Hebrews 3:19
"So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief."
THE ONLY THING HOLDING YOU BACK IS YOU!!!
DARE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT GOD BELIEVES YOU ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH!!!
SAY TO YOURSELF;
"I BELIEVE THAT MY FAITH IS THE BRIDGE THAT GOD WILL USE TO TRANSPORT MIRACLES FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO THE PHYSICAL REALM!!!"

Hebrews 2:18
"Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted."
JESUS IS ABLE TO HELP YOU OVERCOME THE AGONY OF STRUGGLING WITH SIN BECAUSE HE TOO ONCE SHARED IN THIS WEAKNESS CALLED "THE FLESH"!
THEREFORE, HE CAN TEACH YOU THE ROAD BEST SUITED FOR YOUR SITUATION!

Hebrews 1:8 "Your Throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a Scepter of Justice will be the scepter of Your Kingdom." Ask yourself these questions today; "WHEN WE TREAT SOMEONE UNFAIRLY, HARSHLY, SELFISHLY, ETC., IS GOD SITTING UPON THE THRONE OF OUR HEARTS?" A SCEPTER is a staff held by the reigning authority as a symbol of ultimate power. "THEREFORE IF GOD IS THE ULIMATE AUTHORITY IN OUR LIVE'S, SHOULDN'T HIS WORD BE THE SCEPTER WE BOW BEFORE?"

Hebrews 10:36-39 "You need to PERSERVERE so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For, "In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay." And, "But My Righteous One will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back." But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved." NO MATTER HOW THE ENEMY ATTACKS, KEEP PUSHING FORWARD! YOUR VICTORY IS ASSURED IN CHRIST!

Hebrews 10:23-25 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." WHEN WE DON'T FELLOWSHIP REGULARLY, WE ACTUALLY WITHHOLD OUR GIFTINGS FROM CHRIST'S BODY! "WE NEED EACH OTHER IN ORDER TO FUNCTION AT OUR FULL CAPACITY!"

Sometimes a Picture is worth a Thousand Words

A PICTURE OF ME AND MY DAD!

"... See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed" Revelation 5:5

 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves" Ephesians 1:3-6 

1 Peter 1:11c "The sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." WITHOUT A WELL-FOUGHT BATTLE, THERE COULD BE NO HARD-EARNED VICTORY! AS IT IS WRITTEN: "GLORY WILL FOLLOW SUFFERING" THEREFORE DO WHAT JESUS DID, DRINK THE CUP & THEN ENJOY THE BENEFITS! COMPLACENCY HAS NO BENEFITS!

Doing What Is Good

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  ~ Titus 3:1-4 ~

 The Apostle Paul said, "It is no longer I that lives, but Christ in me" 

The Word descibes Christ as the Kindness and Love of God! So as believers, when people look us, when they talk with us, & when they interact with us, they should see, hear, and experience the Kindness and Love of God. Love God, Love People. 

Isaiah 59:19b "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." ONE OF SATAN'S MOST CUUNNING TRAPS IS TO FLOOD US WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS, (ATTACKS), AT ONCE WITH THE INTENTION OF HAVING US FEEL SO OVERWHELMED THAT WE REMOVE OUR TRUST FROM GOD & BEGIN FIGHTING THE BATTLE IN OUR OWN ABILITIES. SADLY, WHEN THIS HAPPENS, SATAN GETS THE BEST OF US & TEMPORARILY SETS US BACK! BUT GOD DESIRES FOR US TO TRUST IN HIM AT ALL TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN FLOODS COME OUR WAY! "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD, (not man), SHALL LIFT UP A STANDARD AGAINST THE ENEMY!" KEEP TELLING OTHERS ABOUT JESUS' LOVE & GOD WILL KEEP TELLING THE ENEMY ABOUT HIS LOVE FOR YOU! DO NOT BE AFRAID!!!

