Paul’s letter to the Romans indicates the worship of things in creation themselves—not just their images—is wrong in the eyes of God (Romans 1:25).

Paul also warns the Colossians against worshipping other supernatural beings: “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize” (Colossians 2:18).  The prize of being rewarded in the Eternity, the Kingdom of God.

Jesus expanded the definition of “other gods” to include concepts in addition to images, living things and other supernatural beings. In Matthew 6:24, He warns against the worship of material things. “No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money”.

He’s not talking about money in your pocket, but the very personification of wealth, (especially wealth gained through greediness), the love of which, in modern terminology, is “materialism.”

The dangers of worshipping material things are fully outlined in the story of the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-26) who turned away totally from Christ because he could not part with his wealth.

The insignificance of “wealth” in all that it implies is better said this way:  “Better to be spiritually wealthy than to be spiritually bankrupt. Amen.”

This is better illustrated in the Psalmist who proudly proclaims in Psalm 84:10:   

“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Who can argue with the LORD and His love? Who would want to? 

Ostensibly, there are those who don’t aspire to serve Him, or to please Him, or even believe in Him.  Sadly, that is  a fact that is becoming alarmingly more and more apparent. Just turn on the news to confirm this.  Conversely, there are many followers who DO hear His voice and He knows them and Shepherds them gladly.  (Yes, green pastures – Psalm 23)

Being pleasing to the Father, and staying on the righteous path, in which He intends for each of us ,are rewarding here on earth, but will be even more so, in the life to come where we will be welcomed home.

Remember, He loves us…and He is there for us always.

So, turn from those things that are “distracting you” and keeping you from God. These can become “our modern day idols of todays world” if we allow them.

Put down that cell phone, stop texting, stop looking at Facebook long enough to worship, love, and exalt the Father.

O’ Yes…For He is so worthy.

O’ Yes…For He is so beautiful.

O’ Yes…For He is so amazing.

Turn to Him and thank Him endlessly, for He is Holy, and wonderful, and He is our Father.

And my goodness gracious, how He loves us with a love that surpasses all others.

What have you done for Him today? 

Love Him and thank Him right now…Give it up for the One that has done so much for us…and continues to this very day.

Listen, Do you hear Him?

Amen and Amen!

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⁶ Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.

⁷ For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.

⁸ If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

⁹ Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

Romans 14:6-9 (NLT)

We are His and He is ours. We belong to Him. We are His creation. We are the reason He sent His only begotten Son.

He knew us before we were put into our mother’s womb. (Jeremiah 1:5 ) And from the moment we were created we became HIS.  Even those who freely choose “not to follow Him” are His children. All things were created by Him and for His pleasure, (Rev 4:11) and we are called to follow Him and His voice — “my sheep know my voice and they follow me” (John 10:27).

Don’t you see and understand my brothers and sisters?  We are His and always were and always will be.

Now the path we choose to take is entirely up to us, and should we choose to “not follow Him” (which is so hard to fathom for a Christian, but nonetheless it happens with disparaging frequency) then the consequences as we are called into judgment will not be without repercussions that will be life altering.

In simple terms, in John 14:6  ” Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Which means yes, we do belong to Him, but by choice we decide ultimately if we accept Him or ignore Him…and hence the “life altering” choice becomes heir apparent.

Looking back in my life I see that God was always with me.  He always held me in His arms.  He was the source of comfort through trials and tears, and through hard times and good times.  He was the inspiration behind my writing, He was the One behind my choice of career for the geriatric population in nursing homes, He was the One that opened my eyes and ears at a very early age.  And, He is the ONE who walks in front of me, beside me, and holds me up with His right hand of righteousness.

For every season, every event in my life and in your life…He is there, Amen!

He is gentle and kind and compassionate and loving.  He won’t push, He won’t force…instead He waits gently and calls to you softly.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev: 3:20)

The Lord looks at every believer as His most important, most valuable possession. With that in mind God’s Word brings us great comfort as we consider the theme: We belong to the LORD from the very moment we were created by Him. It is by God’s free grace we belong to the Him:

I. In our earthly life, and;

II. In our eternal life.

Listen, for He is knocking…won’t you please let Him in?

“Lord my King and Creator of the Universe, thank You for Your love, guidance and patience, and thank You for never giving up on us, in Jesus name, Amen.”

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Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Proverbs 3:5-8 (KJV)

Perhaps you’ve been told that as a Christian you must learn to “trust in the Lord with all your heart.” But in truth, this famous passage from Proverbs 3 contains more than just a general statement about living. Instead, you’ll find the steps you need each day to truly walk with God, and to live in full capacity in which the LORD meant.

We’re living in a world where trust must be earned and seemingly in short supply. However, Solomon, the famous king who wrote Proverbs, expressed from his heart about trusting in the LORD, and he knew that trust is exactly where we must start.

But sometimes some individuals may struggle with trust, and feel that trusting Him completely like that can be difficult, if not possible.

But if each day we open our hearts and consciously lay aside our own plans and expectations—and surrender to His plans for us–we will slowly unfold the layers of self-doubt and reveal our inner selves which is our heart and soul, and consequently “love” for the LORD.

