Where Are The Watchmen (Part 4)

"Therefore, son of man, say to your people, 'If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person's former righteousness will count for nothing. And if some who is wicked repents, that person's former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.' If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. And if I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' but they then turn away from their sin and do is just and right--if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil--that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live. Ezekiel 33:12-16 NIV

It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not keep it.

The sinner has a better chance of making it to heaven once they repent--turning completely away from their sin and turning to God than the self-righteous who claimed to know God and yet will not live according to God's ways--loving all!

What we see in Washington with the religious-right GOP (including trump is neither a Christian or Republican)--are those who proclaim to know God, yet do not know how to live Godly lives.

We know from God's Word that He hates liars and lies.

We know from God's Word that when the righteous turn to evil, they have lost their claim to heaven.

We know from God's Word that He came down to earth in the likeness of sinful flesh to take sin upon Himself so we might be saved.

We know from God's Word that it is better for us if we never claim to know God than to claim to know Him and then reject His ways.

This is what happens when we study God's Word: we know! Only those who never study, never understand, can refute the truth of God's Word and humiliate themselves in front of others. 

My take from the above-mentioned passage of scripture is that Pence is leading the pack (Sessions, Gorsuch, Ryan, McConnell, et al) of those who claim to be righteous, but are trusting in their own righteousness and rejecting God's Word--to love. If they were truly righteous, they would defend the rights of the poor and the needy, embrace all human life and encourage love for one another. This is not what they do. They make distinctions as to who they'll care about and who they'll reject. They choose corporations and generous donors over the needs of Everyday Americans.

At the moment, they (GOP) are rejecting: any and all persons who do not look like them, worship like them or live like them. Though they claim to be "pro-life" they are actually, pro-fetus because they care less about the life after it appears and we know this by all the legislation they promote that denies access to healthcare for the poor, education for the poor, and opportunity to gain wealth since they want to hoard all the wealth for themselves.

The GOP want to defund Planned Parenthood, an organization that serves the poor and women. They claim their stance against abortion is why, but if they impede women from having access to birth control and other services that helps to keep living (cancer screening, etc.), they prove they are misogynistic and nowhere in the Bible are we told to mistreat women.

So, in Christ Jesus (those believing and living according to His Word) you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29 NIV (parenthetical is mine). 

We know that many of the "religious-right" confuse Old Testament historical knowledge with "contemporary application," but that's because they do not understand what their relationship with Christ should produce.  Yes, we can look back at what God said through the prophets and apply what much is said to us in the 21st Century. That is for our understanding, not our doing. God used the prophets to speak to the people "before" He appeared in the earth. It is because of His appearance in the earth and His return to heaven, leaving behind His Spirit--that we can "all" have access to Him, directly.

Okay, I know some will be offended by what I've already said, but I will not retract any of it. People are offended by truth especially when truth reveals their hypocrisy. I will speak His truth no matter how many are offended for people have neither heaven or hell for me--only God does. I'm not sacrificing my mansion to appease people. And those who do--turn from righteousness to wickedness and evil--have a place reserved for them, too-- in the lake of fire.

We should carefully consider who we put into positions of authority and power and know by their love for others whether or not they belong to Christ. If they have no love for others, they cannot rightfully claim a relationship with Christ. Pause and meditate on that and willingly receive truth about the nation's leaders in Washington. Time to make a change.

God Has Plans For Evil!

Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you are a disgrace in the eyes of God? You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue! Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you form the land of the living. The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying, Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others! (v.1-7)
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. Psalm 52 NIV

I could stop right here and say nothing more. Those who have discerning spirits can see how The Word (v 1-7) applies to our current resident in the Oval Office.

Think back to all the campaign rhetoric spewed (most of which GOPers say we shouldn't give much credence). Think about all the evil trump encouraged and spouted about every one of his opponents.

Think about all the hateful merchandise sold at his hate-filled rallies and all the hateful chants ignited by him and other spokespersons like Michael Flynn and Jeff Sessions as well as others. Think about it and reflect upon it and then connect the dots to what we see--the reality of the rhetoric--alive and well in the White House.

We know Russia hijacked the election for trump and trump and key Republicans collaborated in the effort--which is why none of the House or Senate GOP have much to say about the disgraceful mess unfolding from the White House. They knew and they wanted power so badly they went along with it. The bad part is--they were instrumental in convincing the Evangelical leaders to go along with their madness. And if any of the "Religious Right" are still supporting this administration, they prove they hate America and all we stand for.

No knowledge of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or Declaration of Independence has been demonstrated by trump. He has no knowledge of history and certainly not of geography (aptly demonstrated in both trips abroad).

His voice patterns indicate his ineptness at understanding the importance of "reading material" before trying to give it as a speech before the public. He is slow--hesitant--and indicates a lack of understanding how to pronounce certain words. In the presence of truly powerful men--his tone is submissive, not firm and assertive; but at his rallies, he practically screams because he knows those who attend are the undereducated and ill-informed and won't challenge his knowledge about anything. They just accept.

