Category: Recent Blogs

Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

How can this be? It is absolutely TOO EASY!

ANYONE can say the words! You mean to tell me that those of us who spend our entire lives trying to be good and follow the law, will sit next to the worst of the worst sinner at the banquet of God??????

How can this be?

Well, consider this… there are two men – two brothers – from the SAME household. Both raised by the same Father, both sons of the man in charge. Both know the rules, both love their father. One leaves and one stays. One asks for and receives his inheritance, one stays home and lives on riches and luxury that is provided (his inheritance still tucked safely away in his father’s vault). If you were to ask each brother, at the beginning of the event, “So, what do you think of your father? Good Dad? Wonderful Provider? Worthy of honor and glory?”

I imagine both would have proclaimed the glory of being a part of this fabulous family. But look what happens in Luke 15:11-16 when our expectation of happiness meets our less than happy judgement of life as we know it.

One son realizes that money doesn’t always buy happiness – especially if you’ve spent it all and have no more money! The other son, the one who claims the title of the GOOD son, dares to judge his father for being unfair and irresponsible to give the BAD son a welcome home party AND gives this bad boy all of the stature and status of heir. “WHAT?!!! I STAYED HE LEFT!”

The Father loves both of his sons. Yes, the Father watched for and waited for the son who left to come back so he could have him home, with the family. But… what did the Father take away from the other son by loving the one missing?

Which son gained more heart knowledge, intimacy, and trust with his father? The one who experienced the grace and mercy so unexpected or the one who only saw things through his own selfish eyes?

You see, when we confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead we have to realize it can ONLY BE because it is God (Philippians 2:13) who is at work.

It is God who gives us His inheritance. It is God who stands and waits for us to return. It is God who gives the undeserving that which we do not deserve.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

How can this be?

When we return from our insatiable lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and our boastful pride of life (1 John 2:16) we have come to the end of ourselves and know that even being a slave in the house of God is better than eating the pig slop that our hand has produced. When I come to the end of me, myself and I, I KNOW what I deserve.

If you are the good son, and have never experienced the moment the Father takes your hand, raises your eyes to His, lifts you up from your face plant at His feet, and commands His angels to, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:22-24) realize you don’t have to leave, you just have to recognize that the Father’s love is never depleted and never taken away from the one He gives it to. Don’t judge your brother as unworthy, celebrate with joy what you equally share.

If you have been the center of the such a royal celebration, NEVER FORGET the place you were and the place God has brought you to.

It isn’t “too easy” as some would claim. It isn’t “just saying the words or claiming that you believe”. It is SPEAKING with your mouth what your WHOLE HEART KNOWS! It is being.like.Peter… “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20).

We cannot stop… 2 Corinthians 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? 

Is Jesus in you? Do you recognize Him in you? Do you welcome Him there?

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt (because He told us so) that He has not nor will He ever leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Therefore,  IF you feel He’s no longer with you, it has to be you who has left or has never came to Him! How can this be?

Just… Come Home!

Romans 11:33-35 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? 

Come Home and Abide!

1 John 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 

THIS is How It Can Be!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

 

 

1 Timothy 2:1-2 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

The 2018 midterm elections are history. This morning we wake up and find that life goes on (at least for most of us). Surely, not one of us got EVERYTHING we wanted and some are grieving because they feel they got NOTHING.

All or Nothing! This is the cry of our politics. And I admit the energy of it all distracts me, it causes an anxiety that cries out for the comfort of group think – the group think that agrees with me! Our enemies and friends, are labeled by a line in the sand. The noise on each side of the line is deafening. So much so, that I loose the signal to hear the still small Voice of God… And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire;  (1 Kings 19:11) For the last 2 years, when it comes to politics, these are some of the sounds I hear!

Today, this morning, I WOKE to the sound I need to hear… and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing… When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.

In admit, I ran to the mountain because I didn’t get everyone and everything I voted for yesterday. I ran to the cave of “SORE LOOSER” because I thought I knew what God wanted and I thought I voted for exactly that.

This morning… behold, a voice came to him me and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah Mary?” 

