Sitting On The Fence

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NASB)

15 but [a]like the Holy One who called you, [b]be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

(No one can serve two masters).  As Christians, our life IS our testimony.  Do people see Christ in us or do they see a worldly follower?  Please don't say, "they shouldn't be judging".  It isn't judgment when your behavior is public for everyone to see.  What kind of witness are you presenting yourself?  "In all your behavior...be Holy".  You can't straddle the fence with God.  

Revelation 3:15-16 (NASB)

15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will [a]spit you out of My mouth.Matthew 6:24 (NASB)

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [a]wealth.

You cannot serve God and money.  But think about this for a moment.  The Bible is God's Holy Word, this is not the only scripture in the Bible that tells you this message about serving (worshipping) two Gods.

The Bible says, "God is a jealous God".  Anything you put before Him is an idol and makes you an adulterer in God's eyes.  No matter what it is. So you cannot serve God and the world, you cannot serve God and the devil.  Be in this world but not of this world.  We cannot be perfect as Jesus, however, we can strive to live Christlike in our daily lives.  Putting away the things the world does, remembering that if we claim to be Christian, the world is watching, babes in Christ are watching, other Christians are watching but most of all, God is watching.  Watching to see if you obey His commands, if you follow His word in your life, if you serve Him or the world.  We are held to a higher standard. 

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God, however, willful sin is a totally different matter.  If you willfully sin one day and then worship and praise God the next, isn't there a word for that?  What are you presenting to others?  Will you turn them from God because of YOUR witness?  

Matthew 18:7 (AMP) 

7 “Woe (judgment is coming) to the world because of stumbling blocks and temptations to sin! It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person on whose account or through whom the stumbling block comes!

Matthew 6:22-23 (NASB)

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is [a]clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [b]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!  

The pleasures of this world cannot compare to what God has promised you, don't lose God while following the world.   Again, be in this world, not of this world.  Mold and shape your life around "what would Jesus do?"  Stop sitting on the fence, choose a side, choose this day whom you will serve.

Father, I pray today that you would create in me a clean heart.  I ask that you keep me from temptation and help me to live the way you created me to live.  I ask Father that you keep me from being a stumbling block to all who come in contact with me, that they see Your light shining through.  Father God I ask in Jesus name that You fill me with Your Holy Spirit and lead me in Your righteous paths so that I do not cause another to sin or blaspheme You because of my actions.  Help me to be Holy as You are Holy.  In Jesus name, Amen

Psalm 51  (AMP)

A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.

1 

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 
Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 
For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them;
My sin is always before me.
4 
Against You, You only, have I sinned
And done that which is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak [Your sentence]
And faultless in Your judgment.

5 
I was brought forth in [a state of] wickedness;
In sin my mother conceived me [and from my beginning I, too, was sinful].
6 
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom.
7 
Purify me with [a]hyssop, and I will be clean;
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 
Make me hear joy and gladness and be satisfied;
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 
Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

10 
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.
11 
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted and return to You.

14 
Rescue me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will sing joyfully of Your righteousness and Your justice.
15 
O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16 
For You do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 
My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

Good Tree, Bad Tree

The Lord brought this scripture to me today as I was driving: 

Matthew 7:15-22  15“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20“So then, you will know them by their fruits.  21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’  (NASB)

I believe it is something that needs to be shared because of so many prophetic words going about today.  You don't have to agree with me, that is your choice but all I want to do is challenge you:  1) to study your Bible, 2)  to pray, 3) to ask God for discernment, 4) to pray and pray some more.

There are many who call themselves prophets today, there are also many who prophesy about the coming end of the world.  The Bible tells us that no one knows the hour, not even Jesus.  Matthew 24:36-37, 36“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 

Just because someone calls themselves a prophet or writes prophecy, does not make them a prophet.  Whatever they are prophesying must line up with the Word of God, FIRST.  A true prophet won't get it wrong?  AND a true prophet knows they CANNOT predict the day or the hour but only reveal what God has given them to reveal.

Many many "prophets" proclaimed that Obama was the anti-christ.  Did that line up with the Word of God?  If it does not line up with the Word of God, it isn't prophecy and just isn't true.  First, everything Obama did, to a christian, was shocking to see because so many believed every word that came out of his mouth.  Many saw him destroying our nation, yet they were blinded and still now, they defend him.  He is pro abortion, pro gay rights, pro everything that goes against the Word of God BUT does that make him THE anti-christ?  No, that makes him a type of anti-christ but not THE one the Bible speaks of.

