Month: July 2019

Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life…

Ever feel like you’re facing some awful, taunting, intimidating giants in your life?

And David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done to the man who killeth this Philistine and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1 Samuel 17:26

Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?

Ever feel like something’s mocking your efforts to believe in and wait on God? Ever feel like it’s ridiculous to try apply God’s Word to everyday living today? Do you wrestle with faith one minute and fear the next. Wrestle with keeping the faith?

Do you have any uncircumcised Philistines in your life?

Maybe you do and you don’t even know it. For the longest time, I didn’t see the ones operating in my life. God showed me to pray so they might be revealed to me and dealt with by the Word and Spirit. Some of mine were/are the lack of money, pride (religious or other), inconsistent job history, hopelessness, worry, anger, resentment, bitterness, depression, unforgiveness, religious pride, shame, fear, insecurity, unrealized goals and dreams, unmet expectations, annoying health issues, self-pity.

Maybe you’re being bothered by immorality or addiction. Whatever…

These can all be idols if we have them in front of the Lord in our life. God wants us free from all idols because they keep us in bondage.

Anything in our lives that tries to get us to question God’s love for us is just like the evil spirit that was in Goliath. It’s all lies and if you counter the lies with God’s truth and learn to stand on His truth while He deals with the liars, you will have and see the victory in any area the “Philistine” has tried to occupy in your life.

Now, for the rest of the story about David and Goliath…

32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”

34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”

38 Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.

“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head.

Israel Routs the Philistines
When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath[g] and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 Then the Israelite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp. 54 (David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he stored the man’s armor in his own tent.)

55 As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?”

“I really don’t know,” Abner declared.

56 “Well, find out who he is!” the king told him.

57 As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. 58 “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said.

And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”
1 Samuel 17:32-57

*******

What has God already brought you through?  How has He been faithful to you in the past?

Let it be said of us like it was said of David above. And Mark/Ann replied, “My name is Mark/Ann (put your name in here), and I live in San Marcos (put the name of your city or town here.)

The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

Praise God!

Have a blessed (Happy) week knowing that, as you choose to follow Jesus everyday, God is revealing and dealing with any uncircumcised Philistines that are lying to you. God will set you free and you’ll be able to hold the head of that thing high to love and encourage others that victory is theirs in the Name of the Lord, The Most High!

God bless,

Mark

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (Jesus), because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:18

Wow, what an incredible verse of scripture.  Amazing, in fact. 

Most of the time, I can recognize someone who’s in bondage within a matter of minutes.  It’s because I used to be in so much bondage that I literally could not turn my neck from side to side.  Really.  Now, I can tell when someone needs Jesus to set them free.  And, He came to set captives free.  Isn’t that GREAT news?

I can go to Bible school, know all about the Bible, and be the member of a church for years and still resist letting the Holy Spirit work in me. It’s true. I can still say “no” to His promptings to help me become free. And, my resistance can last a lifetime and even take me away from God. I can want my bondage more than the breakthrough He has for me.

I can choose not to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work in my life. It’s true. And it will always be to my detriment if I choose not to cooperate with Him. I can only be set free indeed if I choose to be willing to be set free. If I resist the Spirit, I cannot be set free in any area the Holy Spirit wants to work on in my life.

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench (stifle, restrain, extinguish) the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19

Does this happen to you? Through a song, sermon, Bible passage, friend, or some other means the Lord uses, you become aware and convicted of a sin in your life, you sense something you need to change in your life, only to suddenly feel something well up in you that resists, that tells you not to repent, that you’re okay just the way you are? You may feel offended when something’s convicting you and instead of coming to terms with the sin, you hang onto it out of possible embarrassment or pride? Don’t let Satan trick you into thinking you don’t need to repent. Don’t listen to him. He wants you to stay trapped and he will use whatever is at his disposal to keep you bound.

Free indeed.

Wow, those two words just hit me again this morning. It was like the Holy Spirit just made them come alive for me by showing me, again, that anything else we try in an effort to make us free cannot make us free like Jesus’ freedom can. All other things we try to gain freedom from are just idols, false, counterfeits, and have no power to set us free indeed.

If the Son (Jesus) therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:36

God bless,

Mark

God wants us to take on His character. He wants us to be like Him.

God doesn’t care about odds so He wants us to not care about them as well. He just wants to teach us that He can always be trusted, that we can always rest in Him.

I’m reading through the Bible with a one year Bible. Time and time again, I read in the old testament where kings of Israel and Judah were about to be attacked by kings with armies much larger than the armies of Israel and Judah. The overwhelming odds brought great fear on God’s people – we’re no different. When the people of Israel, out of intimidation and fear, sought God and asked for His help, God would help them by destroying the advancing enemy army, one way or another. In the end, God delivered His people when they sought Him and promised to turn from their wickedness to serve only Him.

