Sends Chills Up My Spine

As I think back over my life, and take a realistic look, at all the things, that have transpired in my life. I can see where the Good Lord has had, His unseen hand, upon my life. Guiding me through situation, and situation, making Himself known to me. Actually, giving me the training, which I would require to do what it is, that He wanted me to do.

This didn’t require a specialized degree, or even seminary, in a well-known college of theology. I chose a different route to go, because of my rebellion. I have always had a severe rebellious nature, and a head twice as thick, as most normal human beings. It is impossible to live in this manner without a heart hardening more each day.     Yes sir, I attended the real school of hard knocks!! 

The thing that I didn’t realize was that God always had His hand upon my life. I can’t say that I was pleasing Him in the least bit. However, He knew that I should be preserved, for a future event. I don’t know about you, but here is a verse in the Bible, which sends chills up my spine today!!

Galatians 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

You can call this the verse of Karma. Actually, you can call it anything that you would like to, because it will not change, the truth of this verse. This is why my life was always in such turmoil. This is why I had so much enduring pain, in my life. This is also the same reason, that so much pain is inflicted in your life, if you experience too much pain. 

Matthew 26:52  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

This is the verse that we paraphrase as, “those that live by the sword, shall die by the sword.” I walked through my life wielding several different swords. One of the largest, and most brutal swords, that would swing was the one called character assignation. I quickly learned that this would move problem people, out of my way, with quickness. Although, I was too stupid to realize, that I was the one being moved, in the other direction.

I am sure that none of the readers of this blog have ever had any trouble at all. Especially of their own making!!      You might be thinking, where am I going with this, or what am I trying to do?    The truth is that often I take for granite the knowledge, that I have been given. Mostly because of the paths in life, that I have freely chosen, to walk down.  

It is not about being smarter, than anybody else, and it is certainly not about being less than. Often times I simply assume that if I know something, that everyone else knows the same thing, and that is simply not true. I spend a lot of time, but not enough, gaining knowledge from the Lord. The way I do this is through the Word, commentaries, and Bible dictionaries, and listening to the Word being preached by others. 

The only reason, which any of this is possible now, is the fact, that I surrendered!!     I got to a point in my life where I said, I can’t do it alone, and I need you Lord Jesus to influence, my every move. This is not the first time that I have made this statement. Actually, I have made this move a few times, in my life, and always with great intentions!! 

”What makes this time any different then, and why should anybody listen to me?”     As far as there being any difference, I believe that you should not concern yourself with me. As a matter of a fact you should not even look at me, or my life. You should only look at Jesus!!  I don’t blame you for checking my qualification to write to you. I think that you should do that much. That is nothing more than wisdom.

Jesus said this: Matthew 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

There are a lot of wolves right now, using the name of Jesus, to rob your wallet. They give you a little bit, and promise much more, if you will send them a donation. I like Brother Bob Martin, of Challenge Ministries. We have a lot in common. Neither of us has anything to sell you. Neither of us wants for you to do anything, that the Lord doesn’t want you to do. We simply want to proclaim the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ in your life, and that is why you should listen to me.

Not because of me personally, but because I will always point you to Jesus!! If anybody ever points you in a different direction they are a heretic. If anybody ever says that you need Jesus, along with anything else, then they are guilty of heresy also.     Jesus is enough!!

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Ain’t God good?

      ….Much Love              

A Zone Calculated, by Light Years

I had a strange event, which happened to me, the other day. I will probably need to go back, and fill you in on some details, so it might make more sense. Do you remember the post that I wrote, on the church, that I paid a visit, where they didn’t even preach?  It was called a first united Methodist church. I was shocked that they didn’t have a sermon, or even a word spoken why, they didn’t have a sermon.

I usually will talk about things that upset me, and that was one event that did. During one of these times I met this man that lives in the same building that I do. He told me that was the church that he attends regularly, and assures me, that that was an unusual occurrence. Even after we talked I was still so unimpressed, that I had no desire to return. However, this man, and myself engaged, in a relationship, mostly in passing. 

We would talk a few minutes every time, that we would meet, in doing life’s daily activities. He has even given me a religious book, along with the workbook that accompanies the book. It was all like new, with nothing wrote in either book. He told me that this book had helped him, and he thought that, it might help me also. 

This is one of those well-known books, in the Christian circles. However, there is a problem with me, and what I read, and study in these end times. I am very particular, about the character, of the authors in which I read. I found out by reading the back page, of the book, that the author has a ministry, and has been in the ministry, for several years.

