Godly Strategies

Universal's Robin Hood

“I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done.” Revelation 20:12

Knowing God, who knows everything- has books about our good and evil deeds what do you think about Satan, our accuser having records on us?

Knowing Satan isn’t all knowing –isn’t always-present -isn’t all-powerful… he (our accuser) and his demons must have some sort of record system to remember every sinful thing in our life when we stand before God’s throne.

I don’t know if Satan can use God’s books as a reference library or not but knowing God is a fair and just God and Satan is allowed to accompany the angels on certain occasions. (Job 1:6) I would believe he would have access to “deed” information just as two opposing lawyers on a court case would have access to the same information.

Satan and his kin don’t just keep records on us but they use the records against us. They know our strengths and weaknesses. They know what irritates, temps, oppresses us, hurts us and makes us prideful. They have records on all our strengths and weaknesses and as long as we're willing to continue down these rabbit holes of human understanding and thought they will always win.

We are challenged everyday if we are living for God. Satan and his devious underhanded fork tongue bunch want to kill, steal and destroy us!!! They don’t want to go to hell alone, they want to take us with them.

All it takes is an unguarded moment, some stress, lack of focus, and/or not remembering God’s love -for Satan and his demons to strike us or someone we hold in high standing to affect our life.

What did Jesus say to Peter about Satan wanting to sift him like wheat? (Luke 22:31)

We know our sinful deeds only serve evil and our good deeds only serve God and only good deeds can be produced by God’s love working through us.

We need to look at trials and tests not as something to overcome us but enable us to become stronger in our faith. God allows certain things to come just as he did with Job. Satan even tempted Jesus and since Jesus is our teacher do you not think he will tempt the teacher’s students as well?

Through the taste of failure and/or success we learn. Tests put the information we learn to work. Beside how would we learn the strategies of the devil if we weren’t tempted and oppressed by the forces of evil? How would we learn to trust in God if we didn’t have challenges in our life?

We may possess a lot of knowledge of the bible just as we possess a lot of tools in our toolbox but they are useless if we don’t put them to use when God’s spiritual temple is being.... "enlightened".

I have the seen the weak and I have seen the strong and often they are the opposite of what most people think of weak and strong. Does it take more strength to hold back or retaliate verbally and physically according to the flesh desires? We are strong in our weakness only if we turn to God. Then and only then can God share strategies to help us overcome the tactics, temptations, and traps of the devil.

Until Lambs become lions. I like that saying. We don't give up because God does not give up on us. God is teaching us how to reflect and imitate the greatest strongest lion ever known…. Jesus Christ.

By God’s wisdom, love, grace, and Spirit we move supernaturally to defeat the evil influences around us.

For in God’s Spirit we see:
1. God is love and God loves us. (1 John 4:8)

His Spirit lives in us and is greater then the spirit who lives in the world. (1 JOHN 4:4
His love is brought to full expression through us as we align ourselves with God in thought and Spirit. 1 JOHN 4:12). Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. (1 JOHN 4:18)
Fear causes us to act wrongly just as pride causes us to act wrongly. Say it. “God is love and God loves me.”

For in God’s Spirit we see:
2. Perspective. We see who our enemy really is. We see the problem producer manipulating those of the flesh around us. “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in Heaven.” (MATTHEW 5:44-45)

“For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” (EPHESIANS 6:12)

For in God’s Spirit we see:
3.A relationship with Jesus is powerful.

(ACTS 19:13-20) A team of Jews who were traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus. The incantation they used was this: "I command you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!" Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.
But when they tried it on a man possessed by an evil spirit, the spirit replied, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul. But who are you?" And he leaped on them and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and badly injured. The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing magic brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.
So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.

Doing good wins out over evil.

(ROMANS 12:20) Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."

(Isaiah 58:6-11) "No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. `Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. "Stop oppressing the helpless and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day. The LORD will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring."

For in God’s Spirit we see:
4. All God is, all He is going to do, and all He had done.

"And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, how deep, his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more then we would ever dare to ask or hope.” (EPHESIANS 3:17-20

(PHILIPPIANS 4:6-8) Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

For in God’s Spirit we see:
5. Authority in God’s love.

(MATTHEW 10:1) Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.

(LUKE 10:19) And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.

May God help you use these strategies.

Simple Yet Effective

Christians may have a great understanding of the bible and what it says. God may even be able to help us build on that understanding giving us greater understanding but sometimes greater understanding- however GREAT is not always effective in those quick, spare of the moment decisions.

We must live in the Spirit of God.

Where does the mind go in conflict, struggle, persecution, oppression, sadness, frustration, anxiety and so on....?

The mind seems to have no speed limit at times and if not watchful and alert will give us disastrous results.

We know what sin does to our lives. We know where our hope and confidence should be. We know how we should love and where our focus should be.

We know God is love and what can be built and not built from His love -which is foundational.

But sometimes all this understanding, however very helpful, needs to be simplified for that split second where the mind needs to go from human understanding to spiritual understanding.

When we are in a stressful or high tension moment- our mind sometimes moves way too fast and before we know we have either said or did the first something that came to mind or we feel like "we" have to gather all these pieces of Godly wisdom together before we speak or move and before we know it the moment is here and gone and we have not spoken anything of God's love or truth "into" the situation.

No I am not saying we do not need to be prepared by reading the bible and going to church and spending time with the Lord. Rather I am saying be prepared by also putting your mind on the starting line where you can receive what God wants you to say and/or do in that split moment.

John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to give you are spirit and life."

Romans: 12:2 "Don't copy the behavior and customs of the this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is."

