Faithful!

The Lord is faithful in everything He does and in what He has said to us through His Word and when He speaks to us privately. Are we as faithful (reliable and trustworthy, thorough in the performance of duty) to Him as He is to us?

Some people work at being faithful to spouses--when it is convenient for them to do so.  When one determines that being faithful is too much work, people stray and marriage vows develop wings and fly.

Some people begin a new job by being faithful--for the first ninety days--and then they complain and find all manner of things wrong with the company to whom they said, "I want some of your money," when they applied for the job.  When the job is terminated because of their lack of faithfulness, they stand, stunned, unable to comprehend what happened.

Then there are the people who cannot be faithful to their children--love, nurture, guide--past the time they cease to become "cute" (potty training time). They abuse, abandon and misuse their children and then wonder why their children are disobedient and disrespectful towards them.

Some friends are more faithful to each other than they are to a spouse, a job, or a child, but that friendship is totally reliant upon a reciprocal relationship.  The minute one can't do for the other, the friendship ends.

In the political arena, the only faithfulness we see is to whoever has the most money and can do the most for someone else. There is no faithfulness to the people who put politicians in office; if there was--all decisions in government would be for the benefit of all the people, not special interest groups.

We sometimes expect God to be our personal magician as a demonstration of His faithfulness towards us, but are we faithful to Him? Are we in constant communication with Him? Are we loving one another as ourselves? Are we obedient to Him and doing what He asks us to do?

If God's faithfulness towards us was the same as ours towards each other and Him, where would we be?

Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness! Create in us a desire to be as faithful to You as You are to us and never deter from our allegiance to You. In Jesus' name we pray and thank You, Amen!

Thanking God for Favor!

There is nothing quite like knowing we are walking in God's favor.

He gives us favor with men (all of mankind) when we are walking in obedience to Him.

We maintain favor with Him when we do all that He has asked us to do.

Favor with God is not fair (not everyone at all times gets it), but it is just because He is a "just" God, not a fair one.

Having Favor with God allows us to expect the abundant blessings that He promises, without a trace of doubt in our hearts.

Having Favor with God puts us in a position to know He is faithful to complete (accomplish through us) all He has inspired us to do.

Thank You, Lord for Favor!  Thank You for favor with those who read everything I write!  Bless them abundantly, beyond anything they could ever imagine.  Thank You for favor with those I teach. May their lives be enriched beyond measure as they receive instruction to help them succeed! Thank You for favor with total strangers! Instill in them a desire to get to know me and through them, help me to share the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ in everything I write. Thank You for favor with family and friends! Enrich their lives by our relationship and encourage each and everyone to sustain a right relationship with You!

Thank You for grace, mercy, love and all the gifts we receive that are without repentance that we might use them to Your glory!

Stimulating Wholesome Thinking!

"Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking" (2 Peter 3:1 NIV).

When I read this passage this morning, I was reminded of the reason I write. I don't expect people to agree with everything I say; not even some of what I say, but I write to encourage and stimulate wholesome thinking especially in how we treat people.

We live in a society where are constantly bombarded with everyone's thoughts through various types of media--online media, television, radio, blogs, all the social media, books, magazines, hand-bills, posters, bill-boards, and online news commentaries. Some of the thoughts we read can readily be dismissed when we recognize the influence behind the thoughts. Some of the thoughts, we may actually consider to be genuine from rational people, until we continue to read what they write. And some, thoughtful writers will actually challenge us to think.

How do we know when we see "wholesome writing" that will ignite "wholesome thinking?"

If what someone says aligns with The Word, explains The Word, expounds on The Word, and is not judgmental, obscene, or profane, or full of hate; we can probably conclude that the writer is thinking wholesome thoughts.  If what someone says, denies or scoffs at The Word, is in opposition to The Word, then we know who is influencing the words they write. What they say will not lead to wholesome thinking, but to chaos and confusion designed to get people off track.

How far off track are we in our society today? Should not our thoughts be the same as the thoughts of Christ?  If we have the mind of Christ, should we not have the conduct of Christ? Should not our heart be as His--loving, full of compassion, and always forgiving?

Nothing in life is fair--God did not promise us fairness. He said, "the just shall live by faith."
 So, don't be bitter about things that didn't "seem fair", move forward and know that if we continue in The Word, we shall receive God's many benefits and He is not slow to fulfill His promises to us! We are the "just" and "the righteousness of Christ" because He said so, not us.

Now, think on these things--whatsoever is pure, lovely, and of a good report--all leading to wholesome thinking. Remember to love and forget all the things that would cause you to hold onto bitterness and unforgiveness. Keep your focus on the prize ahead of you in Christ Jesus! Rational Thinking > Rational Decisions > Rational Behavior--towards all!

Wickedness In Washington!

"This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth" (Psalm 73:12 NIV).

Thank God for His Word that keeps us from being amazed or astonished at the things that occur in the land!  What we are seeing right now--at the hands of "greedy" politicians--has already been foretold.  When reading the first eleven first verses of this Psalm, it would appear to be prophetic in nature because we can "see" it coming to pass right now!

Notwithstanding my refusal to claim allegiance with one political party over another, I do see politicians as the enemy of the poor and needy; especially those Republicans who profess to be Christians and yet do not do the things we have been commanded to do.

First, they attempt to starve those who already have limited resources by cutting their ability to eat.
Then, the very people who need healthcare--preventive care--to keep down hospital costs, are being denied the right to have access to it because of greedy politicians to want to sustain their connection to those in the insurance industry who have aligned themselves--financially--with them.  Their actions--holding America hostage--in order to maintain their supporters borders being anti-Christ.  They need to do the job for which they have been elected--keep government moving in the right direction and not standing stagnant, stinking.

For those who affiliate themselves with the "tea party" and claim to be Christians--be very careful of mocking God! For truly, it is He you mock when you refuse to take actions that would support the poor and needy above your own concerns of amassing wealth. You, as a party, are not supporting the needs of all people, but your private agenda and God will deal quite thoroughly with you--in just a matter of time. History has a tendency to repeat itself and those who oppose God by not doing what He says, have reaped the consequences for their actions.  The Tea Party has demonstrated they have no relationship with God, but with foolish religious ideology that makes them blinded and callous. They (TP) have spent so much time hating a president simply because of his skin color they have forgotten to address the needs of all people: job development, tax reform, climate control, etc.  If people had jobs--earning income--they would pay taxes and increase tax revenues.  This is where the real effort should lie--not in creating obstacles for those who really care about all the people.

