Did we wake up today with the attitude to just say NO to the world, and YES to our heart! Did we realize there are no small acts or thoughts of kindness? Did we wake up DRAWN to SOMETHING beyond our wants and desires? Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a Pure Heart O'GOD, and...restore to me the JOY of YOUR Salvation." Today we will not follow the path and where it will lead; today we go where there is no path and LEAVE A TRAIL. AMEN!
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It's been said, "that the happiest person in the world is the NEW BELIEVER before they are introduced to Religion, too many Bible teachers and too many Church Members". Do we listen to too many Bible teachers where JOY is destroyed because the Revelation and Simplicity of CHRIST is taken away? Does Religion and Church members "bombard" Believers with Theology, Tradition and Doctrine which has nothing to do with our "NEW FOUND" Relationship with JESUS? Galatians 5:7, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the Truth?" Let me say here, Each moment we are all NEW BELIEVERS; with new revelations of GOD'S WORD and a new BONDING AND CLOSENESS WITH JESUS. Don't let anyone or anything destroy this FRESHNESS and NEWNESS in you. Can you only imagine IF THE WHOLE WORLD FOLLOWED JESUS AS HIS DISCIPLES?
Each step we take, is our destination; where Heaven is not just a place to go, but also the Journey. A journey where we pause to wonder and stand in absolute awe of GOD. In our Journey, we believe what is revealed by GOD, even though we cannot fully comprehend. Genesis 22:2, "Take your son, your only son...whom you love...and offer him as a burnt offering..." Abraham's Faith took him beyond carnal reasoning where doubt could arise. Are we not like a traveler who has no fixed plans, and focus not only on the destination but also the Journey. A JOURNEY WHERE WE PAUSE TO WONDER.
"...Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be MY Disciple." (Luke14:33). Anything and Everything that takes our attention and focus away from CHRIST, reduces us to being "Weekend Warriors" and certainly not Disciples. Our "few" fleeting thoughts of CHRIST become cursory awareness which leaves us "unfulfilled" and "unsatisfied". "GIVE UP EVERYTHING"! We immediately refer to this as giving up MONEY, POSSESSIONS, WEALTH; however, what about PRIDE, SELFISHNESS, WORRY, FEAR, JEALOUSY, ANGER and our "other gods"? Anything that requires us to spend TIME AND ENERGY away from JESUS is uselessness. When we reflect upon this Scripture in this LIGHT; EVERYTHING DOES MEAN EVERYTHING. AMEN!
We are to use GOD'S NAME with care. Not taking GOD'S name in vain (Exodus 20:7) goes beyond using GOD'S name as a cuss word. The Bible is specific about manipulating GOD and GOD'S name for personal gain; It is Sorcery! Many will use GOD'S name like a password for getting what they want in life, and to convince others they know are Believers. Another "vain" use of GOD'S name is "Speaking for GOD when HE hasn't spoken"! GOD would NEVER condone or allow HIS INTEGRITY to be used by those who openly do not keep their word; or mislead others for personal gain. Believers are Blessed knowing the Truth, that GOD'S Integrity and Character will NEVER contradict HIMSELF. When people try to use GOD'S INTEGRITY to convince us, it may be BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO INTEGRITY OF THEIR OWN.
When we are in GOD'S presence, we get MORE than we ask for. Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." I asked, LORD, anoint me with PATIENCE, HE surrounded me with people who did not agree with me. I asked HIM for LOVE, HE gave me people to help, and an old cat who needed care. I asked HIM never to leave me, no matter how unfaithful I have been, HE surrounded me with ANGELS. GOD has answered all of my spoken and unspoken prayers; IT'S JUST NOT WHAT I HAD ENVISIONED.
The most private part of us, independent of all other parts of the body or external influences, is our "I AM". Our "I AM" is our SPIRIT that recognizes TRUTH and constantly seeks TRUTH even when our flesh is weak. We are who we are because of our SPIRIT not the body, IN HIS IMAGE! Romans 8:16, "The SPIRIT HIMSELF bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of GOD." Is this why many Churches do not "satisfy" our inner most being? Have they fallen into the "lie" of preaching academia and "theological theory"? Our "I AM" is drawn, and only satisfied, by those who spend many hours in HIS Presence with HIS WORD, preparing. At the SPIRIT'S anointing comes discernment, clarity and revelation to OUR "I AM" WHICH IS THE GIFT FROM THE "I AM" WHO CREATED US! We have special times with GOD. Finding a penny that reminds us "IN GOD WE TRUST"; having our hearts enlightened by the beauty of DIVINE TRUTH; reading the Scriptures and the HOLY SPIRIT clearly reveals GOD'S HEART; observing all of Creation beyond natural vision, into the depths of Spiritual meaning; and being FORGIVEN by others when you can't forgive yourself. It is where grandeur and presence is beyond our concept of Heaven, but we are there with GOD. Psalm 119:11, "I have stored up your word in my heart." Yes, these become our favorite times as these moments become the presence of ETERNITY as they leave "HEART PRINTS" upon our SOULS. he evil-one spends his time trying to draw us away from GOD! He did it with Eve by casting doubt, creating confusion and stirring up discontentment. He tried to draw JESUS away by offering kingdoms and challenging who JESUS was; JESUS'S relationship to GOD THE FATHER. The ultimate struggle between good and evil. A struggle which takes our Peace, causes us to degrade ourselves and stain the GLORY OF GOD in our lives. Romans 7:24, "...wretched am I! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" To live in fellowship with GOD renders the evil-one helpless in trying to draw us away from GOD. We are unable to live apart from GOD; THAT'S JUST THE WAY WE'RE MADE. A Saint is ANY Believer who is "in CHRIST" and in whom CHRIST DWELLS, whether in Heaven or Earth. Somewhere through out time (994 A.D. to be exact), "man" decided that "SOME" Christians were more Holy and of Higher honor than other Christians, and therefore, needed to be recognized as "SAINTS". Doesn't this apply a different meaning to the understanding of the Biblical definition of SAINT? Acts 9:13, "...YOUR Saints at Jerusalem..."; Acts 9:32, "...to the Saints who lived at Lydda..."; Acts 26:10, "...lock many of the Saints in prisons..."; Ephesians 4:12, "...equipping of the Saints for the ... building up the body of CHRIST...". Isn't the Bible the sole authority of GOD? If man names another a Saint, is that assuming authority of the Church? And by assuming someone is in Heaven because of their deeds here on earth, doesn't that somehow imply or "SHOUT" that something else besides FAITH is needed to bring us to GOD? MY HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED! |
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December 2015
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