have to remind myself just how much He cares about what I am believing Him for. He will come through in His time and it will be better than I can dream about.

Remember: Don't tell God how big your problem is. Tell your problem how Big God is!

A Posting from Steven

2008-07-27T13:29:00.001-07:00

Hello, my name is Steven and I would like to share a testimonial about a discussion I’ve had with the Lord. It started many years ago when I asked the question to the Lord, but was unable to hear the answer at the time because I was not saved. The question was why would He condemn people that have never heard His Word, or about Jesus. For example, the natives in the jungles of South and Central South America. Jesus came to the world long before Conquistadors arrived in Central America, and yet there was what we call a pagan religion already in place there, and that is when they started to learn about Jesus. But what of the time before that? God said the only way to heaven is through his son Jesus. So does that mean that the millions of people who had died went to hell after Jesus had come to save us? This, at the time, did not sound like the holy and loving god people were telling me about. To me it sounded down right cruel and kept me from the Lord for many years.

As far back as I can remember I started to wonder about this is when I was in high school studying about Greek mythology. I noticed some similarities between Greek mythology and Christians. How Zeus reminded me of God. How the semi-gods under Zeus was like angels and Hades being the power of the underworld where everyone went when they died. At that time in my life these two stories actually sounded almost exactly alike. This prompted me to look up other religions across the globe looking for any other similarities, in my spare time on the internet. Alas I did not find any real similarities until I started finding the origins and original beliefs in many different cultures from Egyptian mythology to the many different mythologies surrounding India, China, and Japan. Apparently each culture's stories changed as time went on to become what they are today. In the original stories of these religions were the basics of Christian beliefs. Such as loving each other, never hating anyone, no killing, and just a different way of saying the 10 commandments. Its like the 10 commandments had spread all across the globe in different forms. And one day I started to believe that just as Jesus speaks to every Christian in a different way that it would make sense to each of us, that it was possible that God had made Himself present in every culture in every part of the world. That through time, as fallible and gullible as humans are, Lucifer had twisted thoughts and minds with his deceit and warped the faith of each religion into what it is today. This helped me with my original thought, and that God had indeed been loving and caring.

Well, time had past and those thoughts had become the past for several years. In this time frame I found Jesus and was saved and I am now born again. I have learned the ability of communication with Jesus and talk with him about 70% of my day. But that is a different testimonial. The thoughts of the so called born religions started to come back recently and I had discussed it with some of my friends. It didn’t seam quite right. It felt weird to discuss the things I learned from so long ago. But even more weird is that I still believed it! I spoke about these findings and how I felt with my mother, Linda. I have always trusted her judgment. She said she didn’t have an answer for me and that I should just ask Jesus about it. As I hung up the phone with her, Jesus popped in and said he wanted to give me clarity and peace. I’m 30 now and as you remember I had these thoughts and doubts when I was in high school. So many years later, I have now gotten the chance to ask Jesus these questions and He wanted to answer them, and this time, I could hear.

Jesus said “I want you to stop your worry about other's beliefs. I know you Steven and you usually want an explanation but I am not going to give you one. Let's say you are right and all people have worshipped me under different names and different religions, then the Christians of today would think those people are no longer in the wrong and would stop praying over them, sending missionaries to them, helping those in need of salvation, and generally would stop spreading the word of Me. Then again, if you are wrong, and all have worshipped false gods and idols then the Christians would double and triple their efforts in desperation to try and make sure that no one is not Christian so all could enter My kingdom. In this effort they would try and force My Word and that would make people very angry and it would cause chaos and hatred, the last thing I want. Even if the Christian's heart is in the right place. So again I say, you are not to worry about these things any longer. I have commanded that all love each other and that you and all Christians like you are to spread the Word of God. It does not matter where someone comes from or what they believe in, only that they know I died so they may be forgiven. And you will say this. And you will not force them to believe this. You will love them and show care for them. This way a seed may be planted and I will do the rest. Be at peace.”

After Jesus said this to me I have not wondered about the questions I originally had. Honestly now I don’t want to know the answer because if I did then either way is a bad road to be on. I realized it does not matter if a person is Hindu, gay, or has the Koran as their beliefs. I should not wonder about their religious beginnings or judge them for their beliefs. I should just love them and let them know that Jesus loves them as He loves me. I often see Christians telling gays that they are wrong and should repent. So much so, and forcefully, that now most of them hate us. Or the fact that other religions feel that they are now in a holy war with us over "how we tell them they should be". Even if those things are true or not true it is not our place to say so. OUR job since the beginning is to tell them that Jesus loves them very much as he loves us. I wrote this not to remind myself or dwell on those questions I asked so long ago but to try and educate. I think every person asking those questions in their own search for salvation and those of us who already have salvation need to hear this. Stop hating people and telling them that they are wrong for who they are or how they were raised and just let them know how much Jesus loves them as He loves you. I wish for Jesus' love and arms to wrap around you and that you are able to show it to others.

God blessed you the day HIS blood spilt on the ground and may He continue to bless us all.

Steven Rosenbaugh.

New Additions!

2008-07-23T19:56:00.002-07:00

I hope you all like the music I have added to my blog page. I will be adding more as time goes on. These two songs mean a lot to me and my walk with the Lord.

Also, notice that I have contacted World Challenge Org. and have received permission to add a link to the World Challenge Pulpit Series Newsletters that I talk about so much and also a link to David Wilkerson's personal web site. It may interest you to know that he is the author of "The Cross and the Switchblade". He has a very successful ministry to the inner city in New York and several missions ministries. All by free will donations. He never asks for money. The Lord has always met his needs.

And although I don't often mention this, I have written several Halloween tracts and a book called "Lessons Worth Re-Learning" which is typed in at the beginning of this blog. If you would like to receive copies of one of these, please use the e-mail link and let me know.

God is good, all the time. We are blessed and highly favored.

God DOES Exist!

2008-07-21T17:07:00.002-07:00

Sometimes I get such great e-mails from my sister! I just love her! Keep 'em coming!

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me." "Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS !!!!!!!

The End-Times

2008-07-16T13:46:00.005-07:00

Some friends and I were having a discussion the other day about all the things we hear and read about on the news: weather, wars, etc. And the discussion (without my help) turned to 'the mark' and other end-time prophesies. It seems everyone knows that these are the last days.

I get a newsletter from David Wilkerson every month that I think is the best for uplifting news and exhortation. He can take the worst of subjects and show you the Good News through Jesus Christ. I heartily recommend him. Get on his mailing list. He has also been talking about the last days and how our hearts and minds should be tuned into Jesus and His promises which are without fail and how the Holy Spirit can bring peace to your hearts in these troubled times.

I have been reminded of a vision I had some years ago that is just as fresh in my mind as the day I received it. That's the way the Lord works. He gives us the encouragement we need as we need it. He knows our needs better than we do!

In my vision, it is a time of war. I am in the midst of a great army and we are all armed to the hilt. It is dark, the horizon is glowing red. The air is thick and hot. We are all shouting, and chanting, and beating our spears on the ground and stamping our feet and creating a great noise. I cannot see the edge of the sea of humanity to the north or south or left, but to my right I can see the edge. I can see the land stretch out for miles in a slow, rolling hillside. And in the distance, I can see what looks like a black blanket covering the horizon and coming closer. It fills me with fear. I know it is the enemy coming closer.

And then I see the King! He is on a huge white horse which causes Him to be visible to the whole immense army. On His head is a huge crown that sparkles. Out of His eyes come lightning. At once, we all start singing praises to our King and throw down our weapons and armor which promptly disappear. I am so happy that I think I should burst! We praise and sing and worship! As I look to my right, the enemy that was just about upon us has dissolved into dust and ash and the wind has blown them away!

We must rest in our faith in Jesus! We must praise and worship Him at all times, especially when things are bad. Praise takes us into His presence. He is the only one who can meet our needs. He takes care of the things that are causing our situations. We don't pray about the symptoms, we trust Him to take care of the causes! He is the only answer. Smile at the enemy. It only heaps coal on his head.

Read Micah 7. It is a wonderful picture of the end time and God's provisions.

There was something scrawled in a wall at a German concentration camp: "I believe in the sun, even when it's not shining. I believe in love, even when I don't feel it. I believe in God, even when He is silent."

Remember, we are not destined for here, we are destined to be with the Lord. There is an eternal part to us. He does not want any of us to perish, but to be with Him. All it takes is asking Him into your hearts and lives.

God Is Good, All The Time!

2008-07-14T14:18:00.004-07:00

I'm sorry I haven't written much lately, but I have been busy. We left for Roswell on June 30th and did the UFO Festival down there with the simulator and the license plate trailer. It was PACKED! It was a very busy weekend for us, Roger worked the simulator all by himself, and I worked the license plates all by myself.

You know God is so good, all the time! I love to drive because I plug in my iPod into the RV speakers, turn on my praise music, and sing at the top of my lungs as I drive! And all weekend long I had all these praise and worship songs going through my head. It was great.

We got on location Wednesday night and parked the RV next to the street like we always do and started work Thursday morning. As we were finishing setting up, we saw code compliance knocking on our door, so Roger went over to talk to them.

Seems that someone in the area complained about our motorhome being parked on the street. But code compliance did say that we were parked legally and that we had 72 hours to move it. OK. So we went to work. We'll move it in 72 hours.

After 6pm that same day, the police show up and tell us that they got a complaint on the RV. So, Roger told them what code compliance told him. And they said, OK. But they still couldn't tell us who it was that complained. We think it was a business owner not involved in the festivities across the street and they were upset that customers couldn't see their business from the festival because our RV was in the way. By the way, the blood drive RV was in the parking lot with the festival, and it was about 50' long. And it went across the whole driveway.

So, we told the coordinator of the festival with the UFO Museum, and she said that after everything was all closed up to come park in the parking lot.

So about 10:30 pm we take the Rv into the parking lot and lo and behold, the only place to park is just across the sidewalk into the parking lot from where we were originally! And it was level, and now you have our 32' motorhome, and the blood mobile (give or take 50')! We got a better location and there was absolutely no visibility across the street now. God looks out for those who trust Him.