But the last two verses in this Psalm should serve as encouragement for the righteous--those who try to live right before God without committing the atrocities we see committed by trump. We will flourish in the presence of God and all those who committed evil and plotted the destruction of American democracy. We shall be victorious in coming elections and we shall be wise in our selection of people who should lead us for coming generations, so we'll never see the likes of this type of evil again, in America.

I'm Mary Hall-Rayford, and I approve this message. I hope after reviewing the information on my FaceBook page (www.facebook.com/YesIAm2020) , you'll support my effort to bring respect back to the White House and put America back in its rightful place on the world stage--front and center.

In Hot Pursuit!

 

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. A fool spurns a parent's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin. The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die. Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord--how much more do human hearts! Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise. A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. Proverbs 15:1-14 NIV

Throughout life--once we reach an age of accountability--we learn that every decision we make, everything we say has a tendency to shape who we are and the paths we take. Even when we make mistakes, the mistakes made shape us--helping us to arrive at better decision-making--if we pay attention.

In order to reach our destination or planned goals, we must retain a desire to pursue--the goal, the prize, the end result that keeps our dreams alive. In other words, we must be in hot pursuit of whatever it is we desire, if we are to obtain that which we desire.

If we are pursuing happiness, we must determine exactly what it is that makes us happy. For many people that will be different things. Some want riches and others simply want peace and tranquility.
Some want fame and some wish to live in virtual obscurity. Just as a person pursues fame--relentlessly--others pursue obscurity just as relentless in their pursuit because they choose to live in the background of life and not the foreground.

Though I've never sought the limelight for any reason, I have sought peace within myself and my surroundings. I am not an argumentative person, but I will stand and defend my positions on anything. I do not provoke animosity, but I will defend and protect myself and others from the onslaught of hatred, vigorously.

I was reminded in a phone conversation on yesterday about some of the things I've done in life and the person's conclusion about me was--I have always stuck my neck out to help others--even to the point of sacrificing my own needs.

I have not always agreed with other people, but I have learned how to disagree, agreeably and maintain relationships with those who desired maintenance of the relationship.

Here I am, today and in the days to come, seeking support of a presidential run for 2020 from those who have come to know me through my blog posts and understand exactly where I stand on the issues that challenge Everyday Americans. Though there have been clashes regarding ideology, I would like to think those clashes won't be a foundation to ignore each other.

At any rate--I am in hot pursuit--of righteousness and in garnering support for a chance in having a forum to see real change in America that will benefit all.

If you're inclined to agree--check out the following sites: www.everydayamericans2020.com and www.facebook.com/YesIAm2020 and let me know what you think and what your challenges are.

If you're not inclined to agree--you won't discover how much I care about Everyday Americans and why I want to serve them.

Persist With Righteousness!

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done."To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:1-11 NIV

The Word speaks for itself--when people have a heart to receive by allowing Holy Spirit to reveal it. But then, there are some--who think they know and don't.

Karma is about to play a big role in our government. All those who wrongly judged President Obama and Hillary Clinton are about to see what the Hamanesque effect is all about.

This is not my judgment against anyone--though I have been speaking for months about the crisis in the White House with an incompetent leader at the helm. It is notable to see how God's Word applies to every aspect of our lives--whether we realize it or not.

I encourage folks to strengthen a right relationship with God--not religious institutions or political party--but in assuring access to Heaven through Jesus Christ. When we fully understand how powerful love is--we'll be able to live in peace and harmony--defending the rights of the poor and needy.

We see the results of those who have apparently "pledged their allegiance and loyalty to an incompetent leader" in order to faithfully represent a political party ideology, rather than faithfully representing their constituents in positions of leadership in our country. Greed for power and money changes people and see it every day in Washington, DC. No longer do those elected leaders care about the voters who put them there; they only care about their own agenda--to make themselves richer.

It's time for a change and we must persist in righteousness in all we do. We can and we shall change the landscape in this country and elect people who care more about their constituents than they do about their own personal agendas--driven by hatred.

Never Shaken!

LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken. Psalm 15 NIV

If we do what is said in The Word, we will never be shaken!

So what happens, if we don't do what's said in The Word?

Where is God's sacred tent? The heavens are His and those who live according to His Word and His Judgment will dwell with Him forever. Heaven is my home (my true resting place).

Those whose walk is blameless--we should be living epistles, read of men--and what they see should reflect who God is. This does not mean we--mere human beings are perfect--but we recognize our own shortcomings, acknowledge our fallibility, and apologize when we are wrong. This is what a righteous person does.

Who's speaking truth from their heart? Those who know The Lord--know that God is not a man that He should lie and that He is the same--yesterday, today, and forever for He has said, "I change not." It is men who change their minds--consistently--to the point that one could say, no one knows what men will do next. Since hearts are so fickle, can any human being speak truth from their heart if their heart is filled with the love of God, and truth of His Word? No--we cannot--for without His guidance, our knowledge and wisdom are faulty.

Whose tongue utters no slander--can we expect to live with God if we deliberately tell lies about others and even when proven wrong--refuse to back down--admitting we lied? No, we cannot slander others--allowing our egos to rule us and still expect to live for all eternity with God.

