Finding Joy

Greetings, My Friends;

I must tell another story about myself, because I believe there, are a few people that are having the same types of problems that I have. If you are a regular reader, you probably know that I believe I write these messages by direction of the Holy Spirit.

The other day I told my wife that I felt something was missing in my life. She promptly told me that I have a great blessing from the Holy Spirit, but I seem to lack joy about it. She said I seemed nonchalant about it all. I explained to her that since I felt led to write these messages, it was almost like I wasn't involved. She reminded me that the relationship with the Holy Spirit is what counts, not how I feel.

A little later I wrote as a heading on a blank sheet of paper for the next days message, the word joy. Well, the next day when I sit down to write, I drew a blank. The message did not come to me as it always did. I was puzzled. I started writing about something else.

Well, that day. I asked the Holy Spirit to tell me what the reason was for the missing feeling that troubled me. The rest of that day, he let me stew about it. The next morning during my prayer time, I asked him where the joy was in my life. The answer came immediately. He told me that I was not truly thankful, or appreciating my blessings. If I was thankful with all my heart, I would have joy, and no more missing something.

I was guilty. When I thought about it, and got over the shock of the truth, I knew in my heart that I had the answer. Everyday I had been thanking God for all the blessings and miracles in my life. I meant it, every time, but as I examined it, I could see that it was more like a reaction. Kind of like if someone says you have a nice shirt on, you automatically say thanks.

That may seem a little harsh, but it is true. Most of us say the right words, but they are hollow. If you really study the Bible, and really focus on Jesus, the words will come alive and you will live in constant joy. The whole trick is to concentrate on Jesus, when you talk to Him. Think about what you are saying.

Just remember, even if you can quote the Bible chapter and verse, it means nothing if not spoken in love from the heart. Even Satan can quote the Bible. In order for any prayers to be answered,  you must know  the power you have through Jesus. Be thankful for it, and pray with love in your heart.

The Holy Spirit always answers prayers, do not ask Unless you are ready for the truth. Do not dismiss his answer. If you put pride aside and really examine what he says , you will agree and it will change your life. I guarantee you will have joy in your heart and no more missing feelings.

God bless you and remember,

Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive Your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

Servants of God

Greetings, My Friends;

Last Sunday after services, it was announced that the men's group would be starting a 19 week study of the healing ministry started over 100 years ago by John G Lake. When I heard about this I had to check it out. Since I am not available for the weekly meeting, I would study on my own. I ordered 2 books written by Lake, but got the Kindle edition, because I wanted them as soon as possible.

I plan on studying a chapter at a time and really sticking to it until I know exactly what the chapter means. The 1st chapter was a doozy. He was talking about such a a commitment for faith only, no doctors, no medicine, just unshakable faith.

He gave a brief description of his journey to reach the point where he consecrated his life to Jesus. Jesus became his whole life.

I have enjoyed reading materials by Spurgeon, Wigglesworth and others. The conclusion I have reached is that these men were touched by God much the same way the apostles were. Their faith and actions were something far beyond the ordinary person. Since faith comes from God, he must've picked out the people he knew would stay the course and bring perhaps millions to Jesus.

At one time, I felt a little envious of people like that. I have learned a lot since then. We all have a level that we arrive at. I believe God takes everyone at the pace that they can handle. Everyone knows what they should do. The spirit guides us and if we follow the spirits leading we progress to the next step. If you follow your carnal mind, you probably won't make very much progress. If any.

I don't know about anyone else, but I enjoy reading about these great Christian leaders. I read about their trials and tribulations, and their great successes. Funny thing is that what really gets my spirit happy is seeing how the Lord took these people and turned them into examples of what the power of God can do in a person's life.

If you're anything like me, and read these stories, you have to realize that if you follow the word, you will end up somewhere between where you are and where they were. Praise the Lord!

God bless you and remember,

Jesus loves you.

Prayer Of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive Your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

Gods Timing

Greetings, My Friends;

Today I'll talk about a problem I think most of us have, that problem concerns, patience, faith, trust, and just plain waiting on God.