It was the sound of a gentle blowing! And in the gentle blowing I was WOKE to what God wants AFTER the vote…

When all is said and done, God wants…

• Entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of ALL (not just who you voted for) men, for kings and ALL (not just those who were elected by you) who are in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
• The men (and women) in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, WITHOUT wrath and dissension. (1 Timothy 2:8)
• Render TO ALL what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. (Romans 13:7)

Yes, in this wonderful country blessed by God, we are given the privilege and responsibility to participate in our government (of the people, for the people, by the people)…

But it is ALWAYS God who has the final control!

Romans 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 

When all is said and done, it isn’t about making me happy, comfortable, a winner, a loser, part of the “in” crowd. It is ALWAYS about God having His way in me and in my world. It is ALWAYS about hearing and trusting and obeying His still small voice. NOT because I think I know what He wants and furthermore I agree with what I think He wants. But because I love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

In loving Him, I know He is good all the time, and all the time He is good…

Psalm 139:16 His eyes have seen each of our unformed substance; And in His book were all written The days that were ordained for each of us, when as yet there was not one of them. In knowing Him, we can all WAKE UP this morning, and in the midst of the cacophony of voices claiming victory, defeat, and doom and gloom, we can live this ordained day with His abundance.

We can… love our neighbor as ourself. We can owe nothing to anyone except to love one another. (Romans 13:8)

In becoming WOKE we can actively pursue being trained up in the way we should go (Proverbs 22:6), without forgetting that all discipline (training up) for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Hebrews 12:11)

For me, the results of the midterm elections of 2018… when all was said and done… has already given this old kid lots of training in love… God’s way. After all, I am His child therefore, when all is said and done, I should learn to love like He loves.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-47)

After all… Titus 3:3-7 we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

When all is said and done…

When the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

Let’s all be WOKE this morning!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

 

 

 

 

 

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

This was said by John (whom we call the Baptist) when his followers asked him about the One he recognized at the Jordan River that day.

Ah, THAT DAY! The day I was going about my business… crying out… “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’” (Matthew 3:2-3)

Many listened… Matthew 3:5 then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

Remember what I said that day?

Matthew 3:11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy spirit and fire.”

And then… Jesus arrived… coming to John to be baptized by him (verse 3:13)

John recognized Him! He’d know Him anywhere – this is the same One that made him (John) jump for joy in his mother’s womb when Mary and Elizabeth greeted each other.

John even tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

Jesus said, “Just DO IT!”

What a day it was… Matthew 3:16-17 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” 

John continued ministering but he knew, his “crying in the wilderness” was pretty much finished. Now, it was just a matter of time… Jesus time! He must increase, but I must decrease.

Ready or Not… Here He Is!

I think the same is true for each and every one of us who have beheld the heavens opening, the Spirit of God descending and the voice out of the heavens speaking to our hearts, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”…

He must increase, but we must decrease. There’s just not room in the world of our heart for two kingdoms, the wilderness and heaven.  We are to make ready the way of the Lord and make His paths straight but the Way and the Path are His! There’s just not enough room in the throne room or on the throne for our desired way and our favored path.

He must increase, but we must decrease.Ready or Not… He Is Here!

John 3:16-19 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 

The Light has come into the world, but we love the darkness because it is so much better to hide – ourselves and our deeds in.

As I’m writing this I am having an Aha! moment. I have been heading toward encouraging us (and maybe highlighting a tool or two to use) to “decrease” and allow Jesus to “increase”.

ALLOW JESUS TO INCREASE!!!????

I’m still working John’s ministry (making the way ready and the path straight). The Way of the Lord is here! No more preparing for it, no more crying out for it. Jesus has come and He is the Light of the world… ready or not… His way is to overpower the darkness. My way is to hide in the darkness.

I must decrease the darkness by allowing (not just talking about it) the Light of the World a straight path to SHINE, SHINE, SHINE in me.

My deeds are evil (I’m talking about the ones I hoard and try to keep secret)… darkness must decrease… I must no longer protect my hidey holes and their contents.

Aha! It’s not This Little Light of Mine! It isn’t little and it isn’t mine.

It’s Jesus. He is the Light of the World!

He must increase, but I must decrease… 

FLIP THE SWITCH! Decrease the darkness by bringing everything into THE LIGHT. The Light wins… EVERY TIME!

