Choosing the Right Stuff

Unsuspecting Hinderance

Who is doing the talking?

God's New Man

An Eternal Love Letter

YES WE CAN

The perpetual unworthiness  of Christians is a message that resounds from pulpits around the world. In essence, it teaches that God’s people are not worthy of Jesus’ gift of salvation.  And, that we are saved only due to God’s pity for us rather than an eternal love that boggles the imagination. Worse, according to these teachings, we will never be able to live life and be holy and complete without sinning.  

First, let’s look at the word sin. Consider the fact that neither the Old Testament bible patriots, nor the New Testament writers, went around telling people they were sinning.

Rather, the OT word they used is chattacth, meaning an offence against God.   In the New Testament, when the Apostles spoke to people to tell them how to live their changed lives as followers of Jesus, they most often used the word hamartano, which means properly, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), (figuratively) to err, especially (morally).

Thus, in both the Old and New Testament, the people were taught that when they morally committed acts contrary to God’s statutes, they were offending God and missing the mark.

Christian’s do not have to guess the origin of this ungodly concept?  God gives us the answer:

John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: …

Satan is unchanged from his goal. And, he does not always have to physically kill God’s people. He simply has to distract us with false teachings which lead us to confess and do things that offend God. For instance, when a person feels unworthy, the thought is why bother to try to do better?

In direct contradiction to this ungodly concept, the rest of verse 10 gives us God’s opinion about our possibilities. Jesus said I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV) 

Thus, when we disbelieve God’s word, are we not dishonoring God? When we see ourselves through Satan’s eyes, are we not abandoning the cross? Given the biblical meaning of the word sin, who do we honor when we stand up in Christian congregations around the world and speak into God’s ears, Thank you for your blood, but Lord, I am and remain a worthless sinner ..... blah blah blah.

In plain English, we are telling God that the blood of His Son Jesus, and His word, was and is insufficient to wash us clean, John 15:3.

Jesus told people to go and be holy and sin no more, such as in John 8:11 with the adulterous woman. Also, in John 5: 14, Jesus told the crippled man [whom He had told to get up and pick up his bed] to “Go and sin no more.”

Nevertheless, through this erroneous message of unworthiness, Satan would have us believe that Jesus thus God is not truthful with us.  Isn’t that what Satan convinced Eve of? 

Question: Would Jesus tell us to do what He knows is impossible? And in that Jesus said He said nothing that the Father did not say, then would God tell us to do the impossible?

In 1 Peter 1, Apostle Peter repeats God’s word of our promised life without sin, 1 Peter 1:13-16:

NOTE: see the clarity of these verses in the New Revised Standard Version [NRSV].

1Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (KJV)

13 Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. (NRSV)

 

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: (KJV)

14 Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. (NRSV)

 

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (KJV)

15 Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all of your conduct; (NRSV)

 

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (KJV)

16 for it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (NRSV)

 

Where did St. Peter get this wisdom? It came from God’s Holy Word in Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7.  In ALL of these verses, and many others, Yahovah, our God and heavenly Father, tells the people—THUS US—to be Holy as He is Holy. In other words, GOD SAID we CAN stop committing moral offenses against Him through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Another question must be asked. Who will benefit from convincing God’s people that we, God’s creation, will always be unworthy, destined to live a life of sin, i.e. morally committing acts that offend God? Again, a well-known fact holds the answer.

Numerous polls reveal that the majority of Christian congregations in the United States are composed of women to the tune of 65-75%. I believe this fact speaks for itself.

Remember the childhood fairy tale about the little train engine that thought it couldn’t climb a hill. After much encouragement by its cargo of toys, it tried. It succeeded.

Given the pervasive and consistent teaching that God’s people are and will always be unworthy of God’s love, Christian believers need to be like that little engine.

God said it…that should settle it.

YES WE CAN live Holy without offending our Heavenly God and Father.

 

 

 

Prayer - Once Upon A Time

One newspaper article on the San Bernardino, Ca. mass shootings is titled GOD ISNT FIXING THIS. Others state that prayer isn’t working in reference to various comments by government officials about praying for the families. 

Given the dedication—AND THE GOVERNMENT’S AGREEMENT—over the past decade or so to remove the worship and praise of the one and only true God Yahovah out of practically every aspect of life in the United States, my question is WHAT GOD ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? 

As always in situations like this, the question is asked, WHERE IS GOD.  This answer to this question is simple. Remember where He is not.   

We know that God is no longer in the American schools because the government allowed a representative of Satan to remove prayer out of the schoos.  Obviously, it never occurred to anyone to ask what spirit moved in once the worship of Yahovah was removed?  Since then, schools have become like candy stores for sexual pedophiles, physical abusers, etc etc etc.  