One old testament example of odds and ends is found in the story of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37.

What God is trying to tell us is that, with Him, odds don’t matter and we don’t ever need to fear any odds that cause us fear, intimidation, insecurity, or inferiority. We don’t ever need to despair, be discouraged, or in dismay. Why not? In the end, God will always work things out for us. He’s always at work in our lives showing us that He’s working all things (odds as well) together for our good, showing us that we can trust His Word, showing us that we can always rely on Him and His faithfulness to us.

Sooner or later, we begin to understand what He wants us to know. Odds need never scare us. Regardless of odds, He will always lead us where He wants us to be, where He wants us to go, and show us what He wants us to do.

Feeling competition at school or on the job? Feel like you don’t have enough money? Is your health an issue?

Whatever odds you feel are pressuring you to give into fear are only there to show you that, in the end, God is always faithful. When you learn and remember that you can rely on this truth, you can live free from whatever used to be overwhelming odds in your life. The odds will then be in your favor all the time because God will have done this wonderful work in your life of being able to trust Him at all times.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (odds), to give you an expected end.

12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13

Fear not. With Jesus, the odds are always in our favor because they’re no longer an issue. Rest in that truth.

God bless,

Mark

A friend of ours (Thought it best not to mention their name) sent me the following the other day. I really feel led to share it with you. The timely words the Lord had them share with us really helped Ann and me this week and I hope they minister to you as well.
_______

Thank you SO much for the daily blessing you speak over us, Mark! It has been a gift from GOD to receive that every day!

I’m praying for you this morning – that you will be brought to that place of freedom you are destined for – in this lifetime. 🙂

These are a few thoughts I woke up with this morning. I just felt prompted to share them with you today:

A Warrior knows opposition is coming. Trained for battle, he does not fear the opposition, but expects it. As a Warrior, we are trained in patience – waiting. Not just waiting for the sake of waiting… but waiting to hear, to be given direction and strategy against the enemy. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us our enemy roams about as a roaring lion. He makes a lot of noise so we will be distracted from receiving our instructions.

It’s vital that a Warrior learn to quiet themselves and listen. Without Divine direction, we will be trying to make things happen on our own. We will fall into traps of obligation or manipulation. There is a way that seems right to a man, but that path leads to destruction. Proverbs. 14:12

There’s a big difference between making something happen – like manipulating a friendship or a career move or financial decision, and letting something happen while listening to the LORD’s instructions for that situation. A Warrior is unafraid of what approaches – doesn’t try to prevent it or manipulate it, but lets it come. Then stills himself to hear from the General of Heaven to know how to fight the battle. Be still and know that I AM GOD. Psalm 46:10 We don’t win battles by trying to prevent opposition with manipulation and making our own comfort zone to live in. We win battles by allowing the opposition and joining with our LORD to receive instructions for victory! The greater the opposition, the greater the opportunity for victory! Because our GOD truly works ALL things together for good for those who love HIM and are called according to (and in agreement with) HIS purpose. Romans 8:28

_______

Thank you, my friend (you know who you are), for sharing the Lord’s thoughts with me/us. I know the words will help many.

God bless,

Mark

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:16-17

God’s righteousness, His life, ALL that He is cannot fit into our flesh, our old wine skins. His life, or our flesh – One or the other must go. Our strongholds (many we’re not even aware of yet), our “why me,” our complaining, our tendency to want to trust in our intellect or our credentials or our heritage/lineage, our bitterness, our desire to control our lives, our addictions, our selfishness, our unforgiving heart, our pride, our lust, our jealousy, our insecurity, our disappointment and anger, our dreams and goals, our impatience, our greed, our hurt and wanting/striving to understand, our desire to think our way out of messes, our fear, our worry, our religious heart, our depression, our hating our enemies, our fighting God – these cannot contain Him. In order for Him to come into our lives, these (our flesh) must go. There isn’t room for both.

Double-mindedness (So many religious people live with double-mindedness. I did and God is still cleansing me of it.) will tear our wine skin (our lives) apart and make our lives miserable until we willingly relinquish all of us to Him. Conformity to this world, to the flesh, will never give us the opportunity to be transformed into His precious, liberating image and likeness.

The only question that remains is, will I get out of the way for Him to enter in? Will (and it can take a long to remove our stubborn, sometimes fearful, and proud “will.”) I pour out my life-depleting flesh so He can come in and make me whole?

