God IS Omnipresent - Jonah 1

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” ³ But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.⁴ But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. ⁵ Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load.^] But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. ⁶ So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” ⁷ And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. ⁸ Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” ⁹ So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” ¹⁰ Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.”

Friends, is hard for some of us to believe that still today there’s people than aren’t aware that from the presence of THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD, nobody can hide!!! I came across one of those a few years back not in a remoted part of the world but here in AMERICA!!! I was thrilled that GOD gave me a chance to present that woman with the good news of THE SAVIOR of the world, JESUS! We both were shocked!!! It was sad and exciting at the same time, but unforgettable for the most!!! But as you read this chapter you will see how THE LORD showed Jonah then, and us today a lesson about HIS OMNIPRESENCE. 

Jonah wasn’t too convinced that what GOD had said (go to preach to Nineveh) was what NEEDED to be done.  At the same time, Jonah was really convinced that not wanting to go Nineveh, go Tarshish was the best thing. Have you ever been in a situation alike before? You strongly feel GOD is telling you to do something or to talk to someone about HIM, but your own fear and apprehension moves you to avoid that place, person or thing!? Jonah, allowed HIS emotions to RULE his life so, the “best thing” (sarcastically, because it wasn’t the smartest choice either) he came up with, was to “run away” from his duty as GOD’s prophet. 

Today’s word is helping us to see that no matter where we go, THE LORD IS AWARE of it because HE IS OMNIPRESENT, which is defined as the state of being widespread or constantly encountered. In other words, HE is all the time at every place, HE sees it all!!!  

The gospel of Matthew chapter 6, JESUS HIMSELF makes us aware of HIS omnipresence.  In this case unrelated to Jonah’s, JESUS is explaining about giving to the poor, and closes the statement confirming about THE LORD’s character: “^4b Then your Father, who SEES what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Friends, THE LORD SEES IT ALL!!! Try NOT to go against HIS will ANYMORE!!! When GOD is asking us to do something, we MUST go and do it.  Not only because we MUST BUT BECAUSE HE IS in charge of the breath we take! A breath that has is being given to us to do HIS will and for HIS glory.  And when we chose NOT to follow HIS plan, we’re basically telling HIM, “you do whatever you want to with me, I’m doing my own thing”.  And since when, one of your own kids tell you that and in return you give them a hundred-dollar bill to go buy their favorite goody for Christmas??? U-hum!!! Not happening, right?! Why, because as parents, we are in charge, and they must UNDERSTAND and FOLLOW us; not the other way around! Well, guess what? We ARE GOD’s children and THE FATHER in charge is GOD HIMSELF!!! And as with our kids, HE CAN and WILL turn circumstances around to CONVINCE us of THE called and duty in our lives.

Jonah, KNEW he was disobeying GOD. So, he admitted to non-believers what he was running from, but even them “unbelievers” (heretic, heathen, atheist, agnostic, pagan, skeptic, cynic, doubter, scoffer) they knew running away from a “god” was a bad thing, so, they were afraid!!! Their reaction taught Jonah a lesson.  They proceeded as Jonah led them to, and at the end, they worshiped (verse 14) the ALMIGHTY GOD who Jonah was running from, for they realized that indeed was the TRUE GOD.  

Jonah got the message: running away from GOD IS NOT the right WAY TO GO! Did YOU???

Today, if you fail, ask HIM to forgive you, and ask HIM for HIS will and go after it. If you fail, try it again! The same tomorrow, and the day after, until you fail no more at that particular thing; then go to the next thing.

I MUST SAY, when you try to succeed in whatever you do, put THE LORD FIRST! “TRUST IN THE LORD with all your heart, and lean NOT on your own understanding, in ALL your ways ACKOWLEDGE/SUBMIT to HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE your paths STRAIGHT!” (Prov. 3:5-6)

I pray THE LORD allow you to get HIS message this morning, discovering HIM and HIS plan for your life. Also, I pray HE will give you and me, new opportunities to share the gospel with the lost right where we’re at on a daily basis, and I pray this in JESUS name and for HIS glory, AMEN!!!   

