Category: Family

On earth, there are two kingdoms operating. There is man’s kingdom or domain and there is God’s Kingdom. As Christians, we move in and out of both and then more and more into God’s domain abiding under the shadow of the Most High. We can see how beautiful Life is when we spend more and more of it in Him.

I don’t know many people who like to wait, who like patience. I hated those two words for so many years. They seemed to stand in the way of everything in my life. I’m only beginning to see how valuable they are to true Life.

Let the Lord bless you and keep you
Let the Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
Let Jesus lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace (His peace is so important and valuable today. Really, it always has been.)
Let Jesus put His Name on you and bless you in His mighty Name, the Name that is ABOVE (it can heal my weak, impatient flesh) every other name.

Thank You, Jesus, for being so consistent and faithful to bring me Your True Life.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

When I think of beautiful things, I don’t often include patience in the list.

How beautiful and full of glory is patience?  I don’t know yet.  But, when I listen to God regarding patience, patience begins to come into focus and it’s more lovely the longer I look at it from all the angles God presents it to me.

There is a tendency to think not much is being accomplished when we wait and exercise patience.  But, in the Spirit world, so much is happening when we choose God’s lead to be patient.  So much is working on our behalf behind the scenes.

It is so important to learn how to wait. There is so much fruit in that little word. It can change our lives if we’ll let it.

“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
Hebrews 10:36

“For ye have need of patience.” Wow, what beautiful words of Life. I was thinking about writing something else this morning when the Holy Spirit began telling me about patience and how absolutely wonderful this precious gift from the Holy Spirit is.

He’s still speaking to me about it…☺

We love you all.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Caleb didn’t side with the 10 spies who brought back an evil, fear-inducing report about the land God wanted to give the Israelites when He led them out of Egypt. Caleb and Joshua were the minority, but that didn’t stop them from believing God. They didn’t let the fear of man in. Caleb didn’t go along to get along. I love that.

Most of us don’t go looking for giants to overcome. We feel like we’ve got enough to deal with. But not Caleb. He was full of faith. He believed God. Believing God – taking Him at His Word – is what gave Caleb the courage and strength he still had at 80 years of age. Caleb wanted the hill country and giants. That’s right! He knew they were nothing in God’s sight.

Let the Lord bless you and keep you
Let the Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
Let the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

Live by faith in God. Believe God. Even if you die believing, you’ll be much better off.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly (when we seek Him with all our heart) followed the Lord my God.

9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.

10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims (giants) were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.

13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.

15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14:8-15

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:13-19

*******

Like I’ve written about so many times before, I had learned to believe so many lies and they were killing me. I didn’t really know how to believe God.

What we believe makes all the difference in our world, in our lives.

When the land is at rest, the lies have been silenced. They’ve been replaced by God’s Word and promises. You learn the Word so that you’ll be ready the next time lies test God’s Word in you (the land He’s given you), the next time your faith in Him is tested and provides you with the victory.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He resisted the devil with the Word and Satan departed until a more opportune time. We have to keep our shield up and sword drawn which is the Word and faith to take off the heads of the lies whenever they come back – and they will come back.

Don’t continue in a thought life or lifestyle that keeps you vulnerable to Satan’s tactics and lies. Repent. Stay away from anything that would make you compromise including fearful thoughts and the works of the flesh like anger, impatience, etc. Get in the Word and learn how to resist the enemy – how to use The Word as the weapon it is – so he’ll flee from you.

Any attack the Lord permits is to strengthen, prove and improve you.

God gave us specific verses (His promises) in Oregon in the mid 80s. He is what we asked for in our La Crescenta apartment in 1979. He moved us to Oregon to give us Him. He was going to put His Word, His promises, in our lives so that we could enter His rest. We had to learn to believe Him so we could enter His rest (His love – perfect love casts out fear) – His rest is the eradication of enemy lies that produce fear (torment), doubt, confusion and unbelief. And the journey continues to this very day.

When you are in His rest, you’re the strongest.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark 

Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.

It’s funny how “I have to be in Jesus” turns into “I get to be in Jesus.”

There is a tranquility that is beyond and better than having all of our earthly desires and needs met.

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
Acts 1:6

I got my 38 Botox shots again the other day. I have pin holes on my face, and I still have the symptoms from the last migraine attack rummaging through my head, body and emotions. After 58 years, I still wonder when Jesus will heal my migraines, when the physical and emotional pain will stop, and when He’ll work out so many other things in my life.