O God, how long must we tolerate those who are indifferent to Your people--all of us?  How long will it be before You reveal Yourself to them in ways they can understand--diminishing their wealth and the attention they so love?  How long Lord, will the people have to suffer the indignities of those who are so arrogant and prideful that they forget--whatever they sow, they shall reap? How long Lord will it be before You leave them powerless and stunned at their loss because they refuse to consider all people?  How long Lord? How long?

Unkle Adams - I Am Stronger (Official Anti-Bullying Music Video)

Is It Too Late?

I am so tired of all the foolishness that exists in the hearts of people--politicians who cannot think beyond their bank accounts and their greed, preachers who are feeding their sheep garbage and then wonder why Christian growth is stunted, and those who refuse to think with the heads on their shoulders before making stupid decisions (and that includes all of us; especially parents).  I wonder if it's too late for us to make a 180 degree turn for the better.  Is God as tired of us as I am? Are you tired of the foolishness?

Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask You to hear those who have a relationship with You and know Your Word, how You want us to live.

Help us to see clearly how foolishness, selfishness, and greed hinder Your plans for all.

Help us to change our ways and conduct so You will manifest miracles in the lives of all who need one.

Help us O God, to stop acting rashly, with no regard for human life and alleviate the suffering of those around us.

Create in us a clean heart, with all of the filth of time, filtered out so that nothing remains that is not of You. Speak to the hearts of every person in leadership, right now, and let them know that You are still God and besides You, there is no other. Remind them of Your Word and how we are to protect the rights of the poor and the needy and that You, and You alone will judge us for what we do and don't do that is right in Your eyes.

And if it is not too late--help us to speak boldly in promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, courageously speaking all You have said, without fear of the recriminations shown to us by others, willing to do all You have put on our hearts to do.

Help us to understand that having a religious affiliation does not mean we have a relationship with You. Help us today, to get our relationship with You right.

Is it too late for us to ask and expect a response from You that assures us, You have given us yet one more chance to get things right with You?

All this I ask and thank You for in the name of Your precious Son, Amen!

Call On Him in Truth!

"The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth" (Psalm 145:18 NIV).
Sometimes, those of us who teach/preach The Word, mislead people by what we see The Word say, not having a full revelation or insight as to what it says. I'm not sure if the misleading is intentional or unintentional, but when we discover we have been teaching in error, we must acknowledge it and back-track to get it right.

Specifically, I've heard many people say, "The Lord is near all who call on Him," or "Just call on The Lord," and He will be right there! Looking at this passage of scripture, I glean better understanding of what the psalmist is saying.

God is near all who call upon Him, in truth! Whose truth? His Truth, according to His Word! Why is it that we think we can hoodwink God? The One who looks upon the "heart" of a man and knows all things is not fooled by us.  When we attempt to act contrite, He knows.  When we attempt to act like we love others, He knows. When we act like we are anointed and appointed for the season to provide reason to all mankind, He knows. The problem is, do we know?

Have we become so delusional in thinking we know all there is to know that we forget that God knows? We cannot fool God, but we can certainly deceive ourselves into believing something that is not true.  If we cannot be truthful with ourselves, what makes us think that God is "near us" or that we can "call upon Him" and expect Him to act on our behalf?

God is not a magician! He is not a man that He should lie! His eyes are in every place, seeing the good and the evil! When He responds to our faith in Him, it is because of His love for us and He knows our heart!

The bottom line for me is this:  We have to do more than "call on Him" in order for Him to respond to our needs, desires, requests.  We have to call on Him with a pure heart, knowing we have done everything we can to be obedient to Him and in living His Word.  This is calling on Him in truth! When we know and realize that He knows--everything about us, then we can expect Him to be near and to honor His Word, not ours. So stop telling people that they only have to call upon The Lord; tell them the rest--get their hearts right with God, call upon Him and they will know, He's right there with them.

If people call upon God and are determined to live ungodly, He hears them, but won't respond and then they tell people; there is no God. When children don't get what they want from their parents because they have not earned the privilege of getting (whatever it is), do they say," I have no parents?" How foolish we are to manipulate people into believing something because we didn't get what we wanted.  Keep in mind, "the fool has said in his heart, there is no God!"

Live The Word, Teach The Word, and Honor God in all things and He will be right there when you call on Him--in truth!

Can You Hear Me Now?

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2 NIV).

Are we listening to God through His Word, when His spirit speaks to us or are we bombarded by the chaos that reigns in the midst of confusion and disobedience? I can only imagine what  God might be thinking about what is happening in the land, He created for our good.

"Good morning, children," God said.

"I have much to say to you concerning this world."

"On this planet, I had devised the means for your survival and even for you to prosper in it."

"On this planet, I had determined my purposes for your lives if you would surrender your all to me."

"Over and over again, I have sustained a remnant of people who will obey and do what I have asked them to do."

"Throughout the generations, I have loved you, warned you, and even sacrificed myself for you, yet you do not hear me."

"You have not heeded my warnings or learned from your past mistakes, and even when I attempt to correct you, you turn from me."

"You have defiled yourselves in all manner of abominations and turned what I have said is evil to good--for your own selfish purposes--to appease your flesh."

"You have ignored my teachings so your children will be upstanding, productive people and now instead they are whore-mongers, warmongers, and haters of self and parents, and me."

"You care more about what people think that what I have said and you constantly change your views to adapt to people, but you constantly ignore what I have said that does not change."

"You attempt to talk to me when things go south and then you expect me to act on your behalf as though I am a magician."

"You refuse to obey me, but you get angry when the consequences of your actions are made known to all."

"When I am attempting to talk to you about your behavior, you tune-me out or try to justify your actions."

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? I Am God and I change not, nor do my purposes for you change."

"Nevertheless, since you insist on doing things your way, I will abide by my word and remove my hand from your lives and allow the consequences to fall upon the just and the unjust."

"There is no more need to seek me for direction, when you refuse to hear me.  I will not hear you because you do not listen to those I have appointed and anointed for such a time as this."

"And when you hear the sounds of war knocking at your borders, do not wonder why.  You know why.  Do not point fingers at others until you have realized your part in all of the world's undoing."

"Know that I love you, but I will not tolerate your blatant disregard of my people, my Word, or those I purposed to serve your needs."

"Since you love the praise of men more than your relationship with me, and will praise others more than you praise me, I will leave you to serve what you desire and you will hear from me--no more!"

"C A N  Y O U  H E A R   M E   N O W?"