Ready or not!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 

Ever wonder what in the world is happening in our world today?

James 1:15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 

“Temptation, the sperm of “anything is possible”, meet the egg of lust, the nature of mankind”…  we “saw” that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that it was desirable to make one wise (Genesis 3:4).

Baby making not just a female thing now! The egg of lust is found in each of us, one is consistently sent down the tubes from our “secret ovaries” – the place where we hoard our deepest imaginations of grandeur. It waits in the warmth and fertile conditions of MY KINGDOM COME – MY WILL BE DONE until temptation comes to wiggle and push into the center of the lusty egg!

In a romantic setting of whispered words of “You can have everything you want!” and the candlelight of well wishers sent from the angel of light (i.e. Satan), we dance with temptation and fall in love with the idea IT IS MEANT TO BE and a baby of sin is conceived and birthed when it is fully formed and actionable.

I’m blushing but it truly is a sexual encounter! With ourselves and an enemy that wishes and delights in death and destruction… OUR death and destruction!

Ephesians 6:12 our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

What in the world is happening in our world? Mankind is pregnant with sin!… lust has been conceived, sin is born and raised, death has been brought forth.

Funny thing is, this  “baby” actually does cause death (wages of sin is death). One would think EVERYONE would RUN to the nearest abortion clinic BEFORE their life is in ruins. Unfortunately, when we feel the hormones of our flesh, look into the “eyes” of the unicorn of delight, and  know without a doubt this baby will solve EVERY problem in my life and the life of my world, we do not seek to kill this potential unborn prodigy of health – wealth – and all that is wise.

What in the world is happening in our world? Death and destruction! God has been kicked out of our government, our schools, our churches, and most importantly out of every area our hearts!

There is no excuse… Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, God has ALWAYS been transparent!

But mankind… Romans 1:22-23 even though they we knew God, they we did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they we became futile in their our speculations, and their our foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they we became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 

Therefore… God gave them us over (allowed us to have our free will) in the lusts of their our hearts to impurity, so that their our bodies would be dishonored among them. Romans 1:24

They We exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature. (Romans 1:25) We kicked God out of our government, our schools, our religions, our churches, and most importantly, our hearts!

What in the world is happening in our world? Hate filled warfare against the love of God! Our world is in deep deep sh–  I mean TROUBLE!  The hate is palatable! Unity in love is all but impossible with the demand of total agreement as we assume the role of jury, judge AND executioner. In hate, we no longer acknowledge our common humanity (there but by the grace of God go I) with each other. In hate, we no longer accept the responsibility to love our neighbor as ourselves not treat every one of them as we ourselves wish to be treated.

I believe the hatred we see everyday all around us is truly the secret knowledge we hold of ourselves. I truly believe WE KNOW GOD (we are – every one of us – created in His image), and I truly believe we KNOW the cancer of hate exists in our soul (the weapon of our evil enemy) and is killing us and our world!

We just don’t want the only treatment that has already defeated our enemy and will eternally destroy him for eternity.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 

God’s LOVE! He does not wish for any to perish!

He gives us baby-food … long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation (1 Peter 2:2)

Instead of carried away by lust, we can be carried away by Daddy… 1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. 

We can be a changed people… a CANCER FREE people… Titus 3:3-7 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

For those who feel righteous in their hate, LOOK AGAIN… WHAT ARE YOU DOING to your very own soul? It is GUARANTEED that when all is said and done in the passion of a world gone crazy with hate, the only soul that will be destroyed by the cancer of hate, will be the one that harbors and hoards it!

As I watch the wicked hate filled trials of souls who’s only grievance against the court of hell is that Satan does not like them, I grieve for what IS happening in our world today. I cry out to God to let me turn my eyes away from the horror, let me turn off the 24/7 circus of fools who really believe they are reporting the truth, let me say the magic words and make this nightmare go away!

But no…  He says… take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking the shield faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:13-16)The battle is on – BE.MY.SOLDIER and fight like a girl My girl!

There is one comfort found in this earthly fox hole God has given me… It is… What in the world WILL BE happening in this world?

At the name of Jesus… every knee… every tongue  – of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth…

Wait for it… WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

What In the World is Happening in Our World Today? Oh Baby! My Hero is on His way!! Bo Yeshua!!!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

 

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.