Ezra's Church vs. your church - Nehemia 8

“Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square…

² So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month.

³ Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday…

⁴ So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

⁵ And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

⁶ And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God.

Then all the PEOPLE ANSWERED, “AMEN, AMEN!”

while lifting up their hands.

And they BOWED their HEADS and WORSHIPED THE LORD with their faces to the ground.

^7b  ….and the people stood in their place….

^9b …“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.”

….¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”…

¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.”

Friends, we can be excited about the fact that times have changed, and that we have church not out in the heat of the open square but in enclosed places with air conditioned, and comfy seating. Great and beautiful facilities with service and nursery rooms; car ports for when it rains; big projection screens for those that can’t read small letters and for those that “forgot” their Bibles at home.

Today’s Word is for us to realize that the responsibilities as people of God, CANNOT & SHOULD NOT depend on our surroundings! Because in the essence GOD’s Word IS (ought to be) what we go looking for when we go to church, and HE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH!!!

Unfortunately, sometimes we go to church looking for the excitement of the worship, for the grade to were our kids get entertained by. At the moment, we don’t realize that because our eyes have not been opened to that point yet, but then further down the road we end up realizing that the things we used to considered as “blessings” became instruments of distraction.  We noticed in our lives the moment that we face a hardship, because, we aren’t ready to overcome it, we started to feel as we are drowning, all alone. We noticed it in our kids as we see their struggle to pay attention to God’s servant who is preaching HIS Word in their own unique GOD-GIVEN style, while they (kids) act “bored” because they aren’t being “entertained”. 

We must UNDERSTANTD, the church’s purpose IT IS NOT to ENTERTAIN!!! CHURCH IS THE PLACE TO BE DISCIPLED! A place where as the WORD is preached, and our toes have been stepped onto, with pruned hearts we commit our lives to LIVE FOR THE LORD.

The CHURCH, and its environment, IS NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER, NOT EVEN the preacher is the main character!  THE MAIN CHARACTER IS THE LORD, and HIS WORD, is what is ALL ABOUT!!!

As a preacher, I’m Christ Ambassador, a VEHICLE thru were GOD’s Words FLOWS! And though the way we, preachers, conduct ourselves is important, WE ARE HUMANS, in constructions, just like you; and we make mistakes!  So DO NOT ALLOW than any preacher’s mistake prevent you from ENGAGING in when you come to church. I’ve seen too many people who leave the church because they hear someone said unsensitive words or look at them with uncaring or ugly eyes…. You name it! When in reality, that day that you experienced that look or heard those words from that person, he/she was going thru a WWII in their lives, and the pain was from their own spiritual battle inside of them and nothing to do with you. AND GOD was going to use you to bring healing onto that person’s life, but the enemy used their struggle sot push your EXIT buttons, to expelled you out of the place where GOD would be using you for HIS glory!

On the other hand, GOD IS PERFECT, and HIS Word IS what matters when we come to church! We CAN’T allow other things to distract us, from getting what we ought to receive when we GET TO come to GOD’s house to hear HIS Word!

Again, great and beautiful facilities with all the extras, are the complements of THIS GREAT MEAL; and WE CAN’T and MUST NOT allow those complements, to get us sooooo comfortable that the attention paid to the servant of God who brings up the word is minimal! When our worn out bodies come to church, in a “chilled” temperature room and comfy seats, at times in a low lighting environment, these great elements combined can throw any worn out body in a “comatose stage” or “nap time”! 

I respectfully tell you, this WAS NOT the way church was created to be, THE LORD IS THE MAIN COURSE and REALLY what we MUST BE AFTER!

I pray THE LORD give you the needed understanding for you to receive an answer, as you ask HIM, “Am I “too comfortable” in this church? Am I placing the “complements” (other people or things) before YOUR Word, in this place?

