You're Not the Only One

You Are Not The Only One-A devotional

Enjoy the book!

This gift of eternal life burns within me each day and reminds me that it is available for every single human being on planet earth. Do you want Him to come and save you too? Just contact us.

Rest in the arms of Jesus, my dear friends. He loves you!

#DoItAsUntoTheLord

My grandmother taught me that when I work, regardless of what the work is I am working for the Lord. I apply that principle in my work ethic inside and outside of the church. It is my opinion that when I lose sight of this Scripture it demonstrates that I have lost my first love for the Lord! When I will work for a boss harder than I will work for The Kingdom of God it says where my first love resides!

#GodHasTheAnswer

English Version

اگر تاکنون درباره دشواری بیش از حد زندگی فکر کرده اید، این فیلم کوتاه باور نکردنی را مشاهده کنید.

Farsi Version

GratitudeDay#14EverlastingBlessings

When I think of the price that was paid for me and the mere fact that all I have to do is “Love the LORD my God and walk in obedience to him.. and keep His commandments” It is not much for Him to ask of me. Because His promise of blessings and increase are not rhetorical statements. No, they do not just apply to the Old Testament (OT) children of Israel. James 1:25 declares the same promises.

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Paul in Phil 4:19  reiterates the same promise of blessings.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Not to forget the spiritual blessings that come from obedience to God. Ephesians 1:3  presents a clear picture of that blessing.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

Finally, I am thankful for the fact that even in my imperfections He continues to bless me with friends who love me, and family who cares about me, and the richness that comes from feeding on His precious word. I am thankful for the gift of eternal life!

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. …⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 

Can you imagine that the sustainer of the universe, “the Holy One” of The Canon of Scripture calls us…

⁵ like living stones, … a holy priesthood,  …⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession,”

Am I a saint or am I a sinner?

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies [sinners], we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Ro 5:9-11 (NIV)

Reconciled to God but reconciled as what? I Pet 1:16 declares “for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” To be “holy” means to be set apart. [Hebrew definition.] Strong’s Concordance renders a Greek definition that presents the same meaning. So God declares that we are “set apart” from the world through the reconciliation that the blood of Jesus Christ offers to us. Christ was the ultimate person who was set apart. When an individual becomes a Christian and a follower of Christ they take upon themselves His identity-“holy/set apart.”  As a follower of Christ, the process of transformation began at the second that we declared Him Lord of our lives. However, we are human being and subject to thinking sinful thoughts and or deeds. Paul offered an explanation of who we are as human beings  “²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind, I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:24-25 (NKJV) If the Apostle Paul had challenges living a sinless life so will we. But that does not make us a “sinner.” Strong’s concordance defines a sinner as an “impious, ungodly, wicked” person.

In spite of our humanness and our failings, Paul strongly stated that we are “saints.” If any church deserved to be called anything other than “saints” it would be the Corinthian church-in human terms and judging with human eyes-that is what we would state. But just look at what Paul called them

² Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s: 1 Cor 1:2 (KJV)

This statement was made before he started to tell them about the divisions and confusion present in the church. This is before he addresses them about the ignominious sin of fornication being practiced, and accepted, by the leaders of the church who refused to follow his directives on how to handle the situation. Furthermore, this is also before he addressed the fact that brethren were suing each other in a court of law. He was appalled at their behavior and reminded them that in this present time

² Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³ Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? I Cor 6 2-3

Now in this day an age we would declare that any person in any church who committed fornication is a sinner and should be “damned to hell!” Here Paul tells the Corinthian “saints”

“²⁰ For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

We are so ready to label ourselves as sinners – as if that makes us more pious. No, it does not. We were once “sinners” but we are “saved by grace”.  Am I declaring that we are saints and therefore we can continue in sin? In Romans 6 Paul made it quite clear that we cannot live a sinful life and declared that “grace makes us a saint.”

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ² God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: ⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin.

James 2 speaks to our Heavenly Father’s expectations of us

¹⁴ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ¹⁸ Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. ¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. ²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? ²² Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. ²⁴ Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.  ²⁵ Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? ²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Finally, not only dead people who have done extraordinary things are called ‘saints.” In Romans 10 Paul professed that

⁹ if thou ..confessed with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and ..believe[ed] in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ¹² For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. ¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

So, because we have done all of the above our good, good, Father calls us “saints” in the same manner in which He called the Corinthians saints.

² Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s: 1 Cor 1:2 (KJV)

]

I had a conversation with a friend two days ago and they were literally afraid of what China, The Muslims, and or Northern Korea could do to this world and to us. The Book of Revelation came to mind . He alone holds the destiny of this earth in His hands. Yes, some horrific things are ahead for humanity, but the earth will not be destroyed by any political or human hands by a nuclear holocaust. I am grateful that The Great God of Heaven and Earth is my good, good, father. So, go to your weekly God Family Reunion this weekend knowing that He controls His plans for this universe!

While praying this more I thought about how thankful I am that my Good, Good Father is so patient with me. I am impatient with myself sometimes and I scold myself because I can’t “fix” me. The reality is that I cannot fix what is going on with my leg but He can. Right now He is teaching me to listen to Him more, wait for Him physical healing to be present in my life and He is teaching me how to be even more patient with the craziness that surrounds us each day. His quick listening ear is a servant’s ear one that endears people to Him.  I want to be more and more like that each day. Thank you for your patience with me Father.

We live in a get “I am going to even world.” A world where forgiveness after being wronged is not the norm. If anyone deserved to punish for having “wronged” a person it is Joyce. I ignored God for years. I did what was right in my own eyes even when I knew better. But before I was even born He forgave me. My deepest desire is to love others as He loves me. His death on the cross for me was priceless. So, the least I can do, in an expression of my gratitude to Him for His substitutionary death for me, is not do to wrong to others even after they have wronged me. Taking the high road is not easy. But it gives me peace. It will give you peace too. Thank you, Father, for the priceless gift of your Son.

I was reading a testimony online today about the power of this song. This is how God sees us.

These words express my thankfulness for His gift.

So when it’s late
You’re wide awake
Too much to take
Don’t you dare forget that in the pain
You can be brave
Hear me say

I see you dressed in white
Every wrong made right
I see a rose in bloom
At the sight of you
Oh, so priceless
Irreplaceable, unmistakable, incomparable
Darling, it’s beautiful
I see it all in you
Oh, so priceless

A slip could be an actual fall, our a spiritual slip either one I have experienced His hands when those things have occurred in my life. I still remember walking into the ER with the chest pains September 2013, and the fibromyalgia was so out of control that my mind was gripped with anxiety. His words of grace and peace came to me. “My grace is sufficient to keep you Joyce – fear not!”

#GratefulthatHeChoseME

I am grateful that the Lord chose me and taught me that it is to Him that I owe absolute reverence and no one else. He revealed Himself through His commandments and obedience to His commandments maintains my closeness with Him. No matter how challenging life becomes I will hold fast to Him. I am thankful that remembering that being willing to be held by Him preserves me in every way.

Absolute freedom is not encased in a person, place, or thing. It comes from knowing Jesus and living as He did. There is a price for that absolute freedom. It is called unconditional love for ALL men! Want to be free from fear, worry, consternation, about what the future will bring? Live as Christ lived. Love as Christ Loved! That is freedom. ¹³ Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. That is greatness. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ISV)

I am so thankful that God set me apart from before I even entered my mother’s womb. Predestined to be His called out one and determined to be His servant. I do not take my calling in a flippant manner and I am not at all worthy of His sacrifice! You are also His priceless one. Do you know Him? Do you know if your name is written in the lamb’s book of life?

I am truly thankful that I have a direct personal relationship with my Heavenly Father. I am thankful that I do not need a human being to “stand between us as an intercessor.” I am grateful for the gift of faith that tells me that God, not only hears but also answers my prayers. His holy presence is with me every day. He is the air I breathe.

You Are Not The Only One-A devotional

Enjoy the book!

It is not possible for me to love my enemies. There seems to be a human instinct to hate-sin against each other. It is innate because the Bible says

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me (Psalm 51:5).

We inherited sin from our parents Adam and Eve. Did they teach Cain to have a murderous attitude towards his brother? No!

 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not wonder, brethren, that the world hates you. (1 John 3:11-13a RSV) 

Bur release from that condemnation of sin, a sinful attitude, an attitude to hate, came to us when Christ arose. Scripture declares

¹² Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death resulted from sin, therefore everyone dies, because everyone has sinned. (Romans 5:12 ISV). And Consequently, just as one offense resulted in condemnation for everyone, so one act of righteousness results in justification and life for everyone. (Romans 5:18 ISV).