We’ve had a bit of building going on in our house these last two months (August/September 2018). The results of a “bit” of water rushing to places it was never meant to go.

Though it is NOT something I would ever recommend to someone who wants to make a few changes to their nest, I have to say the opportunity to be changed (not just tweaked) and blessed have been “pressed down, shaken, full and overflowing”!

Once we emptied the rooms and areas that needed repair, and stashed everything in rooms and nooks and crannies and “out-of-the-way” places, we were sent packing also. A VACAY while others tore down, rebuilt, replaced, repainted!

Until late last week… it is now time to put all the STUFF back where it goes, along with cleaning, not just the current construction dust off the surfaces, but in many cases years of dirt/dust because of non-use. I didn’t put hammer to nail in “building” this house, but I certainly FILLED this house.

What an opportunity to revisit the labor that has taken place in this house over the last fourteen years! How much of my labor has been in vain? How much of my “sleepless” activity to fill all the spaces, has been useless in watching and guarding the ministry housed within my home?

Joshua 24:15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 

Overall, if I were to give my opinion/judgement of my work, I may not give myself an A+ or even a B or C+. But, I would happily rank myself as OK! I’ve tried to be a good child. I’ve tried not to worship the house Mary built!I fully admit I have not always filled my house well nor guarded the fearfully and wonderfully made treasure that God intended. Thankfully God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)The opportunity I have, is to take up each hoarded thing, dust it off, and put it away, working heartily, as for the Lord rather than for me, (Colossians 3:2)

During my short-lived vacay at the very clean, very comfortable, very quiet hotel, Jesus began to show me His building plans and His guarding duties.

John 21:15-17 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep. 

Do you love Me, Mary?

Not just a little… not just enough… not just in the big stuff.

Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 

I have been told and have read that this Hebrew word for love is way more than an emotion of good will toward someone. This word holds a place of honor and loyalty that cannot be nor ever will be filled by anyone or anything else. It is the throne, the seat of ownership, that gives the Seated Royalty complete possession and authority over the person it resides in. Not just a little bit of the person, BUT THE WHOLE heart, soul, and might.

As I laid in bed each night, thanking my God – my Abba – my Jesus – my Holy Spirit, for this day which He had made, I declared my love for the Lord my God.

Do you love Me, Mary… with your WHOLE heart, soul, and might?

Now, as I begin to assess the “stuff” I have filled my house with, I have the opportunity to make sure NONE OF IT is taking the place of or crowding my King, whom I have given the throne of my life to.

King Jesus doesn’t want just a piece. He doesn’t want just my leftover space. He doesn’t even want just the pretty stuff. He doesn’t want just the Sabbath days. He doesn’t want just the dessert.

Do you love Me, Mary… with your WHOLE heart, soul, and might?

Does the house I have built reflect my answer? Yes and yes!

Yes… I want it to! And yes… We (Jesus and I) are working on it!

One of the men working on the repairs, told me that my house felt calm and peaceful. With tears threatening, I thanked him and told him that is the mission/ministry of my decorating plan. As for me and my house… But I don’t want you to just see the physical declarations, I want you SEE the work of my Lord in my house and in my life. My brother and I had a short but wonderful time confessing our love to our Lord for the work He does in our lives! We were “tending His sheep” (which is my definition of fellowship)!

The difference between the house that I build and the house Jesus builds will be the love it has and holds. The difference in the security measures I install and the security Jesus offers is eternity.

I cannot love God or anyone else with my WHOLE heart mind and might, without the One who makes me WHOLE! I cannot guard my home or my city from the sufferings of this present age without the One who goes before me, walks beside me, and resides within me.

For Sure… The House That Jesus (and I) build together will NEVER be in vain!  And we know…  Romans 8:28-30 that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.I am AWAKE and WATCHING… HIM!!!!!!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

 

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Oh Boy! You are SOOOOOOO in trouble! Better to confess and take your “medicine” than run away from home until Daddy God forgets you were a BAD GIRL!!!! (and, I hear, He NEVER forgets!)

