The Power Of One

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THE POWER OF ONE

 

I remember when I first decided to attend ministry school.  One man I worked with said to me:  “Glen, what can one man do and accomplish when the world is in darkness and subject to doom”.  I said Jesus Christ was only one man and how many lives has He saved?  I never got a response.  If God is not a respecter of persons then there is not one person that Jesus wants to perish.  Jesus wants all of us to have everlasting life, eternal life!

John 3:16 (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Never underestimate the power of “The One” as there is only one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We all long for fellowship, companionship and intimacy and this being said we often feel alone in our burdens, trials and tribulations.  However, those who have made Jesus their Lord and Savior are never alone.  Jesus is interceding for us!

We must fully understand that those “in Christ” are never alone in Spirit.  Satan loves to inflict feelings of loneliness and unworthiness in our minds and hearts.  Satan would like nothing more than to keep us bound in these strongholds but have you ever considered that perhaps you might be in a  wilderness season of transformation?  Is the Lord separating you from the influences of man, society, family or friends?  Those of us who have persevered and endured through Christ Jesus know first hand about wilderness experiences.  Some of the greatest personal encounters with The Lord come from wilderness experiences.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:34-37 KJV)

How incredible is this, Jesus intercedes for us and makes intercession for us to the Father!  Now this is good news.  So let’s think about the power of one for a moment.  If ministry happens through us and not because of us then the power isn’t ours it’s from the abiding presence of The Holy Spirit.

We may often feel like we are alone in this world but the Truth is that God is omnipresent and The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

I have often walked alone “witnessing” in public as no one from church would want to come along.  The fact is that the world is starving spiritually for the presence of Jesus and many people need an encounter with the Lord and a revelation of The Father’s Heart.

Jesus said to preach the Gospel and Signs & Wonders will follow.  I have been in groups where people would focus on power, signs & wonders and when I would state that this was unhealthy, deceptive and Jesus spoke against this in the Bible I would be attacked.  No surprise, the greatest Sign & Wonder was Jesus Christ in the flesh and look what His people did to Him!

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. (Matthew 16:4 KJV)

I am not against Signs & Wonders nor denying the sovereignty of The Lord.  I personally have seen and witnessed the supernatural while ministering but my heart and focus is always on the heart of The Father and what The Lord wants to do for the person receiving ministry.  Before I even attempt to minister I give thanks to The Lord for what He is doing for/in that person and thank Him for trusting me to minister on His behalf.  This is communion with The Lord, it is about Him NOT me!  The supernatural happens because of Jesus not because of me and my focus is on what The Lord is doing and not the miracle.  We are to preach the true gospel and signs and wonders will follow.

When the flesh focuses on the miracle we normally minister by symptoms verses the root of the problem.  If we only focus on the symptom is the person being redeemed and totally restored being made whole?  Symptoms should lead to a diagnosis.  Does and alcoholic drink because he is an alcohol or is there a spiritual root that the alcohol is masking, suppressing, hiding, etc.  Treat the root and the symptoms leave!  If you only treat the symptoms  a person is not necessarily made whole.  Jesus didn’t say take two aspirins and come back in two weeks because he treated the root not merely the symptoms.  We should be seeking the Lord while listening to someones feelings, hurts or illnesses.  Revelations of truth break lies and strongholds. I could give countless testimonies of people asking for prayer because of their symptoms and when the Lord would reveal the root cause to me I would minister the revelations The Lord revealed to me and they would be set free and healed.  All honor and glory are The Lord’s not mine.

If satan is the master of deception and we are warned about false apostles, prophets and signs and wonders how can we discern what is of God?  Satan can never duplicate the Heart of Jesus.  In fact satan hates humility, repentance, mercy and grace.  If you want to grow in discernment you must focus on the heart and persona of Jesus Christ.  The crucifixion and resurrection of the Cross of Jesus must be embraced daily from a heart of thanksgiving, praise and worship.  We must never forget our personal testimony or what The Lord delivered us from and continues to deliver us from. (Gal 2:20)

Jesus stood in front of Satan tempted after coming out of the wilderness.  Satan used scripture and every means he knew to tempt Jesus yet Jesus remained humble.  Satan even wanted a demonstration of power from Jesus but Jesus did not have to prove anything.  This also happened when Jesus was on the cross when they said to Jesus if you are the King of the Jews surely you can remove yourself from that cross!  Pride is feed by power but humility stands in the face of pride and accusation because humility has nothing to prove.

Your greatest strength is quite often the very first thing attacked by Satan and your weakest trait is usually the one that The Lord  edifies to become your strongest.  Ponder this, if Satan can make you question your greatest strength/attribute everything else will crumble under it.  Satan attacks leadership and personal strengths because if he can deceive leadership or our strengths everything beneath easily crumbles.  If he can get leadership off track it is likely that those under leadership will be off track.  If your heart is hurting then you are capable of love but the enemy tells you that you will never be loved.  If you didn’t love or were not capable of love you wouldn’t feel the pain in the first place!  See how deceptive Satan is!  All the lies he speaks to you questioning your love and ability to be loved.

Only the Truth will set you free and those who have truly been set free by Jesus will be a lovers of His Truth!  This is real love, to love the Truth of His Word, Persona and Attributes of Jesus.  The Love of Christ Jesus is redeeming, restoring and embraceable, it doesn’t leave you in bondage, hurt and deception.  To be an overcomer we must stand on His Truth as well as our testimony and the “blood of the Lamb”.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11 KJV)

I have witnessed to many people and even performed  deliverances as led by the Spirit.  Some of these people tell me they have gone to many churches, received countless prayers and I tell them it’s not about the building it’s about The Lord.  The Lord is omnipresent and He is not confined to a building.   There is a stronghold and mindset which needs to be broken and that is that no man or church sets anyone free.  It is The Lord Jesus and only Jesus.  I am often asked about what church I attend and I tell people it is Jesus that sets them free and to Glorify Jesus.  Church is not my savior, Jesus Christ is my savior.  I love the church but not above Jesus Christ.  I don’t worship the temple above The Lord Of The Temple.  Jesus is to be the cornerstone of the Church and Lord of His Church.  Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord.

If you read the Psalms of David you will notice that his focus was on The Lord not man.  David gave all his thanks, praise, worship and repentance to The Lord.  He was never alone on the battle field because he knew his strength was in The Lord.

In Ephesians Chapter Six we read in verses 10 through 12 about the armor of God and warring against darkness, principalities and strongholds.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:10-12 KJV)

We are in a battle and at war! We are not to be complacent!  The complacency of the church and Christians has caused us to be reactive vs. proactive.

I can’t over emphasize enough the importance of The Father’s heart and the persona and character of Jesus in building strong spiritual discernment.  Many will tell you that we are not to discern the motives or hearts of the people and this is false.  We are not to condemn people but we are called to judge/discern.  Jesus is after our hearts and The Lord knows the motives and intentions of our hearts.

