Contentment Is Priceless!

2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! AMPC

I will never forget one time I decided to do something against what God was telling me to do. I didn’t do it yet —but I had decided I was going to go against what I knew I should do to be right with God. As soon as I made my decision I heard God tell me His presence would leave me if I kept to that decision. I started to feel His presence leave as He said it. It was a terrible, terrible feeling and I immediately repented and said I would do what He wanted me to do. Instantly I felt His presence return.

I couldn’t imagine living without God, His power in my life. For that brief few seconds when I did feel Him leaving me it was awful and I never want to experience it again.

In that moment my present situation that I was trying to get out of didn’t seem that bad compared to God leaveing me. Also, suddenly I knew that if I did what He wanted me to do I would have His grace— His power to do it. I knew in the moment or two that thus far in my life, the reason I was okay was Him —His presence in my life.

Samson felt it, he gave into the constant nagging of Delilah and told her his secret to his strength. She turned on him and he lost God’s presence in his life. That Power that protected him and gave him strength gone!

When you live in the presence and power of God you may sometimes take it for granted until you feel Him leaving you.

Satan is the root of the nagging in our lives and then when we give in we give into the absence of God in our lives. We can’t live two lives —either we will love one and hate the other or hate one and love the other.

Christians do it all the time though. I can’t understand why the choice wouldn’t be obvious to them who were enlightened. I mean you have to have been enlightened to originally have received Jesus. But it happens —as it happened to Samson, the pressure gets to us and we are tempted to betray our commitment to God.

The pressure, though is only pressure —it is pressure you can overcome because you have God’s power, His Spirit living on the inside of you. His is there to empower you to overcome that pressure. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

Yes a lot to deal with on your own without God, but you when you receive God, you have God’s Spirit living on the inside of you to help you do all things. He will strengthen you do His will when you make that decision to do so.

That day I did what God wanted me to do —not what I wanted to do. I trusted Him and He gave me the strength to do His will. What I didn’t want to do —I was graced to do.

The reason I didn’t want to do the will of God was because it was hard on my flesh and the enemy was nagging me to take care of it myself. There actually have been a lot of things I didn’t want to do, or have done, and didn’t want to do them. But I had to make a choice and I chose to do His will and not my own.

I did His will because I am smart enough to know I can’t make it without Him. I know I can’t function without God and I know also that He is a whole lot smarter than I am.

He keeps me from falling, and from failing. He keeps me from making mistakes, and decisions that would ruin my life. He keeps me on the path to the good life.

I like being able to depend upon Him and know that my path leads to righteousness and my eternity with Him.

He is jealous for me and looking out for me all the time and so that means I can relax. When I decide to do His will I am in agreement with Him and that means I can supersede in this life to the place of living blessed, happy and satisfied. Contentment is priceless. Having God conduct my affairs is the most wonderful thing I could ever have, ask for, or desire.

That decision that day would have had a devastating effect on my life and those I love. The enemy was harassing me to live my life for me and because of God I was able to resist that pressure and love anyway. Love to the degree I am called to love. I can only love past me —because of Him in me.

Now because I make His decisions and not my own I love my life! I can do all I need to do because of Him — because of His grace. His unmerited favor is enough for me.

Give And It Will Be Given

God has a way to meet our needs above and beyond what we can ask or think. But because we worry about our needs and take on a whole different system of living we don’t receive from Him by His intended plan, His way of doing and being right.

Luke 6:38 Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. AMPC

So how does that look in real life? We stop worrying just like Jesus said in Matthew 6. Why did He say to stop worry about our lives what we will eat, drink, and wear? Because worry stifles our return.

We can give and give and give but if we worry then our giving (our return) has been taken from us by the enemy. His ploy is to steal, kill, and destroy and he does that with worry, fear of what if it doesn’t work? Subsequently we’re thinking what will I eat, drink, or wear? With that —we’re off doing our own thing again, getting a few jobs, thinking about how we are going to take care of ourselves, with the eventual thoughts of money —and how will I get it. Then of course money is our God because we are always thinking about money (Matthew 6:24). Satan is sly and always has a plan to steal from us. But with the Word (God) as our source we can always win!

We are to live God’s way, seek Him, His way of doing and have faith in His system. —faith (confidence) in His way of living and being right.

Faith is pretty simple but we complicate it with negative thoughts, thoughts that exalt above the true knowledge of God, His ways, His plans that are good. And —those thoughts that we acknowledge, those thoughts we let exalt God’s truth —will pull our seeds of faith right out the ground!

Did you ever pull weeds in your garden and then by mistake pull out some beautiful flowers? That is an awful feeling, and then try to replant them? It doesn’t work to replant flower’s they’re just dead.

