Truth or Consequences

God has called us all to obedience, He does not tolerate disobedience for long, He gives us what we deserve and turns us over to our own deprived hearts.

God has allowed evil men to rule, when His people have turned their backs on Him from the beginning God told His people that they would regret having rulers and still today I believe we do, submitting to God is easier than submitting to man, God's ways are perfect our ways are not.

It is not God's will for our society to take the life of innocent children, it is not God's will that our society be morally bankrupt, it is not God's will that we as a culture be sexually corrupt, it is not God's will will that widows and orphans be trampled on, the poor exploited,or racial divisions these perversions are all the result of the rule of man.

It is time to turn from our ways and back to God our creator, His way is the only way.

Psalms 81, Romans 1:16-32 Isaiah 55:6-11, Exodus 20:1-17,John 14:6

A time to choose

You can ascribe to God's word or to government's word, but you can't do both. The days are here the battle lines are drawn you must choose a side. Not choosing is a choice for man It does not matter what ANY MAN may say about any issue, God has covered everything we may think of and pervert, God says we shall not murder, man says we may in the name of choice, 58 million murdered souls testify to this before the throne of God each day as more are murdered , now man says marriage is for all but God says this marriage is the union between a man and s woman, man says living together is fine but God says this sex is for marriage and anything outside of the confines of marriage as He designed it is sin, man says that if you feel like a woman be one if you feel like a man be one this is simply perversion God says that He created them male and female. Make no mistake you can doubt and mock what God says but there are eternal consequences. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 HCSB Don’t you know that the unjust  will not inherit God’s kingdom?  Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters,  adulterers,  or any kind of homosexual,  no thieves,  greedy  people, drunkards, verbally abusive people,  or swindlers  will inherit God’s kingdom. And some of you used to be like this.  But you were washed, you were sanctified,  you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Where are we going?

The way we respond to painful situations in life demonstrates the level of trust we have in God. This is true in our lives and the lives of our kids. God has told us many times that He allows trials to perfect us and make us more like His Son. Trials are not to be dodged or avoided as much as they are to be endured for the sake of the lesson.

All want God to heal them, all want God to give them peace, joy, strength, to watch over us and help us. But FEW are willing to tell their neighbor about Jesus Christ few are willing to obey the Lord's commands to seek him first to seek Him at all in reality , because we only want God when we need Him, as if keeping our bible's closed keeps God at bay.

When is the last time you sought God? When is the last time you shared God?

When is the last time you trusted God?

Instead of crying wow is me, praise His name and ask Him where are we going God my Father?, Wherever we are going I will trust you and I know that you are with me in every situation ,and ask Him to let His glory shine through you as you walk with Him daily, praise His name that He has chosen you to be a vessel of honor.

Asking God the right question in the middle of a trial is an expression of your trust in Him. The question should not be, "How am I going to get out of this?", but rather, "Where are we going with this?" By changing "how" to "where", you illustrate your dependence on Him to teach you and your willingness to learn.

Romans 8:26-33 HCSB

In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should,  but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us   with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts  knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together  for the good  of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.   For those He foreknew He also predestined  to be conformed to the image of His Son,  so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.   And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified;  and those He justified, He also glorified. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies.

Would you call God a liar?

I don't know any Christian who would look at God and call Him a liar.

But day after day the way we live says just that, we call God a liar because we doubt Him, we do not trust Him to see us through whatever we face.

Of course this is not always seen on the outside of us, but in our hearts. God searches our hearts and when we fear, doubt God can answer our prayer, worry about our needs, are anxious about things that might happen, we are saying to God I just don't believe you're able to handle this.

But God who created all things says there is nothing impossible for Him

Don't call God a liar by the way you live, seek Him today ask for forgiveness and trust Him. He will never fail you.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,  yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:25-34

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:5-8 ESV

Grand Illusion

The power of our flesh seems strong but it is only an illusion, one that can be seen through as we seek God daily.

God has put His Spirit in us, the same Spirit that moved over the earth and formed it, that sheltered Israel by day and gave them fire at night in the wilderness.

The same Spirit that descended upon Jesus at His baptism, and rose Him from the grave.