Galatians 6:9, "and let us not weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we don't lose heart."

1 Corinthians 1:7, "so that you come short in no gift,  eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Whether we pray for someone else, or for ourselves, waiting for the manifestation of what we pray for can be difficult. The more you want something, the harder it seems to get.

What we don't realize is our impatience can  sometimes lead to doubt. Lack of faith or doubt blocks God in what he is asked to do for us. If we wait long enough, and  that is usually because we don't get out of the way and let God do it , we sometimes make the fatal mistake of trying to do it on our own. This spells disaster.

What we have to get into our heads, and that is harder for some than others, is the fact that God has a plan for each of us. . The key to answered prayer besides faith,  is to get out of the way. God's plan for each of us was put into effect before there even was an earth. He had a plan for each. His plan was unbeatable.

God knows our needs and wants. His plan was designed to take care of everything. He put desires in our hearts and waits for us to act on it, ask, and step aside. If you think you wait long for God to do His part, think about how  long God waits for you to do your part.

When you ask in Jesus name, and believe enough to stay out of it, God goes to work. Remember, He operates in the spiritual world. He starts to line everything up and bring it all together. When it comes together, you have what you ask. Joel Osteen is an example of a puzzle, being put together. An example I like to use, is a human body and the way it functions. Each cell, taking its turn in proper sequence to function properly,  Is how  God's plan works. Everything at the right time. That timing is perfect.

You may think you're too old to wait for God's timing, you aren't. I found out a long time ago. that a year of God's plan is so much better than a lifetime of mine. God sees the whole picture, including the perfect result. We only see our nose. Which plan do you want to pick? Remember the old saying, timing is everything!

God bless you and remember,

 Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive Your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

Child Meets Angel

Greetings, My Friends;

This is a story about two little girls, and their encounter with a stranger in the year 1951. Rita was 7 and her sister Margie was 6. Whenever they were together, Rita was in charge because she was older.

One Sunday as they were leaving church, they saw a girl from school named Virginia. Virginia was probably the most popular girl in school, so when she asked Rita if she wanted to go home with her, Rita couldn't believe her ears. She was so excited that Virginia would want her company that without thinking, she quickly said yes.

Poor Margie had no choice but to follow Rita. Rita, by the way, was very accustomed to acting on impulse. At the time she knew all to well that if she was late coming home from church, she would face an angry mother. Being Virginia's friend was worth it in her disobedient little mind.

As the 3 girls walked along, they were busy talking and laughing. Rita and Margie paid no attention to where they were going. When they got to Virginia's House, she said goodbye and ran into the house, leaving Rita and Margie standing there like 2 little dummies in shock.

Rita’s little heart sank into despair. Not only was she in big trouble with her mother, but Virginia played a nasty trick on her and Margie. Poor little Margie, had no idea what was happening. Now what are we going to do Rita thought, my mom is going to kill me.

When they turned around to go home, nothing looked familiar. They were lost. They kept walking until they got to a lagoon. They had no idea where they were going. They were petrified.

The girls started to cry. They were lost and afraid of what their mother would say. What if they could never find their home again? They cried so hard, tears looked like raindrops falling into the lagoon. Finally, they saw a man looking at them. The girls thought he looked ancient. He was about 60 years old. His face was kind and sweet, and he had a small neat beard. He had a warm smile and his eyes kind of sparkled. He wore a nice suit and vest. It didn't look new, but he looked elegant anyway. He gave them the impression that everything was all right.

In spite of their mother's warnings not to talk to strangers, they did not run away. When he approached them, he asked in a soft, gentle way, why they were crying. They told him that they were lost, and did not know how to get home. He asked where they lived, but they didn't know. He asked where they came from, and they mentioned the name of the church. He took their hands gently, and they started to walk. After a couple of blocks they were at the church. At that point they knew how to get home. They turned around to thank him, but he was nowhere in sight.

To this day, Rita, who happens to be my wife, is convinced that that kind man was really an angel. I guess I am convinced too.