And so is it an awful thing when you have planted your faith and then some random thought comes along and you take it —pulling your faith seed right out of the ground.

All that work, all that time we take to hear the Word and then do it, and let one random thought steal from us.

The answer then to your giving and getting results is to just believe, replant the Word in your heart. Believe the Word, the promises of God, take captive your thoughts and think only those thoughts that God thinks. Get faith from hearing the Word and then just go ahead and jump in and do what the Word tells you to do.

God Is A Person

God is a real Person with real feelings. I believe that is what He wants us to have revelation of today. To know that He is not a fairy tale, He is not figment of someone’s imagination, but the very One who created us and is jealous for us.

Exodus 34:14 For you shall worship no other god; for the Lord, Whose name is Jealous, is a jealous (impassioned) God,

If you ever had anyone in your life that was jealous for you, you know you were flattered of that feeling that came from their jealously. Likewise if you sit in God’s presence you feel that jealous love He has for you.

When someone is jealous for you they watch you, and keep an eye on you to protect you. I can feel God doing just that in my life I feel His presence following me and keeping an eye on me. Why? Because I have entered into an intimate relationship with Him where I have given Him permission to fit me for His Kingdom— to be jealous for me.

That means I have asked Him to keep me in line with His love law to be able to live in His blessings, now and with Him in paradise when I leave here.

God desires we live blessed as to represent Him — to be shown as His, blessed and like Him. If we say we are His but look like someone else’s He isn’t pleased and in fact He is grieved.

God has high standards and expects we live by them. Showing Him, showcasing Him is what God desires for us. He wants us to look like Him —and to illuminate Him. Why does He want us to be an attraction for Him? Because it is not His will that one should perish and when we show who God is we are letting God use us to draw those In whom He is in love with (who He is jealous for) —to Him.

Being fit for His Kingdom takes being willing to be reshaped into the likeness of God. Yes were made already in His likeness, but as we grow in this worldly atmosphere and are obviously tempted by its owner we have to learn to make the right choices and as well we have to live as an over comer by not succumbing to the enemies ploys.

Therefore we have to ask God to correct us and teach us. We have to keep on knocking and seeking Him so that, that door of revelation knowledge we need to live in His Kingdom be opened to us.

If we seek Him as a vital necessity that makes us jealous for Him always keeping an eye on Him, wanting to know Him and what He is thinking all the time. Wanting to please Him by weighing all we do in His presence, making sure that we are not offending Him by our thoughts and deeds. Making sure we are on the same page as He is. Being jealous for Him means to keep track of Him and His feelings. To do that we have to keep an eye on Him all the time.

Can we make Him feel special as special as He does us? I think we can. In my relationship with Him I can tell as He is jealous for me to keep in step with Him, to keep me blessed and walking toward that good life He has in mind for me. I can tell that He is pleased when I go to Him and ask is this okay? How do you feel about this or that? Does this offend You or grieve You, if so I won’t do it.

Until I ask I can’t guess how He feels. Sometimes I can, but sometimes I am wrong. Therefore just like any relationship we have to find out what He is thinking. When we want to know He tells us. When we want to know He feels loved.

God is a person and has feelings and you can tell as soon as you start being jealous for Him, as soon as you start keeping your eye on Him, making Him your focal point you will see that you have made Him feel loved.

Did You Leave Jesus?

Revelation 2:4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. 5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent. AMPC

Have we any idea we have left our first love?  I don’t think most of us do.   I had no idea I was unfaithful and often leave God for something that seems okay, or even more attractive. There was no way I could have even seen myself unfaithful to Jesus if He hadn’t shown me.

Constantly asking for correction God has been faithful to show me myself.  I didn’t realize that I often times betray Him because I didn’t look at Him carefully enough to realized He had feelings.  I didn’t realize He had feelings like I do and that I was hurting Him when I left Him.  I think most of us consider God as I once heard someone say, “It’s okay, God can handle it, He is God.”  

What I have learned in my relationship with God is yes He can handle it, but it still hurts Him when we leave Him for someone or something else.  

God is a real Person with real feelings.

We have to realize when we think of Him as God, but without feelings, it’s because without really knowing Him we create our own image of Him.  If we can’t see Him, if we don’t have the revelation knowledge of who He is, we tend to depict our own meanings and our own imaginary relationship with Him.  

You may not realize that if you don’t feel God’s feelings you could leave Him for a person, an event, a thing, or even for being peculiar. Peculiar?  Yes,  being thought of as peculiar because of Him, what someone might think of you if you take Jesus with you wherever you go.  

Jesus said we have left our first love and unless we change our mind and repent, listen, and overcome, we won’t be eating off of the tree of life in paradise.

Revelation 2:7 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. AMPC

We are so self-absorbed that we can’t see where we are at and that we have betrayed God.  We don’t see that we have left Him to fit into the world and for the approval of others. 

