Neither cold nor hot

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth"  (Revelation 3:16 KJV). Look around. The world is being shaken by the hand of God. Chaos floods many nations, and most eyes are on the government, looking for answers. We no longer look to Christ for the answers but to man. As a result of seeking for the answers in other things besides Christ, a lukewarmness has come to the nations. Religion is seen as something done only when trouble strikes. America has become so cold, and we stand so far from the Lord. The home of the brave is seen, through God's eyes, as the land of the bondage. It is not only here in America, but in the majority, if not all other nations. Many have fallen asleep. A great cloud of darkness has come over many, and with it a great falling away from our morals and purities. We may look okay and even say all is right, but what is going on in our world is far from being right. This darkness has the tendency to blind the heart of the lukewarm believer. This blindness makes them see things as if nothing is wrong, while the deceiver, the devil, uses them and binds them up.  Come on people. We need true repentance in our lives and in the House of God. It will only come when one has made up their minds to run from this darkness and into the arms of Jesus. Let's not take these last days for granted. God has called you and I to spread the Good News. Jesus said unto them, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47 KJV). There is still some time. However, no man knows how much time there is. God bless you all.

For whither thou goest, I will go.

"And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:16 KJV). Ruth had nothing to lose. She followed after her mother in law, and wherever Naomi went Ruth went too. Ruth decided to turn her back on the world she knew, the world that she grew up in. She turned her back on all the idolatry and the rebellion against God. She was not going back. Have we truly made up our minds to follow Jesus for the rest of our lives? Or do we still want and long for the things of Moab, a place that is spiritually dead and filled with selfishness and pride? Ruth saw her way out of the world, and she was not about to lose this opportunity. Naomi knew Ruth was steadfast in her mind and that she was not about to go back. "Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me" (Ruth 1:17 KJV). Have we gotten desperate in our fight for our souls? How much do we really want freedom from the burden of our past? How much do we really love Jesus Christ? Enough to follow Him? It's time to follow Him. We will not regret it. Do not be left behind.  Run to Christ and let Him fill you up. God bless you.

He lingered

"And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city" (Genesis 19:16 KJV).  Lot was a righteous man, who lived in a city that was filled with immorality and all kinds of other perversions. He had a choice to live there or not, but like the rest of us, he got comfortable. The more comfortable we get in our surroundings, the weaker we get spiritually. Lot saw all that was around him, and it vexed and grieved his heart. Yet, he was not willing to fight for himself or his family. He was not about to give up all he had worked for, all he had gained in life, just because his surroundings had "some sin". This sin was not enough to move him or cause him to fight on his knees and cry out to God. He was comfortable surrounded by this sin. He thought everything was O.K. Lot was far from God, and his heart had no ambition to heed to God or run for his life, even after the the Lord told him to flee for his life. The angels told Lot to get his family out of the city and to run to the mountains. Lot did not take the warning from the Lord seriously, but instead he decided to linger. There's no time to linger today. The Lord is calling us all out of the sin that surrounds us. There is no time to get comfortable. We have family members, sons, and daughters that need to get out of destruction. It's up to us to get alone with the Lord and to pray, as Abraham prayed for his nephew, Lot. Stand in faith. God is able even when all looks impossible. Praise God. God bless you.

Every man is tempted

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (James 1:14 KJV). There is so much the eyes of men and women face today. Wickedness is just about everywhere we look, and is waiting for someone to stop and desire it. We know what lusts so easily grab us and those that don't even bother us. Every one of us has a lust that we battle with. It comes and goes whenever it pleases. So many times it will try to attract us, and when we fall into it, it will only hold us down and make us feel ashamed. This lust, the appetites of the flesh, once conceived, brings forth sin, and sin, when it is all done having its time with us, brings forth death. Neither man nor any program can stop sin. For when lust comes into one's life, its desire is to kill one spiritually, to separate man from God. We really need to be careful, for the world is filled with darkness and evil spirits that will hold a person in bondage, filling that soul with sin and death. "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11 KJV); Peter makes it clear that those fleshly lusts are out there. No one is exempt from them. We just can't be drawn away by them. The Lord has given us the cure over this lust, that ever so lingers in our beings, "Draw close near to God, and He will draw near to you"(James 4:8). Stand in Christ, and run to Him, He is our savior and there is no other. Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. God bless you all.