It may not be the same words, but there are some pastors people who love to wield the rod and staff (FOR OUR OWN GOOD) to scare us into being good children – perfect children – according to their experience judgement. He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently. (Proverbs 13:24)

Some believe this is a mandate to BREAK the evil soul that resides in those of us who do not walk in fear of punishment for their sins but walk in joy and peace, right next to Daddy, just as we are.

Like “Mommy Dearest” (1981 biological movie about Joan Crawford according to Google search) they believe perfection is what MUST be demanded, along with an attitude of gratitude for the wounds and scars meant to show you (and everyone watching) how far you have left to go.

I grew up in a religion that seemed to believe that God was never approachable by a SINNER. However, one must come before the judgement seat of God without expecting mercy… what you get is what you deserve (TRUE JUSTICE)! I was damned if I did and damned if I didn’t! I was DAMNED!

Today I understand WHY I ran from the “Daddy Dearest” I was introduced to. Today I understand that not everyone knows God but it doesn’t stop them from proclaiming their ignorance. Today I understand that the only way to know God is to walk and talk and be led by Him – one on one and face to face. I’m not saying you can’t learn from others who walk and talk with Him – “May it never be!” – I’m saying… NEVER EVER EVER put someone BETWEEN you and Abba. NEVER EVER EVER replace Daddy Time with anyone (pastor or mentor), anything (Bible Study or Theology degree), or anywhere (church).

No matter what you have heard or feared you would hear, DON’T RUN from the only Creator/Life Breathing/Father-Son-Holy Spirit, the ONLY God who cares about you and for you MORE THAN YOU CARE FOR YOURSELF!!!!!

Yes… I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,this world we live in is broken and full of death and destruction. It will not change until Satan, who is defeated, is sent to hell for ever. Until then, this world is the staging ground for ALL TO COME TO JESUS THE MESSIAH.

Still, even in the midst of our ugly… I fear no evil, for You are with me; Not just on the throne watching and waiting for me to mess up (which will happen sooner than later), but right here, right now.

You have my back… (and front and side and top and bottom) Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

Not for beating me bloody, Jesus is my healer not my executioner.

Not for wounding and scaring as reminders to me, Jesus took the thorns, the whip and the cross in my place.

Not for reducing my market value until I become who I SHOULD BE, Jesus Himself becomes my Perfect and my Perfecter.

I sob when I hear and see reminders of those, who like me, were trained to view God as Daddy Dearest rather than the Dearest of all Dads.

I regret not DILIGENTLY DISCIPLINING (teaching, training, discussing, loving them) with TRUTH, the rod that clears the path of all blockage. The rod that points to the road to heaven. The rod that beats to death any and all lies the enemy delivers through fiery arrows. The rod that is ready at all costs to this shepherd, to love the sheep in my care. The staff that snatches me from a path that ends at a cliff of death and/or destruction

In hindsight, I see that I assumed I could leave the discipline to those who were more experienced than me. I failed to see that in every age, every church, every religion, there are sinners with the wrong view of Daddy God.

I regret being deaf to the cries of my lambs being bullied with taunting and reminding of their imperfections. I regret being blind to my lambs being whipped and bloodied with hidden messages of hate replacing God’s spoken Word of Love. I regret being silent when my lambs ran from God out of fear.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

What shall we write?

1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. 1 John 4:9-10 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so 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. 1 John 4:15-16 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 

Daddy Dearest? NEVER EVER!!!!

The Dearest of all Dads…But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13) 

Perfect Love… Yep! But even so… Hebrews 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;Though His rod and staff are meant for only our good, we just really do not like anything that might make us feel bad. When it comes down to the REAL REASON we run from God, it would be the triune me, myself and I.

If you have learned a view of God that can only come from an enemy of God, or you are afraid you can never please the God you think you know.

May I suggest… you let Him speak to you for Himself.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 

Dine with Him…

Zephaniah 3:17 Adonai your God is in your midst— a mighty Savior! He will delight over you with joy. He will quiet you with His love. He will dance for joy over you with singing. (from the Tree of Life Version of the Bible) This, is our Dearest of all Dads! His little lambs will recognize Him and follow Him.

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

 

 

Nehemiah 4:17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon.

