Don't Dim the Light!

There are many people in our world that do not know what really pleases God and what will get them into Heaven. 

It is what we do unto others and how we treat others is what pleases God. (Luke 6:31) If we show partiality to the rich and oppress the poor, if we show partiality to a certain race, or show partiality to a child, or neglect our family over work; or as a teacher, neglect those who are struggling in a subject, or as a coach neglect the ones who want to play verses the ones who know how to play, your heart is not in the “right” place. 

We can dim the light in people, a child, a friend, or a spouse by our words and actions - and it’s ONLY because our hearts are not pruned yet per say. Which means we can break their spirit and cause them to regress instead of progress. Especially those who say they are Christians instead of allowing their actions to show it. 

If many who are reading this, do not know God’s character, or spend time with Him by reading the Bible, you can easily fall prey to Satan's lies that coax you into thinking your actions are approved and acceptable by God.  

James 2:1-8 AMP

Light cannot be put out by darkness

1 My fellow believers, do not practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of partiality [toward people—show no favoritism, no prejudice, no snobbery]. 2 For if a man comes into your meeting place wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who wears the fine clothes, and say to him, “You sit here in this good seat,” and you tell the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down [on the floor] by my footstool,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves, and become judges with wrong motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters: has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and [as believers to be] heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you [in contrast] have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress and exploit you, and personally drag you into the courts of law? 7 Do they not blaspheme the precious name [of Christ] by which you are called?

8 If, however, you are [really] fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, if you have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit]” you are doing well.

There is always hope and plenty of room for change and growth. However, change comes from knowing Jesus Christ and allowing Him in your heart.

I pray that those who are reading this turn your hearts and mind towards God and let Him change  you from glory to glory - if you have not already done so. Your life will NEVER be the same and you will have more peace and joy then ever before! 

A New Year! What Will it Bring?

None of us know what 2024 is going to bring. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-10 AMPC says: 

1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven: 

2 A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted,

3 A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up,

4 A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 A time to get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away,

7 A time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak,

8 A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What profit remains for the worker from his toil?

10 I have seen the painful labor and exertion and miserable business which God has given to the sons of men with which to exercise and busy themselves

*(Read the full chapter in your quiet time)* 

What does remain constant and is reliable is Jesus and His love for us all. 

Life is not always going to be filled with joy, nor is it always going to be filled with sadness either. Everything has its seasons and time. It is good and profitable for us all to seek that which is good and righteous so that when storms do come, we can weather them with a good temper and trust in God knowing He is ALWAYS with us and will never forsake us during those times we feel alone. 

My prayer for you all is ask God to bless you in all you do, say, and become. I pray you live life according to His purpose and plan, and seek that which is good - ALWAYS! Which is our Father in Heaven! 

If you do not know Jesus, receive Him right now in your hearts so that you will have an Anchor (steady and unwavering)  that will direct your path and keep your hearts and minds at rest during the storms, as well as rejoice and be glad of His goodness and blessings that come upon you because God is a good God. 

If you are ready to receive God and become a believer, Say this prayer out loud: 

Jesus I want to live a life of righteousness. I am ready to be transformed and changed. Your Word says that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. I do believe You are the Son of God and I do believe God raised you from the dead. I receive you in my heart right now. I believe I am saved and I am ready to begin my new life as a believer. In Jesus name! Amen! 

Welcome to the Family! Get in a good Bible- based Church to continue building your relationship with Jesus. 

Have a blessed and prosperous New Year in every area of your life! God bless you! 

What is that I Hear?

 

Scripture tells us in Psalm 103:20 KJV:

20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Angels are on alert at all times to hear God's Word spoken, obey, and come to your aid. Daniel prayed to God about a dream he had that disturbed him and the Angel told Daniel as soon as you prayed I was sent. (Daniel 10:12) 

*Read the Book of Daniel in your quiet time. It is a story of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who had great faith and received God’s power and protection and prosperity in their mist of being enslaved in a foreign country**

An example of praying in God's Word:  “God you blessed me with a new job in Amsterdam. Thank You! Your Word says you are with me always, to the ends of the Earth. (Matthew 28:20) Father I ask for wisdom and knowledge (James 1:5) to learn the culture, and be respectful of their ways of living and speaking. In Jesus name, Amen!"

We as the human race do not stand or live our life on God’s promises as much as we should. What He says in the Bible, He fulfills. There will be times you may be at a loss for words to say. If that happens, and you are right with God in your heart, scripture tells us The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. (Romans 8:26-27) 

In Isaiah 53:3-5 KJV reads:

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:3-5 KJV) 

He was bruised and wounded for our iniquities (which means sins). There is no peace in sickness, diseases, hurt, shame, anger, hate, jealousy, fear, etc. So Jesus took all of this through the tragic lashes on His back - and by His stripes we are healed”! Not, you will be healed in 6 months or a year. Faith is now.

So pray in the Spirit and in faith with what His promises says and your life will be filled with answered prayers and His Peace. Remember Angels hearken or hear the voice of His Word. 

Spending Time with God and His Word!