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)

As born again Christians we have the Living God The Holy Spirit and we are able to discern the hearts and motives of people by submitting everything to The Lord and our Spirit.  Quiet often statements that are true will be spoken to us but the motive and intentions are NOT truth!  They are deceptive, manipulative and meant to lead us astray.  

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:for they are foolishness unto him:neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.(1 Corinthians 2:15 KJV)

We are living in the end days and the second coming of the Lord is drawing near.  We must draw near and call upon the Lord with purity of heart, motive and sincerity.  We must submit fully to The Lord so He that began a good work can complete it.

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6 KJV)

 

Father I thank you that you will complete the good work within me, strengthening me, edifying me, sanctifying me into the likeness and image of your son Jesus Christ.  Father I thank you that your Word never returns null and void but is shaper than a double edge sword separating soul from spirit.  Father I submit my will and spirit to you, create in me a clean heart through the renewing of my mind in Jesus name I pray.

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11 KJV)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 KJV)

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)

 

Let us not forget about the Noah’s, Abraham’s, Moses and David’s or Mary who saw Jesus in the tomb!

 

Knowledge vs. Spirit

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KNOWLEDGE VS. THE HOLY SPIRIT

Knowledge is wonderful and we all seek and desire knowledge.  Adam and Eve sought knowledge above the spoken Word of God and Spirit of God and that was the fall of man.  They relied on “self” through deception, perhaps they thought if God knew what was good and evil why shouldn’t we?  Really, are we God?  Unfortunately much of this is still taking place today because how things appear is not necessarily the truth.  What is true might not be truth.  God wanted to protect us from evil back then and The Lord still wants to protect us from evil.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself but we must be discerning when it comes to knowledge of spiritual things.

We all go through refinement, trials and tribulations edifying us and refining us into the likeness of Christ Jesus.  There is much knowledge and revelations to be achieved in the “refiners fire”!  We have all endured many trials, tribulations and hardships and quite frankly may endure a few more.  

Are we to forget what we have learned, achieved and overcome?  Absolutely not, yet this is not to be our sole determining factor in our discernment or decision-making.  Head knowledge is not necessarily spiritual knowledge and what happens in the natural is usually founded or rooted the spiritual. 

The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians that we do not wrestle and war against flesh and blood. (Natural/Physical) What appears in the natural is spiritually motivated.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
(Revelation 12:11 KJV)

We must embrace what we have learned and overcome in our natural lives and submit these things to the Lord in spirit and truth towards the application of our current problems and situations.  While there were many great battles in the bible and great hero’s such as Moses, Isaac, Jacob and David each great victory had a unique application towards that victory.  Many of these battles were fought and won utilizing an unconventional manner after seeking the Lord.  We must seek the Lord in our battles and this is more critical with each passing day in the troubled world we live in.   

 

Imagine Moses with the Israelites at the Red Sea and only relying on human knowledge.  I am sure Moses may have entertained thoughts such as we can’t swim as we will surely drown.  If we turn around many will die and others will likely be enslaved again.  Yet in the midst of trial and tribulation Moses raises his head towards heaven and seeks the Lord.  The Lord tells Moses to put his staff in the water and the Lord parts the sea!  Can you imagine if Moses relied on only what he had formally known from personal experiences?  

 

The point I wish to make is that it is easy to fall into extremes when it comes to discernment.  Some people rely to much on personal experience or head knowledge never submitting such things to the Lord for truth, revelation and application.  We are not to forget our victories, trials and tribulations as everything works out for the glory of The Lord, nothing goes to waste in the Kingdom of God.  Often these experiences help us to understand what others are currently going through that we ourselves have overcome by the grace of God.

  

We still occupy and live in this world even though we are no longer of this world.  You can’t forget what you have learned here on earth. However our battles are not carnal or fleshly and everything should be submitted to the Spirit and The Lord.

 

If we follow the beliefs of man we are likely following the “fall of man” and not the Lord.  The method of your personal victory may not be the method the Lord desires for me or someone else.  What is visual in the natural surely looks different in the spiritual.  What you hear in the natural is different than what you hear in the Spirit.  For example have you ever talked with a friend and asked them how they are doing and they tell you they are ok but you discern in their voice that they are not well or struggling?  What you heard didn’t match with what you discerned.

 

Satan is the master of deception.  If he tempts you one way and you overcome him, he will likely try a different method the next time.   An old method of victory might not be your current method of victory.  It is important to submit what you have learned and experienced from prior situations along with your current situations seeking the Lord for revelations and application.    

 

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches:He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:for without me ye can do nothing.

(John 15:5 KJV)

 

We can do nothing without Christ Jesus and the Victory is His not ours.  So if the victory is the Lord’s then the battle must also be the Lord’s!  We must submit to the Lord.

 

The enemy would love nothing more than to eliminate your discernment and decision making when confronted with new situations, trials and tribulations.  While I believe most things are “black & white” are we deceived into believing we know all things or do we seek He who knows all things Christ Jesus.  Surely we will face new trials and tribulations as we achieve personal and spiritual growth. We must seek The Lord on these matters.

 

The grey area is real and that is when we process what doesn’t appear right, true or Godly in nature.  This could very well be a time frame to process and submit maters to the Lord for truth and revelations.  Many people will attempt to force you into rash or hasty decisions and this may very well be control, manipulation or intimidation which is ungodly.  

 

We were created with free will and the Lord desires to lead us not control us.  The Lord is looking for willing vessels not controlling vessels.  Take the “grey areas” and submit these things to the Word of God and the Spirit of The Lord and seek truth and revelations.  Anyone who desires a spontaneous answer is likely masking control, dominance and manipulation.  God created us with free will to worship, praise and love Him.  

 

Jesus said His people perish for a lack of knowledge.  He was referring to spiritual knowledge.  

 

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

(1 John 2:27 KJV)

FISHERS OF MEN

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FISHERS OF MEN

 

 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea:for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him

(Matthew 4:18-20 KJV)

 

 

As I was reading the book of Ephesians earlier today the Lord put this scripture on my heart.  The Lord said go to the verse about my first disciples.  So as I turned to this scripture I began to think about being a fishermen and being called to be a “fisher of men”.

 

So I began to think about the equipment, environment and all that might be involved being a fisherman.  Perhaps the “fish” were of one kingdom and Simon Peter was from another, both living yet both different.  What are the similarities and differences of fish vs. man and what are the parallels?  

 

How incredible just a short verse of scripture can reveal so much of what Jesus may have been speaking, implying and bringing into light and truth.  There was no reluctance from Simon Peter or Andrew to follow Jesus and what strongholds might be holding us back today.  

 

So I began to think about the boat and how the boat might reflect our personal lives/temples or perhaps even the church. I reflected on how Jesus told Peter that He would build His church.  I reflected on the navigation of the boat and the environmental and worldly influences which affect the navigation such as storms, day light/darkness, human powered vs. sailing with the wind.  How our soul/free will might be the oars as our self-will and determination are often different than what The Lord desires vs. how the Spirit resembles the wind and power. 

