God's Gift To You

Christmas season has hearts in expectation of looking forward to gifts from loved ones and friends.  It is a season of counting down days until the big day arrives.  Hopes, desires and dreams of that special gift one hopes to receive.  Christmas wasn't realized until a young girl minding her own business doing everyday activities heard a voice of a messenger of God saying . . . .
Luke 1:26 - 39 (NLT) . . . In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,
27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month.
37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Oh, how Mary responded! One,  she listened to the messenger from heaven, the angel Gabriel.  Then she thought about it, she didn't take the words of the angel lightly but realized that she was having the Word of God delivered to her.  So many times we think we cannot understand what the word of God is trying to reveal to us, the deeper meaning of the words written on paper or voice spoken, but as we consider it, revelation comes and we accept and receive the truth of that spoken word to our heart.  That's when the power of the promise of God's word to us becomes life and when we receive it we allow it the opportunity to be produced in our lives.  Mary took to heart the truth the angel said to her, she considered and received his words, as she did she allow her faith to give birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

The power of God's word is life.  It changed a young virgin's life.  Not only did it change her life it will change your life as the gift of God is given to you.  God gave Mary his son, and his son came to give us everlasting life.  John 1:12 says this . . . But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

When God decides to send you the gift of his son, receive the messenger and hear the voice of God through his Word.  The gospel is the power of salvation to all who believe. . . . . .
Romans 1:16 - 17 (NLT) -   For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

During the busy holiday season, don't be quick to brush off people, you never know, one may be a messenger of God delivering to you his special gift.  A gift wrapped up in the words of his scriptures. . . . John 3:16 - “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Christmas is God's gift to mankind, offering him life and to be reunited to Him through the gift of His Son, a gift that is priceless and is available to all who will receive it.

On the day Jesus was born shepherds was watching over their flock and angel appeared to them. . . . Luke 2:8 - 14 (HCSB). . . . In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.
9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
11 today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
12 This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! 

God is sending you favor as you read this blog today.  He's reaching down to you to offer you the gift of his Son, his Son will give you eternal life, not only life but peace.  Receive his gift today.  The greatest gift to be received is Jesus Christ.  If you want to know God and receive His Son, please pray with me:

Dear God in Heaven,

I come to You to receive Your free gift of salvation. I believe that Jesus is Your Son. I believe He died on the cross to pay for my sins and that You raised Him from the dead.

Jesus, come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. I believe Your Word that says I am now forgiven of my sins. I am born again, I am saved, I am a child of God. When I die I will go to Heaven to live with You forever. Thank You, dear Father God, for receiving me into Your family.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Are You Ready For An UPGRADE?

                                   
News flash! . . . . . . . . . . Everything in life is improving and being replaced, as believers say, going to the next level.   Human beings are subject to become comfortable, complacent and in a state of becoming mediocre.    To become comfortable is a dangerous area.  This is an area of familiarity and safety.  We settle sometimes for the wilderness instead of pursuing the promise land.

Life brings progression.  We began life as babies, toddlers, adolescences, then adults.  Our outer being knows its progression but sometimes the mind can get in the rut or reality of “I know it all”.  I do not need to change. 

News flash! . . . . . . . . .  To everything there is a time and season under the sun, that is what the writer of  Ecclesiastes says.  Life is a process of change, movement and progress.  In order to stay updated and informed we must continue in the school of life (spiritually) and the school of knowledge (academically).  So often we get the school of knowledge but when it comes to our lives spiritually we get into the comfortable, complacent and mediocre zone.

We attend church, bible study, Sunday school class and even pursue conferences.  The change that takes place is that our bodies attend but our minds are in lock down.  We are pursuing with out heads but our hearts aren’t attending.   News flash1 . . . . . . . . . . . . .   The hot pursuit of change or transformation has to be grasped!  That calls for an UPGRADE.   Romans 12:1 - 2 says . . . . I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

In order to get the better and newest, there must be a recognition for an UPGRADE.  Upgrade our thoughts, our mindset.  Most of the time we want the new and improve without the hassle of working to  receive it.   In our society we have become so vulnerable to instant access.   The kingdom of God brings us spiritually in the realm and dominion of God.  There are new laws and requirements to be attained.  We get into the mindset of Nicodemus in John 3.  Jesus answered him, I assure you, most  solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above),  he cannot see  (know, become acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus said to Him, how can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter his mother’s womb again and  be born?  Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and (even) the Spirit, he cannot (ever) enter the kingdom of God.  What is born of (from) the flesh is flesh (of the physical is physical); and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not (do not be surprised, astonished) at my telling you, you must all be born anew (from above).