Other things, the simulator has an accumulator for the hydraulics that the bladder took a dump in, but Roger filled it up and it ran just fine for the show.

Then we went home and set up on the corner Thurs-Sat, even though we were REAL tired.

To make a long story short, out of all the little things that satan meant for bad, the Lord made good, and we made more money there this year than we did last year. Praise the Lord!

When I Say It

2008-06-29T19:36:00.003-07:00

When I say I am a Christian, I am not shouting, "I am saved!" I am whispering, "Guys, I get lost. That's why I chose this way."

When I say I am a Christian I don't speak of this with pride. I am confessing that I stumble and need somebody to be my guide.

When I say I am a Christian, I am professing that I'm weak.

When I say I am a Christian, I am not bragging of success, I'm admitting failure.

When I say I am a Christian, I am not claiming to be perfect, my flaws are too obvious for that.

When I say I am a Christian, I still feel the sting of pain. I have had my share of heartaches, that is why I seek His presence.

When I say I am a christian, I don't wish to judge, I have no authority. I only know that I'm loved by the only One that can save us.

(I have it on good authority that the author is Carol Wimmer, 1988)

Shouting from the rooftops!

2008-06-26T20:48:00.004-07:00

Do you remember a TV show where the guy leans out the window and yells, " I'm mad as hell and I refuse to take it anymore!" ?

Well, I'm not mad as hell, but I am tired of living my life and forming my words 'because I might hurt someone else's feelings.' I am entitled to my feelings and thoughts as much as the other person. I have the right to express myself just as much as anybody else. But it seems that it's okay to express yourself as long as you don't mention God or anything remotely religious. It's even okay to talk about angels, because that doesn't engender anything controversial.

It is our enemy, satan, that has taken control of the human race and started those ideas. Because God loves us. He loves us so much He sent His son, Jesus, to take the punishment for all men, everywhere, for all time. satan doesn't want people to reach that realization. We should be shouting that from the roof tops!

The problem is, the other person does not hold the keys to death, hell, and the grave. Jesus does. If I hurt their feelings, I have at least given them the seeds to figure out that God does love them. It will work on them and make them uncomfortable. It is designed to drive them TO God for an answer. God can spread the message only through us. That is the way He designed it.

Now, on the other hand, if I keep quiet and never tell them, God will find a voice through someone else. I personally will continue to shout the Good News of Jesus Christ. You can wear earplugs.

God Is With Us Through Our Troubles

2008-06-23T18:01:00.002-07:00

I have a calendar that has scripture suggestions on each day. This is today's:

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) "No weapon formed against you shall prosper. And every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD.

This is a mighty promise from the LORD that we need to lay our hands on. Thank you, LORD, for loving us.

Logan-The Sky Angel Cowboy

2008-06-22T17:44:00.003-07:00

I just got this in from my sister and my neice. This is the most awesome thing from YouTube that I have ever seen. I just had to share it with everyone.

I hope you are as moved as I was.

Reality Check

2008-06-16T10:31:00.003-07:00

I have several family members, friends, acquaintances, etc. (we all do) who are not Christians.
I love each and every one of them to death. But in all the years, the main reason they are not Christians is because of hypocrisy, crime, sin, imagined wrongdoing ("all Christians are like . . ."), whatever.

I'm going to play the devil's advocate for a moment here. Did God do these things? Did the doing (or not doing) of these things change God in some way? Do we go to church to worship God or is it just another social gathering? If it is a social gathering for you, is that what it is supposed to be? Hmmmm.

God is God. He is the King of all Kings, Lord of all Lords, Creator of the Universe, Giver of all Life, Holiest of Holies, Purest, Almighty God. In the bible there are over 200 names for God, all describing different aspects of His character.

We are Christians not because we are perfect, but because we realize that we need to rely on Him to forgive us. And it is only because He took the punishment for our sins on Himself, that we can claim even that. We are human beings. And human beings are not perfect. I am not perfect. I try as hard as I can, but Christ and I have regular conversations that go kind of like this, "You need to look at this and that." "Yes, Lord, you're right. Please forgive me. I'll really try not to do that again. I love you Lord, and thank you for living in my heart."

I go to church to worship God. And an added bonus to that is He has given me visions, spoken to me, renewed my spirit, lifted my energy, healed my body, and more. I could care less who else goes or how they dress or what bank they robbed yesterday. That is between them and God.

I pray and read the bible to deepen my RELATIONSHIP with God. The more I know about Him, the more He walks with me and gives me the peace I need to face another day.

I am glad I'm a Christian. I wish we all were.

God is Like Coke!

2008-06-10T19:55:00.002-07:00

While going through some old folders of jokes and humorous stuff, I came across this that I had saved from the 70's or 80's and laughed all over again. I researched it on the internet and could not find the original publisher (it's probably on page 1001!) so if anyone knows who it is, would you please let me know? I have narrowed it down to somewhere in the Catholic Church. So I will print it as I have it:

A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results:

GOD IS LIKE BAYER ASPIRIN: He works miracles.

GOD IS LIKE A FORD: He's got a better idea.

GOD IS LIKE COKE: He's the real thing.

GOD IS LIKE HALLMARK CARDS: He cares enough to send His very best.

GOD IS LIKE TIDE: He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

GOD IS LIKE GENERAL ELECTRIC: He brings good things to life.

GOD IS LIKE SEARS: He has everything.

GOD IS LIKE ALKA-SELTZER: Try Him, you'll like Him.

GOD IS LIKE SCOTCH TAPE: You can't see Him, but you know He's there.

GOD IS LIKE DELTA: He's ready when you are.

GOD IS LIKE ALLSTATE: You're in good hands with Him.

GOD IS LIKE VO-5 HAIR SPRAY: He holds through all kinds of weather.

GOD IS LIKE DIAL SOAP: Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?

GOD IS LIKE THE US POST OFFICE: Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor ice, will keep Him from His appointed destination.

GOD IS LIKE PAN AM: He makes the going great!

A Word from the Lord

2008-06-04T11:48:00.001-07:00

This was a word from the Lord to my friend, Sue:

In the good times,

Celebrate with the Lord.

In the bad times,

Lean on Him.

9/22/07

Always true. Ain't God Good?!!!!!

You are blessed!

2008-06-02T19:44:00.002-07:00

I think the Lord really has a soft spot for everyone that is downtrodden, depressed, anxious, mis-used, etc. I think He wrote this just for them!

Matthew 5:3-12 (NKJV)

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persucuted the prophets who were before you.

Faith & Love

2008-05-29T18:10:00.002-07:00

October 16, 1995

Faith and Love are verbs:

Love is something you do to show someone the faith you have in them.

Faith is what you do to show your love for God.

37th Wedding Anniversary

2008-05-28T10:57:00.002-07:00

Today is my 37th wedding anniversary to my one and only husband. That is quite a milestone in this day and age. I want the world to know that my husband has had to put up with a lot from me. And he still loves me. And that makes me love him even more. In fact, that is really hot!

All the time I was growing up, I wasn't to upset the boat, do what I was told, live up to everyone else's expectations, and disappear into my room unless I was called for. Living away from my parents' was quite different. I was allowed to have an opinion, I had to make decisions for myself, etc. I developed a "personality". And it was rough for my husband. I tried to divorce him twice, and he hung on. What an example of Godly Love. If it wasn't for my husband, I don't think I could get a handle on just how much God loves us. NOBODY has ever loved me like that before. In spite of my faults.

I love you, Roger.

B.I.B.L.E.

2008-05-23T10:02:00.001-07:00

B = Basic
I = Instructions
B = Before
L = Leaving
E = Earth

Thank you, Steven, for sending this one in!

I Want To Be Like Jesus

2008-05-22T11:42:00.002-07:00

When Jesus came on the scene, everyone loved it. We have religious leaders in our time. What was the difference? Why did He draw such large crowds everywhere He went? It was because He loved them and had compassion on them. People can tell sincerity.

But how could they tell it? Was it because He acted like them so He'd fit in with the home boys? Was it because He went out drinking and bar-hopping with them? Was it because He went to all the popular restaurants and bad-mouthed the politicians and Roman police on every corner? Was it because He yawned and slept through church services because He was so smart and holy? Did He join in conversations of worry and doubt about other people's problems and health?

No. He drew a crowd because He accepted everyone regardless of race, creed, and color. He knew their hearts. He listened to their problems and changed the conversation back to righteousness and asked them leading questions. He never accused them or pointed fingers because He was better than them. He always talked about His Father in heaven and how much He loved them and righteousness. He turned their thoughts inward and let their own hearts convict them. He'd tell them to repent, turn their hearts back to God, ask for forgiveness, and get back into a fellowship with the Father. "Go and sin no more."

He'd teach them about having respect for all their brothers and sisters in the life - for all humanity. He always encouraged.

He shook hands. He hugged. He cried. He played. He laughed. He loved everyone.

When I come on the scene, what's the reaction?

Friendship Week

2008-05-21T16:40:00.002-07:00

Here is something I got on e-mail today that really made me think. We could all be better friends. And how many times could I be more friendly? The important question I find asking myself is, why aren't I more friendly? Why don't I reach out more to people? hmmmmm. . . . . .

I have a hard time reaching out to people for several reasons: 1) I'm painfully shy. 2) I have a hard time convincing myself that other people would like me. 3) I have a hard time blogging because I have a hard time convincing myself that anyone would be interested in what I have to say.

Anyway, read on. We all know or knew someone like this!!!

One day, when I was a freshman in high school,I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.' I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.' He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!' There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!' He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years , Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!' He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. ' Thanks,' he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began: 'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach.. .but mostly your friends... I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.' I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. 'Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.' I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and Dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.

Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

November 13, 2007

2007-11-13T18:46:00.000-07:00

I really am trying to get used to this blogger thing. What do I say, what should I not say? Just how personal do I want to be?

I am sorry I haven't had the time to post any blogs for the last month. At least, I'm doing better than I did last year. You see, for 3 months out of the year I am doing State Fairs with one of my husband's and my businesses, an amusement ride simulator. When I can figure out how to put pictures on my site, I will. It really is an interesting business that we have been doing for 21 years.

