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Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

On Tuesday, December 26, 2017, I’m thinking I’m in the throes of a Christmas Hangover! Too much food – too much sugar – too much holiday cheer… I REALLY SHOULD stop all this celebrating!! And then… God spoke to me.

First the prophecy from Isaiah in the eighth century BC… then the confirmation to Joseph of the same prophecy…

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

And then, in the midst of the remnants of the 2017 Merry Christmas, the angels came.

Luke 2:10-11 the angel said to me, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

He’s HERE! God with us…

I heard angels!

Luke 2:13-14 Suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God. 

“Glory to God in the highest,

Good News of Great Joy indeed!

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. No wonder I was glitter bombed by a multitude of heavenly host!

Where God is – heaven is… the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)

I SANG!!! “Glory to God in the highest

Have you sung with the choir this Christmas? Glory to God in the highest!

Have you opened your heart to the gift of God? His name is Immanuel!

Have you considered going to see for yourself? Luke 2:15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the lord has made known to us.”

You can come to Him as Wonderful Counselor.

You can be rescued by Him because He is Mighty God.

You can be adopted by our Eternal Father.

You can rest for eternity in the Prince of Peace.

Need I say more?

Just one more thing… these are God’s Words, not mine…

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 

There is NEVER TOO MUCH of God!!!!

Merry Christmas, INDEED!

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

 

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 

#MeToo… This Mary has been PONDERING the treasure chest of my heart.

From joy, to ho-hum, to ok – NO!, my days have been a mess of feelings. FEELINGS… you know those things that have you laughing and dancing one minute and in the fetal position the next. The pendulum swinging (like pendulums do) from pure bliss to deepest of grief.

At the beginning of the week (that would be Sunday to those of us who try to honor the Sabbath – day 7 – on Saturday), I understood and delighted in the “wrestling” match Abba was taking me through. With great wisdom, I sat at His feet and PONDERED. I TREASURED the training! But on Monday… I was on overload, heading toward burnout. With a great deal of SELF-PITY, I threw the “turn out the lights the party is over” switch. I did what all NORMAL children do when they’ve over dosed on sugar! I threw a hissy fit for God’s eyes only.

“Daddy, don’t you care that I’m upset? Don’t you see I NEED You to FIX those who are causing me great distress? I know, I KNOW, feelings are childish and not at all acceptable for MATURE people! But… Have YOU no feelings… is everything just blah, blah, blah, blah, blah?”

Somewhere along my way, I got the idea that God – even PAPA GOD – was a single layer of personality. All work and no play… nothing ever good enough… untouched by our human ever-changing dramatic repertoire. In fact, before I allowed God’s pursuit of me to change me, while I was His enemy, I could not fathom EVER giving my heart to a Judging Father who could not/would not be satisfied!

Only through Jesus (If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” John 14:7) could I meet and greet and fall in love with DADDY!

To this day, I fight the lies that are stored in my OLD natural heart. I have knock down, drag out arguments with myself when circumstances bring out my tendency to JUDGE GOD based solely upon how I “feel” about my day (and each and every event of said day). Love means… never allowing me to suffer nor live with unmet desires. Classic case of Transference! Judging Father God by MY STANDARD of insatiable demands!

1 Corinthians 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

As I was PONDERING this week, I realized that I had set aside one important truth. Well, maybe two… OBSERVE and REMEMBER. You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes (these ways of the One who brought you out). (Deuteronomy 16:12) 

But to Mary, the mother of Jesus, the person in the above Scripture,  observing and remembering isn’t JUST a task. Not just a feeling either. Observing and remembering – the foundation of Faith Hope and Love – is the FULL ON, HITCH YOUR WAGON to this star, SELLING ALL having found one pearl of great value (Matthew 13:46) and CHOOSING God and His Way, Truth and Life!

So, when Mary treasured all these things, she was FULLY present and sold out. Task and feelings, in perfect harmony, singing… “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:14)

The “wrestling match” God GIFTED me with, was training in the same treasure hunting/storage. FYI… our version of wrestling is fighting to WIN. God’s version is being fully invested (fully trained in and practicing), fully present and fully participating in LOVE TRAINING!

Unlike our version, which seems to be mostly feelings of aggressive fighting for the right to rule, God’s version IS complete, perfect and unconditional love.

I can have Faith that God is perfect in every way. I can have Hope that He fulfills His word. But I cannot claim Love (the greatest of these) if I reject that He cares for me in every moment, every event, every circumstance of my life.

Love isn’t just the words we say (1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal). Love isn’t should’ve, would’ve, could’ve, but never does (1 John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love). Love is REAL LIFE (Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope)!

