The mountain of God

Most of us have the perspective God has us where He wants us when things are smooth and everything is perfect and right in the world. We want to live on the mountain of God, we just want to take the tram to the top instead of the journey through the valleys and up the rocky mountainside.

I have never seen a mountain that is smooth up and down, there are rocks, ravines, trees, weeds, you name it there are obstacles one most overcome to make it to the top.

With the help of God and only with the help of God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit we scale life's mountains, David said the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want, what a beautiful picture of peace and security. A shepherd guides and guards His sheep in the pastures of life and up the mountainsides, a sheep listens to the masters call and knows that it is safe and secure on the journey.

God has each of us where He chooses , our journey may not seem safe and secure, but there is know greater place you can be than in the shepherds hands going through the valleys or up the mountains of life , instead of wondering off on our own and away from God let us also say "the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want." and let Him lead us on our journey.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:1-6

Hospital day 17

My help!

I love reading through the psalms and seeing God's grace,wisdom and love poured out in His word and then experiencing that in my life and seeing God working in me, in the midst of my struggles my faith grows stronger even though my flesh might grow weaker because I know who I put my hope and my trust in and that is in Christ alone He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me and that is what I hold on to , He is amazing I see how He can take every situation and use it for His glory and our good. 16 days ago I never thought I'd still be in the hospital and even though I am here it is all good for He is in control, I am waiting on my Heavenly Father to keep revealing His plan day by day.

We thank you for your prayers, your love, your thoughts please keep praying as God is doing miraculous things everyday not only here but everywhere we serve a God of wonders, a God of might a God of love.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord , who made heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.  The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.  The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.  The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 121:1-8

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

Redemption draweth nye.

When the fabric of society rips apart , when morality and truth are not wanted, not sought, and not taught, we should not fear.

When those who appeared to be watchman jump down off the wall and join in the chaos, we know these things must happen, stay faithful to God and His word.

Jesus said in Matthew 24.9-14.“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.  Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Perilous times are here mockery, debauchery, hate, are now the normal in our society, don't lose hope. Preach the word, pray fervently, stand firm and be immovable, steadfast and true. Look towards the eastern sky, for redemption draweth nye.

2nd Thessalonians 2:1-17 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that  Day  will  not  come  unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will  do  so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless  one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

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.

Finally some good news

Good news, as I spoke with my Heavenly Father this morning He said to me " .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. (2nd Chronicles 4:7)

Oh will you humble yourself with me and pray today? For our Nation, for our brothers and sisters around the world, for all who are lost.

He said He sees the pain and suffering, His heart breaks  that this is happening, the sin that rules the hearts of man, and He knows " all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23

He said do they not know, have they not heard? Please tell them “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." John 3:16-18

He said Salvation is free to from Him to us, that "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:9-11

He said time is growing short His return is immanent, His love is eternal, His judgment is true , sharp and it cuts through to the bone, He wanted me to remind you, the days are growing shorter, all of mankind is in need of a Savior He said simply know this "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2nd Peter 3:9

My Heavenly Father said" let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12

Now my Father won't beg, and He won't worry, He waits. He has done everything for you, the rest is up to you.

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.

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

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.

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.

Walk in darkness or light

Days are dark at times, when you listen to the news of the world.

The world needs to turn the news off, they are nothing more than agents of darkness, spreading agendas, and lies to a hungry society wanting and thirsting to devour whatever they are fed.

Yes it is true evil lives, works and walks amongst us, but it's power is limited. Held in check by God, who in His wisdom and mercy rules the universe.

Dark days were brought because of disobedience, they are nothing new. But after the darkness comes the light.

God is well aware of the darkness around us and in us, He sent Jesus to deal with it, and He did on calvary.

You must decide whether to walk and live in the darkness or walk and live in the light.

God is calling, will you answer Him today?

Isaiah 59:14-21 ESV

Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter.  Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.   He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.   He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.   According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment.   So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives.   “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord .  “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord : “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord , “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Isaiah 60:1-5 ESV

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.   And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.   Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.  Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

Uncertainty, certainly not!