God bless you, and remember,

Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive your word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with your spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

Ambassador for Christ 3

Greetings, My Friends,

Another, and perhaps one of the most successful ways to witness, is to be friendly. By friendly, I do not mean go overboard and try to be so friendly that the person you're talking to gets scared or tries to hide his wallet.

We run across opportunities every day. Cashiers in busy stores are perfect people to talk to. Even if they appear to be in a good mood, they could use a few kind or encouraging words. Saying something like, it looks like they keep you really busy.  Another is, "I don't think I could do your job, even when I was young."  If the cashier reacts in a positive way, I usually tell them to have a blessed day. I have seen many faces turn to happy faces by that phrase.

If you have a lot in your cart, and the person behind you has only a couple of items, let them go ahead of you. Tell them something like, go ahead of me, praise the Lord. I am in no hurry. You will get more positive reactions.

Waitresses are abused a lot. Most of the time they are just targets for mean-spirited people who rely on the fact that she can't defend herself. Be cheerful, kind, and generous. Some positive, sincere remarks can turn her day around. Don't be afraid to say thank you.

There are many people you see every day. Be nice and be patient with all of them, no matter who they are or how they look. I was approached a half a dozen times or so by someone looking for money. They walk up to you in a parking lot, give you a sob story and ask for a couple of bucks. It used to be that if I was suspicious of them, I didn't give it to them. Then one day I realized I was judging them, and I had no right to do that. It was between him and God, not me. Now I give 10 and say to them, the Lord has blessed me, and now He blesses you.

The last 3 messages show a number of situations. There are many opportunities every day to be Jesus representative. Represent him well.

In conclusion, you may wonder about who to talk to or what to say.  Don't worry.  Do what I do, rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance. If you do that with love in your heart, you will be blessed. Always remember that people judge all Christians by what they see. When they look at you, let them see a reflection of Jesus. You will know in your heart when you should speak and what to say. Praise the Lord!

God bless you and remember,

Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive Your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

Ambassador for Christ. 2

Greetings, My Friends;

If you want to witness for Jesus, there are a number of ways you can do it. It is not absolutely necessary to quote the Bible or stand on a street corner and preach. I relate what I did in the past, or what I am doing now. I give it in the context of examples. These are only a couple of the many possibilities.

About 5 years ago, I was a volunteer in a local hospital. I was a patient transporter. For those of you who are unfamiliar with that term, I will explain. A transporter takes people from admitting to their rooms, takes patience for tests, takes discharge patients to the front door and sees that transport home is waiting.

It is an interesting job because you meet  every kind of person, and every age. Happy to go home, irritated about going for tests, and scared to be admitted.

Because of these situations, I always tried to adapt  to the person. If they were coming in  I was always positive, with them. If they wanted to talk, I listened. I would also tell them how good the hospital is, and how far medicine has come, and even one or two of my health problems and their successful conclusion.

If a patient was going for tests, again I would listen. Depending on their attitude, I might agree with them, and end up telling them how important all of these tests are. Sometimes I would talk to take their minds off of tests for a few minutes.

When I got a call to a room where someone was going home, I knew  they were likely to be in a very good mood. I would walk into the room and announce that I was sent to spread a little sunshine. As I was getting the person set up in the wheelchair, adjusting the foot rest and such, I would say to them; you must be pretty important to this hospital, because they sent their best transporter to help you leave. All of the above, usually got  several smiles and pleasant talk.

The next message will be a couple of other ways and will probably conclude this topic. In conclusion I will tie it all together to show how it really is witnessing for Jesus.

God bless you and remember,

Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive Your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

Ambassador for Christ

Greetings My Friends;

If you were to ask the average church going Christian about witnessing for Jesus, they would probably tell you that they think they should. If you ask them how, they will probably tell you what they heard in church. Ring doorbells, pass out tracts. I am not saying that this is wrong, it is just one way, it doesn't work very well for some people.

A while back I was talking to a couple I have known for a long time. As is normal, they asked how everything is going. I know when someone asks that, they don't really want to know. They shouldn't have asked me, because I will break the unwritten rule, and actually tell them.