In my pondering this week, I realized…

There is love in the eyes and arms of those who receive my hugs and give them right back (remember when the babies wanted to snuggle so close they would’ve crawled into your skin if they could’ve). Do I love God like the babies loved me?

There is love in standing in the gap when my gifted friends and family are a little low on independent living (remember when you stood next to those who had a heavy load of life and they leaned just a little and gave you the honor of sharing the fragile moment). Do I lean in when God is always next to me?

There is love in sharing the intimacy of laughter… of tears… of whispering… of silence (remember when you gathered together in true fellowship, hiding nothing). Do I stand before my Daddy, wanting with all my heart to KNOW Him and BE KNOWN by Him?

Deuteronomy 6:4 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. JUST LIKE HE LOVES US!!!!!

In the pondering of all the treasures I have stored in my heart, love is the greatest gift of all. And God… is The Author – The Perfecter – The Giver of all that is, was, or will be love. Without God, His creature would never have known love, nor would we have been able to invent it ourselves. He might have given us the “instinct” to do necessary task like the other creatures, which certainly is a loving thing to give and a loving thing to receive. But without giving us His image, the ability/nature to comprehend and choose the action and direction of our life, we would neither know nor care to know “The Reason for the Season”. 

We are created in His image… He IS love!

“Daddy, don’t you care that I’m upset? Don’t you see I NEED You to FIX those who are causing me great distress? I know, I KNOW, feelings are childish and not at all acceptable for MATURE people! But… Have YOU no feelings… is everything just blah, blah, blah, blah, blah?”

Needless to say I REPENT and I …

Turn my eyes upon Jesus.

I look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of this earth, grow strangely dim –

in the light of His glory and grace!

THIS Mary now treasures all these things, pondering them in her heart. 

No more one-dimensional view of the Love of God for me!

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 choice to LOVE and feelings of LOVE and tasks of LOVE, unite in perfect unity to explode in  SALVATION… ours and our world’s! 

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

 

 

Genesis 28:16-17 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

How awesome indeed!

Genesis 28:12-13 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 

This was not JUST a dream as we would define a dream. This was much more a VISION – an event rather than an imaginary image made up by a mind in a dream world.

When he arrived at this place he did not see – feel – hear – touch anything like this. I believe God purposely waited until the day of travel was over, camp was quiet, and Jacob was in his plan to fulfill the birthright he had stolen from his brother Esau. Yes, he was running away from a twin brother who was a little angry, but he was also intent upon receiving all that his father’s blessing (which the brothers would have heard about their entire life) entitled the receiver to get.

Genesis 17:7-8 (God says) I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant  – I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojourning, all the land of Canaan

Jacob was going for the WHOLE TAMALE. However, just like us, (at least me), he was focused on his plan. I don’t think he personally, ran his plan by the Covenant Maker.

This dream/vision, with his head on a rock for a pillow, is the first time we hear of Jacob one on one with God. He was afraid… and impressed – “how awesome is this place!”

It’s church! None other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!

Yes, Jacob, God is speaking to you!

“I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 

NOW begins the REAL DEAL… God’s plan done God’s way!

Twenty years later he returns to this same spot having been schooled (both by life and inspiration).  In Covenant Relationship with the Master, now he PRAYS, and WRESTLES, and SUBMITS to the touch of God in his life.(Genesis 32:1-32)

This time Jacob named the place Peniel – which in Hebrew means “face of God”.

The place where he REFUSED to release God until He (God) blessed him – even after God exploded his hip socket (can we say PAINFUL!).

No longer a cocky young man, enthralled by the BLING of a place where he received his certificate of membership from God, now a trained believer in a very intimate relationship with his God.

Have you found your house of God – your gate of heaven –  your ladder – your Peniel, the place where you are face to face with God?

It’s not a place reserved only for Jacob. “I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ to a nation which did not call on My name. (Isaiah 65:1)

ANY person (ESPECIALLY THE REBELLIOUS among us) is invited. “I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, (Isaiah 65:2)

Like Jacob, we are presented with God’s covenant to us. Not OUR plan but God’s… Coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)

Like Jacob, some of us come with the cockiness of youth, thinking (and sometimes being taught) that we OWN THE COVENANT with all the rights, riches and privileges of land barons.

1 Peter 2:9 You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, 

But God… NEVER leaves out the training! So that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

He never leaves out His sanctification! For you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:10)

THEN we may enter our Peniel with confident willingness (we know Him), and wrestling mania (we trust Him), and our breathless determination to be blessed (we believe Him).

NOW… we are at church!

No… now we are the church… Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

I do declare… “How awesome is this place!”

You are… none other than the house of God AND the gate of heaven… Ready to wrestle?

**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.

An EVERYDAY holiday!

It’s that time of year (cue music) – the holiDAYS begin! But… do they begin OR is this just a dim mirror view of heaven’s everyDay?

