Know Who To Trust!

Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.” When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. Psalm 118:4-8 NIV

For those who truly reverence The Lord and stand in awe of His goodness and mercy, we can say, "His love endures forever." For those who don't know, it's time they understand what it means. "Fear" in this passage does not mean to be scared or afraid of--it means to hold in high esteem--reverence--The Lord. There is no need for anyone to be afraid of God, but there is a need to know and understand how He will allow negative consequences to fall upon us when we choose to ignore Him.

Though there are those who indignantly proclaim that the bible is simply an ancient book of myths, those who believe God--know better. The bible is a blueprint for living.  In it we find records of God's interactions with the people He loves and instructions to keep us from falling into the pits and snares set by the evil one. If people want to believe the bible has no significance, they have every right to believe just that. They also have every right to receive the consequences of their unbelief.

Throughout history--as recorded in "the history books" that people trust, we see how The Word of God aligns with the events recorded by others. There is no mystery or magic involved with the bible. It simply provides a historical perspective from another view. That's what history is--a record of events as reported from the perspective of those recording it. Historical accounts of anything will vary based upon perspective and the ability to publicize the account. It's like a police officer getting accounts of an event by witnesses who were positioned in various locations of the event. Their account will vary, but the primary tenets of the event will be the same. Although some might say, someone lied; they didn't lie--they simply told what "they saw" from their vantage point.

In spite of all the media attempts to persuade us about--anything--we must learn to trust our relationship with God for--everything. The rescue we need in our society won't come from mere mortals who perpetuate violence and hatred. It will come from The Lord when we decide enough is enough and repent of our evil ways and seek His direction in all things. God is able to provide us with clear insight and direction, but are we willing to trust our relationship with Him to obey?

I am praying and have been praying for the bigotry and hatred to cease, but it won't stop until people are willing to look into their hearts and acknowledge what's there. "For out of the abundance of the heart--the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:24). Is there hatred or love overflowing our hearts? Will we be acquitted by the words we speak or condemned by the words we speak?

Bridle our tongues, Lord that we may only speak what we hear You say!

Where Are You, God?

"Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are desperate need. Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name's sake. Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" (Psalm 79:8-10 NIV)

Not only are other nations questioning where our God is--those who claim to Believe are asking the same question. Of course the naysayers ask the question to belittle and ridicule Believers, but when Believers ask the question--we know the nation is truly in trouble. Why?

If Believers are asking God, "Where are You?" they have not understood just how close God is to those who Believe. It's not a source of amazement for the unbelieving to ask the question, for they do not have access to Him through right relationship to know the answer to the question, but certainly--Believers--who understand God's Word and are in right relationship with Him, should never ask this question. We know where He is--He dwells within us.

However the real problem is not in knowing where God is--since He is omnipresent--He is everywhere at the same time, but in knowing that He gives "all people free will" and will not force us to do anything. Therefore, anything we do--without specific direction from God is subject to failing or creating disaster.

Many people are asking, "Where is God when mentally disabled or challenged people shoot others?" God is right there in the midst of the shooting, but He will not force anyone to do what is right. So, the gunmen--in every situation--act without benefit of God's instruction and they are prey of the enemy who hates all of us and when he can influence the minds of others to do evil--since they don't believe in God anyway, they do evil.

But we must understand--in order to do evil--we must have a mindset that "desires to do evil" or the enemy would not have any power over us. People have to submit to the devil's influence just like they have to submit to God's influence. It is a free will choice we make when we choose to be influenced by any source.

So, now the question should not be, "where is God?" but rather where are we in a relationship with Him? Do we truly Believe or are we just religious, operating in rituals of out traditions that hold no true meaning of anything? I'm sure, when we stand before Him on the day we are judged, we're going to discover that God will have more respect for the naysayers than those of us who claim to Believe, but never had a relationship with Him. He's told us that He would rather we be--hot or cold--and not lukewarm because lukewarm, wishy-washy people make Him ill (Revelation 3:16 paraphrased).

Instead of us raising the question as to where God is, we should raise the question--where are we? I can imagine with all of the stupid things occurring in the world, that God is asking the question, "Where are my children who claim to know me?" Why would God ask this question? Because if we are His children, we would know how important communication with Him is and our obedience to Him. We cannot pattern ourselves after the world and the worldly way of doing things; He has called us to a standard of Excellence because He is Excellent in all His Ways and if we truly belong to Him, doing things His way should not be a burden to any.

Where are you, in your relationship with God? God is right here--waiting to embrace us in right relationship with Him.

The Reality of Religion!

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither is circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation." (Galatians 6:14,15 NIV)

In response to questions raised by the church in Galatia, Paul attempts to convince those who are manipulating others into being circumcised as a means of keeping the law to stop. He reminds them that those who are circumcised don't keep the law and therefore the law is pointless if it is simply a ritual.

There are many people today who try to impress others with their "religiosity" by one means or another. For some, it's who their pastor is, for others it's how often they take communion, and still others who think we are impressed by the denominational banner under which they worship.