When I mentioned my ministry, you would think I was talking about the social life of a germ. They couldn't be less interested, and changed the subject at the speed of light. It did not phase me. The brief meeting became even briefer, because they obviously were uncomfortable.

When I started my ministry, I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me, tell me what to say, and for him to do the rest. That included finding the right people to hear the message. I believe that if you are reading this message, it is part of his plan.

A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from the couple, I referred to earlier. The man asked me how they could find me online. I told him, and that was all I said about it. A week ago, I received another call. This time, they told me that they have read almost all of the messages. The comment "it's really cool. You are really blessed." They said. The blessed part 3 times.

To make a long story short, it shows me that the Holy Spirit is working. He tells me, and I do. I just write,  He does the rest. I plant the seed, and He makes it grow.

I guess I got off track a little bit, but I will get back on track with the next message. I will relate alternative ways to be a witness for Christ.

God bless you and remember,

Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come in to my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

The Trinity Prayers

Greetings, My Friends;

It has recently come to my attention that some believers are not sure about which member of the Holy Trinity to pray to. I will give you a short definition of how I see it. Again, this is my opinion.

Just for the sake of giving an example of the Holy Trinity, and how I think it functions, I use the example of a family man. He is a husband, father, and provider. When someone in the family needs or wants something, they generally do not think too much about who to ask. It is one person filling three shoes.

God the Father is the creator. He is primarily concerned about all of His creations. He keeps everything working properly. He sets events and limits on everything that most people refer to as nature. He controls circumstances and such for His number one creation. He determines if we are rich or poor, where we live, how long we live and  who will be called to salvation. This is certainly not all, but I think you get the idea.

Jesus the Christ is primarily associated with salvation and miracles. He died for our sins and rose again so that we can have eternal life. He said that He only did what the Father told Him to do. Jesus was a teacher, a miracle worker, and a sacrificial lamb. He loved the father and the Father loved Him. He was sent here to redeem God's people and to prepare them to go back to the Father.

The Holy Spirit is the power, helper and guide. He comes to dwell in us with salvation. He's a quiet little voice inside of us. If we talk to Him, He will talk to us. He helps us whenever we ask Him, bails us out even if we didn't ask Him, and patiently waits for us to come to our senses. He will help us to understand the Bible. He will direct our prayers to the Lord, and even helps us to pray. As it is with God, he will not step in most times unless we ask. I say most times, because if we are in serious danger He will protect us.

When I pray, I got into the habit of talking to Jesus, as I would a best friend. I tell Him what is in my heart, I thank Him, I ask for help, or whatever else.

When I speak to the Father, it usually is something that I really want. The reason for that is, it is written; Jesus said whatever you ask the Father in My Name, believing , you will receive what you ask. I believe the father, and answers prayers when we ask in Jesus name. He will not refuse.

I pray to the Holy Spirit in Jesus name. I ask for help, guidance, healing for myself and others. I pray in tongues which is a gift of the Holy Spirit. I think it is the most powerful because the Holy Spirit is involved. I also talk to Him the same way. I talk to Jesus.

The bottom line is, whichever member of the Trinity, you pray to , unless your prayer is for something that will harm you in some way, if you believe you will receive.

God bless you and remember,

Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive Your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

The Treasure Chest

Greetings, My Friends;

There are many Christians today who are not aware of what they have been given by God. They wander around under bondage, like everyone. They have a life that is far less than it should be. They live in despair.

As I thought about this problem, it made no sense. I thought about the best way to help some of these unfortunates understand. Then that little voice inside told me about a treasure chest.

When you are born again the Lord gives you a magnificent treasure chest. He also presents you with the key of faith. Whether you use the key or not is up to you. Let's say you do.

You open the chest and take out a book. It is the Word of God. It is called the Bible. It has been referred to as a love letter from God. Another description is that it is an instruction manual to get you to eternal life. It tells you all the other treasures in the chest, and what to do with them.

The next treasure is love. In order to unlock all the treasures, you need love. The key by itself doesn't work very well. It needs love to make it work. Love for God, love for family, love for friends, even love for enemies. Love the unlovable.