That same ungodly spirit has worked unceasingly to remove God’s name and prayer out of our government. They succeeded, again.  For instance, United States citizens can no longer openly pray to our heavenly Father in the name of His Son, Jesus, in many state or federally funded facilities because it might hurt the feelings of non-Christians.  

The numerous mass murders within this past year are recording the satanic reason in blood as to why so much time has been dedicated to stopping Christians from praying. And, the body count is growing. 

Prayer is the most important part of a Christian’s life.  Uncountable scriptures remind the true Christian to pray about literally everything.  It is how we communicate with the creator of this earth, who is also our creator and God and heavenly Father. Through prayer, we acknowledge Yahovah as God supreme and thank Him. Jesus gave His life that we might be reconnected, reconciled, back to Him.  And, He enjoys our prayers, Proverbs 15: 8, 29.  He already knows what we need, Matthew 6: 8, but we are to acknowledge Him as our heavenly Father because He alone can deliver us from evil and the evil one.   

Given this latest shooting by yet again a non-Christian, 2 Chronicles  25: 13-15, [which I had been studying recently] took on a clearer meaning.  In these verses, King Amaziah had started out worshipping Yahovah. But, events took place where he decided, OR FORGOT, who had given him the enormous success and wealth. He began to worship the gods of his victims.   

Yahovah did not leave this king guessing as to what would befall him. He sent a prophet to King Amaziah to ask him a question.  In essence, He asked—have you lost your mind?   Scripturally, God told him: If their gods—their false dead gods, as described in numerous scriptures—could not deliver them out of your hands because “I” gave you the victory, what are you doing worshipping their [dead] gods.           

If this kings actions were not so sad, it would almost be ludicrous.  But, are we any better? 

Today, the news media states that the United States has endured more mass murders than the number of days in a full year.  Nevertheless, like King Amaziah, King Ahab, King etc etc etc who continually ignored God’s warnings, our government and many American Christians insist upon making agreements with the ungodly instead of relying upon Yahovah and His truth.  Nevertheless, people say they don’t understand the end-times forecast of our destruction. 

Although many man-made errors were included, it does not change the fact that the United States began its journey based on the Bible.

        [As well as the Mayflower Compact, Declaration, Constitution, currency, oaths, and Pledge of      Allegiance, mention of God is made in all 50 state constitutions].  

 

Nevertheless, the United States must be the only country now where a person who believes in a different god other than the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ can come to the United States and demand that Christians no longer pray to the one and only true and living God Yahovah.   

Could Christians go to any other country and tell them that they can no longer pray to their god because it hurts our feelings?  Could we go to Japan or China and tell them they can no longer pray to Buddha?  Yet, the United States allows anyone and everyone to dictate, change, and/or eliminate the foundational religion that formed this country.  

Today, the Daily News titles their article on the San Bernardino shootings God isn’t fixing this? My question is WHY WOULD HE? 

Food for thought! 

Benefits of changing Stinkin' Thinkin'

Murphy’s Law consists of a comment made by Edward Murphy, who was born in 1917. He said that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. In other words, in his opinion, always expect a negative result in whatever you do in life.  

On the other hand, Christians have something that is a thousand percent better than Murphy’s Law. It is called the Word of God. 

In the Bible, Christians are made aware of the Gospel, the Good News, which is inclusive of calling sinners to repentance. Repentance means to feel remorse and regret the life choices that were contrary to God principles. In a nutshell, true repentance means both to change how one thinks and to turn around and walk in a different direction from the past. This happens because a person has changed their focus from the world to Jesus.

God knew His creation was lost. Thus, because of His Love for the world, He gave His only begotten Son... [John 3: 16]. Love kept Jesus on the path that was set for Him — to give His life for the lost. Heartfelt [inward/spiritual] awareness of this extra-ordinary love causes the offender against God, i.e. sinner, to think different, thus act different, and sin no more.  

More so, repentance means a person comes to a new understanding of God’s truth. This new but old wisdom changes not only how a person sees God, but how they see themselves through God’s eyes—fearfully and wonderfully made — as David states in Psalms 139. In Genesis 1:31, God said He saw everything that He had made — including mankind — as very good.  

Mankind is uniquely created by the Heavenly Father. However, Satan, through trickery, became mankind’s teacher, which in turn led to perverted, ungodly, mindsets in God’s people.  Reconnection with God allows a person to know the difference and enables a person to stand up on the solid foundation of what God said.  

Best of all, there is an astonishing side benefit to the changing of a mindset, or way of thinking.  

In Psalms 23, David states that “surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me.... However, before David makes this claim, he “first” acknowledges that God is his shepherd. In other words, David states that in following God, the shepherd of his soul, he is confident that surely goodness and mercy shall follow him all the days of his life.  