Surrendering to God begins with our lips and our thoughts. We need more than a commitment to depend on Him; we need to cry out to Him to show that dependence.

When we pray, we must admit that His ways are higher than ours. We  then show that we’re leaving our troubles and burdens and dreams in His very  capable and loving  hands. In fact, the Bible promises that when we reach out to Him in prayer, He hears us:
“Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. ” (Psalm 55:17)

Sometimes, the only way to live the life God wants us to live is by separating ourselves from the bad influences that keep dragging us down. That works the best when we start pursuing something else in their place:
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Fleeing from evil desires that pull at us means spending a lot of time crying out to God and leaning on Him. But our Creator promises to honor our commitment to Him when we shun evil.

When we pursue Him, we find life—abundant life. Running from evil and pursuing God doesn’t come naturally to most of us. Instead, it means we have to make a serious change or changes in our life. Sometimes that means a different occupation, or a different way of living in terms of who we build relationships with, or what we engage in for recreational purposes. Or what we view on television or in the movies.  It’s all connected to living a life dedicated to the LORD and what His will and purpose is for each of us, and of course all according to His timing.

When Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit– He told His disciples it would be their Counselor and it would be their spiritual compass or GPS:
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

As we go through our day, this same Holy Spirit guides us, too. That means we don’t have to go it alone or hope we’re getting it right. No, the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth and protects us:
“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Timothy 1:14)

The gifts of the Holy Spirit to us believers reminds us that we can truly… Rest in God’s Love and trust Him with all of our heart and soul.  Surrender to Him and begin the best journey in your life that will lead to eternal rewards, Amen!

As we are called to His purpose for all things according to His plan and will for our lives, so too are we one body with Christ.  So too we all have different gifts and different assignments while here on earth, but we are all one body in alignment with His Word, and His will.

Each of us has a purpose while here on earth and when we adhere to the Spirit’s guidance and will we are working as a team each with a goal and area in which He sends us.

With various gifts and talents we explore the tangibles in which we are sent and we plant the seeds in ways of which He wants us to.

Some may have a talent for teaching/preaching, others may be counselors, still others may be writers getting the word out to many through devotionals or poems, or expressions of love and glory to God.

We just need to realize that there is no perfect “church” and no perfect “person” for only One Being is such, and that is our Holy and Sovereign Father.  He is our Church, He is the Perfect One, and He is whom we are called upon to spread the word and love in the way He decides we should.

As a “whole body” of Christ…each part has a role, and when combined it is comprised of a whole body, and that whole body is Christ.

So go out and embrace the gifts given you and tell of His love and glory in the way you can, in the way the LORD wants us to, each one as important and crucial as the next. No one better, all equal on the playing field and growing field of Christ.

Do you know what your talents and gifts are?  Well what are you waiting for, start spreading the Word!  For when we are done here on earth our rewards in the Kingdom of God will be everlasting for all Eternity.

Praise you LORD and Hallelujah!

Amen~

1 John 1:4-5 (KJV)

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:4,5, NASB).

The Lord is not at all troubled by the darkness, so why should we? We are His children who are under His Sovereign rule, so again, why should we be troubled?

As children of the Great I AM, we see His light through it all.  No matter what is going on in the world. No matter what is happening before our eyes, we are able to see the light beyond the devastation.

In His own time He carries out His plan for distributing His Light throughout the world, and His time is perfect at all times.  His plan is splendid, above all, and at all times.

Early on He decided on the means that would/will dissolve the darkness. He easily could have shown forth His light and awed all. Instead, however, the Lord chose to have His light shine through  various vessels that would/will reveal His light. The degree that the vessel’s reception of the light be clear and the windows that open to the world clean, God’s own light will shine into the world.

We are vessels and as such have the blessings of being an ambassador to the LORD by carrying out His plan and shining His light to be an example to all we encounter.

Jesus is the way, the light, and the truth…when we ascribe to His doctrine and apply His ways into our ways, we are doing what we are called to do.

Darkness?  I don’t think so.  Only light!

So shine your light because the LIGHT of the world shines His…

Amen.

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.  Jeremiah 17:14 (KJV)

We are God’s children comprised of flesh and blood, but encased within our flesh is the Spirit of the LORD– that is….should we accept Him as our LORD and Savior. And, when we do, we come under grace, and are saved.

When we call upon the LORD for help in all of our circumstances, by His grace we are saved, and by His grace we are healed.

We are sinners, natural sinners, and we will all fall short at times, and its at that time we need to “go easy” on ourselves and realize that God loves us, and He will forgive us when we go to Him with contrite hearts asking for His forgiveness. He already knows our heart and knows if we are truly repentant, we cannot fool Him…He is a “Cardio knower” — which means, He knows our heart and our intentions.

Christians are notorious for being able to forgive others but not so much with their own transgressions.  Five years ago I met a friend of mine that had moved to the mid-west, and during a conversation she confided to me that she was having difficulty forgiving herself for “deeds” and “actions” she’d done when she was in her teens and early twenties.. She was having a tough time understanding how God could love her if she was such a blatant sinner doing such atrocities against the LORD and His Word.

