The Real Me- Song

The Passing of a Dear Christian Friend

I received an ushering from the Holy Spirit to check up on a dear friend that I had not spoken to in person since college. Her name was Janine Killough. God would have me pray for her on different occasions but I didn't know why. When I looked her name up on the Internet I found to my regret that she had recently died from cancer just a few days before. I didn't even know she had cancer.

(If you lack faith in God I want you to ask yourself what are the chances of me finding out of my dear friend's death just days after she had passed away? They are humanly impossible but God knew of our friendship. God knew how her passing would affect me.)

Janine and I met in a sociology course which I was required to take for my minor in communications. When I came into class and saw her the first time, she was sitting in a desk right beside the wall by the door. I took a seat behind her. There was something different about Janine that drew me to her.

Later in the course we became study buddies and shared many laughs. I look back on this time as God ordained. I never had seen Janine before until that year and that quarter and then we started bumping into one another all over campus.

At the time I considered myself Christian because I went to church when I was younger and participated in Christian youth activities such as Young Life but my life style was anything but Christian. No I did not party or do drugs but my god was more of the "salad bar" variety if you get my drift. I chose what I wanted to believe and not wanted to believe about God.

Janine would invite me on occasion to one of the campus Christian group gathers but I always had an excuse for not attending. I would sometimes pass by the group as I went through the SUB, the student union building, in the evening and they would all be singing and praising God and there Janine would be too.

So what does a person get from a Christian's life after they have gone? What do I get from Janine's life and passing?

1. No matter our circumstances in life- no matter cancer, sickness, loss, sorrow, health, persecution, oppression, death, life - God really loves us and is there for us.

2. God uses things like cancer to not just touch others around us but us as well. Through life threatening circumstances we draw close to God. We see how fragile this life is and we need God for our strength. (That shouldn't just be when we have a life threatening circumstance but all the time.) Janine grew a strong intimate relationship with the LORD and because of that intimate relationship with the LORD she was a light and testimony of God's love.

3. Janine's strong conviction and faith in God/ Jesus Christ encouraged and made her a beacon of light. She said she would not take back this experience because it engulfed her in Christ's love. She realized the reality of God's love for her.

4. Janine was a vessel. She knew she was a vessel and she knew her life was in God's hands. We are like seeds that grow mature and die to glorify Jesus Christ. In her suffering and intimate relationship with the LORD she could not help but glorify the LORD. Her hope and passion for the LORD was not just a confidence and expectation but she knew personally how much God loved her. She knew God was faithful and unfailing even in death. She had peace when she passed into eternity. Janine was a vessel of God's love. She was not perfect but she was just the perfect vessel to be a light to many people's life - including mine.

5. This life is short compared to eternity. If we have to suffer for a while so be it-as long as God is with me. Even when there is disharmony in our body there isn't with our soul for we are connected spiritually with God not our bodies or circumstances.

6. Tell the truth no matter the circumstances but speak it in love. We are but dew on the morning grass. This is not our home. We know where we are going but do others know where they are going if they don't know Jesus Christ?

7. We are sometimes blind to God's love until God shows us all the many blessings bestowed upon us through different circumstances.

8. This life is temporary so let us not live it as if we have tomorrow because none of us has that guarantee or assurance. Let us live in true genuine love, hope and faith of Jesus Christ. Let's see how faithful and unfailing he is in all circumstances.

I thank God for Janine and I know those who know and love her and have a trust and confidence in Jesus Christ will see and be reunited with her again. I am personally excited that I will be able to see her again.

When a Christian dies we have a tendency to feel sorry for ourselves because we won't see that person for a time but in all reality that is selfish. Who was should really feel bad and great sorrow for- are those who didn't give their lives to Jesus Christ. Would I had loved to see Janine again? Of course yes! - But that be only for selfish reasons. Janine is not suffering anymore. She is in the presence of the LORD that loves her. Janine is alive and well in Jesus Christ so let her life (a seed) go into our hearts and let her memory bear much fruit in us for Jesus Christ. Let us honor those Christians who have passed on before us not by feeling sorry but being thankful to have the opportunity to have them in our life- even if it was for a short while.