What is your response? O God, I hear and ask for Your abiding love to sustain us against evil and that You will create in us a heart to hear, a will to do, the courage to speak out against evil and a determination to get it all done, to Your glory! Cut away everything in our lives that keeps us from true repentance, so we may honor You with our lives!

Fulfilling His Purposes!

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Philippians 2:13 NIV).

If we, as believers in God, accept His Word as His revealed purpose for our lives, then what He spoke through Jeremiah speaks volumes as to God's plans for our lives. "For I know the plans I have for you,"declares The Lord,  "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (29:11 NIV).

When we prosper (and not just in material wealth), we are fulfilling God's good purpose for our lives. Our prosperity is a result of our obedience in all things and therefore we should not be ashamed to declare what God has done and is doing in our lives.

With all of the head-shaking and murmurs against "prosperity preachers" one would have to wonder if those complaining read and understood and had God reveal His truth about His Word. God is not against our prosperity--He might have some issues with how some have prospered, especially if the means to prosper encompassed misleading people or lying, or being corrupt. Not every so-called prosperity preacher is just preaching prosperity. We need to listen with our whole "spiritual ears" and hear what is being said.  The notion that God intended for His children to live like paupers is so beneath a loving, Father, that I wonder--who people are really serving when they think God wants us to be poor!

Throughout The Word, we are told the outcome or results, if you will, of our being obedient: we would have good success and everything we put some effort into would prosper; His blessings will overtake us and we'll be the lenders, not the borrowers; we'll be the head and not the tail in business; and this list could go on and on. When Jesus was teaching His disciples just before His return, He told, "whatever you ask of the Father in my name, that I will do." So, where's the problem with prosperity?

Some want to amass riches for their own purposes, but there are many of us who have faith and confidence in God's Word so that we can "assist those in need." The more we prosper, the more we can help others and this is the Will of God that we--born-again believers--help those who cannot help themselves. If we were doing this right now, this country would not need welfare benefits, but it is because of those in political offices--those who have become greedy and forgot the needy, that this country is in such a mess. When those who God has promoted to positions to help, forget how they got there, chaos and confusion reign and their only concern is what they can get out of the situation; not in helping others. We see that right now--with a Congress that won't work for the people, but are more interested in pushing their own agenda. This is not part of God's plan--this is pure politics. Since that is the case--I can only conclude the politicians involved are not acting in accordance to God's plan to fulfill His good purposes.

Father, help us to understand You better.  Give us a heart like Your heart.  Give us a mind-set so we can think like You think. Move every obstacle out of our way so we can accomplish all that You have planned for us so Your good purposes will be fulfilled. In Jesus' name, I pray and thank You, Amen!

What I Have Learned!

"He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you" (John 16:14 NIV).

When Jesus was speaking to His disciples, just before He returned to His Father, He was reminding them of the role of the Holy Spirit (His Spirit) who would remain in the earth realm to guide, reveal, remind, and instruct.

The Holy Spirit will guide us through tumultuous times--economic downturns, chaos and confusion across the land, and in the midst of a disturbance of our peace, He reminds us that God's peace surpasses all understanding. I've learned that if I rest in His peace, what is happening all around me, won't disturb me, but gives me purpose in prayer.

By His spirit, we will receive insight to things to come and when we are totally submitted and committed, He will create in us the spirit of "a watchman", warning the people.  If we warn them and they do not heed the warning, their blood is on their own hands.  If we do not warn them of impending danger, their blood when disaster strikes will be on our hands.  I've learned some people will never listen because they think they know everything.

Perhaps, more importantly, the role of the Holy Spirit is to remind us of The Word when we need it in a moment, and to instruct us in our behavior towards others--exercising discernment and wisdom. I've learned that no matter what I do or say, I'll never please everyone, so I concentrate on pleasing God.  If I please Him and others are pleased as a by-product--amen.  If they are not pleased as I please Him--oh well!

I've learned how to live holy, maintaining my relationship with God, seeking always to please Him and expecting to see fulfillment of His promises towards me. Some may think I'm being arrogant in my faith in God's promises, but I am simply being confident in Him, who cannot lie and will bring to pass every promise, and complete everything He ignites in us to do. I've learned to love--even those who appear to not care at all, but I love any way.  Again, their disdain gives my prayer purpose.  In fact, everything that I know I cannot control, gives my prayer purpose.

And when I pray, my communication with God is a two-way conversation.  While I talk, He listens and when He speaks, I listen. I pray with confidence, knowing He will respond. I always thank God for the desired result and because I pray in alignment with His Word, He will respond favorably.

Looking back over my life, I realize I have learned a great deal and still have much more to learn. What have you learned?

Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for keeping my heart and spirit tuned-in to You so I may know how to proceed on a daily basis and for loving me enough to keep teaching me! Amen!

Who Gets The Credit?

"...Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord" (I Corinthians 1:31 NIV).

How many times have we heard someone say, "I did this or that," I'm the one responsible for everything I have," No one helped me to do anything?" Really? No one helped!  And then there are those who claimed to have pulled themselves up in the world by their own bootstraps. Must have been some really strong, tough bootstraps to manage such a feat. 

Now, I get it! For those who don't want to believe God or realize it is because of Him that we can do anything, I get it! However, since I "know" that without God we can do absolutely nothing, worthwhile, I wouldn't be able to take credit for anything I have accomplished.

I've mentioned some of this before, but bear with me with my redundancy as I try to make a point here. "Without God, I can do nothing; without Him I will fail," a song from long ago that really makes sense. First of all, I'm still alive because of who He is, not me. He has saved me from myself and accidents in which I should have been killed.  He gave me strength to keep going, when I didn't think I could. He made a way out of no way for me to keep my children safe in the midst of gangland activity. He made it possible for me to go back to school, after the age of 40 and succeed. He made it possible for me to maintain a 3.8 GPA at 50 and complete coursework for a Ph.D. successfully. He poured into me the gift of writing, discernment, and wisdom. He keeps my angels alert and watchful during the night and when I travel. He instills in me a sense of purpose and destiny, daily. He grants me understanding of His Word and constantly reminds me of what He has said. He helps me get out bed every morning when He wakes me.  He guides me in what I say on blog posts, daily. He instructs me in my responses to naysayers pertaining to Him. He helps me to control my tongue when I get angry and frustrated. He guides me with love in training my grandson. When I wrote my first books, it was because of His inspiration. In the midst of every page, He is there and will be there. When the millions of copies are sold on Amazon, it will be because He has touched the hearts of those who purchase them. This is what He has done!