God’s lesson plan for me this week has been a crash course in the difference between my version of our famous holiday and His.

Mine (our’s) is a once-a-year – family gathering – eating – sharing – eating – serving – eating – did I say eating…

His is Rock Solid endless event, with a foundation poured & built upon by our Redeemer, Savior, Messiah, King.

You know, the kind of Gift that changes lives!

John 3:16 “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. 

But I thought we were talking about Thanksgiving – NOT Christmas!

Have you ever received or given a gift so extraordinary that the response of the receiver was unforgettable and exactly what you knew was needed/planned/hoped/waited for, WITH ALL YOUR HEART?

This… our response to God’s extraordinary gift… is God’s version of Thanksgiving! Rejoicing ALWAYS – praying WITHOUT CEASING – giving thanks IN EVERYTHING.

In hindsight, this Thanksgiving Day, was ANOTHER extraordinary (though dimly seen this side of His mirror) gift! God’s gift to me this Thanksgiving was to SEE His Heart!

His knowledge of our need at the same moment of His grief in separating us from Himself and the problem of eternal consequences of sin (Genesis).

His plan of salvation not judgement (For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:17) so that He would not remain separated from us, His fearfully and wonderfully made sheeple (sheep/people – Psalm 100:3/Psalm 139:14).

His hope that we would receive – believe – confess and be saved. Romans 10:9-11 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. 

His patient waiting, not wanting ANY to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

I remember those gifts I have given that literally GLOWED because of  the receiver’s response. Precious memories that forever impact my heart as if it happened just a minute ago.

For the gifts that I received, did my response create similar memories in my giver? I pray so! All I can say is, I’m in training!”

Having seen Abba’s heart, Thanksgiving will never be the same again. The one-day meal has become an everyday feast!

Colossians 3:17 Whatever I do in word or deed,  I will do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father because I now know this will make God’s heart delight with joy and He will dance for joy and sing over me (Zephaniah 3:17 TLV 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.’)

Knowing I can make God HAPPY, I will enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5) What son/daughter does not want to give their parent the gift that will eternally fill their heart?

I’m not talking Christmas here, sheeple!

Thanksgiving… thankfulness… is the fruit of love.

An endless circle for both giver and receiver of heart filling love.

THIS is God’s will… Love and Being Loved…without end!

Can I get an Amen?!

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks!

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

 

Luke 10:23 (Jesus said to His beloved disciples) “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”

We say, “I’ll BELIEVE it when I SEE it!”, thinking that our eyes are the unbiased, truth telling, witness of all that is FACT and should not be disputed!

Until of course the hypocrisy of the heart kicks in and says, “Well maybe it’s only MY eyes that can tell the truth!” Or maybe… “My eyes have DECEIVED me!”

But the truth is… we don’t believe because it’s not what we WANT to see. We only want to SEE what we want to BELIEVE! Our eyes and every other bodily part, is ruled over by the one and only authority of my life. We use our eyes – and our ears – and any other bodily part available, to PROVE… above all else… that I… the DECIDER of all things… I AM RIGHT!

The eyes don’t control our belief (faith), nor does what we hear, or any other bodily function (like all those emoticons).

The core of everything I believe, the throne of settled truth is the throne room of I AM… the place where all of my lifeblood flows to and from… my heart! Information comes in by way of the life we live and the environment created around us.  We “partake” so to speak. Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing – or seeing – or tasting…

Faith, and every other demand for choice, knocks on our door… thoughts of meaning and purpose and possibilities are raised in our minds… and brought before the king, sitting on the throne.

The one wearing the crown of MY WAY, then JUDGES and dispenses sentences. Will the information received, be useful to the kingdom and therefor be given the certificate of truth or will it be taken captive and tortured (re-educated) until it succumbs to the DECLARED TRUTH of it’s king.

From Genesis to Revelations, God tells us and shows us His heart… Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (Exodus 6:7)

From our first breath to our last… we CHOOSE the heart we wish to share!

Either a veil lies over our heart (2 Corinthians 3:15), and we deny access to anything God.  

Or we, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Faith comes calling and our heart is hidden under the veil of unbelief. Or it proudly gives the crown of belief to Jesus, whom God gave that we should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The difference between unbelievers and believers is not in the “EYE of the beholder”… SEEING is not believing! The difference is in the heart… VEILED and unable to see God or UNVEILED, beholding the glory of God and because we have given Him the LORDSHIP of our lives.

BELIEVING is seeing… and being transformed!

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 

We aren’t sinless, but sin (lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life) no longer stands in the way of life changing sight. We KNOW the Truth (Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life) and He has set us free. The Lord our God, brought us out from under the burdens of the Egyptians (those things we are enslaved by).