As you get into the chest, you find health. Perfect health as God created it to be. If you didn't know this before, and you got sick, the cure is also there. The Holy Spirit came with the chest. If you use love and the key and accept your healing, the Holy Spirit will see that you receive it.

The next item is prosperity. The blessings also include no lack in your life. It works just like everything else. Love, key, Holy Spirit, and receive.

The chest has so many blessings that you may not realize just what is in there. You open a box containing prayer. The lid said open in emergency, but you can use it for anything you need. Sooner or later you will recognize that this treasure chest never runs out. It seems to fill up faster than you can empty it. No matter how much of something you take, there is always a lot more left.  It truly is a never ending supply.

Don't get to heaven and find out there that all of the blessings you could have had here. If you get in the Word, choose to accept what it says, you won't miss anything. Praise the Lord.

God bless you and remember,

 Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

Lunch With God

Bring Potato Chips

Take 60 seconds to read this story. It will give you time to settle your
brain, gather your thoughts, calm down and finish your week off on a
positive note.

Potato Chips

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God
lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack
of root beer and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in
the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and
opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he
noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him some chips He
gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.

His smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered
him a root beer. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat
there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word..

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to
leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran
back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile
ever..

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother
was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you
do today that made you so happy?"
He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he
added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son
was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, "dad, what did
you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before his
son responded, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of
which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives
for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!
Have lunch with God.......bring chips.

Send this to people who have touched your life in a special way. Let them
know how important they are. I did!!!!

God still sits on the throne. You may be going through a tough time right
now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep
the faith!

My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless, and I
picked you.

Please pass this to at least four people you want to be blessed. This prayer
is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no
cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another.

Here is the prayer:

Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and e-mail buddies reading
this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy
Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where
there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt,
release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Bless their homes,
families, finances, their goings and their comings. In Jesus' precious name,
Amen.

I know I picked more than four, so can you!

Trials of Faith

Greetings, My Friends,

Today I would like to tell you about some of the trials of faith that I have experienced in the past, and will probably go through again. I tell you about these because I'm sure other people are in the same boat.

Let's start with feeling the presence of the Lord in my life.  Most of the time I don't have an overwhelming feeling. I do however have a feeling of total peace in my heart and my mind. Fear as we commonly call being afraid or worried about something has no place in my life. I choose to believe the Lord is with me always, because he said so.

Trust is another subject that involves daily life. A problem may come up. My first reaction is one I am constantly working on. I try to take care of it myself.  Most of the time that solution doesn't help, or the problem gets worse. Usually when I am in deep enough, I call on the Lord. He always helps. I know I should call on him first, and I always feel stupid when I get in a jam because I didn't.

Another trust issue involves things like desires of your heart. Sometimes I forget that he puts a desire in my heart, so He also has a plan. I hate to use the excuse of being human, but I am and I will. I say I trust, and I really try, but sometimes he doesn't work fast enough. My first mistake is thinking about how to make it happen. Does the Titanic story ring a bell? I forget sometimes that while I am working on a solution, the Lord backs off. If I want Him to work, I must step back out of the picture. Here is where patience comes in handy. His timing is perfect. Mine isn't. Praise the Lord, I am getting better.

Prayer is something I do regularly. I was raised in a church with all sorts of prayers and rituals. After the age of 13, when I no longer attended church school, I no longer attended the church.

Many years later I started praying by accident. I don't even know when it started. Even before I was saved, I started talking, to God every once in a while. Since I was born again, I do it all the time. When I talk to the Lord, it really is a prayer from my heart. My mind doesn't wander, and praying for someone else is more sincere. That's what works for me. I am a child of God, and I talk to my father.

If you're anything like me, there is still hope for us all. Praise the Lord!

God bless you and remember

Jesus loves you,

Prayer Of  Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe, with all of my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

Seek Ye First

Greetings My Friends;

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you "

Just what is the verse talking about? This used to puzzle me a lot, so I started to investigate. When I have questions, I turn to the study Bibles. There are different versions with different Bible scholars, and the explanations may differ slightly. I put them together in my mind and try to come up with an answer that covers them all. In this case. One study Bible says it refers to salvation, and another says it is righteousness. The Hebrew and Greek dictionary referred to kingdom as realm, dominion and rulership.