Can we treat our neighbors with contempt and show ourselves "unfriendly" when they make attempts to fortify longstanding alliances? No, if we do not respect and honor our neighbors--"love your neighbor as yourself"--we cannot expect to maintain alliances or to dwell in Heaven. President Obama was slandered by 45 and no one in the White House thinks he is owed an apology--since none is forthcoming.

Can we cast slurs on others and still expect to make into Heaven? No--we cannot accuse others of doing something they did not do--without apology or acknowledgment of our being wrong. The British Intelligence Community was accused of doing something they did not do simply because of a lack of knowledge and investigation on the part of the White House team.

It would appear that 45 honors the vile person in Russia and yet despises the honorable in America--President Obama, our Intelligence Community, and our federal judges.

Anyone with seeing eyes and hearing ears can see that 45 has failed to keep his oath of office--when he puts his own personal interest (family/business) or those of his billionaire buddies ahead of the best interest of all Americans.

He has no interest in assisting the poor and with the proposed budget and changes in healthcare--he actually will oppress the poor.

We also know that 45 bribes and has been bribed and has no problem with the concept.

And that is why the White House has been shaken--they are operating on overdrive trying to combat all the negative publicity generated by the shortsighted 45 and his relentless ego-driven tweets. Not only are they shaken, but they can rest assured--they will not dwell for all eternity with God.

For the rest of us--as long as we do what God says and speak His Truth--we will never be shaken by unfolding events.

Let The Lord Lead!

Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, LORD, detest. But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.  Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Psalm 5 NIV

Is the Lord leading our already great nation? Too many (without express guidance from God) are saying that God is using Trump to bring people back to Him! Does God need to use deceitful tactics to bring awareness of who He is? Does God need to take "choice" from us to bring people to Him?

If that was the plan (and I sincerely doubt it), it's not working. More people are turning away from those bastions of religious ardor than ever before. In fact, the attitude of a number of people is borderline hatred for anyone claiming to be a Christian. I was told that I couldn't be a Democrat and a Christian. When I asked the person who said this, "why not" they responded by saying Democrats don't believe in the bible.

NEWSFLASH! From what I see of Republican behavior, they are the ones who don't believe in the Bible. Oh sure, they "select" a few talking points to justify what they do, but the bible should not be used for talking points, but righteous living before God. If a person spewing forth cherry-picked scriptures are not living The Word, what they say means absolutely nothing. They are not letting The Lord lead them anywhere other than to "seize opportunities to control the masses," just like the Pharisees.

The more I talk to Believing Christians (not the pseudo-Christians--who profess a form of godliness, but know not God), the more I realize that people are running from those who claim to be Christians but don't want to love others.

Let me see if I can make a case what I see and believe (based upon The Word). The first thing I look at in The Word is knowing what I'm supposed to do--Love God and love others.  God gives each of us the right to choose what we do and He honors our choices--and leaves us to receive the consequences of our choices--good or bad. This is why I am Pro-Choice (which does not mean I am pro-abortion as some are saying--promoting the lie that a person cannot be pro-choice and a Christian).

According to The Word--Christians are to defend the rights of the poor and the needy, those who are vulnerable and don't have a platform to fight for themselves. I have been involved with non-profits and in volunteering for many years--making sure the rights of others are not trampled and that they have access to what they need. This is the Christian walk--always considering the needs of others above self. Do we see that from Republicans or the rats scurrying around the White House?

Do I love God? More than life itself and have enjoyed serving Him. If He called me home right now, I would not be concerned about His final words to me for I know, I'll hear, "Well done."

How do I know this? I say what God says and do what He tells me to do. When I allow Him to lead, I cannot go wrong. Does He always take the road I'd like to take? No, and I often wonder why I can't go the way I want to go. I can--He doesn't force us to do anything nor does He make choices for us. He has planned our lives (Jeremiah 23:11) and if we want to obtain what He has planned, we must believe Him and follow His directions, not man's.

How about loving others? Not a problem--I know how to love because of the love He pours into my heart--unconditionally, even the unlovable. That doesn't mean that I like what others do or condone lifestyles that are not of God. I discovered a long time ago that we encourage people to come to Christ by how we treat them, not by preaching them into hell. Christ loves the sinner--so can I--but I don't become a sinner to show them Christ; I live what I say I believe. If people don't want to change who they are or what they do--they won't and that's not on me. My responsibility ends with my representation of who Christ is, not whether they accept and believe it.

And herein lies the problem with the "representation" of who He is by Republicans who promote a liar-in-chief. Many who have straddled the fence in coming to terms with Christianity have now chosen the other side--alongside the non-believers and atheists because they want no part of "Christianity" as demonstrated by pseudo-christians. I refuse to be a hypocrite, listen to them or support them since they lie to themselves and others about who they are.

That is truly the sad part. When people have an opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ, they have chased people away with their attacks and delusional beliefs that God would choose a mentally incompetent pathological liar to lead millions of people--into total chaos, pulling apart families, making people fearful and obstructing justice to try to keep their wrong-doings hidden. That doesn't sound like the God of Heaven to me and it certainly doesn't demonstrate who He is.