He can help your walk everyday, you just need to seek Him and ask Him. Today learn to seek,ask and obey the Spirit of God and see what He will do in your life, do not fall for the grand illusion of the enemy, instead see the power of God

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:9-11

What is your favorite sin?

What is your favorite sin? Is it big or little? Is it doubt, fear, gossip, lying, stealing, anger, lust, murder, pride, oh the list could go on forever.

Each of us are born into a sin nature, but in Christ we are not held there anymore. When we sin we choose to, and each of us are hounded by different sins, yet they all come from the same place, our wicked ways, we choose nothing and no one makes us except our own pride and selfishness.

But scripture is clear, about sin. Being one with Christ we pull Him into our sin, the bible says He who knew no sin became sin, that means every time we sin we are just as responsible for the death of Christ as those who stood and yelled crucify Him.

Knowing this when given the opportunity to make the right choice will you pull Christ with you into your sins for a moment of self seeking pleasure , or will you look to Him for help and ask Him to lead you from temptations and deliver you from evil?

He leaves this up to each of us, we must choose to trust and obey or keep looking the other way when we take Him back to our sins.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!

1 Corinthians 6:15

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Galatians 3:27

and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

1 Corinthians 3:23

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

We should know the Love of God with the laws of God.

Jesus was hard on the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes for each of them knew the words of God, they preached them but did not live by them.

They were givers of the law, but not lovers of God.

Let us live by the grace and the love we have been given, this does not mean to agree with sin and those who commit it, (which we all do.) but rather share the love of Christ with them instead of spewing out condemnation on them.

We can talk about things without clubbing those who do not know Jesus.

Do all things out of love for your Heavenly Father.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,  so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.  They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.  They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,  and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues  and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.  But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.  And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.  Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.  The greatest among you shall be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.   “But woe  to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you  shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you  neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and make long prayers just for show.   This is why you will receive a harsher punishment.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.   “Woe to  you,  blind guides, who say,  ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’  You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?  And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’  You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?  So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.  And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it.  And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.   “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For  you tithe mint and dill and  cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law:  justice and mercy and faithfulness.  These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.  You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!   “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For  you clean the outside of  the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of  greed and self-indulgence.  You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.   “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like  whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and  all uncleanness.  So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23:1-28

Where is God?

1) God
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9) family
10) country

We are to have no gods before God our creator. Jesus said our love and devotion to Him should be so great that it looks as if we hate the others in our lives.
Luke 14:26 do you love Him more than you do any of the following, or do you stand with them over Christ?

We are Not to worship family,not country,not politicians,not sports,not government,not anything.

We look at history and how others worshipped idols made of silver,gold,wood or clay, but we worship the same little gods still today.

Do an inventory check of everything you put before God today ,and see where God is on your list.

Exodus 20.1-4.And God spoke all these words, saying,   “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.   “You shall have no other gods before me.   “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

God of the ages.

God our Creator is not just the God of the past, He is not just God of the future, He is the God of the present, He is the God of the ages. He is the ruler of the universe, He has always been and always will be, His name is I Am ; NOT I was .

Charles Spurgeon said this we do our Lord and injustice when we suppose that he brought all his mighty acts and showed himself strong for those in the early time but doth not perform wonders or lay bare his arm for the Saints who are now upon the earth.

Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord ; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

Isaiah 43.10-12“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord , “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.   I, I am the Lord , and besides me there is no savior.  I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord , “and I am God.

He accepts all pre-existing conditions

Jesus Christ accepts all pre-existing conditions! No questions asked, no exam to take, there is nothing you have done, or said that you can not be forgiven for.

Only Jesus Christ can bring  forgiveness and healing and reconciliation with God the Father.

Are you broken, hopeless, alone, sick, trapped, confused, dying, frightened,depressed,abandoned,hurting,tired, angry, fearful,worried, then come to the one who created you and start the healing process.

Luke 5.17-32 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”  And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the man who was paralyzed— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”  And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”   After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”  And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.  And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Our hollow prayers

Hollow prayers are the easiest prayers to pray, we say them in passing and without thought sometimes we are so empty we mumble our thoughts and deeds before God our creator without care.