Exercise your mind for a moment. Think of a situation that is a challenge to you. Now without saying it as something hokey but in truth- say to yourself: "God is love and God loves me."

What just happened to your mind when you did this? If you believed that God is love and he loves you then your mind restructured its thinking to Holy Spirit thinking.

From this point peace "can" rule and this peace helps align your thoughts to where it should be and how it should act.

Jeremiah 17:7 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence."

Psalm 147:11 "Rather, the LORD's delight is in those who honor him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love."

Simple yet effective... God is love and God loves me.

Depression

Depression can be very enabling emotion for anyone. It seems to quickly work from the mind to the rest of the body. It can cause blood flow to slow down, headaches, back pain, muscle aches, joint pain, chest pain, digestive problems, exhaustion, fatigue, sleeping problems, change in appetite and weight and no doubt dizziness or lightheadedness.

Emotionally it can cause difficulty in concentrating, remembering details, making decisions, feeling hopeless and/or pessimistic. An individual can feel guilt, worthless, helpless, irritable, restless, sad, anxious, suicidal and having that “empty” feeling.

Depression has also been well documented in the bible and by Christian writers and figures.

Depression is a spiritual battle. It starts in the mind -in our thought process. And just like fighting the thoughts of condemnation, pride, lust, hate, revenge, jealousy, etc, we have to make a strong effort to redirect our thinking when it comes to depression. We have to realize our joy, peace and love does not come from others or ourselves but from God. God is our source of our strength to battle depression.

Psalm 42:5 “Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again- my Savior and my God!”

Isaiah 50:10 “ Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon lie down in great torment.”

In depression we warm ourselves in destructive ways and thoughts. And if you don’t think so -think about where our heart goes when we are depressed? What are we choosing to treasure when we are depressed? Where are our eyes?

When my step dad passed away this last summer I suffered from a bout of depression when I returned home. The Lord helped me take care of my dying step-dad in his home and take care of things that needed to be done after his passing but after I returned home, images and certain smells bothered me... and as I began to process everything that had happened during those previous weeks I began to consider everything as meaningless and no point. Waves of sadness would come and go and then I would feel “empty” void of all emotion. The Lord had shown me some great things during those previous weeks but I had been so overwhelmed by depression that I had momentary forgotten those things.

I had allowed depression to take a seat and blur my focus and I had to make a choice to allow depression to be welcomed or not. I had a choice to remember all the good things about my step-dad’s life or the holocaustic condition his body was ravaged in… and how stiff his tent became after the angel grabbed him by the armpits and took his soul to heaven.

Focus is where it “all” starts. The scientific word is “cognitive restructuring which leads to a behavioral change. God knew this and shared this with Paul who wrote:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he had done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Jesus Christ. And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9

This positive peaceful focus will not just motive us in Godly ways but change our physical habits as well.

We will want to participate in more pleasurable experiences such as working with others in a building project, volunteering, enjoying the wonderful outdoors on foot or bike, playing sports, creating something, traveling, and spending more quality time with loved ones.

Remember focus is where it “all” starts.

Making Voting Easier for US Voters

Voting. It can be a somewhat confusing and frustrating task. Here is a website that might help you find the government official that best represents your position.

It is a website called vote smart.
http://www.votesmart.org/voteeasy/

And below is a you-tube video on Project Vote Smart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkIxnsvSVOo&feature=player_embedded

The Door That Is Opened By A Tiny Measure Of Faith.

“For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.”(MATTHEW 7:8 NLT

10 years I saw it. I was in a dark space and in front of me was this door of light. This light is not white but had a yellowish warm tint to it. I have seen this light several times in different visions that that Lord has given to me.

When I gave my life to God, I instinctively knew this was the door that God had opened for me. It was a sign to show I was welcome. It was an invitation to join him.

I have reflected back on that door many times but it was today that I thought about why there is a door.

Obviously God controls the door of light but before we are saved we aren’t even aware that there is a door of light. We are missing this spiritual sight and hearing that the Holy Spirit gives us, to helps us to understand and mature in the things of God.

I believe we all know before we come to God that there is “something” that keeps us from seeing spiritual things of God. Someone may share the things of God but they don’t adhere to our understanding. We don't retain everything they say about God. In fact Jesus refers to this when he says, "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The old skins would burst from the pressure spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. That way both the wine and the wineskins are preserved." MATTHEW 9:17 NLT

Some of us are even unaware that sin separates us from God because we believe things like, “I haven’t murdered anyone” and “I know I am not as bad as that person” but God doesn’t care about human comparison because he looks at sin on the same perspective except for one particular sin.

“Those” sins- that God looks at on the same perspective, are all forgivable by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are forgiven of our sins only by our faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is not just, “I believe” in Jesus Christ because even the devil “believes” in Jesus Christ but by faith which is a change of heart that only comes when one gives their life to God and trusts in our beloved friend Jesus Christ. This change of heart is a transformation of our life (new wineskins) in which we no longer "practice sin" but grow and mature in the things God now is teaching us.

So if sin separates us from God and we are blind and deaf to the things of God what opens the door?

I believe the door is opened in this measure of knowledge that God puts in our hearts. (ROMANS 1:19). This measure of knowledge is as tiny a mustard seed. (MATTHEW 13:31) We instinctively know there is a God because this measure of knowledge he put in us when he created us. It maybe tiny but have God water it and see what happens. A person can’t make their faith any stronger or more sincere without God’s help. It is impossible. In fact if that is what a person does- all they have is a religion. A religion is ritual that is as ritualistic as washing the dishes every night. Faith is a relationship. You don't have a relationship with your dishes but with God.