When you are PRAYER MODE, (after God forgiven your sins), ask HIM! The simplest answer is a Yes or a No, so, no matter how hard the question is, you can reword it to be answered with a Yes or a No, TRY IT!!!  You’ll be able to hear HIM easier; then it’s a matter of moving on according to what’s been given.

Close your eyes as you worship, and keep them wide open as THE WORD is being read, and explained; applying to your heart every given point, not to your husband, children, friend’s heart/lives, BUT to yours. Placing the importance on HIM first, will make a difference in your life.  And if the LORD wants to relocate you, REQUEST HIM to SEND you an invitation thru any of HIS ministering angels to the church HE wants you to worship HIM at…. And BE AMAZED at what THE LORD will do in you and THRU you, all for the glory of GOD, and I pray this in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

GOD's Property CAN'T self destroy!!! - John 19:10-11 NKJV

“10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”
11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore, the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

In this GREAT REVELATION, JESUS is telling us:

 A body who BELONGS to GOD, CANNOT be overpowered by the enemy!!!

Do you know what that means?

·        Nothing that the devil uses to destroy you(us), will eventually succeed!!!

·        You will NOT yield unto the temptation to attempt against your own body/life for it’s not yours BUT BELONGS to GOD! 

·        Satan will NOT succeed on this attempt against a body that belongs to God! GOD WILL NOT ALLOW him to! 

·        YOU ARE GOD’s PROPERTY!!!

·        As GOD’s Property HE will NOT attempt against HIMSELF!

·        THE POWER OF GOD in the person who has it cannot and will not be able to give glory to GOD if GOD gives permission to destroys it, THEREFORE, GOD WILL KEEP IT in safety!!! 

IF temptation comes to damage/auto-destroy GOD’s Property

And the person is actually THINKING about it, IT MEANS:

The personal relationship between the individual and GOD, has been compromised/broken WHICH MEANS IT MUST BE RESTORED!

In this case, REPENT of your sins, CONFESS THE LORD AS your only SAVIOR & MASTER of your life, as a way of SALVATION. IMMEDIATELY!!!! Then call a brother/sister in THE LORD, or your “ex-Pastor”.   

If a relationship is strong in THE LORD, when temptation comes:

The same POWER OF GOD inside of you, WILL REJECT THE TEMPTATION, and the only thing left to do, is cast in out in JESUS NAME to the pits of hell where it came from!

Start to worship THE LORD ALOUD!!! IMMEDIATELY!!! You can call your prayer support team, but not necessarily.

WHAT DO YOU DO when BAD REPORT comes in? – 2Kings 19

“And so it was, when King Hezekiah HEARD it (TERRIBLE NEWS), that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and WENT INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. ² Then he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. ³ And they said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah: ‘THIS DAY IS A DAY OF TROUBLE…. there is NO STRENGTH to bring them forth….^4b …Therefore, LIFT UP YOUR PRAYER FOR THE REMNANT THAT IS LEFT.’”

…. ⁶ And Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘THUS SAYS THE LORD: “DO NOT BE AFRAID of the WORDS which you HAVE HEARD…. ⁷ Surely I (GOD) will send a spirit upon him (Assyria’s king), and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”’”

⁸ Then the Rabshakeh (king’s servant) returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah… ^9b So he AGAIN SENT MESSENGERS TO (harass) HEZEKIAH, saying, ¹⁰ “Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” ¹¹ Look! You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by utterly destroying them; and shall you be delivered? ….

¹⁴ And Hezekiah received the letter (ANOTHER DISCOURAGING MESSAGE) from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and HEZEKIAH WENT up to THE HOUSE of THE LORD, and SPREAD IT before THE LORD. ¹⁵ Then HEZEKIAH PRAYED before THE LORD, and said:

“O Lord GOD of Israel, THE ONE who DWELLS between the cherubim, YOU ARE GOD, YOU ALONE, of all the kingdoms of the earth. YOU have MADE HEAVEN and EARTH. 16 INCLINE YOUR EAR, O Lord, and HEAR; OPEN YOUR EYES, O Lord, and SEE… ¹⁹ Now therefore, O Lord our God, I PRAY, SAVE US from his hand, THAT ALL the kingdoms of the EARTH MAY KNOW that YOU ARE THE LORD GOD, YOU ALONE.”