I find it interesting though that when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray,He taught them the most dangerous prayer we could pray.

Matthew 6.7-15. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  Pray then like this:  “Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name.     Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,  but   deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

1) Jesus warns against empty prayer the very thing we do today.

2) He says call on your Heavenly Father , this is to be intimate, we are not.

3) Hallowed be thy name, God alone is Holy we should be reverent

4) Your kingdom come , We ask God to rule in us but hold back ourselves and say far enough.

5) your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, wow God's will is not want we always want, it can encompass every aspect of us including unpleasant growing pains, and suffering look at the very life of Jesus.

6) give us this day our daily bread ,we are asking God take care of me today and let's not think about tomorrow

7) lead us not into temptations, we really don't mind temptations they give our flesh an easy excuse to sin against God.

8) forgive us as we forgive others, that is the punch to the gut that drops us, we hold things against others and are unforgiving, may God forgive us far more than we forgive others.

When we pray dangerous prayers, we are surrendering our lives to the almighty God, creator of the universe, we are saying my life is in your hands, your amazing grace is sufficient for me and whatever comes my way it is well with my soul.

We don't see God's power like the early church did because we do not plug into God by praying these dangerous prayers, we are soft and take the road of least resistance.

It is time we pray personally and corporately dangerous prayers.

May God help us all.

How well rested are you?

Can you stop doing a project and start later, can you walk away from work for a day, put the phone down, leave it all alone and just rest?

I confess, this is one of my greatest weaknesses, always has been. God is not done with me yet, and is working in me on this.

I heard a sermon the other day about just wasting time with God, then your family and just being still in His presence and letting Him heal us and renew us, this is something I need to do, and I am sure most of us do not do enough of.

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28–30

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. — Galatians 6:9

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” — Exodus 33:14

You are awesome, O God, in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God! — Psalm 68:35

[God] gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. — Isaiah 40:29–31

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint,” says the Lord. — Jeremiah 31:25

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat — for He grants sleep to those He loves. — Psalm 127:1–2

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy,” says the Lord. — Exodus 20:8–11

[The Lord] makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. — Psalm 23:2–3

Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders. — Deuteronomy 33:12

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest. — Hebrews 4:9–11

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. — Psalm 91:1

Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” — Mark 6:31

Who do you say I am?

There is no greater question in the bible that was ever asked that today is so relevant that the answer has eternal ramifications. Jesus asked the disciples who do you say that I am?

Think about your answer.

Jesus asked the disciples before who do others say I am?

Is your answer based on who Jesus is from others or a personal relationship with Him?

Is Jesus your LORD and Savior?

Is Jesus just your Savior?

We honor Jesus at times with our words as our Savior, but our hearts are far from Him.

If He is our LORD we put all our hope and trust in Him, that is why the apostles could face what came their way, be it beatings, imprisonment, or execution.

That is why the Holy Spirit tells us in Hebrews 11.24-38. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

You see if Jesus is your LORD and Savior, you trust Him always living a life that man cannot take, but you willingly lay down in service to Him, no matter what the outcome.

You live by faith in Him alone. Let us take up our cross and follow Jesus, no matter what and answer Jesus question in word and deed.

Mark.8.27-29. And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

Our efforts are in vain.

James Boice writes: “The only way anyone will ever be saved is if God operates entirely apart from us and for his own good pleasure”

We get caught up in our own efforts , and believe we can save ourselves, a foolish belief we at our best break God's law daily no matter how hard we try.

How could we earn our salvation if we cannot keep simple laws, like love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body and souls and love your neighbors as yourself?

Thank God that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that no man can come to God the Father except through Him.

Don't you see , He gave us the way, Himself! God says I know you can't keep my laws, sin has a stranglehold upon you,it is deceiving and enticing, but I made a way, put your faith in me, I will deliver you out of death into life.

Those who believe that all “good people” will be saved, no matter their religious affiliation believe in man's works, that will keep you from Jesus!

There are none good, we need to be constantly reminded of this, and none of us would love or even serve God apart from His grace.

Titus .3.3-11 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Where to find Peace

Pursuing peace .joy, and happiness seems to be the way to go, after all if we had these things life would be grand.