It is true we live in perilous times, that we face uncertain days.

If you're a child of God, you must trust Him and know that these days must come.

The World is dying, our Nation is dying, We are dying. But the good news is, that Christ is risen, and because He is risen we have hope, we are given life, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, and nothing can separate us from Him.

Instead  of fear or fret, pray and praise God always. He alone is sufficient, and will guide, guard and give us the grace to make it through whatever comes our way.

Isaiah 40:21-31 ESV

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?  It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;   who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.  Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.   To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.  Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.  Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord , and my right is disregarded by my God”?  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;  but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

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.

551 shades of Red

Today's society believes that sex is an idea that they have perfected, that sex outside of marriage is a must: that they deserve to have any type of sexual contact with whomever they want, when they want and how they want. Sex and love have nothing to do with one another, other than this, where there is no love, sex is pleasureless.

But that is not how God designed sex, sexual contact is designed and can only be fulfilled to the fullest extent of pleasure within the confines of marriage. Marriage as God designed it, not as mankind thinks, but only between a man and a woman, period.

A Godly marriage goes beyond this, a Godly marriage is just as it sounds, simple enough: God first then a man and a woman,marriage is sacred, so much so that the Bible tells men that they are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. Once we see each other through the eyes of our Creator, we will love each other greater, and the full experience of a Godly marriage will start to take place, now do not get me wrong, your marriage will not be perfect, you will still have disagreements, and disappointments, not because God fails, but because we fail. This goes back to Adam and Eve, and our sinful, selfish nature. I want to add this, when conflict arises get over yourself quick, and move on when this happens, focus your heart and eyes on Jesus and your problems will become less bothersome, in the light of eternity with Him.

Here is what the world misses, sex without love is nothing more than a little selfish pleasure coming to light, and foolishly we miss the greatest pleasure of all. It is like eating a package of stale crackers, when a fully cooked steak is right there in front of you, why would we sell ourselves short?

Love without God is impossible, for He alone is the author and creator of Love, and only through the guidance of the Holy Spirit will we experience the greatest love of all.

If your lost in the world and have been trapped in a life that makes you believe having sex with someone will make them love you, STOP...this is a lie and will never come to be.

*What you need to do first is come to Jesus, He alone will love you where you are, as you are, and He will make you new, He alone has that power.

**Second you need to find a Bible believing and teaching Church that will disciple you and help you grow in your relationship with Jesus.

Third start praying and asking Jesus to lead you to a woman or man of His choosing and ask others to start praying with you and for you, be listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Love is out there, it is not found in bondage, or sexual contact with another person, love is found only through God our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. When you read through the Holy Bible, you see how God describes love.

God's shade of love was written in red through the blood of Jesus Christ, on an old rugged cross.

In marriage this love must always be put into action:1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

God's love in us, causes us to go further than we could without Him.Matthew 5:43-48  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Ultimately we must come to the end of ourselves and submit to Christ authority. Matthew 6:24-25  “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. “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?

When we do what Jesus has said we will love deeper and greater than ever before. Mark 12:28-31 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

How much God loves us. John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

How we should be known .John 13:34-35  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

How we are to live. John 14:21-24 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”  Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him,  “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

Jesus gave His all so you and I can love. John 15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another

Before we knew Jesus, God showed His love for us. Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Nothing can take us away from the love of God. Romans 8:37-39  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

True love is without hypocrisy. Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Love is not prideful, but humble and helpful. Ephesians 4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Once we love sacrificially we start to live. Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

.

Love is filled with forgiveness.1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

God has done it all, and loves us more than we can know. 1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Love is more than words.1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Love is from God and can only be truly experienced through Him.1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God

Love is always without fear, for Love is selfless. 1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.