You have to have a measure of knowledge of God to ask. You have to have a measure of knowledge of God to seek. You have to have a measure of knowledge of God to knock.

This instinctive measure of knowledge is what God uses to open the door to any heart but as always it a choice with God. God didn’t want us to just be some creature without a will but he wanted us to freely love and worship him and come to him to be freed from our spiritual blindness and deafness. He wanted us to come to him so we would be saved in his Son, Jesus Christ and grow mighty in the faith of Jesus Christ. He had a second birth in mind for us, to be born in the Spirit of God.

Are you asking? Are you seeking? Are you knocking?

God has left a trail of breadcrumbs in your life- some have been eaten by the birds of life and some stolen by the rodents that live in darkness but He made sure there would always be enough of a trail of breadcrumbs to find your way home to him.

A LIFE WITHOUT WALLS

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world." Jeremiah 1:5

It is startling to think that before we came into being, God had a plan for our life.

That should speak volumes about God’s love for us.

As an artist, I like for whatever I create to have a purpose and a future. I don’t want to create something that is going to be forgotten in a few years or stuck in a closet or an attic…

I believe God is the same way. He doesn’t create things that don’t have a purpose…. I may not understand that purpose of a mosquito but there is a reason for all the things he created.

Have you ever tried to put God in a box? How about your perceived notion of God in a box?

I find that when I try to put God in a box and tell God what He can and cannot do in my life I only put myself in a box.

A place with walls feels safe but it doesn't allow us to see or experience any further then those walls.

God never puts walls or limits upon us but we do. We are the ones that hinder God’s plans in our life when we decide what He is capable and not capable of doing in our life. We are the ones that hinder his love from touching our life.

God isn’t going to force himself on anyone. That is why he gave us a choice. He loves us too much to put walls up around us for he has a plan for our life that is without walls and limits.

That life, however, comes with trusting God not us or others.

Sometimes we put other people’s opinions over what God thinks we are capable of doing.

We believe in circumstances over what may come out of those circumstances.

We are the ones who dash our hopes.

Would a tree that is pruned ever grow back its fullness, if it were capable of holding its misery?

When we trust in God, nothing is impossible. When we trust God, it doesn’t just affect our lives but the lives of others as well.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

What kinds of negative things do we hang on to? What do we treasure that hinders God’s plans in our life?

Do we treasure the potholes of life over the healing rain that fills them? What would a child do in rain puddle? They would jump into it with pure joy and delight spreading it all over everyone that is near them. God isn’t about potholes but filling those potholes with his love.

I would have never dreamed up the things God has done in my life and is still doing if my life.

Remember God isn't about putting up walls in our lives but helping you tear those walls down.

"Born-again" Christian?

Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.”

“Born again” Christian, I had always thought that was an “odd” term before I became one.

Ever try to play games such as Chinese checkers, chess, Cribbage or Mancala without knowing the directions? Ever try to build one of those Lego models without instructions? How about painting a picture of a landscape without knowing the basic principles of perspective, dimension, scale, and color?

Those things would be difficult to do and even harder to appreciate without some kind of knowledge or direction.

That was what it was like before I was a "born again" Christian. I couldn’t appreciate, behave, act or live out a Christian life because had not received the Holy Spirit from heaven. Before I was “born again” I saw Christianity as a religion even though I considered myself Christian. And I only regarded myself Christian because I attended “Christian” churches as a child and believed in God not Buddha, Muhammad or some other god.

I knew some bible stories but the stories didn’t make this collective cohesion that made total sense. I would also try to read the bible but it either didn’t bring much meaning or didn’t stick. Church services… I might as well been wearing earplugs.
It was like I had this great treasure map but the “X” to mark the spot to change my life was invisible.

You could have told me that Jesus is the “X” on the treasure map but it would had made no difference. I would have been blind and deaf to the fact that Jesus was the “X”.

Christianity didn’t start make sense until I was “born again”.

Just as Ananias placed his hands on Saul and he received the Holy Spirit I too had received the Holy Spirit when a woman, a total stranger, prayed and placed her hand on me when I went to church as a courtesy to some family moving out of state . (ACTS 9:17) A new spirit had come within me. Figuratively the Holy Spirit had turned on the lights.

The Holy Spirit let me see the things of God and the importance of the role of Jesus Christ in our lives. He let the words and messages from the bible and our pastor make sense as I soaked them up like a sponge. A tender heart that was receptive to what God was showing and teaching me had replaced the stony heart. In short not only was my blindness and deafness healed but I had been given new life.

The love of the Father God and Jesus had birthed me a new spiritual life by the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 35:5 “And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf.”

Ezekiel 11:19 “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulation. They will truly be my people, and I will be their God.”

OUT OF THE HOLE

I have been speaking to others who have found themselves in a hole in which they have dug themselves. They have tried to claw their way out of this hole and no one has been able or willing to help them out of this hole they have found themselves in.

Their calls for help have been ignored.

They have been enabled by others and professionals such a doctors who write up subscriptions to mask the effects of the root of the problem.

They have been encouraged to stay in their hole in hopes it will all pass in time.

They have been spoon fed this idea that it is everyone elses fault that they are in this hole.

They have been beat back into the hole with remarks that they will never change and/or deserve to be stuck in that hole.

They have been threatened and lied to and fear a life outside the hole.

They have gotten so used to “misery” and “burden” that they have decided to make them their constant living companions.

I can’t get them out of this hole. You can't get them out of this hole. I could throw them a rope and if I some how convinced them to climb the rope, they would probably end up coming to the top of the hole- taking a quick look around and jump back into that hole again.

I have seen one of those holes first hand and you would be surprised what a person can get used to after a while.