In the natural, what do you keep asking Jesus for? What do you think He’s promised you that hasn’t come to pass? What do you want Him to do for you? Is it family, money, a job, health, the past, the future? What is it?

When I read Acts 1:6 this morning (6-3-21) as part of my daily Bible reading, the Lord stopped me right there. All of a sudden, I felt I could totally relate to the apostles’ question regarding Israel. I could tell it was a Holy Spirit time. My eyes filled up with tears. I could feel their pain from years of Roman rule. After all, the apostles and Israel were God’s people and land.

When I think God should do something, He often seems to ignore my request. It used to really frustrate, and anger me.

This morning, when I read that scripture, the Holy Spirit said, “I, alone, know all your heart. I’m teaching you to trust me with all your heart. This will heal and change your life in the most super-natural, complete and freeing way. When all that matters in your life is being able to let go of everything and to trust Me with all your heart, you will be Mine. All that is Mine will be yours. You will be free from care in a way you never knew and you will have new eyes and a new mind that see Me and know Me and all that I have for you in a whole other way and light. You will know the total joy that comes from knowing that My ways are not your ways. Trust Me.”

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Another migraine attack this morning that has me pretty knocked down. But God. ☺

“I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.”
Galatians 2:20

“To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Colossians 1:27

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4

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

And you will know the truth (Jesus), and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
1 Chronicles 16:11

I know the spiritual battles can be very difficult and intense. But, you will grow by them and become stronger than you ever could have become without them. Jesus promises us that in His Word. Keep your focus on the end result of any test that tempts you to fear or to take on care. God is working to set us free indeed. Hallelujah!

It matters how you live your life. When you die, you can no longer live for Jesus on earth. Live in faith by doing God’s Word. Let it live in your life. Let Jesus live in and through your life. You will never regret it.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Ann and I were talking during our coffee time this morning (6-2-21) about God’s faithfulness to keep us moving forward in Him. One thought we had was, “Wow, God actually has the power to take all of our cares from us. He has that much power. That’s crazy amazing. We used to live in so much fear, care and unbelief.” We just smiled at each other and thought about how far He’s brought us. And, we’re just getting started. We’re so grateful.

At times, it can look like things aren’t working out when I try to believe God for some desired outcome. But, I’ve always found that, in His providence, God’s outcome brings me closer to Him. I’m learning that this is His intention, and He gives me more of His joy as I look forward to His intentions, to His providence.

There is nothing I desire that has ever been as wonderful as where He ends up taking me. Truly, He knows my heart better than I do. He knows that what will really make me happiest and most satisfied is more and more of the wonder that He is.

The Word is always working when we learn to choose to believe it, act on it and stay with it. It may take a while to see what God is up to in life, but He’s always watching over His Word and our will to believe it no matter the outcome in our daily lives. We stay the course believing.

Believing Jesus is the miracle gift of all time. It’s what separates us from our old ways and delivers us from all the ramifications doubt used to bring to our lives. Believing God’s Word starts us on an adventurous path that can only be joyfully experienced and appreciated by those who follow Jesus into all that He has for them holding back nothing from His healing touch.

26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
John 20:26-27

Today, Jesus is not with us physically. In essence, we have The Word (Jesus, and the precious Holy Spirit) with us. Jesus says, that doing His Word is “put your finger here and look at my hands.” Doing His Word is “put your hand into the wound in My side.” While like Thomas, we may not recognize Jesus at first. Like Thomas putting his finger in Jesus’ wounds, doing The Word proves it’s Jesus and when we see Him back up our efforts to do His Word, we believe and say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God.”

Then we invite others to come and see that Jesus is real and alive.

Wonderful Jesus…

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:1-6 (and the rest of this wonderful chapter)

For Annie and me, faith equals Jesus. Jesus is literally Life to Annie and me. Whenever I hear someone making a funny comment about faith – about my Jesus – I can’t help it, it just wells up inside me and I think, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?”

Annie and I don’t kid about, trivialize and make slight comments about faith. That’s because we’ve seen what doing so does to us and others. It undermines believing and leads to questioning faith in God’s Word – and often when faith is needed most.

