What REALLY Does Matter?

Picture Courtesy of PWW - Shoes Matter 

• Shoes, clothes, and money matter; but they are NOT what we need! 
• Houses, cars, and food are essential in this society; but we shouldn't hunger and thirst after them!

John 6:33-35 AMPC

33 For the Bread of God is He Who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.

34 Then they said to Him, Lord, give us this bread always (all the time)!

35 Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time).

• What we need is hope to seize the moments of despair and calamity!

Romans 15:13 AMPC

 13 May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

• What we need is small steps to victory that start with action, not empty Words, such as “Be kind”; whereas, injustice still bleeds out, especially among our world leaders! 
• What we need, is atoning of our churches who claim to know God, but refuse to have a felon attend their church, ignore a poor person and treat them with disgust, and lock the doors to people of color and show hate and contempt towards them! 
• What we need is a cleansing of the heart daily with time with God in scripture reading (not just a few verses; but at least an hour of reading and journaling, with prayer and thanksgiving) 
• What we need is a nation that is God driven, more than material driven! 
• What we need is Jesus, and we have EVERYTHING we will ever need! 
• When one of His sheep is unjustly killed, He pursues the ones who are at fault!

My nephew in the back and his friends, all dressed
up going to a school dance! The suites Matter

Jesus came so that none should perish and fall short of the Glory; but society as a whole has eliminated and oppressed black lives, so to Him, He will come back to ensure justice is served; but only those who refuse to believe God loves us, one and all, will receive judgment - under fire! 

II Peter 3:9 AMPC

9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.

There is still time, and He is waiting patiently to see hearts change, people sincere in helping their neighbors, and the lies, deceit, and hate stops - even in our churches! 

John 3:20-21 NKJV

20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Don't hide behind closed doors and be ashamed of who you are and who you serve due to

what people think, Expose the darkness and come into the Light; which is Jesus so you can be a true disciple - changing hearts, minds, and souls! 

Picture Courtesy of PWW - Money Matters 

Can I Get A Witness?

Picture Courtesy of Peaceful Protest for Equality
in Madison, Indiana June 12, 2020

Our World must realize, anything that needs improvement or has been hidden from view (darkness), must first be brought to the light in order to extinguish it. We can’t erase the past; but we can amend it! Injustice, oppression, and hate crimes are hidden from our view; however, in today's society, technology has bought it to light. It is being revealed at this time in life to bring about an awakening to all people and a necessary change - especially a change of heart.

Matthew 5:22 AMPC 

22 Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation.] For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything [temporarily] kept secret except in order that it may be made known.

The time is now to trudge through the muck and mire of senseless killings, of our past  and present. The time is now to take responsibility for what went wrong in the past so as not to repeat it in the "now" and future! The time is now to turn to Jesus, if you haven't already. The time is now for our Pastors, Church leaders, and fellow Christians to take a stand and teach the true Doctrine, that Jesus suffered greatly - "To set the captives free!" We can march until our feet are swollen and sore; but if Jesus is not marching with you in your heart, then it is of no purpose or impact!

Picture Courtesy of Peaceful Protest for Equality
in Madison, Indiana June 12, 2020

Another important event that can lead us astray is what is written on Social Media and the Newspapers. Before you jump on board believing what you are reading, research who the author of the articles are, and the validity of its content.  Not everything written has weight or substance to the truth of the matter. There are many who write stories or events that can persuade you to think or act in opposition to facts. 

Matthew 5:23-25 AMPC 

23 If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend.

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.

25 For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away [by force],

Understanding of who God is, and what He has done for us is freedom to the mind, soul, and spirit - a peaceful state that is followed with faith in Him. In that state of mind, nothing or no one can take it away. What is debilitating is the opposite of freedom is bondage. 

This is what bondage looks like:

• Hate 
• Anger
• Worry
• Doubt
• Fear 
• Anxiety
• Envy
• Jealousy
• Murder
• Gossip
• Stealing
• Backbiting
•  Sexual Impurity
•  Covetousness
• Lust

These type of emotions are draining and keep you in anguish and turmoil; basically a very dark place! And it holds true, “Anything that is brought out in the open, has to either diminish or flee”.

Ephesians 5:11-13 AMPC

11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret.

13 But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.

I know darkness fears light, because the Light (Jesus) allows you to "see" everything around you clearly and in clear view! The below scripture is only one of the many Bible verses of Jesus casting out demons, and how they begged Jesus not to harm them. Why? Because His Word is sharper than any two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) - it slays Satan and heals you! Once exposed, the power of darkness is gone!

Picture Courtesy of Peaceful Protest for Equality in Madison, IN June 12, 2020

Matthew 5:1-13 NKJV 

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I imploreYou by God that You do not torment me.”

8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?”

And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. 

What is so amazing about Jesus when He walked this earth, is that He never performed raising someone from the dead, casting out demons, or healing the sick without a witness. This was so others would see God's power within him to free those in bondage; and receive a glimpse of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. Those who were freed, became believers in Christ and followed Him. I believe God is on the move in our lifetime, and I also believe He wants us to come together, united, in love, not separated and divided! 

Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world! (I John 4:4)