But also in power

"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake"  (1 Thessalonians 1:5).  The word of God has shaken the world for 6,000 years, and it will continue to do so. The Apostle Paul let's the church in Thessalonica know that the Word of God did not come unto them by word only, but by power and through the Holy Spirit. The Word of God apart from the Holy Spirit is only words, but with the power of the Holy Spirit moving behind the words it becomes alive. Today many people don't read the Bible on a daily basis. Many just can't understand it. However, when one is born again of the Spirit and the Holy Spirit is alive in their life, the Spirit of God interprets the very Word that He inspired man to write many years ago. The Holy Bible is not to be taken lightly. In the world today, who has time to read it and much less allow the Holy Spirit to live through them? The Apostle Paul knew that the only way to proclaim Christ crucified to the Gentiles was through God and not himself. So, along with the Word of God and Paul's obedience to the Word, the power of the Holy Spirit was able to move through him. These are not Paul's words we read, but they are the words of God given by the Holy Spirit. We need the Living Word of God in us, and it becomes more alive to our spirit by the Holy Spirit dwelling us. Praise God for the Holy Spirit who He has given unto all who believe.

The Lord always before me

"I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psalms 16:8 KJV).  We must go all the way with Jesus. Through our struggles, our pains, and our trials, no matter what comes against us, we have to make up our minds we are going all the way with Jesus. Through the dark times, dry times, and times we can't feel God there's no turning back, for Christ has called us and we will follow Him. When temptation surrounds us and doubt tries to grab us, there's no other way out but through Jesus. There's no time to quit or to look down. Jesus is coming soon, sooner then we know it. So, we must pick up our crosses and surrender ourselves to the Lord today, to the one who gave Himself for us. Jesus did this in order that we may be free from all that Satan and life tries to hit and discourage us with.  Jesus walks where we walk. He is everywhere we go. When the battle for our souls hits close to home, He is our defender. He stands up for us. He is at our right hand. We shall not be moved. Thank God for salvation. God bless you.

A good soldier

"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (II Timothy 2:3 NKJV). The Apostle Paul went through some very tough times in the ministry. So, he knew what it took to serve the Lord out of the depths of his heart. He did not choose to follow Christ, but Christ chose him. Paul followed and obeyed every word that the Lord gave to him, even in the darkest of prisons and through the coldest of nights. The Apostle Paul went many days without food or a place to find rest. He trusted in the Lord, and he knew by faith the Lord our God would supply all his needs. Paul was a man who was very familiar with suffering, yet we never hear of him turning from the Lord to go back to the world. He knew the trials he faced would bring out endurance, patience, and a greater hope in our Lord. Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the Lord, not to put fear in young Timothy's heart, but to encourage him in Jesus Christ and to let him know that there would be some hard times ahead. Paul told him to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and when hardship comes to endure it and follow after Jesus as a good soldier (II Timothy 2). We, as believers, face many hard times, and when one stands for Christ, there are more hard times to come. We are called, just as Paul and Timothy were, and it is through following Jesus Christ that one is made into a soldier.  When the hard times hit where it hurts, which usually begins at home with family, we are not to get entangled with the affairs of this life. Let the Lord do what He does best, and that is to bring light and life to a soul. "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of  this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier" (II Timothy 2:4 NKJV). God bless you all.

Planted by the river of water.

"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall  prosper." (Psalms 1:3 NKJV). God wants us to grow through every condition of life. When the battle for our souls comes in like a hurricane, we will not be moved because we have been planted by the living waters. We are like trees that bring forth fruit in due season, and we will either bear good or bad fruit. The same tree cannot bear good and bad fruit. Every tree brings forth either good or bad fruit, but not both. Many times we walk in the flesh, and the result of it is bad fruit. I have seen people trying to give up these fleshly habits. In doing so, they pick the fruit off the tree and try to get rid of it, but this will only last a season until they become weak or tempted. Why is that? They did not get to the root of the problem. It makes no sense to try to give up a few worldly habits, when the tree bearing that bad fruit is still standing. We cannot be prosperous in the will of God with the fruits of the flesh still abiding in us. The minute we totally surrender God can plant us firmly at the living waters edge.  "Blessed  is  the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but  his delight  is  in the law of the Lord , and in His law he meditates day and night."  (Psalms 1:1, 2 NKJV).  Blessed is the man or woman who delights in the Law (Word) of the Lord. It's our choice whether to walk in the flesh or to walk in the Spirit of the Lord each day. Choose wisely. May God bless you.