Janine's life has touched mine- and I know she has and will continue to touch many other people's life by the relationship she had with the LORD down here on earth. You cannot help but shine if you have an intimate relationship with the LORD and grow in that true genuine truth and reality that God is faithful and unfailing.

"You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope." Psalm 119:114

"He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken." Psalm 62:6

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love." Romans 8:38 "We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them." 1 John 4:16 "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is." Ephesians 3:16-18

I hope that these words haven't just been some words on a page but that you might see and understand the important significance of Jesus Christ in our lives.

You can see her honest, true and beautiful testimony at this address: http://vimeo.com/28829301

Art Imitating Life

I had a dream I was back in art school. I can’t remember much about the dream but when I woke up it reminded me of some of the last words my stepfather spoke before leaving this life and stepping into heaven. The words were, “To receive, to become part of the process, to artfully leave.”

In Jesus Christ there is life for He is life.

John 1:1-4 says, “In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.”

We are God’s craftsmanship. We are continually being molded, shaped and refined as we look to Christ Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We as Christians are to imitate Jesus.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”

We are to imitate Jesus but that is impossible if first God has not transformed us by his Holy Spirit and second if we are depending on the physicality and mentality of ourselves. If we are focused on our own perceptions or our physical ability we cannot imitate Jesus.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, "This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”

Ephesians 4:23 says “Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness- righteous, holy and true.”

Being able to imitate Jesus not only has to do with our transformation of the Holy Spirit, which is essential and required BUT a focus and surrender to the authority of Jesus Christ.

In his glorious authority Jesus Christ molds us into the person/ vessel we were meant to be. He knows our make up. He knows our soul’s periodic table. He knows the elements, which we are made from. He knows us better then we know ourselves. He knit us together in our mother’s womb. He made our unique recipe that is uniquely us- knowing exactly how to use that recipe to honor and glorify Him.

But in like all secret and special recipes it needs it’s creator to prepare it. Only then can it be exquisite. Then when the Master Chef serves it, everyone who tastes it and looks back on the dish will appreciate and give honor and praise to the Master Chef that has caringly prepared it. We are a spiritual dish to serve others by God and that dish cannot claim credit -for we were made and transformed by God. We are not own creator.

So how does this moving and breathing recipe not become self-absorbed? How does it not think just on of the earthly things of this life that are here today and gone tomorrow?

Remember we are only a recipe -and it is only satisfying when prepared by God. Like a dish seasoned and prepared with the finest wine- the Expert Chef cuts and trims and separates the good stuff from the bad stuff but the amateur who does not know what he/she is doing cooks it all together and the dish is ruined and has to be tossed out. Expert Chef God is but we are not.

And as a beautiful work of art receives accolades- it only does so because of its creator. And so it is with us as we allow the Master’s hands to continue His good work in us – it brings Him and his Son glory and we get to experience some of that glory for ourselves even though we don’t claim any credit for it whatsoever.

Pick up your Mat and Walk

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Ever been oppressed? Oppressed to the point you feel disabled and handicapped spiritually? Ever feel this burdening presence that closes in on you? You sense its weight. You sense its tension on your body as if you are wrestling something invisible as you try to do what needs to be done throughout the day. It is a presence that just does not leave you alone.

Most often we wrestle this presence with our physical and mental strength and it doesn’t go so well because we are up against something spiritual. We need to use spiritual weapons when we are up against spiritual weaponry and foes.

You are saved by Jesus Christ and because you are saved by Jesus Christ you have the authority in Him. You have spiritual authority in Him. You have been set free from the law of sin, which so easily influences the physical and mental sides of us. The physical and mental sides are often manipulated causing us to lose peace and rest- we move into areas of unbelief (sometimes unknowingly) which is a sin.

This unbelief in sin causes us to become captives to our oppressors. We sit handicapped spiritually on our mat and feel sorry for ourselves because "everyone is able to get into the pool of Bethesda before we do when the waters are stirred up."