The way I understand the Bible, with salvation comes righteousness. This is associated with, which is the realm or domain of God. You don't have one without the other. When I ask myself how I receive all of this, I again turn to the Bible.

Romans 10:9, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Ephesians 2:8 – 9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest anyone should boast"

Romans 10:10 "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved "

I believe there is no one way people come to know Jesus as Savior, because we are saved by grace, which is a gift, I believe the Lord gives these gifts in different ways. He knows the best way to enlightenment each one to accept salvation. One person may pick up a Bible and find Jesus that way. Another may have talked to a friend, heard a preacher on TV, or any of a dozen different ways. The only thing they all have in common is that all must accept Jesus as personal Savior.

When you are saved it is a very good idea to get in the word, everyday. Get a good study Bible to help you to understand. Since we also receive the Holy Spirit when we are saved, ask Him for understanding before you read. Keep yourself focused on the prize, eternity with the Lord. The more you focus on God and live the Bible, the more blessings and favor, you will receive. You will be able to handle all things through Christ who strengthens you.

As you read the Bible, read the explanations too. Do not read the Bible as you would a book. The Bible is the sacred Word of God, treat it as such. As you do these things, you will become a light to those you meet, especially your family.

Everyone has trials, but trials are not a disaster to those who focus on the Lord. Live your life with spiritual eyes and mind and you will be one in spirit with God.

In conclusion, the opposite world is the carnal one. It is run by Satan and he hates God. He hates you too because you love and trust God. Remember that Satan has no power over you. You belong to God, and in Jesus name, Satan must flee. A word of warning.  Satan is persistent, and he will lie and tempt and try to put doubt in your mind. While he is doing this he is in great fear of the name of Jesus. God has given you all of the tools and the grace to use them. Make your number one goal to find out as much as you can about the Lord through His Word.

God bless you and remember,

 Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive Your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

God Keeps His Word

Greetings, My Friends;

This may sound like an unusual title, but it fits. Time for another true story. This one concerns a very close relative, who we will call Laura for this story.

 Laura and her husband have been struggling financially, for a number of years. About a year ago, her husband found the Lord. He knew Christ, but he wasn't fully committed yet. Due to some less than wonderful years since childhood, Laura was afraid of God, and wanted no part of Him.

Over the last year or so, her husband slowly brought God into the picture. Even though they had been working very hard to start a small business, they had no success. Well one day they actually sold something. They decided to give a little something to a charity for children.

Well, a couple of months went by with minor success. Each time they made a little extra, they gave a little. They were having trouble paying their bills, but they still gave. While all of this was going on, Laura was looking for a job. There was one job she  really wanted, so she applied as instructed. We told her to ask God for the job, then claim it as hers. She did, although we didn't know how she really felt, we did too.

Well, a few more months went by with no job. Then one day a couple of weeks ago, her husband needed a part for his car. Laura never went with him for parts before, but this time she did. Right next door to the auto parts place was a temporary hiring location for the very company she wanted. She filled out an application.

A couple of days went by and they called her. She again claimed the job and went for an interview. 2 days later they called her for a 2nd interview. She was about to leave her house on the appointed day, when she got a phone call telling  her the appointment is canceled because the interviewer would not be there. Again, she was told to come back in 2 days.

Laura was disappointed, but held onto her claim. Once she got to the second interview, they told her that a problem came up and they cannot interview. They told her to call back in a couple of days.  At this point, Laura called up heartbroken and crying. She could not understand what happened. She said  she told a few friends that she claimed the job,  how could she not have it?

To make a long story short, she was called in a couple of days later and interviewed. Again, another 2 days, but this time she was hired. The job she got was better than the one she applied for. Is God incredible, or what?