If we could ever get beyond the rituals and get into the Relationship, the world would view Believers differently. Unfortunately, we're too busy trying to make sure we keep up with the rituals and because the rituals are divisive, we lose opportunities to witness to others about the work on the cross and God's love for all mankind.

It doesn't what position a person is in when they pray as long as they pray--sincere communication with God, not just murmuring scripted words led by others. I've never understood why anyone thinks a scripted prayer, written by another mortal would be more effective than sincere communication with God.

It doesn't matter what day we use to observe our relationship with God--there are seven days in a week and Jesus said He was Lord of the Sabbath--which means any day we choose to worship, is all right with Him. The reality is--everyday should be a day of worship.

It doesn't matter when we participate in communion or who serves it. Smith Wigglesworth served himself communion on a daily basis and he's considered one of the most revered men of faith. Whether we use wine or grape juice or water or any other liquid--the symbolism is important--not the elements used.

The reality of religion is that most leave out relationship in favor of rituals--that won't change a thing in our lives. Rituals don't deliver, heal, comfort, or guide. They are simply outward expressions devised by mortals to control others and to ridicule those who won't or don't participate.

There are no superior religions or religious groups of people. We are all in need of a Savior and unless we see Jesus as our Savior and accept the work on the cross, the rituals are a waste of time and effort.

So, whether we pray once a day or ten times a day--if we have no relationship with God--we have wasted our time. It is being in relationship with God that motivates our behavior and ignites our promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we are not promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the midst of our religiosity--we are simply being religious and are ineffective witnesses of His Goodness.

It's time for a change--let's shed the rituals for right relationship with God and see the world come to know Him, through us!

Let Someone Else Tell It!

"Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth." (Proverbs 27:2 NIV)

If we're going to boast about anything, it should be about our relationship with God, for it is our relationship with Him that prompts our success.

Sometimes, when we read passages of scripture, we get things twisted when we attempt to justify the world's way of doing things and not doing them God's way. Whenever we have success in anything, the first thing we should acknowledge is that it wasn't because of us and the "I" we use to brag should be "He" since it is all about Him.

I am so thankful for Holy Spirit inspiration in the books I've written that He always gets the credit. Some call this foolish, but I know from where the ideas came and how they came together. It is not because of anything I know--for most of which I write about--I didn't know--until He revealed it. Then there are those who call my reluctance to boast about self--false humility or false pride. There is nothing false about my giving God glory over all He does in my life. I know there are some who think everything they accomplish is because of them and not Him. If that's the way they want to think--that's on them. I choose to give God glory because I know, He'll keep speaking to my heart, inspiring other works for people to enjoy.

But what's more important is that others boast or brag about what we've accomplished, and not us. There is nothing sadder than listening to someone constantly talking about what "they've done." Even with my classes, I stopped discussing my achievements as part of my introduction of who I am and decided to have my students discover who I am and what I've accomplished. Then, they write a paragraph summarizing what they discover. When we hold discussions about their discovery, it sounds so much better to hear it from them, than it would have from me.

I have found that to be true--at least for me--for other people as well. I can better appreciate a person's accomplishments when someone else is telling it. When they tell it--even though most think there's nothing wrong with their bragging--it sounds like a person who is needy of attention. When someone else tells it--it sounds like real appreciation and admiration for what has been accomplished.

Now, when we give God the praise for what He's doing in our lives--I don't necessarily see that as bragging on us, but rather Him. I know some will disagree, but I've reached a stage in my life where I know, I'm not needy for attention. If someone remarks on my achievements great, if not great. God knows and He's the only one who can lift me beyond my own ability and let me shine in His glory!

So, before we get so high-minded in seeking the admiration of others that we tell it all--let's allow someone else to tell it--how good and wonderful is our awesome God that He opens doors no man can shut and shuts doors, no man can open. Hallelujah, Jesus!

Rejoice--The Lord is Near!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV)

I will rejoice, I will rejoice, I will rejoice!

Why will I be glad?  The Lord is near and His peace is guarding my heart and mind--I have no need to fear or be anxious about anything. I know when I place my concerns before Him, He will address each and everyone and respond to His child because He loves me and cares about everything concerning me!

If this is the attitude most people have in life--there would be fewer problems because we know that He is the solution to every problem. We don't have to know the answer; we just have to know the One who has all the answers.

When we know Him--have a deeply personal relationship with Him and we know His Word--we can relax when trials and challenges rise to defeat us because we know--we have victory in Jesus! Hallelujah! Rejoice! The devil is a defeated foe! Jesus put him under our feet and now it's our job to keep him there. Remind him of his place every time he raises his ugly head--trying to influence our thoughts, leading to destruction.

Rise up O Believers in the most High God and know that He will never leave us or forsake us. Shout with a loud voice the victory is already won!

We must speak The Word over every situation that attempts to deter or distract us from receiving God's best! We have the power in the Holy Ghost to keep the enemy defeated, but we must know what we have in order to use it--wisely, never doubting what God has done.