In the ESV Bible, Love appears 551 times in 505 verses, you see Love is a gift from God, sex is a pleasure given to us from God. That He made for man and woman, the devil ,has perverted sexual pleasures and uses it against mankind. We have a warped sense of pleasure because our hearts are far from God, men and women view pornography and it affects the way we see each other, how we respond to each other. A pornographic view of sex does nothing more than put performance issues on both people, in which neither will ever be able to achieve, this view leads to broken relationships, inside and outside the marriage bedroom pornography perverts love and makes it a sexual act.

If you have not ever had sex outside of marriage I urge you to hold out until God brings you into a marriage relationship, if you have already experienced sex outside of marriage , you can stop and hold out for your mate and wait on God, first you need to repent. read Psalm 51 and pray what King David prayed, only search yourself and pray this, otherwise they are just words if your not humble and repentant these words mean nothing.

If your marriage is in a free fall, may I boldly say stop looking to each other and turn to God, He 

knows what is going on, ask for His help, His healing, for this to work both parties must take responsibility for their actions and come before God, humble and repentant, and be willing to seek Him first over their own desires and that of their spouse you must be willing to let God work in every area of your lives, there is always more than one issue going on, God wants all of you.

If your addicted to pornography, stop if your single or married , pornography only perverts your perspective and clouds your heart and mind, it has no place in your life again you must be willing to let God work in every area of your lives, there is always more than one issue going on, God wants all of you.

If your struggling with homosexuality, there is hope, and help. Your not forsaken, your not hated, you are loved by Christ, He died for your sins just as He did mine. Your lifestyle to God is no different than someone who is an adulterer, or fornicator, anyone who has sex outside of marriage as God see's it is in a lifestyle of sin, our only hope is in Christ Jesus.

God will only recognize marriage between a man and a woman, I do not care what these dollar store preachers say, the Bible , God's Holy word is clear. Jesus said this Mark 10:6-9 But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'  'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,  and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

If you do not know Jesus as your personal Saviour, I urge right now to do so, He will not make you richer, your life easier, or solve all your financial woes, He will love you, never leave you or forsake you that is a promise God made, and God nailed His promise His only begotten son Jesus  to the cross to take the punishment for our sins and God fulfilled that when Jesus rose again 3 days later.

In Christ.

Pastor Brian Kinnett

*If you have no idea on what it means to be saved, this will help. “For God so loved the world. that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him  

should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

Hard questions don’t have easy answers, but they do have an answer. That answer is ultimately found in the God who created the universe and loves you unconditionally. How do you find that God? How do you reach Him? This is the Good News: God has come looking for you! He has reached out to you! Saying “Yes” to God begins with your desire to respond to His gracious Gift of Jesus Christ. Here are some ways to help you do just that. Discover for yourself life the way it was meant to be. Receive God’s Gift today!

  

First we must Admit that we need a right relationship with God.

Pride keeps us from doing some of the most important things in life. Don’t let your pride keep you from THE most important thing in this life and the next!

As the Scriptures say: “There is no one who always does what is right, not even one….” Romans 3:10, NCV All have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory,… Romans 3:23, NCV

Second we must Believe: Believe that God’s Son Jesus Christ makes possible your having a right relationship with God.

There is nothing that you can do, no matter how good or great, to ever restore your relationship with God.  

God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. 2 Corinthians 5:19, NCV

Third we must Confess your sin to God and accept His forgiveness.  

Everyone of us chooses to live our lives like we want to, taking charge, ignoring God, pleasing ourselves. That’s what separates us from God. That’s why we need His forgiveness.  You can have forgiveness of your sins through Jesus. Acts 13:38, NCV

 Fourth Dedicate yourself as a fully devoted follower of Christ.  

Receiving God’s gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ will set you in a direction exactly opposite of the one you’ve been going in because now you’re following Christ.

Jesus said to all of them, “If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing to give up their lives daily to follow me.” Luke 9:23

Fifth Express your faith in Christ publicly.  

What God does for you in His Son Jesus Christ is the greatest thing that will ever happen to you. It requires a clear confession that you have given Him your very life.

If you use your mouth to say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

If what you have just read expresses what you would like to do in your life, or if you have more questions about Jesus and faith, please contact me 

**You can email me and I will help you find a Bible Believing/teaching church in your area, 

Whose Kingdom do you build?