Nope… the only way a person will want to come out of that hole is when the hole starts to collapse and it’s life or death threatening and they still won’t be able to get out of that hole themselves.

God’s is the only one who can retrieve a person from a hole they have dug themselves

No way out and no one to turn to… I gave my life to God and he seeing something of value in me, that I could not, pulled me out of that hole and gave me a new life, a new perspective which is maturing and growing everyday under his watchful and loving eye.

If you are in that hole….

Do yourself a favor and give your life to God. He created you. He knows what you need and he will give you a life that you did not even know was possible as long as you trust Him.

From there he will give you to Jesus who will give you the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will give you greater insight of why Jesus is so important in your life and through this growing understanding you will gain greater maturing insight about life, hope, love, joy, and peace.

You will overcome many of the things in your old life and have a "continual" testimony to share with others for many years to come.

You will still have trials and struggles but through the new insight that God gives you, you will overcome all of them with "his" help.

If you aren't in a hole but know some who is, don't give up on them but continue to pray for them and ask God to give you the words and actions for when you do speak to them.

Life and Death

I am being constantly reminded lately that this body I live in is only temporary. It is simply a vessel to carry what is precious to God. It is not constructed and created for eternity like our soul. It is just for the number of days we have here on earth and it is useless once we exit out of it.

Life…. It is so brief no matter the age- when we go to meet our maker. Life has no guarantees that we will make it to ripe old age and only God knows the number of our days we have here on earth.

“For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:4

Life is impossible to hold onto, that includes ours and anyone else's.

"If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life." Luke 9:24

Holding onto life is like holding onto fear. If a person who holds on to fear, they only find their fear worthless and that they have lost their life holding on it.

If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, why worry over something we have no control of - love and live like you have no tomorrow for we don’t know when it will be our loved ones last day with us or our last day with them and heaven’s angels come to get us.

I have seen those who slip away surrounded by loved ones- grateful to God that they are no longer suffering and now I have seen the young- the so very young taken without warning and their parents crushed and brokenhearted as they cry out in such great sorrow over their tiny ones body.

This mission trip I have felt the daggers of painful sorrow as if it were my own child lying there in that make do casket in our sister church in Mexico.

A beautiful one-year-old boy, a gift from God. One day there… attached to his mother’s side and the next -him breathless and still in a box surrounded by a white blanket and white plastic. A child should never be put in a box especially this early.

I was not angered for I know nothing is impossible with God.

I remembered Jesus words,"Then he said, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.'" and "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." John 11:11 & John 14:12

Perplexed, I held his hand; lay my head on his little chest, touching his baby cheeks, whispering, “Wake up precious boy,” over and over again. He didn’t seem dead to me but in deep sleep. His skin still filled with color, still filled with many years to go. His body no odor of death. His fingers and arms still loose and untouched by the stiffness of death. This was no shell of a body like I seen in the recent days and in past.

Perplexed, I was kept there by the Spirit. Believing God could breath life back into him again. Though people were mourning I had no inkling that this was truly the end. Though the hospital denied him my God never denies even when there is lack of sufficient funds.

My God provides. My God heals. My God is the resurrection and the life. I believed that God was going to put breath back into his little body again, heal the little one of his wounds and the painful sting of death would be erased with great celebration in Christ Jesus.

These weren’t good intentions -these were humble and believing and fruitful Spirit filled emotions.

The Holy Spirit then told me to have his mother come over and be with her baby boy. The Holy Spirit then released and I was only left to comfort the mourning.

(A week or two later, I was told by a sister in Christ that she got the impression that Hector was being held by Jesus. She, my pastor and I were the ones the Holy Spirit kept near baby Hector's body. She said that she got this image that baby Hector would laugh and giggle with joy as he was being held by Jesus and then he would look down as if looking at his mother for a moment or two and then would return his focus to Jesus and begin to laugh and giggle again. After I heard this, this made perfect sense to me. If you are in the presence of Jesus why would you want to come back. For when I was in the presence of Jesus, he brought me such joy that I did not want to stop looking at him. No matter how much praying and encouraging, you cannot stop the will, even a small child's will, to come back if he/she doesn't want to come back to this life. For Jesus brings so much joy you want to be in his presence.)

Soon after his mother spent some more time beside her baby son's body, news came that the death certificate had been finalized and they had permission to bury the baby boy’s body. The baby boy’s father and our pastor carried his little casket to the church with mother and family and friends following.

I am sure I was not the only one who wept. I did not weep for baby boy Hector but his family for Hector was with Jesus.

Death... it had followed me to Mexico it seemed and now I was experiencing a different type of passing then I did a few days before with my dad’s passing of cancer.

This type of death stung and felt like a ripping deep within one’s soul. Oh this life would not pass by soon enough for those left behind -when it came to the passing of this precious child.

For Hector would only have to wait moments for his family to join him because he now lives in God's time but those left behind it would seem like a very fair away reuniting.

Was this an unfair death? What would come of this sudden and too short of life?

The memorial service was followed by a long drive out to a dusty road to an unkempt cemetery with many wood white crosses. People stood under umbrellas and a single shady tree. The tree branches had thistles and I could not help but feel how painful poetic it was….

It was then I heard the father let out a painful cry over his son’s body as he kissed his flesh and embrace his body one last time. Oh the pain….. His mother Sandra, again deeply mourned and kissed his little face one last time. Again the pain…..

They then closed… the casket and carried it to a small rectangle hole where I could not bare to watch for it did not seem right.

Family then dropped dirt on the casket and the cemetery grounds men quickly covered the box and I wondered how everyone could watch as the dry dust stirred in the 100 degree heat.