²⁰ Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD of Israel: ‘BECAUSE YOU HAVE PRAYED to ME against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I HAVE HEARD.’ ²¹ This is the word which THE LORD has spoken concerning him… ³² “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria:

‘He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor build a siege mound against it. ³³ By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city, ‘SAYS THE LORD. ³⁴ ‘For I WILL DEFEND THIS CITY…”

And the question is.....   WHAT DO YOU DO when BAD REPORT comes in?

King Hezekiah, a man of God, like some of you are; as soon as he received that terrible report, he was devastated, but it doesn’t say he went into the square Tavern to drown his pain and misery in alcohol, drugs, women or entertainment; it doesn’t say he became the fool of the town by telling the entire story over and over to every individual he came across to. NO!!!!?  

King Hezekiah decided to go visit THE LORD, he went to GOD’S house!  And in the middle of his brokenness, he decided to send the news to the prophet Isaiah, and requested him, PRAYER!!!

When you’re going thru hardships, RUN (ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnn) TO THE LORD!!! There’s no better place to be than at HIS feet!!!  And like Hezekiah, IT IS OK to ASK 4 PRAYER!!!

We don’t have to recall all the events for the request, but a just “Pray for me!” would do. And just like happened to Hezekiah, THE LORD will send HIS angels to help you carry on your load. Jeremiah 33:3 reminds us that we DO NOT have to try to carry on life’s load by ourselves, “Call to ME, and I WILL ANSWER YOU, and SHOW you GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS, which you do not know.’ Because “THERE’S POWER in the name of JESUS!!! To BREAK EVERY CHAIN”

Worship THE LORD with me…. THERE’S POWER in the name of JESUS!!! To BREAK EVERY CHAIN…

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUPZbNozGZc 

David's Pattern to Get RIGHT with GOD

“9 But the king (David) insisted that they take the census, so Joab and the commanders of the army went out to count the people of Israel…. 10 But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, LORD, for doing this foolish thing.” 11 The next morning the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: 12 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’” 13 So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the LORD who sent me.” 14 “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” 15 So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south… 17 When David saw the angel, he said to the LORD, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.” 18 That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up to do what the LORD had commanded him… 25 David built an altar there to the LORD and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the LORD answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.” 2 Samuel 24 (NLT)

David’s Pattern to Get Right with God

1. David insisted they needed to take a census, and so they did!

2. After his conscience began to bother him, he realized what he had done wasn’t right.

3. He immediately confessed!

4. David gets a message from God thru one of HIS servants, letting him know that though God had heard him confess the sin, a punishment should be applied.

5. At this point, David is troubled!

6. But David recognizes that falling in the Lord’s hands would produce a more merciful and compassionate punishment that if he would have fallen in human hands.

7. And as the Lord carries on HIS word (the punishment), people starts to die and David calls for mercy.

8. God’s servant comes back to David, and encourage him to go and build an altar to bring a worship sacrifice.

9. David goes buys the land, and worships.

10. The Lord accepts this love offering, answers the prayer, and stops the plague.

So even though you might have sinned more or less than whatever David did, because we all do, the pattern is the same. God wants NOT to destroy us; HE IS to RESTORE us! That’s why HE allows our conscience like it happened to David, to bother us, to call our attention, to realize we need to get back to HIM because we were not made to be separated or in another page different that the one our Creator is in, but in the same!

 

So, once we realize we have sinned, it’s time to confess! And be NOT surprised because consequences will come BUT if we confess you can be sure that they will be less severe than if we choose to stay in sin.

Thereafter, worship THE LORD!!! Sing or talk to HIM about your love for HIM, about HIS wonderful mercies, about how terrible you felt before and how your hope is in HIM. As you do, do be NOT surprise, because even while you are in worship, THE LORD will come and work things for you, and as you open your eyes, things will look, smell and even sound different. And it was all even before your eyes without you even realize it!!! Because better is one day in HIS court, in HIS house, in HIS presence than thousand elsewhere! Try for yourself, and share with me what GOD had done for you. 