 

I found myself in a deep communion with The Lord as he revealed so much about the current state of His people and His church.  I reflected on Jesus who is our is Shepard leading His sheep.  How the harvest of fish was food and necessary to survive to remain nourished and full.  I thought of how Jesus said those that hunger for righteousness would be filled through Him and how he said to Satan that man can not live on bread alone but by every word of God.  How the boat/vessel sustained the fisherman’s live but how through Jesus we have everlasting life. The boat could also be the “church” and how easily the church can be led astray through deceptions, traditions, human intellect and the environmental influences.

 

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven

(Matthew 16:18-19 KJV)

 

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4 KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(John 3:16 KJV)

 

I recalled how Jesus was with the disciples in the boat during the storm and how Peter who was an experienced fisherman now was fearful of the very environment which once was his very way of life!  The bible tells about many wilderness experiences and the profound impact they have had. Some of the most powerful experiences come from wilderness experiences.  So if the water was Peter’s prior environment being away from it now revealed just how threatening and hostile the environment was.  Often when we are confused, troubled and burdened we need to go into the wilderness with The Lord seeking Him for clarity, sound mind, discernment and revelations.  We must not live in confusion as the Lord is of sound mind! Peter had once walked on water with the Lord!  I recalled how Lot and his family were told not to look back when they were saved and delivered from Sodom and Gomorrah and what happened when Lot’s wife looked back.  We can’t make Jesus just our Lord for a day it must be for life.

 

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

(Matthew 14:29 KJV)

 

 

When I came to the net I reflected on the veil over man’s eyes which was the dividing factor of discernment keeping what is good inside and what is evil outside; the net that took the fish/men out from their kingdom into another kingdom.  How the fish were unaware of the net/veil and how man is often unaware of the veil/net of entrapment.  I thought about the holes in the net representing attacks of the enemy getting at the harvest of the fish/man.  Perhaps these holes were even fish/men that were lead astray and exited the protection boundaries.  How Jesus said to seek and find the “one” who is astray.  

 

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

(Luke 15:4 KJV)

 

I began to think about the sea and how the view was so grand from stable footing on the shore.  Oh how wonderful and breathtaking the view is where the sea meets the sky in all it’s beauty; yet once you set sail life is so undeterminable, unpredictable and can be so perilous.   I thought about murky waters, pollution and contamination and how Jesus is a “pure stream”.  I recalled the many times I have heard pastors, preachers and the like tell us regarding speakers they endorse not to through out the baby with the bath water and to eat the meat and spit out the bones.  I have asked some people why they even put a clean baby back in the dirty water yet they just continue to contaminate the “pure stream” of Jesus Christ.  Have we forgotten the a little leaven is all that it takes!  


9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

(Galatians 5:9 KJV)

I thought about diving in the ocean and the deeper you go the less light and more darkness engulfs us and how the pressure on our lungs increases reducing our breath of life.

  I reflected on the false love and grace messages that are preached and how the righteousness of Christ is removed from love and how grace is no longer preached as the empowering presence of God to be an over comer and a pure, holy and righteous Christian.  How the enemy has reduced grace to tolerance, acceptance and complacency to embrace sin rather than repentance and transformation.

 

I reflected on all of the persecution on those who bring correction, reproof and edification contrary to the false preaching and deception that has veiled much of the body of Christ.  How the Lord’s children have gotten out of the boat but cling to a false life raft to preserve their earthly desires. I saw the church being more of a boat anchor docked in stagnant water vs. the move of The Spirit allowing the Lord to minister freely.  

 

So my prayer for you today is for you to seek the Lord in fullness, meekness and humbly with fullness of heart.  I pray you will be the vessel which calms the storm, becomes a “pure stream” and is sailing in the wind of The Spirit of everlasting life.  Pick up your anchor, set sail in your Spirit and don’t settle for life behind the veil.  

 

The storms of life are intensifying, deception is increasing and many are being led astray. Don’t be the lamp without oil, the unprepared bride or late for the marriage supper.  The table is set and judgment is at hand.  

 

 

 

PSALM 34

 

The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God

 

A Psalm of David When He Pretended Madness Before Abimelech, Who Drove Him Away, and He Departed.

 

1      I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2      My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

3      Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

 

4      I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

5      They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed.

6      This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

7      The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,

And delivers them.

 

8      Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9      Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.

10      The young lions lack and suffer hunger;

But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

 

11      Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12      Who is the man who desires life,

And loves many days, that he may see good?

13      Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking deceit.

14      Depart from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it.

 

15      The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their cry.

16      The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,

To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

 

17      The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

18      The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

 

19      Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20      He guards all his bones;

Not one of them is broken.

21      Evil shall slay the wicked,

And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

22      The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,

And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

To the Point of Trust

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This article was written by a friend.

Mathew 8:20 “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  Consider if we are to be like Him, where is our head to be laid? In our uncertain times and the chaos around us watching foretold events coming to pass we can know our Lord modeled rest in the storm.  Jesus modeled the life of a perfected overcomer, not swayed by the world, but confronting the world with perfect love manifested in Him and the heavenly work he modeled and performed. He performed a life of calling trusting His heavenly Father in all things. What is our response to trial and adversity to be?  Knowing His word is true; His word becomes our anchor and reference point for all thought and activity.  This however is not achieved of our own ability, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  The overcomer has no plan of His own, but is an expression of the Holy Spirit, doing what the Holy Spirit leads him in obedience having overcome the worldly ways to respond to life.  John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Because Jesus overcame the world, we have victory over our circumstances.  No circumstance is a surprise to the Lord, and He provides a way by the Holy Spirit to prevail.  Will we listen and believe what He said over what the world says?  We need to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Know Him to the point of trust. Know who you are in Christ to the point of trust.  Obey the Holy Spirit in trust, knowing how precious you are to the Lord. Remember the enemy wants you to believe you don’t have a heavenly father who loves you.  Jesus loves us in spite of us. Live from how He loves us, not from our ability to love ourselves.

His Bigger Plan

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In these days where troubles seem to be increasing we sometimes find ourselves entangled in a problem of our situation or need, wondering why we are where we are, why we are doing what we are doing and why our problem leaves us feeling overcome instead of overcoming.  During these occasions we indeed can stand still on His word and trust that His help is on the way.  When a horse is entangled in loose wire the best thing he can do is stand still until His help arrives. We might learn from that analogy.  When the horse fights to get away, the wire just seems to tighten around him securing him more tightly to the wire which entangles him.  Wire on the fence is easily seen and avoided, but the loose wire from old uses left among the weeds and concealed by years of growth is just waiting for a wrong step.

Most of our trials and tribulations come unexpectedly to us, but none of them are unexpected to the Lord who knows all from the beginning of all things.  Knowing He does know all, our reliance on Him will deliver us; His plan and design are foolproof.  Psalm 37 reveals His promises to those who are righteous.