As Christ-followers, can Christians expect any less? God supplied [and continues to supply] all of our needs through Jesus, Php 4:19. Jesus is the good shepherd, John 10:11. He alone paid the price. When the Christian follows Jesus, there is no need to keep looking back to see if the wrong’s from Murphy’s Law are sneaking up from behind.   

Change who you follow and what follows you will also change! 

The First Book Author, part 2

Jesus gives us the answer as to why God’s word works.  

In His prayer to the Father in John 17:20, Jesus prays for those in the future [that’s us] who will come to believe in Him through the [recorded] word of the first disciples.  

During my spiritual rebirth, to my utmost surprise, my deliverance [which is recorded in my book Mine, an everlasting promise of love…] was accompanied by God quoting His own scriptural word to me. This is not a strange occurrence. In fact, it is biblical. The words that He spoke to me that first night have remained as an immovable anchor these past twenty years as He taught me to whom I truly belonged versus what the world—Satan—had taught me. 

Satan and Jesus quoted Holy Scroll scriptures to each other, Luke 4. Jesus said He spoke and did only what the Father spoke and did, John 5; 8. Thus, if Satan knows God’s word, and Jesus quoted God’s word back to him, our knowledge of God’s recorded word must be essential. 

Our heavenly Father left many scriptures in His Book as to Christian’s supporting each other including the chastisement of our actions. Nevertheless, in today’s society, whenever scripture is used to offer consolation, and/or correction, Christians are accused of being judgmental or a bully.  

Our God and heavenly Father knows what lies ahead in our lives. Thus He warns us of the pitfalls of leaning to our own understanding. More specifically, He warns us to not call evil good, Isaiah 5:20. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Apostle Paul writes, “that we be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”  

The bottom line is that people of the dark cannot offer light to believers, regardless of what gifts they give, thus said the Lord our God. 

In that God used His ancient recorded word to deliver and encourage me at the beginning, and up to now, it is only my desire to tell in turn the good news that God and thus our need of His word remains unchanged.

 

The First Book Author - part 1

Every Christian is aware that each book of the Bible is acknowledged as the divinely inspired writings of scribes and prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, the psalms of David, and so on.  

Personally, in addition to this truth, I thought of the Bible as an operation manual for mankind, much as we get an operations manual with a microwave etc. [I am sure that many have experienced the disasters involved when the full manual is not read]; or a recipe book that lists all of the necessary ingredients for a successful life of peace, joy, and hope.  

Nevertheless, until a few months back, I had not put the numerous scriptures together that the author of this magnificent book that we call the Bible is actually Yahovah. Exodus 32:32-33. My first thought was, “What? How could I miss that fact? I could only think, duhhh Muriel. 

The prophets and writers were God’s appointed scribes ordained to record “His” word. Thus, it makes sense that He, God, is the only one that can explain what He wrote, and the intention of what He wrote. After all, isn’t that how we think of our books? 

In Joshua chapter one, Joshua was about to embark on a journey appointed to him by God. And what did God tell him for encouragement—READ MY BOOK. In order for Joshua to succeed and prosper in his journey, what did God say…READ MY BOOK. Disobedience in failing to heed and obey the words of God’s book has consequences. Solomon lost his kingdom, 1 Kings 11, because he failed to do what God said in his book. Just as it was for Joshua, it is yet the same for us. 

Christians are always asking God for direction. As with the Old Testament people, He tells us again, 2 Timothy 2: 15, READ MY BOOK. It took a while but I finally understood. I have to READ HIS BOOK—daily.  

Personally, God’s word has been a light to my feet as I learned to walk this new path that He set my feet upon. Answers that I had searched for all of my life were answered. In addition, my faith and spiritual strength have steadily grown.  

The question is why? [see part 2]

Oneness, the extinction of, OR NOT, part 3

In Matthew 13:24-30, 36-44, Jesus uses a story about the tares to explain the working of His future Kingdom and His church.  

Tares are the seed—people—planted in the world by the enemy to act as his representative. Jesus explains that in order to not harm the wheat— the people that He planted—He lets both grow together until He returns and does the separating.  

Much of the religious community today proves the danger of the tares that Jesus warned His disciples about thousands of years ago. It seems that His warning was not taken to heart. 

Today, literally everything that God said is an abomination to Him is promoted and allowed in business, government, movies, and televisions shows. Sadly, acts of adultery, to fornication, to the ungodly unions that specifically deny God’s continuous authority in our creation, make the headlines as they flourish in many of the man-made churches. Worse, they give the world the impression that THEY represent Jesus. 

Take for instance, the pervasive lie that we are JUST human. Since this is in direct contrast to God’s word that we are a spirit [breathed into us by the Father], that lives in a body [created by the Father], and we have a living soul [feelings, that came into being when He breathed into the nostrils of Adam] …the question must be asked, “Where did this lie come from and what purpose does it serve?” 