When we pray, our faith must remain steadfast, even when it doesn't "look" like God is responding. He knows our needs and our hearts desire whether we speak them or not, but He wants us to come to Him, boldly--placing our petitions before Him and expecting Him to act on our behalf.

We have a reason to rejoice in The Lord! We should be glad that He loved us enough to die for us, went into the depths of hell and fought the enemy on his turf and won, rising up from the grave with all power in His hands and then--giving that power to all who choose to believe that He is!

No matter what happens this day or the next, we need to complete this journey called life--knowing that we have a Risen Savior and through Him, we can do all things and with Him, nothing is impossible for us to achieve. We need to act like we Believe His Word on a daily basis and not just be mealy-mouthed people who say one thing, but do another.

I believe every Word of God--know and understand why He inspired men to write it--know and understand why I must love others as He loves me--know and understand why I must obey His Word and because I know and understand His purpose for my life, I can rest assured of my eternity with Him. Not that I am a perfect being, but He is a perfect God and He said, perfect love--loving unconditionally, drives out fear--so I have no need to fear what others may say or think of me.

I have victory in Jesus and I will rejoice in His love for me--and because I love Him, I will live for Him! Hallelujah! I'm declaring every promise fulfilled and completed in this life time, in Jesus' name for every Believer who is willing to stand--never wavering, but always believing--in faith--right now and it is done!

Brought Into Relationship By His Blood Shed On The Cross!

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13 NIV)

Relationships--of all kind--have historically been cemented by the shedding of blood. The significance of the blood is apparent throughout the Bible.

Sacrifices--to pagan gods and in the law given to Moses--were by made by the shedding of blood.
Even before The Law was given, Abraham was told to sacrifice his son to demonstrate his obedience, but God provided the ram for the sacrificial offering.

Circumcision--requires the shedding of blood.

For hundreds of years, people have cut themselves and shared blood to indicate a new-found relationship with each other as "blood brothers."

The bloodshed when the hymen in a woman was broken on her wedding night was significant in the new relationship between a man and wife. Unfortunately, most females are never taught the significance of being a virgin when they marry in order to solidify the new relationship with her husband.

When God made the decision to come down to earth to fulfill The Law--making the ultimate sacrifice for us--by the shedding of His blood on the cross--solidified our relationship with Him, when we choose to accept the finished work of making blood sacrifices.

Notice--the finished work of blood sacrifices is no longer necessary for anyone to make in order to prove a relationship with God. What has to happen now is for anyone proclaiming a belief in Christ Jesus, must accept His sacrifice as the means to having a relationship with God. If we are not willing to understand the significance of the work on the Cross, we lie when we say we have a relationship with God. It is not possible to have a relationship with God without acceptance of His sacrifice on the cross.

Paul reiterated the importance of recognizing that we who were not born culturally or biologically into the first family (Israel), now have access into that relationship through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are joint-heirs with Christ--when we acknowledge Him as our Savior because of the work on the cross. There is no other way to get to the Father, except by the Son, no matter what others may teach or preach. There are no more sacrifices that can bring us into right relationship with God. There are no more acts of piety or any other act--no symbols, no beads, no crystals, no statues, no emblems, no repetitious rituals, nothing but the blood of Jesus brings us into relationship with God.

If we deny the importance of the work on the cross, we deny knowing the Truth about God and can have no relationship with Him. It is not baptism that solidifies our relationship--it is the shed blood of Jesus Christ and our acceptance of that sacrifice that solidifies our relationship with God.

It is the blood--flowing naturally through our bodies---carrying needed oxygen that makes living possible. It is the blood--shed on the cross--that makes living worthwhile, in Him.

I know it was the blood, shed for me on that cross, that saved me and brought me into a right relationship with God that will sustain me for all eternity. Hallelujah!

The Importance of Words, Perception and Relationship!

"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations." (Psalm 22:27,28 NIV)

This particular statement seems a bit odd since we know the earth is round (not flat as some once thought) and there really are "no ends" as some might interpret ends, but there is "an end" of the earth.

What I love most about studying scripture is trying to align "the terminology" as written to what words mean today. Since language is constantly evolving and meanings ever-changing, it pays to know and understand that what we know today, was not known when God inspired men to write what He said, His meaning remains the same. Basically what is being said is that people in every place will remember and turn to the Lord (for they had turned away from Him and His ordinances) and all the families of the nations will bow down (every knee shall bow) before Him for in reality, all authority and control belong to Him and He rules overs the nations of people who belong to Him.

Now it is important to understand that God's Word was written for God's people--all who belong to Him, love Him, and obey Him. For those who don't know Him, don't want to know Him, His Word means nothing to them and is not worth a debate. The responsibility of the Believer is to expose His Word to all, but acceptance of His Word is on them. We are not called to make anyone believe God since that belief is an individual experience and the same is true of His Word.

I am always amazed at people who say they believe God, but have no idea what His Word says or means. The bible is not a novel and should not be interpreted as one. The events related in the bible are a summary of historical events that are not presented in a chronological layout in the bible, but are there for our understanding of what God has done, the role He has played in the lives of men, and how He continues to guide us, when we choose to listen. But for those who choose to "debate" what is said and why, they will never understand this aspect of The Word and they miss the importance of having a relationship with God so He can speak to their hearts and provide them with understanding based upon His wisdom, not their own.