We grumble and complain serving the law of sin not realizing we are falling into the same trap as the Israelites who had left Egypt. Though they had been set free – their hearts sank back into their old ways and desires. And we know what happened to them….

However those with Joshua had a promise. Joshua had the promise from God and we also have the same promises through Jesus.

Do these sound familiar? “ I will be with you. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous. Do not turn away from God and you will be successful in everything you do. Meditate on the word day and night and obey it- only then will you succeed. I command you- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:5-9)

Jesus told the man at the pool of Bethesda after he asked him, “Would you like to get well.”

The man complained but Jesus ignored the complaint at first and simply ordered, “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat and walk!”

Instantly the man was healed. He rolled the mat and began walking. When Jesus found the man in the temple again… Jesus then addressed the man’s complaint with this. “Now you are well, so stop sinning or something even worse may happen to you. (John 5)

We are to strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress- we do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. Hebrews 12. Hebrews 4:14-16

Through the things we suffer we learn to be more obedient and dependent upon God- seeing our need for Him everyday of our lives. 

Why is the Cross a Threat?

Jesus said "They hated me without cause." John 15:25.

The cross... the cross signifies Jesus and the Father's love for us. So why is the cross a threat? Why do people hate the cross without cause?

To the devil and the demons it is a very big threat and they will use any organization and individual to get rid of any cross. Just think if a single cross in the Mojave desert has gotten the attention of organizations and individuals who have this unexplainable hate or extreme dislike towards the cross- then you know the cross is a major threat to Satan and his demons. Who would of thought that a post with a vertical and horizontal post put together would be such a problem. Think about. Other symbols don't seem to be a problem to these groups and individuals - just the cross. Where the simple cross stands- "the" saving message stands and that message is a great threat to our spiritual foes. We don't fight against flesh and blood but Satan and his demons. Those poor human saps don't know what they are doing and who they are serving when they fight to take down the cross. If they knew who they served they would stop.

If so called atheists see the cross as a threat - and they calm there is no god. Then what threat is there in the cross? Why are they fighting "something" that they say doesn't exist? Seems like a waste of money and energy to me.

Satan and his demons want the saving message of the cross to vanish from view in hopes they can take as many souls with them when they finally meet their destruction and judgement by God. They want the message of the cross to vanish because they know if the message of the cross is remembered and passed down then they are defeated and the blindfolds come off of those who are spiritually blind and that means those set free- set more people free in the freedom of Christ Jesus. And if you are reading this and you think Satan and his demons are not real- let me tell you I know for certain that they are no myth. I thought Satan was some fictional character until God brought down the spiritual veil and I got to see him first hand.

The cross... People have been murdered because of the message of the cross. They have been persecuted? They have been haunted down. They have been slandered and misquoted because the message of the cross.

"Do you remember what I told you? 'A slave is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me." John 15:20-21

Why do atheists and groups like the ACLU want to ask you and force you to take down your crosses? What is this repulsive response and hatred they have towards the cross alone? Why not any other symbol?

Is the cross offensive? No. It should be the most wonderful sign we have as God’s creation. Are there groups out in this world that use the cross in offensive ways? You bet.

The cross of Christianity is not a threat to the human. It is not a fashion symbol or a symbol of hatred and prejudice.

The cross is a sign that without the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins- there is no way to Heaven. (There is no way to Father except through the son- Jesus Christ.)

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Before I was saved and Holy Spirit filled my understanding of Jesus was tiny and as I grew in the ways of society and men I hated when “true” believers would use the name Jesus Christ.

"Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." 2 Corinthians 4:4

I lived NOT according to God's will but the world's will- mostly afraid that if I gave my life over to God I would lose all "fun". Unfortunately I held onto this philosophy for so long I became a very unhappy and unsatisfied person in a deep hole that I couldn't get out of. I saw my life as worthless and so I did the one thing I thought I would never do- I gave my life to God. Who saw worth in my life and He reached down into that deep miserable hole gave me a new life- a life I did not deserve and wasn't even expecting. From living in spiritual blindness to living a new life in His Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 45-21-24 “Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the LORD? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me. Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to me." The people will declare, "The LORD is the source of all my righteousness and strength." And all who were angry with him will come to him and be ashamed.”