Now, I can hear it now, I've heard it before and that is why I hesitate to tell you too much about myself. "She's a carny!" (carnival worker for short)

No, I'm not.

We own our own simulator, never have set up with a carnival, never will, never will work for one. I have all my own teeth, they are fairly straight, and not broken and yellow. Not everyone who works at State Fairs are 'carnies'. Most of the booths you see at Fairs are run by Moms and Pops who own their own businesses and quite frankly, make a lot of money at Fairs. Usually enough to take it fairly easy the rest of the year. We used to make a lot more money than the last few years which is why I started a business of my own. I make beautiful mirrored vanity license plates for the front of vehicles with a laser machine.

Again, I hope to be able to put a few pictures on my blog. In the mean time, you can visit my web site: www.laserengravingonline.com .

Anyway, we just got home from doing the fairs and I thought I'd take a few to say "Hello!" and will post again in a couple of days. There is a lot that went on this year, a few people I was able to minister to and some I couldn't. A special tribute to Yvonne Jones (I hope I spelled your name correctly!) for ministering to me. I got to meet several new friends and touch base with a few old friends. All in all, it was a good year.

My Prayer for others

2007-09-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

Praying for Others

Anytime we pray the Word of God over others, we are breathing the Word of Life into that prayer. We are praying in agreement with the LORD of Hosts. It is a very powerful way to pray for someone.

Ephesians 1:15-23 (my wording)
I will never cease to give thanks for _______________, and I will continue to lift him/her up in prayer. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. May the eyes of their understanding be enlightened that they may know what is the hope of His calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints that they may know what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also that which is to come. And the Father has put all things under Jesus’ feet, and has given Him to be Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

I thank God for their salvation and growth in the LORD because His Word never returns void, it always accomplishes His goal.

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) “So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

1 John 4:15 (KJV) “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

Acts 2:21 (KJV) “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Acts 10:43 (KJV) “to Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”

Romans 10:12-13 (KJV) “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (gentile); for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Jeremiah 24:7 (NKJV) “I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.”

Isaiah 57:15-21 (NKJV) “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit. To revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness, I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry. And he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.
I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, Peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,’ says the LORD. ‘And I will heal him.’ ”

My Prayer - The Armor of God

2007-09-10T10:05:00.001-07:00

1-19-1999

(I received this message after I asked the LORD to explain the armor of God to me. I had to go back and research the scriptures. That’s why I put them in the footnotes.)

Ephesians 6:10-20 (my wording)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak openly, as I ought to speak.

My Prayer

Oh Father, LORD God Almighty,[ii] Creator of the heavens and the earth,[iii] you are the King of kings[iv] and the LORD of lords[v] and you are my God. I thank you for your only son, Jesus.[vi] You are my LORD,[vii] my Light[viii] and my Salvation.[ix] You are my reason for living. You are my sun by day and my moon by night.[x] You give me light and understanding 24 hours a day.[xi] You are my Strength and my Strong Tower.[xii] You are my very breath.[xiii] Your Word is my Bread[xiv] and my Water.[xv]

Thank you for another day, LORD.[xvi] I receive it from Your Hand. Thank you that Your Mercies are new every morning.[xvii] Forgive me my sins,[xviii] LORD. Heal my iniquities.[xix] Make me strong in You.[xx] I love you, LORD. And I bless your Most Holy Name.

And now I give this day back to You, LORD. I submit myself and all that You have given me to be used by You any way that You see fit. You direct my path.[xxi] You make the appointments. You know who needs Your touch today, LORD. Behold the people and how they suffer! Apart from you, we are nothing.[xxii] We are lost, alone, sick and dying. Use me, LORD.[xxiii] Put the people in my path today that You want to minister to. Give me Your Love. Give me Your Grace. Give me Your Mercy. Give me Your Wisdom. Give me Your Words. Give me Your Healing. Let my words be gracious[xxiv] and my touch healing.[xxv] Let me be Your Ambassador[xxvi] as long as You give me time to live. May Your Holy Spirit go with me all the days of my life, especially today, Dear LORD. Always let me remember that my battle is against spiritual forces and not what I see with my eyes. Let me always be in prayer and in constant contact with You.

Pants, Belt=Truth: As I put on my pants, LORD, let me purpose this day to speak Your Truth. When I start to falter because of fear of what other people may think, You will pull me up by my belt-loops, and I will remember the Truth: that You loved us all so much that You sent Your only Son, Jesus, to suffer and die in our place.[xxvii] You paid the price for all time, for all men, everywhere. Just as one person is no more important or less important than another, all sin is an abomination in Your sight.[xxviii] There are no degrees. And when You look at us, all You see are Your Children who have gone astray and lost their way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.[xxix] It is the Truth that sets us free.[xxx] And anyone that the Son has set free is free indeed![xxxi] Thank you, LORD, for setting me free from the deceptions of the enemy and letting me come into Your Glorious Life![xxxii]

Shoes, Boots=Path: As I put on my shoes, let me remember that You prepare my feet[xxxiii] to take the Gospel Truth wherever You lead me. You set the path[xxxiv] and prepare the way. You are the Light before me,[xxxv] and watch my back behind me.[xxxvi] Goodness and Mercy accompany me all the time.[xxxvii] Let me be quick to be aware of the appointments You set up, no matter how insignificant. Let me always be aware that I am to be Your Ambassador for Christ,[xxxviii] that people are always looking for hope, and that I may be the only ‘Jesus’ they see today.

Shirt, Vest=Righteousness: As I put on my shirt, let me humbly remember that You are my righteousness. In me there is no good thing.[xxxix] But in Christ I can do all things.[xl] You protect me from all the attacks of the enemy,[xli] LORD, because when they look at me, all they see is You. You are the Victorious One, the Lamb that was slain[xlii] and now lives forevermore! Your Blood covers all my sin, LORD, ALL my sin.[xliii] My breastplate shines with the blinding Light of Your Righteousness.[xliv]

Bible=Written Word=Sword of Spirit: Father God, let me not only carry your written Word with me to share Your Love with others, but let Your Word be written in my heart and on my lips constantly.[xlv] Let me be instant at all times, ready to give an explanation of the Hope that I am called to.[xlvi] Let me be watchful for opportunities to explain Your Love to a lost and dying world.[xlvii] Let me be vigilant and brave,[xlviii] knowing that You have counted the cost and found me worthy to serve.[xlix]

Coat, Jacket=Strong Faith Covering=Shield: As I study Your Word today, write Your commandments on my heart[l] so that my faith will be strong.[li] Let me come to know You and the power of Christ.[lii] A strong faith protects me from all the lies and jabbing remarks of the enemy.[liii] A strong faith brings peace and contentment to my heart.[liv] Let Your Word cover me this day with Your Presence[lv] just like this coat. Do not let me go anywhere without Your Presence and Your Covering.[lvi] I am nothing without You, LORD. Protect me from accidents, depression, and personal attacks from the enemy. Don’t let me become broken in the face of the enemy, keep me strong in the faith.[lvii]

Hat, Cap, Helmet=Salvation: As I put on my hat, let me remember that You are my Head and my Covering.[lviii] You cover me with Your Blood, The Blood of Salvation.[lix] It covers not only my head, but down to the soles of my feet.[lx] There is absolutely nothing in this life or the spiritual that can separate me from the Love of Christ Jesus, my LORD.[lxi] You love me, You cover me, You are my LORD.[lxii]

I humbly submit myself to You today dear LORD. I love You and Praise Your Holy Name! Let the Name of the LORD God Almighty be praised! Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD! All Honor and Glory to the LORD of Hosts! His mercies endure forever! Let all the angels rejoice and Praise Him! Let all the Heavens and Earth rejoice before the LORD God, our King and our Friend!

Linda Rosenbaugh

This Prayer is formatted after the principles outlined in the Disciples Prayer: Praise, Thanks, Needs, Praise.
[ii] Jeremiah 10:10a (NKJV) “But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.”
[iii] Genesis 1:1 (NKJV) “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
[iv] Revelation 17:14 (NKJV) “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
[v] Deuteronomy 10:17 (NKJV) “For the LORD your God is God of gods and LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.”
[vi] Luke 1:31 (NKJV) “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.”
John 1:18 (NKJV) “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
[vii] Acts 10:36 (NKJV) “He [Jesus Christ] is LORD of all.”
[viii] Revelation 22:5 (NKJV) “There shall be no night there: they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the LORD God gives them light.”
[ix] John1:1-4 (NKJV) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
[x] Psalm 74:16 (NKJV) “The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun.”
[xi] Isaiah 60:20 (NKJV) “Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.”
[xii] 2 Samuel 22:2-4 (NKJV) “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my Shield and the Horn of My Salvation, my Stronghold and my Refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.”
Psalm 61:1-2 (NKJV) “Hear my cry, O GOD; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.”
[xiii] Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
[xiv] John 6:33, 35 (NKJV) Jesus said: “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
Romans 14:17 (NKJV) “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
[xv] John 4:10 (NKJV) “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’ ”
[xvi] Psalm 118:24 (NKJV) “This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
[xvii] Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJV) “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’ ”
[xviii] 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Luke 11:2-4 (NKJV) “So He (Jesus) said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ ”
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
[xix] Psalm 103:1-3 (NKJV) “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me bless His Holy Name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.
Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV) “Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) “…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”
[xx] Joshua 1:6, 7, 9 (NKJV) “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them”, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go”, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
[xxi] Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Psalm 27:11 (NKJV) “Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.”
[xxii] John 15:5 (NKJV) “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
[xxiii] Isaiah 6:8 (KJV) “Also I heard the voice of the LORD, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then said I, Here am I, send me.’ ”
[xxiv] Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV) “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
Ecclesiastes 10:12 (NKJV) “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;”
[xxv] Mark 6:13 (NKJV) “And they (Jesus’ disciples) cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who where sick, and healed them.”
James 5:14-15 (NKJV) “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the LORD will raise him up.”
[xxvi] 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV) “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
[xxvii] John 3:16 (NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
[xxviii]Proverbs 3:32 (NKJV) “For the perverse (sinful) person is an abomination to the LORD.”
[xxix] John 14:6 (NKJV) “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ”
[xxx] John 8:31-32 (NKJV) “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ ”
[xxxi] John 8:34-36 (NKJV) “Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’ ”
[xxxii] Colossians 1:13 (NKJV) “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”
[xxxiii] Psalm 37:23 (NKJV) “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”
[xxxiv] Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
[xxxv] Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
[xxxvi] Isaiah 52:12 (NKJV) “For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: For the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”
[xxxvii] Psalm 23:6 (NKJV) “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
[xxxviii] 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV) “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
[xxxix] Genesis 6:5 (KJV) “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
[xl] Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
[xli] Proverbs 2:7b (NKJV) “He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.”
[xlii] Revelation 5:6 (NKJV) “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…”
[xliii] Hebrews 9:14 (NKJV) “…how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
[xliv] 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
[xlv] Deuteronomy 30:14 (NKJV) “The Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.”
Psalm 40:8 (NKJV) “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”
[xlvi] 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NKJV) “But sanctify the LORD God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
[xlvii] Galatians 6:6, 9-10 (NKJV) “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches…And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
[xlviii] Joshua 1:5-9 (NKJV) “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
[xlix] Luke 14:28 (NKJV) “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it…”
[l] Proverbs 7:1-3 (NKJV) “My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.”
[li] Romans 10:17 (NKJV) “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
[lii] 1 Corinthians 1:23-25 (NKJV) “But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
[liii] Psalm 27:1-3 (NKJV) “The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”
Romans 16:20 (NKJV) “And the God of peace will crush satan under your feet shortly.”
[liv] Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV) “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
[lv] John 14:15-18 (NKJV) “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.”
[lvi] John 14:27 (NKJV) “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
[lvii] Psalm 5:11-12 (NKJV) “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You, let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them, let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous, with favor You will surround him as with a shield.”
[lviii] Psalm 91:4 (NKJV) “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge, His truth shall be your shield and buckler.”
[lix] Romans 5:9 (NKJV) “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
Colossians 1:19-20 (NKJV) “For it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”
[lx] Psalm 133 (NKJV) “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion, for there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life Forevermore!”
[lxi] Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV) “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our LORD.”
[lxii] 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV) “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