I must admit I am growing weary of superficial Christians--those who say they know Him, but live anyway they want to live and promote and encourage others in living in opposition to God's Word. And some of these same people claim to have always "followed God" and never sinned, but they have no clue as what salvation means. When people tell me they have never sinned, I know they do not know God or His Word. They have a form of godliness, but deny the power of Holy Spirit and who He is.

What I see in people who debate God's Word is they do not have a relationship with Him, but with their church, or religion. Being a Christian is not about being religious nor is it a religion, but the affirmation of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior. Once we understand the history and perspective of those who have come and gone before us and can relate the events to where we are today, we can see God in all His glory and appreciate His sacrifice for us, today.

Fellowship With Light Every Day!

"If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (I John 1::6,7 NIV)

Walking in darkness--directed by the "dark one" who influences all evil, under the cover of darkness or hidden agendas, means we cannot be in fellowship with God.

When our relationship with God is right--we have fellowship with Him, live to please Him and not self, and receive the bountiful blessings He has for us. If we are walking with Him (abiding by His Word at all times), we will not want to sin because He is with us and everything we do, is done in broad daylight (in full view of all) because we have no reason to be fearful or ashamed.

Picture this, if you will. We get out of bed and He is right there by our sides. Whatever we do, He is with us--through all the morning rituals (whatever they may be), breakfast, commute to work or sitting right next to us as we enjoy the view of a glorious morning with our first cup of coffee.

Us: Good morning, Lord! Thank You for waking us this morning! It's going to be a good day.

God: Yes, my child it is going to be a good day for every day with me is good.

Us: I am so thankful that I am Your child. Thank You for loving me in spite of me.

God: My child, I want You to know that I am right next to You at all times. I know your thoughts and I know when you're going to ignore me. Sometimes, the only way a person can learn to live right is by making mistakes. When you mess up--I see the repentant heart and forgive when you ask me. I love you and that's what good parents do.

Us: We love you, even when we sometimes go astray, but Your mercies, new every morning, help to keep us going in the right direction.  You are so awesome!

God: What would you like from me today? When you please me, I give you whatever you want.

Us: Lord, point out everyone that needs an encouraging word, everywhere we go. Give us the courage to speak Your truth, not ours so the land can live in peace.

God: When you pass by those on your way, smile and tell them I love them and everything is going to be all right, when they seek me first.

Us: Really? That's all we need to do to have what we want?

God: That's it. As long as you remember I'm right here, seeing what you see, feeling what you feel and your desire is to please me, you can ask for anything and I'll give it.

Us: Lord, if we've found favor in Your sight, speak to hearts and heal the land of all hatred and violence.

God: Is that your request of me?

Us: Yes, Lord.

God: Then as we walk throughout this day, people will see you and know that are mine and I am yours and by what you do, they'll believe in me, accept my love and the hatred will cease.

Us: Thank You, Lord! Are Your ready to go?

God: I am always ready to go where ever you go.

Did we get it? He's always there, right beside us, in the midst of everything we do. He sees, He knows, and He blesses our efforts to live right before Him. As long as we remember He is right beside us, we cannot go wrong--especially if we want to stay in fellowship with Him.

Can we do it? Can we walk in the light as He is the Light? Can we shake off the dark thoughts and cease to walk in darkness? There is no fellowship with God in darkness because Light dispels the darkness and all is exposed in the Light.

Lord, Thank You for leading us along the path You have prepared for us and for being with us throughout the journey, keeping us safe, protected from all harm. Give us a nudge any time we want to stray from the path, reminding us that You are right there with us.

To Know Him Is To Know Them!

"Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8:19 NIV)

Knowing how to answer everyone who has a question about The Word with The Word is how we convince and what we say, will sometimes convict.

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus is teaching in the temple courts and He is being questioned by the Pharisees--those religious folks who claim to know God, but only so they can feel superior to others. When Jesus told them that He and His Father were witnesses of who He was, they challenged Him based on the Law--human standards which is all religious people have. The question--where is your father was about His human father (not understanding who He was) and when Jesus responded, the way He did, I can only imagine how their jaws may have dropped. They didn't get it.

But then again, there are those in the 21st Century who still don't get it. We cannot have a rational conversation--based upon spiritual truths--about Jesus or God, without referencing the other. They are One in purpose--without God--there is no Jesus and without Jesus--there is no access to God. Why people don't understand this is because they fail to understand the first fourteen verses in the first chapter of John and the first chapter of Genesis. God is a spirit and He came down to earth in the likeness of man, wrapped in flesh, born of a woman, who named Him--Jesus--out of obedience.

If anyone knows what God said and meant--it would be Jesus--who did not come to change the course of mankind by changing the law (which man could not keep), but to make sure mankind would have access to all God has planned--the abundant life--a result of obedience to His Word and fulfilled by the work on The Cross.