Keep in mind who followed and believed him.  Yes, I have no doubt that satan himself was/is pleased with Obama for paving the way.  As christians we sat and watched and shook our heads that people could not see the lies and deception taking place.  I personally did not believe him to be an American Citizen, he came out of nowhere basically, an unknown and rose straight to the top.  He never had to produce PROOF that he was a citizen.  He tried to destroy christianity in our nation.  But think about this, who believes him, who follows him?  Satan is NOT going to be that overt.  Satan is cunning, sly and devious.  He is NOT after the lost and unsaved he already has them. He is after the Child of God who is not going to be easily fooled!!!  Every christian in America who knows the Word of God was wary of President Obama.  How did that help satan?
Now, we have President Trump, (and I am not calling him the anti-christ either), however, he would be a better tool for satan to use against christians.  How?  Because he "seems" to be a babe in Christ.  He is a "new" christian, he is standing for christian rights and principles.  He is working to "make America great again".  He has already taken some big steps not only for our country but for christianity.  THAT is someone satan can use to destroy christianity.  That is a more subtle way to get to the children of God.  I hope and pray that President Trump is the real deal BUT, we will have to see what kind of "fruit" he produces.  A bad tree cannot produce good fruit and a good tree cannot produce bad fruit.  Remember that dear children of God.  Pray ABOVE ALL for discernment.  Test the spirits, watch the fruit.  Don't get blindsided by satan.  Study, read your Bible, but above all pray.  God is still God and still on the throne and HE can do anything.  NOTHING happens that HE does not know, and is not involved in.  Trump may be President because God has given us a reprieve or he may be President because it is one more step to Jesus return.  Either way, don't be swept away, keep your eye on the prize.  Pray for President Trump and his family, as our Lord instructs in the Word of God just don't rely on the man to turn our country around, only God can do that.  Don't put your faith in man just because that man says the right things.  Keep your trust in God and pray for the man HE uses.
Love to all, God bless.

Psalm 91 for You

Psalm 91 is powerful, it’s a promise and it’s just for you. Don’t let satan or his henchman get you down, come over you, take over your mind, thoughts actions. Put them to flight before they settle in! Before you spread negativity and harsh attitudes…CHECK YOURSELF! Do not allow the enemy IN/ON you to travel to someone else. Cast it out in the Name of Jesus. No other name puts the demons to flight like the mighty name of Jesus!!!! God gave us the power to tread on lions and dragons. As I read Psalm 91 tonight and prayed it over our house I realized that plague, dragon etc are synonyms for the enemy!! He comes on like a plague that’s for sure! Once he gets on you the only cure (only cure) is crying out the name of Jesus. Don’t put up with it children of God, you don’t have to. Take authority over whatever demons are trying to come against you, God gave you that power IN JESUS NAME. Make it personal!
My personal prayer from Psalm 91: I will dwell in the secret place of the Most High and will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I say You, LORD, You are my refuge and my fortress: my God; in YOU will I trust. You alone will deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. You (Lord) cover me with Your feathers, and under Your wings I WILL trust: Your truth shall be my shield and buckler.
I will not be afraid of the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand; but it shall not come near me. Only with my eyes will I behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because I have made You, LORD, my refuge, even You, the Most High, my habitation;

there shall no evil befall me, neither shall any plague come near my dwelling. For You have given Your angels charge over me, (Mt. 4.6 · Lk. 4.10), to keep me. I cannot command the angels but You can Father. Your word says, the angels will bear me up in their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone. (Mt. 4.6 · Lk. 4.11) Father Your word says I will tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon I will trample under feet. (Lk. 10.19) Because I am yours, You will deliver me, you will set me on high because I have called on Your name, because I have cried out to You. I have called upon You and Your word says You will answer me. You will be with me in trouble. You will deliver me and honor me and will give me long life and show to me Your salvation. These are not my words Father but this You have promised me in Your word and I claim it in the mighty name of Your Son Jesus. Amen

"Just Tired"

You know, the older I get the more I understand why people want to give up.

I understand now what they mean when they say, "I'm just tired". They don't mean physically, from labor. They mean weary, bone deep, soul deep weary.
I am "just tired", tired of the pointless drama, tired of the bickering, the pettiness, the hatred, the holier than thou attitudes, the hatred, the fighting, did I mention the hatred?.... I could go on and on about the things I am tired of. I haven't given up yet but I can see why some folks get to that point.