Knowing this gave me hope, that this book might be something worth reading. I went to the ministry page, on their website, for father conformation. Can you guess what the first thing, that I saw was?    The first half, of the home page was totally dedicated to selling books, and this book in particular. That was all I needed to see, to make a firm decision, not to study, from this material. 

If you remember, (It is recorded in all four gospels.) when Jesus went wild in the temple, and drove out all those that sold. Then this is what He said; Matthew 21:13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Wow!!   What does that have to do with their website?    Everything, in my honest opinion. I believe that the Lord owns everything, and this does include a ministry, with His name on it. I don’t believe that He would be really happy, when sale items come before His Word.            Do you?

Here is a verse where Jesus is speaking. Matthew 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  

The Webster 1828 dictionary defines mammon as: MAM'MON, n. Riches; wealth; or the god or riches.

You might be thinking something, like these things.   James, you are losing your mind!!  You have stepped off the edge, into a zone calculated, by light years!!   Why are you being so radical?   I am laughing while I write this, because I don’t know anybody as radical as Jesus.   Do you?

Speaking of radical folks, the Apostle Paul was fairly radical himself. Come to think of it, being in the presence of Jesus makes a person radical!!    Anyway, this is something Paul wrote. 1Thessalonians 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil.      James 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

If I can call your attention back, to the first line, that I have written in this post. I still haven’t told you, the strange thing that happened. It was about the man, and something that he said to me. It was like once he said the words. He was in a rush to get away from me.  It was like he knew that it wouldn’t settle well, in my Spirit. 

We had gotten in a conversation about doing good and bad things. I told him, that I was trying to do more good things, in my life now. I told him that I wanted to over-ride all the bad things, which I had done in my past. He asked, where that I got this information from, and I replied in the Bible. 

Galatians 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Now this is the strange part. He looked dead at me, and this is what he said.    “I wouldn’t worry about it too much, because a lot of the Bible is not accurate, in these modern times.”   I was stunned, and my delayed reaction made his escape path clear. He was right though, because I am not worried about it. However, I am very attentive to the things of God!! Not only in my life, but what I say to the readers, of this blog.

I don’t mind when folks call me an old fuddy-duddy. I don’t even mind when they say, that my ways are old fashioned. Truthfully, I have been called strange over far worse things, and they are right. Father does call me peculiar. 

1Peter 2:9-10  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Ain’t God good?

         ….Much Love     

What happened to….

It has been very strange, taking this many days off, in a row. Even for an event as wonderful as Christmas!! I have tried to stay away from my Christian radio, as much as possible. There are programs, on this station, that I want even listen to anymore regardless. There are some real Bible believing, and preaching programs, on this station also. 

It is really hard to listen to those, in the media spreading their version, of the gospel. Most of the really famous preachers, in my opinion, are sugar coating Gods Word, to get your money. Everything is based, on your support, to their ministry.    What happened to the ministry of God?    Where does Jesus fit in this madness?      How come Holy Spirit is being used as filler, instead of being God?

Does anybody else see, what is really going on, in the world, of ministry today? I know that some of the readers of this blog know, and realize what is really going on today. I do have a serious problem though. I realize that some of you don’t!!

The first thing, that we need to deal with is, where this madness is coming from, and who is behind it. There is no reason to get mad at people. (This is more for me than you right now!!)   

Ephesians 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ladies and gentlemen, and all others, which are reading this right now. Please allow me to introduce to you the madness of Satan’s satanic network!! This is how that he operates in this world, and always has operated. This is his strategic battle setup, and he is very skilled in taking down his enemy. The bad news is that we are his number one enemy!!

How do you know, that these things are true?   How can you be warning us about, ungodly messengers of god?   That is a very good question.  The answer to this question, and every question, that you need an answer for will be found, in the Bible!! Come on now, the only thing special about me is the fact, that I read my Bible. There are few preachers that I will sit, and listen to them, without my Bible being open, at the same time. I understand that you can’t follow along, in your Bible, if you are driving, but there are more hours in the day, than drive time. 

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The thief that Jesus is talking about is Satan. What he is out to steal is the Word of God. Often times he will do this by adding something else to it, or taking a little of it away. That is why it is so very important to know the Word. The only way to know the Word is to stay, in the Word. Today’s technology makes staying in the Word a lot easier, than in times past. There is really no good reason, for not staying in the Word of God!!