No matter how hard we try, we cannot escape The Cross and what it means. Nothing we mere humans say can change what God intended and when we attempt to manipulate His Word and His Love, we deceive ourselves if we think for a moment that He is not aware of how we've been deceived. No cross, no salvation; no salvation no hope for eternal life, no Jesus, no peace.

When we understand the spiritual, the natural will fall into place and we will have peace in the land. It's all about being in a right relationship with Them--and living according to Their purposes and not our own. Trying to understand God with our natural, limited minds only leads to confusion. We need to communicate with Him on a spiritual realm, so our natural mind can accept who He is and how He wants us to live.

As so many people have said, "going to church doesn't make a person a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes them a car." To be a Christian means to follow, represent and emulate Christ. When we emulate Christ, we acknowledge The Father and try to please Him. If we please one, we please both. To Know Him, is to know Them!

Revelation and Rest!

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:27,28 NIV)

Prior to the resurrection, Jesus told those listening to Him that no one "knows" the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son "chooses" to reveal Him. Having heard about someone or recognizing their name or picture is far different than actually "knowing" them.

To know someone is to have an intimate knowledge of them. This is one of the reasons that the term "know" was used to explain the act of having sex. There are a number of people who claim to know a lot of people, but do they really know them? We have often heard that even for those who marry those they think they know, they don't really get to know them until they have lived with them.
One of the reasons there are so many divorces is because people don't really know who it is they're marrying. They may be Prince Charming or Princess Wonderful during the dating process, but then--everyone is putting their best foot forward and hiding all the stuff that is revealed once a marriage takes place. Then, they become Prince Godzilla or Princess Witch. If time had been taken to get to know them, a great deal of heartache and expense could have been avoided.

Being in a right relationship with someone--where no secrets are hidden--and everything is revealed--creates an environment of knowledge that can be used to make a decision about the continuing relationship. Relationship with God is far more important than religious observances. When we are in that intimate relationship with Him, we hear Him when He speaks and He guides us in all things.  Notice what Jesus is saying, only to those He chooses is the Father revealed before He arose. Now, Holy Spirit has been given and it is our choice to receive Him and accept all He has done for us, by getting to know Him through The Word.

Now, after we get to know Him, we can go to Him when we are tired and weary--not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Sometimes, our bodies are tired, because we are emotionally and spiritually spent. Being in this condition leads to depression and hopelessness. But we can go to Him and lay our burdens at His feet, leave them there and walk away refreshed and renewed--physically, emotionally, and spiritually--when we know Him and know He only wants the very best for us.

He has revealed The Father through all He has done as the Son, and if we choose to know Him on a very personal level, we can rest in His peace, never bothered by what is going on in the world because we know--we win in the end.

Restoring Relationship!

"For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10 NKJV)

How did we become--enemies, separated from relationship with God in the first place? Sin--the disobedience of Adam (both the male and female were called Adam since they were "one" in God's sight). Before the fall--they were in position to converse with God on a daily basis and were not ashamed of their nakedness in the Garden of Eden. When they succumbed to Satan's influence and allowed their "lust" of their eyes to override their heart, they were exposed to themselves as "fallible human beings" and created a gap between them and the "infallible" God of Heaven.

Time after time, God made a way for people to be reconciled to Him, and time after time, people failed to obey--The Law and The Prophets. Loving His creation the way He did, He decided to come down and once and all, bridge the gap created by sin, so we would be saved from ourselves and our relationship with Him, restored.

Since Jesus--was God in the flesh--it was important that His life remain untainted until the end when He who knew no sin, became sin for all of us and was the ultimate sacrifice, offered for the remission of sin and reconciliation with The Father.

Unless we have a heart to know God, understanding how much He loves us by what He did will never make sense. But once we know, every time we think of His sacrifice, our hearts should be flooded with tears of gratitude and our minds made up to live to please Him. Just knowing that He hears me when I call upon Him, sees every effort I make to live right, and feels every pain that I feel, is enough for me--to praise Him, for the rest of my life. Hallelujah!

We Know His Name!

"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You." (Psalm 9:10 NKJV)

One of the reasons many people don't know God is because of all the negatives that some have attributed to Him. When people believe the worst of anyone--what they think they know--is a different perspective from one who actually knows.

Our God, The Lord Jesus Christ--is love and therefore, He can only love as a loving Father.

Our God, The Lord Jesus Christ--is the Son of the Father (God in the flesh) and He can only do what He has seen the Father do and say what the Father says.

Our God, The Lord Jesus Christ--is Holy Spirit--the spirit of God living in us--and He will only tell us what He hears the Father say.

How can we put our trust in someone we don't know? Most people cannot and since they cannot trust Him, they choose to refute who He is.

Now, here is the real challenge--why is it that those who claim to know Him and His name, have difficulty fully trusting in all He is and His Word?

If, we as Believers--fully understand and know who He is--we should not have a problem trusting Him--in all things--and never worry about the outcome of anything. Do we worry? Do we have doubts and are overanxious about things over which we cannot control?