I am Sojourner

2007-08-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

May 1995

My citizenship is in Heaven now; I am just a Sojourner here, because my faith in Jesus Christ has changed me. I am to be holy because He is Holy.

I received this when God saved me from depression and kept me from dying but I woke up a new creation that night. The old Linda died, I am His now.

Galatians 2:20 (my wording) I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ the Messiah lives in me. And the life I now live in this body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Savior, who loved me and gave up His life for me.

Philippians 3:20 (NKJV) “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV) “These all died in faith, not having received the promises (the Hebrews of old), but having seen them afar off (in the future) were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

Ephesians 2:13-22 (NKJV) “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were afar off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the LORD, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

1 Peter 1:13-19 (NKJV) “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance, but as He who called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

1 Peter 2:9-14 (NKJV) "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the LORD’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good."

Romans 13:1-7 (NKJV) “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”

Titus 2:1-15 (NKJV) “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine, that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things – that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters (bosses), to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back (talking back), not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Who I Am (or rather, Who Am I?)

2007-08-21T14:48:00.000-07:00

I am nobody. Most importantly, I am nobody special. I don’t like talking about myself, and I’m not going to go into a lot of history about how I think I got this way. I can sugarcoat the truth to make it more palatable, but I have learned through life experiences to confront it. The blunt truth is, I was an unwanted baby. My mother didn’t want any more babies, and she was experienced at self-abortions. (So she claimed.) She had her own problems that began a long time before I came on the scene. But the Lord in His infinite mercy prevented her from aborting me. The Lord has a purpose and a plan for me and each one of us, even before we are born.

Psalm 139:14-17 (NKJV) “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”

God gives us a precious personality when we are conceived. What life experiences we have, how we choose to react to them, what we choose to remember about those experiences, and learn from them molds and shapes who we become. It really doesn’t matter what happened, we can’t change the past. All we can do is decide whether or not to do that again, or to forgive the other person, or just decide that today I’m going to do the best I can with the Lord’s help.

It is sufficient to know that I had a rough time growing up and that it left me with some personal and social handicaps even though I was born-again January 1973 when I was 22 years old. Depression is one of them. I also have low self-esteem, shyness, worry, perfectionism, self-centeredness, unrealistic expectations for myself, and feelings of failure, inadequacy, and worthlessness. If you are reading this, you may recognize some of these things in yourself as well. I know that the times in my life when I allow myself to get too busy with family or work or just life, and let my devotion time slip by, I struggle more. Prayer and Bible study keep things in perspective. I feel it keeps me in God’s lap.

Depression can be triggered by any one of a number of things or all of them. The time of year can be a catalyst because of different levels of sunshine and temperatures. Or it can be caused by close proximities to holidays and special occasions.

The sin in my life is also a catalyst. Unforgiven sin causes death both spiritually and physically.

Romans 5:12 (NKJV) “Therefore, just as through one man [Adam] sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned –“

Romans 6:23 (NKJV) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

James 1:14-15 (NKJV) “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

I must not allow myself to believe that my sin condition is worst than anybody else’s. Constant comparisons to other people are hopeless paths that lead to depression, even those I think are better than me: financially, morally, spiritually, intellectually, etc. Jesus still died for my sin. I must never trivialize that.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Romans 3:10-18 (NKJV) “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable, there is none who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb, with their tongues they have practiced deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 3:23 (my wording) For we have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God. But we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that Jesus Christ bought for us. The Word of God is the great equalizer.

When human relationships let me down, God is reminding me of where I should be getting my ‘atta-boys’. That would be from Him. He looks over me jealously with no apologies.
If God can raise up: a prostitute like Rahab, a drunk like Noah, a murderer like Moses, a satanist like Simon, or a religious bigot like Saul, there is hope for me! But there is a price: “Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31

Depression can be described as a pity-party with Me, Myself, and I. It is a black hole into self. It is caused by a doubt of self, which is a camouflage of doubt in God. Because He created me. He chose me. Doubt by nature is unbelief. Unbelief is sin. The Good News of the Gospel Of Christ is God’s Love, God’s Plans, God’s Provisions, and God’s Rewards.

I get frustrated because I used to have a mind like a steel trap and would learn anything very quickly. Lately, I am very forgetful. I forget people, events, especially scriptures. I’ll be reading and start to cry because I’ll read a scripture I used to know like the back of my hand and I had forgotten it. This happens all the time now. But you know, that drives me to stay in the Word, because it’s just as fresh and relevant today as the day He breathed it.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) “So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void [without results], but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

I get frustrated because in many small ways I can see my body failing. Some of it is age, some, who knows? God knows. And all He promises me is today. I don’t know if I have tomorrow.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV) “We are confident, yes, well pleased to rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

I want to stay dependent on God, not myself.

Many times I feel so worthless that I feel I handicap the Body of Christ. Well, and if I am so handicapped, I am especially loved by my Father because I am a ‘special’ child which places me closest to His heart. And I want to be a child in my Daddy’s lap.
“for of such is the Kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16 (NKJV)

I struggle with incredible feelings of failure, low self-esteem, inadequacy, and worthlessness. Truth is, God created me just the way I am. I am His child, and He loves me. If I sing, it’s because He has put a song in my heart and I sound beautiful to Him. As for my physical or mental weaknesses, He knows what He created me for and to do. He expects nothing else. The unrealistic expectations are from me.

Psalm 73:26 (TLB) “ My health fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; He is mine forever!”

I’m not good with people. I’d rather be a hermit in a cave than socialize. I’m not competitive and I’m not very assertive. People like to play this ‘better than you’ game. Smarter, stronger, better, holier. If you don’t like to play the game, people assert themselves above you or don’t associate with you. And I get caught up in it, too, just to make myself seem better. I wish I didn’t. Because no matter how good I think I am, there’s always someone out there who either is or thinks they are better than me. God is the one who loves people, and He is the one who has placed a love in my heart for people, even when I do forget their names. He knows who they are, and He died for them anyway.

I worry too much. “What if this?”, or “What about that?”. Did I do this right, or did I say the wrong thing? Truth is, God is in control. There are no coincidences and no surprises to Him. He knows what my thoughts are and what I’m going to say or do. (Psalm 139) It’s my job to live for Him and seek Him in all things. What He wants from me is a closer walk with Him.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV) “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets . . .”

I may not be a great orator and I am not to worry about how or what I should speak. For it will be given to me in that hour what I should speak. For it is not me who speaks, but the Spirit of my Father who speaks in me. Matthew 10:19-20 (NKJV)

I may not have a beautiful voice, but “[God] has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God” Psalm 40:3 (NKJV)

My common sense may make sense only to me, but I belong to Jesus Christ and He is my wisdom from God.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (NKJV) “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God . . .”

James 1:5 (NKJV) “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

I may be forgetful, but so is He.

Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV) “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins”
No matter what anyone else thinks or even what I think about myself, I will be bold because He goes with me.

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 27:1 (NKJV) “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
And don’t forget, John 3:30 (NKJV) “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

I didn’t write this book to elevate myself in any way. I compiled these messages to help myself. God gave me these scriptures and lessons to help me with my own depression. No message or scripture is for private use only though. I also have come to believe that God wants me to help the Body of Christ. Our Dear Lord can use each and every one of us if we will just submit ourselves to Him and allow Him to guide us.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NKJV) "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base [insignificant] things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’"

All of my accomplishments are less than nothing, just filthy rags compared to Him. My prayer is to be so submitted to Him and to the Holy Spirit that I can speak that one word to that one person at just the right time, for His glory. My life will then be a success.

Let my eyes be fixed on the hope that cannot fail.
Let my life be set where the hammer meets the nail.
Place my feet where the rubber meets the road.
Shape my heart to please Your eyes alone.
That I may live my life where the chisel meets the stone.

- 4Him, “Chisel Meets the Stone”

The Message

2007-07-31T08:18:00.000-07:00

6-9-06

So, how can you be assured of all this? How can you know that you have peace with God and eternal life?

It's simple. In fact, it's so simple that people who don't understand the character of God try to either make it more difficult or water it down. It is human nature to want to work at something, to feel as though you have achieved it yourself.