Now we come to the second part; and to kill.    What do you think that he wants to kill?   Do you think that it is you?   It very well might be, but I think there is something more important to Satan, than your physical existence. Simply killing the body would just get a Christian, out of the picture. Besides that, this entire verse is personal. Everything about this verse is personally about each one of us, and it is in order.

The reason that Satan wants to steal the Word from you first is simple. First the Word is taken away, then he can kill our testimony!!   What makes our testimony that valuable? Oh precious child of God. I am going to show you what makes your testimony priceless.

Revelation 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 

Without the word, of our testimony, we can’t overcome Satan. Not only do we have a part in this, we have a part right beside Jesus. There is a comma right after His name, and it flows to our testimony!!  I am not sure about you, but just the thought of that gives me glory-bumps!!

The third thing, that Satan comes to destroy, is our life. As children of God we can’t operate effectively without the Word of God. Once he has killed our testimony, we are not fit for service, in the battle against Satan. Therefore, with two major hits to our Spiritual being, (Ephesians 6:12) our life will simply crumble, and be destroyed.   This is a really sad situation to be in, and it looks like total defeat has come upon us.

2Corinthians 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

The great part of that verse in John 10:10 is yet to come. We have only read about the wicked one, and his plan. Now, the King of kings, and Lord of lords is going to have a chance to speak.    Aren’t you glad that Jesus will always have the last Word?     Ain’t God good?

         ….Much Love            

Is Yer Believer Broke?

There a lot of things, in this world, that causes me great confusion, when I think about it. Like how did the magician or illusionist really make that happen?   Did that mentalist really put that person or all, of those people in a hypnotic state?  I am really baffled about how the human immune system works, or the true importance of the blood, in our bodies. Actually, the entire human body, I find intriguing. 

The one thing, that I have never found myself confused about, was the creation of the human race. I have always considered it to been, from a planned purpose, by a much superior race of existence. I have never even played into the fact, that one day we arose of the muck and goo. Nor, the fact that there was a collision in space, and somehow in that madness, we got our beginning.

Why would a collision in space have created our race, and now they are saying, that one would end the human race? I used to get a real knick out of the pictures, that they would show us in school, of how we evolved from monkeys. How we went from dragging our knuckles on the ground, to dragging our women on the ground behind us!! That was a hoot!!    No.    Not me.   I really need something with some stability to stand on.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

I might just be different from most folks, but I believed there was a god, before I believed in God. It just made sense, that some higher form of intelligence was responsible, for the creation of humans. It even made more sense, that if this higher form of intelligence was going to create us, that a place to live would also be created.     Don’t you find it totally amazing, that we can actually breathe the air, on the planet that we are on? Even better than that…Do you think that we will breathe in Heaven?

Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Do you ever just simply know something?   Maybe you can’t really explain how you know a thing. You simply believe it with all your heart, even when common sense is screaming volumes, that it can’t be true!!  That is the way, which I look into the Word of God. I simply believe it, with childlike faith. Jesus told us that we should be in this way. 

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

I don’t think that Jesus ask us to do more, than we should have been capable of doing. I wonder how many of us realize, what that He asked us to do?  I have been searching through one-hundred, and eleven verses in the New Testament, looking for just the right one to post. Do you know what I have found? They are all the right ones!! 

The only thing that Jesus asks us to do was believe!! Mark 9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Can you think of a more profound word, in the vocabulary of Jesus, than the words believe, or a form of that word? Honestly, this lack of understanding goes back, to the point of creation, in the garden. However, it got on a serious roll with Moses.

Father was trying all that He could do, without violating our free will to cause blessings, to come upon us, by His commands.   Exodus 15:26  And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

It is really sad, that our Creator, our God, our Lord, Savior, and King, only has one thing, on His agenda. It is the same thing, which He has wanted, since the Garden of Eden, and it never has changed, since the beginning. Father only wants a race of people, that will be loyal to Him, that He can give His very best that He has, to make our miserable lives complete and full.

The very best thing, that Father wanted to give us, was Jesus. The problem is that most of us don’t see any real value in Jesus, because He is not a microwave solution. We want what we want, right here, and right now, and that might change, in five minutes or less!! The bottom line is that we don’t know what we really want, and were clueless to what our real needs are!!

 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 In this one verse, is contained what we need, and what we should be wanting. We should be desperately trying to make it back to our Father. The One that created us and the One who wants to bless us, and take care of us. If Jesus is our only solution back to Father, then that settles our need!!       Ain’t God good?

           ….Much Love