We long for approval from others and for acceptance from those who really are not even in the circle of God.  Jesus said your sister, brother, and mother, is the one who does the will of the Father.

Why then do we get so messed up when we are rejected by those who are against Jesus to begin with?  Why are we so afraid to be hated and rejected because of Jesus being ours?  The One we should be proud to take everywhere we go, is Jesus.  We should embrace our position as His and rejoice when men hate us because of Him!

Jesus said family would turn against family, and we can vividly see that happening.  If you have ever loved, you have also been hurt. When it is your own family that rejects you, it’s most devastating.  Devastating and heartbreaking, but we have to sort that out to be right with Jesus. We have to be committed to Jesus not a family member whatever their position is.

The very One though, the very One we leave, the very One we walk away from for those who will eventually turn their backs on us —is the One, Jesus who will never leave or forsake you if you stay true to Him.

John 15:18 If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you. AMPC

The Art of Giving Love

Matthew 25:40 And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me. AMPC

Did you know the art of giving love is a skill we have to develop to do the greater works in the Kingdom of God? It is, it is the greatest thing to love God and others and as we practice that love, we will become skilled at it.

My parents were compassionate and loving but still displayed the character of as the world does, to take care of their own.

My personality alone was never to be a nurse or to take care of an adult, but a child or an animal for me was a whole different thing. Therefore when it came to taking care of someone older I didn’t want to, especially if I thought they were capable themselves.

Another thing if the person I should take care of isn’t even nice to me, that made it worse yet, I didn’t want to do anything for that person.

I said all that to say just as an example to share with you what God has done in me. When I have those selfish feelings now because I have asked for correction from God, I get corrected.

I now can nurse anyone who needs nursing because God has asked me to. Whether the person likes me or not, or is nice to me or not I can do what God has asked because I want to please Him.

God knows a persons heart and the love they need and He expects us to develop the skill of loving those who need love for Him because He loves them. God expects us to practice love because we said we believed in Him. When we said we believed, we said we promised to pick up where He left off when He left.

I know God already loves me just the way I am, but if He is asking me to be Him for them then that is my work to do. In fact I believe the greater work Jesus is referring to is to love beyond what we feel. To love to the degree of loving someone else more than ourselves because He does.

Have you ever noted someone in need and walked away because of your own selfish desires? That is exactly what Jesus is talking about here. If we are first then we haven’t learned His love and can have to no part of Him. But, when we do for Him as we have committed to do when said we believed, then we have done for Him when we do for the least.

To be like Jesus we have to get skilled at giving in fact our life needs to be about giving, doing the work we have been assigned to by Jesus to do —that greater thing other than to take care of ourselves.

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those at His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation], inherit (receive as your own) the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you Me together with yourselves and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me, 36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me. 37 Then the just and upright will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food, or thirsty and gave You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger and welcomed and entertained You, or naked and clothed You? 39 And when did we see You sick or in prison and came to visit You? 40 And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me. AMPC

Matthew 25:41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!

42 For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me and entertain Me, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me with help and ministering care. 44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? AMPC

This Life Or That One

This Life Or That One

Mark 8:34 And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me]. AMPC

Do you ever feel like you knew the Word and then suddenly you’re living in it and it has a whole new meaning, the message has changed? I would reference that to God growing us up.

Let’s begin then to grow here a little more than we have before. I have always thought I was carrying my cross until this last year— I must say He has carried my cross for me.

I know many would say that is the way it is suppose to be. Yes to a place where you can’t do anything without Him, but first you have to be in agreement with Him. First you have to say yes Lord. Even when it hurts you have to say yes Lord fix me. Change me to fit into Your Kingdom, into Your likeness.

Carrying your cross as Jesus puts it here is really giving up this life here of all your pleasures and interests—exclusively, to exchange this life for eternal life. Jesus is saying to be sided with Him we have to let go of the pull of fitting into the world’s mold of what it acceptable and not —and fit into His Kingdom standards instead.

Whatever you cleave to is what is pulling you away from God and God is going to ask you to lay it down. Now that is not an easy thing to do because it is actually a transformation of your character in which only He can do by your willingness. Letting go of the world and clinging to Him is not you anymore— but Him in you. Really the summation of salvation.

In this account of Mark, Jesus just finished telling His disciples what was going to happen to Him.

Mark 8:31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must of necessity suffer many things and be tested and disapproved and rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be put to death, and after three days rise again [from death].32 And He said this freely (frankly, plainly, and explicitly, making it unmistakable). And Peter took Him by the hand and led Him aside and then [facing Him] began to rebuke Him. AMPC

Peter was thinking he had to protect Jesus and instead Jesus said we have to deny our self if we want to follow Him. He rebuked Peter for the acts of love He was about to do for God, for us —for our salvation. Peter didn’t get it then, but he did get it later as will we when we submit to Him.