Love of God first enables us to love our fellow man – which is His good pleasure.

 For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him (Phil 2L13 ISV)

We cannot spread the gospel if hate resides in our hearts. Actually, we will not spread the gospel when hatred lives deep within us. We will participate in Bible Study, and make friendships with other Christians, and appear to look the part [that of being a Christian] but we will not actively share the good news with people from ALL nations, all creeds, all walks of life, and we will not address it publicly because our salvation is ours. Salvation is not a personal gift that one stores up for one’s self. It was given us to do His good will. for us to serve His purpose, for us to share Jesus with all who are dying even with our enemies. But we cannot do it without the Holy Spirit. The veil of separation between God and man was ripped apart at the same nanosecond that Christ died. The throne of grace was open to all of humanity when Christ arose. God uses people to fulfill his purpose.

Will we be one of them? I know that I seem to be stuck on the same theme in these devotionals, but spiritual transformation does not occur without internal scrutiny and repentance. The world is turned upside down because of hate. It will take repentance and obedience to change it. I want to be a change agent for God, But in order for me to do that, I must be willing to die for the gospel. The time is coming when that will happen to the people of God. He died for me so I need to be prepared to do likewise for the gospel. Love not hate conquerors all! Speak life, Speak love, Speak and be Jesus! The being Jesus part is what is missing in our daily interactions with people. Christ is coming soon are we ready?

Do you remember when Jesus was asked about the existence of the greatest commandment? His answer was simple.

“O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 4“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.… (Deut 6:4 NASB)

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: Mark 12:29-32 (TSK)

The Jewish people call it the “Shema.”  Shema Yisrael, Yehowah, Elohainoo, Yehowah aichod, `Hear, Israel Jehovah, our God, is one Jehovah.’ (Treasury of Scripture).

This Scripture speaks to the moneity of God. It is simple in nature in that it declares that “Elohim” is one. 1 Timothy 2:5 confirms that without Christ is our lives we have NO mediator between us and God the Father. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

This same Christ our mediator, member of the united Godhead, applies that same simplistic unity of the Godhead to human relationships too.  So, the Elohim who walked on this earth He declared that the “same” oneness that exists in the Godhead must exist in my relationships with my neighbor. He declared

“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. “

In other words, I and my neighbor are “one”. So, by living the Shema and

[loving] the Lord thy God with all [my] heart, and with all [my] soul, and with all [my] mind, and with all [my] strength ..

I am demonstrating obedience to God because He commanded it, and faith because I accepted it that “ There is none other commandment greater than these. ” (TSK) This is a hard pill to swallow in a world that sees people as different, separate, not “one of us.” 1 John 4:20  shows the degree of this sin – because it is indeed an egregious sin to be a disobedient and faithless follower of Christ when we refuse to follow this command.

…19We love because He first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar.For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.21And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.…(BSB) Hear of America, Nations of the World,

The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: Mark 12:29-32 (TSK)

Why do we have turmoil and confusion in the world today? Simple – we are not being ONE!.  We are not obeying the Shema! Love it never fails!

I believe in God the Faith, in Jesus, The Holy Spirit and that has given me life eternal.

Belief is not something that any positivity thinker can give to you. Neither is salvation. Faith from and through hearing the word of God.  No act of attrition. No actions, good works, or social activism gives you faith. It is a gift from God. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Family history, religious activity since birth, and or national origins do not give you faith or salvation. Romans 10: 8-10 (KJV) declares

 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 

^{Steps to Salvation}

1. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, [This is highly offensive to our Jewish brothers and sisters, but the Messiah has already come. Their place in God’s final kingdom that will be established here on earth comes only through confessing that Jesus is Lord. God used His people Israel to demonstrate to us that historically no actions can bring us the peace that He has to offer.  They moved back and forth between worshipping YHWH and worshipping idols. Without the Holy Spirit they could not maintain their relationship with YHW.]
2. and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, [Why is it necessary to believe that the prophecied death and resurrection of Jesus Christ The Messiah, as foreshadowed by the stor of Jonah’s 3 days in the belly of the fish,? Because our promised resurrection from the dead into a glorious body will not occur without this belief. It is this belief that saves us from eternal damnation and separation from YHWH.] thou shalt be saved. 
3. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; [not our own righteousness. We may even have family members who do not believe that we are born again and are righteous in God’s eyes. WHy? They see of spirit man as it was NOT as it is now. They do not comprehend the depth of the riches of God’s love for us and the amazing gift of faith that He has given to us. This belief/faith leads to Salvation.] and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The context of this scripture as stated