PSALM 37 18-29

The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.20 But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. 22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. 28 For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever

Entanglement comes easily when we are mixing the processes, methods and ways of the world with the ways that Jesus teaches us. Making a worldly response to a problem or need without the leading of the Lord will not produce the outcome Jesus intends for us.  A common example might be using credit cards to get what we think we need instead of waiting on the divine provision of the Lord.  God knows if we indeed need or not, and He promises to meet our needs.  The real difficulty is when we are trying to mix worldly reasoning into what is supposed to be an inspired life.  Of course the Lord knows when we will become entangled.  He is waiting with wire cutters until we realize we are entangled and need to stand still.  The entanglement will just get tighter and tighter, even to the point of wounds, until the moment we quit fighting on our own and we decide to stand still to the point of trust and submit ourselves to Him and allow Him to cut us from our bondage.  You can imagine how difficult it would be to cut a horse from wire tangled around him while the horse is still fighting and kicking in the wire.  Consider when we are entangled in bondages, but enter His rest, understanding to stand still, only moving when and in the way He alone directs, letting Him cut away our bondages.  If we are fighting the entanglement of our own efforts we are so consumed by the bondage it draws all of our attention away from the only real source of Help, our Lord Jesus.  Our standing still in His presence, listening and obedience to the Holy Spirit will deliver us from our bondages.

MATTERS OF THE HEART

/in /by

Matters Of The Heart

 

Proverbs 4:23 (AMP)

23  Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

 

The Spirit of The Lord is a matter of the heart and through the heart is the renewing of the mind.  There is no greater or deeper love than the love of our heavenly father.  There is no greater strength than the river of life that flows abundantly from a heart, a heart sanctified through the love, atonement, resurrection and grace of Jesus Christ.

 

John 3:16 (AMP)

16  For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

 

The heart is where the fruit of life comes from.  For out of the heart are the issues of life.  Emotions and expressions are manifestations of the heart.  Emotions are reflections of experiences from our heart and what you reflect from your heart is directly related to those experiences.  I often say that people are one encounter away from radical change and transition in their lives.  We all know that these encounters or situation can be good or bad, healthy or unhealthy.  When Christ is the center of your heart, soul, mind and spirit transformation happens and spiritual encounters with the Lord Jesus changes our hearts thus renewing our minds according to His will and divine nature.

 

We must not confuse spirit with body (soul, flesh, temple), as God is a spirit. Jesus was God in the flesh.  Flesh and spirit are separate and the apostle Paul clarifies this in Ephesians 6 that we do not war against flesh and blood.  

 

Ephesians 6:12 (AMP)

12  For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

 

We must remember that the love of Christ is redemptive not complacent and that grace is the empowering presence of God to transform us into sanctified vessels transforming us into the image and likeness of Christ.  Grace doesn’t cover your sin it eradicates sin by submission, faith and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us sanctifying our hearts and renewing our minds.  Christ died because of our sin and as our sins and to believe that we are not to see or discern what is sinful as Christians is heresy.  Love is redemptive not complacent and truth spoken in love and grace sets people free.

 

Hebrews 4:12 (AMP)

12  For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

 

 

John 4:24 (AMP)

24  God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).

 

2 Corinthians 3:17 (AMP)

17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). [Isa. 61:1, 2.]

 

1 Corinthians 15:45 (AMP)

45  Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. [Gen. 2:7.]

 

Matthew 16:16 (AMP)

16  Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

 

Romans10 tells us that if we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus suffered, died and was resurrected that you will be saved.  In the book of John 15:5 we are told that if we abide in Christ and Christ abides in us we will abide in His word.  Hebrews 8:10 says the Lord will write it upon our hearts.  We must give the fullness of our hearts to the Lord.  

 

Mathew 11:28-30 talks about us casting our burdens upon the Lord for we are not meant to carry those burdens.  Jesus paid the price and suffered the wrath on our behalf why would you want to carry what the Lord has already paid for and overcome? The apostle Paul says he dies daily and that he is crucified with Christ and we must also do this.  Each day we must cast all of our worldly pressures upon the Lord and in thanksgiving praise Him for bearing our pain and paying the price of our salvation.  We must put our trust and faith upon the Lord and stand on the truth of the full atonement of Christ Jesus.

 

Where are the “over coming” sermons, where are the “victory” sermons and where are the warriors in Christ.  We must stand in the victory, declare the victory and speak the victory of Christ Jesus.  If the victory is the Lords’ then whose battle is it?  Jesus overcame the world and through Christ we too shall over come the world. 

 

Romans 10:9–10 (AMP)

9  Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10  For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.

 

John 15:5 (AMP)

5  I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

 

Hebrews 8:10 (AMP)

10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

 

Matthew 11:28–30 (AMP)

28  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

29  Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.]

30  For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

 

Matters of the heart are real and our feelings and expressions of our hearts are real but if we are to rejoice in all things we must rejoice in Christ our redeemer, strength and fortress.  The Apostle Paul was an educated man and a scholar.  Yet just one encounter with the resurrected Christ and he was knocked of his horse, blinded and the living truth was revealed in the flesh the resurrected Christ.  This was a life-changing experience providing revelations of Christ.   In the epistles of Paul he elaborates that he now speaks not on his knowledge but on the revelations of Christ for everything Paul once embraced as truth he no longer considered as he now spoke on the revelations of Christ.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (AMP)

18  Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (AMP)

16  Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);

 

Psalm 18:2 (AMP)

2  The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower. [Heb. 2:13.]

 

 

Christ sacrificed his life in love so that we may have eternal life, are you willing to release your heart in fullness to receive the fullness of His love?   Yes, release and share you heart in fullness with humility admitting your weaknesses, faults and shortcomings.  Are you willing to pray in faith submitting to His grace and mercy so that He that began a good work will complete it?  

 

Philippians 1:6 (AMP)

6  And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

 

 

The process of sanctification is a battle between flesh (soul) and spirit and we must crucify the flesh submitting to the spirit.  Your struggles are no different than those of others but each of us must go through our own process submitting our will and hearts to the Lord.

 

Romans 7:13–25 (AMP)

13  Did that which is good then prove fatal [bringing death] to me? Certainly not! It was sin, working death in me by using this good thing [as a weapon], in order that through the commandment sin might be shown up clearly to be sin, that the extreme malignity and immeasurable sinfulness of sin might plainly appear.

14  We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin.

15  For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns].

16  Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge and agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) and that I take sides with it.

17  However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me and has possession of me.

18  For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]

19  For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing.

20  Now if I do what I do not desire to do, it is no longer I doing it [it is not myself that acts], but the sin [principle] which dwells within me [fixed and operating in my soul].

21  So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands.

22  For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my inmost self [with my new nature]. [Ps. 1:2.]

23  But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh].

24  O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death?

25  O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

Galatians 2:20 (AMP)

20  I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 

Let us submit our hearts in prayer:

 

Father I come to you in faith embracing your love, mercy and grace.  I pray in faith that you will create in me a clean heart Lord sanctifying me and edifying me to live a more Godly life glorifying your holy name.  Father I thank you for your sacrificial love and your beloved son my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Father create in me a passion for the lost, reverence for your sovereignty and holiness and a purpose for your divine will in my life.  I ask this in Jesus name my Lord and Savior.

 

Psalm 51:10 (AMP)

10  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.