Numbers 14:24 "But because My Servant Caleb has A DIFFERENT SPIRIT and follows Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it." EXAMINE YOURSELF: WHAT KIND OF MENTALITY DO YOU HAVE? DO YOU HAVE THE WORLD'S MENTALITY, WHICH IS: "IT CAN'T BE DONE!" OR DO YOU HAVE CALEB'S MENTALITY, WHICH IS: "I CAN'T DO IT, BUT I KNOW GOD CAN DO IT THROUGH ME & I'M WILLING TO DO WHAT EVER TO TAKES TO SEE GOD'S WILL ACCOMPLISHED IN MY LIFE!" There is no failing grade today! If you have a worldly mentality today, just Repent & Ask God (Who is rich in mercy) & He will Grant you A DIFFERENT SPIRIT!

Proverbs 23:17-18 "Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." IF WE PLACE OUR HOPE IN THIS WORLD, IT WILL CERTAINLY PROVE FATAL, BUT IF WE PLACE OUR HOPE IN CHRIST, OUR HOPE WILL RESULT IN ETERNITY!!! AND SUCH HOPE WILL NEVER BE CUT OFF!!!

The Day of the Lord

Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. it will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. 

... “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.  Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps...You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god—which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty. ~Amos 5:18-26 ~

The Average Person: Wake up, have breakfast, go to work, talk about their dreams, plans, weekends, what they will buy, how they will spend their money, maybe go to the Gym after work where they pridefully look in the mirror, go home, eat dinner, talk more about themselves, plans, dreams, etc, watch T.V., go to bed. Throughout the day their is much complaining, slander, gossip, and boasting, always trying to get ahead and make more money so they can buy more stuff and go more places, the focus is mostly on self and family. There is very little to no talk of God.

The Average person that calls themselves Christian: Wake up, have breakfast, go to work, talk about their dreams, plans, weekends, what they will buy, how they will spend their money, maybe go to the Gym after work where they pridefully look in the mirror, go home, eat dinner, talk more about themselves, plans, dreams, etc, watch T.V., go to bed. Throughout the day their is much complaining, slander, gossip, and boasting, always trying to get ahead and make more money so they can buy more stuff and go more places, the focus is mostly on self and family. There is very little to no talk of God. They will probably never share Christ with a stranger or lead anyone to Salvation.They spend little to no time reading the Bible or being in prayer. Their stomach is their real God (their desires) The Bible says "although they profess to know God, they deny Him by their deeds.

Here is the interesting part...if you talk about the rapture, the coming of Christ, most would be excited and say they look forward to it! God says "Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. it will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure... ~ 2 Peter 1:10 ~



John 6:37 "All those the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away." FOOD FOR THOUGHT; "IF JESUS DOES NOT DRIVE ANYONE AWAY, WHAT GIVES US THAT RIGHT TO DO SO?" We cast people down, (supposedly, in the name of the Lord), and justify it saying 'God is a righteous God & you can't do that, or you have to leave'. BROTHERS & SISTERS, WE HAVE ALL BEEN GUILTY OF THIS! BUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT GOD IS TRYING TO TAKE US TO A NEW LEVEL OF MATURITY IN THE AREA OF ACCEPTANCE! "GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO DRIVE ANYONE AWAY, INSTEAD, HE WANTS US TO LEARN TO WORK WITH THEM TO KEEP THEM FROM FALLING BACK INTO THE WORLD!"

Bro. Bart said it best, "I AM SECURE: Romans 8:31-39 I CAN NOT BE SEPERATED FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST!" GOD CAN NOT LOVE YOU ANYMORE TODAY THAN HE DID THE DAY CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED! GOD'S LOVE DOES NOT CHANGE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR BAD! "GOD IS LOVE & LOVE NEVER FAILS!"

What do You, Me, and Jonah all have in common?

God said to Jonah, "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are" ~ John 1:2 ~

In many ways the United States has become like Nineveh, a wicked, ungodly nation, but there is still hope as God has not yet removed his hand of protection from us. Jonah was called to go to Nineveh and announce God's judgement. We today are not called to announce judgement, but we are called to announce the good news of the Gospel. Jonah, you, and me, have all been called to deliver a message. Jonah's message was judgement, our message is Christ, love, and hope. There was to be two great judgements. One upon Nineveh, the other upon Jonah if he did not obey God's command.  The same holds true today with the United States and Christ followers. So let's get up and go to the city, share the Gospel, let nothing hinder us..."We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ" 1 Corinthians 9:12. Amen. 