I have learned and still learning that when I trust Him--totally trust Him--I can navigate life without concern about what "may" happen next. I know from experience that whatever happens--I will get through it if I just praise Him and trust Him to do what He said He would do--never forsake me, never abandon me, never leave me alone, always guiding me, loving me, setting me in position for victory. I am more than a conqueror through Him because of His love. I can do all things through Him and therefore there is nothing, I cannot do and do well to His glory!

I not only know who He is--His name--I know His attributes and His character and I know beyond a shadow of doubt, that He will never withdraw His love from me.

Thank You, Lord Jesus for love, mercy, and favor--even though I may not be worthy because I sometimes miss the mark, yet Your abiding love keeps me from being perpetually lost to the temptations of this world. It is because I desire to please You above all things that I know I cannot bring shame to Your name, by my actions or attitudes. Thank You for always curbing my tongue and comforting my heart, giving me peace and understanding in how to do those things I must. 

Church Goers!

Why are we really going to church? Is it because we have nothing better to do or is it a social event? Do we think our attendance will reserve our place in heaven or is it just a status thing?

If we’re going to a building, just because it’s Sunday or to Mid-week services, and we’re simply going because it’s the thing to do, we’re wasting our time and taking up space better used for another purpose.

The body of believers of Jesus Christ—all of us—comprises The Church. For many, we assemble in one location to fellowship with other believers and to encourage one another to stay in the faith.

If we think that we have to go to church to worship God—we really don’t know Him.

If we think that we have to go to church to hear The Word—we really don’t know Him.

If we think that we have to go to church to praise Him—we really don’t know Him.

And at about this point—some might comment—Paul tells us “not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together” and he does. But does he say when, or what time? Does he tell us which building to go to when we assemble ourselves together? No, he doesn’t and it doesn’t really matter which building we enter.

What matters the most is this—having a relationship with God, knowing and understanding His purposes for our lives, knowing and understanding His Word so we can increase our faith, every time we hear it. Knowing and understanding His Word is not just for the preachers or the deacons but for every born-again believer—who dares to get to know Him and stay in fellowship with Him.

I am absolutely amazed at the number of people who are involved in “church work” but have no relationship with God. They think only the pastors or church leaders need to know The Word and sit in service after service, getting nothing out of the event other than a time to meet up with folks and to brag about much they do in and for the church. This attitude then—is the result of religious affiliation, rather than being in relationship with God. Of course, before we can claim to have a relationship with God, we must understand and accept the work on the cross, by which we are made joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. And Jesus has said, “No man gets to the Father, but by Him.” He did not say “mother” or “it.” He was clear about God being our Father, but we cannot make this claim until we know Him.

How can we acknowledge someone having a love relationship with us, if we don’t know them? This love relationship is two-fold—God loving us and us loving Him. He said in His Word, that “if we love Him, we’ll keep His commandments.”Now, how can we say we love Him when we do not know what He has said or why he said it? David said it best, “Your Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You!”

I defy anyone who has ever read His Word--with understanding--to claim they can support anyone living in opposition to God’s Word or that they have a relationship with God, but refuse to believe His Word! And for those who want to debate the issue—do this first—read the Gospel of John and Romans—in their entirety, asking God while reading to reveal Himself. Then and only then can a rational discussion be held about being in relationship with God.

If our heart is open to hearing Him when He speaks, we won’t just go to church to be going, but we’ll be anxious to hear more of what has been spoken to the messenger in the building, and not just because he or she is there. Relationship with God, means we hear Him when He speaks and we know when others are not saying what He says.

So, we can go to our buildings whenever we go, but we need to allow Holy Spirit to establish us as part of—The Church—the Body of Believers who need no building before we go. And remember this—our service to God is not in going to the building, but in living the life we proclaim to have with Him and in serving one another as He leads us to do it.

Can I get an Amen? How about an “ouch?”

Once Truth is spoken, whether we believe it or not, accept it or not, God knows all and we will be held accountable for responding to Truth or not as He determines.

He's Doing Amazing Things!

"Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy!" (Psalm 126:3 NLT)

Singing a song of praise for all The Lord has done is as natural to some people as breathing is--when we acknowledge Him.

Throughout the Psalms, we see prayers, songs of contrition, repentance, and praise for all the amazing things He has done for the people He loves.

What I'm reminded of in reading this entire Psalm is that the captivity or bondage of people is a result of willful disobedience on the part of those who are held captive. When we continually ignore God when He speaks through those He has chosen to be a vessel of communication, we reap the consequences of our actions. God has never planned for His people to be held captive, but He allows it when we refuse to turn away from ungodliness and turn back to Him.

And when we turn back to Him, we can reflect upon the time of captivity and understand that even in the state of bondage, He never leaves us, but patiently waits for us to get our act together.

Those who were held in exile rejoiced in returning to their homeland. We, who have been held captive to our fleshly dictates--whatever they are and they are different for different people--can rejoice and sing praises to Him who does all things well for our benefit.

Many are those who were held captive to all sorts of addictions--who lost homes, jobs, family trust--and yet were brought back to a state of total redemption and trust in The Lord for what He allowed them to go through, yet brought them out to His glory.