 

HAVE YOU GIVEN YOUR HEART TO CHRIST JESUS?

ACCEPTANCE – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT – AGREEMENT

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Acceptance – Acknowledgement – Agreement

 

Acknowledgment does not have to equate to acceptance or agreement.  Acknowledgment should be the first and basic step towards overcoming yet many people are physically and spiritual bound unknowingly by the power of agreement verses listening, discerning and acknowledging what is spoken.  How many times have we all made the simple statement  “I can’t believe what that person said, who do they think they are?”   Yet we walk away still pondering and processing the negativity that was spoken as those evil and destructive words penetrate our very being.

 

When you speak to people, do you have to be right versus simply stating and speaking the truth?  When you need to be right you may have built up a wall or resistance to the truth being received.  If you have to be right your identity and acceptance lies in the hands of others and you will likely be confrontational, ego centered and self-righteous. Your need to be right is not redemptive in nature but rather destructive and abusive which will only turn people away. We are all people of free will and a Godly person will never force something up you or “steer you” in your decision-making. God is love and love is embraced not forced!  

 

1 John 4:8 (NKJV)

 

8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 

Let’s start out by looking at the basic definitions of these words.

 

ACCEPTANCE

acceptance |akˈseptəns|

noun

1 the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered: charges involving the acceptance of bribes | [ as modifier ] : an acceptance speech | he had an acceptance from the magazine.

• a draft or bill that is accepted by being signed.

2 the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group: you must wait for acceptance into the club.

3 agreement with or belief in an idea, opinion, or explanation: acceptance of the teaching of the church.

• willingness to tolerate a difficult or unpleasant situation: a mood of resigned acceptance.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

acknowledgment |akˈnälijmənt| (also acknowledgement)

noun

1 acceptance of the truth or existence of something: there was no acknowledgment of the family’s trauma.

2 the action of expressing or displaying gratitude or appreciation for something: he received an award in acknowledgment of his work.

• the action of showing that one has noticed someone or something: he touched his hat in acknowledgment of the salute.

• a letter confirming receipt of something: I received an acknowledgment of my application.

3 (usu. acknowledgments) an author’s or publisher’s statement of indebtedness to others, typically one printed at the beginning of a book.

 

AGREEMENT

agreement |əˈgrēmənt|

noun

harmony or accordance in opinion or feeling; a position or result of agreeing: the governments failed to reach agreement | the two officers nodded in agreement | there is wide agreement that investment is necessary.

• a negotiated and typically legally binding arrangement between parties as to a course of action: a trade agreement | a verbal agreement to sell.

• the absence of incompatibility between two things; consistency: agreement between experimental observations and theory.

• Grammar the condition of having the same number, gender, case, or person.

 

There is a simple fact in life that very few people like to hear or listen to critique.  Critique is often wrongly perceived as judgment and/or criticism leaving us with feelings of unworthiness and not being good enough.  We have all felt this way at times and many people still feel this way today.  Let’s be truthful, many in this world are bound by lies and ungodly words spoken over them by a hurting world. When these type of hurtful words are spoken to us we will be tempted to seek the approval of the person making these statements or accusation thus questioning our self worth, self esteem and worthiness.  When we start validating/believing our feelings of these hurts and untruths, we have fortified the strongholds in our hearts and spirits.  What may be true is not always truth!  It might be true that you feel rejected, hurt, etc. but the truth is you need not feel this way!  Christ is no respecter of persons and He has no partiality or favoritism!  Jesus would have died for one of us yet He died for all of us!

 

Acts 10:34 (AMP)

34  And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons,

 

Romans 2:11 (AMP)

11  For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another]. [Deut. 10:17; II Chron. 19:7.]

 

John 3:16 (AMP)

16  For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

 

 

Since the fall of man/woman back in the Garden there has been a continual plague and spiritual warfare against rebellion to God’s word, desires and will.  Adam and Eve both rebelled against the word of God as they were told not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  Knowledge and power that lacks humility is destructive not only to one’s self, but to others also.

 

CRITIQUE

critique |kriˈtēk|

noun

a detailed analysis and assessment of something, esp. a literary, philosophical, or political theory.

verb (critiques, critiquing, critiqued) [ with obj. ]

evaluate (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way: the authors critique the methods and practices used in the research.

 

I have counseled many people and I ask a very simple and straight forward question such as: “what is it you want to do or be for that person.”  They give me a long list of things such as provide, protect, etc. and I say to them so you wish to be their savior?  I tell them there is only one savior and that is Christ Jesus, however you can compliment, encourage, edify and enlighten someone helping to achieve their own personal relationship with Christ Jesus.  

 

Being prideful, controlling and manipulating is not from God. People with these attributes often falsely believe they hear from God and want to be God’s voice over you. They want you to seek their approval on spiritual matters and often earthly/worldly matters thus disconnecting/hindering your relationship and intimacy with the living God and Spirit of God.  We are not called to be God or Lord over people but to connect them to the Lord.  Satan wanted to be exalted above God and people with controlling demonic spirits feel worshipped when you consult them, need them and approve of them.  Even Satan offered Jesus the earthly kingdoms so Satan could be idolatrized.  Idolatry is rampant as many people worship the temple and leadership over the Lord of the temple!  

 

Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV)

13      The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;

Pride and arrogance and the evil way

And the perverse mouth I hate.

 

Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)

 

18      Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

 

 

Matthew 4:8 (AMP)

8  Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory (the splendor, magnificence, preeminence, and excellence) of them.

 

 

None of us is perfect, yet none of us likes to be critiqued.  So how do we edify, encourage and lift people up in a spiritually dying world?  How do we bring worthiness to those who feel unworthy?  Money, wealth and fame won’t make someone feel worthy because worthiness comes from within and can’t be cured externally.  You can’t promote someone “in the flesh” by giving false promotion, worldly possessions and gifts to heal spiritual problems.  I have seen many people attempt this even in ministry leadership and it does not work!  You don’t treat “cancer” with a bandage as it is a blood disease which is internal, the same goes with spiritual health.  You can’t heal someone spiritually with external remedies. Treating a symptom is not treating the problem.

 

When need to speak the truth in love, mercy, compassion and grace while manifesting the fruits of the Spirit.  We need to be submitted to the Lord while ministering to others and we need to put their needs above our desires just as Christ put the needs of others above His own.  Sacrificial love moved by compassion in the spirit of the Lord breaks the yokes of bondage.  You can read over and over in the bible where Jesus was moved with compassion and signs and wonders manifested as people were healed, delivered and the multitudes were fed.  

 

Galatians 5:22–23 (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

 

We must minister to others in the fruit of the Spirit.  It’s one thing to receive a word of knowledge it’s another thing to deliver that word of knowledge.  We must submit that word of knowledge or prophecy to the Lord seeking how the Lord wants us to deliver and apply that word just as if it was from the Lord Himself.  We must die to self to represent the fullness of Christ thus being totally surrendered to the Spirit and will of the Lord.   