We kept in touch throughout the years, and one day she told me about her sad diagnosis of cancer.  However, she was healed three times, and went into remission three times,   and lived longer than the doctors had predicted, but she was still struggling with forgiving “herself.”

Through emails and conversations, she began to grasp  the concept of God’s love, and ever so slowly and gently  the outer portion of her “shallow perceptions of self” melted away.

She sent me an email, three weeks prior to her death, it was quite an email, and one of which I have saved… it was quite touching and prolifically sad, yet I rejoiced.  You see during the close of the email she said she had finally forgiven “herself” realizing that Jesus had forgiven her all along. She went on to say that she was ready to leave this earth, and wasn’t frightened, in closing she said these words:

“I am a child of God and I finally get it now, He has forgiven me all those years ago on my altar call, He loves me, and I am worthy to be loved because HE LOVES ME. Now I can go home to Him with peace and assurance of being welcomed into His Kingdom…”

When she died it was bittersweet. It was sad that I’d no longer speak with this lovely sweet woman that I enjoyed such a close friendship with, ostensibly at the same time,  I truly rejoiced knowing she was with the LORD and in peace, where she was finally realizing and experiencing first-hand knowledge of  just how much the LORD loved her. Amen.

God’s grace and love should be worn as a “bejeweled cloak” that envelops our bodies every single moment of our lives. It is after all an endless gift of glory given to us by the blood of Christ and by the love of our Father.

So realize this ” He loves us and will always be with us, no matter what.”.

My  beloved deceased friend knows that now.

Blessed are those who realize the depths of His love  while right here on earth.  And know that in Heaven it shall continue for Eternity.

Amen!

“Father God, thank You for Your great love that fills us to capacity and beyond as You allow our cups to overflow with joy and peace, in Jesus name, Amen.”

The Power of Your Love~

Lord You hear me and know my heart,
You guide me and show me where to start.
Lord You answer according to Your will,
I wait, watch and listen while I am still.

Lord Your Hands are always ready to hold me,
Your purpose and magnificence my eyes see.
Lord this child loves and worships You,
I seek You always that much is true.

Lord You watch us and keep us from harm,
We can walk through fires without alarm.
Lord You brought us through the Red Sea,
Away from Egyptians and set free.

Lord you sent a Prince and Savior to rescue me,
I am so sorry that the world could not see.
Lord I pray that Your children will bow and proclaim,
That Jesus is coming back again to forever reign.

Lord all glory and honor and praise You are due,
I feel renewed and filled with life something I never knew.
Lord You came into my heart and You ignite my soul,
Your fire consumes me, being Your servant is my role.

Lord I stand by You and love learning all,
You lift me and hold me and make me stand tall.
Lord with You I can walk into Your courts so bold,
And shout “I love you” like so many times I have told.

Lord I will be waiting and listening for You,
I wait and watch and look up at the sky so blue.
You are the King, the master of everything,
Your mercy endureth forever this I sing.

by C D Swanson~

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Mark 10:27 KJV
“…With men it is impossible, but not with God: with God all things are possible.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

The Lord is faithful and good and He wants what’s best for all of us., and the question then becomes;   “How does He show us that He wants the best?”  The answer— by and through His Word.  He has given us His love and instructions in the Holy Bible…an informative and comprehensive guide for each of us, His children.

Book after book, verse after verse, describes in detail through individuals chosen by God to do His will, and be vessels for His purpose, establishing His commandments and the outcome for doing His will, as well as the outcome for “not” following His will.  The Old testament is obviously before Christ, but is important to this day, establishing a continuity that ties all the way up to Christ’s death and resurrection, and finishing with Revelation, of times that had happened, and will happen at the end times, and also for eternity.

When we get to know our Father through His powerful Word, and meditate on Him, and spend time with Him daily, we are able to ascertain His plans for us.  Sometimes those plans are clear and undeniably precise, at times they can be cloudy and seem hard to understand, and still other times, we can feel “outside of our comfort zone” with where God is placing us.  This is when we need to trust Him fully, and know that where He leads us, and the path in which He puts us on is the absolute best possible scenario for us, His children.  He wants us to be with Him for eternity, and sent His Son to establish that covenant with us, that “those who choose to believe and accept Christ as their Lord and Savior shall spend eternity” with our Father in Heaven.

Reach out to the Father, ask Him to do His will and He will oblige and be only too glad to show you.

Read His Word, and learn of the sacrifices and trials that chosen individuals went through.

Meditate on His love and experience the assurance and peace that stems from this knowledge.

And go forward in applying His will and purpose for Your life, and if it is outside your comfort zone, so be it, it is for your benefit and for His glory.

“Father God, thank You for Your love and guidance in our life, and for Your faithfulness in all of Your children since the beginning of time, You alone are in control, and You alone are the sole purpose of our existence, shine Your light into the darkness Lord, and wash us clean with Your love, in Jesus name, Amen.”