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” 

Life has more meaning!

So many things in life are much better with God than without Him. Less stress and more joy, less dissatisfaction, and more contentment, less worry, and more faith, and less strife, and more understanding and peace. 

All of us and our children need a Father who loves them perfectly, understands them perfectly, never judges harshly, and always sees the good in them. And with that good, He knows it will overflow into others and they will see Him in you that changes peoples hearts and lives that is filled with love, joy, and goodness. 

We can’t keep neglecting our spiritual well being - and it’s very vital for our young children as well. Families are more polarized than ever and it’s only because of one thing, God is not in their hearts, or the head of their household. 

As Joshua says: 

                

 Joshua 24:14-15 AMPC

14 Now therefore, [reverently] fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the [Euphrates] River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord 

15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

When you have God in your life, EVERYTHING changes for the better. 

Psalm 1 AMPC

1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

4 Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]. But they are like the chaff [worthless, dead, without substance] which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked [those disobedient and living without God] shall not stand [justified] in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God].

6 For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God’s will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought).

Let no one rob you of your Crown!

How many of you want to go to Heaven? How many of you want to live in peace and joy? These are questions we need to be asking ourselves daily when temptations come -  and you yield to that temptation anyway. What some of us do, not all, is look around us and come to a conclusion - "If it feels good do it!" Be careful, not everything that "feels" good is "good" for you or will come to a good ending!

I want you to read this story and I hope not to get too lengthy, but when it is told by Our Heavenly Father, I want to make sure you are reading His Words and not mine. Let us begin:  

During the days of Noah, which means, he was alive on Earth, there was evil in the land among the people. 

Genesis 6:1-5 AMP 

Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and desirable; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose and desired. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive and remain with man forever, because he is indeed flesh [sinful, corrupt—given over to sensual appetites]; nevertheless his days shall yet be a hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were Nephilim (men of stature, notorious men) on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, and they gave birth to their children. These were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown (great reputation, fame).

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness (depravity) of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination or intent of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually.

Let's continue...

Verses 6-8 reads: 

6 The Lord regretted that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was [deeply] grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy (annihilate) mankind whom I have created from the surface of the earth—not only man, but the animals and the crawling things and the birds of the air—because it [deeply] grieves Me [to see mankind’s sin] and I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor and grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Now I will skip the history of Noah and his generation which is found in Genesis 6:9-10 (Please read on your own) 

Verses 11-13 reads: 

11 The [population of the] earth was corrupt [absolutely depraved—spiritually and morally putrid] in God’s sight, and the land was filled with violence [desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power]. 12 God looked on the earth and saw how debased and degenerate it was, for all humanity had corrupted their way on the earth and lost their true direction.

13 God said to Noah, “I intend to make an end of all that lives, for through men the land is filled with violence; and behold, I am about to destroy them together with the land.

(Read verses 14-22 at your convenience). God gives Noah instructions on building the Ark and to build it exactly as instructed. In Chapter 7:1-10, He also instructs Noah of what animals to put on the Ark and how and when to board them.

If you will recall in verse 3 God said he will let man live 120 years; which during those years, the people did not realize they were given that time to change; however, they did not pass the test and ignored all the warnings and signs of God and Noah. All the while Noah did not doubt or waver that it was God instructing him, and he continued to build the Ark to completion. So after 120 years, when the day came for Noah, his family, and the animals to enter the Ark, it said, "God closed them in". 

In Genesis 7:1 AMPC :And the Lord said to Noah, Come with all your household into the ark, for I have seen you to be righteous (upright and in right standing) before Me in this generation...verse 16 - And they that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded [Noah]; and the Lord shut him in and closed [the door] round about him.

When God closes a door no man can open, and when He opens a door, no man can shut - you're safe. Think about that, Heaven and Hell are real and when you enter one, you cannot crossover to the other. It is fixed - eternal!

If you read on about this story you will find that: 

1. God gives us time to repent of our sins and become a born again believer. He is long suffering; so don't fall into that trap of thinking, it’s taking God awhile so I will continue in my sin.
2. God always sends warnings and signs
3. God always has someone who is faithful (His remnants) 
4. God never stops loving you. You make the choice to stop loving and obeying Him
5. You're safe with God.

You can read the whole story of Noah in Genesis Chapter 6 through Chapter 9, and remember everything you read about in the Bible is for your benefit and instructions. Don't take things too lightly or feel because it has been going on for hundreds of years, nothing will transpire from living a sinful life. I'm sure those that were in the land where Noah lived thought the same way, and were not safe. 

Note: Archeologist have found human bones that does show they are bones of a very large man - or a giant compared to the average height of man today. God reveals things at the appointed time and the right time, so we will know, His Word is truth. 

FYI: You will also find in Revelation 3:7-11 of how God opens doors no man can open and closes doors no man can shut upon His second return.

Now God regretted destroying His creation and gave Noah a sign of His promise, which is a Rainbow, that He will never destroy all creation by a flood again. (Genesis 9:11-17) 

Don’t give up your Crown for a meal (momentary pleasure). Eat only what is Holy and satisfies that hunger.