Jesus went into a lot of detail in His explanation of what it means to carry your cross.

Mark 8:35 For whoever wants to save his [higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it [his higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God]. AMPC

Do you hear what He is saying?

Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [in the eternal kingdom of God]? AMPC

How often do we thrive on the world’s acceptance? How often do we just slip right into that mold the enemy has carved for us without even realizing it?

I can answer that it is all the time unless — unless you are asking God to keep you on the narrow path of transformation. That path that leads to your eternal life means you will give up this life, the life your flesh wants for that life with Him when you leave here. Many who cling to this life here will give up that life for this one— because they are oblivious to the fact that they are making a choice now.

I got this revelation because I have been seeking, knocking and the door as Jesus promised has been open to me. I have been asking that I make it to eternal life and in doing so have been corrected to the place where I wondered if I had to give everything up and found out yes I do.

Jesus makes it clear either it is this life of acceptance or that life. I pick that one, I choose Him. What about you, will you get this revelation for yourself; will you seek Him with all your heart, soul and mind and not be so sure of yourself, that you’re going to make it? Find out for sure, get before Him and let Him fix you instead of trying to do it yourself.

What Is The Greater Work?

I woke up this morning with God showing me the importance of our faithfulness to Him.

2 Chronicles 16:9 God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to Him. MSG

Have we any idea what is so vitally important to God? I don’t think we do. We only know what He shows us about Himself and what He shows us I believe is according to how faithful we are to Him.

I feel like I have missed it, and missed it, and… missed it, so I am no way referring to me when I speak, but I am referencing what I believe God is showing me this morning.

Look with me at Matthew 25 go ahead read the whole chapter and then come back here and join me.

First the whole chapter is a warning to be ready for His return and in doing so we will have to have done His work.

Next thing I want to reference —do you see that in verse 14 Jesus went on a trip and when He returns we are going to be judge according to whether we did our assignment or not? Do you see that if we are unfaithful to do what He has called us to do, if we quit we will be flung into the outer darkness?

That was the exact knowing I had this morning from God and the knowing that if I expected Him to do things for me, and if I were to be right with Him then I have to be faithful to do what He has called me to do.

I know that people do not think this account is truly God’s way — as well nothing is expected of them other than to wait for Jesus to come get them. Many think a prayer is their salvation, but that thinking does not compare to the Word.

We have to read the Word and know the Word of God so that we won’t live without His wisdom. No one wants to be thrown into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, but it is possible if we won’t heed His voice, that we could be that one thrown into the outer darkness.

What many don’t take serious enough is that God has something for us to do for Him. I know it seems scary that God would ask us to work for Him, which may look like having no provision and that we will go without, but I want to declare to you today that, that is just not true but a lie to keep you from doing the will of God.

If you ever obeyed God and have been rewarded you will know He is the same for all He instructs you to do. You will see your provision when you do the work He has called you to do when He calls you to do it, and you will see it pressed down shaken together and running over.

Jesus is about to return and it seems to me He has something for us to do to help prepare for His return. He is looking for mature committed ones to do His work for Him before He gets here.

Really if you know Him, you already know that. If you sit with and hear Him then you know He is looking to you, to trust to do His work.

Jesus said whoever believes in Me will do greater things. Thus if we believe then we will be doing a greater work, we won’t be sitting around waiting for Him to come and then He come and we have to say, sorry I didn’t care about what You cared about only what You could do for me.

Working for Him, doing what He did is so much greater than anything. Doing the importance of life Jesus talked about in Matthew 6, instead of worry is doing the greater thing which is to love.

When we love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind is when we will grow in the wisdom of His greater challenge of love, because loving Him is —caring about what He cares about.

My son is doing a dead hang challenge to increase from one minute of hanging on a bar, to an extra 10 seconds everyday.

How can we compare that to what God is saying to us, I feel like at least He is saying this to me today, to increase in the greater work—that is His love be known without error everywhere, be displayed to each person more and more each day.

Instead of paying attention to our own interests He asks that we are interested in Him and His quest to reach everyone with His greatness —His standard of love.

Challenge —increase ten seconds a day toward that greater work, the highest standard of love.

God What Do I Do?

My son was having a seizure when I shouted out to God in desperation, “God what do I do?” Instantly He said, “Bind the enemy!” So I was stern and I said, “SATAN I BIND YOU IN JESUS NAME”, BOOM! He was gone and my son was back to normal.