The Spirit against the flesh

"For  the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." (Galatians 5:17 NKJV).  We, as believers, battle with this one thing called the flesh more than we do the devil. Our flesh is our worst enemy, and it will keep us down and far from our Lord. Many times we come out of a prayer meeting that was moved by the power of the Holy Spirit, just to find ourselves thinking of things we just came against at the altar. The flesh is something only the cross can take care of, and only the cross can deprive the flesh of its power over our lives. We can try to get rid of our flesh, but it will only come under the authority of the Spirit of God. We have to be serious with ourselves, and above all serious with the Lord and place our lives in His hands, because the minute we allow our flesh to arise we give it authority to make our decisions. We have to believe that our old nature was crucified with Christ on the cross, and that it has been made inactive and ineffective for evil. The only way to have victory over this flesh is through the Spirit of God. When the Holy Spirit has rule over our lives, the lusts and appetites of the flesh will go dormant and do what it is and was made to do, that is to be submissive to the Spirit. The flesh will always be a part of us, but it is not to control us.  "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16 NKJV). God bless you all.

The beginning of wisdom

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever" (Psalms 111:10 NKJV). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and worship. Where is the fear of God today? If we are not walking under the authority of God, then how do we expect to walk under the authority of man? God has given man His word, which brings forth wisdom, but we have to love God in order for this wisdom to grow within us. King Solomon, the wisest of all kings, found himself loving and serving man instead of God. He was found seeking after only his heart's desires. After an encounter with the Word of God, King Solomon wasn't satisfied. God showed Himself twice to King Solomon in his lifetime, yet he still lost the fear of God. He allowed the world around him to captivate and mislead him. God told him, as He often tells us, to be careful and not to go looking into the world to fulfill the desires of the heart. Solomon disobeyed the Word of God and attached himself to many wives, who worshiped idols. He allowed his wives to have first place in his heart. "But  King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians,  and  Hittites—  from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, 'You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.' Solomon clung to these in love." (I Kings 11:1, 2 NKJV).  So, the house of God turned dark and quiet as the idols were being praised on top of the high places. The fear of God was no longer seen in the kingdom of Solomon, and not only was the fear of God not seen but neither was God. Fear God with all your heart, and lean on Him with all your understanding. God bless you.

Wept over it.

"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it" (Luke 19:41 KJV).  The battle is on, and the enemy is upset. He knows that his time is short. Satan is going to hit us with everything he can. He has already pulled out his best arsenal, and it is going to come up against the children of God. The devil has made his way into the church with his lies, gossip, complaining, hating, jealousy, adultery, idolatry, and through young men and women lusting for one another. He sits among us in the pews laughing and mocking saying, "Such a powerless people, bound by a religious mind". Church, we need the Holy Ghost's power, Satan has our children bound, and they are so easily blinded and hypnotized by the things of this world. The church needs to wake up from its sleep and arise in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus wept as he looked over Jerusalem. He wept because The Bread of Life was right there in front of them, yet many would deny Him. He knew He would ride into Jerusalem on the donkey's colt, and the people would praise Him saying, "Blessed is the King". He knew at the end of the week He would be walking out of the city bearing His cross, and those same people would be shouting, "Crucify Him!" Jesus has a burden for the lost, and if we are going to follow Him whole heartily, He's going to give us a burden for them too. The church must fight against the onslaughts of the demon powers and dark spirits. We have to pray and fast in the name of Jesus. God bless you

If ye love me.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray to the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever" (John 14:15, 16 KJV);  What or who has more authority in our lives? Today we face many challenges and blessings. Sometimes we can get caught up in the things we face, but the Word of God always reminds us  that there is a new day and a new morning filled with mercy.There's no need to carry the weight of the world. God gave us His only begotten Son that we all may come to know, trust in, grow with, and understand that He is the giver of true Life. So many people find themselves alone and trying to fight the spiritual battle, which is a spiritual warfare. Jesus said he would not leave us helpless, but would give us a Comforter, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Helper, which is the Holy Spirit. He has been given to us to teach us, lead us, and walk with us. He's the one who prepares us for the Groom on the great day of Christ's return. He has come to prune, sanctify, and build us in order to make us fit for the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit also helps us fight against the principalities of darkness among this world. He stands with us when the traps and snares of the enemy are put before us. He gives us discernment, strengthens, and prepares us for a new day. So, whose authority are we under? More challenges and calamities are going to come into this world, so Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit that we may walk in the fullness of Him. Praise God, and God bless you.