Fortunately for me and a number of others, we won't have to answer to God for this folly when we stand before Him. On a daily basis, I seek The Lord for guidance and implore Him to help me get through another day, without resorting to the tactics I see from others. That does not mean I won't use every avenue open to me to point out the hypocrisy of those in leadership positions or to let them know--they lie and mislead and we see it. I thank God for Him keeping my words--civil (just barely, but He does rein me in) so I don't come across as a hypocrite.

My criticism of those in White House and on Capitol Hill is justified and needed in order to bring them to a place where if they never respond to me or others; they will not be able to stand before God and say, "they didn't realize they were wrong." There are a number of us who remind them on a daily basis that what they're doing is wrong. We can't make them do right, but we can keep letting them know just how wrong they are and we do.

Whenever anyone attempts to violate a person's rights--in Christ or according to the Constitution, they are wrong.  Using bullying tactics and deceitful strategies and bribery to get others to do what they want is wrong. Separating families who have committed no crimes and just want the opportunity to have a better life is wrong. Yeah, yeah, I know there is a "legal" way to obtain entrance into this country, but desperate people often do desperate things in order to save the lives of their family--especially when children are involved. So what happened to "defending the rights of the poor and needy?" With those who love Christ and have more love to share with others, we're doing just that. It's the others--the pseudo-christians--who are not being led by The Lord.

We Wear What We Are!

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. Zechariah 3:3-7 NIV

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, Ephesians 6:14 NIV

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 NIV

Whatever is in our heart is what will overflow,

What we say comes from its abundance,

What we do represents what we think,

What others see is who we really are.

Lord, help us to be more like You,

So You will be seen, not us!

The image others see

Should be You and not me,

Not others, on this journey, life.

Shower us with the love we need,

From above, abiding within,

Guiding our thoughts, words and deeds.

Seeing Beyond The Moment!

In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues. Praise be to the LORD, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege. In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.  Love the LORD, all his faithful people! The LORD preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:20-24 NIV

I can only imagine how some people may feel when they make "unpopular" but right decisions.
Today, I want to encourage all those who know The Lord to maintain your stance in righteousness and trust Him to fight all the battles that are looming before you.

With God going before you, He is more than the world against you. And that includes: The bullying celebrities, the bullying corporations, and the all the rest of the ungodly who promote living in opposition to God's Word.

Remember that doing the right thing--even when it goes against the grain of what society thinks is right--is better than caving to popular opinion and going against God.

I have no idea of what the relationship with God is for those who are in positions to make "right decisions" for the majority and are facing ridicule and scorn. I pray they are seeking God's wisdom in all they do and know that as long as they do the right thing, they can count on Him to provide for their every need.

For the bullies: "Shame on you on making a punitive decision for the masses in order to support the few." I pray the bullies will gain understanding of how illogical their move was and see how they are creating divides that may never close because of the anger resulting from their bullying.

When we know that God is our source--of prosperity, wealth, and health--we can survive the enemy's tactics and thrive in his presence. Hold fast, be very courageous and do all that honors God, not man.

Great is our God and greatly to be praised! He is in our midst and no weapon or threat by bullies against righteousness will prevail against those who love The Lord!

Why Jesus Said, "The Spirit of Truth Will Remind You!"

"But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you." (John 16:13-15 NIV)

The promise of Holy Spirit, our Advocate, Comforter, and Counselor--to those who follow Christ was not just for the disciples of that day, but for all who believe Him because of them. At the time Jesus was telling them about the role of Holy Spirit, He did so because He knew His time here on earth was just about up, but He didn't want His disciples to be discouraged in His physical absence. A number of things led up to this conversation, but what makes it worthwhile is knowing, we also have access to all Jesus promised through Holy Spirit. But this is why He said it.

John 16:7-12

v. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you.

v.8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:

v.9 about sin, because people do not believe in me;

v.10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;

v.11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

v.12 I have much more to say to you, more than you can bear."

The time was now at hand which the prophets predicted. Jesus was about to submit Himself for the ultimate sacrifice for sin and it was time for Him to return to heaven. But He wanted His disciples to know, they would not be left without benefit of His continued guidance in all things.

Everything He had told them about sin--Holy Spirit would bring back to their remembrance and they would see the results of sin because people did not believe Him. What most people do not understand about what Jesus said about sin was He included all sin, not the variations of sin. When the religious leaders brought the woman who was supposedly caught in the act of adultery, He told her to go and SIN no more. He did not make a distinction between fornication, or other sexual immorality or anything else. He did not say, don't commit any more SINS, He said SIN no more. Don't do anything that is a sin according to God's Word! For those who know His purpose in being here, we know that's what He meant. And that is why He said, there would be this continuous debate about sin, because people don't believe Him. If we love Him, we'll obey Him.

He said Holy Spirit would guide all who believe Him in righteousness--not self-righteousness-but leading all to be in right-standing with God. In order to be in right standing with God, one must know what God has said and be willing to stand on His Word for all times--no matter what current trends may abound. In fact, Paul tells us we are not to conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ Jesus. Paul understood that the enemy first attacks and influences the minds of people and then behavior follows the thoughts of their minds. If we have the mind of Christ--through relationship with Him, then we stand on God's Word and will not fall prey to the enemy's deceptions.