Life is precious. Life is sweet. Life is painful.

Life...

Do we make the most of every opportunity to love in life? Do we trust God more then everything else in life? Do we pray more then we fear? Do we let go more then we hang onto? Do we think before we speak not knowing if those would be the last words our loved ones would hear from us or we would hear from them? Do we live knowing we have no guarantees of tomorrow?

Yes my God provides. Yes my God heals. Yes my God is the resurrection and the life.

What came of precious boy Hector's death? His father and grandmother came to the Lord and the day following Hector's memorial service many children cheerfully accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior at the churches vacation bible school. I was reminded so vividly of all the above. Life here on earth is short no matter what our age. Life is fragile and with God's help we have to make the most of every opportunity to do right and love as if it were our last day to do so. That God cares for our physical needs but it's our soul that is most important to him. That God is God, I will probably never "completely" understand His ways and I am just a passing shadow...

“For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:4

It is the God in Us.

I have been thinking about my encounter of seeing Jesus in the tree.

The other day I shared with my sister about my encounter with Jesus in the tree as I read what the Spirit of the Lord lead me to. Isaiah 41:11-20 said, "I will plant trees- cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir and pine- on the barren land. Everyone will see this miracle and understand that is the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, who did it."

The Holy One of Israel is Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 61:3 "To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory."

Then one of my favorite psalms came to mind. Psalm 1: "Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper."

King David spoke about this joy and how this joy gave him strength. Psalm 73:24 "You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."

We are trees planted by the Lord and because he has planted us we trust in Him. Though the storms come, the winds blow strong, the conditions of the weather of the situation may change drastically but we are kept upright by the Lord's Spirit which is in us. For the Lord's Spirit is in us and He gives us joy in the midst of diversity. For in diversity we turn to God and because he loves us he turns to us.

He cares for those he has planted and "those mountains" are soon torn apart into dust and tossed up and carried away in the wind for we know this can not happen unless we turn to the LORD, our GOD.

And when people happen to ask, why don't you settle, why you believe, you don't try to get even... you can say, "It is the God in me".

Vision of Jesus In a Tree- Joy

Last night I just spent some time in the presence of the Lord because I have been feeling this mixture of negative feelings lately. I was more or less feeling misunderstood, undesired and even resented and hated and this caused me to rebuke and wrestle sinful and dark thoughts and suggestions.

I thought, " This is how the Lord must feel when we don't desire him." He must feel hurt, hated, misunderstood and taken for granted."

I continued to stand my ground but it was HARD. So what did I do...? I turned to God for I know how great a friend He is to me. (He is also probably the only one who understands me.) I turned on some Hillsong music, put in my ear phones and let the Spirit of the Lord take hold and there I saw Jesus in a tree. He wasn't surrounded by some mystical light but it was just him.

He wasn't in the top of this tree but I kind of felt like he climbed down this tree so I could see him - not so he could see me. He smiled at me and when he did I felt this unexplainable joy as I smiled back and even chuckled.

I wanted to continue to stay in his presence of unexplainable joy but then the Spirit of the Lord had me lay down (though I was sitting the entire time in this reality) and as I did I began to weep. And as the Spirit of the Lord comforted me, I started to be drained of these negative feelings and burdens.

I got to see Jesus again as the Spirit raised my head and once again his smile made me smile and chuckle again and then the Spirit of the Lord lay me down again and I started to weep again until I was drained of all this negative feelings and burdens, Exhausted I then went to bed in peace.

How wonderful to feel the joyful presence of the Lord.... who takes our burdens and smiles upon us.

Numbers 6:22-27 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: `May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.' This is how Aaron and his sons will designate the Israelites as my people, and I myself will bless them."

The End of The Road

I think at some point in our Christian walk we come to the end of this road of ourselves. We may try to jump back on that road from time to time but we get off because we remember nothing in this world satisfies as God does. All your earthly goals have been deemed useless in your new and growing perspective God has given you.

And when we get to that place where we seem to slide towards this ramp that seems to lead nowhere- it can be scary. You feel like and see no plan in front of you but that is when you have to slowly reach to the things in life that God has given you an interest in.

You may say I don’t have a talent or you may say I am talented at many things. Don’t let what you think you have talent in or not talent in define what God wants to do in your life but know the very things God has given you a love or interest in- maybe used in a way you didn’t expect.

God has many canvases he wants to paint in our lives and they stay blank because we limited ourselves and when we choose to do that - we limit God. We may even say, “God this is what I am good at but I don’t want to live my life doing those things. I don’t want them to get tired and boring. And will “they” even be useful in the end?”

You may say, “I don’t have the money! I don’t have the time! I am not as young as I was! I got responsibilities! Look at my background!

How about you take one step forward at a time and let God take care of what needs to come next. We can look too far into the future and before we know it we have more fictional happenings on our plate then non-fictional ones that will actually happen.

Don’t worry about tomorrow focus on today.

We need to slowly reach into those areas and have God guide our way. We need to listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say to us about those areas in our life and grab a hold to the different aspects of those things and ask God to help us put those pieces together so they can lead us to a satisfying and lasting goal and growing purpose.

Recipe in life.... Imagine… if you will… a cupboard that is filled with different “aspects” of the different “subjects” that interest you. These “aspects” are represented by spices, sugars, flours, eggs, butter, cheese, oils, herbs, sauces, vinegars, flavors, meats, veggies, and yeasts but in order to make the perfect satisfying recipe for you and your guests- you have to listen to the Holy Spirit and have him guide you in each step.

In some parts of the recipe you have simmer.

In some parts of the recipe you have sauté.

In some parts of the recipe you have to rub down and tenderize.