In a moment

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed)" (1 Corinthians 15:52 AMP). We must be prepared for the coming of the Lord. The church cannot afford to look to the left or to the right, but must look ahead to the call of Jesus. There is no time to complain. There's just enough time to cry out and praise the Lord. He's coming soon, and no man knows the time or the hour. The church must be prepared, but when we look around it seems like many in the church are preparing for their own desires. Many are preparing for something other than the coming back of Christ Jesus. Many eyes are on the things of this world and not on Jesus Christ's return. So many hearts are caught by the passions and desires of this world, and very few people show passion for Christ and His return. Church, we must be ready. We must get our families ready. We must pray for those who are lost among us, and seek the Word of God and live it out. We must allow Christ to live in us on this earth, and do as much as we can for Christ, instead of getting to heaven and wishing we would have done more. Be prepared and watch carefully for Christ's return. We must keep a sober mind, and let the Spirit of the Lord rule over us. God bless you all.

Mind of the flesh

"Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]" (Romans 8:6 AMP).  To be carnal minded is death. In other words, having a carnal mind is to have a mind that is hostile towards God and does not submit itself to God. Having a carnal mind is living the life of the flesh and catering to the appetites of the carnal nature, which cannot please God. Many in the church are trying to live for God outside of His prescribed order, and the result is separation from God and a life under the law of sin and death. Some may think it's much easier to live under the carnal ways, which it is easier to give way to the carnal nature than to live a life sanctified for Christ, but the true Christian can only live under the Spirit of God. The mind of the spirit is life and brings forth peace. We have to choose today whom or what we will allow to infiltrate our minds. It's up to the believer, every second of the day, if we are going to let the carnal mind have its way or let the Spirit of God have its way. What are we allowing into our hearts? What are we opening our eyes to? Whatever it is, this is what makes us. This is what builds us spiritually. Are our souls dominating over our spirits, or are we allowing the Spirit of God to  dominate over our spirits? Are our spirits dominating over our souls, which are carnal? This all depends on who we let into our lives first. Whose authority are we walking under? Are we walking under the authority of the world (carnal), or are we walking under the authority of God in all obedience? It's up to us who's going to be more dominant in our lives. God bless you.

Be not ashamed

"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming" (1 John 2:28 KJV).  Keep the Word of God in you. Remember all that He has taught you. Dwell in Him, and He will dwell in you. His word must be your instruction. His word must be everything to you, but the Word of God will only become real to you when you first become real with Him. You must be intimate with Him. You have to know His voice and grow to love Him abundantly. Abiding in Him may seem hard to do at times. As long as we keep ourselves in the Word of God and make it a point to get on our knees and pray before Him, we will not be ashamed when He comes back for His bride. Beware the antichrist spirit is out there in the world, denying Christ. Even the very elect in Christ will fall from the faith. Run from those who deny Jesus Christ. Don't let them deceive you and lead you astray. We are a people looking for His return and expecting Him to come back. Wait for Him. Stand there in confidence, boldness, assurance, without shame, and don't shrink from Him at His coming. Give God praise. God bless you.

Order my steps in thy word.

"Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me" (Psalms 119:133 KJV). The deeper we go into Christ's death the greater we will arise in His resurrection. Sometimes we might step away from the Word and find ourselves serving God in our own strength. Many may think they have made it all the way, yet they forget that there is more to serving Christ than the usual church service. The deeper we go with Christ the greater the rewards. God did not call us to go through a routine, but to live a life of intimacy with Him. This intimacy comes when one makes up their mind to follow and obey His Word. When the Word of God guides you, it will begin to shape you. Sin has no respect for anyone, and it would love to leave everyone it touches broken and lost. We have the Word, the Sword of the Spirit. Let us put it to work. We must allow ourselves to grow in Christ, and the Word of God will order our steps. If we have faith in, trust in, and rely on Him, our growth in Christ will become greater. When we abide in Christ, iniquity has no dominion over us.  "[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were raged against us and made a bold display  and  public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him  and  in it [the cross]" (Colossians 2:15 AMP). Give God Praise for He is Good. God bless you all.