Nicodemus tried to understand the things of the spirit with his carnal way of thinking.  You cannot mix spirit with flesh.  It will never cohere together.  We are spiritual beings and need spiritual thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8 - 9 puts it this way, for My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

News flash! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Once we are born again there has to be a transformation in our thinking from flesh (natural) thinking to spiritual thinking.  When we enter the kingdom we are excited about the newness of life then there comes a time when we think . . . . I have arrived. . . .    I have studied my bible and even read it through once and even believe. . . I got this.  Not realizing that we are in a state of being changed.  Even in 1 Corinthians 4:16  it speaks of our bodies are decaying YET our inner self is being progressively renewed day after day.   Change is taking place whether we know it or not, like it or not.   Galatians 6:8 says . . . . For he who sows to the flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay (and) ruin (and) destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

As spiritual beings we must sow to our spirit man.  In the Message Bible in Ephesians 4:20  it reads like this . . . . .  You learned Christ!  My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus.   Since then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything --- and I do mean everything -- connected with that old way of life has to go.  It’s rotten through and through.  Get rid of it!  And then take on an entirely new way of life --- a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the  inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.   The Amplified Bible in 4:22 says to strip yourselves of your former nature (put off and discard your old un-renewed self) which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion. . . . . .  News flash! . . . . . .  . . . . .  And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude).   And PUT on the new nature . .  (UPGRADE!) . . . (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, (Godlike) in true righteousness and holiness.

God has made us for His good pleasure to rule with kingdom authority and dominion.  That will only happen as we hotly pursue our King.  Desiring to be just as He is.     Ephesisans 5:1 says to be imitators of God (copy Him (and) follow His example), as well-beloved children (imitate their father).

Are you ready to upgrade or do you want to stay in the valley of indecision?  Selah.  Pause and think about it.  The choice is yours.  To advance in the kingdom we must stay in tune with kingdom laws.  Learning and increasing in the things of God.  Our key to success is found in Joshua 1:8 - (Message Bible) . . .  And don’t for a minute let this Book of the Revelation (THE Law) be out of mind.  Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it.. . . . UPGRADE . . .  Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed.  Verse 9, Haven’t I commanded you?  Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged God your God is with you every step you take.  

David has penned it so well,  Psalms 42:1 - 2 . . . As the hart pants (and) longs for the water brooks, so I pant (and) long for You, O God.  My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God.  When shall I come and behold the face of God? 

That’s an UPGRADE!  2 Corinthians 3:18 says as with unveiled face, (Because we) CONTINUE to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are Constantly being transfigured into His (very own) image in ever INCREASING splendor (and) from one degree of glory to another; (for this comes) from the Lord (who is) the Spirit. 

 Let’s keep being renewed and changed that we reflect the very image of God. 
                                                U P G R A D E

GOD IS

God is . . . . . .  God is our very help in the time of our need.   God is . . . . . .  everything our heart could desire.  He alone knows what is best for our lives.  Psalm 139 is a complete guide to realizing that God knows us better than we know ourselves.  Yet He loves us more than we can comprehend.   

 

Psalm 139:1 - 18

  O LORD, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me.
  You know my downsitting and my uprising; You understand my thought afar off.
 You sift {and} search out my path and my lying down, and You are acquainted with all my ways.
  For there is not a word in my tongue [still unuttered], but, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
 You have beset me {and} shut me in--behind and before, and You have laid Your hand upon me.
 Your [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high above me, I cannot reach it.
 Where could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence?
  If I ascend up into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol (the place of the dead), behold, You are there.
 If I take the wings of the morning or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 Even there shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me and the night shall be [the only] light about me,
  Even the darkness hides nothing from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.
 For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother's womb.
 I will confess {and} praise You {for You are fearful and wonderful and} for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.
 My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately {and} curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].
 Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.
 How precious {and} weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
 If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, [could I count to the end] I would still be with You.