Once again we are in a hotel while our house is being restored due to a tiny river of water running through it. The dam of a toilet tank busted and there was no little boy nor a way to plug the crack, so, as water will always do, it found its way from upstairs to downstairs to freedom in the great outdoors. Amazing the damage water, even domesticated water, WILL do if left to its own nature!

As if the water didn’t do enough damage, this week is the DE-construct that has to happen before the RE-construct can happen. Which of course means eye/throat/lung clogging dust and crazy making noise for the wimpy owners and their pets.

What can I say?

That is precisely the question I had this morning as I opened my laptop to begin this weekly blog.

“Tearing Up the House Mary Built”… Certainly a topic that is ALWAYS pertinent when I decide to cut corners in my life with worldly toilets of wisdom rather than wrestling with my old woman for my born again dominance.

“Repairs 101″… Damage done always requires loosing a portion of the beautiful – at least temporarily.

“Rock, Paper, Scissors” … I don’t know but the title would be good.

Anyway…

I had nothing to “say” until… Nehemiah showed me the work of my hands.

Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load… The rebuilding will take care of the deconstruction and I… sitting in a very clean/very quiet hotel room, will CARRY BURDENS.

one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon… I will be PREPARED for an attack and ARMED to do battle.

Dressed for work!

Ephesians 6:14-15 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

Two fisted – one hand taking up the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:16-17 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

And the other hand raised toward heaven.

Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, 

And if I need more than two fists… Nehemiah 4:19-20 I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” 

Because… Matthew 18:19  For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am in their midst.” I can sound the trumpet! Yell to my siblings in Christ for agreement, as touching, for prayer.

Enough said!

My hotel room just became the War Room and my Commander-in-Chief is on His throne! “Bo Yeshua! Come, Lord, Come!”

When He takes command… this is how it will be…  My word which goes forth will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)… Guaranteed! By God Himself! (A note of CAUTION… His ways are not your ways – His thoughts are not your thoughts – His desires are probably not your desires… however… God is good ALL THE TIME, and all the time, GOD IS GOOD!)

Whatever battle you may be fighting today, whatever flaming arrows are coming your way, whatever worldly product has done damage to your life, wherever your fox hole happens to be, make it a “Two Fisted Fight”!

Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’  

(Ok, come on! Who doubted that the Holy Spirit would leave me without a thing to say and a blog to write?!)

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

Isaiah 58:3 ‘Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’ 

Can you hear the whine??? We’ve DONE the DEED! Why do You leave us HUNGRY?!!!!

You really want to know why? God does not hesitate to tell us! Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers.

Evidently one MUST HAVE a very good, well thought out, covering all the bases, sure to make IT happen, plan for getting together with God… you find your desire,  and drive hard all your workers! 

Otherwise… we are just wasting our time, starving ourselves for no good reason, looking like fools that don’t know how to “Make IT Work”.

IT? Why OUR plan of course! Our wish(es) come true! Our desires of our heart! Whatever!

IT IS ALL ABOUT ME! RIGHT??!!!!!!

And of course finding the RIGHT words, the right way to RUB God’s lamp, the right wand that sends the cosmic dust into the right path to create OUR WILL – OUR WAY.

Isaiah 58:4 “Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. 

Do you think this is a description of the “UNGODLY”… those heathens/atheists who don’t believe? THOSE PEOPLE…

Nope! God is talking to HIS people!You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. 

And His first question is… Are you hungry for ME?

Isaiah 58:5 “Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? 

It is natural and right when a baby is born, all he/she knows is I AM HUNGRY and SOMETIMES unhappy! I NEED… your entire focus to be on my cries and what will satisfy them… 1 Peter 2:1-3 long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation

Newborns get to be all about me, me, me, my, my, my, I, I, I! When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; (1 Corinthians 13:11) 

But…“when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

And therein lies the rub. When I grew up… I did away with… childish things.

Three questions. Have I grown up or is it still me, me, me? Have I done away with my, my, my? Is the center of most childish thing gone, the I, I, I?

What are you hungry for? The first and foremost step of fasting is not the food. The first and foremost step to fasting is your POSITION before God. All of YOU – bowed down! HUMBLED, in AWE of, READY to receive all of HIM!

Daniel, a teenager stripped of his home, his family, his comfort, his ways, but not stripped of his heart for God. So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:3) A teenager NONETHELESS!