Romans 10:9 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;

The difference between a saint and a sinner is BELIEF.

I BELIEVE therefor I SEE!

Not because I am wise and intelligent or I’ve seen the transformation, but because I and all my fellow Jesus Freaks are BEING transformed by the power of BELIEF!

Call me crazy (and many have), but Jesus calls me His BABY…

Luke 10:21,23 At the very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to the infants…

Don’t wait to SEE the proof… BE the proof! Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, You will be saved!

Take it from this Jesus Freak…

When you BELIEVE, the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  SEEING is guaranteed! (Ephesians 1:18-19)

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

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

THE RACE SET BEFORE US…

From Day 1 of Creation God spoke into being His plans. Plans that were made for us… “Let us make man in our own image”. Plans that did not change EVEN when we tried to cheat God out of His and His alone, RIGHTEOUS PLACE. 

Our sin, with the help of our enemy, tore us away from our created land and we have been in a race against him and our sin nature ever since. A race back to our Creator and his Kingdom.

A cloud of witnesses surrounding us… (those who came before us without benefit of Instagram or Facebook)

By Faith… (Hebrews 11)

Abel… offered a better sacrifice than Cain (who couldn’t have cared less what God wanted)

Enoch… pleased God for he believed God Is and sought Him above all others

Noah… heeded God’s warning and prepared an ark

Abraham… obeyed God’s GPS for his life

Sarah… considered God faithful in His promises

By Faith…

Abraham offered up Isaac (his only begotten son – a familiar song)

Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau with things to come

Jacob as he was dying blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshipped God

Joseph saw a future exodus and made arrangements for his bones to go along

Moses was hidden in plain sight by the Pharaoh’s daughter – gave up pleasures of sin in the palace – left Egypt – returned to his Jewish roots of faith – led the people through the Red Sea on dry ground and watched Egyptians drown on the very same path

Walls of Jericho fell after being encircled for seven days

Rahab, the harlot, did not perish for she welcomed God’s spies in peace

Gideon – Barak – Samson – Jephthah, David – Samuel – the prophets, who By Faith…

Conquered kingdoms… performed acts of righteousness… obtained promises… shut the mouths of lions… quenched the power of fire… escaped the edge of the sword

From weakness were made strong… became mighty in war… put foreign armies to flight…

Women received back their dead by resurrection;

A MARATHON of Faith… the race, which once started, must be run to FINISH LINE through faith alone. They didn’t have the testimonies of the WINNERS like we have!

And others experienced mocking and scourging, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

They were stoned… they were sawn in two… they were tempted… they were put to death with the sword;

They went about in sheepskins… in goatskins… being destitute… afflicted… ill-treated

(Men of whom the world was not worthy) – wandering in deserts and mountains and  caves and holes in the ground

By FAITH… a belief that transcends every should’ve, would’ve, could’ve… an altar upon which every desire, every wish, every HOPE is ready to be sacrificed upon… a foundation so secure that fulfillment of all promises made, is unquestioned! THY WILL will BE DONE! A faith powered and sustained by THE WORD of God!

Are you breathless yet?

All these, having gained approval through their faith, did NOT receive what was promised, BECAUSE God had provided something better FOR US, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:39-40)

God planned and peopled this race of faith, so that, THE REST OF US would not be left behind! God did not wish for ANY TO PERISH without a Savior!

Now it’s our turn to RUN OUR RACE of faith…

Line up at the starting line – Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 

Wearing His colors – Hebrews 11:6 And 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. 

Ready to run – laying aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us

The nations are watching – a cloud of witnesses surrounding us

Running with ENDURANCE…

Need a little winning strategy? A little body building? A little practice running?

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road (no endurance generated here). The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away (not much in the way of staying power). And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful (endurance yes but ends in discouragement). And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty (race winning, crowd cheering athletic fruit!). (Matthew 13:18-23)

We are Running with the “In” Crowd… 

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Our Marathon of Faith… Back to the Promised Land… Running BACK to God!

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 

We have what it takes!

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 

RUN WITH FAITH!

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

 

 

Luke 18:40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 

Have you ever thought about your answer to this question?

Is your answer, “Oh boy, oh boy, Santa Claus is coming to town!”

or…

“I may have only ONE chance as He’s walking by!

Yesterday, in my Journal/Portion/Me & God Time (a little of everything time), this question asked by Jesus came with the power of a KNOCK OUT PUNCH. I’ve been known to whine to Him (and anyone who would pretend to listen) about NOT KNOWING what to pray for, much less KNOWING WHEN to pray. Yesterday I was struck SPEECHLESS!

About time, huh?

I know a little about prayer… ask – seek – knock… I’ve even blogged about the little I know.