How amazing God is, so faithful, so true to His Word. I am so grateful that I can go to Him in my time of need and He is there for me. I love how fast He answers, and especially that day in what could have been disastrous, He made it easy. What could have been doctor visits, stress, hospitals, tests, drugs with side effects and a label for life, God fixed in a second with a Word!

Who else could have given me a better answer? Who else is all knowing and completely in love with me and wants me to have the fullest best answer? HIM! He is in love with me. He just is! And He is you!

God always has the right answer and we can always go to Him. We can always find out from Him what we need in any situation and quickly. God always has an answer, He is always right, and He is always right there, a thought away!

He is waiting for us to come to Him, to rely on Him in anything and everything! Didn’t Jesus say that? He did (Matthew 11:29-30).

I remember times that God answered my questions even before I had a chance to ask Him. Talk about a thought away, who is closer to you than God?

God so wants us to not only know Him, but to have a tight relationship with Him. He doesn’t want to be just a contact, but a close enduring friend. One that we can not only count on, but He wants us —to be one He can trust.

When I got really serious about God, I asked Him plenty of questions because I wanted to know how to live in His Kingdom where His blessings flow. In my undertake I found that God is looking to and fro through out the earth trying to find someone He can trust. Here I was looking to receive from Him and find that He too is looking to receive from me. I was longing to have what He had and found out He longs to have me and what I have.

What do I have? Only what He gave me. Is what He gave me valuable to Him? Whatever He put in me is a part of Him, He crafted me and gifted me and so I belong to Him and yes, I am a part of Him so I am not only valuable but I am cherished. Now whoever you cherish—you want to be cherished by?

God, He longs that I be faithful and devoted to Him to cherish Him as He does me. He longs to be able to trust me, as I know I can trust Him.

God taught me everything I know, and what I know makes me grateful. I am so grateful I can go to Him with anything and He is there for me.

Today I want to encourage you to go to Him —and in your adventure in doing so you too, will find that He is not only there for you with open arms, but He longs to be able to count on you. Cherished and to be cherished—love is.

James 1:5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. AMPC

There Was Nothing I Could Do

When my son was born he was born with a birth defect. As soon as the doctor told me what was wrong with him God showed up and comforted me by telling me I would see my son healed. He also said there was nothing He could do.

It seemed strange that God would say there was nothing He could do, but I didn’t question Him at the time because I was more focused on Him telling me I would see my son healed.

When I didn’t see my son healed right away I started seeking God as to why. I lived on James 1:5 and still do. If you lack wisdom you can go to the giving God and Who gives to all liberally without fault finding.

God showed me that there was nothing He could do because of my disobedience. He said to change my circumstances, I would have to learn how to live my life His way. Then, He said I would see my son healed and live blessed in every area of my life. His blessings He said are inside of His Kingdom. When we obey Him, He lives in us and when He lives in us then we are living in His Kingdom and in agreement with Him. When we are in agreement with Him, He lives in us and we in Him and then we can ask anything and He will do it and, we glorify the Father (John 15:1-8).

God asked me to share this truth with you today concerning our eternity with Him. When we don’t do what He tells us to do, in any area of our lives then we stand in the place of disregarding His command and He will have to say away from Me I never knew you. He doesn’t want to say that but He will have to, there will be nothing He can do if we disregard His command.

God is warning us now to prepare for His return. He calling us to be right with Him so He doesn’t have to reject us. Don’t disregard anything He tells you to do. If there is something that seems too hard then ask Him to help you to do it and He will.

I didn’t understand what He meant when He said there was nothing He could do then, but now it is so very clear if we are not in agreement with Him (John 15:6) then we are in rejecting Him and He will have to on that day, reject us.

Now is the time for us to prepare for His return by doing all He has commanded us to do, not some of what He commands (because if we break one law we break all the law James 2:10) but all of what He commands.

Matthew 7;21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. AMPC

DON’T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW TODAY

Matthew 6:34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. AMPC

So when God gave me this Word today in asking Him what He wanted to teach us I felt led to read the Message translation. MSG

Matthew 6:34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Then I heard Him say this is exactly what I am saying. Wow I thought, of course —this is what He has been saying to me the last three years. You are so anxious about your life, if you only knew all those things I have already worked out and even more importantly I am coming —if you should be anxious about anything, be anxious about that.

Are you ready for My return. Are you on the narrow path pressing into eternity, or are you caught up with the rest of the world in worrying about your clothes, your house, your car, what job you will do, or where you will go to school?

If you would give your attention to Me, as in ask Me I would tell you all those things and the good plan I already have made just for you. I already made provision for what is important to you. I know the clothes you like, the house you would want. I have a car for you and a job for you to do. I know what is important to you and have more for you than you can ask or think, but if you spend all your time worrying about these futile things than I can’t do My plan for you.

Why? Because you have your own plan and you make such a big deal of those things I have already made provision for, they actually become your god.