Many are those who were held captive to their own ideologies when they thought they were based upon sound doctrine, but discovered their faith was in religious affiliation and when they discovered Truth, were turned around and turned to Truth in relationship with God--who loves us so much, He is not willing to see any of us lost or held captive by erroneous beliefs.

Some are held captive to beliefs that their bodies are their own--thinking they can treat them any way they want and still know victory in long life. In spite of illnesses that could have been terminal, God has shown them a different path and now they praise Him with a renewed, energetic outlook of preserving their bodies to His glory.

Yes, our God is truly Amazing--look at how He loves us when we did not love Him. Look at the mercy He bestows upon us when we did not deserve mercy. Look at the favor He has given us with all--even though we did not earn it. He is truly amazing and we praise Him for being our awesome God, doing amazing things for our benefit, when we turn our lives back to living for Him!

Truth That Endures Forever!

"The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever." (Psalm 119:160 NKJV)

God's Word--all of it--from beginning to end is the truth and the truth that must be understood is that each time God spoke to people, He had a specific reason for saying what He said--to those who He was talking, during the time, He was speaking to them.

His decrees, judgments--whatever someone wants to call them--have enduring power and since they do not change, they will be the same as from the beginning until the end.

Jesus--God in the flesh--came to fulfill The Law--of sacrifice for repentance of sin. He did not come to change what God has said and He said, that He could only say what the Father said. Now, we need to see this very clearly. If we believe that God came to earth in the "likeness of sinful flesh" then we would have to understand that since He established His Word, He would not change it--simply because of a change in appearance.

How does Jesus fulfill The Law--by becoming the ultimate sacrifice for the remission of sin. There is no longer any reason for "sacrifices of animals or grain" to be made. The only thing that He expects from us is to fulfill the commandments of Love--Loving Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and Loving one another as we love ourselves.

When we love Him--we will obey Him. When we love others--we will not cause them harm; especially if we know how to love ourselves. The love that is referenced in the Bible is not lust and we know that lust is the reason that people sin against God; their fleshly dictates overrule any desire to please God. For The Word has said, we cannot serve two masters--God of heaven and the god of the this world. Either we function in the spirit or in the flesh. We either do what God says or allow man to manipulate what we do. It is an "either" "or" proposition--submit to God or submit to man.

I choose to submit my ways and thoughts to God so I can receive the benefits and results that God has chosen.

When we learn to make a distinction between love and lust, affiliation with religion and relationship with God, we will hopefully see the need to have a relationship with God rather than affiliation with religion and then--only then--will we see a change in the environment with weather patterns, violence, and unrest, as we return to enjoying the "peace of God" on a daily basis. His peace, surpasses all understanding--is greater than all of man's wisdom. For if we claim to have wisdom and is not the wisdom of God, we actually have nothing.

This is a Truth--based upon God's Word--that will endure forever!

For All Who Believe!

"He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too." (Acts 10:43,45 NLT)

For all those who "think" Believers do not need to understand Jewish history, think again. I am always amazed at the foolish remarks I have often heard some people make--especially as it pertains to the Jewish faith. What many have forgotten--in their quest to speculate about the ethnic background of Jesus--is that He was raised in the Jewish faith, in the culture, and the first converts to "Christianity" were Jews! How could we forget that?

People who simply want to debate "issues" never consider the source--The Word--to either validate or inform their decisions. When we know The Word--we know Jesus--we understand His purpose in coming and the cultural environment in which He was raised. He--Jesus--is the one all the prophets testified about saying "everyone who believes in Him" will have their sins forgiven.

All the prophets would include any prophet who spoke what God said.

Everyone would include anyone who chooses to believe in Jesus, the work on the cross and accepts Him as their personal Savior.

So why are there so many people out there who want to dictate or determine who is saved or not or who can be saved or not? From any walk of life, from any cultural environment, from any denominational situation, none are denied Salvation through Jesus Christ or from being filled with Holy Spirit. Therefore, since the invitation is open to all, none can be superior to anyone else.

No matter what religion is practiced or what denomination a person practices, the only real criteria for being saved and filled with Holy Spirit is that one believes in Him. For with the belief in Jesus Christ, comes the development of a relationship with God and people will know that a relationship with God is not a religion--and no denomination or religious affiliation is superior to another.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NLT)

So, let's stop nitpicking, thinking any one of us is superior to another. We are not! If we believe in Him who came to save us from ourselves, we are family and we should act like we are in the family of love, to His glory!

Heartache!

While I watch the world collide--
Ideas, ideologies, opinions, beliefs,
My heart aches over the time wasted
Trying to convince others which one is right,
When babies are aborted, abused and misused,
Children lost, identity lost, and confused
In the midst of adult angst, not teens,
Who have their lost their way, understanding
Their role to model Godly behavior at all times,
Whether it makes sense or has reason or rhyme.
But my heart aches because in our busyness,
We have forgotten the great love by which
He has shown us and what we should be showing to others.