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God. For I tell you that Chris has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs, so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.” (Ro 15:7-9Berean Study Bible)

This is the problem we are currently having in this world. We are not accepting each other as Christ has accepted us.  We are not bringing His name glory and honor.  We spent too much time bickering about societal and political rhetoric and not enough time sharing Jesus. A person’s relationship with Christ changes how they view others. You see the Jews thought that had “The Messiah” locked in. All of the promises of the Old Testament was meant for them and only for them! Paul had to explain that Jesus fulfilled the past and the history of the chronicles of Israel’s reliance on self and their duplicitous reliance on false God. He came to fulfill the prophecies of the Messiah, the promise made to Abraham that all nations of the earth will be blessed because of His seed. There is only one descendant of Abraham that could possibly bless all nations of the earth, Jesus. History is there to remind us that God delivers from death and sin [Passover], protects [The parting of the Red Sea], heals [Hezekiah, Jarius’ daughter, the widow’s son], and provides us with hope [Paul – the apostle who wrote almost the entire New Testament considered himself a wretched man. If he is wretched then there is hope for me.]

We, by and of ourselves, cannot and will not change who and what we are. But the precious Holy Spirit transforms our hearts and minds.  When that happens our history of rebellion, disobedience, self-centeredness, and inward thinking changes, not instantly, to become more in line with God’s thoughts. Our past does not have to be our present. Scripture gives us hope of spiritual transformation.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, …Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within …Ezekiel 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; …Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within …Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the …Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after … Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to …

Through endurance, love, patience, and expressions fo the fruit of the Spirit we deliver hope not just to ourselves but to this confused world.

#HisLoveChangesEverything

Written from the experiences of hundreds of people who received answers to their prayers, or just chatted for comfort. No names are revealed in the book just the scriptural references and the application of them to our daily life. Great for a small group devotional. Each devotional ends with a worship song that goes with the scriptural reference or circumstance. This gives you a preview of the book

#TrueFreedomComesFromHim

We have no idea what absolute freedom is until we accept Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 61:1 declares “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;” That is freedom. THe right to deliver people from spiritual oppression and imprisonment.

We live in a time of human history where “truth” is dependent on who is speaking and the social and or political context of the speaker.  Whereas John 8:32 proclaims that knowing Jesus gives us a frame of reference for truth that makes it absolute and unimpeachable. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  However, we did not receive freedom through the Holy Spirit to become bondservants of ideologies, philosophies, or even syncretic thoughts. Galatians 5:1 iterates why Christ died “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery [whether emotional, philosophical, theological, political, sociological or rhetorical. Enslavement is not what God wants for His people. Enslavement is a thought process. Freedom is an action of love. Galatians 5:13 confirms “For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.” Once, again we come to the crux of the matter. DO we sing out of love, act out of love, speak out of love, or even exist as Christians as an act of love of God and then of our fellow-man? If we do not that means we are not free, we are enslaved. Choose freedom, choose Christ!

#JesusTakeTheWheel

Sometimes I forget that

Psalm 37:23  The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.  Proverbs 16:1   The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. Proverbs 19:21  Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.

Never place your life in the hands of a human being. You will be disappointed. Allow the Lord to order your steps. Then you will know that everything that happens in your life is appointed by Him and only Him!

#OnlyTrustHim
His protection is really secure. Know that no matter what happens the God of the universe has your back. He is real! He is not a myth or part of some universal fantasy! He protects His children 24/7/365. The is reassuring to me! I believe that deliverance is a reality in my life because He keeps His promise to make me dwell in safety!

All things are possible with Our Heavenly Father.  Walk in faith this morning knowing that He hears and answers prayers. Know that your faith is planted in good ground and you will reap the rewards of serving the Lord! His hands are not short!

We know that He is real and that all things are possible because He is the lamb who was slain from the foundations of this earth. And it is is in that truth step forth in faith knowing that we will dwell safely in His arm.