In some parts of the recipe you have to marinate.

In some parts you will have mix.

In some parts you will have to knead.

In some parts you will have to let rise.

In some parts you will have to pray, pour, break, cut, boil, cook, maybe even barbecue.

And as proceed you will will see, taste, smell, feel, hear and others around you will also see, taste, smell, and hear as you proceed in this meal/ (these purposes) God has for you and when all is complete, you and your guests won’t be unsatisfied because you have done everything in how the Holy Spirit has directed.

God uses our experiences before we come to Him and after we have come to Him.

I have always appreciated music since I was a child. I have always wanted to be a musician to play on a stage. (I would sing into the hairbrush and play the air guitar and the invisible drum set when I was a kid with the radio on.) I appreciated movies and film. (We as kids made many movies using an old 8mm camera and VHS camcorder.) I appreciate art and photography. (I majored in art and teaching art.) I appreciate writing. (I write these blogs and stories in my free time.) I feel it is reward to teach and it is a privilege. (I now teach young adults what God wants them to learn from the Bible)

Today the scope of my artwork is growing and being transformed into other things such as visual movies and illustrations that God uses for teaching others about God and now I play in a praise and worship band in the church I fellowship in.

Through the Spirit of God I have become sensitive about certain things within those areas that God has given me an interest in. I have experienced many different emotions and experiences, some of them Godly some of them not but God uses them all.

God is continually incorporating things in life that touch me to guide me to a growing and maturing route of possibilities within Him. I may not see the entire picture but I am learning to just take one day at a time knowing there is a plan I cannot see in front of me. Jeremiah 29:11:-13

“For we walk by faith not by sight,” 2 Corinthians 5:7

We may just see a sea of nothingness in front of us and storms that rage around us but holding Jesus' hand we may slowly see the plans God has prepared and wants to bless us with. Every person wants to be satisfied but no lasting satisfaction can occur without God’s help.

For he makes us a vessel that is capable of holding what he pours in and what he pours in is never useless or ends up being worthless in the end.

Remember what Paul said about deeming everything useless? I think that is true but God still used the knowledge he learned and his experiences to make him a great apostle for Christ. God used those things from his past to season, build and mature him. He knew he didn’t want to go back to his past and he knew why he didn’t want to go back and those reasons only made him want to persevere and persist more in the faith of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said what about the path? It is narrow. The same is true with living a satisfying life.

I remember summers being a kid. We would go to the beach on vacation. To get to the beach we would have to cross several acres of sand dunes and it was easy to lose track of the narrow path if we were in a hurry. And it seemed once we lost the path it took more time to get to beach then if we had taken the time to look for that narrow path that led directly to the beach.

In this life, we don’t race against others but ourselves. And the narrow path we cannot find or stay on without God’s help.

I conclude with this as a reminder to you and me: Read your bible. Know that God has a plan and purpose for your life. Know He have given you promises that you can count on and listen to the Holy Spirit direct you through those subtle/ settle turns in your life.

Recieving From God.

It's your birthday. You get a gift. You have a choice to accept that gift or not.

You get flowers. You have a choice to accept those flowers or not.

You are offered a tuna sandwich or a slice of your favorite type of pizza. You have a choice.

The woman/or man of your dreams leans forward to give you a kiss. You have a choice to receive that kiss or not.

Did you know the same is true with "receiving" from God? It's a choice to receive from God or not.

In the past/ or even right now you might not have wanted to receive from God because you were afraid and even fearful that if God took an active role in your life- you would no longer enjoy life but the fact is that you are already receiving from God.... And life is more satisfying when God is your friend in this life.

You got air in your lungs? He made that air. He created those lungs. They go together.

You like that sunshine? How about that nice bath or shower?

It says in Matthew 5:45 God makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

If that scripture didn't make sense... think about it... it will come.

Wouldn't you like to know there is more then just "existing" in this life? That God has a real purpose in your life and he wants you to receive all that he has to give to you.

So... "What can I receive from God?"

Well the obvious (the first)..... Salvation/eternity in heaven made possible by His Son Jesus Christ.

Second... how about receiving a real sense of God in your life? How about ability just not to receive but to give mercy, grace, love, forgiveness, peace, physical healing, spiritual healing to others. Even to give others that you presently or once thought didn't deserve your mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness. How about that love and patience to speak peace and wisdom into a situation? How about receiving information from God to tell someone who is waiting to hear from God? How about speaking in another language you have never studied before or speak the language of angels?

Third... how about receiving and learning in God's wisdom and understanding via the Holy Spirit. To have the ability to not just feel the presence and nearness of God in your life (which is pretty awesome) but to move in God's directives to touch others supernaturally so they might come to know and have a relationship with God.

Fourth... how about the ability to give up sin, addictions and withstand the negatives tendencies that want to influence our Christian walk. How about receiving the ability to walk in the cleansing blood and Spirit of Christ knowing he is working within us everyday.

Fifth... To learn. To Step. To See.... that your purpose in life doesn't just end like an earthly position but grows as you mature in Christ.

There is more and I know I am not mentioning all the possibilities God wants you to receive but the most important thing God wants you to receive from him is an intimate relationship with him.

You may say, "Well I know there is a God. I have received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I have received the Holy Spirit. I have some of the gifts you spoke of given by the Holy Spirit... Yet I feel I haven't received from God lately and I am feeling a little tired, dry and discouraged."

I have been there... My question to you is this: "Have you placed yourself in a place to receive?"

Are there things in life that God has put in your path but because of:
-your worries of tomorrow,
-your lack of ability, (feeling your are not qualified enough)
-your assumption of others,
-your uncertainty about the situation,
-your unwillingness,
-your cares
-your lack of interest,
- You feeling pushed into the situation... we just haven't "done" it.