Before I gave my life to the LORD, I wanted to believe that God would not send me to hell- I had not killed anyone and I was a “good person” BUT my definition of “good” was in my comparison to other human beings not to God himself who is perfect. We all fall short of the glorious standard of God.

When we look at the law -murders, liars, thieves, covetors and adulators all stand the same fate without Christ Jesus. We all fall short and are guilty of breaking God’s law. The law shows us how we all have served sin and sin has been our ruler not God. Exodus 20:1-17

Romans 3:19-28 “Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”

People who choose not to believe that Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life in heaven are not just fooling themselves but if they keep their false hope they are going to hell. Hell is very real place. I have heard the blood curdling screams and seen Lucifer/ Satan above it.

The cross says we cannot get into heaven by our own efforts. For if we could get to heaven by own efforts Christ Jesus (the only sinless man to walk the face of this earth) would had died in vain.

Those who want to get rid of the cross- do not know they serve Lucifer who wants to take their souls to hell. Lucifer is revengeful and comes to kill, steal and destroy. Some might say, isn't God able to protect his chosen creation? He is but if his chosen creation chooses not to seek Him and have confidence in Him and put their hope in Him- they are running from God not to God. Lucifer has been at this for quite some time. He is an expert at seduction and influencing understandings and encouraging false religions and manipulating and twisting God's truths.

People don’t seem to know God created them for purpose. They are continually unsatisfied because they look for this purpose but they never find that purpose because they don’t seek God to show them their God given destiny. People's prideful thinking make them believe they themselves create their own destiny and are made right with God by their own good deeds.

Isaiah 64:6 “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”

People do good deeds in their own human understanding and these ways do not to honor God. They do it to make themselves feel and look good. They do it for pleasure, power and popularity. They do it for their own benefit not to honor God. When these good deeds are tested with fire they will just be ashes because God was not in it.

The symbol of the cross of Jesus Christ is powerful. It claims that faith alone in Jesus Christ will give you eternal life. And in this faith in Jesus Christ- we are free from the law of sin -for when we truly give our lives to Jesus Christ we are transformed. We no longer practice sin and serve the spirit of this world but God.

Romans 2:29 “No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.”

Ezekiel 36:26 “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

The spirit of this world (Satan) does not want you to find your true destiny that God has created you for because then you would be against him and against him you will be empowered by God's Holy Spirit which defeats him and the forces of evil. Lucifer rather keep you captive and try to satisfy you with temporary pleasures and counterfeit promises until the day when you will be thrown into hell with him- for he already knows his fate..

In the cross- comes your true life and if some deem the cross to be a crutch then so be it. I rather be empowered by the Holy Spirit and living my true life that God has created for me then be tricked and side tracked to live some lie that takes my fate to hell. I rather be empowered by the Holy Spirit and to fear nothing but God himself. I rather know and seek God for He is limitless in what He wants to show and have me experience. He wants to enrich our lives spiritually beyond our imaginations.

In the cross we are set apart, heaven bound, liberated and empowered and hopefully now you can see why the enemy of our souls would want the cross to be forgotten and silenced.

It’s not “who” you know but "in whom" you know.

The church secretary brought a rather excited young man to me. After a dizzying and hurried introduction on his part he asked for prayer because he was having a very important meeting with some people that could drastically change his life in funding a project he had proposed to them. He said he was from Seattle and I originally from Seattle asked him if he knew my hometown. It was clear by his answer that even though he might have come from Seattle he did not know where my hometown was which was a bit odd but we continued in our discussion. He then quickly told me about all these “important” people he knew which I didn’t know -which he took as a shock as I calmly shook my shoulders. We prayed over the jittery young man. I prayed for God’s will to be done in his life and that he be himself and have peace during the meeting. I also prayed that he depend on God’s grace. He prayed for wisdom and the our church secretary prayed that he live for God but after it was all said and done a thought came, “That young man is depending on “who” he knows not the one who knows his purpose and plan for his life.”