I have a plan and a thing for you to do for Me that will have everything to do with your provision, including your happiness, peace, joy, and contentment.

But, as you seek things by worrying about them, you are doing exactly opposed to My will, seeking another god, in which then I can’t be your God.

I have given you your freedom because I love you. You can choose Me and know that when you do I will give you all you need and want, you will have everything when you have Me.

Or you can choose your way and struggle, trying to do for yourself what I already made provision for, for you.

My advice, just get through today paying attention to Me, seek Me and then tomorrow will surprise you of it’s beauty.

Give Me a chance and see what I will do for you.

Whose Side Are You On Anyway?

Matthew 12:30 He who is not with Me [definitely on My side] is against Me, and he who does not [definitely] gather with Me and for My side scatters. AMP

Matthew 12:30 “This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse. MSG

Jesus is very explicit about what He is saying. But at the same time as I sat with Him today there is a much deeper revelation here than what we can see without Him.

As I sat and listened to what He was saying to me today I felt very convicted by His correction. What I heard Him say seemed to be somewhat sarcastic, “Whose side are you on anyway?”

In context, after being accused by the Pharisees to be in cahoots with Satan, Jesus was sarcastic as He told them there is a clear difference between Satan and God and they have absolutely nothing in common.

When I read this account the first time and the second time it wasn’t the same as when I read it the third time. The third time I heard, “Now, in this day there is not a clear difference between a believer and an unbeliever, one who serves God and one who serves the enemy.”

Jesus said if we are Christians then we will look like Him. We’ll sound like Him and act like Him. If we are Christians, if we’re Christ-like then we will clearly be on His side. But most of who say they are Christians don’t look like Jesus or act like Him because they are not Spirit controlled but flesh controlled.

What He is saying is we don’t live on His side looking to please Him so much as we want to impress each other. In fact we are so busy impressing each other we live in jealousy and contention with each other.

We’re actually so self absorbed we consider His instructions, how they may make us look before we think we would do what He tells us to do. We consider rather than obey.

We don’t humble ourselves before God, but before man. We don’t let God exalt us we exalt ourselves which makes us like the devil.

Didn’t he want to be God? Yes and he still wants to be god. That is why he works so hard to control us, and as we bow down to his control he is our god.

Our choice is the same as Adam and Eve’s. We can be dominated by the flesh or the Spirit. We can exalt ourselves or humble ourselves before God and when it is time He will exalt us. Not because we are something great without Him, but because we are valuable to Him, He is in love with us and wants only to do good in us.

When we submit to Him letting Him have His way in our lives He will bring us up to His higher way of living. Then just like you brag on your children, He will brag on His. He will brag on you when you rely on Him and His standards becoming all He created you to be. When you do that great thing He designed for only you to do, you will make Him proud as you show who He is in you.

I like how the message reads; if we are not helping then we are just making things worse. I like it because I know that is what Jesus is saying to us. “If you call yourself Christians and still you let the enemy control you, you are actually magnifying him rather than Me, who’s side are you on anyway?”

When I heard God give me this title, it sounded sort of harsh so I tried to soften it by taking away the word, anyway. But as I listened to Him show me how He felt I realized I had to put the word anyway back.

He is displeased with us who claim to be His but act like the devil. We say we are Christians but we don’t surrender. We don’t humble ourselves, but we exalt ourselves, forcing Him to say “Whose side are you on anyway?”

READY OR NOT HERE I AM

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who stays awake (alert) and who guards his clothes, so that he may not be naked and [have the shame of being] seen exposed!

One of these days it will be ready or not here I Am. It isn’t that we hadn’t had plenty of warning though. Through out Jesus’ ministry while He was here He warned that this day would come and like a thief in the night. Meaning if we are not ready, on guard — then is when we will be exposed. Were we for real, a true follower of His, alert guarding our clothes? Were we clothed in Him —or not?

If we’re not alert, if we are not watching we are going to be exposed on that day of our —without Him state. We are going to be ashamed that we didn’t take heed to His Word, but instead conformed to the world.

Do you know why many conform? It is because they don’t have a vision for eternity, and they don’t have a vision because they don‘t take God seriously enough to look at the Word (the Word is God) to get that vision.

Many think Christianity is a prayer and that prayer is their ticket to heaven. They think there is nothing they have to do except say that prayer of salvation and they‘re set.

Believing that lie is due to not looking at the Word themselves. Not having their own relationship with Jesus, but letting someone else know Jesus for them.

If you look at the Word yourself you will see what the truth is —and that you have an assignment, a personal assignment from Him.

It is not to just wait for Him, but wait on Him as He waits on us. How? In serving as He serves. Your call is not to have your feet washed — but to wash feet.