Matthew 25:45 "Jesus will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'" IT'S FUNNY HOW WE ASK GOD TO SHOW HIMSELF TO US, SO THAT WE COULD HONOR HIM, BUT MANY TIMES HE APPEARS TO US IN THE FORM OF A BEGGAR, THUG, DRUG-ADDICT, ALCOHOLIC, PROBLEMATIC YOUTH, ETC. & WE REJECT HIM!!! "LETS STOP LOOKING FOR GOD IN SOME SHINING LIGHT & START SEEING HIM IN THE HURTING SOULS THAT WE ENCOUNTER ON A DAILY BASIS!"

James 2:12-13 "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." MINISTRY CONSISTS TOTALLY OF MERCY! LET US NOT DECEIVE OURSELVES; IF WE SHOW NO MERCY, WE PERFORM NO MINISTRY!

James 1:12 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." KEEP ON PUSHING FORWARD! THOUGH YOUR ADVANCES MAY SEEM SMALL, IN THE END IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE STRUGLLES! GOD SEES 'EVERYTHING' YOU DO IN HIS NAME!

James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." DON'T BE AFRAID TO TELL GOD THAT YOU CAN'T FIGURE SOMETHING OUT BECAUSE HE ALREADY KNOWS! JUST ASK FOR HIS GUIDANCE & HE WILL KINDLY DIRECT YOU TO HIS WORD FOR THE INSTRUCTION THAT YOU WILL NEED! WHAT A GREAT & AWESOME GOD WE SERVE!!!

Many Disciples desert Jesus - Are you one too? Find out.

 Jesus speaks..."Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.” At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and  asked, “Are you also going to leave? 

In Reveltions God says.."I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Have you truly received Christ? Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

It's not that one person is better than the other, rather it's love and mercy, if you find you are not in Christ you can repent and recieve Him while there is still time.

Luke 23:46 "Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your Hands I commit My Spirit." When he had said this, he breathed His last." JESUS LIVED A LIFE THAT DEMONSTRATED HIS COMMITTMENT & CONFIDENCE IN HIS HEAVENLY FATHER UNTIL THE VERY LAST MOMENT OF HIS TIME HERE ON EARTH! ALTHOUGH WE MAY NOT HAVE BEGUN OUR LIVE'S IN THIS SAME MANNER, TODAY, JESUS IS CHALLENGING US TO LIVE OUT THE REST OF OUR LIVE'S FULLY CONFIDENT IN GOD'S PLAN FOR SALVATION WHICH WAS FINISHED IN CHRIST SOME 2,000+ YEARS AGO!

Proverbs 15:30 "Light in a messenger's eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." WE WERE CHOSEN BY GOD TO SHARE THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL WITH THE WORLD! FOR THIS REASON, IT IS SO VITAL THAT WHEN WE GO OUT TO SHARE HIS WORD, THAT WE SHOULD BE PRAYED UP & FILLED WITH HOPE! IT IS 'GOD'S LIGHT WITHIN US' THAT WILL SET THE CAPTIVE FREE, NOT OUR PLEASANT CONVERSATION!

Sometimes it just takes a few words & a complete heart, then you can find yourself in the spiritual realm. A PLACE WHERE GOD AWAITS YOUR AUDIENCE! A PLACE WHERE YOU & GOD CAN MEET!

Evangelism Starts Here!

...Let love be without hypocrisy...Romans 12:9

John wakes up excited because today after work he is getting together with some Christian friends and going out to share the Gospel. John has never done this before and is really looking forward to sharing with others what God has done in his life. John is now driving to work and someone cuts him off in traffic which upsets him so he curses at the person, then someone takes his parking space, he grumbles and has slanderous thoughts, later his co-workers get on his nerves because they are not doing their job. John is really angery now, is rude to his co-workers and customers, and even holds a little hate in his heart towards certain people becuase now he has more work to do which will make him late for evangelizing with his friends and sharing the Gospel message, a message of grace, forgiveness, and love. Do I need to say more?  ...Let love be without hypocrisy.