 

To the God who loves us be glory, honor, and praise.

God is awaiting your acceptance of His love.  He says come to me.

Matthew 11:28 - 30

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden {and} overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light {and} easy to be borne.

Everything we need our God can provide because He is everything we need.

 

GOD IS 

 

 

The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste

Created in the image of God is a wonderful thing.  God placed mankind in the world to showcase His greatest creation.   Psalm 8:5 - 6 says . . .  What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?   For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.   God formed man from the dust of the ground then breathed into nostrils the breathe of life and man became a living soul.  Genesis 1:27 says that we are made in the image of God . . . "So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them." 

With all the beauty of the creation of man sin entered in the world.  The devil deceived mankind with the lie that they would not surely die.  With that deception it stole the very life of God in mankind and caused God's greatest creation to become separated from their creator.  God always makes provision for His own. In order to retrieve His creation He went to great lengths to restore mankind back into it's rightful position.  He did it in a way that was hidden throughout the Old Testament through prophecies but revealed and made known in the New Testament.   In order to restore mankind God made a promise to the serpent (devil)  . . . in Genesis 3:14 - 15 it says . . .  So the LORD God said to the serpent:
      “ Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.  15)  And I will put enmity
      Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head,
      And you shall bruise His heel.”  

Through the seed of Abraham God would send redemption to mankind.  God wanted His creation so much that He enclosed Himself in flesh to become the sacrifice that was going to take away the sins of the world.  In the most well known verse throughout the world it says, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  When John the baptist saw Jesus in John 1:29 it says . . . The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!   Through the mighty sacrifice of His Son, mankind now have the opportunity to choose eternal life and be redeemed from sin which separates man from God.

When we make that wonderful decision to receive Jesus into our life we are totally made over.  2 Corinthians 5:17 we are made new creations in Christ Jesus.   "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."   New and improved is always better.  With the new and improved creation comes instructions to keep you working at it's your best performance.  That instruction manual is God's Word, the Holy Bible.  One of the main instructions is found in 2 Timothy 2:15 which says to . . . Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. 

An old habit that is often found in human nature is a habit of taking short cuts and cutting corners.  In order to receive the best performance in life we are to become a disciplined people.  In the book of Hosea  4:6a a statement is found which says, not because God has not provided, but due to the tendency of our nature the scripture's reads . . . My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge.  By taking short cuts and cutting corners instead of searching things out for ourselves,  we allow others to do the work that was meant for us to search out to see what God would speak to our lives.  The personal invitation to sit with our bible and fellowship with God is available to all.  We go to people who have studied and found truths that God want to give us.  When we search the scriptures we will find life and know how to live it at the fullest.

We have the capability to have the mind of Christ.  The Scriptures says so in 2 Corinthians 2:16 . . . For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.   We have the responsibility to be renewed in the spirit of our mind according to Ephesians 4:17 - 24 . . . This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18)  having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19) who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20)  But you have not so learned Christ, 21)  if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22)  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24) and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

We must not miss out in our Christian walk by taking the short cuts and cutting corners because we will be as the saying . . .  A mind is a teribble thing to waste.  Knowing God more intimately is taking time to be in His presence with His Word, worshiping and praying to the God that loves us so much.  He desires our fellowship with Him.   John 14:21 gives us a promise . . . He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.   Take the Apostle Paul's advice from Romans 12:1 - 2 which says  . . .  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
   

COME PT 3

COME PT 2

COME PT 1

Beholding JESUS

Love, How Much Does It Cost?

                                                                                                                           　

It cost everything. One poet wrote, How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count the Ways. Have you ever considered the cost of love? The scripture is true in John 3:16 that says . . . .(Amplified Bible) 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.