Then, as for judgment--judgment has already made against the prince of this world--the god of this world, Satan, the prince of darkness (always influencing people to try to hide their wrong-doing), the devil--by whatever name he is known, the lake of fire has already been prepared for him and now he seeks to influence others so he won't burn alone.

Because He understood that He had given His disciples much to think about and He knew they did not fully understand, He decided not to overwhelm them with more teachings, but assured them that Holy Spirit would continue to teach them and remind them of all they had been taught and show them things to come.

I can imagine that every person who has ever read the Bible in its entirety, more than once--has been overwhelmed by the abundance of information. And most people have their own method of reading and reading in order to get the most out of it the content and understanding the intent. All of the sins--as God gave them--are enumerated in Deuteronomy 28--which I refer to as the book of blessings and curses. Of course they are explained in detailed throughout Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, as well as the rest of Deuteronomy. But as I said, there is much than can overwhelm
and simplicity usually leaves its mark.

The bottom line is this--God has a blueprint for our living--designed to put us in a position to prosper, not harm us so we would have a future and our children's children would have a great future as well. We were meant to have generational blessings, but for those who won't obey, they have been destined for generational curses. It's time to break the curses, but it can only be done out of obedience to God's Word, not political correctness, or succumbing to Satan's agenda.
Holy Spirit is here--to remind us, to guide us, to comfort us and to be our Advocate when we need Him.

More about what Jesus said and why, next time.

Why Jesus said, "Blessed Are You When People Insult You!"

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." (Matthew 5:11 NIV)

In this passage of scripture, which is notably called, The Sermon on the Mount, crowds of people had been following Jesus, listening to His proclamation of Good News, and paying attention to His healing the sick. He went upon the mountain side and sat down and when His disciples came to Him, He taught them. Notice all that is said, before He gets to our scripture reference for today.

Matthew 5:3-10--Commonly referred to as the Beatitudes (What our attitude should be):

vs.3 Blessed are the poor IN SPIRIT, for theirs (strength is in Jesus) is the kingdom of heaven.
vs.4 Blessed are those who mourn (grieve over the loss of a loved one) for they WILL BE COMFORTED.
vs.5 Blessed are the meek (those who have no need to bring attention to themselves) for they will INHERIT the earth.
vs.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS (doing what is right before God), for they will be filled.
vs.7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be SHOWN mercy (new mercies every day).
vs.8 Blessed are the pure in heart (have a heart for God), they WILL SEE GOD.
vs.9 Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS, for they will be called children of God.
vs.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of RIGHTEOUSNESS, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

I have detailed explanations of these blessings in myBook.to/IAMALLTHAT 

All these Jesus said to those who follow Him and all these are still relevant today for all who follow Him.

The references to righteousness is for those in right standing with God, not because of their own righteousness, because we no no righteousness of ourselves. These are the people who know what God has said and endeavor to obey Him in all things. When they miss the mark, they are quick to repent--turning away from the thing(s) they did which did not please God. We who choose to come to God (the disciples came to Him) and listen and obey are blessed no matter what our individual circumstances are.

Knowing how other people--who don't know Him would treat those who follow Him--the blessings He confers are to encourage us when we are belittled, and ridiculed because of our faith in Him. And then He goes on to say in vs. 12 "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." In other words, those who have been speaking God's Word to nations long before we came on the scene were ridiculed, and killed because they spoke what God spoke to them.

Beloved, there is so much more that Jesus said, and I encourage all who don't know Him to get to know Him through His Word. For those of us who know, we must simply keep saying what God said--knowing that one plants the seed of righteousness and direction to Jesus, another waters, and we wait to see God's increase.

What's Growing In Your Garden?

“I am against you,” declares the LORD Almighty. “I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness and the kingdoms your shame." (Nahum 3:5 NIV)

Who is the Lord against? The inhabitants of Ninevah who were living in opposition to God's Will.
Jonah was sent to Ninevah to warn them they were about to face the wrath of God and the people repented, but later turned back to the ways of evil and the city was destroyed.

That was then, this is now. Is there a place or people to whom the Lord is saying, "I am against you?"
Before I answer this question, let me explore how history is repeating itself. Many have warned the nations against their wicked ways, but most have refused to listen. Throughout man's history, whenever flesh dictated reason, people lived outside the will of God. Many were the prophets who spoke what God gave them and though some heard them, many did not and because the prophets spoke against evil and wickedness, many of them were killed. They were killed by those in authority who did not wish to stop wickedness--primarily that of worshipping idol gods which included sexual immorality and sacrificing of children.

Small wonder these practices continued since those in charge were evil incarnate. Moving to the 21st century, do we not have those in authority who are more concerned about appeasing man's fleshly appetites for evil than God's Will? Absolutely! Not much has changed when fleshly dictates override the spirit--the constant war between flesh and spirit--good and evil--and those who promote evil--living in opposition to God, will have much to answer for in the end.

Now, back to the question as to whether or not God is saying He is against some.  Yes, He is and we who know The Word--have a right relationship with Him--know this and are warning the nations, but once again, not many are listening. And once again, we shall see the wrath of God--His removal of His hand of protection--from all who are against Him--and He knows those who are His Children. All we need to do is go back and review history--not just the Bible, but remember the bible is a summary of the history of man.