So, what have I done? I am in constant communication with My Daddy, and listen closely to what He says. I try always to be instantly obedient, but I don't always make it. He understands; He created me and He knows I'll do whatever He says, eventually. I give Him praise for who He is and what He's done for me on a consistent basis throughout the day! I have submitted myself to Him as an instrument for Him to use however He chooses. I proclaim that I am walking in His favor every day.  I broadcast my faith in Him, in public venues as well as private ones, to anyone who will listen (or read about it). I profess my confidence in Him and all He has said. That's what I have done!  Who gets the credit for my accomplishments? My Daddy gets all the credit for who I am and what I am capable of doing!

Who gets the credit for who you are and what you have accomplished?

Father, in the name of Jesus, help us to understand that we have accomplished nothing without You, but everything with You.  Help us to see our boasts should be in You, and not in self. Thank You for being a constant presence in our lives--molding, guiding, and correcting us, while loving us into a position of success, all according to Your Word. Amen!

My Daddy Did It!

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11 NIV).

I woke up thinking about the non-believers' conversation about the non-existence of God and of course, I was reminded of God's Word. What I always find both amazing and gratifying is the fact that whenever I need the reminder, my Daddy, through the Holy Spirit, always brings it back to my remembrance, just like He said He would.

Now, before some get upset with my reference to God as my "Daddy" understand that this represents my relationship with God.  He is my Father, my Daddy and I never take this relationship for granted. He is the "Great I Am", Jehovah Jireh and known by so many more "titles" that I won't list them here. However He is known by the masses, depends upon their relationship with Him.

At any rate, "He created all things and without Him nothing was created" and that is the end of the matter for most believers.

Rather than argue or debate His existence, we should work on our relationship with God (Our Daddy), listen when He speaks, be quick to obey, and then when people marvel at the great things He does for us and through us, we can proudly say, "My Daddy Did It!"

Look at the cloud formations on various days in various types of weather; My Daddy did it.

Look at the bodies of water that encourage amazement and awe; My Daddy did it.

Look at the hills and mountainsides and wonder people often feel; My Daddy did it.

Look at the miracles performed which no one can explain; My Daddy did it.

Look at the love He has shown us by sacrificing His Son for us; My Daddy did it.

Look at all we have in life that allows us to enjoy life more; My Daddy did it, when He inspired others to create all manner of things.

Look at all the labels we have attached to things; My Daddy did it, when He spoke to those who determined what we call things.

Science is known as science because My Daddy inspired someone to attach the label. Science attempts to explain what already exists, but cannot replicate the intricacies of all that My Daddy has created when He created us!

Everything that mankind has done has ignited a response from My Daddy and mankind has incurred the result of the response of obedience or disobedience, just as He said it would happen.

When the enemy attempts to cause you to doubt, remind him, our Daddy is bigger and that He also created him who is angry enough to engender hatred because of his hatred of God. Satan is the father of liars, a master of deception, and his job is to kill, steal and destroy.  I'm so thankful that My Daddy is greater than all the mischief that Satan can devise.

Just Stay Put!

"...If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear (produce) much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5 NIVb)

John's revelation of the person and personality of Christ is rich and draws most people in like the warm sunshine. He shows us how Jesus relates to each of us on a very personal level, as He did those disciples travelling with Him.

He is the vine from which all fruit (gain/wealth/people) is produced.  When the branches of a rosebush are pruned, the roses will bloom in what appeared to be a barren, unproductive spot. When God prunes us, cutting away all the dead stuff in our lives and removes it (and people), we have an opportunity to blossom when most would have given up on us.  The problem for most of us is that pruning hurts and we tend to move away from anything that hurts us. 

When we are confronted with truth about the things we do, some will run and hide or go find someone (another church) that will condone our wrongdoing.  Dead things do not grow and when we continue to pile on "death" we eventually stink and rot away and nothing will grow in the midst of the deadness.

When we hear truth, we need to stay put and allow the pruning process to work in our lives, cutting away all that we do not need. If we don't, our lives become worthless and like the unproductive branch that is cut off and burned, so do our lives--we do it to ourselves.

Stay in position with Christ--withstand the correction and enjoy the fruit of your labors with all of His many benefits.  There is no place to hide from God, "for His eyes are in every place, seeing the good and the evil." With Him, we can accomplish much, without Him, we can do absolutely nothing worthy of pleasing Him. Stay in The Word and allow The Word to stay in you!

Even If The Mountains Fall!

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea," (Psalm 46: 1,2 NIV).

Though the news in far-away places is usually negative and depressing, we have no need to fear.

Though politicians refuse to do the job for which they were elected (make decisions for the people, not the greedy), we have no need to fear.

Though the foolish and idiotic attempt to sway believers they are wasting their time believing in God, we have no need to fear.

Though the gun-lobbyists are fueling evil and creating environments that cost lives, we have no need to fear.

Though lawmakers create laws that encourage sin in the land, we have no need to fear.

Though there can be little hope for peace among those who are peace-breakers, and not peace-makers, we have no need to fear.

Though it may appear that all hope is lost because of man's desire to do what pleases himself instead of God, we have no need to fear.

No matter how the enemy influences others to do what is totally against God, we who believe that God is and will always be--our refuge and strength in times of trouble, have no need to fear. We can and will stand confident in the knowledge of God and in His Word and we will not be moved by trends or people who deliberately defy God. Though the mountains tumble into the sea--our confidence remains deeply rooted in the faith that God can and will save us.  Even though some may see and know physical death, our eternal resting place is guaranteed, and nothing will deter us from obtaining it.

Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for Your Word that rises up mightily in us in the face of danger and negative reports.  Thank You for instilling in us, unmoving faith in You and in the knowledge of who You are and Your plans for us.  Remind us to encourage others in the faith, to hold onto Your Word, no matter what the enemy does, and be not moved by the appearances of things, but moved only by our faith in You.

Faith To Please Him!

"But without faith, it is impossible to please Him; for he who comes to God (in prayer), must believe that He is (God), and that He rewards those who diligently (consistently, determined) seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6 paraphrased).

How absolutely simple this scripture appears to be! But wait! What is faith? "Faith is having the audacity to believe what has not been seen has been received, knowing (having confidence) it will occur." The Bible tells us in Mark that Jesus told His disciples (followers) that when we pray, don't doubt; we must believe we have already received that which we prayed for and then we will have it. In other words, we have to know that whatever it is we have been praying for is on the way, and all we have to do is act like we already have it. NO DOUBTING! If we don't doubt, we don't need to ask again.