If so God has good reason for that "something" to sit before you. It is not there to strike you down, make a fool of you but to build you up and encourage you.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Ask God what exactly he wants you to do with that "something" and how far he wants you to assist him in that "something".

God maybe encouraging you to do something in your church (a much more active roll or an outreach) but you haven't been receptive or willing to walk it out. There maybe a family/friend situation that he wants you to assist with. Maybe God is telling you to do something simple like raise you hands during praise and worship but you have been resistant because you don't want to look silly. Maybe God has given you a word to share with the church but because you feel self-conscious you say nothing.

And because you haven't been receptive or willing to walk it out - you haven't received what God wants to give you and bless you with. God wants to strengthen, encourage you, build you up but he can't do that unless you are willing to receive what he puts in front of you.

I have felt this way about mission trips and taking youth to camp but when I did finally take the step I received more then I could possibly imagine.

It seems God wants us to climb this beautiful mountain were there is this path of views and experiences but this path "isn't" to burden us but to bring us closer to him. These views and experiences may look very "uncertain" at times but as you go in humble "willingness" - you see past the uncertainty and God makes your purpose clear for that venture. He tells you when to go, stop, turn right or left.

Sometimes we put ourselves in the way of receiving from God. In God there is no useless vessel, no retirement, or age limit to receive from God.

Fate and Destiny

Most people believe in fate or destiny in some form or fashion.

We all have to discover however if we are believing and/ following a false fate and destiny.

God wants to invest in our lives but we must be willing to resist the temptation of following something that isn't based on God's fate and destiny for us.

He doesn't want us to get confused by a false fate and destiny.

Here are some examples that confuse an individual in a false fate and destiny situation:

1. Popularity (Popular/ Unpopular) (What others think of you.)
2. Fortune (The amount of money you have.)
3. Circumstances (Good/Bad)
4. Superstitions (such star alignments/horoscopes/ reports from false prophets, mediums, 1-800 call a (you know what), fortune tellers, etc)
5. Yourself (Your thoughts, feelings, outlook or perception of yourself, comparisons to others.)

Your fate and destiny have very little/ if nothing to do with these things.

In fact some of these are faith killers and are despised by God.

That is why the word says we walk by faith not by sight.

Remember Job, Moses, Joseph, teenage Mary, tax collector Matthew, Lazarus, the apostle Paul once known as Saul, the seemly nobody apostle James the son of Alphaeus?

We can not base our fate and destiny on our circumstances or our feelings on our life.

We can't say I must be going to heaven because I haven't killed anybody or murdered anyone. Have you lied? Have you cheated? Have you wanted something someone else had? Then you have sinned just like everyone else and have broken God's commandments.

Our Fate and Destiny is trusting in God, coming to God, and becoming one of God's children through Jesus Christ. For Christ paid the price for our sins.

It is only by faith we can walk through all the variety and even difficult experiences in this life. Fires, deserts, calm shores, cloudy days, and sun filled days of pure bliss. It is only by faith can we endure and see pass all the things that want to claim they are our destiny and fate. Vessels of Christ are poured into and out of, they are tested as gold is purified to become pure to reflect Christ.

For a false fate and destiny is easy to believe but if it's not your destiny or fate then you are just following and believing in something that is false. You follow something that is false -leaves an individual having an eternity in hell stead of heaven.

"So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."- Hebrew 11:6

God holds our fate and destiny in his hand.

Job: 23:14 "So he will do for me all he has planned. He controls my destiny."

Ecclesiastes 6:10 "Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny."

Psalm 73:24 "You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny."

God wants to invest in our lives but he wants us to be aware of what is a false fate and destiny and keep our hearts and minds on Him regardless at what screams and says is obvious because the obvious can sometimes not be so obvious and changes without notice.

Investing in Others as God Directs

There are times in our lives where we seem to be at the end of this ramp that seems to lead out over nothingness. Nothing really makes us satisfied or we know that nothing in this life really makes us feel very satisfied for very long. It seems we really have no purpose and reason for being and in fact we can seem a bit lost.

Here is a suggestion:
Ask God about investing in others as He directs.

"Those" Times

There will be times you'll stop running and it will just be a struggle to just put one step in front of the other.

There will be times where you'll wonder why all the strange "happenings" come all at once.

There will be times that everything will fail like a sand castle in a rising tide. No matter how hard you work it all falls apart.

You trust God and asked God to prepare the way, things just don't happen.

And like always, people won't understand where you are coming from even though they might have a lot of observational wisdom. And oh how their words seem like a knife even though they mean well.

People will tell you to pray over your house and family and I will say "strive" to pray for your family and your home but if can't know God knows your "temporary" weakness.

There will be times where you want to know where God is and if he is so powerful why did he let these things happen.

There will be times where you will want to blame God and be angry with God.

I will say this, no matter how hard it gets always turn to God even if your words are bitter.

I will say lament to God and lay it all out.

It's easy to keep the anger and let all the hurts burden us BUT something happens when we lay our deeply troubling matters out before God even with tears in your eyes and an ache in your stomach and anger in our cries.

I don't understand why we go through hard times and I won't pretend there are any easy answers.

I won't tell you why the reasons we go through these hard times because there is sometimes no really good answer I can really give.

I will say even if it seems God is against you and you feel you are all by yourself, know he's listening.

Know that tomorrow is a new day.

Know this is all temporary even though it may all seem stuck and even going backward.

Life is hard at times.

Hugs to you who are going through rough times.