Annie and I must have strong faith in order to win the battles we face as Christians in this life. Faith in Jesus is what has sustained us, helped us to overcome, and given us more and more of Jesus in every area of our lives. We’re so thankful for His faithfulness and work in our lives.

There’s no need for faith if there’s no fear.

Fear > Faith

Believing The Word is how we stand. Believing The Word when fears come is faith. God will lead you through the fear to faith – every time. Keep believing. Charge fear with God’s promises found in His Word, and watch what God does in your midst. Hallelujah!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Every time I realize that I’m saved, I’m so incredibly thankful that God chose me to be His child. Think about it. If you’ve asked Jesus into your life and if you’re following His lead by walking in faith, you’re a child of God – of the Most High. That just blows me away.

And He backs up His Word. He loves to do it. Amazing.

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you (yes, you) in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Any more, the only time I get scared is when/if I stop believing Romans 8:28… that God isn’t going to work “it” for my good. Once I remember that God will – in His wisdom, power and time – work any situation for my good, fear is once again taken over by faith, I’m back onto trusting God and His joy fills me with His supernatural courage as I anticipate His wonderful leading in my life.

Thank You, Jesus.

Passin’ The Faith Along
^{By the Gaither Vocal Band}

Passin’ the faith along to my brother
Passin’ the faith along
Helping to build the faith of another
Passin’ the faith along
Sharing a word of hope with my brother
Helping to make him strong
Passin’ the faith along to my brother
Passin’ the faith along

The runner of a relay, finds in his baton
Purpose for the running and strength to carry on
We hold within our grasp the faith that makes us strong
And like the relay runner, we seek to pass it on

Passin’ the faith along to my brother
Passin’ the faith along
Helping to build the faith of another
Passin’ the faith along
Sharing a word of hope with my brother
Helping to make him strong
Passin’ the faith along to my brother
Passin’ the faith along

Countless generations of saints have come and gone
A spark ignites as an ember fades and the flames continues on
A challenge to the young, and assurance for the old
The flames burns ever brighter each time our story’s told

Passin’ the faith along to my brother
Passing the faith along
Helping to build the faith of another
Passing the faith along
Sharing a word of hope with my brother
Helping to make him strong
Passin’ the faith along to my brother
Passing the faith along

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

I was listening to a Christian radio program yesterday (5-27-21) and a man said he’d had a dream that his brother, who was now in Heaven, told him, “It is all worth it!”

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Yesterday afternoon (5-27-21), I was thinking about what it must have been like to be with Jesus while He was on earth. What incredible things and experiences the disciples must have seen and had performed right in front of their eyes. Then, the Holy Spirit said, “He’s with you right now. He always is.” Wow, these days are my “disciple” days and Jesus is right here with me – with you.

Then Came The Morning
^{Performed by Ernie Hasse And Signature Sound
Written by Chris Christian and Bill and Gloria Gaither}

They all walked away, nothing to say
They’d just lost their dearest friend
All that He said, now He was dead
So this was the way it would end

The dreams they had dreamed were not what they’d seemed
Now that He was dead and gone
The garden, the jail, the hammer, the nail
How could a night be so long?

Then came the morning
Night turned into day
The stone was rolled away
Hope rose with the dawn

Then came the morning
Shadows vanished before the sun
Death had lost and life had won
For morning had come

The angel, the star, the kings from afar
The wedding, the water, the wine
Now it was done, they’d taken her Son
Wasted before His time

She knew it was true, she’d watched Him die too
She’d heard them call Him just a man
But deep in her heart she knew from the start
Somehow her Son would live again

Then came the morning
Night turned into day
The stone was rolled away
Hope rose with the dawn

Then came the morning
Shadows vanished before the sun
Death had lost and life had won
For morning had come

Then came the morning
Shadows vanished before the sun
Death had lost and life had won
For morning had come
For morning had come

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Are you having what you think is a “bad” day? No way.

Jesus – The Word – takes precedence over my emotions, feelings and circumstances. Right now, wherever you are at this very moment – and all day long today – this is the day the Lord has made and we will rejoice in it. Amen!

Jesus has overcome this world and in Him, we can do the same (John 16:33).

This is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice in it! With my will, I make a deliberate choice to choose to believe Jesus every day.

There is a song we used to sing in church called “This Is The Day.” It’s a really encouraging and admonishing lyric and melody.

Here are a couple of lines from that great song.