Scripture gives a clear answer. This lie convinces people that they cannot change. Also, they can keep committing sins on a daily basis against God and yet be saved at the end. In plain English, they don’t have to change regardless of numerous scriptures to the opposite.  

Point: Satan wants company at the end when He is destroyed in the lake of fire, Revelation 19:20; 20:10; 20:14.  

Sadly, true Christian believers are forced on the defensive when we object to this ungodly movement. Some even give in because family members are caught up in this snowball of hell that is like an avalanche blanketing the earth with its lies. 

This false version of Christianity exhibits itself through the person who shouts in man’s churches on Sunday morning, and curses out everyone between Sunday afternoon and the next Sunday morning;  the person that acts a fool in restaurants and movie theatres while professing that they are Christians;  the person who uses the national media platform to promote ungodly lifestyles while professing to believe in god.  

The question should be asked, “What god.” 

The tares are fulfilling their purpose. What about Jesus’ people? To keep us silent, the tares play the guilt card about judging others. Has the power of Jesus’ blood become so weak over the years? 

God first chose us and delivered us out of the darkness of Satan’s kingdom, Colossians 1: 12-14. Jesus paid the ultimate price to give us the opportunity and help to change.  

Personally, as a former enthusiast of movies and television shows with good actors and actresses, I began to record those of today that I could fast-forward past the stupid stuff. But, the shows got worse and more flagrant with the violations of simple morality.  Finally, I got the guts to stop watching any that flaunt Satan’s agenda. I am back to old shows and cartoons. 

Jesus said He has overcome the world. Shouldn’t we as His soldiers act as though it is so?

Oneness - the necessity of, part 2

Through His prayer in John 17, Jesus placed all true believers under the divine protection of our Holy Father. But why? What purpose does oneness serve? Scripture provides the answer. 

Throughout numerous scriptures, Jesus explains that He did nothing and said nothing that the Father did not say, such as in John 5: 19, 30; 8:28; 9:4; 12:49; and 14:10. Also, In John 17, He informs the Father that the first disciples had received and believed the word that He spoke to them, verses 6-8.  

Included in this prayer of oneness are the future believers. That’s you and I.

John 17:20  [Jesus prayed] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (KJV) 

Ephesians 4: 11 explains how this is to be achieved. The gifts of apostles, prophets; evangelists; pastors and teachers are given to man for the single purpose of the completion of the saints, the called out ones, verse 12, till we all, verse 13, come to the unity—the oneness—of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God—Jesus. And, if there is any question in what we hear, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit, John 14:26, will bring to our remembrance the words that He spake. 

Thus, our conversation, our testimonies—as His followers—should be exactly the same as Jesus spoke and thus our heavenly Father spoke.  

The question is, how did Jesus’ divine prayer of oneness evolve into 999,000 different Christian doctrines? [I just picked a number given that there is practically a manmade church on every corner in every city in every state that seems to teach Jesus differently].  

Have the tares taken over?

 

Part 3 explains.

A Divine Prayer for Oneness-Part 1

Prayer is an essential part of the true Christian believer’s life. Jesus gave us the perfect example in Matthew 6 when He teaches the disciples how to pray.  

In that prayer, Jesus taught us to praise God. We are to thank Him. We are to acknowledge that He knows exactly what He is doing with His kingdom. We are to submit to His will. We are to thank Him for providing for us. We are to ask for forgiveness for the dumb stuff we may have done that day. Before Jesus gave us this prayer, He tells the disciples—thus us—that the Father already knows what we have need of, Matthew 6: 8.  

Thus, prayer is how we communicate with the only true and living God our creator who is also our Holy heavenly Father.   

Throughout His time on earth, Jesus continually prayed. But, in John 17, we have the only full recording of the Lord’s Prayer. Thus, it is one of the most unique and beautiful prayers because it sums up—to me—the greatest love in the world. This prayer exhibits not only the Fathers love for us but the Son’s love for us in the face of His willing sacrifice that was about to take place for and in our behalf.  

In this chapter, Jesus first prays for Himself. Secondly, He prays for His first disciples. Then, He does an amazing thing. He prays for those who shall in the future believe in Him, verse 20, 21. That’s you and I. In particular in His prayer, Jesus made a request to our Holy Father that we all be one as He and the Father are one. That is something to pause and think about. 

In verse 11, Jesus asks that the Father keep us in His own name. Specifically, it states:   And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (KJV). The word for keep is tereo, which means to guard, watch, preserve. In other words, Jesus places the spiritual well-being of His true followers—present and future—under the divine protection of Yehovah, our God and heavenly Father.  

Given this divine truth—if we believe in Jesus—one scripture comes to mind, “if God be for us, who can be against us,” Romans 8:31.