If one would be in relationship with Jesus that one would hear Him weep and morn for what is about to happen to His people. Those who won’t take heed to His love appointment, He is crying for. He doesn’t want to come like a thief in the night, but it will only be that way if one personally makes it that way.

Didn’t Jesus say that the Holy Spirit will tell us things to come? He did (John 16:13). Didn’t He say I no longer call you My servants but friends because a servant doesn’t know his masters business? He did (John 15:15). Did He say I will come as a thief in the night, therefore watch? He did, Matthew 24:42-44, Matthew 25:13 and many other times).

The answer is watch, be in communication with Him, know Him, serve, so that you are not in the dark. Paul said that about us who believe, we’re not in the dark, but we know and we are to watch.

1 Thessalonians 5 But as to the suitable times and the precise seasons and dates, brethren, you have no necessity for anything being written to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord will come [as unexpectedly and suddenly] as a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, All is well and secure, and, There is peace and safety, then in a moment unforeseen destruction (ruin and death) will come upon them as suddenly as labor pains come upon a woman with child; and they shall by no means escape, for there will be no escape. 4 But you are not in [given up to the power of] darkness, brethren, for that day to overtake you by surprise like a thief. 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we do not belong either to the night or to darkness. 6 Accordingly then, let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected, and circumspect). 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But we belong to the day; therefore, let us be sober and put on the breastplate (corset) of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not appointed us to [incur His] wrath [He did not select us to condemn us], but [that we might] obtain [His] salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) AMPC

Be ready He is coming, just like in the day of Noah they were unaware of hour. For those unaware of the hour it will be like a thief in the night that He, Jesus will come.

Praise the Lord He is warning us now before it is too late!

BE DOERS OF THE WORD NOT HEARERS ONLY

James 1:22 But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. AMPC

Being a doer of the Word of God is vital to being right with God and living with Him for eternity. Because, if we are not a doer of the Word we are not on God’s side but the side of the enemy. If we’re not a doer of the Word we will live contrary to the truth. If we don’t do the Word we will not have the revelation knowledge we need to live in the light here which leads to our eternity there— with Him.

We might not realize it, but this is the truth. Jesus said either you are for Me or against Me (Luke 11:23). That means if we’re a non-doer of the Word then we’re non-Jesus. He said if you love Me you will obey Me (John 14:21), so if we look at the opposed of that statement, if we don’t love Him we will dismiss His Word and if we dismiss His Word we are against Him.

I know we don’t intend to be a non-doer of the Word and that we have help from the enemy to disregard the Word, but it is up to us to walk circumspect! It is up to us to be fully committed to what we believe in without excuse, because we have the King living on the inside of us to do for us what we can’t do ourselves.

If we believe in Jesus then we have to commit to know His Word (Romans 10:17) and then do it. Believing is an action (James 2:17)!

Jesus loves us and gave His life for us, now if we love Him we will give our life to Him by committing to Him. Commit by representing Him fully in action, the action of believing which is hearing and doing His Word. When we hear and do His Word, not only does that show Jesus we love Him, but we are representing Him to those who don’t know Him. That is a greater work and our call as Christians.

If we are not hearers and doers of His Word, not only are we deceived but we are deceiving others who don’t know Him. If we say we are a Christian but don’t do the Word of God, we are actually a misrepresenting His Name, because we really are not a Christian if we don’t do the Word of God.

God is in this last day expecting we get ready for His return. How? Be a doer of His Word, not just a hearer. If you do the Word you will hear more Word (Mark 4:24-25) and when you hear you will be given your instruction, your part to usher in the King (Jeremiah 29:11).

The time is short, get a vision for your path to eternity (Ephesians 2:10).

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. AMPC

In Pursuit Of Jesus Or Money

James 1:11 For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and parches the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the midst of his pursuits.

This makes me think of how it will be when Jesus comes.  We will be doing our thing, running in circles trying to provide for ourselves.  In the midst of seeking riches and right in the middle of it— just like in the day of Noah, a storm will hit.  Suddenly all those things that ruled our lives are not important anymore, in fact instantly vanish from our minds.

I can see it now, people running to find shelter, to find their loved ones, dropping their purses, their shopping bags, falling to their knees in repentance!

I also think of how cozy our lives can be now, but what good does that do if we spend our lives in hell when we leave here?  From a warm cozy bed, a cup of hot chocolate by a warm fire to hell where there is no escape, no turning back.

Forget the stuff and pursue Jesus Now before it’s too late!

Believe

John 3: 16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.  AMPC

Believing in Jesus is more than just a prayer saying we believe.  Believing in Jesus is agreeing with Him by living His way in His Kingdom right here and now on the earth.

When we make it our quest to know Jesus, to believe, trust and rely on Him now, then on that day when we leave here we will move in with that One we believe, the One we know.

