Month: August 2017

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Jesus’ Rich Rewards

Hi Everyone,

Jesus, ever right beside us, is always waiting for us to simply ask for His help.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:  and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.  (Such sweet words)
Psalm 23:6

I was sitting here this morning waiting on the Holy Spirit for something to share.  The Holy Spirit is so wonderful and faithful.

Maybe you have irritating thoughts of frustration, a gnawing competitive spirit, restless and always trying to understand, family matters, job issues, shame, embarrassment, uncertainty, circumstances that taunt you and make you doubt God’s love for you, fear, anxiety, self-pity, hate, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, coveting, feel abandoned, insecurity, lust, mammon (the love of money), doubt, unbelief, resentment, etc.

I’ve had each of these, and more.  In fact, because of my health issues and other items that were so frustrating to my parents and relatives, I was so oppressed I couldn’t even turn my neck more than about half-way in either direction for a long period of time in Oregon because I was so tied up in knots with defeating thoughts.  Yes, defeating thoughts will cause all types of health issues.  That’s why when you let Jesus help you renew your mind, your youth gets renewed and you mount up with wings like the eagle. (Isaiah 40:31)

I don’t know what you wrestle with in your heart, spirit, mind and emotions, but I do know that the One who made you wants to set you free from anything other than His peace, love, rest and joy, no kidding.

Now that’s an incredible statement, I know (and I’m only beginning to discover how incredible our salvation is☺).  But, it’s more than just a possibility.  It’s a promise from the God Who teaches us to renew our minds to His Word (see Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8, 2 Timothy 1:7, Jeremiah 33:3, Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 4:23, Ephesians 4:22-32, Matthew 15:11, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Proverbs 3:5) and the thoughts He has for us to dwell on.  This is what dwelling in the secret place of the Most High is all about (Psalm 91).

God can and will give us the victory in the battle for our minds when we seek Him with our whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13), and that victory will set our hearts, spirits and emotions free in Jesus – the enemy will flee if we resist him and his defeating thoughts (James 4:7).  Only when you experience God’s work setting you free can you begin to understand the magnitude of the liberty He can give us to live in.

I’m telling you, precious ones, God has nothing less than His Kingdom for all those who will (our will must be more persistent than the enemy’s) follow Him by renewing their minds.

And, always remember, while renewing the mind may seem like an impossible task at times, John 15:4-6 tells us that we can’t do it without Jesus’ help.  BUT, when we ask for Jesus’ help, He’s faithful to bring about renewal to our minds, spirits, hearts and emotions.  I, for one, am living proof of this truth.

I’m honestly telling you, there is nothing more valuable than having your mind renewed and set free by Christ, nothing.

When Jesus’ peace claims areas of your heart that have been in turmoil, you just get so thankful, grateful and hungry for more and more of Him.  You have such rest, quiet where there was noise in your spirit and mind, and a new trust take over those areas.  Like the Apostle Paul, you really live in “I’ve learned in whatsoever state I am therefore to be content.”  I don’t know where you live, but the “state” Paul’s talking about isn’t bound by earthly borders.  The state of spiritual deliverance he’s talking about will follow you wherever you go.

This world is filled with thoughts (like fear, self-pity and some of the others I listed above), that left unchecked, will cause us needless spiritual, mental, and emotional anguish and pain.

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2

The renewed mind – Jesus’ command to renew our minds is the richest reward we can obtain.  For me, it’s as though a bed of nails is being replaced with a comfy hammock in the mountains.  He’s stilling all of the irritations in me.  From where I’ve been, that’s worth everything…

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul:  leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:  for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:  and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23

God bless,

Mark

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A Tender Conscience (Joyce Meyer)

Hello Everyone in Jesus’ Name,

Don’t you just love it when someone says what you know in your heart to be true?

I’ve found Joyce’s words to be so true in my own life and relationships with others.  For instance, if I maintain a tender conscience with God, my relationship with my family is more forgiving, tender, gentle and in line with God’s love for each of us.

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A Tender Conscience
Joyce Meyer

Therefore I always exercise and discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men.
Acts 24:16

One way to live closer to God is to keep your heart tender.  Having a tender conscience enables us to live closer to God.  We become sensitive to His touch and we can easily discern when our behavior is right and wrong.  Then we can promptly repent and be completely restored to wonderful, refreshing fellowship with God.

Don’t waste your time making excuses for disobedience.  When God shows you that you have done something wrong, just say, “You’re right, Lord, I’m wrong. I have no excuse, so please forgive me and help me not to do it again.”

It is amazing how much that will help you maintain a tender conscience toward God.  When we are tender toward God, it enables us to be tender in our dealings with people.  The world is filled with bruised, wounded, and brokenhearted people who need kindness and a loving touch from God.  Let God touch them through you.

When you have a tender heart toward God, you will hear His voice more clearly and obey His Word more readily.

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Joyce’s words would make a nice reminder when placed on the front of the refrigerator door or some other regularly viewed place.  ☺

God bless,

Mark

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God’s Table In The Presence Of Enemies

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12

“Sometimes when things are falling apart they are actually falling into place.”
Author Unknown

Thou (God, my Redeemer) preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…
Psalm 23:5a

For decades, I’d been dining on the lies of my enemies and their poisoning, life-draining diet was killing me and my family.  My enemies, the miry clay (Psalm 40:2) I thought I would be forever stuck in – failing health, crushing circumstances, unrealized dreams and goals, thoroughly disheartened, bitterness, unforgiveness, mad at and questioning God, lost in the sea of trying to understand but getting no answers, confused, totally frustrated, doubt, anger, jealousy, fear, anxiety, panic, hopelessness, despair, etc. – were steamrolling me and my precious family to the point that I really thought about leaving my wonderful wife and daughters.  I was SO downtrodden that I really believed they’d be much better off without me in their lives.

At the time, I had no clue what God was up to…

All along, God was preparing a feast before me in the presence of my enemies. (Romans 8:28)

In time, He would have me dining on delicious self control, praise, belief, trust, joy, peace, rest, contentment, faith, and all in the very presence of what I thought were invincible enemies.

Dear ones, God does the same for all those who will follow Him long enough for Him to prepare His matchless, satiating table…in the very presence of their enemies.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39

God bless,

Mark