Tough concept to believe?  All right, let me state another way.  Would we waste our time praying for those things we already have? I think not. Do we thank God for answering our prayers? I sincerely hope so.  I teach--having faith when we pray means we only ask one time, and then we keep thanking God for the manifestation of the answered prayer until we see it. This approach aligns with The Word (Mark 11:23,24).

Though this line of thinking may be controversial for some to accept, I am living proof that it works and as long as it works in my life, I will continue to stand firm on The Word, without doubting, totally confident that my prayers will be answered, whenever I pray and for whatever I pray. Hallelujah!  That's faith! And we know, that God responds to our faith, not our emotions!

Where is your faith--in God or man?

Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for answering our prayers, addressing every need, using anyone and any vehicle You desire and knowing when we please You, You will give us the desires of our hearts.  We give You praise for You are the only One worthy of it. Amen!

Whoever You Are!

"For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved" (Romans 10:13 NKJV).

I am so glad that I am a "whoever" and I have called upon the name of the Lord and I am saved from an eternity of unrest and agony! How do I know? For the bible tells me so. 

When Paul wrote the letter to the church in Rome, he knew there was great misunderstanding among those who were trying to convert others.  Apparently, in the midst of the bickering, there were some who attempted to convince some they would never have the opportunity to see heaven. If we look at the beginning of this chapter, we see the discussion and the "formulaic response" (v.9) by many when a person makes up their mind about receiving Christ.  So, yes there is something every person must do--believe, confess, repent--and then "call on Him--call on The Lord!"

What is so great about this is that anyone, no matter how many sins committed, can repent and receive the heritage of heaven with Jesus as their Lord and Savior! God is not a respecter of persons and He will respond to the sincere prayer of whoever calls upon Him!  Hallelujah! Thank God for saving for me when I called upon Him! 

Okay, I'm getting a little carried away, but moving right along, through the scriptures--how can anyone believe unless they hear the Good News?  "Faith comes by hearing (seeing in this case) and hearing The Word!" We must proclaim the Gospel however we can, through whatever venue we have, and as often as we can!  Preach the Good news and bring others into the knowledge of Christ. Pray that God will provide them with an experience that lets them know they need Him in their lives. 

For those of us who are promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the laying on of fingers upon a keyboard and publishing on the Internet, God is pleased! We don't know who we are reaching and the difference we are making in how we express what The Bible says. As long as we are saying what God says and not getting in the way of people being saved by promoting what "we say," we are paving the way for others to be saved. Hallelujah! The love of Christ is shed abroad in our hearts and keeps us moving forward to make sure others have the same opportunity we have--assurance of our eternal resting place and receiving the many benefits of being a counted a child of the Most High God.  Whoever we are--we can do this!

Posted Signs!

Following directions, in just about anything, means to do what is specifically stated.

If we follow the directions given, whether baking a cake, or trying to get from one destination to another, we can usually accomplish our goals without incident.  However, when we decide to "ignore" the posted or stated directions or signs, we invite trouble into our lives.

For instance, the posted speed limits, in just about any city, indicate the maximum speed allowed in that vicinity.  When we ignore those posted signs and get pulled over by ambitious police officers, some of us tend to get angry with them, instead of ourselves.

When there are posted signs on a highway indicating construction or impending lane  changes, people ignore them, wait until they reach the end of the open lane and then try to force their way into the right lane, getting angry with the people who moved over when they first saw the signs.

When we mess up a recipe by using alternate ingredients and then don't get what we expected, we get irritated because we didn't follow the directions.

When students don't follow directions in a classroom given by the teacher, they tend to get angry and rebellious with the teacher when they fail a test or the class.

"Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left that you may be successful wherever you go" (Joshua 1:7 NIV).

Our success depends upon our ability to "follow the posted signs" on a highway, in the neighborhoods, in a cook book, and especially the Bible. When we are not successful in those things we attempt to do, perhaps we need to evaluate whether or not, we've been following the directions given for success, and not blame others for our lack of success.

If we don't want to pay for traffic tickets, we must obey the signs or written instructions for driving.  If we want the food we cook to look and taste right, we must follow the recipe.  If we want good grades in a classroom setting, we must follow the instructions given. If we want God to bless what we do, we must follow His instructions in order to get the success He has promised. Pay attention to the posted signs--no matter where they are posted.

Help us, O God, to understand Your instructions and to follow them on a daily basis. Open our spiritual eyes and ears so we may hear and see what lies ahead of us so we can move into the right lane, accomplishing our goals without incident or anger.

The Narrow Path!

All night long I have been inundated with thoughts about the twists and turns we take in life. Most of us have probably taken a few detours from our predestined path, until we realized that the path set before us, before we were born, was the narrow path that leads straight to the success and victory that God had already planned. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13,14 NIV).

My thoughts led me through a timeline, if you will, of my travel along life's journey.  In a vision, I saw the narrow path as a map, leading to the fulfillment of all my dreams.  But then I saw, the detours that I had taken that caused me to lose time in reaching my goals.  As a teenager, I detoured because I had reached the crossroad of "Rebellion" a well-travelled, wide road. Angry at my mother for moving us to another state during my last year of high school, I travelled this wide road that could have led to much harsher consequences, but only resulted in a few life-changing aspects that put my dreams on hold--for the first time. When I finally turned back onto the narrow path, things had been put into motion that I thought I could not control. 

So while I had actually gotten back on the path for a minute, it wasn't long before I reached another crossroad, "Curiosity", another wide road that many had travelled before me. That longing for greater experience in life caused me to turn off the narrow path again, and once more, I discovered that while I was having fun experiencing life in another state, I was also further away from accomplishing the goals that I had. It took a while for me to see that travelling my way was not going to get me very far, so I found my way back to the narrow path.

Getting back to the narrow path wasn't easy, because I kept running into more crossroads, "Doubt and Insecurity" enticed me for a while keeping me in rut going in circles, but I finally found "Determination" and stayed on that path until I found my way back to the narrow path, a little weary and worn, but I'm back where I belong. I'm on the road to victory and I won't turn back.  Jesus prepared the Way and I'm keeping my eyes on the Prize in Him.  No devil in hell has any authority over me and I tore down the signs at the crossroads of "Doubt and Insecurity" and erected "Faith in God Will Get You There" just in case anyone else happened to travel that way.

Father, I pray for anyone who has lost their way, gotten off the narrow path that You designed for us, that they will find the strength to reach the sign, "Faith in God Will Get You There". I pray as they travel, they will seek You while You yet may be found and see the glorious end You have for them. Thank You for allowing me to see what I must do and to encourage others to follow the path of righteousness, a very narrow path that indeed, very few are able to find. Help us O God! In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen!