Thus oneness is necessary. The question is why?

See part 2 for the answer

 

The God-Power of a Woman

God said in Genesis 2: 18 that He made a help-meet for the man.  What did He create? The Woman!  In addition, everything else was done first before He brought forth the woman.  All Eve had to do was operate in the anointed purpose which God had spoken into existence.  

Nevertheless, through the influence of Satan—starting with Eve in the Garden of Eden—women have come to look upon God’s wondrous mastery of our creation as a mistake. Or, that God did not know what He was doing.   

The problem is not with God. It is with us.  

Women are not a mistake. But, because many women do NOT understand who they are in God’s eyes, nor the importance of our ordained position, we try to be everything else except what God purposed.

 

In Genesis 1, God FIRST said what each created object would “do” THEN He saw the fulfillment of what He said. For instance, in verses 14-15, He spoke about the “purpose” of lights in the heavens, the sun, the moon, and the stars, and how they would give us light during both the day and night. In verses 16-18, He made them and set them in the heavens. Today, is not everything that God said still in place and functioning exactly as He said? 

Food for thought Helpmeets: in every instance where God created something for a purpose, He put the necessary ingredients into that creation so that it would eternally achieve its anointed purpose. Thus, when God said He made the woman to be a help-meet, did He not also give us the power, thus the authority, to do so?   

We are powerful BECAUSE GOD MADE US POWERFUL. But, when we don’t know who we are, we misuse and abuse that power. Satan knows this truth, thus his continuous attacks on women. When abuse, rape, molestation fail to destroy us, he puts it into our minds that ‘we need to be like men in order to be powerful.’ And so goes the tricks of God’s enemy.  

Everyone is devastated over yet again a school becoming a killing-field. And, everyone is asking what to do? 

Jesus teaches the disciples about the power of unified prayer in Matthew 18:19-20, and the “promise” that comes with doing it His way. He said where two or more are gathered together in His name, He is in the midst, and that whatsoever they “agree” upon, it shall be done. 

OOPS. Could that be the problem? Today, Jesus seems to come in 31 flavors.  Women of God, Faith in Jesus is not like Burger King. We cannot have it our way.  

Today, hundreds of thousands of women are posting cute God posters on the internet. But, are you praying over your children before they leave out of the house? Are you praying “with them” at night before they go to bed?

One woman took prayer out of schools due to her determined dedication to achieve this ungodly goal. It is a sad commendation that the women of the world understand their power in contrast to God’s called women, Luke 16:18. Nothing has changed since God spoke this word by Luke. School shootings, molestations at school, etc., prove that when this woman coerced and manipulated the government into removing God out of the schools, Satan moved in full-time. 

Now, instead of teaching children to learn the ABCs of education at school, parents and grandparents have to drill the concept of molesters, predators, and killers, into the minds of the children.  Worse, now children are killing children. Now, we cannot send them to college or movies and expect them to come home safely.  

Food for thought: God’s called help-meets, start speaking life over the children. Praise God in their hearing in the morning, noon, and night time?  Remember, the Word of God is a protective covering.   

Jesus NEVER said or DID anything that our God and heavenly Father did not say or do, John 5, 8.  

Helpmeets, we also MUST come together in one accord, in spirit AND PRAYING only what Jesus and the Father said. Then, we can rest and watch God work.

Guaranteed Weed Killer: The Word of God

Weeds grow where it seems impossible for anything to flourish. They sprout up through concrete that is poured on top of sand. Where everything else dies for lack of water, a weed suddenly pops its head up as though to mock your effects to kill them. Poison is sprayed on lawns, driveways, and gardens, year after year. But, sometimes in weeks, there they are again. Weeds are a centuries old problem.  

On the other hand, garden/farm crops need constant care, such as ground cultivation, fertilization, continuous watering, along with the pulling up of weeds. Some even require netting and wire to be placed around them to keep birds and animals away especially when the plants are young and tender.  

Ungodly thoughts are like the runaway weeds. Worse, they in turn lead to ungodly deeds. All come from Satan’s influence, Ephesians 2: 1-3. And, the roots of these ungodly thoughts dig deep until they become habit. A person no longer has to think about sinning—it just seems to automatically happen, Proverbs 23:7.  

Why? 

Satan knows the condition of the soil in which he sows his doctrine. Just as our heavenly Father gave the eternal doctrine of teaching children throughout the day about him, Satan imitates God, with one exception. Satan plants his ungodly doctrine in children through abuse, neglect, sexual assaults, etc.  

Spiritually following and obeying Jesus takes commitment and time because true love is like the crops that need constant attention. It has to be a goal of dedication. The fertilizer is the Word of God. And, it is the greatest weed killer of all times.  

How does it work?  