To seek God in counsel is to know God. You cannot know God unless you seek him. In fact when you look up the definitions of “seek” and “know” in the bible concordance you will find the same definition. (Qal and Niphal)

This young man wasn’t seeking God out of the right motives. He was seeking God out because he wanted God to give him something that he desired for his own life. “He desired” … was not the same thing as “what God desired” for his life.

Understanding this principle is very important. Your destiny was planned long ago by God -but we as humans so often ignore that destiny and find ourselves in the endless search to be satisfied. God knows what will satisfy us because he created us for a specific purpose.

Sometimes we even complain until we get what we want and then when we get what we want we become sick or tired of it.

Take these records into account.

“And tell the people to purify themselves, for tomorrow they will have meat to eat. Tell them, ‘The Lord has heard your whining and complaints: “If only we had meat to eat! Sure were better off in Egypt!” Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will have to eat it. And it won’t be just a day or two, or for five or ten or even twenty. You will eat it for a whole month until you gag and are sick of it. For you have rejected the Lord, who is here among you, and have complained to him, “Why did we ever leave Egypt.” But Moses said, “There are 600,000 foot soldiers here with me, and yet you promise them meat for a whole month! Even if we butchered all our flocks and herds, would that satisfy them? Even if we caught all the fish in the sea, would that be enough?” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Is there any limit to my power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!” Numbers 11:18-23

"Look," they told him, "you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have."
Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the LORD for guidance.
"Do everything they say to you," the LORD replied, "for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment.
Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them."
So Samuel passed on the LORD's warning to the people who were asking him for a king. "This is how a king will reign over you," Samuel said. "The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use.
He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.
When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the LORD will not help you."
But the people refused to listen to Samuel's warning. "Even so, we still want a king," they said.
"We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle."
So Samuel repeated to the LORD what the people had said, and the LORD replied, "Do as they say, and give them a king." Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home. 1 Samuel 8:5-22

They gave up God’s prophet and judge Samuel for a human king because he was old and they wanted to be just like everyone else who had a king so they weren’t the oddity. Appearances…. Hum?

I rather be an oddity. I rather be the oddity that serves God then mold myself to a society that decides what is good, bad and crazy.

I rather know God than know who is who and what is what in a society that rejects God. I rather seek God and be different and make a difference in the soul God has created.

Jeremiah 2:13” For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me- the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!”

Jeremiah 2:17 says “And you have brought this on yourselves by rebelling against the Lord your God when He wanted to lead you and show you the way!”

Yes I rather seek and turn to God then be lost in something that doesn’t matter at all. I don't want to gain the world and lose my soul. I rather walk a straight line then run in circles and never get to the destiny God has for me.

“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” Proverbs 14:12

God wants to empower his creation, his vessels, his beloved, his forgiven by his mercy and grace- so they can touch and set others free but that can not happen until they seek and walk and know Him -even though God is so great we will never stop learning to know about Him and His ways.

We all know there is a God but do we really take the effort to know him? Our culture and society pushes Him out of the way. We forget about God and His values and principles. We instinctively know right from wrong- for God has put those in us but we choose to ignore because we don't want to look prejudiced and out of place from society's practices. We push God out of the way and disasters fall upon us and we ask where is God? We wonder why there is such a moral decay in society and why justice seems slanted and bias and we ask where is God? And God says, "Right were you left me." You see we leave God, God doesn't leave us. We are to turn and draw God - And God empowers and individual, a people and a nation but without Him we are wasting our breath and time.

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being being. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring" Acts 17:24-28

For just as we learn from our human fathers we are to learn from our heavenly Father as well but how can we learn from our heavenly Father if we don't take the time to seek and get to know him and know him better?

No one can walk in the glorious power of God unless they surrender and obey him. Our soul is at stake when we don't obey and surrender to him.