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Needs Supplied!

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

In this letter to the Church at Philippi, Paul addresses the people, thanking the them for contributing to his well-being.  He lets them know how grateful he is and that their attention to his needs would not go unrewarded by God. In verse 13, he tells them that he has learned to be content in whatever situation he has found himself in--whether full or hungry, having everything he needs or not.  This verse is a great lesson for all of us to learn to be content with what we have and not be "greedy or envious" of others. 

But Paul didn't stop there. There may have been some concern on the part of those who gave who didn't really have the resources to give and now wondered how they would survive. He assures them that every one of their needs would be met by God--no matter how little or how big.  Notice that in this verse--he proclaims all need supplied, not necessarily all wants. There is a distinct difference in having our needs met versus having everything we want.  God never promises that we'll have everything we want because some of the things we want will keep our focus on the things and not Him.  Even when it comes to people--not everyone was meant to be in our lives.  This may be why that person you thought was for you, wasn't. God knows what is best for us and He brings people into our lives that will encourage us to keep our focus on Him, not on things or people.

If you have a need today, know that God is able to supply everything you need because there is no lack in Him. However, remember that God works through people (just as Paul revealed) and sometimes we miss getting needs met because we did not appreciate who God was using to meet the need. Be careful how you treat people; they may be the answer to your prayer.

Father, thank You for supplying our every need. Help us to appreciate the vehicle used in bringing it all to pass no matter who it is or what it is.  Thank You for giving us power to get wealth through the many gifts You have given us. Now help us to use them to Your glory. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen!

And The Question is...Why?

When you have done everything you can to support a person,

Why do they betray your trust?

When you done everything you can to be considerate of other people,

Why do they not return the consideration?

Why is it that people can hold onto past hurts—hating what was done, and yet inflict upon others the same things they claim hurt them?

Why is it that we can condemn others for their lack of integrity and yet have no integrity ourselves?

Why do people feel the need to impress others?

Why is it that people are not is satisfied with who they are?

Why can’t people acknowledge their insecurities and shortcomings and seek help?

Why do people feel the need to draw attention to themselves, without thinking about the consequences?

Why are people so quick to make rash decisions without thinking beyond the moment?

Why is it so difficult to admit when one is wrong and seek forgiveness for the wrongdoing?

 
We probably have more questions than answers, but there are solutions to every problem in His Word.

Thank You, Angels!

"For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" (Psalm 91:11 NIV).

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you know "something or someone" had just intervened on your behalf?

My life has been spared by intervention in two rear-end car accidents in which I should have been dead.  One had me careening through the plate-glass window of a car dealership when I was hit by a sleeping driver.  I was driving a car that had the gas tank in the back and when it should have exploded upon impact when I was hit; it didn't.  My injuries were minimal--a few scratches and muscle aches. 

In the second accident, I was hit by a drunk driver.  I saw them coming at me through the rear-view mirror, but I had nowhere to go so I simply stiffened, waiting for the impact.  When I was hit, my trunk ended up in her front windshield. I did not suffer any broken bones, but I did have muscle, joint, and some nerve damage resulting in headaches and difficulty seeing. 

My angels have been good to me.  And I know it was them protecting me from those incidents as well as some others in which I could have been dead (driving on a freeway in the midst of having a mini-stroke and could barely see). 

I'm still here, yet praising God, knowing that if it had not been for my assigned angels watching over me, I wouldn't be sitting here writing, right now!  Hallelujah!  Praise God for my angels.

I thank God for my angels and I am happy to say that when the time comes, I will be giving them a great report.  They deserve it!  Thank you angels! 

Father, thank You for assigning my angels and for keeping them alert and watchful; always ready to intervene on my behalf.  Help me to be more alert so their job won'tbe so difficult. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

Does God Disappoint Us?

When we love people, we don't (as a rule) want to disappoint them. 

Parents don't want to disappoint their children. Spouses don't want to disappoint each other. And we don't want to disappoint because love should only want to "lift and encourage" the spirits of those loved. Yet, we are often disappointed and some even say that God disappointed them.

Disappoint--fail to fulfill expectations, wishes, dreams, defeat, frustrate the fulfillment of hope. Based on these definitions, can we realistically say God disappoints us? Or is it more accurate to say, we disappoint God?

When we do not obtain the future God has predetermined for us (Jeremiah 23:11), is this God's doing or ours?  Did we stay on the path to success as God planned or did we decide to do what we wanted to do? God has given us "free will to choose" and often our choices are not the choices He would make for us, but He allows us to venture out on the choices we make.

God has declared us to be, "more than conquerors", but are we?
God has declared us to be, "the head and not the tail", but are we?
God has declared us healed, "by His stripes", but are we?
God has declared us, "righteous" in right standing with Him, but are we?
God has given us, "power to get wealth", but are we using it to His glory?
God has given us, "unspeakable joy", but do we understand it and proclaim?
God has given us chance after chance to get, "living right", but have we gotten there yet?

Since God is love and can do nothing but love us, how can we say He has ever disappointed us?  Would He deliberately frustrate His own plans for us? Is He not capable of fulfilling His expectations towards us?

The truth of the matter is, we probably often disappoint God.  When we don't take care of the children He blesses us with, that's a disappointment because it is a reflection of His parenting us. Does He not take care of us? When we don't develop skills to earn a living, is that God's fault? When we are incapable of loving others and then wonder why our lives are not everything we wanted them to be, whose fault is that? When loved ones die, some blame God. When we lose jobs, some blame God. When disasters and tragedies occur across the land, some blame God. When people abuse and misuse people; especially children, some blame God. God is not responsible for the choices people make--they are. God does not force us to do anything--He encourages, guides, directs--but never forces.  People are allowed to make choices, but they also must deal with the consequences of those choices.

If love is the key to our success in life with others--who is responsible for our disappointments?  We must learn to love self, God, and others. We must learn to set goals and work towards them.  We must strive for excellence in all things. We must learn to forgive the shortcomings of others, so we'll be forgiven. We must learn to use everything God has given us to succeed in life, to His glory. Are we there yet? 

Let's not think that God is capable of disappointing anyone, but look deep within and see if we are disappointing Him.

Father, help us to be more like You--ever loving and never disappointing.

Who's Really Against You?