A continual daily dose of the word of God gradually fills the reader with the knowledge that God's creation—us—are so loved by our heavenly Father and His son Jesus, our lord and savior, that it infuses true love for God and His Son into every fiber of the reader’s soul. Better yet, Satan’s ungodly seeds are unable to thrive in the divine dug-up ground of love.  

The Bible says believers must be careful about hidden roots of bitterness, Hebrews 12:15. In addition, throughout the old and new testament, the Bible cautions believers about lack of diligence, especially in studying the word of God, which can result in turning away from God, Deuteronomy 29:18; Hebrews 3:11-12.  

Jesus said God's word is our spiritual food, Matthew 4:4. Thus, a daily dose of the word of God is better than an apple a day. It is the guaranteed weed killer of ungodly behavior.  

The Love Connection - Whose on second-part 2

How many people can boast that they got pregnant in order to raise a godly child, Malachi 2:15? To the contrary, blogs, TV shows, news media, and more, show that women admit that they had children to get a man, keep a man, save a man, etc. On top of that, children are now being bartered like merchandise in order to make something look normal that is not according to God’s word.

Where in all of this is the love of God? And, why are we surprised when that child goes astray?

In Matthew 6, 10, and 12, Jesus teaches the disciples that they/ thus God’s creation is worth more than sheep, birds, and flowers in the field. More so, Jesus states that He says nothing that the father has not said, John 8:28. Thus, His words about loving ourselves in Matthew 22:37-38 are repeating God’s words that He spoke in Leviticus 16:18.

The lack of this love of self has consequences. Most often, the children pay the price.

If the child does not end up in a mental institution, or prison, they exhibit their hurt and pain around the world via movie theater shootings, random drive-by shootings, murders on military bases, robberies, and worse.

Nevertheless, regardless of their actions, each individual started life as someone’s child. What happened?

Today, blog sites often reveal raw emotions of pain and hurt. Men complain about their women. Women complain about their men.

There is a question that demands to be asked. PRIOR TO THE RELATIONSHIP, was the prospective partner asked: How is your relationship with your parents, your grandparents, your siblings, etc? Most importantly, “Do you believe in Jesus?”

I am not talking about LIP SERVICE. Actions still speak louder than words.

Why are these questions important? Because the Bible actually tells a man how he is to treat his ‘wife.’ Scripture also reveals how a ‘wife’ should treat her husband. And, God says that marriage protects the child, 1 Corinthians 7: 10-14, but in particular verse 14.

When a child experiences the lack of love from a parent, how can they believe that a God that they cannot see loves them when the human in their life does not love them?

I am not talking about giving a child stuff. Things can never replace true love. A child NEEDS to feel that the parent truly believes that they are a gift of love in that parent’s life. Strangely, or perhaps not so strange, children can sense when they are not loved in this manner. And, they act out that disillusionment with pain and anger.

One woman took prayer out of schools. But, God NEVER said it is the responsibility of “schools” to teach children about Him, Deuteronomy 4:10; 6:7; 11:19; and 31:19.

The two commandments that Jesus gave the disciples are mind boggling in their simplicity.

37 - Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.    38 This is the first and great commandment.   39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (KJV)

These two commandments only work when we understand that we are on second in the greatest command of all.

It is the ultimate love connection. 

What Would Jesus Think: Who's on Second--Part I

Years ago, I saw a rusty greenish colored corroded penny lying on the ground. Since the federal government does not devalue money because it is nasty, I stopped and picked it up. Shortly thereafter, I stopped by a restaurant to buy a coca cola drink. As I handed money to the cashier at the drive-up window, the corroded penny fell into the coca cola drink by accident. By the time I fished it out of the drink, it looked as though it had been freshly minted. All the corrosion and rust were gone. [Back in the 50s and 60s, the coca cola drinks were the real thing. In fact, some car mechanics used coca cola to burn the built-up corrosion off of car batteries and cables.]

That’s what we look like to God before our spiritual cleanup. But, like the corroded penny, God shows us through His word that sin never made us worthless or valueless to Him. He simply threw us out of the house [Garden of Eden]. And, we could not come back until we were cleaned up—i.e. salvation.

When asked what is the greatest commandment of all, Jesus answered that 1] we are to love God with all of our heart, body, and soul. Secondly, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, Matthew 22:36-40. In addition, Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life. And that His word is our spiritual food, Matthew 4:4, which is a repetition of God’s word in Deuteronomy 8:3. Lastly, the disciples in Jesus’ time, and any and all who would be disciples throughout time since then, are to be witnesses to the world of tHis truth, Matthew 28:19-20. Specifically, in verse 20, Jesus said we are to teach all nations to observe whatsoever He has commanded.

So, what happened? Why are God’s people now being taught that the neighbor is more worthy of love than the individual that Jesus came to save?