Do you believe that Jesus was the Christ, the only Son of God, sent as a redeeming sacrifice for all mankind for all time? Did you know He wants to come to live in your heart?

You have to start there. This chapter is not an afterthought. It is the reason for everything. This message is found throughout everything I write.

God is Holy and He created the Law, the 10 Commandments and the first 5 books of the Bible called the Mosaic Law, the rules about how human beings are to treat each other and how to worship Him. The Law proves to us that apart from Him, we could not live perfect, holy lives. It is impossible to go through life without hurting someone else's feelings, or causing some kind of damage to each other either emotionally, materially, or financially, to come up with a few ideas. We try to be 'good', but 'good' isn't good enough. We can be competitive and be better than most people, but humans are not the standard, God is.

God says if you break one part of the Law, you are guilty of the whole thing. Have you ever lied? Would that make you a 'liar'? Do you ever question that a Holy God even exists? Does that maybe break the first commandment? Have you ever gotten too much change at the store and not said anything about it? Does that mean you might be a 'thief'? What if you found a large bag of money? What would you do? Have you ever been so angry with someone that you've called them names? Did you know that makes you a 'murderer'?

God's standards are that if you even think about doing something, you've already committed it in your heart. So how's your heart? Would that maybe make you a 'sinner'? What do you think the consequences are? On judgment day, how do you think you'll do before a Holy God?

Let's try to explain a little of the character of God this way. Bear with me. Let's say you are guilty of a great injustice and have never done anything bad before. In fact, you wouldn't hurt a flea. You volunteer in your spare time, and help little old ladies across the street. Let's say that you got frustrated and angry, and killed thousands of people. What would you say would be the correct punishment? A fine? Prison time? The death penalty? The judge says, "You're guilty. All the evidence is here. Have you anything to say before I pass sentence? And you say, "Yes, Judge, I'd like to say I believe you're a good man, and because I am a good man, you're going to overlook my crimes." The judge would probably say, "You're right about one thing. I am a good man, and because of my goodness, I'm going to see that justice is done. Because of my goodness, I'm going to see that you are punished." Don't you see? The very thing that sinners are hoping will save them on judgment day, the goodness of God, will be the very thing that condemns them. Because if God is good, He must by nature punish murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, fornicators, blasphemers, sinners, etc. He has to punish sin wherever it is found.

What are the consequences of sin? Death. Eternal death. Separation from God and everything else. Jesus said that hell was, "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44) and again, "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:41)

But that place was not created for us, it was created for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41 " . . . depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." God intended for you to be with Him in Paradise. That is why He sent to earth His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to take the death penalty for us. God, Himself, crossed the bridge between Him and you.

And this is why it is so simple. To cross that bridge all you have to do is believe! Believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, and that He died for your sins, ask Him into your heart, and you will be saved!

1 John 1:9-10 (NKJV) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."

1 John 4:15 (NKJV) "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."

Put that belief into action and tell others that you now believe! Romans 10:8-10 "But what does [the scripture] say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Tell everyone what I've just told you. Take them by the hand and everyone else you meet, and go to heaven together!

If a person says they are born-again or have had a salvation experience, and it doesn't change their life, then I question their convictions because to meet Jesus is a heart changing event. There are outward signs of an inward upheaval. To meet Jesus and walk away unchanged doesn't happen!

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NKJV) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause to be carried away captive."

Next, you need to learn more so that when satan comes along with his counterfeit truths, you'll be able to recognize them. He'll use your family, friends, co-workers, the news, and especially movies to confuse you and question your convictions.

Start reading the Bible today. How do you think God could bring all these scriptures to remembrance when I needed them if I hadn't read them in the first place? Get one of the easy to read translations. Start with the Gospel of John, then the Gospels, Acts, Romans, and on from there. This is how you get to know who God is. That is where you start to build your relationship with Him.

You now have the Holy Spirit of God in your heart. He will lead you into all truth. He will translate the Bible to you so you understand it. He will bring to remembrance what you need when you need it. Don't let satan convince you that you need someone else to interpret the Bible for you. There are many Bible studies that will help you with doctrine and other things, but be aware that even satan will appear as an angel of light to deceive you. Get grounded in a good Christian church, one that preaches Jesus Christ and is based solely on the Bible. God will speak to your heart during the Sermons if you'll listen. If you're listening, you'll hear Him throughout the days and nights, speaking to you about things in your life to teach you and to lead you, also.

Matthew 10:16 (KJV) "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (KJV) "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

Matthew 24:24 (KJV) "For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

The Treasury Department trains their agents to spot counterfeit bills by making them study the real things very carefully. To be able to spot the deceptions of this world, you need to study the real thing, very carefully, and for yourself. Be extremely careful about depending on other documents or teachers other than the Bible and the church you attend. And do attend church! Read the Bible for yourself and listen to the urgings of the Holy Spirit. Find out the character of God for yourself. It means your life.

God Loves Me

2007-07-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

6-2-06

Don't let satan convince you that God is up there in heaven, way up there, too high, too important, too holy, too whatever. Don't let your image of God become legalistic, judgmental, overbearing, untouchable, or impersonal.

The one thing that God wants is an intimate, up close and personal 'best-friend' relationship with you. It is more like a married relationship. Look at Psalm 139, no matter where you go or what you do, He is there. He's closer than a brother or a best friend.

The only thing that can hinder that relationship is you and your attitude. Your sin separates you from God because He is holy. But He came to earth and became human just so He could remove the separation. He was tempted in all areas just like we are, except He never acted on it, never sinned. He took the punishment for our sins just so the separation between us would be abolished. That is why the veil of the temple tore from the top down!

Matthew 27:51 (NKJV) "Then, behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."

That is also why the erroneous myths about Jesus sinning before the cross are false. For Him to be the redeeming sacrifice, He could have no spots or blemishes (sin). He had to be perfect, in thought, word, and deed. Otherwise, it was all for nothing. (And the veil would not have torn!)

All we need to do is realize we have sinned, ask His forgiveness, and then come into His presence. He's waiting eagerly for you! Have a conversation with Him, talk and listen. The more you practice it the easier it gets. And soon, that's all you want to do because it is refreshing. It is peaceful and joyful and comforting and satisfying at the same time. It's like being wrapped up in a big hug. And He understands you, even when you can't say anything. It makes you sleep better, and wake up more refreshed. It makes the problems of the day more bearable.

He feels your pain.
He hears every cry.
He sees every tear.
He knows when you're so tired all you can do is crawl to Him.
He knows your name.
He died for you.
And He says, "My child, come to Me. My yoke is light. Let Me refresh your soul."

Psalm 34:4, 6, 7, 17-19 (NKJV) "I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears . . . This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them . . . The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Psalm 40:1-3 (NKJV) "I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise to our God. Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD."

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV) "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

John 10:14 (paraphrased) "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me."

Isaiah 28:11-12 (NKJV) "For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, 'This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,' and 'This is the refreshing.' "

Acts 3:19-20 (NKJV) "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before."

Psalm 25:16-18 (NKJV) "Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged: bring me out of my distresses! Look upon my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins."

Deuteronomy 33:26-27 (TLB) "There is none like the God of Jerusalem--He descends from the heavens in majestic splendor to help you. The Eternal God is your Refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrusts out your enemies before you; it is He who cries, 'Destroy them!' "

Revelation 21:3-5a (NKJV) "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.' Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' "

Deuternonomy 7:13-14a (NKJV) "Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers, and He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples."

Micah 6:8 (paraphrased) The LORD requires of us:
1.) Do justly
2.) Love mercy
3.) Walk humbly with God.

Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:29-31 (paraphrased) Jesus' commandments:
1.) Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
2.) Love everyone else.
Note: If you fulfill these two, you won't break the others.

Romans 5:8 (NKJV) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 8:35-39 (NKJV) "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our LORD."

Ephesians 2:4-8 (NKJV) "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."

1 John 4:7-11 (NKJV) "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

John 3:16-17 (NKJV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

John 1:1-4 (NKJV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."

Deception

2007-07-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

4-24-06

The LORD has revealed to me that part of what got me into trouble is that satan convinced me that everything I have experienced with the LORD was due to my imagination. It wasn't real. I just imagined it all.

All I know is this, God created mankind (Adam and Eve) in His image. And He called it good. God created me just the way I am, and He doesn't create junk or imperfection. Being created 'in His image' is more than appearance, we obviously don't all look alike. However, we all have 2 arms, 2 legs, a head, a body, a mind, a spirit, etc. More than that, we all: have emotions, smile when we're happy, cry when we're sad, dream dreams, love our children to the point of death, and much more.

God revealed His character to us through the prophets and His written Word. He created this whole universe with His Word. Read Genesis chapter 1. As we investigate and study this existence, we discover new things everyday. Whether they were there all along, or brand new is irrelevant. It merely confirms this truth: our God is a highly imaginative being. God is a trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are a trinity: body, soul, and spirit. I am proud to be created in His image. I am glad to have an imagination. It bridges the gap between what we see and what we feel. It bridges the gap between the material world and the spiritual.

Jesus said we must become like little children to enter the kingdom of God. Children have highly developed imaginations. It is no problem for them to take as fact the spiritual truths they are told. They are very trusting, believing their mothers and fathers unconditionally. This is how we are to be. We must trust our Father God implicitly. We are to believe that what He tells us is true, that it is for our own good. That takes imagination.

How many times do we treat our loving Father like rebellious teenagers instead? We say by our words and deeds: 'I don't need you!" "You don't love me!" "I can do things better on my own!" "All you care about are rules, rules, rules!" "Leave me alone!"

If you are the parent of a teenager or have ever been in charge of one, you recognize the words, and the hurt it inflicts. We also hurt our Father God by our thoughts, words, and deeds. He only wants what is best for us.

Matthew 23:37 (NKJV) ". . . How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"

What looks like restrictive rules are part of God's plan to protect us and love us and mature us. It makes one wonder where these rebellious thoughts come from. (Hmmmmm.)

Proverbs 3:11-12 (NKJV) "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction. For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights."

Job 5:17 (NKJV) "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty."