God was willing to give up His only begotten son to have not only one, but many sons.  Those sons would have come forth to Him through His first created son, Adam.   Adam lost his place in the garden of Eden because he disobeyed God's instruction and sinned.   God required his total obedience to keep his commandment.   Genesis 2:15 - 17 -   And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard {and} keep it.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil {and} blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

When Adam lost his place in the garden he lost his place in love. In God’s sight obedience is love. He said if you love me, keep my commandments. Love, how much does it cost? Obedience and surrender to YOUR WILL.

We have a picture in the Old Testament of Abram taking his only son up to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him. Genesis 22:2 - God said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you.  This was a special son, a son that was promised to Abram because God wanted to use him to cause many nations to be blessed by his seed. Abram waited twenty five years for his son to come forth out of his loins. When his son was born he named him Isaac , meaning laughter.

God tested Abram’s love for Him by requiring Abram to give up his only son. Abram trusted God and without hesitation and did what was asked of him. In that request he found it to be a test, to see if he would walk in obedience or hold on to the blessing of his firstborn.   Genesis 22:4 - 14  -  So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and then began the trip to the place of which God had told him.
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
And Abraham said to his servants, Settle down {and} stay here with the donkey, and I and the young man will go yonder and worship and come again to you.
Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on [the shoulders of] Isaac his son, and he took the fire (the firepot) in his own hand, and a knife; and the two of them went on together.
And Isaac said to Abraham, My father! And he said, Here I am, my son. [Isaac] said, See, here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt sacrifice?
Abraham said, My son, God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering. So the two went on together.
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there; then he laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar on the wood.
And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took hold of the knife to slay his son.
But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham! He answered, Here I am.
And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear {and} revere God, since you have not held back from Me {or} begrudged giving Me your son, your only son.
Then Abraham looked up {and} glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering {and} an ascending sacrifice instead of his son!
So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided.
God told him (Genesis 22:16 - 18) . . . . . I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that since you have done this and have not withheld [from Me] {or} begrudged [giving Me] your son, your only son,
In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies,
And in your Seed [Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed {and} [by Him] bless themselves, because you have heard {and} obeyed My voice.

Love,how much does it cost? EVERYTHING. What is your definition of love? Have you considered it. Love is not always an emotion, love is a choice. God’s love is self-less, Agape love.
1 Corinthians 13:4 - 8 a -  Love endures long {and} is patient and kind; love never is envious {nor} boils over with jealousy, is not boastful {or} vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) {and} does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights {or} its own way, {for} it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy {or} fretful {or} resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
It does not rejoice at injustice {and} unrighteousness, but rejoices when right {and} truth prevail.
Love bears up under anything {and} everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

Love, how much does it cost?  It cost everything but God always rewards obedience.  His reward comes through blessings and multiplied blessings.  When we give to God He always bless us beyond what we ask or think.

In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus loved His father so much. He prayed three times concerning the cross. Each time he prayed I believe he knew in his heart the answer. On the third time Jesus finally said, Father not MY will but YOURS be done. Willing to obey his fathers instruction. That’s why God often said of him, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

So many times we are asked to give up things in our lives that we hold dear to. We may have to go to God in prayer, but if He required it of you, just surrender in obedience and watch the blessings that will follow. Love, how much does it cost? A YES LORD and AMEN.

1 John 4:7 - 10 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

　

Lot's Choice

How many times have we seen something that looked good, heard something sounded good but it happened to be an illusion? Many times we see cartoons where someone is so thirsty. They think they see a water hole only to find out it is a mirage.

Lot, Abram’s nephew had an opportunity to choose any where to live. God had greatly blessed Abram. Lot was blessed as well. Their herds where so many that the land could not support both he and Abram. Abram told him to choose anywhere to dwell. He didn’t want strife between his herdsmen and Lot’s. The scriptures says in Genesis 13:10 - 11 . . And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed

We all know the old adage that . . . . Everything that glitters isn’t gold. Lot looked at the appearance with his natural sight instead of weighing the matter by the spirit, inquiring of God. Scripture clearly states that we are to walk by the spirit so we won’t fulfill the lust of our flesh.