The problem is if you're pursuing these goals, and not God you will never obtain them, for they are only found in Him.

We may find temporary peace, joy and happiness but everlasting peace , joy and happiness is what we need to live in a world scarred by death, destruction and pain.

Whether your goals are temporary, or eternal determines where you look for peace, joy and happiness.

Jonathan Edwards said this. "This is the main difference between the joy of the hypocrite and the joy of the true saint. The former rejoices in himself, the latter rejoices in God”

Psalm 16:2-11 I say to the Lord , “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

The Love of God

God's love is greater than our understanding, He loves all of mankind for the scriptures tell us,

Romans 5:6-8 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That us is everybody. Period. Yet His love is not accepted by all of us.

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

There are many who reject God, God has not rejected them, He says whosoever will, then He says if you do not believe, that's your choice.

Once you do believe, God loves you so much He will not leave you as you are, He starts changing us from the inside out. To be like Christ.

Romans 8:28-29 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Some people don't like this transformation at first, and fight God but He is getting rid of that old sin nature in us, which like a cancer grows in us, but Jesus is the cure.

You will not be the same after you receive Him into your life.

Philippians 1:6-11 ESV And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Wherever you are today if you feel God calling, if you know God's working, if you're struggling with life, know you have God who is working and waiting on you. Today would be a great day to talk with Him, and let Him embrace you where you are.

The Buck stops with you!

Children very seldom take responsibility for something they have done wrong, and while sometimes their response can be cute or funny this action spills over into society as they get older. The difference between a child and a mature person is their willingness to take personal responsibility for their actions.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

God's word teaches us the concept of personal responsibility: Ezekiel 18:20“The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them”

Personal responsibility is tied to the law of you reap what you sow.

Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Isaiah 3:10-11 “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done”

God clearly defined right and wrong, and His people are expected to do what is right. This has been the case ever since the beginning in the Garden of Eden, when Adam was given a specific command and expected to obey it.

God held Adam and Eve accountable, expelled them from the garden and they eventually tasted physical death because of this. Genesis 3.

God expects us to take personal responsibility in every area of our lives.

 Able-bodied people should work for their food.2 Thessalonians 3:10“The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat”

 Men are to take responsibility for providing for their households . 1 Timothy 5:7-8 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Today's society in America people do all they can to avoid personal responsibility through blame-shifting. From the small town America to the nations capital, personal responsibility is avoided like the plague in our nation of political correctness.

God sees and knows what our hearts attitude is, when mankind chooses to deceive and shift blame, God knows.

From the beginning Adam tried to blame Eve for his sin , then God, Eve blamed the Serpent (Genesis 3). Cain tried to dodge responsibility (Genesis 4:9). Pilate attempted to absolve his guilt in the matter of the crucifixion of Christ: “‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!’” (Matthew 27:24).

Every attempt to pass the buck is foolish. Numbers 32:23“....You may be sure that your sin will find you out” .

Every person has to take personal responsibility to repent and believe in Jesus, and when you don't God says your still responsible.

John 3:16-19 “For God so loved  the world,  that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not  perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Salvation is found in Christ, alone. Judgment is held for those who reject Christ, rewards are given to those who have accepted Christ.

Harry Truman had a sign on his desk as President that simply said " the buck stops here"

Every person will stand before God one day and give account on their words and deeds, I wonder what will your response be?

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

God's response is already recorded.

Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,   then he will sit on his glorious throne.  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’    “Then he will say to those on his left,   ‘Depart from me, you   cursed, into   the eternal fire prepared for   the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’  Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’  Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

What happened on Saturday between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday?

Some consider Saturday to be a day of nothing but fear and unrest, and for Jesus followers it probably was.

But not for Jesus.

Jesus though His body lay in the tomb, He was not there.

Ephesians 4:8-10 ESV

Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”  (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

1 Peter 3:18-22 ESV

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

*"The word "preached" in verse 19 is not the usual word in the New Testament to describe the preaching of the gospel. It literally means to herald a message.

Jesus suffered and died on the Cross, His body being put to death, and His spirit died when He was made sin. But His spirit was made alive and He yielded it to the Father. According to Peter, sometime between His death and His resurrection Jesus made a special proclamation to "the spirits in prison."