Isaiah wrote, "Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

"My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher then your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." 55:6-9

Many religious people know there is a God but do they really know HIM? We all must understand God is the one who created us (who knit us together in our mother's womb) Psalm 139:13 and He created us for a God given purpose and destiny. And to walk in that purpose and destiny we must seek and get to know God daily so He can direct us.

You weren't meant to gain the whole world and lose your soul in the process. You were meant to seek and know God and in doing so he would truly show you direction and your God given destiny.

You Really Understand HOPE?

1. Check out the word "HOPE."

2. What is the difference between the human definition of hope and hope defined by God and His word? When compared side by side- they are two different meanings. There is a human hope which is "if" or "maybe" and a godly hope is a sure confidence knowing God is your salvation. He is where we find rest. God is trustworthy and we should put our full reliance in Him. He is our lasting foundation. God is where we should direct our focus. Hope in God is where we are able to receive and attached to faith God is able to build up us in Him.

(If your bible has a concordance you can look up the definition and see examples for hope there. In some of the newer bibles they have reference words such as hope in the front of your bible too.)

Here are some other "hope" references:
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1680&t=NIV

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1679&t=NLT

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4723&t=NLT

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Making God More Then A Resident. (Mercy & Grace)

We all should understand, to know who God is, we have to develop a relationship with him and then we develop an understanding of who he is as The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

“Who are you God?” Ever ask yourself that question. Just knowing that he provides, protects and manifests himself in amazing ways seems a little shortsighted and inadequate to me. Do you want to know who your Father in Heaven is? Do you want to know whom your creator is -who created you for a specific purpose? Do you want know his heart and why his actions? I want to know his heart. The blessings are nice but if your parent gave you a bike for your birthday and you were estranged from that parent would that gift mean anything to you if you didn’t have a relationship with that parent?

"You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. 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. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48

God gives sunlight and rain to the “just and unjust alike” but since many of his chosen creation are estrange from him, the “gift” of sun and rain and anything else means nothing to them.

What is God’s heart? Who is the Giver Himself?

You marry for love or for money? You have faith in God because of his gifts or because of who he is -which is love.

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” 1 John 4:16

In the same line of thought: You put your trust in things or the maker of all things.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19

Where should our treasure and hope be?

Why would we give our soul, our focus, our heart, and thought emphasis to a world that doesn’t value us for us? The world did not create you so it doesn’t care as long as it can use you and abuse you and drop you when you are no longer useful to it. God is the one cares about you. He doesn’t want to be some estranged giver that just gives gifts. He wants us to know Him.

Who is our Heavenly Father? What are some of his attributes?

God’s esteeming love, mercy and grace are a good place to start.

Grace

God’s free and unmerited favor toward sinful humanity.

(Grace happens when we turn to God because we don’t highly regard our own fleshly efforts because they often lead to sinful lusts and behaviors (pride, arrogance, boastfulness, greed, envy, fighting, deception, gossip, hate, vengefulness, unforgiveness, shortsightedness, etc.) Grace has nothing to do with our own ability to achieve anything BUT trusting God do the work through us. It is surrendering ourselves and focusing on God where He empowers us to do the right things.

Mercy

Forgiving; compassion; withholding of punishment or judgment our sins deserve.

(God knows our weakness and the fist full of fleshly solicitations offered to us in the midst of circumstances -so we turn to God’s mercy. Mercy is drawing/ turning to God for help. It takes us to admit our weakness for us to receive his mercy. Think: Can we receive God's mercy if we don't turn to God? Knowing his faithfulness and how we should act as His children we seek God's mercy. God's mercy and grace go hand and hand to empower the Christian soul.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Esteem

To value or appreciate.

(God values and appreciates us)

Knowing and walking in these things we understand God is for us not against us.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:31-37

Do you ever think about how God can see our potential in us when we cannot see that potential in ourselves?

“For when we were still decrepit, lost sinners- enemies- He sought us out. He saw in us what only His love could see. He saw treasures in the midst of corruption, sin, and depravity. He purchased as precious what many considered worth little or even worthless. He saw beyond our state and saw what only His grace could produce.” (John Bevere from the Drawing Near page 22)

“People with good sense restrain their anger, they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs.” Proverbs 18:11

God doesn’t do anything that he doesn’t ask his children to do. When God overlooks our wrongs, he restrains his anger against us -does he not?