In Matthew 6, 10, and 12, Jesus teaches the disciples that people are worth more than sheep, birds, and flowers in the field. Thus, Jesus taught that we are of great value to Him. More so, Jesus states that He says nothing that the father has not said, John 8:28. Thus, His words about loving ourselves in Matthew 22:37-38 are repeating God’s words that He spoke in Leviticus 16:18.

Has God changed His mind? Is He now not faithful to His word? No. He left us a message in His recorded word that He is unchanged.

The problem with teaching Christian believers to love the neighbor second—I believe—lies in the fact that many sincere people find it difficult to believe that God wants them to love themselves. Here is why, in my opinion.

We know what we did in the darkness of Satan’s kingdom before God called us into the light of His Son. Oftentimes, it is difficult for many to forgive themselves even though God has forgiven those who have truly repented [been there—did that].

Life events continue to reveal the consequences of those who do not love themselves—movie theater shootings, random drive-by shootings, random murders on military bases, and worse. On top of that, people are mutilating themselves through pills and surgery in vain attempts to be something other than how God created their magnificent bodies.

When we truly repent, i.e. acknowledge our former offenses [sin] against God to God, and ask for His forgiveness, He tells us that “He” no longer even remembers our offenses against Him, Ezekiel 18: 21-22; 33: 14-16, Isaiah 43:25. The reason--or spirit--of why people continue to remember their old sins has a name—Satan. As long as he can make us call to memory our old man deeds, those memories make many feel worthless and unworthy of God’s mercy and love. But, that is not how God sees us.

This commandment to love ourselves is repeated in Ephesians 5: 28 which reveals that husbands must love their wives as their own bodies. Thus, loving ourselves is important to God. Why? And, what does this mean? Who are we that we should love ourselves?

We are magnificently created by our God and Father, who is love. Thus, we are created in love by love. We are made in God’s image and likeness. We are so loved that God set in motion the only way for us to be saved, i.e. through the shed blood of His son. And, Jesus loved us so much that He walked a known and recorded path of horror that only He could walk so that we could be freed from the stranglehold of Satan’s deception.

The two commandments that Jesus gave the disciples are mind boggling in their simplicity.

Jesus broke the ten commandments down into two. But, they only work when we understand that we, the individual, are on second. Then, once we learn to love ourselves through the working of the Holy spirit, we no longer steal from our neighbors. We no longer kill our neighbors nor do we commit adultery with our neighbor’s husbands and/or wives. We honor our natural fathers and mothers, and so on.

Jesus rules. Learn to love yourselves with a divine love.

Where do Christians live?

Where do Christians live? God’s mansion or Satan’s shack.  Even on a spiritual basis, location as to where we live is the name of the game.

One of my favorite television shows involve the remodeling of older and often dilapidated homes. Sometimes, the house looks so bad that a dump heap seems to be the only solution. Prior to beginning the repair, the experienced contractor shows the owner the building specifications along with a slide show presentation as a preview of what the house will look like when repaired. The before and after pictures are spectacular. Regardless, homeowners often make suggestions for changes that are not legal because they are unaware of the building codes for their city. The contractor has to assure them that the finished product will meet their needs while adhering to the city and state license requirements.

Their reluctance is understandable. It seems impossible that any building that is so used up by time, with sunken floors, broken pipes, sagging and leaking roofs, along with outdated electrical, plumbing, and heating, can be made beautiful again. During the reveal of the finished project, the stunned homeowners are often speechless at the renewed beauty of what was once considered a disaster.

On a spiritual basis, that is exactly what God does for us. And, like the natural contractor, God has to deal with mankind trying to fix or change His perfect building specifications for His spiritual church in order that they may keep their old man habits and lusts of the flesh.

Regardless, God is the master builder of His spiritual building, i.e. the church. Jesus, the cornerstone of the spiritual building, is the mediator, i.e. the superintendent who is in charge over the building because He shed His blood for it.  Jesus identifies the Holy Spirit as our guide and comforter, John 14, 15, and 16. Thus, by the work of the Holy Spirit, what started out as ugly and used up by life—us—we become a spiritual building without spot or wrinkle, Ephesians 5:27. I call the Holy Spirit the divine renovator.

On the other hand, lying, cheating, adultery, and moral perversion, are promoted by God’s enemy that these ungodly traits are okay within Christian religious communities. Some even broadcast their inability to obey Jesus on national television. This in the face of God who said He will put His Spirit in the heart and minds of His people that they/we will obey His statutes and commands, Ezekiel 36:26-27. God repeats this promise in Jeremiah 31:31, 33; Jeremiah 32: 39-40; Hebrews 8:8-12, and many others.