This was different! This power punch by Jesus wasn’t just about a “topic of faith”, this was about a face to face, look into my eyes, see into my heart, Holy Spirit led recognition of Jesus speaking directly to me.

“What do you want Me to do for you?”

It’s one thing to read (and form opinions/commentary) about God’s Word and Work in the lives of all His saints, it’s quite another to stand before Him… looking full in His wonderful face… immersed in His eyes looking at you, with true and complete knowledge of every cell of your being, and love that is not blemished by the not so beautiful use of those cells – which is NOT Hidden from His sight.

“What do you want Me to do for you?”

It’s all about the eyes!

I finally realized I am blind!

Not physically but spiritually… “O ye of little faith”… the eyes of my faith see so little I might as well call it BLIND FAITH 

Matthew 17:20 “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you”

Mustard Seed Faith? How can I say to a mountain move if I cannot see the possibility of God-given power and authority answering such an audacious request?

Mountain Moving Words? How can I identify the mountains needing to be moved if I look through worldly eyes of lust/sin?

Trained Up and Warrior Ready? How can I respond with confident and masterful steps if I can only see shadows of the truth and it’s freedom promises?… you shall know the Truth (Jesus) and the Truth (Jesus) shall set you free. (John 8:32) If… you continue in My word…

“What do you want Me to do for you?”

Luke 18:41 And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 

I just have one tweak… I want to have YOUR sight, Jesus!

I’ve been trying to regain MY sight… I’ve been imagining the world as I SEE it…   I’ve been asking for MY view to BE the view!

I’m done with it… “Lord I want to see with Your eyes!”

Yesterday I was speechless. Last night in the Throne Room I was changed. The mountain of my worldly eyes, blind with lust and pride of my flesh, has been MOVED!

I’ve been struggling to climb the mountains of need and suffering in this world.

I’ve been bruised and bleeding from tumbling down from lofty places when my declarations of God and His desires are shown to be more about me than about God.

I’ve been defeated and humiliated by the wicked who taunt me with their, “Where’s your God when you need him?”

Move me, Lord, move THIS mountain! I feel like the remnant in Nehemiah…

Nehemiah 1:3 They said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.”

I survived the captivity… I once was lost but now am found… “For God so loved me and you, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

I survived captivity but I am in great distress and reproach… my wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire. I live not as a heaven bound saint (set apart) but as a citizen of this paradise ruled by Satan, trying to mitigate all of his ghastly destruction. Last night, in God’s Throne Room, I was indeed changed… When I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned … before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:4)

And God said… “What do you want Me to do for you?”

No more Santa visions of sugar plums dancing in my head… no more rubbing magic lamps of Genie wishes… no more eyes blinded by what the world and my fleshly nature lust for…

… but this kind (this kind of mountain) does not go out (move) except by prayer and fasting… Matthew 17:21

Whatever it takes, Lord… for as long as it takes, Lord…

“Lord, I want to SEE!” 

“Lord, I want to SEE and BE SEEN by You!” 

Yes, I definitely had ANOTHER (so many!) “Come to Jesus Moment”!

Now it’s YOUR turn… Jesus is asking YOU… His eyes of LOVE and TRUTH are upon you!

Face to face, look into my eyes, see into my heart, Holy Spirit led recognition of Jesus, speaking directly to you…

“What do you want Me to do for you?” 

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

 

Genesis 13:18 Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, and there he built an altar to the Lord. Have you ever noticed how our ancestors, the men of God built altars all the time… even before the Law was given… it’s what they did at every remarkable life event. They built altars of remembrance and gratitude.

Yesterday was my birthday! MMmpht 66 years old… and I was thinking (still do that occasionally)… I too build altars and I encourage others to build them, both to remember and to offer up sacrifices of praise to our God.

But I was wondering, have I indeed “grown up” as I built those altars of gratitude? Are my altars maturing?

Back in the day, I wondered if I ever would! I wondered if I ever would reach that time in life when I would be given the KEYS to the kingdom. When I would KNOW it all (let me rephrase that  when “THEY” WOULD KNOW that I knew it all). When I would have the RIGHT to declare all I knew as THE TRUTH. When certain people would bow down to my opinion and work to establish my view of the way things are.

Then I met Jesus! And I built an altar in my heart and offered all that I am to Him.

Thirty Five years ago I built that first altar and declared myself His ALL STAR DISCIPLE. Looking at everything from my viewpoint, He CHOSE me… He BOUGHT me… He DRESSED me in His team logo… I just figured He did all that cause He was the best at putting together His team(s).

Then I set out to become an even better player than He began with. I built an altar at every goal I or my mentor(s) set as the path of becoming the best.

Hey! Don’t get uppity with me! I know some of you have been there (maybe still are) too. Back in the day that was the ONE THING to do… become a Jesus Disciple and make Jesus Disciples.