God bless you and remember,

Jesus loves you,

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive Your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

Mamma's Prayer

Greetings, My Friends;

Today I would like to give you a copy of the prayer that my wife's mother wrote years and years ago. I really don't know if she copied it from some book or if she wrote it herself. It really has been an inspiration to my wife and myself. As a matter of fact, we read it every day during our prayer time together. If you read it and stop to analyze each paragraph. I think you'll find it really tells you a lot. It's easy to compare it to some of the verses in the Bible or the things you may have read in inspirational types of books.

We spend too much time in the  dimension of possibility and not enough time in the dimension of certainty.

Faith permits us to participate in that which God has already brought to pass in himself!

Jesus is the door by us. We were justified by trusting in his finished work and we live righteously by trusting in his life within us.

Knowing that the living God is living his life through me has opened the door to freedom and liberty!

Pray for somebody.

If the Lord leads me to the area of healing, I no longer experience gripping fear that prevents my moving in faith. I now see myself as a channel of the living God's love and power. When I look through the eyes of love, instead of fear, I see God's point of view. All I do is pray and leave the results, works, and credits to him.

Well, that's it. I hope you get as much out of it as my wife and I do. In our case, it kind of gives us a boost for the day.

God bless you, and remember, Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven, I believe with all my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive Your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."

Thoughts

Greetings, My Friends;

Today, the message is about something that can be complicated or even confusing. That subject is thoughts. Where do they come from, and how do they affect us.

First, we have random thoughts. Usually these occur while we are relaxing. We get all kinds of thoughts going on in our heads. Some make sense because of certain things going on in our lives, and others seem to make no sense at all. It is as if our brain is looking for something to latch onto. I guess this would explain why when you ask someone what they are thinking, they say, "nothing in particular."

The next group of thoughts takes place when you consciously make an effort to decide about something. I consider thoughts to be suggestions the brain makes. As these suggestions race through our heads, the brain changes gears and tries to pick out the best options. The thoughts keep coming until a satisfactory solution is arrived at.

Another group of thoughts occurs when we look at what is going on around us. Our thoughts tell us if we like something or not. Is it pleasant to look at? Does it feel good, such as a cool breeze on a warm day? Would we change what we see in any way? Does what we see matter at all to us?

Another kind of thought can lead to good or bad results. Thoughts have a way of multiplying in your brain. Let's say you decide to do a particular thing. Your brain starts giving you suggestions. For this scenario, let us assume you don't like someone. Your thoughts latch onto this. As you pick out certain suggestions from your brain, it now starts to focus on your choices and gives more extreme suggestions. The process keeps building unless you stop it with a conscious effort. All kinds of bad things can occur if you don't.

The same is true of positive thoughts. They build the same way as negative thoughts. As you pick these suggestions, you feel more and more positive about whatever you first thought of. Again, you must recognize what is happening and control it, or your thoughts will run amok and lead to disaster. Even the best thoughts and end up in disaster. You can arrive in a situation that is totally overwhelming.

You can also direct your thoughts as I call it your brain suggestions. Whatever your initial idea is, if you dwell on it, even for a very short time the process starts.  Pornography, gambling, starting a business, or shopping, as examples. If you don't control the original lot, the brain considers everything the same. It will keep building on these suggestions you accept until you stop it, or act on it. Sin and disaster follows in most cases.

One more thing.  Let's say you are reading the Bible. The thought comes to you that it is too hard to understand. Do I really believe this stuff? Or another example a little more extreme. Say you are a few stories up and looking down. If you ask 10 people, 5 would probably say that for a split second, they thought that they should jump.

Thoughts like these bother, many Christians. They come out of nowhere, or do they? By their very nature they are against the word of God.  As such, you can be sure they come from Satan.  At this point, I tell Satan that these thoughts are his and not mine, and I reject them in Jesus name. Just praise the Lord and rest in him. They are not your thoughts, so you are not guilty.

As you can see, thoughts help solve problems, but they can also lead to destruction. Thoughts will come to you many times, but you do not have to accept any of them. Stay in the word and you will be just fine.

God bless you and remember,

Jesus loves you.

Prayer of Salvation;

"Oh God in heaven.  I believe with all my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I receive your word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with your spirit, in Jesus name. Amen."