If you think Daniel was just “DOING” a fast (with the appropriate dress code and formal religiosity) to appease his higher taskmaster – read his prayer!

I, for one, do not even begin to seek God with such FASTING FROM ALL THINGS ME! I don’t see very many ADULTS in and outside of churches today who cast aside all things ME/MY/I (childish things) to SEEK GOD! I see much more hiding of our childish treasures by wrapping them up in our pretty papers of interpreting for ourselves and others what God SURELY MEANS for us to have and to hold and to use. (Just a reminder… all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

What are you hungry for? Do a Daniel fast and become hungry for God!

Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

THEN…“your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”Isaiah 58:8-9

THEN…“you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ Isaiah 58:9

IF…you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,Isaiah 58:9

IF… you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday. Isaiah 58:10

Are you hungry yet?  Are you starving from all the fasts done your way to get YOUR  JUST DESSERTS (sweet things) which are most times just deserts (dry and barren land)?

SEEK GOD and HIS DESIRES… Isaiah 58:11-12 “And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. “Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

What WHO are YOU hungry for?

Isaiah 58:13-14 “If because of the sabbath, (God’s appointed time for resting in Him) you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word,then you will take delight in the Lord, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,”

Are you hungry for God? Make today His holy day – His sabbath!This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

“For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” or as I love to say… for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure Philippians 2:13

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

 

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Rejoice.Pray.Give thanks. 1-2-3… simple as A-B-C… easy as Do-Re-Me… Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Follow – Follow – Follow – Follow the yellow brick road… to Oz, where Wizard will “give you a  heart – courage – a brain – a home… FOR SURE!

Most of us  Some of us  A few of us will memorize the awesome threesome… rejoice. pray. give thanks…  and proceed through the Cliff Notes for a newborn’s “Growing Up to Be a Good Christian” manual, which of course we all want to happen within the next few weeks  days minutes of our mentoring.

Rejoice? Be Happy!… Pray? Whatever!… Give Thanks? Certainly, once received!

There’s just one, maybe two, or perhaps three tiny exceptions… Always – without ceasing – in everything.

“Hey they’re (we’re) just babies here, let’s start with just the basics!” As far as the rest of the sentence, that’s for a DEEPER Bible Study, say college/divinity school taught by the “Do as I say, not as I do” method of learning.

Unfortunately Fortunately, God’s syllabus follows His plan – His will – His way (And He doesn’t change)!

First… Get a life and LIVE the life you get.

Rejoice always; In the “Strong’s Concordance”, one of definitions for “rejoice” is “to be well, thrive”.

I love this word THRIVE… Happy? Not necessarily, especially if I don’t happen to like or approve of the details of today… but LIVING WELL(my version of thriving!), the life I have today.

Jesus says, John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”Jesus brings a life worth pursuing to live it well. Not a our “Fake It Until you Make It” life, but a rejoicing (living well)life.  Neither ignoring the ALWAYS, or re-defining it as time spent in my prayer closet, an abundant life which begins when God breathed into your/my nostrils the breath of life; and we became a LIVING being. (Genesis 2:7)From this moment until the last breath we are living beings made in God’s image, fearfully and wonderfully made, to rejoice (passionately live well) – THRIVE in the life we have been given.

Number 2…Not by chance but absolutely the middle – the CENTER… of the awesome threesome. Pray without ceasing; communication (communion) with… the GIVER OF LIFE for all the days of said life. The asking/talking part of our time in God’s throne room is thoroughly taught/researched/practiced to the point that we are usually left with no time for COMMUNION side of communicating! Without ceasing my well be defined as without missing a beat of the day I have planned.

Three of three… the one able to leap the tallest and baddest of all independent nonsense.

In everything give thanks; Gratitude! Not taught nor used much in our world today. We are so desensitized to the blessings that rain down every moment of every day over every created person/place/thing in all the earth. If it’s not something I want/wish for/expect at this moment, I refuse to acknowledge or accept it as a trigger to give my thanks. “Sure, it may be something I need, but hey, God OWES me THOSE THINGS! My slave and/or debtor does not require MY gratitude… they should be grateful that I call them mine or give them my attention!”