 

So you may wonder where is this all proceeding?  Well the Lord put in on my heart to help people to understand the power of humility and the power of agreement.  Humility is willing to think less of yourself, surrendering pride to the cross of Jesus Christ and crucifying one’s self to become humble and meek.  Don’t confuse meekness with weakness as humility is powerful, freeing and a true manifestation of a Christ filled/centered life.  We must remember above all that we first submit to Christ Jesus while honoring others.  Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess then Christ Jesus must be first, foremost and above all in our lives, hearts and minds.  There is a great difference in “preaching the gospel” vs. “commanding the gospel.”  

 

 

 

Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)

5      Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the earth.

 

Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)

8      Blessed are the pure in heart,

For theyshall see God.

 

Humility will listen while pride shuts and ear.  Humility will seek the Lord Jesus for clarification/confirmation seeking a “witness” from the Lord.  This being said we must always seek the Lord regarding all things spoken to us and about us in our quiet/private time with the Lord.  You will know a Godly person has spoken to you about your inner most problems when they lead you to the Lord Jesus and the atonement of the cross.  The gospel and Jesus will always give you a direction towards redemption and may very well advise you of the consequences of disobedience to the Lord’s will and word. 

 

John 14:6 (NKJV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

 

Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV)

 

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

 

John 4:14 (NKJV)

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

 

Jeremiah 17:7–8 (NKJV)

 

7      “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

And whose hope is the LORD.

8      For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

 

Jesus constantly stood in the face of accusers, are we to truly believe this will not happen to us?  When someone speaks to us we are to remain humble listening, discerning and submitted to the Lord.  We listen but we need not come into agreement with negativity, accusatory nature, ungodly words, lies and manipulations.  We submit everything spoken to us to the Lord without needing/seeking validation or worthiness in the face of our accusers.  Contrary to what I hear many professing Christians speak the Holy Spirit does not confirm our personal identity, it confirms who Christ is in us and through us.  Jesus did not die to become like us.  Jesus died so we could become like him, restored to our original creative state in the image and likeness of the Father.  The Holy Spirit leads us to repentance and sanctification so we can become more Christ like.  Our identity is Christ in us and through us; the flesh must decrease so the spirit can increase.  The lust of the world must die so the desires of the Kingdom and a Christ centered life can be fulfilled.  

 

Psalm 139:23–24 (NKJV)

 

23      Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

24      And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

 

John 15:5 (NKJV)

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 

 

Christ Jesus was crucified and resurrected because we are worthy and redeemable in the heart and eyes of the Lord.  You are redeemed through the cross, blood and finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ and NOT by any mortal human!  

 

Humility is very powerful, in fact the enemy hates repentance and humility as these characteristics lead us to the Cross of Jesus Christ and the enemy/Satan was defeated at Calvary.  Does your church preach on repentance, humility, the blood of Jesus and the Cross of Jesus Christ?  If not have you wondered why, isn’t that the basis of salvation and sanctification through Christ!  The enemy does not want you to take up your own cross nor focus on the Cross of Jesus Christ.

 

The next time you are being critiqued/reproofed submit everything to the Lord while listening WITHOUT coming into agreement.  A godly person will tell you to seek the Lord about what they are speaking/ministering for they have no personal ownership in the words spoken on behalf of The Lord they are just humble servants of the Lord.  Notice they are HUMBLE servants, not prideful, boastful, forceful, demanding, coercing, manipulation or steering you into a decision process.  

 

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan Jesus did not raise his voice, shout back or seek the approval of Satan.  He stayed submitted to the will of the Father and walked in the fruit of the Spirit.  

 

Jesus was the master at asking questions testing the hearts of people.  Jesus already knew the answers so why did he ask questions?  Questioning is a way of testing the spirit, hearts and motives of people.  The word of God is sharper than a double-edged sword able to divide soul from spirit and discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.  

 

1 John 4:1 (NKJV)

 

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

 

Hebrews 4:12 (AMP)

12  For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

 

 

Questions are very valuable in adding to your discernment and will validate what you discerned in the spirit or what was revealed in the spirit.  We are told to test every spirit and this is done and aided through questioning.  Once you discern something we should observe what you have discerned.   You will notice that spirits have characteristics which aide in your discernment.  These are behavioral characteristics NOT physical characteristics (although they may manifest in the physical/natural).  This is very important to understand that we judge no one by the flesh, but by the spirit and we war not against flesh but in the spirit.  (Ephesians 5&6)  Questions bring things to “light” and there is great power and revelations through questioning.  

 

1 Corinthians 2:14–15 (NKJV)

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

 

 

 

It is very important to seek Godly wisdom and we do this first by submitting and seeking Christ Jesus and secondly by seeking Godly counsel.  We must remember that what appears to be godly is not always godly!  Soul ties are created through/by ungodly people who often appear godly.  A controlling spirit often seeks knowledge to your inner hurts, feelings and emotions.  They seek to share experiences of similar hurts, feelings and emotions.  They want to relate “relationally” to your experiences so they can speak into and over your life while appearing to be genuinely concerned, caring and compassionate yet they themselves are spiritually bound and seek to create a soul tie with you in the spirit so they can become the voice of God over your life.  This is a very easy way to come into agreement with a controlling, manipulating and coercive demonic spirit.  (There are various ways soul ties are created, this article is about the power of agreement.)

 

2 Timothy 3:5 (AMP)

5  For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

 

 

We must test every spirit and by asking methodical questions this will help you to validate what you have discerned.  We must remember that the Spirit of God leads to ALL TRUTH and the Spirit of God is incapable of lies!  

 

John 16:13 (AMP)

13  But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

 

Asking questions is very powerful in discerning spirits and quite often the spirits will elevate or even manifest during reasonable questioning.  A controlling spirit does not like it’s authority being questioned. If you ask a question regarding something minuscule asked of you to do or perform or directed towards you; the spirit will likely elevate and show itself.  

 

Don’t confuse “fruit” with followers.  Fruit is the manifestation of the Spirit of the Lord.  With so many people feeling rejected, oppressed and abused they easily submit to the “crowd” mentality as fellowship supersedes a relationship with Christ Jesus.  I have personally witnessed the worship of sensual feelings over the worshipping of Christ in many worship services and churches.  It’s easy to confuse sensual “feeling good” with real God centered worship.

 

I pray and hope that this has been enlightening and edifying as there is much greater depth that could be discussed.  We must remember to submit everything to the Lord in Spirit and truth and to first seek the Kingdom of God and all things shall be added.

 

 

 

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

33  But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

 

There will be false teachers, prophets, apostles as well as false signs and wonders.  It is imperative that we seek the Lord’s heart with passion, humility, honesty and integrity of heart.  If you truly desire the gift of discernment seek to know the heart, will and love of the Lord in fullness.  There is only on true God.

 

1 Timothy 2:5 (AMP)

5  For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

LOVE BEARS ALL

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LOVE BEARS ALL

 

Many of us have often wondered why is love so painful at times?  Why am I not worthy of love, why am I not accepted?  Are you feeling heartfelt pain, dealing with rejection, feeling unworthy or dealing with brokenness?  Are you feeling abandoned or all alone? Have others made you feel this way? 