#JesusIsOurHope

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
– ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:4‬‬
Now we know why studying God’s word is so important to our walk with Him! Hope is a construct that non-believers utilize in a metaphorical manner. Especially when they are facing dire circumstances that are out of their control. The difference is when I use the word hope I use it knowing that there is a specific plan for my life. I also use it knowing “A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
So in the midst of all this social and geopolitical upheaval know that nothing happens in your life without His will and knowledge. Just take a look at Job for a solid example this! We do have hope!

There are times when things happen to us in life and our first response is to panic. It’s human to do that. Then if you have Christ in your heart you hear that voice, that still, calm, cooling, refreshing, and reassuring voice that says, “Be still and know that I am God (Ps 46:10. [I have got this! Just Trust me!]

But truly knowing is our challenge isn’t it>
Scripture says:

Psalm 83:18  That men may know that you, whose name alone is JHVH, are the …

Psalm 100:3 Know you that the LORD he is God: it is he that has made us, and …

Exodus 18:11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing …

1 Samuel 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver you into my hand, and I will smite …

1 Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, …

2 Kings 19:12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have …

We have to know that the God of  Daniel 6:22  “[who] sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths ….” is the same God who rose Jesus from the grave and He lives in us. We have rest. When we hide behind Him like a child does when they are scared His shadow engulfs us and danger fleas. I must remind myself of that at the end of each month when I am trying to figure out what to do about my budget. He will give. Or when I wake up and every single millimeter of my body hurts so much I can barely move. I know that He has this because He has me protected behind His shadow. I must stay in His rest to have peace. His love and power never fail.

#HeHasDeliveredUs

Praising Him for his deliverance, and the hope we have in CHrist Jesus our Lord.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary details this precious gift word for word.

As His children, we truly should be singing of this great deliverance!

#Whatlove

1. Have you ever been trash talked to or about by someone you cared about? It hurt terribly didn’t it?
2. How about by someone you bragged about to someone else? Felt like a fool didn’t you?
3. How about a preacher, teacher, leader, family member, or close Christian brother and or sister? Now we are getting close to what Christ experienced.

Less make this person-because it is a personal application. What did I want to do to the person who hurt me?  How about you? What did the all-powerful creator of the universe do?

I mean He has all of the power in the universe at His thought “tips” so to pun! Yet, He took my rejection of Him as my maker, creator, savior, and friend. He took the 40 lashes that ripped the flesh of His body so much that He was visibly unrecognizable. In today’s vernacular “on the tele” they call it a “beat down.” Why? Because of my sin! He took my “spiritual” judgment and “beat down” for me. John 3:16 states

““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(KJV‬‬) That is why he took the rejection, the thorns on His head, the beatings. The only thing that even comes close to showing what His body looked like was this movie.

Will you accept this sacrifice that was freely given for you and me? Man rejects, but God appoints. Thank you Father for sending your Son to pay the price for my sins!

https://youtu.be/63tsdDnJtdQ

Yesterday, I saw pictures of the home of a close friend. It appears that she has lost everything due to Irma. This friend has two options. She can murmur and complain like Israel, or she can allow Him to use her for His glory. She chose the latter.

Exodus 5:1-22 The people of God thought that their obedience to God [their request to leave Egypt made life worse for them. They did not see this as an opportunity for God to show up and show out as His people bonded together as one and the heathens witnessed the power of His saving love through them.

Exodus 14:11-12    How about the ridiculous hopelessness that she might have felt when she looked at her destroyed home? Israel was faced with that when they came to the Red Sea. They saw their own destruction. What did they do? Complain! 

I know that my friend came to this locale to served impoverished children and their parents. And serve she did. She gave her all to teach them. She clothed them when they needed clothing. She fed them when they had no breakfast snack or lunch. We both did.

Exodus 15:22 The people complained about the bitter waters. Nasty tasting water is no joke. Faced with utter destruction of ALL of your life’s memories, your cherished gifts from your students, parents, loved ones, and friends, could have resulted in Susan blaming God. After all what had she done, but “Be Jesus” to others.

No this servant of the Lord took to the social media and called on all whom she had sown years of seeds into, sometimes into soil that she had to fertilize with His love before seeds of understanding and love would grow and produce “good fruit” to come to her aid. She spoke of the richness of the experience of the outpouring of God’s love from her neighbors. Not once did she blame God for allowing her home to be flooded for the 2nd or 3rd time. She lost everything saints. Yet she demonstrates how “fortunate” she is to have this opportunity to have this great challenge.