When you question if anyone really gives a d__n. If anyone truly loves you or just mouths the words. When you see lies believed as truth and truth believed as lies. When you see your children strangers to each other and strangers to you. That will make you tired.

Do you ever wonder if God gets tired? He is omnipotent and omnipresent and all powerful but the Bible says "Jesus wept", so does God get tired? Everything I wrote above He sees over and over and over more than a thousand times a day. He is back talked, mocked, made fun of to this very day. The people He created to love and to love each other are turning on each other in growing numbers every day. The people that whisper I love you to Him on their knees get right up and go out into the world and forget Him until they need Him again or bedtime prayers if they say them that often.

I shared a post earlier that said God did not come to save skin, He came to save souls. He created us in all different colors, the same way He did the flowers, even trees. The sky will turn different colors but you don't see the flowers uprooting and moving away because the flower next to it is a different color!

There is going to be judgment and it will start first in the church. It will start first with the children of God. His word is clear about judgment. Spewing hatred, fueling hatred, bigotry and racism will be judged the same as other sins. Here is some facts on judgment: First, children of God are not to judge sinners at all, did you know that? Second, the Bible says "righteous judgment" which means first your own plate must be clean. Third, calling out sin is not judgment but hating a person because of their sin, that is judgment and NOT righteous judgment. Just because we sin differently does not make us any less sinners. The Bible says, "man is born in sin". (Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.)   It also says, "we all have come short of the glory of God". (Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,).
When people start to understand that we were ALL CREATED EQUAL, then nothing the media, president or anyone else does will stir them to hatred. That is why our country, our planet needs God. We have gotten so far away from Him and His true teaching that it will take an act only He can do to straighten us out.
He sees His children, the very ones He created in love, hating each other, killing each other, hating Him, judging each other without considering their own sin, changing and twisting His words around, debasing and destroying His house, His temple every day, day in and day out.

We need to be very careful, I could be wrong but I think God is getting "tired".

Train Up A Child...

As a mother, I cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing a child.  In our human minds that is not the right order of things, our children, in our minds, are not supposed to go before us.  I pray to God daily that I never have to bury one of mine, but the truth is, none of us are promised our next breath.  In fact, death is the one thing that we can be sure we will all face someday.  We just do NOT know the day or the hour.
The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go and even when he is old he will not depart from it."  In particular, it says, "train up", why?  Because we are not promised old age, we are not promised our next breath.  Sewing wild oats isn't Biblical, raising them up in the ways of the Lord is.  Be certain of what you are teaching them, care more about their spiritual needs than physical.  God will take care of their physical if they are taught to lean on Him.
As Christians, we face every day that our Lord is coming back and we look forward to that, however, again, we do NOT know what day or hour we might be with Him.  Death may come before He comes back.  The question is:  Are we ready?  We are never ever ready to lose a loved one but are we ever ready for our own departure from this life?  The only soul we can really do anything about is our own.  However, as parents, when God gave us those children, He gave us the responsibility not only to raise them but to also raise them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  We get so wrapped up in providing their food, clothing, education that we forget we are also to provide their Spiritual training.
The best way to teach a child anything is by example.  The best way to show a child and teach them about God is by example.  Let your children see you pray!  Let your children see you read your Bible!  Share it with them, teach them to pray, teach them to seek the answers they need in God's Word and to NEVER EVER rely on what man says without researching it themselves.  It's very easy to be mislead when we don't know the Word of God ourselves. Teach them that just believing in God is NOT enough.  Anyone can SAY they are a Christian but we are known by our fruits.  Teach them to be fruit bearing Christians.  If we don't teach them to love God and let God show through them, the world will certainly teach them how to be part of it.
I pray that I never have to bury a child, but more than that I pray I have been an example to them and I have taught them to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and body.  I pray that I have nourished their spirit and showed them a relationship with God and to love God above all else because good or bad, right or wrong someday we will all meet God.  I pray they are ready, I pray I did my part. Should I leave this world before they do, I pray they will continue on in faith, trusting and believing in God and trying their best to be pleasing in His sight.
I pray another mother will never have to bury a child, what a heavy burden that is to bear, but, how much heavier will that burden be if she does not know where her child stands with God?  How much more heartbreaking to know that your child, whatever age, has gone to meet a maker they don't even know?
Just some food for thought.  God bless you all.