And these are facts (not imaginations): 1.) He healed my broken leg in the car wreck with my dad in 1978. 2.) He healed my father of lung cancer in 1979 because he grew in faith after seeing what happened to me. 3.) He has helped me out of depression many times. Depression is also physical. The last time was February 13, 2006. 4.) He healed me of addiction to nasal spray in 1973. 5.) He healed me of alcoholism in 1976 and 1992.

These are actual events. satan can't do anything about them. I didn't imagine these things. And about the tings I have imagined like the vision I have had, God said young men will see visions, and old men will dream dreams. And if my imagination strengthens my faith because faith uses imagination, then do be it. My faith gives me peace with God.

Lack of imagination takes all the color out of life. Lack of imagination brings the depression. After all, what is worth living for? God said at the tower of Babel there isn't anything man cannot do because he can imagine it.

I am created in the image of God! I am adopted, grafted in because of Jesus. And if I'm okay with God, who else dares to hold an opinion on that? They will have to argue with God, not me.

Genesis 1:31 (NKJV) "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good."

1 John 1:1-3 (NKJV) "that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."

Galatians 4:6 (NKJV) "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' "

1 John 4:13-15 (NKJV) "By this we know we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."

Matthew 18:3 (NKJV) ". . . and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.' "

Matthew 19:13 (NKJV) "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' "

Mark 10:14 (NKJV) "But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God.' "

Genesis 11:6 (NKJV) "And the LORD said, 'Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose (imagine) to do will be withheld from them.' "

Romans 8:15 (NKJV) "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!' "

Ephesians 1:3-6 (NKJV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved."

Faith - Hebrews

2007-07-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

5-25-06

God rested on the seventh day. He ceased all His work. 'Rested' is the absence of work or struggle. Webster's has a lot to say about rest including: peace, ease, and refreshment as produced by sleep, refreshing ease or inactivity after work or exertion, a period or occasion of inactivity, relief from anything distressing or disturbing, annoying, tiring, etc., peace of mind, mental and emotional calm, tranquility, absence of motion, state of being still, etc.

We enter that rest when we quit working or struggling as when we quit trying to get to Heaven on our own merits. Pray enough, believe enough, do enough, impress God enough. Busy, busy, busy, . . .

When you have faith, or rather, when you use your faith, you are acknowledging that God did everything and there is no need for you to add to that. He has done it, He is doing it, and He will always continue to do it. He will take care of everything you pray for, everything you have no words for, all your needs, all my needs, all their needs, everything. Therefore, there is no more struggle, No worry, no anxiety, no work, no struggle.

God delights in me. And because of Jesus Christ I have faith. He gave it to me because He did it all and fulfilled it all. And when He was done, He sat down at the right hand of the Father. Jesus rested.

Faith is resting from our own efforts and accepting what He has already done and what He has promised. Therefore, faith is the substance (reality) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Because Christ died on the cross, forgiving all my sins, healing all my diseases, and removing the separation between God and myself, I have peace with God and can rest. Enter into His rest and faith is the evidence. It is the evidence of our salvation, the evidence of our adoption, the evidence of the presence of God in our lives. Faith is that rest. It tells God and everyone, 'Yes, I believe Jesus did it all!' And you stop trying to re-do God's work.

That is why a lack of faith is sin, because it is unbelief in God's provision, unbelief in His love, unbelief in Him. We choose not to believe, we choose not to rest, and we choose not to accept the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross. It's like spitting His face. It's insulting Him. We choose to trust something else, anything else, but Jesus. It could be works, study, traditions, rules and regulations, etc. Because if we choose not to trust Jesus, then our enemy can step in with his deceptions. He keeps us from the truth of the simplicity in Christ. He will burden you down with worry, work, and depression because it is a hopeless path. His yoke is heavy but Jesus' yoke is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Faith is rest because we realize we no longer have to struggle to be good enough. Christ did it all! And that brings the joy! That brings the praise!

On the seventh day, God rested. He blessed the seventh day and called it holy. It is one of the first lessons in the Bible. He created, He called it good, and then He rested. He was exercising His faith that what He created was very good and would continue on.

God rested on the seventh day and called it the Sabbath. We are to keep the Sabbath holy, to rest every 7 days as a symbol of the rest He has given us for all the time. It commemorates what He has done, is doing, and will continue to do. Thereby He created faith. Faith commemorates all that God has done and it is holy! You could say that faith is that Sabbath rest, keep it holy.

God wants me to know I struggle too much. When I don't rest in Him, it brings on the depression. That is the sin, the lack of faith! The unrealistic expectations I place on myself! I must simply, completely, submit to God. Be faith-full. Be quiet and know that He is God. Rest. Quiet. Simple. Trust.

God was physically in the desert with the Israelites and yet all they did was grumble and complain. They could see God's presence and yet they doubted Him, they doubted that He'd take care of them. Unbelief. And they could not enter into His rest because of it, unbelief. Only Joshua and Caleb trusted God and they entered in even though they saw the same giants. Entertain 'what-ifs' and it will destroy your faith. God always accomplishes what He starts and He's not going to fail with you.

God is sooooooo good! All the time! Praise the Name of the LORD and His Christ for His mercies endure forever!

I think I will just climb up in His lap and take a nap. Just like the tea commercial, I'll fall backwards into the pool of His love! Be happy! Christ is mine, and I am His! He is my all in all!

OH, THE JOY!!!!

Hebrews 4:4 (NKJV) "For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: 'and God rested on the seventh day from all His works'. "

Hebrews 1:3 (NKJV) "...who being the brightness of His glory and express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..."

1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) "Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might life for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed."

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV) "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

2 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV) "I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day."

Romans 4:3, 13 (NKJV) "For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted (imputed, credited) to him for righteousness.' ...For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."

Hebrews 3:12-14 (NKJV) "Beware brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today', lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end."

Hebrews 4:10 (NKJV) "For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His."

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV) "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 10:37-38 (NKJV) "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV) "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness'. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV) "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge."

Psalm 37:3-8 (NKJV) "Trust in the LORD, and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on His Faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him, do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath, do not worry--it only causes harm."

April 28. 2007

2007-04-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

I just want to take time to make a quick post to let everyone know that I have been tied up with work for the last several months. But when I returned and found your comments, it was a real blessing to me. God used you to defeat what Satan had been wispering in my ears! It truly is a body ministry! I will be back soon to continue posting.

Again, thank you so much for your words of encouragement! Linda

God's Standards vs. My Standards

2006-08-14T06:36:00.000-07:00

4-18-2006

This is for when I start comparing myself to other people, even those I think are better than me: financially, morally, spiritually, intellectually, etc.

Romans 3:10-18 (NKJV) "There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable, there is none who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb, with their tongues they have practiced deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Romans 3:23 (paraphrased) For we have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God. But we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that Jesus Christ bought for us. The Word is the great equalizer.

When human relationships let me down, God is reminding me of where I should be getting my 'atta-boys'. That would be from Him. He looks over me jealously with no apologies.

If God can raise up: a prostitute like Rahab, a drunk like Noah, a murderer like Moses, a satanist like Simon, or a religious bigot like Saul, there is hope for me! But there is a price: "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you will be saved." Acts 16:31

Convictions vs. Condemnation

2006-08-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

4-11-2006

Do not let satan convince you that you are:

1) a sinner going to hell -- I am the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:8-11 (NKJV) "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) "For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

2) powerless over things -- I can do all things through Christ Jesus Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

3) a throw-away -- My God will never forsake me. Psalm 121 (NKJV) "I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."

Psalm 94:16-19 (NKJV) "Who will rise up for me against the workers of iniquity? Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul would soon have settled in silence. If I say, 'My foot slips,' your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."

Isaiah 59:1 (NKJV) "Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor His ear deaf that it cannot hear."

Philippians 4:6-8 (NKJV) "Be anxious for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the Peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."

Psalm 91 (NKJV) "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in Him I will trust.' Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling, for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra. The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 'Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him, with long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.' "

Salvation

2006-08-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

4-07-2006

If a person says they are born-again or had a salvation experience, and it doesn't change their life, then I question their convictions. Because to meet Jesus is a heart changing event. There are outward signs of an inward upheaval. To meet Jesus and walk away unchanged doesn't happen!

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NKJV) " 'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says the LORD, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' says the LORD, 'and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' says the LORD, 'and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.' "

Notes on satan Part 2

2006-08-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

3-20-2006 Part 2

satan doesn't want you to know this: Jesus created you and declared it good. He said greater works than His will you do. He said He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God Himself to come and live in your heart. He called you and said He would keep you. Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19 (KJV) "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me because He (God) has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath send Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV) "The Spirit of the LORD GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

Jesus asks, "Who do you say that I AM?"

I AM Healer to those who are sick.
I AM Redeemer to those who are imprisoned.
I AM Savior to those who are lost.
I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Jesus called you to take up His work on this earth. Mark 16:15-20 (paraphrased): Go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues and languages; they will have dominion over serpents and not be harmed by them; and if they eat or drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and pray, and they will recover.

satan doesn't want you to know this: Because all the Godhead now dwells in you by faith. Once you realize this, he is powerless!!

Mark 9:23 (NKJV) "Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.' "

Isaiah 10:27 (NKJV) "It shall come to pass in that day that his (satan's) burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil."

Colossians 2:13-15 (NKJV) "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross, having disarmed principalities and power, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 (NKJV) " . . . we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the LORD of Glory."

I thank my God through Jesus Christ that He loves me!

Ezekiel 28:12b-19 (NKJV) (Although this is entitled a lamentation for the king of Tyre, the references contained in it definitely identify it as a description of satan. Jesus referred to some of these references in describing satan.) "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God, every precious stone was your covering; the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers, I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God, you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created. Till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned. Therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God, and I destroyed you. O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground. I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you. You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities. By the iniquity of your trading, therefore I brought fire from your midst, it devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you, you have become a horror, and shall be no more forever."

Luke 10:18 (NKJV) "And He said to them, 'I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven.' "

Romans 14:11 (NKJV) "For it is written: 'As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' "

John 14:6 (NKJV) "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.' "

Colossians 1:19-23 (NKJV) "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, above reproach in His sight--if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, ..."