This is the video of Susan’s home – after much clean-up has been done. The ladies stated that one could not be inside the house for more than 1 hour – even with a mask on their faces.  Susan, like me, has an autoimmune disease, she should not and could not do this work herself. Watch the video then listen to the voice of the Lord as He tells you about how this saint ” is [meeting this] testing challenge head-on and [is managing] to stick it out [listen to her speak of how] fortunate [she is.] [Now here is the clincher] “For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.”

Here is your opportunity to be used by God to flavor and paint the richness of Susan’s testimony.

Click the above picture to “be Jesus” to Susan as you help to fund the replacement of her belongings and repair the damage done to the inside of her house. Be His hands, His eyes, His feet, His love, and help Susan! Be an example of living theology! Yes, she needs prayer but she also needs funding. God always speaks to, and through His people. Will you be one of the people who listens and acts upon what you have heard?

#HeRemainsTheSame #WorshipHimByBeingObedient

Whether we are in need or not He remains faithful to those who love Him and keep His commandments. Exciting news right? Even His name confirms that He is faithful.

The name “YHWH-Shammah” may very well be the most exciting and comforting name God has given us. Why? Because in “YHWH-Shammah” is the promise and pledge of God completing the work He began in us at creation, to bring us to our final rest and glory.

We show our faithfulness to Him by how we live our lives. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31). Psalm 115 declares “Not to us, Lord, not to us,  but to your name be given glory on account of your gracious love and faithfulness.” (NIV ) We obey His commandments because obedience glorifies Him. Jesus states, “ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.) John 13:34 (KJV). Simple but not so easy to do today because we appear to be surrounded by enemies. Fear instead of faithfulness and belief in His faithfulness to us has become our modus operandi. We fear:

1. what our enemies will do to us,
2. the government,
3. the Muslims
4. the “undocumented persons”
5. the “white, red, yellow, peach, brown, different, homosexual, Democrats, Liberals, and or anyone who is NOT just like us.

These are – in some cases legitimate fears for one’s safety. But I have to ask myself this question every time the issue is raised. You see I am a brown person living in a community that still thinks that it is the majority and for many of them “I am nothing but a blotch on their social radar.” So, I can choose to live in fear everytime a non-brown police officer approaches me. Or I can trust in the name of the Lord my God. Treat them with respect. Let them know that I appreciate them and am praying for their safety.  At the top end of my street is an entire community of non-documented persons. They are kind, generous, and peaceful people. They are now living in fear. Their children, whom I personally know, are now living in fear. They came here as babies. They are brilliant persons. Support the school system and the community, now they are living in fear of deportation. I trust that when they go to mass that they are receiving the reassurance that God is faithful to them. I refuse to live in fear because I serve a God who is faithful to me.  My life is His to use as He sees fit.

Yesterday, I saw pictures of the home of a close friend. It appears that she has lost everything due to Irma. This friend has two options. She can murmur and complain like Israel, or she can allow Him to use her for His glory. She chose the latter.

Exodus 5:1-22 The people of God thought that their obedience to God [their request to leave Egypt made life worse for them. They did not see this as an opportunity for God to show up and show out as His people bonded together as one and the heathens witnessed the power of His saving love through them.

Exodus 14:11-12    How about the ridiculous hopelessness that she might have felt when she looked at her destroyed home? Israel was faced with that when they came to the Red Sea. They saw their own destruction. What did they do? Complain! 

I know that my friend came to this locale to served impoverished children and their parents. And serve she did. She gave her all to teach them. She clothed them when they needed clothing. She fed them when they had no breakfast snack or lunch. We both did.

Exodus 15:22 The people complained about the bitter waters. Nasty tasting water is no joke. Faced with utter destruction of ALL of your life’s memories, your cherished gifts from your students, parents, loved ones, and friends, could have resulted in Susan blaming God. After all what had she done, but “Be Jesus” to others.

No this servant of the Lord took to the social media and called on all whom she had sown years of seeds into, sometimes into soil that she had to fertilize with His love before seeds of understanding and love would grow and produce “good fruit” to come to her aid. She spoke of the richness of the experience of the outpouring of God’s love from her neighbors. Not once did she blame God for allowing her home to be flooded for the 2nd or 3rd time. She lost everything saints. Yet she demonstrates how “fortunate” she is to have this opportunity to have this great challenge.