“God, please show me how to die to my heavy, life-draining flesh so I can drink You, with all of Your righteousness, in so I can be made new, whole and full of Your supernatural peace that surpasses my natural understanding, so I can be filled with Your wonderful, infinite wisdom, hope, contentment, mercy, grace, peace, rest, love, and joy.”

God bless,

Mark

And let the peace of God rule in your heart.
Colossians 3:15a

God bless,

Mark

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.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Happy Monday, everyone!

Keep trusting Him.

God bless,

Mark

What has you upset today? Anything?

I’m asking God to help me make this easy to see and understand because it is such an integral part of learning to have God’s joy and victory over this life all the time.

Maybe you can relate –

I wasn’t doing a very good job of being the shepherd of my life. I even thought I’d turned my life over to Christ. But I hadn’t. Not really. God knew I needed the true Shepherd to watch over me and to guide me to green pastures and still waters. In order to do so, I needed to lay pride and all my other issues and burdens down at the foot of His cross. ☺

I’d developed a hard heart. I was confused and mad at life and God until I gave up, until I genuinely and continually surrendered my life, my condition, my plans, my future, control over my life, my health, my circumstances – to Him.

For me, that was the turning point and when I began to thank and praise Him even though I didn’t feel like it or really understand why I should praise Him in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 34:1). When I look back, in my case, that was when I began to become a true believer. That was when I began to try to believe that He really was working all things together for my good (Romans 8:28). That was when the Holy Spirit began, ever so small, to convince me that God was really capable of working all things together for my good.

You have never walked in my shoes, and I haven’t walked in yours.

But God has…

He already knows each day of your life. He’s designed a perfect plan for your life. One that includes really being enabled to live free from the impact all circumstances. In fact, it’s a life that lives with Christ above this world by having joy – His promise of joy – in all things.

Praise Him in all things and watch His grace sustain you and give you a joy you never knew before as He teaches you to overcome this world by His power.

Come unto me (Jesus), all ye that labour and are heavy laden (that was me), and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29

There is no place like His home – And I will dwell in the house of the (my) Lord forever.

God bless,

Mark

The False Grace message is sweeping across the church. Basically, it’s leading people to believe they do not need to renew their minds to the Word of God and that’s so damaging and leaving people in their destructive sins. This is an excellent video regarding this super-dangerous and deceptive issue misleading so many today.

God bless,

Mark

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Psalm 121

Happy Monday, everyone.

“So come on and I’ll show you all the wonderful things I have in store for you, my child.”

God bless,

Mark

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

At times, we may be tempted to stray from Jesus, from The Prince of Peace. We may let something upset us that leads us away from Him. Thankfully, our need always brings us back to Him, to Who He is…The Prince of Peace. Back to the safe, and secure dwelling place of the Most High.

Wow, I was just sitting here doing some work while listening to some beautiful Christian harp music when I really sensed the Prince of Peace here in the room with me. I’m telling you, folks, Jesus really wants to heal us and give us Himself – deep in our souls. He wants to calm us down and bring all that He is to our deepest parts. That’s so loving, encouraging and reassuring. He hasn’t forgotten about our need for Him. Just the opposite. The fragrance of His being to our souls is so wonderful. So relaxing and soothing.

I’m seeing a number of Christian ministry workers getting burned out and letting their families suffer for it all in the name of “ministry.” I’m seeing signs of this in their messages. If they’re becoming angry, impatient, and weary, what are they really communicating to the world? So many are getting so worked up. Yes, I know it’s the end times, but Jesus is still The Prince of Peace. Let’s keep letting Him minister all that He is to us. I believe that’s what He meant in Matthew chapter 24 when He said to “look up” when they saw end times events “begin.” He doesn’t want us to lose Him, His precious work in our own lives. He wants us to continue setting our affection on those beautiful, matchless, abundant living things above.

He’s just sitting here with me letting me enjoy His wonderful Presence this morning. He’s incredible…

Early in life, I was taught a lot about Christian apologetics. We had apologists come to our church and impress us with their arguments and facts. I even relished the thought of knowing all about it and being able to debate others on that level. I was kind of led to believe I should be in some position in “the ministry.”

But, the Lord began to make me uncomfortable with wanting to do that. He showed me that I didn’t really have peace when I was getting into apologetics. In fact, it was producing pride and anger. All those facts swimming around in my head and spirit just didn’t give me rest – Yes, I know the Bible says we should be ready to give an answer regarding the faith we have (2 Timothy 2:15 above), but I also think God wants us telling people about how much He’s doing in their lives and hearts as well. I may have had a lot of Jesus facts in my head but I really needed Him in my heart and life. I needed to experience His love, peace, rest and joy in my life before I could tell others about the “hope” in my life.