“This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made, we will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it…”*

Today, and every day, is a day the Lord (The Creator) has made. There is never a day the devil has made because he’s not a creator – he only steals, kills and destroys. So, I choose every day to rejoice and be glad because each and every day is a day the Lord has made. God has plans for me and new, wonderful things to teach me each and every day. What a blessing.

Yes, we all get spiritually, physically and mentally challenged. But, this is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice in it – I will rejoice in what Jesus has made. Hallelujah!

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark
*Lyric taken from “This Is The Day The Lord Has Made” by Les Garrett

In some strange-sounding ways, I have a real advantage regarding needing Jesus. All of my tests result in my dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. I pretty much know I’m no good without Christ and that I cannot overcome this world without staying in His shadow. But, therein lies the strength of the universe and He is what I must have in order to complete this life He’s given me.

Where does a person begin and end talking about Jesus? How can I compare my ways with His amazing, every-increasing and expanding, freeing, loving, infinite ways?

While living in my ways, I was blind to Jesus. Jesus is opening my eyes to all of the wonder that He is – to true Life.

He (the man who Jesus healed of blindness) answered and said, “Whether he (Jesus) be a sinner or not, I know not. One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.”
John 9:25

Ninety-nine out of 100 times, according to one well-known pastor, when a Christian marries a non-Christian, the Christian will lose their faith and give in to the non-Christian spouse’s way of life.

I was thinking about giving up Jesus. Not actually doing it, but about what it would be like to do so. I would have to give up the favor He continually shows me, the exhilaration of the adventure I’ve found in Jesus, the way He surprises me in so many ways that bring a secret smile or tear of joy. I’d have to give up letting His peace reign in my heart, Him often quickening and making real His Word to my heart. I’d have to give up Romans 8:28, the ability of being able to trust in the Lord with all my heart and to have His peace that passes my understanding soothing me, to not be afraid of sudden fear, to be able to cast all my care on Jesus, that I would probably not love my wife the way Jesus has shown me to, that I would not have the power to be free indeed, and all the rest that makes up the abundant Life I’ve found in Him, and I thought, “I cannot live without Jesus and that living with Him is so inspiring, rich and free.”

Jesus truly is Life for me – I can now see just a fraction of all that He’s wanting to do in my life. I sense that He has so much more. Without Him in my life, I would be left with all of the awful ways that lead to death. I would still be blind.

Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ and who maketh manifest through us the savor of His knowledge in every place.
2 Corinthians 2:14 KJV

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
2 Corinthians 2:14 AMP Version

For to me to live is Christ (all that He is – Wow), and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

What a blessing Jesus, The Word, is.

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
And I put the Name of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name, the Name that is ABOVE every other name.

I had another hard migraine Sunday evening. It’s had me feeling pretty awful all around. I got up this morning after not sleeping well and felt pretty low. I began taking defeating thoughts captive and praising Him. I turned on the following youtube video and let the Word, Jesus, minister to me. It’s amazing how much I need Jesus and how He delivers me. Truly, He sustains me.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Psalm 55:22 NIV

As long as I wasn’t casting my cares on the Lord, I wasn’t able to let Him sustain me – I was up and down depending on my circumstances on any given day. Everything in my life was being shaken to bring me to the point where I realized I needed to learn to cast all my cares on Jesus.

If I don’t cast my cares on the Lord, He can’t sustain me and I can be shaken because I’m retaining my cares. The righteous (those who do the following) cast their care on Jesus and are strong in Him because they’re no longer shaken. They may be tempted to take on care, but they’ve learned to cast that care on Jesus and are saved from being shaken and are sustained in Christ. What a blessing.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark

Jesus is wonderful and He desires for each of His children to get to know how completely wonderful He is. He tells us to take on His yoke and that His burden is light (not dark). Wow, all I want to do is to be with liberating Jesus all day long. And, I want to tell others how they can be free in Him as well. What a Life. He’s taking me from all the bondage I used to live in to total freedom in Him. Mmmm…

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace (isn’t that incredible?)
And I put the Name (I’m only beginning to understand how glorious, freeing and burden-lifting that remarkable Name is) of the God of the children of Israel on you and bless you in Jesus’ Name (in His care-free Name) , the Name that is ABOVE (so freeing and lovely) every other name.

Thanking and praising God in all things,

Mark