God said to me one day.  Many think they want to move in with Me one day, but right here and now they don’t agree with Me, or even have time for Me, yet still they think they want to move in with Me when they leave here.

So you see it isn’t just a prayer but a commitment to know Him and be in agreement with Him.                             

Believe

John 3: 16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.  AMPC

Believing in Jesus is more than just a prayer saying we believe.  Believing in Jesus is agreeing with Him by living His way in His Kingdom right here and now on the earth.

When we make it our quest to know Jesus, to believe, trust and rely on Him now, then on that day when we leave here we will move in with that One we believe, the One we know.

God said to me one day.  Many think they want to move in with Me one day, but right here and now they don’t agree with Me, or even have time for Me, yet still they think they want to move in with Me when they leave here.

So you see it isn’t just a prayer but a commitment to know Him and be in agreement with Him.                             

And It Shall Be Done For You

Jesus said ask whatever you will and it will be done for you.  What are the conditions?

That you come into agreement with Him, that you not only submit to Him, but that you cling to Him, and consent to Him getting rid of the dead branches in your life.  Then you can ask of Him and receive, giving honor and glory to the Father showing to be true followers of His.

15:1 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. 2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. 3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. 4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. 6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. 8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. AMPC

My Sheep Know My Voice

John 10:4 When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call. AMPC

Our life should be about letting Jesus walk in front of us, following Him so we can know His voice and let Him lead us in the good life He intends for us. When we are willing to follow Him we will know His voice and we won’t follow a strange voice, a voice we’re unfamiliar with, in fact we’ll recognize it as the thief right away, and reject it!

So many times though we listen to that stranger’s voice, even though it is not familiar to us and it doesn’t represent God’s character, we take it anyway.  The reason we do is because the thief makes his suggestions look more attractive than God’s direction. 

That is how the enemy kills, steals, and destroys in our lives— by getting us to heed his voice, trying to make his way seem better than following the Voice that cares for us.

But as we make it our quest to follow the Shepherd and run from the thief knowing he is a fraud trying to sell us a fake temporary life— then we can live that real abundant life Jesus is talking about. 

John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). AMPC

The Abundant Life

John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). AMPC

Jesus in this verse is clearly clarifying that He is the One who cares for us, He came to show us the good, abundant life we can life when we follow Him.

On the other hand if we follow the enemy we will allow him to kill, steal and destroy in our lives.  

Our part then is to follow Jesus and there we will find rest.  In rest we find peace not confusion, faith not fear, relation not worry, because we are following Him and we hear His voice and He in speaking His truth to us, will cause our hearts not to be troubled.

John 10:9 I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.  AMPC

The Rain Is Coming

Have you prepared for the rain?  Are you ready for the storm ahead?

Matthew 7:24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a [sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. 25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it. AMPC

Jesus has given us plenty of warning that His return is soon, He is coming and when He does its over, our time to prepare for the new heaven and the new earth is at end and our actions here and now will determine our destination.

Think with me a minute.  What sin do you allow in your life that you tell yourself is okay and it is okay with God?  Or, which sin is the one you keep telling yourself you will work on quitting.  Or what about the one that you think isn’t that bad and you’re a good person, others have worse sin in their lives than you do?

Sin is sin and sin is what separates us from God now, and will keep us from living with Him when we leave here.  Therefore doing what you know to do what is right, is what you want to do without compromise.  If you let compromise have its way with you, you haven’t prepared for the storm that is about to hit and complete will be your fall!

Follow Jesus

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. 16 You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? AMPC

Jesus just finished talking about staying on the narrow path when He said to beware of false prophets who come dressed as sheep, but actually inside they are devouring wolves.  Jesus is warning us that not all are who they claim to be and if we are following a false prophet we are likely to be on the wrong path leading to the gate that leads to destruction. 

If we know Jesus we will recognize a false prophet.  If we know Jesus we will know things we can’t know without Him.  He will reveal to us a false prophet and warn us just as He has to those in the text we just read.

Jesus is revealing truth to us that we are only to follow Him and to obey Him.  He said another time, many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many in error (Matthew 24:11).  

It is a scary thing to not know Jesus and put your trust in a man.  Jesus is plainly telling us to believe in Him, follow Him and no other.  

Look at these truths Jesus reveals to us further in this chapter.

Matthew 21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. AMPC

Looks to me like Jesus is talking to the ones who were dressed like sheep,  but inside were devouring wolves. 

We have to make sure we know Jesus ourselves and that we too don’t become a false prophet, claiming to know something we don’t, following our flesh or another man instead of Jesus!  We have to be sure we are NOT, at any cost disregarding His commands and we cant do that if we don’t know Him and allow Him to correct us.