We can be different and no one right.
We can even the odds with words or a fight,
But until love abides in our hearts, our days will be as night,
With the darkness of evil reigning as selfishness,
And self-centeredness, closes the door and deepens the plight
Of injustice, when we say wrong is right and refuse to ignite
Our lives with the love of God, bringing others into the light,
Developing relationships with Him and others and not
New religions or religious traditions that do nothing more,
Than attempt to control man over man and we leave God
Out of everything we do and wonder how we came to be
In such a mess. My heart aches!

I pray as the tears flow and wonder if God hears,
My pleas to help us get things right with Him so
We can have peace on earth as it is in Heaven, or
Has He reached the place like once before, when
He told Jeremiah, "Don't pray for these people for
I will not hear you!" O Lord, my God, do not forsake
The remnant You said You'd save, that remnant who
Still believes and tries to achieve all that You ask,
And endures the scorn and persecution of completing each task,
Hear us O Lord, see our tears of regret and remorse,
Allow us back into Your presence where we'll be forevermore,
And cut away all this stuff in us that makes us rebel and oppose,
Goodness, inherent in us because of You creating us in Your likeness
That we might do what is needed to keep this relationship right,
Separating daylight from the darkness of night, desiring to know
You better, O my heart aches for the comfort of Your loving arms
Embracing us each day, The safety from which we turned away
To do our own thing, living life as we please, ignoring what You said,
And using our knees for everything but communication with You,
My H E A R T   A C H E S!

Who Will Be Your Witness?

"Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son." (I John 5:9,10 NLT)

If we had to stand trial today and provide evidence that we are who we say we are in Christ, what would be a judge's final ruling?

Who would we call to be our witnesses to support our claim to being a follower of Jesus Christ?

Do we even have any witnesses who could testify on our behalf?

Would we have to find "false witnesses" or would our witnesses tell the truth?

We can lie to ourselves and act like we are "all that" when in fact, we haven't reached a point in our lives where we truly believe we are who we say we are. If we did, the world would be a much better place for if we are truly His, we would know how to change the course of events without violence and hatred and bigotry and know how to encourage all to live according to God's Word, not in opposition of it.

Who will be your witness and can you call them to testify with confidence or will you quake as they speak?

If we truly think about how others perceive us and are willing to look self--in the face--and dare to make whatever changes are necessary, we would have no need to fear what any witness would say about our relationship with Christ.

Something to think about. We can fool ourselves and others, but we cannot fool God! He knows--everything about us!

Trusting In The Name!

"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you." (Psalm 9:10 NLT)

You are the great I Am,
The Mighty Counselor
Rose of Sharon
Lily of the Valley
Jehovah-Jireh, our provider
Jehovah-Rapha, our healer
Jehovah-Nissi, our banner
Jehovah-Elohim,Our Lord, God
Jehovah-Adonai, Lord of Lords
El-Elyon, Most High God
Jehovah-Roi, Our Shepherd,
El-Roi, The God who watches over us
Jehovah-Shalom, Our Peace,
Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Our Righteousness,
El-Shaddai, God All Mighty,
Prince of Peace, Our Deliverer and Savior,
You are everything we need,
Known by many names, but yet the same God,
Who created all things, without You, Nothing could exist,
And we will trust in the name of our God!

The relationship--has to be personal--not distant or disconnected--we have to know who He is our lives and trust Him to be Him and do what He does, best--for all of us!

Is This You?

"Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right.You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say. I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people. My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you." (Psalm 17:2-5 NLT)

Does any of our communication sound like David's prayer?

When we have reflected upon what we do and have done, do we dare ask God to declare us innocent--knowing He sees everything we do, knows our hearts and certainly knows our hearts? Can we realistically say to Him, "You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong?"

Considering we are saved by grace--not because of anything we done to deserve God's favor, but because of who He is--our sins are forgiven and we have a right to declare whatever it is we want to Him.

When we understand we are forgiven for those things we did when we did not have a relationship with Him, it is so much easier to understand David's declaration. It is also easy to understand the importance of "staying on the path" which God has established, not following evil people or trends, and not wavering from following His directions.

We know what and who we were--notice the past tense--before we knew and understood Him.

I refer to some aspects of my life as my "BC" time--before I had understanding of Christ and what He has done for me. I am now living in my "AC" time--after obtaining understanding of who He is and grateful for what He has done and is doing for me. 

If we never acknowledge that we have done anything that needs to be forgiven, how can a forgiving God, forgive us? If we never obtain a relationship with Him, how can we expect to communicate with Him--knowing He knows all about us and loves us anyway? If we never change our ways, how can we expect to be a beacon of light in the darkness that pervades the earth so others will come to know Him? Can we be like David and make such declarations?

David was not perfect by a long shot and neither are we, but right now--I declare I am the righteousness of God; I am redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; I am forsaking all those people who might lead me astray; I am staying on the path that God has set me upon and I will not be moved! I am Blessed and highly favored and never alone because He is always with me!

Is this you?

I Am All That God Says I Am available on http://www.amazon.com/Mary-M-Hall-Rayford/e/B00BAW31CQ/