Either we are for God--living according to His Word or we are against Him--living in opposition to His Word. God knows where we stand and so do we--if we're honest with ourselves. Of course, those who are influenced by the god of this world--are blinded to the Truth of God's Word and they have managed to spread evil like wind-blown seed into high places, planting more evil everywhere the seed lands.

It is time for the gardeners--to pluck up the weeds of evil--and plant the seeds of goodness, righteousness, and love for God and His people. Wherever we see the seeds of evil sprouting, we pluck them up and replace them with God's Truth for His love is shed abroad in our hearts and because we love Him, we obey Him.

Now, who do you think God will be against? The gardeners of righteousness or those who deliberately plant seeds of evil? We do have a choice and it's time to make the right one if we plan to reign with Jesus. Today, not tomorrow, is the time for change in what we plant.

And The Beat Goes On!

Today's broadcast overrun by Holy Spirit! You have to hear it to believe!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/maryandtyrone/2015/01/29/and-the-beat-goes-on

The Lord Determines Righteousness!

"And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith."

There are many things that many people do and believe that makes them believe they are righteous. The problem with what we believe that makes us anything is that if it does not align with God's Word, it doesn't count.

The works of our hands--do not make us righteous in the eyes of the Lord.

We cannot just say--things that will keep us in right standing with God.

We cannot just do--works of repentance that will keep us in right standing with God.

It is our faith in God and in what He has said that keeps us in right standing with God. Our faith and belief have to align with God's Word no matter what "people" say or do. If our faith is in man--any church leader--male or female--then our faith is misplaced. There is no human being who has obtained the Wisdom of God to the point they are wiser than God.

We must be careful then in whom we place our faith. Man--in all the fickleness of mind--changes what they believe and attempt to change all others who have demonstrated faith in them.

We cannot have more faith in our flawed political system or our imperfect politicians than God.

We cannot have more faith in the justice system or the justices who are appointed to be just when they are not, when they oppose God.

We cannot have more faith in our spouses than we have in God because mere human beings are subject to imperfection.

When our faith--nothing wavering--is completely centered in God, we cannot go wrong and He will count us as righteous because we are totally reliant upon Him to guide us in all things.

No matter what the Pope says, the Supreme Court Justices say, the President says, the church leaders, the legislators, the ACLU, community activists, no one should have the final say over what we do or in whom we have faith. If our faith is misplaced because of following people, then we surely cannot please God. If we have developed and established a Relationship with God, we will hear Him when He speaks and know that He is the only One we can be sure of--He never changes His mind.

Lord Jesus, help us to understand and to keep our focus on You so You will count us as righteous in Your sight because of our faith in You!

Hollywood's Harvest!

"Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." (Galatians 6:7,8 NLT)

My daughter recently got upset over the fact that there was nothing on television worth watching on a Thursday night--she was so disgusted that she started using the hastag #justunplug. Now, she's thinking about starting a crusade against all the "junk" on television and of course, I'll join her.

What junk? All of the shows that revel in revealing all manner of sexual promiscuity--Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, Modern Family, all the soap operas (left), the seamy reality shows that are not real at all and many, many more. With all of this junk on television (with no real story-lines or plots, just a promotion of ungodly behavior), why are we amazed at the moral decay we see on a regular basis in our homes and communities?

Teens are "exploring" their sexuality because of the junk they see on television and then everyone is complaining about the rise in sexually transmitted diseases. But then--we celebrate teen-motherhood by promoting people--specifically Bristol Palin--as a "star" simply because she had a baby as a teenager! What is this world coming to--the pathway of destruction and we will all reap the harvest planted by Hollywood.

Toddlers and pre-schoolers (encouraged by their godless parents and psychologists) are claiming to want to be another gender and the world is standing by applauding because the babies and their parents are riding into the limelight on television.

We glorify same-sex relationships and demonize anyone who opposes them and because Believers won't take a firm stand on Gods Word--the opposition's harvest is abundantly covering the planet. Hollywood would not be so successful if they did not have willing, demoralized people--waiting with baited breath to see what else they (Hollywood) can do to take us further into degradation.

And the other junk that has absolutely mesmerized people--werewolves, vampires, and walking dead (now there's an oxymoron). We have truly become a universe of walking dead--dead to the leading of the Holy Spirit and anything remotely promoting Godly living. We sit back and complain and criticize all the young people who get caught in drugs, sexual promiscuity, deadly games to get attention, wife-swapping (like that's supposed to be normal) and raising children in environments that are not conducive to "norms" and yet we get upset when they act out what they see on television.

Hollywood--its writers and producers and directors--will have to stand before the Lord one day, just as we will and give an account of their actions. The only way we will ever see a change in what we see on the news is to "unplug" from the decadent godlessness we see on television and in the movies, and "plug" into The Word and allow Holy Spirit to lead us back to a path of righteousness. If we, as Believers, won't stand up for what is right, we will all reap from the harvest of decay that Hollywood has planted!