Today in America we have so many that do not go to churches, and we have many who go to churches, who believe that they will be in heaven when they die.

They believe that because they are born an American it is their birthright to be a christian, or because someone in their family was a christian they are automatically in.

Some believe that they are by nature good people , after all they have not killed anyone, but that is not the only sin there is, and even some believe that because they attend church weekly, or monthly or even once and awhile that God will allow them in.

In John 8 below, Jesus exchanges with the religious leaders of His day, who were also political leaders, and He held them to the standard of salvation that God the Father set, for He is Holy and He is the one who sent Jesus to bring the truth and pay the price for our sins. People have the same self righteous attitude they did, and by doing so they will receive the same end they did.

As you read these verses as the Holy Spirit to reveal in you what you need to surrender to Him to walk about building the kingdom of God and not your own.

I did.

John 8:12-16, 24-58 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.  You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.  Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.  I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”  So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.  I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”  They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.  And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”  As he was saying these things, many believed in him.  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”  Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.  I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”  They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,  but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.  You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.  Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.  You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.  Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?  Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”  The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.  Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.  Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”  The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’  Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’  But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.  Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”  So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Are you one of them??

Today billions of people will attend worship services across this world, most of them seeking God.

  Everyone one of them inperfect and struggling somewhere or somehow in their lives. What they know and have peace with is this ;God is with them, God is for them and God will help them through their struggles.
  It is not that we have perfected life, we have learned to submit to and trust our Creator, God almighty in all things.

Jeremiah 17:5-10 ESV

Thus says the Lord : “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord .   He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.   “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord , whose trust is the Lord .   He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?   “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Stop competing with Christ,

We need to learn to do all things for the cause of Christ, our job is to Love Jesus and those around us, and then make disciples of those God has surrounded us with, whether your a Pastor, teacher or layman , (we all are at least one of these.) This is your mission.

  And God in His infinite mercy and timing has put you where you are . Whether you're speaking to 1 or 1000 be satisfied in Christ. Do not fret over what others do, but do what God has called you to do and do it where He put you.

John the baptist had the right heart, see how he responded when others came to him and said Jesus is baptizing more than you.

John 3:25-30 ESV

Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

We are not in a competition with Jesus or others, we are simply to serve Jesus out of love. If we want to live a life of abundance and satisfaction,it can only be found in Christ alone.

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.

Why do we even pray?

Why do we pray, when we do not want to change our ways, unless we; who are called by His name intend to reform we might as well not even pray for revival. Unless we have the insight and faith to amend our whole way of life we waste our time on fruitless prayer, as we bring our useless sacrifices to God saying, look Lord what we bring to you revive us!

We cry for but then we live in partial disobedience in a moral climate of acceptability of Hollywood morals : Oh church wake up!

See what God has said to prophets of old ,the same word He spoke to them He speaks to us today. God's wrath will come, He waited 400 years after He decimated Israel to send Jesus, we have received the word of truth, but ignore Him like they did.

Isaiah 1:2-7, 9-20 HCSB

Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the Lord has spoken: “I have raised children  and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s feeding trough, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.” Oh sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, brood of evildoers, depraved children! They have abandoned  the Lord ; they have despised  the Holy One of Israel; they have turned their backs on Him. Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep on rebelling? The whole head is hurt, and the whole heart is sick. From the sole of the foot even to the head, no spot is uninjured  — wounds, welts, and festering sores not cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil. Your land is desolate, your cities burned with fire; foreigners devour your fields before your very eyes — a desolation demolished by foreigners. If the Lord of Hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would resemble Gomorrah. Hear the word of the Lord , you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! “What are all your sacrifices to Me? ” asks the Lord . “I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no desire for the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. When you come to appear before Me, who requires this from you — this trampling of My courts? Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies  — I cannot stand iniquity  with a festival. I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals. They have become a burden to Me; I am tired of putting up with them. When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. “Come, let us discuss this,” says the Lord . “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.