Rejoicing.Praying.Giving thanks are all three necessary endeavors for a well lived life. But for a CHANGED life one must never leave out God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

If you refuse to believe in The Giver of Life, or you kick Him out like we are doing in our schools and government, or even put Him in a small closet called “Church”, the results will always be an empty vessel.

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13) Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Give me! Give me! Give me! Its our mantra for life.

So God did give… “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

For a changed life… JUST SAY JESUS! Make it God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) With Jesus, Rejoice.Pray.Give thanks become the AWESOME THREESOME.

GUARANTEED to change your life when you ask – seek – knock!  Give me! Give me! Give me JESUS!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

 

 

Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

What do YOU want to be when YOU grow up?

Wishes and dreams and plans and bragging rights… what DID I want to be when I grew Up? Do you remember what you wanted to be? Did you make it happen?

Growing up, (some would say I haven’t yet done this) there were so many things I wanted to be… all of them included being the Ruler – the Boss – the Served. Unfortunately, everyone else wanted it too, and most were “better” at it than me!

Did you notice I used the word things to describe a position, a place, a person in charge? It’s a material world – it was in my day growing up, and it still is. We were taught and shown that to HAVE is the same as BEING. Pursue the bling and everyone will know you have arrived. “Fake it until you make it!”

I was encouraged with “You can be anything you want to be!” Therefore, if you aren’t – you must not have wanted it bad enough. How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? Proverbs 1:22

But, isn’t simpler to be simple-minded? It was easier being unaware that all is vanity and striving after the wind. What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted. Ecclesiastes 1:14-15

Isn’t it just easier to be the fool who thinks pleasure is the way to a happy heart? That the one job I can do (and no one else will) is to please myself. The profit of my all my labor will be… MY SATISFACTION!

It was easier! UNTIL… “I can’t get no”… at least NEVER ENOUGH of it!

And IF I am never pleased… Romans 14:12 each one of us will give an account of himself to God.WHOA!!!! 

Not so simple being simple-minded now. Not so easy being a fool who thought she only had to please herself. My whole life of attempting to satisfy me – is only striving after the wind. Has anyone every caught the wind? Has anyone ever ruled over the wind?

Thank God, Jesus came to dinner!

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.  He brought to my table… the real deal, the no more pretending, the only position available in God’s Kingdom, the only position worth filling, the BE or NOT BE choice of… BEING His. The choice to Be or Not to Be His disciple. The answer to every question of “What do I want to be when I grow up?” – I want to be His FREAK!

Let me tell you… a Jesus Freak has the power of God around him/her! There is no BEING greater than BEING a child of God! John 1:12-13 but as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God.

There’s just one caution!

Scripture says to “Train up a child in the way they should go” … WELLLLLLL, when you become a child of God, He TRAINS YOU UP IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO! Ephesians 4:22-24 in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 

It may turn your whole world upside down (whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant). You may wonder if you ever knew how to be or not be (2 Timothy 2:24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition,). Don’t worry. You didn’t! But God does. He will not just stand over your newborn crib and playpen, He will take up residence in your newborn heart and give you the pure milk of His word.

Don’t imagine it to be a simple tweaking of a life lived your way.

Expect it to be the opposite of your world training. Celebrate those moments when you “get it” and groan when you don’t. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, (Philippians 2:14-15)

Whatever is required in the being…whatever you do… do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

We and our world believes that serving, that being a slave to others is demeaning. Servants/slaves are considered the lowest rung on the totem pole and therefore either unworthy of respect or an easy scapegoat for our violent ways.

God ways are higher, His thoughts greater (Isaiah 55:8-9). He considers the servant/slave the highest worthy of His highest crowns.

Deuteronomy 28:13 The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully

And what is the greatest commandment? Matthew 22:37-40 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.

According to God…

Greatness doesn’t come with might (Zechariah 4:6). Power isn’t perfected in strength (2 corinthians 12:9). Being the king of the mountain, doesn’t save you from the wages of your sins (Romans 6:23).

Love does!

To Be or Not To Be… Be.a.lover! A lover of God and a lover of your neighbor.

1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.

Yep, when I grow up, I wanna BE… like Jesus, who came to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. He saves a wretch like me! It will be my honor to BE.LIKE.JESUS!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.