Father, create us in a renewed spirit and mind to want to serve You in all Godliness, setting aside any desire to promote Satan's agenda. Lead us in tearing down the harvest of decay and planting the seeds of righteousness so the world will indeed become a better place. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

Smooth Path Ahead!

"But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them" (Isaiah 26:7 NLT).

Trying to do what is right all the time can sometimes be a challenge for most of us. We're humans--subject to err and as such--subject to do really dumb things. While the things we do may be dumb, they don't have to be wrong. We must endeavor at all times to stay in right standing with God--not because we're so good, but because He is.

Many people often confuse being in right standing with God (righteous) as being "self-righteous" and miss the mark when others are completely turned off by their attitudes. We have no righteousness we can claim of our own--the only righteousness we have is His and it is because of Him that we can--when in right relationship with Him--be in right standing with Him, because of Him--not us.

So why bother to do right? When we do the right thing for the right reasons, our journey through life--is not "steep or rough" (no mountains to overcome) and He smooths our path ahead of us so we won't trip and fall over any obstacles the enemy may put in our way. That's our loving Father, always looking out for us--making sure we can make it to our destiny--fulfilling the plans He has made for us--to prosper, be in good health, and in promoting the Gospel! Hallelujah to our Risen King and Loving Father!

When the way gets tough (not of your own doing), don't despair--the way gets smoother just ahead--believe and achieve it to His glory and don't you dare try taking another path that He has not prepared for you! (Hmmm. Maybe the rocky paths we experience are because we are not on the paths He set before us).

Contemplate deeply about the path you're travelling and know with certainty that if the path has been rocky, you're on the wrong path. Allow Him to guide you to the path He has smoothed and removed anything that is not of Him!

As always, I welcome your comments and pray that you are indeed on the right path--the one He chose for you!

Surrounded With His Favor!

"Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:12 NIV)
The fact that being in right-standing with God puts one in position to be a recipient of His favor should not surprise or amaze anyone. Everyone wants to walk in His favor, but how many are willing to do what is right in order to be in right-standing with God? The amazing fact is that so many either do not have a clue as to what it means to be in right-standing with God or they do not care and refuse to do what is right.
Let's face it--there are a lot of people who believe they are in right-standing with God because of their own "self-righteousness." These are the people who take it upon themselves to judge (unjustly) everyone else who is not living according to their standards. For some reason, they feel they have the right to set standards for others when in fact--their own relationship with God is non-existent--they have a relationship with religion, not with God. The real problem is--they do not know the difference.
When people are in right-standing with God and have an established, maintained relationship with God--not only do they know and understand The Word--they live it. They are loving, forgiving, full of mercy and compassion and yet they tell people the Truth about God's Word without condemning them. When people only know how to spew The Word at others because of what "they see" they are extremely judgmental and quick to send people to hell, without realizing the danger which they put themselves of ending up there.
Not one of us walking on the face of the earth can "send anyone to hell." If a person ends up in hell it is because of their choices, not our decisions. If those "hell-senders" really had a relationship with God and not religion, they would know that God doesn't intend for anyone to be in hell other than Satan, but the provision was made for those who "choose" to follow Satan.
Okay--so there are consequences for our behavior--that determine where we spend eternity--heaven or hell. While I cannot speak for others, I can say with assurance that I am heaven-bound; not because of any righteousness that I have attained, but because of my relationship with God and being in right-standing with Him. I have received His love, know how to give love and to love all, forgive, have mercy and compassion for others and can and do teach the uncompromised Word of Truth. Whether people receive The Word of Truth is up to them--it is my responsibility to teach it, not to make others receive it and live it. That is being in right-standing with God.
Therefore, I am surrounded with His favor because of my willingness to be in right-standing with Him. Glory to God! I pray all get into the position to know--with assurance--what their standing is with God.
Getting into The Word for yourself puts you into good position to know and receive all God has for you!

Standing In Right Relationship!

"The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble" (Psalm 37:38 NIV).

Many who come to know,
God in His infinite wisdom,
And learn how to show,
Others, they stand for what He says,
Rather than flicker back and forth,
Never knowing how to be a stable light,
Diminishing the dark, always ready to fight
The good fight of faith, head held high
When walking and voice strong when talking
About the goodness and mercy of The Lord.
Winning the battle without use of sword,
Made by hands, but by love and the Word
Of God which remains for all time,
No matter what man does or doesn't do,
God's Word will stand, His name remains
On the lips of all who know and love
Him and others, right or wrong. We are
Made strong in Him when we are weak in our
Own strength and we can defeat the enemy
With love and obedience to Him who created
All things and without Him nothing was
Or will be established in the earth, For it is
Through Him, we obtain our worth, winning
Souls, keeping them from the fiery hell that
Satan has planned for mankind since he dwells
In the hearts of all who choose to disobey,
And rebel against the All-knowing Savior,
Who came to save those who were lost, but
Now has given each of us a job to do,
And we must be about Our Father's business,
Making sure sinners know without Him they
Have no hope, but with Him all things are possible
When we stand in right relationship with God!
Standing Up For All God Says--Doing Things His Way,
Loving all--Him first, each and every day, My Commitment
To Him and all of His children so we can enjoy eternity together!