Luke 7:31-32 “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

Children want to play… children want to be on stage… children want to play music… children want to sing… and dance.

And God loves His children to do all those things! WITH HIM!

We love to perform FOR Him but we sometimes fail to submit ourselves to His (fully deserved) position in this theater production called “Our Life and Appointed Times”. I built altars at every growth marker. I built altars MY way… for MY use… with MY choice of offerings. And I became an expert builder of MY ALTARS.

But God…

Luke 18:35-39 As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

… showed me I was building BLIND!

Luke 18:40-41 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 

… He gave me a HUNGER to build with His sight!

Luke 18:42-43 And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God. 

And God began the work of training me up with His eye for beauty – His view of people, places, events, and things – His desires for HIS PEOPLE ON HIS TEAM.

He began His work of Growing Me Up!

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a woman, I did away with childish things. (If the truth be told – I didn’t “do away” with them quickly nor easily. If the truth be told – I sometimes hoarded and hid some of the toys… just in case God wanted me to use them &/or recycle them.)

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. Every birthday (like yesterday) I go back to my childhood altars and “see” if my vision is becoming less dim – if my view is becoming more fully God’s – if my mind is processing His word into pictures I can know fully and be known fully.

Every birthday I am more and more GRATEFUL… yesterday I realized, though I am not yet fully grown, I am more and more grateful and less and less anxious… Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6-7)

I AM GROWING UP…

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 

I’m beginning to see what He sees – I’m beginning to want to see what He sees – I’m beginning to build the altars He desires and offer the sacrifices from my “herds” that He chooses.

I realized yesterday that I see less of the negatives of life (mine and other’s) and more of God’s hands/work in each of our lives.

I’m not naive, we live in this FALLEN WORLD. I see sin – my own and my neighbor’s. But… I now know it is not mine to judge but to stand in the gap, like Joseph with his brothers. Genesis 50:18-21 “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Our sins are never meant for “good” even when we try to convince ourselves and others they were/are, but God is GOOD ALL THE TIME, and all the time GOD IS GOOD. Over these last thirty-five years this is the ONE ALTAR I worship God at, and offer ALL that I AM and ALL that I HAVE to Him and Him alone.

Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” declares 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. 

Isaiah 55:11-12 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

God is in control and I am FOREVER GRATEFUL.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope

He won’t go by my plans and I am FOREVER GRATEFUL.

I don’t MAKE myself or anyone else a Jesus Disciple and I am FOREVER GRATEFUL.

But this one thing I have grown up to know… I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) and you can too!

We can grow up together!

Gotta go…need to build my 2017 altar today… while I’m thinking of it!

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

 

Matthew 23:24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! It’s what we do…

“I’m a good person!”

“I haven’t done anything REALLY bad!”

We slice and dice and make spirals out of the “nuances” that might look like wrongdoing BUT the intention was pure.

We don’t sell our WHOLE soul to the devil, we save some of it for the really important stuff – like the end justifying the means. “I’m SURE God wouldn’t want me to suffer needlessly!”

It’s that darn Law… what we don’t know won’t hurt us… if it weren’t so picky about behavior… OUR behavior to be exact!

“After all… Jesus said… It is finished! It being sin (the gnat) and it’s cost (the camel) called DEATH.” Lucky us… no more worries!

Peek-a-boo… Jesus hears the unspoken words of your mouth and sees the meditations of your heart!

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Jesus didn’t take away the STANDARD (our Creator), He IS the standard of measuring/judging our substance… He paid the DEBT –  the BILL of SALE, due and payable to the master of evil, Satan (our Enemy) –  the immediate consequences of SELLING our fearfully and wonderfully made selves in order to eat of the fruit of LUST and PRIDE.

Jesus WON the victory and stamped the bill PAID IN DULL and now sits at the right hand of the Father, judging the living and the dead, for heaven’s sake.

Matthew 5:20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Matthew 5:18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

What?! The Law is STILL alive and applicable? But… But… But…

I thought!

You strained out the gnat – I’m free… and swallowed the camel – I can do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING my heart desires.

But God… Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

You can(and will) do anything and everything – legalistically  speaking, Jesus paid our legal fees.

But it is our HEARTS that God wishes to change, and that requires the Spirit of the Law. Righteousness is not about following the Law to the letter – it is about allowing the Letter of the Law to write God’s Will and Word upon your heart.

Jesus is/was/will be God’s PERFECT fulfillment to accomplish His plan!

Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I (Jesus) say… everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 

I certainly haven’t (the gnat) murdered anyone recently but just about everyday I might as well have because my anger and bitterness (spoken or unspoken) toward my neighbors and siblings (the camel) is EQUAL TO MURDER!

Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; But I (Jesus) say… that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 

I haven’t (the gnat) been physically disloyal to my marriage bed but I have (the camel) more often than not stepped into his position as head of household!

Matthew 5:31-32 “It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; But I (Jesus) say… everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 

I may not send my husband away (the gnat) but I don’t fully honor the vows (the camel) I freely made, for richer for poorer – in sickness or in health – till death do us part… nope my loyalty and encouragement is dependent upon my insatiable desire to be pleased!

Matthew 5:33-34 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I (Jesus) say… make no oath at all… let your ‘Yes be Yes and your No be No’.

I always MEAN (the gnat) to fulfill my promise but I RARELY MEAN the promises (the camel) I make.

Matthew 5:38-41 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I (Jesus) say… do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 

I’m a giving person (the gnat) but I have my limits (the camel) if you cross me or take advantage of my graciousness!

Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I (Jesus) say… love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

I certainly love those (the gnat) who make it easy to love them &/or those I HAVE to love, but “WHOA” an enemy (the camel)?!

Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees

Oh, you thought (and have been taught) that Jesus was talking about THOSE people – not YOU!

You thought (and have been taught) that Jesus’ death on the cross produced your license to become God’s holy BRAT!

You thought (and have been taught) that “saved by grace” means your work to become righteous is over!

You/me (the gnat) better get ready… the camels (our way – our plans – our demands) are coming home to roost so to speak.

Jesus gave us the opportunity to become Sons/Daughters… now begins the wrestling, and training, and disciplining that won’t stop until we are at last ready (as spotless on the inside as the Breastplate of Jesus covering us on the outside) to be made immortally perfect just as our heavenly Father is perfect!

 

If left up to us we would be more than satisfied just Straining Out the Gnats… but no… Philippians 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

It may not be pretty, and I guarantee it won’t be pleasant (from our viewpoint) as EVERY CAMEL we have swallowed (Come on! I can smell it… Mr/Ms Camel Breath!) in our journey to self – rule will be herded out, the stables cleaned until they are spotless, and our heart pressed down, shaken, full and overflowing with God’s image… THIS IS the complete and everlasting fulfillment of every WORD God spoke into creation.

God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:31 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:3) God has not changed (He loves His creation). His Word has not changed (He upholds His creation with it). His Will and His desire have not changed (an eternal Sabbath WITH His creation).

For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:18)

When Jesus said “It is finished.” He wasn’t talking about the Law, He was talking about the His victory over evil. The Law was put into place to protect creation from itself and it’s lust and give knowledge of the battle being waged by the enemy of God.

The Law is not finished nor replaced, it is alive, active, and sharper than ever!

Try as we might we will not be allowed to change it to suit us gnats… it will not return to God void… it will accomplish everything it was/is/will be sent to do in our lives.

“Head ’em on up – move ’em out. Rollin, rollin, rollin, keep them doggies camels moving” Praise God! His Will, WILL BE DONE! On earth as it is in heaven!  

Give us this day our daily bread… No more diet of camels… No more camel breath! Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23-24) 

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

 

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Thayer’s Biblical of Biblical Definitions defines Faith as; 1. conviction of the truth of anything… generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it…

Yes, faith, man’s faith, next to God’s character, is the most spoken of topic of the Bible but that does not mean that it is ONLY a characteristic of “those” religious freaks.

Everyone has “faith” in someone or something. Everyone builds their life on a collection of beliefs and principles which they have processed through their minds and taken to their heart as the foundation upon which all else is rested on. Though some may deny they have FAITH because they think it is strictly a religious term, nonetheless they put their faith in “EVERYTHING BUT GOD”.

Faith is one of the actions of being human. It is the result of thinking, and choosing, and putting into place those things that would cause us to move and act in a certain way.

Faith is the consequence of being made in the image of God… the fruit which comes from FREE WILL – the freedom of choice, the freedom from being totally driven by instinct alone. We choose whom or what we will serve and then put our faith to the task of serving our master(s) well.

I’ll admit, some people are driven by what seems to be uncontrollable and thereby hard to imagine as a choice, however, short of a physical/metaphysical reason, no one can truthfully claim to have NO CHOICE in life, it’s environment, or our response to it.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:22-23) 

We KNOW suffering, and though we cannot control and/or escape what the environment throws at us, we ALL react and respond in some way.

Our reaction, and our response to that reaction, is the catalyst that  DEMANDS we choose “our conviction of TRUTH”. If we refuse to choose (and this too is a choice), we will be tossed to and fro with all kinds of possibilities. We will not be able to sustain OUR world because we have not chosen OUR truth.