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31 NIV)

In the previous verses, Paul expounds on how the Holy Spirit operates--interceding on behalf of God's people.  God has predestined the path of believers and when we move along that path, an arc of safety precedes us.  Even when it appears that we have lost our way, we discover that we need an experience to bring us even closer to God so He allows us to explore and discover--just how great He is. "And we know all things work together for our good."

So, who is it that is really against us?  Who interferes with our thought processes trying to get us to believe a lie? Who is it that tries to twist God's truth and cause some to believe it? Who is it that really wants us to fail so we won't have a reason to praise God?  Who is it that hates all that God loves?

Don't get angry with people--get mad at the enemy who influences people into doing what he wants them to do. There are people out there, who by their own confession, do not believe God, in God, or in His saving grace.  They deny the divinity of Jesus and ridicule the role of the Holy Spirit. It's not their fault.  The enemy has deceived them and others who have led them to feel this way. 

Get mad at the devil and make sure that when you wake up every morning, he trembles. Wake up praising God and looking forward to seeing Him operate in not only your life, but in the lives of others.  Help those you can when you see a need.  Pray without ceasing for people all over the world. Love like you've never loved people before in your life.  Tell people they are loved.  Show them they are loved.  Remind them of God's love. 

The devil will slink away from you when he knows that because of who you are and Whose you are, he doesn't stand a chance. God's got this!  Make sure you know who is against you and power up--with the Holy Spirit to keep the devil on the run! 

Enduring Love!

"For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations" (Psalm 100:5 NIV).

One of the reasons (just one) we should arise in the morning thanking God for His love is because His love endures (remains steadfast, in spite of us) no matter what we do.

Every once in a while, we forget--our forgetfulness can be seen in how we treat others--just how much God loves us.  We forget about His love when we callously ignore the needs of the poor and the vulnerable.  We forget about His love when we don't know how to love others or refuse to love them.  We forget about His love when we forget our roles as parents, ignoring the needs of our children.  We forget about His love when we don't treat others as we want to be treated. We forget, but He does not--He continues to love us and forgive us when we confess our sins.

Sometimes, we seek relationships with others in marriage and the love we thought was there, did not endure the transitional period of adjustment--to each other.  The tiny challenges became major conflicts and since neither party wants to admit fault, the relationship ends--does not endure, cannot handle the difficult times.  Thankfully, there is no transitional adjustment time for us with God--at least on His part--He knows everything about us and loves us just the same, even when we cannot admit to being at fault.  Can we ever love like Him?

Father, help us to love like You love--with endurance and determination to stay the course.  Help us to look beyond the shortcomings of others like You look beyond ours.  Help us to see us as You see us, lovable--no matter what.  Help us to stay focused on You, learning to be more like You each and every day, loving You the way You love us. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen!

What He's Done For Me!

I woke up this morning with my mind on Jesus and what He's done for me.

He came into my life, showed me a better path than the one I was taking, and loved me enough to keep me on it, even when I strayed.

He comforted my heart when loved ones passed away from this earthly realm and healed my body of pain and sickness. Even when the devil tried His best to take me out, Jesus was right there, speaking to my heart, and giving me the boldness needed to tell the devil, "not yet."

In moments of weakness, Jesus reminds me of who I am and what I have in Him and with Him.

Though the enemy tries to discourage, His love keeps me encouraged.

When I think there is nothing else I can do to resolve a situation, He reminds me that the battle is not mine, but His and He will reign victoriously over every adverse situation that comes into my life.

When the enemy tries to bring my past to the forefront and make me feel guilty, Jesus reminds me that all confessed sin has been forgiven and I am a new creation in Him. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

When I went back to college (at nearly 50 years old), He strengthened my mind and resolve to accomplish all I needed, with His help and direction.  I began teaching at 50, obtained my Masters Degree, past 50 and then went on to complete the coursework for a Ph.D. He is truly awesome in my life. 

He has directed me, by His Spirit, in what I write and how to bring it to others. I claim no knowledge of technology, but He has led me in what I do and now I can reap the rewards of being obedient. "Obedience is better than sacrifice."

"Weeping may endure for a night (and sometimes the nights are long), but joy comes in the morning." He gives us so much joy that we can forget about what made us weep.

This list could go on for a while, but I don't want to bore you.  I want to encourage you to hold on to your faith in Jesus and remind yourself of what He has already done and know that He is not finished with you, yet.  It's not over, until God says it is over. Look to Him, the author and finisher of our faith and know that He loves you and listen when He speaks to encourage your heart.  He did not promise us an easy life, but He did promise to never leave us or forsake us.

Father, help us to hear You when You speak words of comfort and encouragement.  Help us to remember that we have power over anything the enemy attempts to do in Christ Jesus. Thank You for touching bodies, relieving pain in joints, nerves, muscles, and emotions. Thank You for touching and comforting hearts of all that has created the hurt. Thank You for loving us enough to never leave us to our own devices, and for reminding us to lean on You. Open eyes, spiritually and naturally, so all might see Your goodness and determine this day to invite You into lives and allow You free reign over all that is done. I pray and thank You in Jesus' name, Amen!

Thank You!

Thank you for supporting my writing ministry!  http://www.amazon.com/Mary-M.-Hall-Rayford/e/B00BAW31CQ  If I am thanking you in advance, so much the better.  My husband and I are praying, in agreement for 4 million copies sold. We can do so much more for others with the proceeds of these sales.  Love to love you!

After The Facts!

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15 NIV)

We do many things without thinking about the consequences of our actions, until we are confronted with the consequences and have to deal with them.

What led us to this juncture--doubt, fear, greed, indecision--or lack of knowledge?

We have all probably made a decision impulsively or simply made based on the information we had at hand.  After we reap the consequences of our immediate action, we then have an opportunity to re-think and re-live the event--viewing what we did then and contemplating what we could have done--after the facts are obtained--because we now have more information.

Our lives are like being on trial or the jury--when we make decisions with limited information--sometimes we discover we made the wrong decision and realize--after the fact--that had we obtained all the information pertaining to the matter, we would have made a different decision.

There is one decision we must make now and we have access to all the information.  That decision is a determination to live for Jesus Christ.  If we don't make the decision now, we won't have an opportunity to rethink our lack of a decision, after we're dead.  Choose now, while you have the opportunity to choose and to receive His many benefits. After the fact--of death--opportunity no longer exists and the lack of decision for Christ, puts you in opposition to Christ.  Choose this day!

Examine Yourself!

"For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (I Corinthians 11:31 NIV).