To begin with, Peter referred to people as "souls" and not "spirits" (3:20). In the New Testament, the word "spirits" is used to describe angels or demons, not human beings, and verse 22 seems to bear out this meaning.

Nowhere in the Bible are we told that Jesus visited hell. Acts 2:31 says that He went to "Hades" (New American Standard Bible), but "Hades" is not hell. The word "Hades" refers to the realm of the dead, a temporary place where they await the resurrection.

Revelation 20:11-15 in the NASB or the New International Version give a clear distinction between the two.

Hell is the permanent and final place of judgment for the lost. Hades is a temporary place.

Our Lord yielded His spirit to the Father, died, and at some time between death and resurrection, visited the realm of the dead where He delivered a message to spirit beings (probably fallen angels; see Jude 6) who were somehow related to the period before the flood in Noah's time. Verse 20 makes this clear. Peter did not tell us what He proclaimed to these imprisoned spirits, but it could not be a message of redemption since angels cannot be saved (Hebrews 2:16).

It was probably a declaration of victory over Satan and his hosts Colossians 2:14-15, 20 ESV

by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—
(Also re read.)1 Peter 3:22;.

Ephesians 4:8-10 also seems to indicate that Christ went to “paradise” (Luke 16:20; 23:43) and took to heaven all those who had believed in Him prior to His death.

The passage doesn’t give a great amount of detail about what occurred, but most Bible scholars agree that this is what is meant by “led captivity captive.”

So, all that to say, the Bible isn’t entirely clear what exactly Christ did for the three days between His death and resurrection. It does seem, though, that He was preaching victory over the fallen angels and/or unbelievers. What we can know for sure is that Jesus was not giving people a second chance for salvation.

The Bible tells us that we face judgment after death (Hebrews 9:27), not a second chance. There isn't really any definitively clear answer for what Jesus was doing for the time between His death and resurrection. Perhaps this is one of the mysteries we will understand once we reach glory."*

If today your soul is held captive, know this Jesus paid the price for your freedom,  Today is the day of salvation, do not harden your hearts.

*A portion of this is from http://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-go-to-hell.html

God is in control.

“When God wants to judge a nation, he gives them wicked rulers."
John Calvin

Proverbs 21:1-2 HCSB

A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord ’s hand: He directs it wherever He chooses. All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord evaluates the motives.

This scripture reminds us who is in control. The President, our Congress, Judges, Governors only rule with limited authority.

God directs their ways to bring blessings or repentance.

It is time we as a Nation repent and ask God to restore us to His ways.

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

When Ahab and Jezebel reigned in Israel the scriptures say that Ahab did evil in the sight of God more than all that came before Him.

But what is really sad, is those who cast their tents in his courts and turned on God.

God struck the land, the people, and then Ahab and Jezebel. You can read this in 1 Kings 16.

1 Kings 16:29-33 HCSB

Ahab son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Asa; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria 22 years. But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord ’s sight more than all who were before him.   Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were a trivial matter, he married Jezebel,  the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians,  and then proceeded to serve Baal and worship him.   He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal  that he had built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole.  Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

The poison of knowledge's power

America we have a problem,a God problem we have fallen for the same lie the devil used upon Eve that surely we would not die once we ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

If we as believers have an accurate picture of God then that will lead to a life of holiness : as a matter of fact that  is vital to everything. AW Tozer said this all the problems of heaven and earth, though they were to confront us together and at once, would be nothing compared with that overwhelming problem of God: that He is: what He is like: and what we as moral beings must do about Him".

We pursue knowledge believing that knowledge is power believing we will be like God because we know all things, we have been deceived ,need I remind you of the most knowledgeable and wisest of all cultures have been destroyed by their pursuit of knowledge and power, Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome ,Europe, Germany, all have fallen to the wayside.

Each had more knowledge than the other, yet today they are but shadows of their former greatness.

We have knowledge today at our fingertips a click away you can know just about anything, but yet we are far from the truth we are far from God our creator we believe our selves to be gods.

Genesis 3:1-7 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Romans 1:21-30, 32 ESV

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.