This is the video of Susan’s home – after much clean-up has been done. The ladies stated that one could not be inside the house for more than 1 hour – even with a mask on their faces.  Susan, like me, has an autoimmune disease, she should not and could not do this work herself. Watch the video then listen to the voice of the Lord as He tells you about how this saint ” is [meeting this] testing challenge head-on and [is managing] to stick it out [listen to her speak of how] fortunate [she is.] [Now here is the clincher] “For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.”

Here is your opportunity to be used by God to flavor and paint the richness of Susan’s testimony.

Click the above picture to “be Jesus” to Susan as you help to fund the replacement of her belongings and repair the damage done to the inside of her house. Be His hands, His eyes, His feet, His love, and help Susan! Be an example of living theology! Yes, she needs prayer but she also needs funding. God always speaks to, and through His people. Will you be one of the people who listens and acts upon what you have heard?

#throughhearingGodsWord

The greatest gift that I could receive is understanding! It opens the world to me and enables me to love others.

The Theology behind this song:

Christ says we are priceless:

1.  “But now this is what the Lord says, the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel:
   “Do not be afraid, because I’ve redeemed you.  I’ve called you by name; you are mine.’.” (Isaiah 43:1 NIV)
2.  “Look! I’ve inscribed you on the palms of my hands, and your walls are forever before me..” (Isaiah 49:16 NIV)
3.  “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
4.  “PHILLIPS: If you pray to a Father who judges men by their actions without the slightest favouritism, then you should spend the time of your stay here on earth with reverent fear. For you must realise all the time that you have been “ransomed” from the futile way of living passed on to you by your fathers’ traditions, not with some money payment of transient value, but by the costly shedding of blood. The price was, in fact, the life-blood of Christ, the unblemished and unstained lamb of sacrifice. It is true that God chose him to fulfil this part before the world was founded, but it was for your benefit that he was revealed in these last days—for you who found your faith in God through Christ. And God raised him from the dead and gave him unimaginable splendour so that all your faith and hope might be centred in God.
5. Revelation 5:9-10   And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.

The Mirror on the Wall:

When we look at ourselves through fleshly eyes we see our sin. But God’s word says.

1. James 1:23-25   For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently [ through the mirror of] at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
2. 2 Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
3. 1 Corinthians 13:12  , For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
4. This is how He sees us.. 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) ⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
5. At the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the bride of Christ will be dressed in white.

And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.” Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the LORD! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” Rev. 19:4-9

Strongs explain what the song describes as all the wrongs made right.

Rejoicing in Heaven
1After this I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God! 2For His judgments are true and righteous; He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.” 3And a second time they called out: “Hallelujah! Her smoke ascends forever and ever.”…

I love this song because it speaks to all of the things that Christians all over the world are experiencing right now. Then it tells us what God thinks of us regardless of what the world thinks.

I love this part of the song because some nights the pain from the fibromyalgia is just too much to take. Or I speak to people who are in so much emotional pain that they cannot sleep-they tell me about the torment of their life experiences and how they haunt them. Again, that is the reason why the devotional book on the home page of the blog was written. No matter what we are going through we are the bride of Christ purchased not with diamonds or pearls but with the priceless blood of Jesus Christ. One day, maybe soon we will experience being His bride dressed in white.

So when it’s late
You’re wide awake
Too much to take
Don’t you dare forget that in the pain
You can be brave
Hear me say.

#loveofGod
#loveforMan

Loving Him and demonstrating my love for Him by keeping His commandments results in my growth as a Christian. Why? Because keeping His commandments correlates with Him revealing who He is to me. With that knowledge, my relationship with Him grows and so does my love for humanity! First I will seek Him through keeping His commandment and solidify my relationship with Him. Then I will be able to love others the way that He loves them.

What was His commandment to us?

³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (ESV). Lastly,  ³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34 (KJV). Loving others as He loves us is a tall order. He puts up with all of our “mess” and He loves us no less!