1 Corinthians 1:17 (TLB) "For Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel; and even my preaching sounds illogical, for I do not fill my sermons with profound words and high sounding ideas, for fear of diluting the mighty power there is in the simple message of the cross of Christ."

Philippians 2:5-16a (KJV) "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining, that you may be blameless and harmless, the children of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world; holding forth the Word of Life."

1 Thessalonians 5:15-23 (KJV) "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among your selves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and should and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ."

Psalm 138:7-8 (NKJV) "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me. You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The LORD will perfect (fulfill) that which concerns me. Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever."

Isaiah 53:1-12 (NKJV) "Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent. So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked--but with the rich at His death. Because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul and offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Isaiah 45:22-24 (NKJV) "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, 'Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him.' "

Notes on satan Part 1

2006-07-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

3-20-2006 Part 1

He does exist.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
devourer

John 10:10 (NKJV) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy . . ."
thief

John 8:44 (NKJV) "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar, and the father of it."
murderer, liar

1.) satan is not the same as God, he is a created being. He is not the brother of Jesus; he is a fallen angel. for proof, read Ezekiel 28:12b-19.

2.) He is limited by time and space like we are.

3.) He is not omnipresent.

4.) He is not all-powerful.

5.) However, he is very smart, very crafty.
And we keep falling for his lies over, and over, and . . . .

How he attacks:
1.) He will try to discredit the Bible. Believe me, the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Consider this: don't you think that the God Almighty who created this whole universe and is not limited in any form or fashion cannot protect what is in the book that represents Him? Or don't you think that the One who said "My word shall not return void" would not protect that word? The Bible is the only book that agrees with itself from beginning to end. Archaeologists are finding proofs everyday about places in the Bible. Historical records of the times back it up. It is the only book we need. It covers every conceivable subject. It covers everything we need to know. If there is something that is not in the Bible, we need to take care. It may be a lie, a half-truth, or a subject that gets us away from God's wisdom. Isaiah 30:1 (KJV) " 'Woe to the rebellious children,' saith the LORD. 'That take counsel, but not of Me, and that cover with a covering, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin.' "

2.) The enemy likes to confuse the facts or how you feel about them. satan's words to Eve were "Did God really say..." He casts doubt on what you remember. Just look at how history books in schools have changed. Historical facts are no longer written the same. They are no longer 'facts' but perceptions.

These are important lessons to us. It is human nature to forget the 'moment'. When great tragedy occurs like 911 or the hurricanes, it is immensely emotional at the moment. (What I am referring to are the attacks to the Twin Trade Towers in New York, September 11, 2001, and the hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast in the fall of 2005.) But as time passes, our emotions calm down, and as more time passes we forget how impacted we were and then that we were impacted at all. Now when people talk about 911, they talk about where they were that day, the wreckage, the lives lost, they argue over a memorial or no memorial, and no one is upset anymore at the middle-eastern men who did it (lest we offend some ethnic group!) We remember, but it no longer angers us. And we are more concerned with the flaws of the buildings and how to construct better buildings in the future that could withstand such attacks. We are more concerned with assigning blame to the architects of the original buildings for their collapse than addressing what caused the attacks in the first place.

What's wrong with this? We are just a hair off what is important. It is important that a specific ethnic and religious group was responsible and that they hate us because as a nation we claim to believe in Jesus. Even the individuals that don't believe in Jesus. And that's the only reason they hate us. It is a religious war. This is what satan does. He gets us off what's important, what's the truth, makes us forget the facts, distorts the facts, makes God look bad, makes the Bible look bad, makes believing strongly in anything look bad, especially Christianity. My goodness, we needed the wake-up call.

3.) He is our nemesis, he is anti-Christ.

1 John 2:22-23 (NKJV) "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is anti-christ who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also."

1 John 4:1-3 (NKJV) "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world."

4.) He distorts our self-image. We are more than mere human. We are also spiritual beings. satan is a created creature who got a big head and wanted to be god. He wanted to replace God Almighty. And God cast him out of His presence. He was right up there next to God, he was beautiful. And in the end, we will be there instead. So he hates us and does everything in his power to keep us from the truth or believing the truth or getting close to God.

The truth is, when we finally believe that Jesus is the Christ, the only Son of God, the Messiah of all mankind; we realize that we are really children of God, adopted, grafted in, brothers with Jesus, children of the King!

We have the very Spirit of God within us, the power that created the universe takes residence in us. Jesus said in John 14:12-14 (NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." And He meant it!

More on Forgiveness

2006-07-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

3-16-2006

The Law and sin serves a purpose: it reminds us how much we need a savior, Jesus. Go to Him in prayer. Climb up in His lap and tell Him all about it. Cry together, and rise up victorious!

John 1:17 (NKJV) "For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

Romans 7:7 (NKJV) "What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the Law. For I would not have known coveteousness unless the Law had said, 'You shall not covet.' "

Galatians 3:24-25 (NKJV) "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor."

Isaiah 1:18-19 (NKJV) " 'Come now, and let us reason together,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.' "

Romans 10:4 (NKJV) "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."

Romans 5:20-21 (NKJV) "Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. So that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD."

Galatians 2:19-3:1 (NKJV) "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?"

Galatians 3:6-9 (NKJV) "Just as Abraham 'believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness,' therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.' So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Depression???? Addictions????? WHATEVER ELSE that keeps us from fellowship with God.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NKJV) "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews require a sign, and Greeks (gentiles) seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks (gentiles) foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

Acts 10:42-42 (NKJV) "And He (Jesus) commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

Romans 10:11-13 (NKJV) "For the scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same LORD over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For 'whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.' "

Galatians 6:14-15 (NKJV) "God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation."

Psalm 121 (paraphrased) I will lift my eyes to the mountain of God, from whence comes my help, from God who created the heavens and the earth. He will not allow my foot to be moved, He who keeps me will not slumber nor sleep. The LORD is my keeper, the LORD is my shade in the heat. The sun shall not strike me by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will protect me from all evil. He will preserve by soul. He will preserve my going out and my coming in from this time forth, even forevermore!

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (KJV) "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."

Read all of Romans 6!

Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV) "And the LORD said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.' "

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NKJV) "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.' "

Psalm 19:7-11 (paraphrased)
The Law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether,
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can understand his own errors?
Cleanse me from undiscovered faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins (too bold or forward, taking too much for granted, showing overconfidence, arrogance, taking liberties);
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgressions.
Let the words of my mouth the the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Strength and my Redeemer.

Forgiveness

2006-07-30T16:18:00.000-07:00

3-15-2006

I believe the answer to my depression is to remember these truths:

1) I screw up.
2) It's no surprise to God. He created me and chose me.
3) All I have to do is ask forgiveness. HE DOES NOT MIND HOW OFTEN!
4) He will forgive me immediately. He loves me.
5) Fall apart to God, not depression. Depression obscures the correct point of view.

Gratefulness

2006-07-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

2-26-2006

I am totally humbled by my condition. I am human. I cannot be holy by just my own efforts. But God has given salvation as a free gift. I don't deserve it. He loves me anyway. It is a fearsome thing that a Holy God wants a relationship with me. Not only that, but He planned everything before He created this world!

One thing is for sure: when we receive our crowns in eternity, it is no wonder we all throw them down at His feet. Anything that we have is because of Him. It is by Him, it is through Him, He is the All in All, the Beginning and the End, the Author and Finisher, the Ancient of Days, High and Lifted Up, Almighty God!

This is gratefulness: knowing that I don't deserve anything, but that God Almighty did everything for me through His only son, Jesus Christ so that we could have a relationship in righteousness. I, who am unrighteous, can put on righteousness, and have free access to the throne of grace and find the help I need for every circumstance.

Psalm 103 (NKJV) "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father loves his children, so the LORD loves those who fear Him. For He knows our frame, He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and it's place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the LORD, all His works, in places of His dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!"

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV) "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Psalm 5:1-3 (NKJV) "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and My God. For to You will I pray. My voice shall You hear in the morning, O LORD. In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up."

Depression

2006-07-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

2-24-2006

A warning from God: Watch your depression. Come to Me quickly. Let Me come into your heart to bring you peace. Don't let the depression destroy our communion by letting unbelief to go unchecked.

Hebrews 3:12-12 (NKJV) "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today', lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

David Wilkerson says about this passage: "This passage warns us, 'Be on guard, and don't allow any unbelief to take root. At times the Lord may seem distant to you. But don't let your heart depart from the reality of His faithfulness."

Hebrews 3:14-19 (NKJV) "For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end while it is said 'Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.' For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed was it not all those who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now, with whom was He angry 40 years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

Let the Word discern the condition of your heart, whether you are in faith or not. Let God search your heart. Only He can give you the answers you need. Trust Him.

Hebrews 4:11-13 (NKJV) "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account."

Hebrews Chapter 11, especially verse 1 (NKJV) "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."

And verse 6 (NKJV) "Without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Habakkuk 2:4 (amplified) "Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live (everyday, conduct their lives) by His Faith (faithfulness, truth, firmness, steadiness, solid belief)."

Ephesians 4:23-24 (paraphrased) ...be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Don't let your regrets depress you; forget them. They are past.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV) "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJV) "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning! Great is Your Faithfulness! 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!' "

Hebrews 2:1-4 (esp. vs. 3) (NKJV) "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and ever transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?"

Do not return to your old ways which you now know are sin: cavalier attitude toward God and your relationship with Him. Unbelief in His faithfulness, unbelief in consequences of sin, unbelief in His love for you, thinking He does not care. Depression is unbelief. You have lost your fear of God. Do not ignore so great a salvation or the high price it was paid for.

Just because we have forgiveness of sins does not give us permission to keep on sinning. Jesus said, "Go, and sin no more."

Galatians 5:13 (paraphrased) For you have been called to liberty only do not use that liberty as an opportunity to sin.

Romans 7:24-8:2 (NKJV) "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our LORD! So then, with the mind I serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

1 Peter 5:10 (NKJV) "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."

Galatians 4:9 (paraphrased) But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements (your life without Christ)? Do you desire to be in bondage to depression again?