John 14:21 "Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them." Here, Jesus is making it very clear that: 'LOVE' IS A WORD ACCOMPANIED BY ACTION! WITHOUT ACTION, THE WORD 'LOVE' IS NOT COMPLETE!

Proverbs 12:11 "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense." DURING MY LIFE, I MADE MANY MISTAKES, BUT I BELIEVE THE GRAVEST MISTAKE I EVER COMMITTED WAS DOING TOO MUCH PLANNING & TOO LITTLE DOING! I'VE LEARNED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS OF MY LIFE THAT GOD DOES NOT HONOR OUR WISHFUL THINKING, BUT INSTEAD HE HONORS THE STEPS WE TAKE IN FAITH, NO MATTER HOW SMALL THEY MAY SEEM! THEREFORE, I AM SENDING OUT A CHALLENGE TO YOU TODAY! GOD WANTS TO TAKE YOU TO NEW PLACES! IT'S TIME TO SPREAD OUT YOUR WINGS! MEN OF GOD, SPREAD THE GOSPEL!!!

Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?" DON'T GET SO BUSY THAT YOU LOSE FOCUS OF THE TRULY IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE!

Colossians 1:12 "And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has Qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light." GOD HAS QUALIFIED US!!! THEREFORE, ANY OTHER EFFORTS OR ATTEMPTS ON OUR PART TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH GOD ARE NOT NECESSARY!!! WOW! WHAT A GIFT!!! OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!!!

Proverbs 8:32-36 "Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death." WISDOM HAS SPOKEN!!! THEREFORE, LISTEN!!!

Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. STAND FIRM, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Isaiah 42:8 "I am the Lord ; that is My name! I will not yield My Glory to another or My Praise to idols." GOD HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR! HE DOES NOT SHARE HIS GLORY, NOT EVEN WITH US! THEREFORE, LET US REMEMBER THAT: "GOD SITS ON THE THRONE & WE BOW BEFORE IT!!!"

Proverbs 4:26-27 "Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." TODAY, AS WE CELEBRATE ALL THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY HERE IN THIS GREAT NATION, LET US REMEMBER THOSE WHO PAID SO DEAR A PRICE AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT MUST BE DONE TO MAINTAIN SUCH FREEDOMS. GOD HAS GIVEN THIS NATION FREEDOM & ACCESS TO HIS WORD LIKE NONE OTHER BEFORE US! WE WHO KNOW CHRIST SHOULD ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SHOW CHRIST TO THE REST OF THE WORLD! "HAPPY HOLY SPIRIT INDEPENDENCE DAY!

LORD I Need YOU

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Psalms 27:5-6 (KJV)

My need for Him, grants me victory over the snares of the enemy though he surround me with the appearance of defeat. But I am hidden in Christ and He has already triumphed over the nemesis of all creation, the Devil and even self!!!!!!

Red, White, and True.

(2 Timothy Chapter 1)...fan into flame the gift of God,...join with me in suffering for the gospel...I am suffering as I am...because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us

So I place my faith and trust in Jesus to guard and keep my soul and He in turn places His Holy Spirit within me to carry me, guide me, and comfort me. Then. I am to be entrusted as well ,to live a life worthy of the calling I have received in Christ Jesus

Celebrate Jesus the author of True Independence!

Happy Fourth of July

 

Proverbs 3:21-24 "My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet." HAVE YOU EVER TOSSED & TURNED THE NIGHT AWAY, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESOLVE A SITUATION? THEN, MAYBE THIS ADVICE IS FOR YOU! "I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF COMFORT FOR ME!"

2 Timothy 4:2,5

 I give you this charge: preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction...

keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 

Proverbs 2:1-5 "My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding — indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART!!!