During times of trouble and disappointment, we may forget that we serve a God who is:

1. Never ending-everlasting. We don’t understand that concept because we are time and space bound. We live within increments of seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, and years. For some of us, our wish is that those time increments would end and a new time increment would begin with a new perspective on life and an end to our emotional, physical, and or psychological turmoil. We must remember  “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death [our ultimate limitation], so that we may serve the living God!” Heb 9:14 NIV.
2. The Creator of the end of the earth: As human beings, we see within our geographical concentric circles. Our neighborhood, town, county, state, and nation. We see everyone else outside of those circles as unimportant. Self-preservation becomes the issue rather “Gospel Spreading Kingdom Focused living.” God sees all of humankind and all of the creation as His. We look at creation as something from which we must “get” something. We don’t look at it as something that God gave to us for safe keeping. The most precious thing that God created was “humankind.” Humanity is the central focus of His kingdom plan. “⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,  that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 13:47 (ESV). Nationcentric is contrary to the Word of God. When we become “nation-centric” we forget that God so loved the world-all peoples-that He gave His one and only Son to die for humanity! Remember our Creator and know His expressed will.
3. We can never wear God out! So, we must take it to the cross! He is the only solution to social morays, intolerance of people – just because they are different, political chaos, social and religious persecution.  “⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 (ESV). Don’t give up on God and start relying on the man to solve sin issues. Hatred begins in the heart of man and is straight from the pit of hell.
4. His understanding no one can fathom: “If God is so good, then why does He allow……” That is the common human response to issues that we have brought upon ourselves. We want the freedom to live as we please, but we do not want to reap the results of living according to our thoughts and our will.  “¹⁶ “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV). God’s thoughts are higher than ours because we look for scientific proof that His thoughts will match ours. That is a never-ending cycle of failure. Accepting Him as:
5. 

In those difficult times call on Him. He is never-ending, He hears all prayers, He is never weary, He made us and loves us.

#Godinus
Sometimes we think of the fruit of the spirit as an ethereal thing that is so mysterious. In actuality, it is a simple thing. Christ has risen and the proof of that event is how we live our lives. You see love, joy, peace, gentleness, long suffering etc., are not unattainable, or out of reach concepts. They are demonstrations of who we are in Him. So, live the fruit and people will want to know Christ because they have seen Him and His fruit, as we live our lives each day. We are ripe, beautiful, flavorful, examples of who He is in and to this world!

#bethetoolto share His message among His people. Encourage each other.

The world around us is experiencing a degree a fear and discouragement that it has not experienced in quite some time. However, the people of God do not need to fear the events that are happening all around them. No, I am not saying do not listen to the authorities when they tell you to take refuge from natural disasters. What I am saying is this.

John 1:12-13 declares “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

We are not the children of a weak god who has no control over the lives of His children. Our God is the maker of the universe. The Almighty God who created the atom that makes the atomic bomb. Our God is the Everlasting God who gave us the power to become His sons through the death and resurrection of His one and only Son Jesus Christ. There is no other way for any human being to become a Son of God.  We are not talking about being an exclusivist here. God does not think like people. His word states that He wants ALL men to be saved-–

When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior He immediately connected us to His power. How? When we plant a tree in the ground, we don’t just tell it to grow. We do what we must to ensure that the roots go down to secure the plant. Then we water it and fertilize it so the roots can spread out and not only feed the plant but secure it in the ground in preparation for a bad storm. When the storm comes, the tree waves and bends, but it is not up rooted.

Now not all trees have the same root system. Some trees have roots that run just below the surface of the ground. When a bad storm comes the tree topples and you can see the roots. No tap root is visible at all.  But now so for those

But now so for those rooted [through their personal relationship with The Almighty. ] And built up [through a relationship that is established through prayer, Bible study, service, ministry, and worship that occurs at home not just once weekly.]  So, just remain root in Him. He is our source of strength and spiritual vibrancy. Our connection with Him grows our spiritual top root and that strengthens us and keeps us spiritually grounded.

#HisLoveChangesEverything #HeIsAlwaysThere

Written from the experiences of hundreds of people who received answers to their prayers, or just chatted for comfort. No names are revealed in the book just the scriptural references and the application of them to our daily life. This book is great for a small group devotional. Each devotional ends with a worship song that goes with the scriptural reference and contents of the devotional. The image below gives you a preview of the book.

Is there hope for the world? This story says there is.

This short film explains why.  ENGLISH VERSION

كل شيء في الكتاب المقدس يشير إلى يسوع. هنا لماذا تلك الأمو ARABIC EGYPT VERSION