God knows what is required in order to be a citizen of His spiritual kingdom regardless of what Satan is presenting to the world. And, change, i.e. repentance, is an essential component of salvation. The sinister claims that God’s people do not have to change are a lie from hell.

Contrary to Satan’s false representations, we have the divine inspired specs. We call it the Bible. Thus, since God tells us that He is the master builder and that we must change from what we used to be in order to enter the Kingdom of God, change must be necessary.

At the onset, my 1995 deliverance seemed late to me. However, time has proven that my passage into life out of darkness was according to God’s timing rather than mine. It is a continuing daily journey as the Holy Spirit changes me from what I used to be, i.e. the old man, into a vessel that honors God through honoring His Son Jesus. This voyage is recorded in my book Mine: An everlasting promise of love, deliverance, and wholeness. It is currently available on Amazon’s website as well as that of WestBow Publishing, Barnes and Noble, and others.  My website: www.murielgladney.com. My email is: murielg.writer@yahoo.com.

Christian believers must carefully choose their place of residence. There are only two choices. God’s house of peace or Satan’s shack of lies?

Once Upon A Time

“Once upon a time” is usually remembered in relation to fairy tale stories that parents read to their children. Today, it presents a horrible truth that is predicted in God’s word.  

 

Once upon a time Americans could send their children to movie theaters, shopping malls, grocery stores, etc. with the belief that they would return home safely. The current event of yet another movie theater shooting shows that this is no longer true. America is now experiencing what other countries around the world have realized for centuries. Evil does not have a specific location, religion, or color.

Jesus said that children are the future of the [spiritual] Kingdom, Matthew 19:14. In verse 13, parents brought their children to Jesus that He could pray for them. Thus, prayer must be important in the lives of children. Nevertheless, Christian organizations stood by while one person was allowed to remove prayer from schools.  

On the other hand, Yahovah, the only true and living God and Father of Jesus Christ, said parents are to raise up their children in the knowledge of Him, Deuteronomy 6:7, 11:19; Psalms 78:5-6, and Ephesians 6:4. Deuteronomy 6:7 in the Bible In Basic English version, reads: Teaching them [commandments of God] to your children with all care, talking of them when you are at rest in your house or walking by the way, when you go to sleep and when you get up. (BBE)     Parents—are you doing this? 

Why is this specific commandment of God so important? Apostle Paul points out the truth in 2 Timothy 3. Timothy walked a Godly path because he was taught about God from childhood. On the other hand, Apostle Paul shows the consequences in verses 1-8 of the refusal to obey God’s commandment about how to raise children.  

Point: Teaching children about God from childhood plants an unshakable foundation in that child that all of creation is valuable in God’s eyes—especially themselves.  When a child grows up loving God first, and secondly themselves, then they are able to love their neighbors rather than shoot them, Matthew 22: 37 – 40. 

Nevertheless, as a former product of not knowing God as a child, as shown in my book Mine: an everlasting promise of love, deliverance, and wholeness, by His mercy and everlasting love, I was redeemed.

Prayer works.

Who to trust for peace and life: God or Self

Recently, I was an eyewitness to an accident where a young man lost his life. However, over the next several days after the accident, the reports of said incident were so varied that it almost appeared as though there had been a second accident to which I was not an eyewitness. The seemingly disregard for human life was overwhelming. Nothing made sense until God revealed the source of the confusion.

The spirit of SELF-preservation! 

This is not a new trait. Apostle Peter immediately comes to mind. Not only did Peter know Jesus, he walked, talked, and ate, with Him for three years.  Yet, despite what Peter thought he would do, Peter rejected knowing Jesus three times when it came to saving his own life. Stranger yet is the fact that Jesus told him beforehand what he would do.  Peter of course denied that he would ever do such a thing. Nevertheless, he did. Matthew wrote in Matthew 26:75, [Luke in Luke 22:62] that when Peter realized that the trait of self-preservation was stronger IN HIM than his love for Jesus, he went out and wept bitterly. 

It is a bitter pill to swallow when the word of God confronts us with our weaknesses. But, the great thing about God is that He also uses His word to comfort us to let us know how much He loves us. And, that He is ever ready to help us turn our lives around and change, i.e. repent, which means to think different. And, when we think different, we act different.

When the Holy Spirit of God revealed the answer, the peace that Jesus promised in John 14:27 settled my frustrated spirit. He also reminded me that this person/s need our prayers of faith because the trait of self-preservation comes from only one source. And, the intent of that source is to kill, steal, and destroy.

Nothing can be done for the young man who died. But, just as with Apostle Peter, if this person is a true Christian believer, they can repent and God will forgive them.  If they are not a Christian believer, this is the opportunity to give their life to Jesus and experience an inward peace that surpasses all understanding.

Jesus said come to all who are heavy burdened [with this life], Matthew 11: 28. This is a promise that is unchanged.