But faith isn’t just believing something… faith is believing with a conviction so settled it is WORTHY to build our “house” upon it. Even those who refuse to choose their “truth”, are putting their faith, their conviction in their belief that there are MANY ways to build (and as soon as I discover THE ONE, I plan to build the biggest and best kingdom of all).

My point is… everyone has FAITH! And.. to everyone their faith makes sense! Until… it no longer works!

As long as our belief supports our conviction of the truth we use as the foundation to build upon, we have no need to change our belief  or conviction. What is the support that upholds our faith? I believe it is our sense of happiness, our sense of security, our sense of “all is right with our world”… one could even call it RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Thayer’s Definition: Righteousness… 1. In a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God – a. the doctrine concerning the way which man may attain a state approved of God b. integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting 2. in a narrower sense: justice or the virtue which gives each his due

State of him/or her who is as he/she ought to be… Justice, or the virtue which gives each his due… the state of (happy, healthy, wise) and the justice – the “what you give is what you get” so to speak.

Back to being made in the image of God… there is a choice – there are results to every choice – but there is also a STANDARD that determines (judges) the rightness of our choice. Just as EVERYONE chooses the object of their faith, so EVERYONE judges the outcome putting that faith into action. I believe the OBJECT we view through our faith becomes the STANDARD by which we judge.

God CHOOSE to “Let us make man in our own image”… the RESULT of which was mankind – creatures above all other creatures. God’s STANDARD was Himself – PERFECT (righteous) in every way.

And it was PARADISE – results without flaw – NO SUFFERING!

This, paradise, was God’s Will for such a beloved creature. He walked with His beloved in the perfect garden He provided. He talked with His beloved and trained His beloved in the ways of being the ruler over creation. He was willing to give His beloved the authority and responsibility of sustaining all He had made. And He gave this beloved creature, his very own partner so that he might have a physical completion to the love and desire to be loved, God placed in his heart. God gave!

So, where does this idea come from that “if God” was real, or loving, or perfect, “He would’ve, could’ve, should’ve” come from? For most of us it comes from a SELECTIVE MEMORY. We selectively remember WHO done/did the deed that CHANGED creation and DEMANDED a judgement and brought RESULTS groaning and suffering to all of creation.

Well, you might ask, WHY didn’t God fix what mankind screwed up? A “good” parent wouldn’t want a child to suffer…???…right???

Not unless the child suffering is the ONLY WAY to save their life!

Sin, apart from simply eating a forbidden fruit, is really about taking our freedom of choice, and using it to choose anything less than The Author and Perfecter of our faith, The Alpha and Omega of all things. The God who Is, and Was, and Is to come!

Isaiah 26:9 At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. 

Choosing our own desires (lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh & pride of life – Genesis 3) to be the standard upon which we would build our kingdom, demanded, quite frankly, not just punishment but DEATH – wages of sin is death (Roman 6:23). If we were to remain in perfection – Paradise, it would demand our death. If we were allowed to live, perfection would be gone – sin/evil would rule and there was a great possibility we would find the source/the gate to eternity. And then there would be NO HOPE!

And this my friends, might just be the reason God does not take away all of our suffering. Not only does FREE WILL demand a choice freely made, love demands the opportunity to desire to choose it freely… without bribery/threat. When things are going swimmingly, we don’t NEED to assess our choices and we woulds each for a way to make this life forever. It is for our safety and security that we have all every opportunity to change our wicked ways. Suffering, i.e. trials do provide us time to assess our life and the choices we must make.

But God so loved His beloved… Yes, He sent us out of Paradise and put up a barrier to eternity until the price (wages) of sin could be paid, until every one of His beloved would seek Him, and He and we could be (because the universal price of death was paid) brought together in intimacy and fellowship again… this time FOR ETERNITY! Not just Paradise but HEAVEN – God’s Kingdom!

By Faith!!!

Romans 10:9-11 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. For Scriptures says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

More than just a I believe… I BELIEVE with the conviction that I WILL build my life – all that I am and all that I have and all that I do on this assurance of things hoped for!

I KNOW that my conviction of things not seen will be PROVEN (justified) to be the ETERNAL RIGHTNESS.

Justified by FAITH… Are you ready to put your money where your mouth is? Are you ready to put your “conviction of belief” on the table and make the ALL IN  bet for your eternity?

Isaiah 29:13 Then the Lord said, “ this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote

Is your foundation stable? Does it hold your life securely and prove itself to be the right way? Do you take FULL OWNERSHIP of the belief you hold and therefore full ownership of the results of that choice? Are you SURE that the faith you hold, whether it be in yourself, or in other man-made and controlled vehicles of living (science, religion, government), will take you to the place you want to spend your eternity in?

There is a way to be sure! So sure you can bet your ETERNAL LIFE on it! For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Jeremiah 29:13-14 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 

Justified by faith… I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’

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