Galatians 5:16 (paraphrased) Walk in the Spirit and you will not sin.

Colossians 2:13-15 (NKJV) "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."

Isaiah 43:1b-3a (NKJV) "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NKJV) "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..."

Mark 9:24 (NKJV) "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!" God respects pure honesty.

Ephesians 4:13-14 (KJV) "...till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine...."

Romans 12:3 (paraphrased) For I say to you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has given everyone the measure of faith.

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) To transform your mind: "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

Give thanks to the LORD!

2006-07-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

2-22-2006

Oh! Give thanks to the LORD!
For He is Good!
For His Mercy endures forever!

1 Chronicles 16:34; 2 Chronicles 5:13; 2 Chronicles 7:3;
2 Chronicles 20:21; Ezra 3:11; Psalm 106:1;
Psalm 107:1; Psalm 117; Psalm 118:1-4;
Psalm 118:29; Psalm 136; Psalm 138:8;
Jeremiah 33:11

I Belong to God

2006-07-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

2-21-2006

I can never fail God* because He created me just the way I am, and He called it good. He has no unrealistic expectations of me. I can set up my own expectations and fail them. But God is Faithful and True. He will never leave me nor forsake me. He will finish the good work He started in me. And at the end of my race, He will be waiting there for me, and welcome me to Himself.
* As long as I am trying. Only I can walk away from Him. But as long as I am trying, as long as my sin grieves me, so long as I am asking for His forgiveness, He holds me in the palm of His hand.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (paraphrased) You, O God, will keep me in Your Perfect Peace as long as I keep my mind focused on You, because I trust in You! I will trust in the LORD forever, for in Y-, the LORD, is everlasting strength!

Psalm 50:23 (KJV) "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me: and to him who ordereth his conversation (all aspects of life) aright will I show the salvation of God."

Titus 3:4-7 (NKJV) "But then the kindness and love of God our Savior toward men appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Psalm 73:22-28 (paraphrased) I was so foolish I must have seemed like a dumb beast! Nevertheless I am always with You, You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Who else can I trust in Heaven to be on my side and help me but You? And there sure isn't anything or anyone on earth, either, that I desire besides You.
My strength may fail, my spirits may droop, my heart might even stop, but my God and LORD Savior Jesus Christ is the measurer of my portion and my exceeding great reward, forever!

1 John 1:9-10 (NKJV) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us."

Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV) "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and commandments to a thousand generations."

1 Corinthians 1:8-9 (KJV) "Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our LORD Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our LORD."

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NKJV) "May the God of Peace Himself sanctify you completely: and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it."

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV) "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you not forsake you.' So we may boldly say; 'The LORD is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?' "

God is bigger than any problem you have: Romans 8:27-28 (NKJV) "Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Philippians 1:6 (paraphrased) I am confident of this very thing: that God, who has begun a good work in me, will complete it!

Psalm 139 (NKJV) "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have [surrounded] me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me! It is [so] high; I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in [the depths of the earth], behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall fall on me,' even the night shall be light about me. Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day. The darkness and the light are both alike to You. For You formed my inward parts, You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes say my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me when as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. . . . . .
Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting."

What I Believe

2006-07-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

2-15-2006

God is the author and finisher of the Law.
God wrote the Law.
And by the Law, no flesh is justified.
It is impossible not to break the Law in some form or fashion.
Therefore, we are all sinners. It doesn't matter what happened, we cannot stand before a Holy God. We are doomed.
But God created us. Just the way we are. And He declared it good.
He loves us so much, He sent His only Son, Jesus (Emmanuel, Savior), whom the Holy Spirit indwelt. God, Himself, was born a human, lived as a human, and died as a human.
As God, He kept the Law. Never sinned. Period. Was perfect, blameless.
Other humans, thus being proved sinners, accused and condemned the Holy God to death for sin.
He allowed this, and took the blame for all sin, everywhere, for all men, for all time, although He was sinless.
He planned this from before the creation of the world. It was no accident.
The punishment for breaking the Law is death.
Therefore He died.
And went to the grave (in the body), and He went to hell (in the spirit).
And on the third day, He left hell and took all the people that were trapped there, the people that had died up to that point without a Savior, and went to Paradise where He applied His own blood to the altar, wiping out the slate of offenses against us who believe.
You can't earn it. You can't do what He did because you are not god. You can't live a perfect enough life. You can be better than most people, but the Law was written with God as the standard. Sin is absolute.
You can receive forgiveness of sin only through faith.
You have to have faith that He loves you.
You have to have faith that Jesus is the only Son of God.
You have to have faith He paid the price for you.
You have to have faith that you will go to Heaven when you die.

You have to have faith.

And guess what? God even gives you the faith you need. God created faith.
God is the author and finisher of our faith.

God is love!

Read all of Romans 3, especially vs. 20-25: "Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the Law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the propheets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forebearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed."

Read all of Romans 4.

Romans 14:23 "...whatever is not from faith is sin."

God Came Through!

2006-07-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

2-13-2006

This was a particularly bad winter for me. I always get depressed somewhat during the fall and winter, but this last winter was really bad.

This pretty much sums up the way I felt:

Isaiah 63:15-19 (paraphrased) Look down from heaven, and see me from Your habitation, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your strength, the yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me? Are they restrained? Doubtless You are my Father. You, O LORD, are my Father, my Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
O LORD, why have You allowed me to stray from Your ways, and harden my heart from Your fear? Return for Your servant's sake, the people of Your inheritance. I have possessed Your inheritance for such a little time; my adversaries, my enemies, have trodden down Your sanctuary (in my heart). I have become like I was before I ever called Your name.

God's word to me:

Isaiah 41:9-10 (NKJV) "You, whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, 'You are my servant. I have chosen you and have not cast you away. Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I AM your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand.' " (Which is Jesus!)

The Key to overcoming my depression:

Yes, I am a sinner. But I have faith. He gave it to me. I believe that Jesus is my Savior! I receive His righteousness through FAITH!

Philippians 3:7-10 (NKJV) "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the Law, but that righteousness which is from God through FAITH. That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags, we all fade as a leaf."

Romans 8:10-11 (NKJV) "If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

Romans 8:35-39 (KJV) "Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our LORD."

Romans 5:1-2 (KJV) "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ, by whom we also have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God."

Romans 5:3-5 (KJV) "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us."

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV) " 'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says the LORD, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.' "

Isaiah 64:4-5a (NKJV) "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways."

Romans 10:8-9 (NKJV) " 'The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is the Word of Faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the LORD Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Isaiah 42:16 (NKJV) "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know. I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them."

Introduction 4

2006-07-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

I believe that we have everything in Christ because He did and fulfilled everything, and that Christ even gave faith to us. And that is how simple it is.

All these things can be found in the Word of God, the Bible. I will include the scripture references because one thing that irritates me is to read something, and then you have to look it up yourself. However, I'm not going to copy whole chapters as a general rule. You should look those up. When I write, I never capitalize 'satan'. Also, sometimes I say 'I' or 'me', and sometimes I say 'you'. I'm still talking to myself. It just sounds less intimidating. If you really want to make the Bible personal, try reading your favorite passages in the first person: John 3:16 for example: "For God so loved [me] that He gave His only begotten son, that [if I would just] believe in Him, [I] would not perish, but have everlasting life." It's like God is talking directly to me [you].

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew and the Gentile. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed to every religion, tribe, and tongue; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Jeremiah 20:9 The Word of God is a fire in my heart that burns all the way down to my bones and I cannot hold it back.

Luke 22:31-32 "And the LORD said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.' "

Introduction 3

2006-07-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

I'm not the only one experiencing depression and attacks of the enemy. There are many of the LORD's people who are suffering and need to know that God still loves them, still walks with them, and get refreshed. They need to re-discover the LORD'S great mercies just as I do once in a while. I am ashamed that I get depressed so easily. I need to be reminded of my dear LORD's love and mercy continually. I need to be reminded of my place in the kingdom. And so do they. I have had these experiences and learned these lessons to turn around and help those who are going through the same things. Lessons worth re-learning. I must share God's love to a lost and dying world. This is my testimony through the lessons I have learned and the scriptures that have lifted me up. God reveals Himself to us through the Word, the Bible. He opens our hearts and minds to His Love through His Word. It is not for private edification only. It is to equip us and build us up so we can help others!

I have suffered depression myself. Therefore, I have the ability, and the right, and the responsibility to help others who are depressed.

Dear LORD, teach me by your Holy Spirit. Do not let me ever believe or teach anything against or outside of Your Truth!

Introduction 2

2006-07-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

God's been very good to me. His Word is true. And I wouldn't do anything different. I'm not so different from the early Israelites. I'm stiff-necked and rebellious. I forget easily. I get depressed. And underneath it all, I have these nagging doubts that I'll never make it to heaven. That I'll be in that group that Jesus turns away. These are lies from the enemy that I mistakenly believed. This was a grievous sin.

That is what has given rise to this blog. This is about growth. I've dated the 'chapters' and will put them here in order as best I can from February 13th to the present. Therefore, you will see a pattern of change. The LORD reached me were I was, and led me through prayer and backed it up with scripture, my pastor's sermons (and he didn't even know God was using him to speak to me), and messages from David Wilkerson and the Times Square Church in New York. If you want some really good messages, you need to get on his totally free mailing list. Even things my friends and children said confirmed what the LORD had already spoken to my heart.

That is how our dear LORD works. He reaches you where you are and works with your heart. He changes you from the inside out by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, if you will let Him. He created us with a free will and He will not overstep that boundary. His is the small voice in the midst of the chaos. You have to want to hear Him, you have to focus, and you have to listen closely.

Introduction 1

2006-06-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

I started writing with the intention of avoiding another bout with depression. I wanted the LORD to give me the scriptures I needed to keep me strong and healthy. I had no thoughts of sharing these personal thoughts with anyone else, but as time went on and as the LORD expanded His Word to me in such a short time, I came to realize that what the LORD shared with me, could possibly help a lot of people. I also have become driven, even compelled, to keep going; that there was some reason for me to get it done quickly. Only the LORD knows why.

My First Post

2006-06-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

I am just learning about blogs, much less managing one! Let's all make this a success!