God sees us even more deeply then our sins. More deeply then the human mind can really comprehend and/or understand. He sees our potential in his mercy and grace. ( I must add, in order to receive his mercy and grace is you must turn to Him and accept His Son (JESUS CHRIST) who had paid the price for our sins with is own life and in doing so has given us eternal life and relationship with the Father which allows us to avoid sin and corruption. In accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, He give us His Holy Spirit which changes our heart so we no longer live to do those sinful and corrupt things we used to do before we came to Christ.)

People mistake God's mercy and grace... thinking that gives them and accuse to sin but that is wrong. God’s mercy does that give us a right to sin- for only when we understand the true meaning of God’s mercy -we see mercy as away to turn from sinful motivations to God. Sinful motives are all so readily available to us but through God’s mercy and grace we can overcome the sinful urges and naggings in and around us. But if we have no reverence for God we will continue to fall into and practice sinful behavior caused by sinful urges and naggings in and around us.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“He will show you a way out” - It’s not us. So be careful to whom you are listening to. God is faithful but we cannot remain faithful to God or anyone else without God’s mercy and grace. And if we only intellectualize these attributes of God then what kind of relationship do we have with God? Brothers and sisters in Christ... you are the temple of God but even thought He may live in the same “temple” as our soul- ask yourself how much time do you spend with him?

To those considering coming to Christ Jesus: I have met several individuals on this pathway of life who have told me they won’t set foot in God’s house because they need to fix themselves up or straighten themselves out first and I have had to tell them that God already knows how messed up we are so what difference does it make if we think we are straighten up or not. Plus to what standards of “straightened out” are we going to compare ourselves too? God is the only one who can transform us. Just think if a Christian makes a mess of their lives when not surrendering to God in different situations, - a person who thinks they have to fix themselves before coming to God will always be estranged from Him. Come as you are and let Him transform you into the person He created you to be.

God says: “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart,” Ezekiel 11:19

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of 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.” Romans 12:2

If God was not a merciful God how could we come to him to be saved? How could we go to him for help? How could we ever change our way of thinking and doing things?

Ever notice how a child picks up similar behaviors as their parents? They stand or sit or talk like their parents. And those children that don’t spend time with their parents pick up the behaviors of their peers, which can be positive or negative. It is the same way with God and us. The more we get to know our Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ- the more we pick up his characteristics and attributes.

“Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance and patient endurance leads to godliness.” 2 Peter 1:6

In college I had a roommate. His name was Obie - short for Obadiah. I occasionally called him Obi-wan. Living with Obadiah I got to know him not just as a student attending the same college but also as a friend.

In a way- our heart is our mobile dorm room and God doesn’t just want to be our roommate- He wants us to know him.

We seem to intellectualize and componentized our relationship with God to the point we put up a room divider up in our heart.

Born-again Christians know what God’s words mean by God’s Holy Spirit but do we take time to understand the reasoning and meanings behind the words? We understand the words but do we obey them? Just because we are familiar in God’s words doesn’t mean we really respect them and grasp them. We can be knowledgeable in God’s word but if all we have is familiarity and no fear respect or love for God’s word then we will fail wisdom and deceive ourselves.

“These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far away.” Matthew 15:8

“For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:19

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [you] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [you] double-minded. “James 4:6-8

“Yet when we lose the fear of God we reduce Him down to our level….”(Drawing Near by John Bevere page 93)

Do we know God for the Holy God he is?

Do we know his mercy? Do we know his grace? Do we know his esteeming love? Do we know his heart? Do we know him? What does our fruit portray about our relationship with him?

Are we just doing the talk and the motions of religious activities? Is God attending, participating, welcomed and involved in all the facets and aspects of our life? Jesus is the head of the body but he cannot be the head of us if we don’t make Him the head.

I have had to ask myself this question: “Is God invited and is God guiding and participating in this venture on my side of this activity.”