 

This may sound shocking to you but the very fact that you are able to feel hurt is because you desire love, seek love and are able to love.  Talk about a paradox and a roller coaster of emotions that flood our hearts and minds.  A hardened heart is unable to put the thoughts, hearts and intentions of others first and is often self-centered operating in a mode or method of “self protection” which inflicts and causes pain to others.  The simple fact that you desire love from your family, siblings, friends and others is because of your ability to love and desire to feel loved.  Oh how the human heart desires love, intimacy and spiritual awakening and nourishment.  The bible tells us to guard our hearts above all.  So how do you love those that hurt you and guard your heart at the same time? Isn’t this what all of us believe we were actually doing; yet the pain continues and our hearts are filled with unhealthy thoughts and emotions.  Don’t confuse what is true with the TRUTH.  It is true that you feel hurt but the TRUTH is you need not feel that way.  To guard your heart you must abide in Christ Jesus and He must abide in you.  Jesus must become your primary source for love, truth and intimacy.  You must learn to walk in the Spirit of The Lord.  

 

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life.

 

The heart is the very “treasure chest” that feelings, emotions, pain, suffering and passion flows from.  The very hurts, wounds, scars and emotions that this world and daily life create can corrupt, distort, pervert and attempt to block the purity, sovereignty, glory, intimacy and healing power of real love only found through Christ Jesus and the Father.  The simple truth is that man is inherently evil and that the world (earth) is of spiritual darkness.  To overcome we must focus and stand on the Living Word and Christ Jesus.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  The love of Christ never fails for He never changes.  We are truly blessed that in a world that constantly changes that the Lord never changes and His word will not return null and void.  He is the “Rock” and “Cornerstone” and when we abide in Christ Jesus we will be able to stand in His Truth, His Righteousness, His Holiness and walk in the fruits of the Spirit.

 

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)

27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

 

Mark 7:21 (NKJV)

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

 

 

 

 

Oh how a child so wants to feel love from their parents, siblings and friends yet we can only obtain pure uncorrupted and Godly love from Christ Jesus and the Father.  We often feel persecuted by the very people we seek love from.  We so want to be accepted, embraced and loved from those we hold dear to our heart but the very people we are seeking love from may very well be suffering from their own burdens and feelings of inadequacies of perfect love.  We can only obtain perfect love from He who is perfected, He who redeems us and reconciles us and through His grace sanctifies us in His grace, mercy and love.  

 

Oh how humanity longs for perfect love yet seeks it in a dying and corrupt world never to feel fulfilled, complete or embraced in the measure or divine love that only Christ Jesus can give us.

 

I often reflect on the proclamations Jesus made in Isaiah 61 that He was here to set the captives free and exchange mourning for gladness, mending the brokenhearted and open the hearts of the imprisoned.

 

Isaiah 61 (NKJV)

The Good News of Salvation

 

61      “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,

Because the LORD has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2      To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

3      To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

 

4      And they shall rebuild the old ruins,

They shall raise up the former desolations,

And they shall repair the ruined cities,

The desolations of many generations.

5      Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,

And the sons of the foreigner

Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

6      But you shall be named the priests of the LORD,

They shall call you the servants of our God.

You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles,

And in their glory you shall boast.

7      Instead of your shame you shall have double honor,

And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.

Therefore in their land they shall possess double;

Everlasting joy shall be theirs.

 

8      “For I, the LORD, love justice;

I hate robbery for burnt offering;

I will direct their work in truth,

And will make with them an everlasting covenant.

9      Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles,

And their offspring among the people.

All who see them shall acknowledge them,

That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed.”

 

10      I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

My soul shall be joyful in my God;

For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11      For as the earth brings forth its bud,

As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,

So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

 

 

 

 

Have you ever stopped to realize that humanity crucified Jesus Christ Who IS perfect love?  We didn’t recognize, embrace or appreciate the perfect love of Christ Jesus even when He stood before us as God in the flesh.  Jesus bore the sins of the world and the wrath of the Father for our behalf.  Jesus endured persecution, rejection, chastising, beatings and abuse unto death on our behalf.  (Isaiah 53)

 

 

Romans 3:24–26 (NKJV)

 

24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

 

Oh how the hearts and souls of mankind yearn for perfect love yet we seek it from the wrong places, from a dying and dark fallen world of hurting and troubled people.  We seek earthly pleasures to compensate for genuine undefiled love yet we are left feeling incomplete, inadequate often still feeling unloved. The simple truth is that only Christ Jesus can fulfill the love, intimacy, soul and spirit that our hearts long for.  Earthly possessions will never fulfill the essence of our original created state of being, the very image of God and Spirit.

 

Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)

27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

 

I have traveled across this nation witnessing the pains, hurts and troubled hearts of humanity that is longing for a love that will edify, sustain and complete the essence of our original created being, the image and likeness of God who is perfect love. I have ministered to the hearts of hurting people longing for uncorrupted and undefiled love, a love that is true, genuine, sustaining and beyond earthly perception.  There is only “One” that is perfect love and that is Christ Jesus.

 

While counseling is often helpful it may still leave us with feelings of emptiness, still feeling a void and yearning for acceptance, genuine undefiled and pure love that is only found in Christ Jesus. Humanity embraces programs and methodology over biblical principles, truths and Jesus Christ.  We unknowingly and unintentionally, often out of desperations seek the wisdom and counsel of men/women when we truly need the Godly undefiled counsel, truth and life through Christ Jesus.  The worldly methods often leave us constantly coping rather than overcoming.  Jesus overcame the world and through Christ Jesus we too can overcome the world.

 

John 16:33 (NKJV)

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

 

John 14:6 (NKJV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

 

 

The soul (self-will/flesh) of humanity will always battle with the Spirit until the soul (self-will/flesh) becomes surrendered or overcome by the Spirit of The Lord.  We must not let emotions or feelings rule our thought or actions.  We must focus on the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross and resurrection of Christ Jesus.  We must be “born again” living in the Spirit of the Lord giving our hearts to the Living God Jesus Christ, truly make Him Lord of our lives leading us into conviction, repentance, redeeming and restoring us through His grace and mercy.

 

Romans 8:7 (NKJV)

 

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

 

I’d like you to take a moment to reflect on John 2:19 and Mark 14:58 to seek revelation and insight from the Lord.

 

John 2:19 (NKJV)

19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

 

Mark 14:58 (NKJV)

58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ ”

 

Here we have Jesus Christ, God in the flesh crucified and resurrected.  Even God in the flesh had to be crucified as man and resurrected, why are we any different that Jesus?  Have you ever considered that we too must fully die to the flesh and that the very trials, tribulations, hardships and emotional scars must die fully to be resurrected fully, being transformed into a new creation through Christ?  Have you ever considered that the measure of pain and suffering that Jesus suffered is a direct correlation to the very depth of His love for us?  Now let us reflect on our own hurting hearts bearing the inflicted pains from others and realize that the very fact that we feel pain is a direct correlation to our ability to love and desire love.  Longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit which many do not teach upon, but it is the very spiritual strength/substance of Love that embraces and desires undefiled genuine love, seeks/stands in righteousness through a hurting and spiritually dying world. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a brother or sister, love bears all and forgives a multitude of sins.  This can only be accomplished through abiding in Christ Jesus.