What choice is before you today? Lot chose the natural way, by sight. Are you going to acknowledge the Lord in all your ways so he can direct your path? Everything we endeavor to do a choice must be made. The Word of God is our guide. In Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Instead of being led by the natural resources God has given, he wants us to be led by the spirit of truth within us. God has made us to be led by His Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Roman 8:14.

Many times we make decisions because they seem good. Why not allow the Lord to give you the direction you need so there will not have to be a “Do Over”.

Lot’s choice landed him in Sodom square. Little did Lot know the perversion that went on there. When God sent angel’s to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of the wickedness of the cities Lot was dwelling in a place he should not have been. In 2 Peter 2:7 - 8 it reads . . . . and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds).

The choices we make can put us in places we don’t need or want to be. Before making your choice remember Lot. Weigh the matter and ask God to show you what His choice is for you.

Have you ever been to a place where you wish, if I only knew?  You do have the right to inquire of the Lord and ask for His guidance and direction before planning your own way. Choose God’s choice instead of yours. He always leads us to a place of rest.     

Versaday - A Bible Verse Each Day

Versaday - A Bible Verse Each Day

Heart Matters

God has given us a unique organ, the heart, to keep us alive and operating. The heart is the organ that pumps blood into every vein releasing the flow of life into our bodies. The heart is at the center of our bodies. Even spiritually God has called the heart the place where the issues of life flow according to . . . . . . . . .
Proverbs 4:20 - 24 - My son, attend to my words; consent {and} submit to my sayings.
Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.
For they are life to those who find them, healing {and} health to all their flesh.
Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

In life, everything has to be checked and diagnosed regularly to make sure it is functioning properly. Cars go in for a tune-up as well as pianos. Machines are troubleshot and people are given exams.

As Christians we to must allow the Holy Spirit and the Word of God the opportunity to analyze or diagnose our hearts. In the scripture it says to let a man examine himself. Gal 6:4 But let every person carefully scrutinize {and} examine {and} test his own conduct {and} his own work.

We must be able to HONESTLY examine our motives to see if they are lining up to the standard of God's Word. It is like when we go to the doctor's office, there will be crucial questions asked to make sure the information you give will be able to make the correct analysis of the problem. Truth is absolutely necessary to reach the depth of our problem. It is the same with God, He requires us to be absolutely truthful so we can align our hearts to receive what we need to live righteously.

Matthew 5:16 Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication’s, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

God has given us the power of His word to correctly analyze our lives if we would use it as an instrument to troubleshoot our heart. Hebrews 4:12 says For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Not only does the Word of God analyze our condition, it also gives us truth to purify and cleanse us. Psalm 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. In the book of James 1:22- 25 - 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].
For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it {and} being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;
For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.
But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it {and} perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

In order for us to live in the fullness of life, we must allow God's word to cleanse us as we delight ourselves in the Word of God. When we do that God's word will bring forth healing and health to our flesh. We will also be like the tree that planted by the river of water and we will bring forth fruit in season and whatever we do will prosper. Why, we are allowing our hearts to be examined and restored by the Word of God.



Also published on the following link:   http://anointedtwowin.blogspot.com/

A New Journey - 2011

 As we close the old year and embark on a new journey, excitment is in the air with anticipation on what the new year has in store.  New ideas and new energy will cause us to pursue something different and of course a new challenge to begin.  With the newness of pursuing our journey, we must keep in mind that once we begin, we cannot stop until we reach our desired destination.

2011 will give us the opportunity to have a new start and challenge our thinking and see dreams unfold before us.  It will give us an opportunity to mature in new ways.  It will give us purpose and help us to use all the talents and God given strenghts He has blessed us with.

Get ready to see day by day our new journey unfold.  It will bring us closer to our desired destination - the fulfillment of our new year 2011.

As we begin, alway put God first and acknowledge Him.  He gives us the wisdom to pursue and accomplish every dream and desire that He placed inside of our heart. 

My prayer for you is that you finish your journey with joy and see every dream and desire fulfilled.