Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (disheartened, deprived of courage, fear of terror), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 AMP
God, if You’re with me, I’m okay.
Mark
Having Jesus’ Full Joy
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising (disregarding) the shame , and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:34
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
John 15:11-14
The cross Jesus asks us to take up daily will kill you. But that’s just the point. That’s the really good news of the gospel.
What?
Well, what I’m realizing is that as long as I’m alive (the old nature; my old, selfish self) and living for self and the flesh, I’m not being set free to enjoy the things of God, His higher ways, the blessings of God in my spirit that only He can give me. As long as “self” is my priority, I’ll have less peace, and my joy won’t be full.
Many years ago I spent a week fasting and praying – I recommend everyone do this. It’s so calming and really clears my head. Reminds me that I need to do it again. =)
During that time, I asked God some questions about Jesus. One of them was, “How is it that Jesus is so high and lifted up?” The answer was because Jesus has no thought for Himself. He lives totally for His bride – to love her, always. This is true joy, happiness and fulfillment. There’s no higher type of life in all of creation.
Wow, that really ministered to me as I laid there meditating on everything that meant. You can get really peaceful just thinking about God’s answer regarding Jesus.
Living completely for others, free from all of the competition, insecurities, confines, stress, ego traps, chains and entanglements that living for “self” brings.
Whewie, that’s really something, that’s freedom…
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (you’re unquestionably free).
John 8:36
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
I can run towards and embrace my daily cross. At the cross, self-serving is defeated. It’s where I’ll have full joy.
God bless,
Mark
Child Abuse?
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103: 1-5
I had a spiritual attack in bed last night. It was related to a “sudden fear” item I got hit with yesterday afternoon. Such attacks almost always boil down to worry and then self-pity, a behavior pattern I picked up from past generations.
Even though many of my relatives were Christians, they allowed too many sins in their lives and worry and self-pity were two of the biggies – In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says “without faith, it’s impossible to please God” to protect us from allowing fear in our lives. My relatives should have been doers of the Word and not hearers only no matter what their other Christian peers thought – The fear of man (always) brings a snare (Proverbs 29:25).
Now I’m not saying that I don’t sin in the areas of worry and self-pity from time to time. But with the Holy Spirit’s help, I’m having more and more victory in those areas and I’m asking my family’s forgiveness whenever I slip up to keep strongholds from taking root in their lives – Gordon, one of our Oregon pastors, taught us the valuable insight of asking forgiveness whenever we miss the mark.
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
A few months ago, I read an online news article that said that teaching children about Christianity and Jesus ought to be outlawed stating it should be considered child abuse.
I can’t imagine much that would be worse than children (or anyone else) not being able to learn how they can take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ; to be thankful in everything; to know that our loving Heavenly Father is able to work all things for our good. I know I’d be a major wreck if I’d never had the opportunity to learn how to replace fear and dismay with God’s truths.
I wonder how much substance abuse and other issues could be done away with if we could learn to cast all our cares on Christ.
And, the above three tremendous Biblical truths are just the beginning of the infinite benefits of Christianity, the Bible and Jesus, The Prince Of Peace.
Perhaps had the person who wrote the Christian child abuse article been around more Christians doing the Word, their perspective would have been different.
Let’s be doers of the Word, especially for the sake of our children and future generations. Memorize scripture that teaches us that we can trust God, that we cast all our care on Him and that He’s working all things for our good. (Keeping these wonderful truths close in our memories is so vital.) Please, for their sake, have your children memorize them.
Like me and others have done, please ask for God’s help in doing these things. He’s faithful. He’ll change us and others will be drawn to Him and His incredible salvation.
Mark
The Holy Spirit Keeps Growing His Fruit In Us =)
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:29
Longsuffering – Bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient; not easily provoked.
Goodness – In the Bible, the “goodness”of God often refers to His gracious generosity in providing abundantly for mankind’s needs and benefits (Psalm 23:6; Psalm 65:11). It can also refer to God’s generous mercy and patience that allow more time for sinners to repent (Romans 2:4). But God’s goodness is much more than those things. It is the very essence of God’s nature – His righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 5:9)
Meekness – An attitude of humble, submissive and expectant trust in God, and a loving, patient and gentle attitude towards others.
Temperance – Self-Control. The term “temperance” has an effect on all aspects of our lives as we learn to control our thoughts, words, and actions. As Paul said, “…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Hello Fellow Christians In Jesus, =)
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Philippians 1:6
Fruit of the Spirit – The thing about fruit is it keeps growing. We get more “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” each day.