 

Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 

John 15:13 (NKJV)

 

13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

 

John 15:5 (NKJV)

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 

Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 

 

May the Lord bless you with revelations of His love, grace and mercy and may you embrace your imperfections so that you may surrender them in humility to Christ Jesus.  Share the depths of your heart; surrender the hurts, pains, and brokenness with a full barren and open heart so that The Lord may bring healing, fullness and restoration.  

 

Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV)

 

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

 

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

 

6      For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Imagine how people desire to be loved perfectly yet these very people torture, crucify and persecute perfect love.  We seek love through imperfect people who are also processing their own shortcomings, hurts and the pressures of earthly influences.  The only way to overcome is with a life surrendered and abiding in Christ Jesus.  A life of abiding in Christ transforms you into His very essence and persona. God is love, God loved us first and God desires us to love Him.  Give yourself the greatest gift of all to yourself, the gift of eternal and everlasting life only obtained through abiding in Christ Jesus, make Jesus the Lord of your life by abiding in the Lord so Jesus can abide in you.  

 

1 John 4:7–10 (NKJV)

 

 

Knowing God Through Love

 

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

WORTHINESS vs. ENTITLEMENT

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WORTHINESS vs. ENTITLEMENT

 

In a lawless society many confuse, twist and pervert “free-will” with personal liberty.  Liberties come with a cost that most are not willing to pay and one’s actions have consequences to self and others.  Ask a veteran the cost of liberty/freedom as they freely and willingly serve(d) to protect the very liberties you proclaim and desire.  Everything comes with a cost, the problem remains when others pay the cost for your “free-will”. 

 

We are all worthy to receive Christ Jesus. We must embrace that worthiness in Christ Jesus, however the truth is many will not embrace Christ Jesus.  Society has twisted, manipulated and perverted “worthiness” into “entitlement”. I am all for helping people truly in need, down and out and in need of assistance but we must also assist them in becoming self sufficient and empowered.  So many people are struggling with severe issues of rejection, abuse and trauma which inhibit their sense of worthiness to become self sufficient.  These people may very well need counseling and spiritual assistance along with provisional assistance until they can become self sufficient.  My focus is on those which are healthy and able to work and not those people that become unemployed, physically/medically challenged, etc.  

 

We must remember what is witnessed/manifested in the natural is first birthed in the Spirit.  A short time ago the Lord spoke to me and said to me just as society has perverted worthiness with entitlement so have many whom preach, teach and proclaim to follow Christ Jesus.  

 

Our passion, motivation and free will to advance the Kingdom of God and the salvation of Jesus Christ must be birthed, manifested and maintained abiding in the genuine reciprocated love of Christ.  The love of Christ is compelling, motivating, passionate and pure energy motivating us to share the love of Christ with others.  The Agape love of Christ is moving, alive and sustaining and His grace and mercy is sufficient.

 

While it is true that Jesus desires all of mankind to have salvation our worthiness is not entitlement.  True salvation comes at a cost and Christ Jesus paid the price.  Baptism reflects a death and resurrection.  Have you truly died to self to be fully resurrected in Christ?  Attempting to obtain salvation without making Jesus Lord renders no real conversion or sanctification.  

 

Galatians 2:20 (AMP)

20 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 

We must remember salvation is a confession of the heart and not to be reduced to words without commitment, action and perseverance.  

 

 

Salvation through Christ Jesus if a “free gift” and not by the works of the flesh because Jesus paid the price, yet each of us must work out our own salvation.

 

Philippians 2:12–16 (AMP)

12 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

14 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves],

15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

16 Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose.

 

It’s the Christmas season and people buy and exchange gifts with family, friends and loved ones.  Why overlook the real meaning of Christmas and the birth of the Messiah by distorting/eliminating the Cross on Calvary to merely focus on the gift of salvation and redemption overlooking the price Jesus paid for our redemption?   Every gift comes with a price that others have paid; don’t let the death of Christ be in vain.

 

John 3:16–17 (AMP)

16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

 

 

This Christmas even if people do not give you a gift or send you a greeting card let us remember the greater gift is the love you hold for them within your very own heart.  Just as Jesus, we can love them first.  

 

1 John 4:10 (AMP)

10 In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.

 

1 John 4:19 (AMP)

19 We love Him, because He first loved us.


Knowing Him and Trusting in His Love and Goodness

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Yesterday my niece and her husband lost their 10 month old baby girl.  In our grieving the Lord impressed upon me the words He spoke to me several years ago; “Your kingdom walk is in your knows and what you speculate about I will bring to your knowing when you need to know it.”  We cannot understand why we suffer such tragic loss in our life, but we know our Lord and that He is with us and we must rest in what we know in Him.  My wife Sherry felt impressed to write the following concerning the loss of little sweet Cate. I am posting these words because I believe they may be a salve to open wounds and a heavenly perspective for those suffering their own loss. This is the Facebook post she made:

“I by no means have been appointed official spokesperson by my wonderful family.  No one even knew I would post, nor did I know I would be posting anything on Facebook today.  The Lord has been dealing with my heart as Scott and I have been praying for sweet Brittany, Lane, Olivia and Ava, Kenny, Rhonda, Hayley (the most amazing Aunt in the world) and the entire Thompson, Baker and Roberts families.  I would first like to say that we love and appreciate everyone so much for your prayers and words of encouragement.  Where would we be without the Lord, and where would we be without all of you rallying around us so lovingly and prayerfully at the sorrowful passing of our beloved Baby Cate.  Cate was truly a precious gift from the Lord, as are all of our children.  As James says in scripture, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”  Baby Cate is a perfect gift that we have been so blessed to love and cherish and will continue to love and cherish as we remember her sweetness and beautiful face full of smiles.  Can anyone explain why things like this happen?  I sure cannot, and I will not try.  What the Lord has been dealing with me about is to trust who He is and know that there is no variation or shadow of turning with Him.  He is good all the time, His mercies are new every morning, His love and faithfulness is great and everlasting,  and there is nowhere we can go nor any pain we can go through that He does not cherish us and hold us in the palm of His hand.  We do mourn, as right now, Brittany and Lane would love nothing more than to have their little family together again, but we do not mourn as those who have no hope.  Our hope is in you Lord and the promise that we will see you, Cate and all of our loved ones in you again.  As you tell us in Isaiah, it is you, Lord, who gives us a crown of beauty instead of ashes and the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  We will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.  If you do not know this wonderful loving Jesus we serve, you can.  Please seek Him today with your whole heart, and He will meet you right where you are.  We love you all.”

God Bless you, and thank you Lord for allowing us to have each other and the precious gift of our time with baby Cate. We are grateful she is with you and we will be with her again because of you Lord.