Only the True Word of God has power. We do not realize WORDS have power and if it is not from God, it is empty, useless, and damaging words that cut through a spirit and will destroy you and those around you. 

As mentioned below, many false prophets did not speak what is written by God. Read these Words spoken by God: 

Jeremiah 23:26-40 

        AMPC

16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the [false] prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility) and fill you with vain hopes; they speak a vision of their own minds and not from the mouth of the Lord.

17 They are continually saying to those who despise Me and the word of the Lord, The Lord has said: You shall have peace; and they say to everyone who walks after the stubbornness of his own mind and heart, No evil shall come upon you.

18 For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord, that he should perceive and hear His word? Who has marked His word [noticing and observing and giving attention to it] and has [actually] heard it?

19 Behold, the tempest of the Lord has gone forth in wrath, a whirling tempest; it shall whirl and burst upon the heads of the wicked.

20 The anger of the Lord shall not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the thoughts and intents of His mind and heart. In the latter days you shall consider and understand it perfectly.

21 I did not send these [false] prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.

22 But if they had stood in My council, then they would have caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them [My people] from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.

23 Am I a God at hand, says the Lord, and not a God afar off?

A Robin's nest on the wreath of a friend's 
door. I know, that's what I said, "WOW"!

24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? says the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.

25 I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed [visions on my bed at night].

26 [How long shall this state of things continue?] How long yet shall it be in the minds of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even the prophets of the deceit of their own hearts,

27 Who think that they can cause My people to forget My name by their dreams which every man tells to his neighbor, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal?

28 The prophet who has a dream, let him tell his dream; but he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat [for nourishment]? says the Lord.

29 Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock [of most stubborn resistance]?

30 Therefore behold, I am against the [false] prophets, says the Lord, [I am even now descending upon them with punishment, these prophets] who steal My words from one another [imitating the phrases of the true prophets].

31 Behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who use their [own deceitful] tongues and say, Thus says the Lord.

32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the Lord, and tell them and cause My people to err and go astray by their lies and by their vain boasting and recklessness—when I did not send them or command them; nor do they profit these people at all, says the Lord.

33 And when these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, What is the burden of the Lord [the thing to be lifted up now]? then you shall say to them, What burden [indeed]! [You are the burden!] And I will disburden Myself of you and I will cast you off, says the Lord.

34 And as for the prophet, the priest, or [any of these] the people, whoever [in mockery calls the word of the Lord a burden and] says, The burden of the Lord, I will even visit in wrath and punish that man and his house.

35 [For the future, in speaking of the utterances of the Lord] thus shall you say every one to his neighbor and every one to his brother: What has the Lord answered? or, What has the Lord spoken?

36 But the burden of the Lord you must mention no more, for every man’s burden is his own response and word [for as they mockingly call all prophecies burdens, whether good or bad, so will it prove to be to them; God will take them at their own word]; for you pervert the words [not of a lifeless idol, but] of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God!

37 Thus shall you [reverently] say to the prophet: What has the Lord answered you? Or, What has the Lord spoken?

38 But if you say, The burden of the Lord, therefore thus says the Lord: Because you said these words, The burden of the Lord, when I sent to you, saying, You shall not say, The burden of the Lord,

39 Therefore behold, I, even I, will assuredly take you up and cast you away from My presence, you and the city [Jerusalem] which I gave to you and to your fathers.

40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you and a perpetual shame which will not be forgotten.

Read all of Jeremiah 23 in it’s entirety. It will enlighten you.

God’s Word heals, when you spend time reading it, God’s Word gives you wisdom and knowledge, when you spend time reading it, God’s Word protects you from harm, when you spend time reading it, God’s Word gives you Peace that surpasses understanding, when you spend time reading it. He is faithful and just to His Word. It will NEVER return to you void. (Isaiah 55:11) He is the ONLY ONE who can be trusted, keeps His promises - and speaks Truth! 

Whence cometh my help?

Rainbows - A sign God keeps His promises!

Psalm 121 AMPC 

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]—From whence shall my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield].

6 The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.

8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Our help comes from the Lord and we look to other things that harm us, destroy us, and can’t help us but God. That is why we have so many lives being destroyed by drugs and other addictions because they kill someone very quick with just one use. 

That is a prayer right there, “God help me”!  But we run to people and things instead of God that kill you such as drugs, alcohol, and other damaging things that over time causes sicknesses and diseases because that is not God’s best for you. 

John 10:10 AMPC 

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

The thief is Satan and he is very sly and deceitful and a liar.

This is what our Pastor at my church had the congregation write down: 

1. Name the lie that has a stronghold in your life.
2. Name the truth that demolishes that stronghold in your life. (John 8:32) NIV 

For example:

Someone tells you that you will never amount to anything in life - a lie (Satan working through someone to destroy your spirit) 

God’s word say:

Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC 

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. The Truth. 

If you don’t know God’s Word and believe the lies Satan is telling you, then you will fall prey to his lies and that is why so many of God’s children are being destroyed in numerous numbers. 