And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 12:11

But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15 AMP

Jesus was already at work in my heart wanting to give me His peace, Himself. My ability to debate and regurgitate a lot of facts, even though they were based on Christian truth, wasn’t nearly as important as the inward work He wanted to do in me. I mean what was I really communicating to others if not the work of God in my own life? God wants to heal us. He doesn’t want us to skip or overlook His healing work in us, our marriages, our families. He doesn’t want us to put the fire out in the city – so to speak – when we, and our own homes, so desperately need His loving, living water restoring our emotions, minds, hearts and souls. Isn’t that wonderful?

God bless,

Mark

After listening to this video with me, Ann said we needed to send it out to everyone.

Do you know someone being influenced by New Age? Maybe they think yoga is okay. Into meditation apart from Jesus? The two people in the following video – who were very well known in New Age and making a lot of money in it – were saved out of New Age. Their simple, clear view of the Gospel and faith in Christ is so refreshing. Doreen Virtue says she loves conviction because of what the Holy Spirit does for her through it. Amen, Doreen!

How To Leave The New Age w/ Doreen Virtue

In this video, sister in Christ and I Doreen Virtue talk about what it means and looks like to leave the New Age…

God bless,

Mark and Ann

Learning to walk with God is learning to talk with – and listen to – Him more and more each day. You might start out talking with Him and listening to Him for just minutes a day. But as you grow with Him, you begin to experience more of His peace, love and joy, and find that you’ll want to be in constant communication with Him every moment of the day.

The Holy Spirit dropped this song into my heart Sunday morning. I said, “How did you know I’d be so blessed by this song, Lord? I wasn’t even thinking about it this morning.” He said, “I made you. I know you well.” ☺

I found the song in youtube and put it on “Loop.” Ann and I played this song all day long and were both really ministered to by it playing in our home. We thought someone else might be blessed by it.

He Is Lovely
Maranatha Singers

I can see that you love Jesus first
It’s plain to me
And that you sit close and hear His heartbeat

For in your eyes I see shinning love
That speaks so clear
And I can hear them saying so sweetly

He is lovely
He is holy
Gave supremely
That all men might see
He is gentle
Tender-hearted
Risen Savior
He is God

Master Maker, Life Creator, come
And dwell in me
That my heart may know
Your tender mercy

Shine through me that all may see Your love
So full and free
And I’ll declare Your praise
Through endless ages

He are lovely
He are holy
Gave supremely
That all men might see
You are gentle
Tender-hearted
Risen Savior
He is God

You are lovely
You are holy
Gave supremely
That all men might see
You are gentle
Tender-hearted
Risen Savior
You are God

What a loving Heavenly Father we have.

God bless,

Mark

Great way to start the week – Three Kingdom Keys (They only work if we apply them to our lives and situations. This is what it means to be in Jesus. Only doers of the Word are in Jesus. They’re the ones that Jesus can keep.)

Romans 8:28 – God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him

Ephesians 5:20; Psalm 34:1 – Always thank God in all things, and praise Him continually.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Have a blessed week in Jesus.

God bless,

Mark

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Song Of Solomon 2:4

Got up this morning and thought, “Wow, Romans 8:28 is God’s banner of love over my life. What could be more loving than Someone Who has complete power always working all things together for me.”

That’s when Ann said, “In order for Romans 8:28 to work for us, we have to keep surrendering our will to God so He can have His will in our lives. When we yield to that portion of scripture, we can rely on God to work everything together for our good. That puts us in the right frame of mind and calms us down so God’s peace can reign in us.”

Let Romans 8:28 work for you today and everyday. It will bring such comfort to you every moment of the day. Remembering that God is working all things together for your good brings Him into our thoughts and soothes us. It brings us back to trusting God and that’s such a pleasant place.

What love. ☺

God bless,

Mark

Thinking life’s unfair, you’re a mistake, why did God make you this way? That’s the type of thinking the devil wants you to think and be stuck in. But God has meaning for your entire life and how and where He’s made you, and where He has you.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are “the called” according to his “purpose.”
Romans 8:28

You’re “the called.” Keep believing even when it’s hard to do – Don’t let the devil win the battle by making you think you need to abandon the plan God has already won in your life. God has a “purpose” for who He made you. That’s right! He’ll see you through to restoration (believing, trusting and resting in the Word – in Jesus) and give you a testimony meant for others just like you who need The Answer – Jesus.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire (the lies of the enemy we believe).
He set my feet on solid ground (Christ, our Rock)
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed (God is building His testimony in your life).
They will put their trust in the Lord.
Oh, the joys (the joy of the Lord will become your strength) of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
Psalm 40:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

God bless,

Mark