If any man will

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples,  If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24 KJV). Jesus said, "Many are called but few are chosen". Not too many people will take on the call of Jesus Christ. To follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves and bear our cross. There are so many attractions in the world today. People are turning to the left and to the right. Even in the Church of God many are turning away from the faith and following after their own desires. We must keep on going forward, seek the Lord, and never give the flesh a chance to arise. That's why it is so important to walk in submission to the Holy Spirit. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to counsel us, raise us up, and to teach us what pleases God. All have been called, but few will follow. The world is full of change. It is in constant change. There is always a new gadget here and something new there, and the heart of man continues to chase after these changes. Christ never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We cannot afford to walk away from such a loving God and such a merciful Lord. Surrender today. We must make up our minds. I also have things in my personal life I battle with, but I have to remember that I'm not in charge. Christ is in charge, for I bear my cross and follow Him daily. Praise God! God bless you.

Moses fled

"Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well" (Exodus 2:15 KJV). Moses ran away, and he kept running until he got to the land of Midian. There he found himself alone, possibly staring up at the sky, and time and time again maybe even looking back to see if there were any Egyptian soldiers pursuing him. However, he was all alone. He sat at a well of water, as the thoughts of the past rolled through his mind. Thoughts of him murdering someone, and how Pharaoh wanted to slay him. He possibly had thoughts of how good Egypt was and if he would ever return. Sometimes we think about returning to our old ways, and sometimes we may even want to go back. God provided for Moses in a desert. The Lord our God took care of Moses as he dwelt in the wilderness for 40 years. God provided for him. God had a plan and a future for Moses. So, when we are alone in our desperate times, assuming there is no one around and no one who cares, we must remember God is looking down from Heaven trying to get our attention. He has a plan for you and I. It hurts to go through the wilderness, the dry times of our lives, but we have to keep our faith in Jesus Christ and not in the circumstances that surround us. Moses fled for his life. He ran from the world. He surrendered everything. We must also surrender everything to the Lord, and pursue Christ even in a dry and weary land. God has a plan. God bless you.

Perilous times.

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come" (2 Timothy 3:1 KJV). In these last days, nations have been facing many viruses and sicknesses. A flu virus is arising that is killing many, and even the flu vaccination cannot stop it. Death is becoming so common among the youth of today. Addiction to pain killers are killing souls. Murder rages in our youth and along with it, a high rate of suicide. When will it stop? It won't stop as long as this nation and other nations prevent the Word of God from entering their hearts.  So many Christians today fill their hearts with the immoral things of this world rather than with  Christ. Many have replaced prayer nights with entertainment. Some have closed their Bibles and opened a playboy magazine. If we allow the enemy to come in, he is going to come in. Rated R movies fill many homes across America, and perversion is all over the internet. Darkness has blinded much of our government, and man has such little fear for God. God has been replaced by immoral lifestyles and addictions that are taking this upcoming generation to Hell. Look at the direction the countries around the world are going in, and it will certainly show you who is in charge. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16 KJV). God bless you, and keep your guard.

Receive power

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8 KJV). How precious the Lord is. The Word of God says that Christ will not leave us hopeless as orphans in this world, but will send back the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke to His disciples in the book of Acts saying, " But wait for the promise of the Father" (Acts 1). The promise is the Holy Spirit. See, God knew that you and I could not take on this journey by ourselves, for our strength is limited but the strength of God is powerful and endures forever. God freely gives us this gift, and the gift of the Holy Spirit is not to be taken lightly. For the Holy Spirit is a living being that lives within us, and He is available to everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior. However, there's also a price for this precious gift, we must repent. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38, 39 KJV). Church, we need the Holy Spirit in this last hour. There is no other way to live the Christian life, saved and sanctified, but only through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. God bless you.

Fear thou not;

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10 KJV). Tough times are destined to come, and they are tough to get through. Many times we're alone, and no one seems to be around. However, in reality no one can understand what we're truly going through. It seems like we're all by ourselves. I've learned through these times that our God cares. Above this loneliness God is there. He is staring down from heaven, and waiting for you and I to cry out unto Him. These are the times the Lord molds us and makes us into the people He so desires us to be. These are the times His word becomes so alive to our souls. God needs us to get alone with Him during the tough and desperate times. When we are suffering and tribulation fills the air, these are the times the Lord builds us and forms us into His image. He is our help in times of need. "Fear not, for I am with thee". God bless you all.