Bible Journaling and Adult Coloring, 1 Corinthians 10:31

I saw a post a friend shared about "adult mandala coloring books".  (small case deliberate).  As I was reading the post, I was thinking that I knew there was a reason I didn't care for those patterns and now I realize it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me.  I agree that the patterns and books promote mysticism.
I do, however, love to journal and I love to color.  There is a somewhat new concept going around using pictures and coloring to study God's Word.  Painting, coloring right on the Bible pages, a lot of times covering the actual words.  That is something that I cannot do, I use a separate book for my journaling.  I do write in my Bible, I just can't bring myself to "deface" the pages, no matter how pretty the artwork.  Somehow to me, that seems to defeat the purpose!!
I love to journal, I love to write, God gave me a gift of writing many, many years ago and I am so thankful, I do not take it lightly.  I am a Bible journaler, have been for years.  Writing things out myself helps me to remember them.  I also like to record prayers and see where God has moved because so many things happen we tend to forget what we have prayed for at times (at least I do).  It's also a good testimony and ministry tool.  Recently I have begun writing out Bible verses and illustrating the page with pictures and coloring.  I find that coloring the words and the page is a good memorization technique for me also.  
Here is what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me about journaling and adult coloring:  1 Corinthians 10:31,  "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  Let EVERYTHING you do be to the glory of God including journaling AND coloring!  My coloring is nothing elaborate, hopefully, it is pretty and pleasing to God, but if I try to make some elaborate picture with lots of concentrated drawing and coloring, where is the glory to God in that?  Yes, I want God to be pleased with it BUT am I really doing it for God's glory or my own?  I do it to help commit verses to memory, it is relaxing also.  
I am not saying it is wrong but if I do it to excess then I am concentrating more on my own work than God's.  My thoughts are more on how to make it look more appealing to self, others, maybe than to God.  I want it to be pleasing to God and for my mind to be totally on committing the verse to memory.  I don't repeat the verse as a mantra over and over as I'm coloring, however, I do read and reread, that is a study technique the Lord gave me years ago when I was younger and in school to help study.  I don't concentrate on the coloring, I concentrate on the Word and the Author of the Word.
There is nothing wrong with journaling, there is nothing wrong with coloring.  But, in all you do, do it to the glory of the Lord.  He doesn't care if you color inside the lines, He doesn't care if you accidentally get outside the lines, in coloring, He cares that you are spending time with Him and in His Word.
I journal after I have prayed, spent time in God's Word and with God to record what He has revealed to me through scripture and where He has led me through His Word to teach me.  I color to help me remember and it is, for me, another form of praise, to God, not self.
Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock, and my Redeemer."
Psalm 139:23-24, 23Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

True Thanksgiving...

Long before the Pilgrims landed in America in 1620, there was a band of Biblical Pilgrims called Israelites who left a land of bondage headed for a promised land where they could worship their God in truth and not be forced to worship Idols and false gods.  These Pilgrims had the real first Thanksgiving.

Leviticus 7:11-15 (KJV)

 11And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.

 12If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgivingunleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.

 13Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice ofthanksgiving of his peace offerings.

 14And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.

 15And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.

Thanksgiving means - the offering of thanks, especially for gifts received.  Scripture empasises the importance of giving thanks to God for all His gifts and works both as an expression of our dependance ON Him and our gratitude TO Him.

Jonah 2:9  (KJV)

 9But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

In the Bible, thanksgiving is linked with praise:

Psalm 69:30  (KJV)

 30I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

1 Chronicles 16:4 KJV)

 4And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:

Psalms 100:4  (KJV)

4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalm 50:14 (KJV)

 14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

We have so much to be thankful for - everyday.  If we take the limits off God, we are going to see Him do even greater things than we ever have. 

We have at least 3 things to be thankful for:

#1) Common blessings - (things we take for granted such as the sunrise, sunset, life, hearing, seeing, feeling).

#2) Special blessings - (breath of life, family, friends,)

#3) The greatest blessing of all - Jesus Christ who gave His life that we might be saved and spend eternity with Him.

We have a duty to offer thanksgiving to God (everyday)

1 Timothy 4:3-4 (KJV)

 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.   4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Psalm 107:8-9 (KJV)

 8Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

 9For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Psalm 147:7-9 (KJV)

 7Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

 8Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.  9He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.