How we know!

For those who know God and understand that "all scripture" is given by inspiration, for correction and exhortation so we will know how to live a life that is pleasing to God.

"But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister" (I John 3:5-10 NIV)

Don't let anyone deceive you into believing that God has changed His mind about what sin is or what it does. People change their minds about what they want to believe and sometimes--the change is to justify actions that are totally against what God says. Regardless of the reason for people changing their minds--sin is still sin and God is still the same God who says in His Word that "He changes not."

Those who know Him--know His Word--and live His Word because of our relationship with Him--developed over time and in deep commitment to please Him, not self. We know how to love--all, unconditionally--and because we love--we promote the Truth of God's Word!

Those who do not know Him--but profess a "belief" in Him--have only a surface knowledge without relationship, but fully religious. They attempt to justify their actions and their influence in others to do not live right (according to God's Word) by saying things like--"Jesus was all about love, He doesn't care what we do." What a fallacy! Jesus is all about love and it was because of His Love that He was willing to sacrifice Himself for us! He cares! He demonstrated that He has not stopped loving us because His Words resonate with those of us who Know Him--"...go and sin no more."

Get into the Word, know what God says, and make a decision to live God's Word--loving all and not committing acts of sin under the guise of ignorance. Now you know!

The Righteous Delivered!

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19).

Throughout the bible we see how those who God chose to be His are treated. They were ridiculed, enslaved, mistreated, mocked, and killed--just because they chose to obey God.

That was then and it is still the unfolding story of those who choose to live a life that is pleasing to God. We are ridiculed, mistreated, mocked, and persecuted and some are still being killed, simply because we choose to obey God.

God has said, "obedience is better than sacrifice" in reference to the sacrifices mandated to atone for sins. If we were living according to The Law and had to make animal sacrifices to seek forgiveness, we would all be in trouble.  Some of us again, wouldn't be able to afford the elements used for the sacrifice and would be prohibited from being forgiven. Some of us would become so discouraged that we would cave and give into the status quo for living--serving idols, instead of the Living God. Only a remnant would remain strong enough in their faith in God to know that even though the enemy influences persecution, God will deliver us out of them all.

Some things may never change with regards to those choosing to live in disobedience. Unfortunately, some attitudes towards those who do obey may never change. Regardless of all the stuff that may never change, we can count on God to "never change" His mind or intent for how we live and He will deliver us from all the afflictions that we encounter. He will deliver! He has done it in the past, He is doing it now, and He will forever be--our deliverer! Hallelujah!

Deliverance is near--whether that comes in the form of people changing their minds about living for God or whether we see God's wrath poured out on all the land, deliverance will come.
Be encouraged today! Stay in faith--knowing that God will never forget those who are His and He will deliver us from the fiery furnace! There is nothing too hard for our God! With Him, all things are possible that give Him glory; without Him--whatever we do is a waste of time!

The Praising Dead!

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead" (Revelation 3:1 NIV).

Without belaboring any discussion about John's vision, I would like to move forward to the last part of this verse--"God knows our deeds, we have a reputation of being "alive," but are dead."

There is absolutely nothing we can hide from God. He looks upon our hearts and knows our thoughts from afar, so our deeds--cannot escape Him. Whatever consumes our thoughts will dictate what we do--and God already knows what that will be.

In spite of the fact that God knows all, we attempt to fool people with acts of holiness and piety, when in reality, we are living what we want others to think we are living. Other people think we are such spiritual Christians--when we: constantly quote scripture (but no idea what they mean), always have a word of prophecy for others (but never hear God's voice), sing louder, pray louder, and dance longer than others (moved by our emotions rather than guidance by Holy Spirit), and always quick to tell others what they need to do to be saved (but living saved has not been accomplished)--Oh yes, we have a reputation of being alive, but are dead. People think we are "all that," because of what "they see" not what they know. God knows!

When given an opportunity to show compassion, the response is anything but compassionate and often more judgmental. When given an opportunity to show mercy, we instead condemn others for the same things from which we have yet to be delivered. When given an opportunity to show the love of Jesus Christ, we attempt to show our superiority over others in knowledge and in holiness. God knows, which is why He showed these things to John in the vision. Not everyone is guilty, but so many are.

We are not righteous of our own accord or by what we do. We have been declared righteous because of His righteousness when we are living in right relationship with God. That right-relationship involves hearing God's voice, following His directions, and living before all men as God would have us to live--even when they cannot see us--God can. Having a right relationship with God brings humility--total submission and awe about His love and leaves no room for superiority, judgment, or condemnation of others. Being religious and not having a relationship with God brings us no closer to Him and will actually widen the gap of understanding.

Our God is an awesome God! He gives us chance after chance to get it right before Him and others. He loved us enough to come down from glory in the person and likeness of Jesus Christ, showed us how to live, then showed us what real love will do--sacrifice self--so others can be saved. That's the God I serve! I pray every day that my life (how I live) is a praise unto Him and I will not need to expect to hear anything other than, "well done" on that day. I do not want to be, the praising (loud but saying nothing) dead!

Lord Jesus, help us to be all that You would have us to be and to do all things well in Your sight.