The tiny word "if" can make such a huge difference in the outcome or results of what we do or seek.  I'm finding that to be true more each day.  "If" I had not been so anxious and adrenaline driven to finish what I started, I would have caught errors in my writing.  "If" I had paid more attention to what I was doing along the way of life, I would have made better choices. The list of "ifs" could go on for a long time, but my purpose here is not to beat up on myself or anyone else.  My purpose is simply to encourage all to slow down, and think--judge for ourselves what we're doing and the outcome we wish to see, so others won't judge us prematurely.

The adage that first impressions are lasting impressions is true. We cannot turn back the hands of time to correct some of the things we did, some quite unintentionally, but we can make sure we are paying attention to what we are doing and try not to make the same mistakes. Take the blinders off our eyes and be willing to see ourselves, objectively, as the world sees us. What needs to change?  We are the only ones who can determine the changes that need to be made after giving ourselves a thorough examination--willing to see what is there, not oblivious to what is not there.  We cannot afford to fool ourselves if we are to make a lasting impression upon those who do not know Jesus, to come to know Him!

Lord, help us all to take more care with the things we do understanding the outcome represents who we are--in a positive or negative light.  Help us to see ourselves clearly in the mirror, examining every aspect and changing what we can so others will not judge us.  Help us to hear You, when You correct us and warn us so we don't have to think about the "ifs" that could happen. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!

Thinking on a Higher Plane!

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2)

Paul reminds us in this passage of scripture that we must think on a higher level than the level on which the world thinks.  We should not be concerned with what the world does, but to allow ourselves to be transformed (more like God), by aligning our thoughts with His thoughts.

How do we do that?  By staying in The Word, meditating on The Word--day and night.  The Word should become so ingrained in us that we dream The Word and doing what God would have us to do. When we change our thoughts or how we think, our actions or conduct should change.  When our conduct changes, we should become more like Him and able to draw others into the knowledge of Christ by what we do, not what we say.

People who are carnal Christians know what to say, but their actions reveal a lack of knowledge about how God works.  They know enough to quote The Word but they lack faith to do The Word. Carnal Christians do everything the way they see others do it and then make excuses for saying it's okay.  There are a number of things that are not of God and only serve to keep people from receiving God's best in their lives.  We, who know The Truth, should not have faith in gambling, or taking risks with the resources we have been given when we can help others.  We should not condone behaviors that are not of God.  Just because people all around us are doing things, that we know are not of God. Should we join in to fit in?  We should never go along to get along; especially if what we want to go along to do is not of God. Don't get it twisted!  God knows those who are His and He is not fooled by a surface level of understanding or thinking when it is about Him.

Clear your head and focus on those things above and not below.  Raise the bar and think on a higher plane! We are not perfect, but we strive to reach perfection, because it is His Will. If we do what the world does; we'll get what the world gets--temporary satisfaction--that won't last.  It is only what we do for Christ that will last!

Who Has Bewitched You? (Part 3)

Yet Talking to Preachers, getting to the heart of the matter!

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV).

             

             People have a chance to get things right with God, but repentance must take place, first—total turning away from all acts of sin—and turning to God and living according to His Word.  Jesus died so we would have access to heaven and though there are some who believe that our time on the planet now is either heaven or hell, I choose to believe God and will wait for His Son’s return so I can be with Him for all eternity. 
           There have been myriad attempts to justify man’s behavior by saying, “it’s not in the Bible.  God didn’t say anything about homosexuality.  Jesus never mentioned anything.” I have to wonder about the reading comprehension levels of people saying such things.

          When the woman was caught in the "very act" of adultery and brought to Jesus for condemnation, this was the conclusion of the matter for Jesus when He asked about her accusers.


"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin (He addressed every sin included in the law already revealed—Notice, He did not say “sins” because any and all sin is sin)" (John 8:11 NIV).

The following is a list of words that are not mentioned in the bible, but the acts for the most part are graphically described and those acts were later “defined and labeled by contemporary society.” Note that while some “labels/names” used now were not used then, the intent or the act is still the same and so are the consequences.

Homosexuality—Already discussed in Leviticus and Romans.  A label given by man.

Rape—Not mentioned but clearly understood by those who have adequate reading comprehension in the reading of those stories as told by Moses in Genesis, Numbers, and by what happened to David’s children. A label given by man.

Incest—not mentioned, but clearly described.  A label given by man.

Molestation—not mentioned, but clearly described.  Label given by man.

AIDS/HIV—not mentioned, but already discussed in Deuteronomy. Labels of illnesses, given by man.  “The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed” (Deuteronomy 28:61).

Depression—not mentioned, but clearly identifiable when reading comprehension is above average.  A label given by man.

Depravation—(to make morally bad or evil or corrupt) not mentioned in the Bible, but clearly identifiable by descriptive acts throughout the Bible.  A label given by man.

Political Correctness—certainly mentioned in the bible and I cannot even clearly discern a description of such as we attempt to promote it.  It is simply a label given by man, to make sure people maintain their status in a politically charged arena.

            

             There are many other “labels” we have given people and things that do not appear in the bible—too many to list in the space of this commentary.  We, “mankind,” have always determined what labels are applied to people and things.  Many forms of illnesses were not named, until someone decided to name them.  The symptoms or results of the illness did not change—only the name.  The act of sexual depravation has not changed, only the name.

The bottom line is this—people are going to do exactly what they want to do—in total opposition to God and self.  So, just get to it.  But do stop trying to twist God’s Word so you won’t have to feel guilty.  God knows better.  Remember this—there are consequences for our actions—good and bad—we choose our consequence by what we do; especially when we say—we have a relationship with God.  Don’t let the enemy continue to bewitch you—see the need to seek God and know that He has only your best interests in mind.  God loves you and so do I. The enemy could care less about you.  So, don’t get the truth twisted. Open your heart to hear what the Spirit of the Lord has to say, not the fickle-mindedness of man. Those who deceive and lie have neither heaven nor hell for us for our eternal resting place.  Gratification of the flesh for a limited time is not worth losing a mansion for eternity or living with the negative consequences of disobedience. It’s a choice we all have to make—follow Christ or follow the enemy. The choice is now yours!

Father, in the name of Jesus, Help us to understand that Your Word is our guideline for living and in positioning ourselves to receive Your best for us. Help us to shield our minds from the tricks of the enemy who will influence any caught up in the lust of the flesh.  Help us to stay focused on being everything You desire us to be.  Speak to our hearts and help us to turn away from anything that is not like You.  Help us to love unconditionally, so others will come into a true knowledge of what it is to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  We declare all lies exposed and all liars exposed for all to see who really know who You are and how we are to live.