Jesus is growing the fruit in our life as the Holy Spirit comforts us each day by helping us to grow from glory to glory. Wow, how wonderful is that?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:
Galatians 5:22-23a King James Version (KJV)
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23a Amplified Bible (AMP)
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18
God bless you all as you live knowing God is watching over your life, setting you more and more free as His Holy Spirit grows us into Christ’s liberating image.
More of You, Jesus
Mark
Choosing Jesus, The Word
Hello Saints in Jesus (Who is the Word),
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
The last few days, my head has felt kind of funny – The feeling can be attributed to detoxing. The feeling can be hard to explain as my daughter, Faith, and her friend Laura can relate to. =)
With all of my health issues, I can’t always tell what’s making me feel a certain way. (Even if I’m dealing with a health item that lingers for the whole day, saying the Word keeps my spirit free and living above my circumstances.)
Yesterday, I kept telling myself I need to read some scripture out loud to see if I was dealing with a spiritual force. Got busy and never got around to it – Never a good thing since I end up trying battle through to overcome in my own strength rather than relying on God’s strength which saves me so much energy (Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6)
This morning, I woke up with the same funk. Got out the Word (my sword) and read Psalm 34 several times out loud. Just like that, I was delivered from the funky feeling in my head that was affecting my countenance and body.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Thank God we have a sword. =)
Mark
Christians Want A Deeper Walk
It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, He said, and the servant like his master (Matthew 10:25).
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you (John 13:15).
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
Joni Eareckson Tada – As you may recall, Joni had a diving accident early in life that left her paralyzed from the neck down. In a recent youtube video, Joni said, “When my diving accident first happened, I didn’t know what to think. I came to realize I’d been slammed up against God.” Over time, Joni would see the beautiful plan God had for her life and recently commented, “I wouldn’t trade this wheel chair for anything.”
Ann and I watched another video about the history of commerce. In it, the church of the day fought hard against the expanding world of indulgence thinking that virtue was what mattered most.
We watched another video that mentioned a very well-known church and how the congregants are growing tired of its “seeker-centered” and entertaining atmosphere. The church-goers want to go deeper with the Lord, but the church is finding it difficult to do since it’s not been a priority and the leaders are not sure how to implement the change. They’re even acknowledging their own lack of depth.
I think it’s so wonderful how the Lord will allow the church (us) to go just so far until He brings it back to Himself, to learning of Him. It’s the only way any of us will be set free, indeed.
In his book, “Let Me Entertain You,” Merlin Carothers begins chapter 10 with the following.
Disciplined Disciples
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24)
“Call people to be my disciples,” God had told me. Obviously, the call couldn’t be dressed up or glossed over with Hollywood glamor or deception. I wasn’t going to be allowed to increase the ranks by presenting a message called: “Easy Street. Enter into God’s favor and find fun, food, luxury, and leisure!”
My call to disciples could not include suggestions that we might be allowed to get up in the morning when we want to get up, eat what we like, buy whatever we desire, go where we want to go, rest when we feel like it, and enjoy whatever makes us feel good whenever the mood strikes us. I had to tell the truth.
Jesus didn’t call us to a life of ease. He called us to get up early, study and work hard, serve selflessly and pray constantly. He warned us to be alert to danger, even when it comes in the form of entertaining distractions.
“Deny yourself,” He said, “and take up your cross.”
Madison Avenue’s executives would sit Jesus down and try to explain the basics of advertising. “Look,” they’d say, “never highlight the negatives. Self-denial isn’t popular this century. Give ’em what they want. It’s okay to create a need if necessary. But for pity sake, don’t offer them a cross!”
“Granted, the idea of a symbol that will always be associated with you is good thinking, but – a symbol of death lacks a certain promotional appeal. If you hope to achieve any success – you’d better just focus on those heavenly mansions you’re building. Heaven…blessings…peace…love…joy, those are your best words. Forget the cross.”
But Jesus doesn’t watch television or read magazines, so He isn’t influenced by commercial advertising techniques. “Deny yourself,” he calls out again, more firmly, “take up your cross and follow me.”
The world’s advertising is clever – it’s designed to appeal to the masses. Jesus is selective – His requirements attract only a few. He wants disciples who are willing to be like Him.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32
God bless you all,
Mark