Thursday, July 13, 2023

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


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.

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.

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].

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.

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].

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).

Sunday, July 9, 2023

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, 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. 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.” 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).

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: 


The Lord regretted that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was [deeply] grieved in His heart. 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.” 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. 


Saturday, July 8, 2023

Has It Been That Long?

So many of us in our household do not realize the strongholds and evil spirits that still war against us daily that keep you in bondage to drugs, self-loathing, boredom (which is deeply sad because there is so many things a person can do to get their minds off themselves by helping others), false gender identities, hate, jealousy, greed, arguing, fault finding, etc.

We are here for a purpose and to help others by being light in dark places. It ONLY comes from knowing and loving God. If you are not growing then you are not spending time with God. It is as Paul says in the book of Hebrews 5:12-15 Amplified Version: 

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food. 13 For everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant. 14 But solid food is for the [spiritually] mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between what is morally good and what is evil.


As it is written in verse 12 “because of the time you have had to learn these truths”. Let’s take a marriage for example, After approximately 25 years of marriage the spouse who has not been raised in the Bible feels threatened by the idea of going to church. They may try it for a week or two and go back to his or her ungodly ways, and refuses to make an effort anymore. No one can make you do what you do not want to do, and neither will God force you either. It is your choice. 


Anything that is unhealthy and takes a toll on your health has to change or be removed. No God doesn’t like divorces, yet, He will not condemn you or stop loving you if you have been living in darkness for years. If you are the one rejecting God, don’t act surprised when you are alone - but there is still hope for you and possibly the marriage, but you have to stop the excuses and selfish desires and ways to justify why you are hard to get along with. How hard is it to pick up a Bible and begin a new life - a better life? 


I am not trying to say I am perfect. I have many imperfections; however, it is necessary for me and my household to seek perfection by spending time with God. If I chase perfection I can catch excellence. God does NOT condemn you, look at your past, and reject you at all. When you come to Him with an open heart to want to be healed, all He says is Come. That is why He is the Judge of us all; whereas, man judges too harshly. We tend to forget our sins, but are quick to harshly tell someone of their faults. God does it in a loving way, we do it with malice in our hearts - which is NOT God’s character at all. Let God change your attitudes, and you by His love that surpasses all understanding. 


None of us deserves God’s love, yet He loves us anyway regardless of our sins. 


John 3:16-20 AMPC 


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.

18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]

19 The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil.

20 For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light but shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed and reproved.


It’s never too late or are you too sinful for God to show you His love. That is why Jesus died to save a wretch like me and you! 

Freedom or Shackles!