By faith

We all arise each day with new choices to make. Many times we bring the old decisions from yesterday into the new day, and we live today based off of yesterday's decisions. We have to be careful how we make our choices. Are our choices led by faith? We must think about our choices before we make them. What will be the consequences to our decisions we will make today? Are we making a decision based only on what our appetites of the flesh wants, for a quick moment of pleasure, or is our decision based on what Christ wants for us? All great men and women of God had to make a decision to follow Christ. Abraham was called to follow God. So, Abraham had to make a choice whether to stay in the land of his father or to follow the voice of the Lord by faith. "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." (Hebrews 11:8 KJV). By faith, Abraham followed the voice of the Lord. We also have a choice today to follow Christ or the world. The world is full of choices, but we as Christians have one choice, which we find in Jesus Christ. Be careful with your choices today. Allow faith to make your decisions. Praise God.

Looked for a city.

"For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10 KJV). Do we have faith that can move a mountain? Does our faith reflect in our daily lives? Do we have enough faith to stand in the midst of a dark world and not be moved? The Holy Bible shows us men and women who lived by faith, who trusted in the Lord our God with all their hearts. In the decisions they made, they were only moved by faith . Abraham was a man that followed the voice of the Lord. His wife, Sarah, also followed by faith, for she too  knew the voice of the Lord. They were a blessed people. They lived by faith. Abraham took his family on a journey looking for city, not made by man's hands and not created by man's labors, but by God. Abraham was a man of great faith, and he pursued after God. He died in faith, having not received the promises but seeing them from afar off. Abraham confessed and realized that he was a stranger on this earth, just passing through. He lived by faith without even having a Bible in his hand. He knew that there was something greater beyond the eyes of the human man. He knew that there was a God out there that has a great plan and destiny for His children. Faith completes all the promises of God. Walk in Christ by faith. God bless you.

Ask.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7 KJV). Thank you Lord for life. God gives us life, and along with life He gives us precious gifts. These gifts are irreplaceable, and gifts that money could never buy. He has given us gifts that come from heaven, which are so precious and so priceless. Think about it! What has Christ given you besides freedom and justification? What else has He given you? Our Lord is not short of supply. He's always able to come through on His time. He is never late. Our God is plentiful. He is gracious to give, and never holds back on those who ask. In these last days, we have to learn to ask and ask in faith. Faith must come before asking and believing before receiving.  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). When we ask in faith, totally trusting in God, it will come to pass in the Lord's time. God bless you.

The Lord is my rock.

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold" (Psalms 18:2 NKJV). When the enemy stands in our way, we have Jesus on our side. When the enemy comes in like a flood, our God sets up a standard against him. When the enemy tries to trick us or deceive us, we discern it quickly, for the Holy Spirit is within us. We must stand against the enemy. We must stand against the enemy of our minds and against the thoughts that are attracting, that may lead us astray. Christ must be our thoughts. His Living Word must take a stand in our hearts. Above all things, we must have faith in Him. Just as David went up against the giant, Goliath, we too have to face today's giants in our own lives. Maybe the giant you need to face is a giant of greed or perversion. Is it a giant of selfishness or pride? Whatever your giants may be they have to come down, and the only way those giants will come down and out of our lives is when we cry out to the Lord, our Savior. We must pick up the Rock of Our Salvation and run face-to-face with the enemy, for Jesus Christ has already went ahead of us. Christ Jesus is our rock and our strong tower. Allow Him to lead us into victory. Praise God and God bless you.

Justified freely

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23 KJV) All have fallen short of the glory of God. We may fall in our walk and distractions of life may come upon us and lead us astray from time to time, but we must keep our eyes on Christ and our hearts in Jesus's heart. When we fall short of the glory of God, it does not mean we cannot serve Him anymore, it means we are still human beings. However, so many repel from the Lord when they fall into sin. Condemnation and guilt take over their hearts. Shame plays a blame game with their minds, and they run away from God. We have to continue reminding ourselves by faith that we have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We have been set free from the bondage of sin. This is not the time to stay down in the darkness of this world, but time to rise up in Jesus Christ. Do not let guilt, shame, or condemnation pull you down and away from Christ, but allow the Holy Spirit to draw you back to the throne of grace. "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (vs:24-26) God bless you.