So many people look to the left and right (horizontal) for help instead of vertical. As Psalm 121 says, I will look “up” to the hills from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made Heaven and Earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)  

Another truth: 

Hebrews 4:12 AMP

12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

God’s Word slices Satan and heals you. Satan cannot defeat God’s Word. That is the ONLY thing that will destroy Satan and so many do not know it. We scream, fight, cry, cuss, and all that does is make Satan laugh because he has a stronghold on you.

Know the truth and the truth will set you free! (John 8:32) 

God loves you ALL and so do I. Have a blessed day today all of God’s children. 

What the World needs now is LOVE!

 Let’s talk about love. What is your definition of love?

Here is what the Webster Dictionary defines love as: 

Love 1 of 2 

noun

(1): strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties

maternal love for a child

(2): attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers

Here is what scripture defines love as: 

I Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP 

4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.

Love, as the majority of the world views it, is a feeling that should make your heart pitter-patter - or give you a gooey feeling inside. We encounter people everyday that we are to love, Below are the relationships we encounter and the scripture you can go to to see how God wants us to love.  

1. Husband and wife - love (Ephesians 5:21-32) 
2. Parent and child - love (I Kings 3:16-28)
3. Friendship- love (John 15:12-13) 
4. Show love to Co-workers (Ephesians 6:1) 
5. Show love to those who are different than us (James 1:27) 
6. Show love to strangers (Hebrews 13:1-2)
7. Show love to Foreigners (Leviticus 29:34:34) 

Truly examine yourself before you speak words of defeat, cynicism, and hate at someone you say you love. Scripture tells us:

23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23 AMPC) 

AND 

34 You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.

35 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. (Matthew 12:34-35 AMPC)

So how can anyone obtain and walk daily in this love we freely misuse, and daily abuse. For example: “I love you” to a friend; and that friend hits on your Husband or your Wife. The flesh, which is without the Holy Spirit in your heart, immediately develops a hate for that friend and even breaks up the friendship. When things like that happens in our lives we begin to ask ourselves thing like, "What just happened? How did this happen? What is wrong with my Husband. What is wrong with my Wife? What is wrong with me?" These are questions that come to mind when your “heart” has been deeply hurt. 

(Read the book of Hosea of how he continually rekindled his relationship with Gomer, who was a prostitute. They had children, and she continually kept going back to her sinful ways. Finally she was being sold as a slave on a podium in town and God told him to go buy her back and show her kindness and love. God said, that is how much I love my people. I am paraphrasing; however, it is a good story to read).

Satan hates God’s creations. His purpose is to destroy marriages, friendships, and even conflicts between parents and children, cultures and countries, and employer and employees - so he causes us to stumble and even fall through every relationship mentioned above. He sets before us things that will offend and deeply hurt us. Yet, when we are “deeply rooted and grounded in LOVE”...

(Ephesians 3:17 AMPC): 

17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

It says make a permanent home in your hearts. Let’s continue with verses 18,19:

18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

….we do stumble; however, you can regain your footage to a perfect landing place that is deeply in you and given to you from God. His Love is perfect and does not require us to do anything to obtain it. It is freely given, so freely receive it and watch how you and your life, relationships, and love walk will have more meaning and filled with joy! 

Start with a Smile! It’s Contagious!

In life most of us are looking for meaning and purpose. We ask ourselves what is my purpose, what is it that makes me happy, what can I do that will give me gratification?

We are all seeking self-gratification when our focus is on us. Actually serving God brings more meaning and purpose than anything. Think about it, when you give someone else joy, it gives you joy. It can be something as simple as giving someone a compliment. A kind word said will make a difference in someone’s life that has never heard anything good at all.  It makes them feel so good - their eyes light up and they flash a big "SMILE"! It is a natural high nothing can replace - no drug, alcohol, or sex before marriage will ever do.

***A little note: God’s medicine (The Bible and Communion with Him) heals a body, soul, and Spirit. Taken daily, delivers you from destruction. The world’s medicine destroys, kills, and harms the body over time. ***

Philippians 2:3-7 AMPC 

3 Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].

4 Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.

5 Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,

7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.

Kind words and acts of kindness changes a person - and their lives. I see it everyday at my place of work. Anyone can recognize a passionate and loving heart. That is where the change comes, followed by “Because you took your time to talk to me, pray for me and tell me or show me you care, means so much to me” Thank you!”

If making someone smile, or causing that person to shed tears of joy, or you told someone they are beautiful and they also cry, doesn’t give you joy, then your heart is not in the right place.

When you give anything of yourself and things, and not in a grudging way, blessings are given back to you from God. 

Luke 6:38 AMPC 

38 Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. 

 And put another way in the Bible 

Mark 4:24 AMPC: 

24 And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.) 

Serving takes little effort and time. (We should never be bored) There is always someone that you can help, call, talk to, visit, pick up, pray for, or give a ride to the store, etc. we feel we have to plan a big event, or do something of that magnitude to make a difference. You make a big difference to someone at the doctor's office or waiting at the BMV, or sitting at the bus stop by saying "Hello” or smile. A smile goes a long way! 

Mark 10:42-45 Amplified Version 

42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their powerful men exercise authority over them [tyrannizing them]. 43 But this is not how it is among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first and most important among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

To be intimate with God is to “Serve God”