I may write this blog but if I do it to empress people then it worthless. I write this blog because God is teaching me something and if I can share that knowledge with other Christians great but my true treasure is in the heart of what God is teaching me not to broadcast my Christianity. I am excited about what God teaches me and I want to share it others.

If we are doing something “just” because everyone else is doing it then why are we doing it? If your heart isn’t in it for God and/or God isn’t directing you personality to do it then why do it?

Ask yourself: “Is my love for the Lord evident in my reasoning for participating in this faith-based activity- no matter how good intentioned it may be?”

I remember as a child going to my grandparent’s house. Their love made it feel like their house was my 2^nd home. Same should be true about our activities we do in the Lord’s name.

Is God at home in our heart or is He observer/ visitor?

“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.” Ephesians 2:7

Jesus Christ at home in our heart affects us in everything we do.

"As for me, God forbid that I could boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, my interest in this world died long ago, and the worlds interest in me is also long dead. It doesn't make any different now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God's mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God. From now on, don't let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus. My dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Galatians 6:14-18

From having peace beyond human apprehension and understanding -to loving others- to be empowered by God's grace, to turning and drawing from God's mercy, to seeing you as God sees you, to forgiving others to being faithful, to having hope, joy and more... Christ must be welcomed to be more then a resident. Our eyes and hearts must look humbly upon God's rightfully Holy place and there we will experience a closeness with God.

“Turn”

“Turn to me” would make a wonderful lyric for a song.

Talking about the soul and the flesh and the Spirit as “motivators” of the soul a word continues to be emphasized in my readings. The word is “turn”. Another word is to "draw." To what source are you going to "turn" or "draw" from?

What a person “turns” to will drastically effect their outcomes in this life and into eternity (heaven or hell). If they turn to Christ they will have life but they if they turn to their own fleshly understanding there is decay and death.

With help from God, because I could never do this myself, I was able to make this table. You start with the Soul God has created at the bottom of the two columns. The two columns represent what happens when we decide to follow the Spirit of this world or the Spirit of God.

Spirit of God (Sound Mind)	Spirit of this world. (Not Sound Mind)
7. Life	7. Decay & Death
6. love, peace, hope, joy, humility,	6. Twisting and distortion of enlightenment directed by sinful desires.
5. Productive as individuals in Christ Jesus.	5. Unproductive: following the ways and understandings of the flesh.
4. Respect For God	4. Not acknowledging God for who He is.
3. Trusting God	3. Trusting the world, people, themselves.
2. Knowing God	2. Knowing there is “some” higher power.
1.Walking in the Enlightenment of Christ (Spirit Understanding)	1.Knowing some words of enlightenment (Fleshly Understanding)

The “Soul” God has created.

When we as Christians “turn” to the Spirit of God who lives inside of us, he gives us a “sound mind” but if we “turn” to our own fleshly understanding it will produce pride, fear, frustration, anger, hatred, envy, and depression to name a few - very destructive. (Romans 1:28-2:1)

It’s pretty much a principle of Spirit filled life verses the principle of sin and death.

Romans 8:5-6 “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.” These principles make their own natural spiritual law.

Romans 8:12 “So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

We must understand that just as the sinful nature is so readily available to us so is God readily available to us if we trust in Him.

We have to “deliberately depart” or “turn from” what our sinful nature wants to do and “respond” to the Holy Spirit who called us to not act as the rest of this world does.

1 Peter 2:11 “Dear bothers and sisters you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls.”

1 Peter 3:10 For the Scriptures say, if you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

Isaiah 55:7-8 “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

Remember Paul saying in Romans “When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.”

Don’t let thoughts and awaiting solicitations from evil come to fruition by your actions. Turn from them to God who will give you the mercy and grace you need to overcome and be productive in any given situation. Remember God’s grace can overcome any thorn in our flesh if we get under the protection of God’s faithfulness and grace.

Hebrew 4:15-16 “This High Priest of ours (Jesus Christ) understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

"Turn"- to Jesus for his mercy and grace.