Praise the Lord

"And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord , and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord ; for his mercy endureth for ever" (2 Chronicles 20:21 KJV). Praise God! Praise the Lord! Praising the Lord is powerful. When you lay your thoughts aside, begin to praise Him, call out His name, and cry out to Him, praise becomes intimate. You know He is in the midst of you, because by faith you praise Him. When the enemy comes in and surrounds you or temptation tries to grab hold of your mind and heart, believe and begin to praise the Lord. When you praise the Lord, you are no longer praising in the natural realm, your praise moves into the supernatural. The enemy runs from a child of God who begins to praise God in the mist of trouble. The enemy trembles at the sound of God's children praising and worshiping their wonderful Lord. When we praise Him with a whole heart, the Lord will set an ambush against the enemy.  "And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten" (VS:22). If trouble surrounds you, maybe the enemy is trying to take control, but just begin to praise the Lord right where you are at.  Watch the Lord do what He does best, that is to stand in the gap between you and the enemy. God bless you all.

Together with Christ

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." Ephesians 2:4-5 NKJV). Being alive in Christ is the greatest life ever. When I was lost in the world with on place to go or run to, the Lord opened His arms to me. When darkness and the lusts of the world had authority over my life, the Lord still took me in and cleaned me up. When bitterness, guilt, and jealousy ran freely through my heart, the Lord came and corrected me with love. He saved me from the corrupt and sensual nature that had my mind darkened with perverted imaginings. When I could not be set free with manmade programs or classes, our Savior stepped in when I called on Him. He set me free. To be free, I tried just about everything under the sun. However, it was only when I was weak, broken, and desperate that I cried out to the Lord. "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me". (II Corinthians 12:9 NKJV). God will always be in charge and in rule, but it is up to us who or what we will allow in our lives during the good and bad times. When afflictions and sufferings come, who or what do we run to? Thank God for His Grace and His great love for us all. God bless you.

Through the Lord

"Through the Lord ’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness". (Lamentations 3:22, 23 NKJV)The Lord is good and His mercies endure forever. How good is our God! It's great to wake up every morning knowing that it is a new day and that there is nothing in the way between us and our God. The problems of yesterday may still be there but so is our God. His mercies are new this morning. We have the opportunity to run to Him, enjoy Him, and to grab hold of Him. Every morning starts as a fresh new morning. Every morning is a new start with our Lord Jesus Christ. So let's not hold on to the old nature, those habits from the world of yesterday, but let's repent, run to Him, exalt Him, and praise Him. He is able to help us get through this new day. Our Lord is faithful. Faithful is He. VS:25 "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him". God bless you today. Seek the Lord with all your heart for His mercies endure forever.

Cursed is the man

Thus says the Lord : “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord" (Jeremiah 17:5 NKJV). How can one deny the love of a sovereign Lord? How can one walk away from a loving God? It starts in the heart of the Christian. When the heart loses the love for Christ, it fills itself with other desires. Many times it doesn't stop there. Sin takes a person further than they would like to go. In the world today, man is speaking out. They seem to have a plan to fix the economy. They point fingers at one another, claiming everyone else is the problem. We have gotten so far from the truth. The world should have their eyes only on the one who can take care of the problems and not on man. We are cursed when we trust in mankind, but when we trust in the Lord we will prosper. When trials come and droughts fill every nation of this world, we will not fade out, for God is our strength. vs. 7,8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord , And whose hope is the Lord . For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit". Give God praise for His love is so rich to those who trust in Him. God bless you.

Draw near to God

Let us start a fresh new year. The previous one has ended and a new one has started. Start this new year in the arms of Christ and in the glory of God, filled with the Holy Spirit. Let's not bring the old junk, the stuff we've been trying to get rid all year long, into this new year. Shake off the old and in the name of Jesus, take it to the cross. Give Him the glory. Let Him be the protector of our hearts. Run to Him for He is filled with forgiveness and grace. His Grace will  help us overcome the wickedness of this dark age. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8 NKJV). The more we draw closer to Christ in faith, the more He'll draw closer to us. Let's get rid of everything that has held us back from drawing close to God, and let us repent of our sins. Repent from the very sin that has  held us back from His sweet presence, and start a new year thankful, willing, and self denying in the name of Jesus Christ.  vs.10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up". Run to the Light in all humility. Christ will take care of us. God bless you.