God Bless

The Greatest Kingdom

The greatest kingdom is in the heart and mind but where this is only self-preservation there is only a dark prison, decay and death. Where there is hate, self justification, and only conditional love there is little or no conscience- but where the Spirit of God speaks- and those who listen -there lay the greatest kingdom that has ever come or ever will be for the greatest kingdom is in the heart and mind and it can never be taken. J.D. Johns

Freedom From Our Circumstances

Peace in our Lives

We all have the gift of choice as God’s prized creation.

Choice:

1. We instinctively know right and wrong when it comes to choice because God has put this knowledge in us.

2. Choice is only a freedom to us when we trust God in our choices.

Paul faced with death and prison still considered himself free in Christ.

So what is this “freedom” we have as Christians?

1 Corinthians 6:12 “You may say, “I am allowed to do anything,” But I reply, “Not everything is good for you.” And even though “I am allowed to do anything, “I must not become a slave to anything.”

This includes our thoughts and feelings and what others think about us (good or bad.)
Is this freedom a matter of degree or extreme circumstances?

Hum…. Stephen still had the freedom of peace even though he was attacked and stoned to death.

Can you and I groove to our Christian principles and beliefs even when the roaring sea of life tosses our lives around like some little toy boat?

Can you and I keep every human instinct from coming unleashed or unglued in trying circumstances?

Can our Godly love keep us moving up that mountain of life even when everything seems to spinning all round us?

Can you and I stay calm when everything is crashing down all round us?

When everything seems to be stacked against us can we believe and stand and remember in what we have been taught and believe about God?

Will we stay faithful and aglow when the unthinkable comes to darken and shadow our dreams or what we hold dear?

Will we remain flexible and bendable and fixed on the foundation God has placed us on or will we give in to the pressures and opinions of others in this life?

We will rationalize, move to human understanding and let our imagination go to “what if’s”?

Tough are the choices in life but they taste better in the long run if we trust in God and rely on his Holy Spirit instead of our human nature, which often leads to destructiveness.

The human mind seems to wonder, bringing up imaginary circumstances that haven’t even occurred, or will occur and we worry and doubt. Oh yeah we have all been there?

What is going to influence us? Is it going to be our human understanding, the ideals of others and attractive proposals of the world or are we going to listen and follow that still quiet voice of God inside of us.

God voice (The Holy Spirit): The voice that guides us to all truth, peace, wisdom, love and real understanding.

I saw a saying on a church board recently that said, “ Take a deep breath…”. We all need to take a deep breath and instead of look at everything that needs to be done on our checklist and prioritized to our wants and needs we need to just take a minute, moment, hour at a time.
Have you ever noticed when we try to force something instead of wait and work and walk in God’s timing? What happens?

We need to “walk out” on of our frazzled mindset and walk back into God’s mindset.

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind there is life and peace.” Romans 8:5

Same is true with our thinking….. Are we selective about what comes in or do we just let everything come?

The human ways of understanding wants to pay God no mind. It wants to ignore God….
Now look when we doubt, have fear, are stressed out…. It really shows a lack of faith. We have all been there……

Hebrews 11:6 “So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
If we are getting stressed and don’t have our minds where it needs to be then how is God going to be pleased? For only in God’s love do we ever have a lasting effect. Thank God for his Holy
Spirit that ministers to us.

God isn’t moved by others negative opinions of him. He isn’t worried about when something is going to get done or happen. He knows what our needs are before we even ask him. He knows the fight isn’t really a fight because he has already won and we just have to get back in line to “see” straight.

See straight in every act of our lives…… We have the mind of Christ … right?
Quiet……

“Don't be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.
You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. “1Peter 3:3-4

Don’t be concerned with what the world tells you, you need.

Don’t be concerned about what the opposite sex may think or not think about you? Are you a slave to them? Don’t let them occupy your mind and cause you to act foolish.

For only a gentle quiet spirit can hear from God.

Sure things come to stir and knock but like headlines in the “daily planet” … they come and go and change day to day but the “Good News” never changes. -

The temporary evils that ripple will soon fade. The waves that come to make many run will wipe many out by their own human understanding but those who stand on the rock and assist others up on the same foundation of Jesus Christ will see and “experience” many glorious things.

The clouds may come to cloud up our skies but we know where our source of light comes from and we know he is trustworthy because he has shown himself faithful so many times and times again.

Trust God not our human understanding or our circumstances… good or bad.

Jesus told us to give him all our worries so they would not become bondage and slavery issues.
Remember God spins the earth. He is the one who built the tallest mountains, the stars in the skies, and he reminds forever… and since he is in us… we will remain in his love in what sometimes seems the ruins of life… but we must trust him to have peace in all situations.

Remember anything not done in love is useless.

The world makes regulations to follow…. Some good some bad.

When we “follow” negative regulations that go against God’s word and ideals we become slaves.

The world says we have to dress the part, smell the part, look the part… The world says we have to earn “it” (praise, salvation, friendship, love, etc) but we have received someone who can never be earned but thankful given freely to those who believe in the Son of God Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus we have received the choice of real freedom.

In that freedom we can see the Lord work in our lives for those who trust him. We are no longer slaves to what may come or present itself in our lives but we are free in Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, John 8:34-36, Gal 2:4-5

Joseph sold to slavery did not let his circumstances that seemed all set against him hold his faith in God captive but continued to trust in God- and God used him mightily. Acts 7:9-10

John a man that ate locusts and honey and dressed in furs and looked more or less like a wild man didn’t let the pressures of life and what others thought of him to influence his calling.

You have a choice to be free regardless of your circumstances.

Check out Mercy Me’s new CD… is pretty good.