So many times we ask, take and forget!

Like the story of the 10 lepers in Luke 17.  Out of the 10 only 1 returned to thank Him for their healing.

We should give God thanks and praise everyday.  So much of the world only remembers to thank Him certain times of the year if then.  As a child of God we can celebrate Thanksgiving everyday - Thanksgiving is OUR response to HIS grace.

Thanksgiving is responding to God's grace even in the midst of turmoil and trouble.  In "everything" Paul wrote, "give thanks".  It's easy to celebrate and give thanks when everything is going our way.  Real thanksgiving, biblical thanksgiving goes deeper than our circumstances!!  It's based on God's provision - not our performance.  

In the movie, FACING THE GIANTS, the coach told his team, "We are going to praise God when we win and we are going to praise God when we lose".  That's the mindset that we as God's children should have - We are going to praise God when we win (when things go our way) and we are going to praise God when we lose (when we think they aren't going our way).  One thing is for sure, if you have read the back of His book, you know we win :-)

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

I know it's hard to be thankful when you have recently lost a loved one, have a loved one sick unto death, facing divorce or other marital problems, in financial hardships etc., and it's hard if you have a bunch of little problems troubling your mind.  Real thanksgiving is when we praise God IN SPITE OF the circumstances.  In 2 timothy 1:11-12, Paul shows us what real thanksgiving looks like:  He is in a dungeon, chained to a Roman soldier, looking back over 30 some years of serving Christ.  He could have whined and cried, "Lord look what I've done for you, why are you doing this to me?"  But instead he said:   11Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

 12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

He gives 2 reasons for his confidence, even while in the dungeon.  If we can claim these same reasons, we can celebrate real thanksgiving.

#1)  I can be confidant because I know God personally - There is a huge difference in knowing about God and really knowing God.  Even the devil knows about God and trembles because of what he knows.  To know God personally is to love and serve Him as your Savior, leader, counselor and friend.  It is not enough to know about God.  It is not enough to be an excellent studier of His word.  In order to celebrate real thanksgiving, you must know God personally.

#2)  I can be confident because God is able to guard all that I entrust to Him.

If I was the primary caretaker of all the people and possessions that are important to me - I would be in big trouble because my wisdom and power are limited (to what God gives me).  I can't save anyone or anything.  But when I entrust to God all those people/things that are important to me, then I have enlisted the all-wise, omnipotent God.  This doesn't give me an automatic safety net but I know that He has my best interests in mind, that His plans are for my good and He knows my heart.  When I enlist Him for instance by praying His hedge of protection, I believe, I have faith that He is fully capable of taking care of everything and protecting everything, something I cannot do.  He will be there to fight my battles for me.  I have His promise that nothing can happen tomorrow that He and I can't handle.  

NO TRAGEDY CAN ERASE GOD'S SUFFICIENCY (I didn't write that but wish I had :-)

So here we are on the brink of Thanksgiving "day" and we don't have a clue what tomorrow holds, but praise God, we know WHO holds tomorrow!  So we can dare to give thanks to God and say with Paul, "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day".  

When Ralph Waldo Emerson lost his son, he wrote in his journal - "all that I have seen teaches me to trust God for all that I have not seen".  To me that may have been the most beautiful thing he wrote!  

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

But, if we believe with our whole heart, "all that we have seen teaches us to trust God for all that we have not seen", our faith will grow - then we know the secret of our confidence and we are ready for "thanksgiving".

References. and excerpts: The Secret of our confidence - Bill Bouknight, Bible gateway, King James Bible

First published in facebook, November 20, 2011 at 1:11am

Have You Grown Cold?

My heart is breaking because of things I see going on around me.  The world is infiltrating our churches, the hearts of christians are turning cold, just as the Bible said it would.  It's one thing to read about it, it's another to see it happening right before your eyes and to people you care about.  To all of you, not just blood family, not just family at all, not just friends but everyone, I love you too much not to pass this on and if any of it applies then just know I am writing what God has laid on my heart.

You may or may not realize but if you are a christian and have read the Bible, (and even those who do not claim to be christian have read the Bible and believe, the Bible says even the demons believe and tremble), you are starting to see a lot of prophecy come true.  Much more than our parents, grandparents etc.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO TURN AWAY FROM GOD, or to let your guard down.  Nothing in and of this world is worth going to hell for.  There is so much that God has laid on my heart I am having trouble even writing it all down.  The first verse HE gave me was this one:
Matthew 15:8, NASB
8‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
      9‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
Many claim to love the Lord, many spread the verses they read around to others in a semblance of spreading the gospel, while their lives and their actions are far from it.  If the world sees you acting like them WHY would they want to change anything, all they have to say is "I believe" and continue living in sin.  NOW if YOU are the one they are watching and you are the one they are patterning their christian life after, YOU are responsible for them, their blood WILL be on your hands come judgement day.  One of the saddest things I witnessed one time was a young man in his 30's give his life to Christ, and then leave the church mentored by one "friend" who continued to tell him dirty jokes, cuss like a sailor and try to entice him to go to the bars and into other things.  This friend was "supposed" to be a christian.  This friend had worked on him for months and months to come to church, to give his life to God, to become a "new" man.  Then this same friend led him out the door and right back down the same path.  He ended up as lost when he walked out as when he walked in.  No one else could get through to this young man because he had so much respect for the friend that "led him to Christ".  He had never been to church, knew nothing about how your life is supposed to change, yet he felt something wasn't right, he felt that continuing to do the things of the world after confessing his sins was wrong, but he wasn't seeing a change in anyone else so he thought he had this christianity thing all wrong and he wondered what took him so long to confess because he wasn't having to give anything up.  Surely this friend of his, who had been a christian for so long would know how a christian is supposed to act?  He tried talking to his friend but the friend told him, he was okay that God didn't expect him to be so "clean cut and straight laced".  That was old fashioned. He wanted to talk to the pastor but didn't want to make his friend feel like he didn't trust him.  He ended up feeling like he was just being to hard and judgmental and eventually he ended up back on the streets and ultimately in prison.  I realize the friend wasn't the only one in the wrong here.  Someone else should have tried to step up, some did, and yes I was one of those.  We tried to talk to him, to show him Christ's love, tried to teach him but with his friends on the other side saying those older people don't know, that is the old way etc. etc. it only left him more confused.
I have said all that to say this.  I see many many people who have been in church most if not all of their lives, who have claimed to be Christians, taught church classes, sang in the choir, appeared to be following God and know the truths of God.  I've heard them quote scripture, say "I would never do this, or never do that" and I see them now only honoring God with their lips.  Their hearts are turning cold, just as the Bible foretold.
The witness they are presenting is far removed from the witness they were.  There are things of this world that have NO place in the life of a Child of God.  There was a time when these same people would have been appalled if you tried to tell them that they would do the things they are doing now.  God will not be mocked.  What HE says HE means.  His promises AND HIS warnings.  He says stay away from ALL appearance of evil.  1 Thessalonians 5:22.   That means stay away from witchcraft or ALL appearance of witchcraft.  Stay away from discerning the stars (horoscopes), stay away from filthy lewd talk and actions, stay away from bars, strip clubs, other peoples husbands and wives!  I'm not going to tell you that you cannot drink a glass of wine etc that is between you and God, however, when you promote liquor and drinking you are destroying your witness.  Facebook is a good venue to witness, but what kind of witness are we being.  People know we are Christians and yet they see horoscopes, Jack Daniels advertisements, jokes about getting drunk or getting "laid", cussing, sexual innuendos, half dressed men and women, lustful comments.  ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL.  God says what HE means and means what HE says.  Don't let the devil destroy you.  You've run a good race so far, don't quit, the finish line is too close.
Galatians 5:1
1It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:7-8
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 
8 This  persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
TO ALL OF YOU:  God knows when I say I love you and I pray for you that I truly mean it, whether you are family, friend or acquaintance.  If I did not tell you the truth of God's word then I would only be honoring that love with my lips and not with my actions and it would be meaningless.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!"then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7For thosewho sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of [the] day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
You know yourself how your witness has changed, how you have changed.  I beseech you, get back on course, don't just talk the talk, get back on the path and walk the walk.  HE wanted you to read this, HE wanted you to know that HE'S noticed and that HE'S waiting.  The Bible says he would leave the 99 to find the one lost lamb, are you the lamb HE is talking to?  I pray you aren't but if you are, please turn back, right now, don't come this far to lose it all over "worldly" fun.  Being a child of the most High God is the greatest honor and privilege there is.  There is nothing that feels better or more worth doing than serving God and making it into eternity.  You might not have another chance.  HE loves you, I love you.  Come home.
Originally written January 16, 2014 at 10:54pm