Formed, Known, Called, Sanctified & Ordained

This morning while preparing my Daily ENC Devotion for my local church and FB followers, a great study sparked my mind, and this is what THE LORD shared with me, from the first chapter of the book of Jeremiah, starting on verse four.

“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

⁶ Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

⁷ But the Lord said to me:

“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. ⁸ Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

⁹ Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me:

“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”

My friend that reads this today, these ARE NOT my own words, they ARE GOD’s.

·       HE is the ONE who Formed us.

·       HE is the ONE who Knew us.

·       HE is the ONE who Called us.

·       HE is the ONE who Sanctified us.

·       HE is the ONE who Ordained us.

To do what?! You might ask, and the answer is:

1.     To worship HIM, first, for forming, knowing, calling, sanctifying, and ordaining us even before we were born.

2.     To prophesize, Merriam-Webster dictionary, defines this term as:

• ü  To utter by or as if by divine inspiration
• ü  To predict with assurance
• ü  To speak as if divinely inspired
• ü  To give instruction in religious matters:  Preach 
• ü  To make a prediction

3.     To root out

4.     To pull down

5.     To destroy

6.     To throw down

7.     To build

8.     To plant

In our humanity, we might think we aren’t qualified to do all this, but the truth is that we must remember the ONE who called us is powerful enough to create something beautiful like nature, out of nothing but only HE just spoke it into existence. HIS word is enough to make things happen; and if HE decided before hand that we were to be prophets, that’s just enough for us to believe it. After we believe this, it’s just a matter of developing that personal relationship with our CREATOR, so we can understand what exactly is it that we ought to do. There are not two patterns alike among us humans, this means each of us, though we might look alike, we will have things in common but not exactly the same.  Said this, as prophets the common denominator is what we will serve others is THE WORD of GOD. Not only we will talk about how we ought to love our neighbors, but we will also demonstrate that we love our neighbor enough to help them and maybe cover a need might be having at the moment. If we have some goodies and snacks in our backpack, and we find a hungry homeless out there, as we share God’s love, a tangible way we can show our love and our care for them, is to share our goods with them. Sometimes not only The Word will be spoken but always supported with our actions.  And there are countless ways this Word will be served to the world and it will vary from one another, and depending on the area HE had called, planted us to serve it at.   

For example, if a person has been called to preach/teach The Word to the blind, this person might have a hidden or already known desire to learn to use Braille Language; maybe even have a blind person in the family or close by. (Braille is a tactile writing system, used of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision.) If the desire is being known, maybe when college and career selection times comes this is the path they want to follow. And see, this is a very different approach that someone who has a called to speak to kindergartener or to the elderly that aren’t blind has. If you’ve been called to speak to inmates in jail, you will have to have some skills indwelled you, that not many have.  

Not to mention, that to root, pull, destroy, throw, build, and to plant, you must have some skills.  And you might think you need to have them all, but the truth is we all have them to a certain extent, but we have NOT been called to be expert in each and every one of those, because the ONLY PERFECT One was JESUS and HE was crucified! And if each one of us would have the complete set of skills, there would be no need for us to be even alive, because that one person, could minister the entire world; and that’s not the case. THE LORD’s word in Romans 12:4 explains: “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function”. 1Corinthians 12:12-28 talks about the body and its essential need for all the parts to be connected, I'm not going to get into details about it, but check it out:

“²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. ²⁸ And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

Since GOD IS who CREATED us, HE is the One who had indwelled in us some of these skills.  Our duty here, is get in communion with HIM, for HIM to reveal to us in a clear way the path HE wanted us to follow. Because if I tell you I want you to become the president but I do not explain you the duties and responsibilities of the position must likely you will not perform your job as required, cause you’re not aware of the details. This is the main reason for my next point here, we need to meet with HE who has given us the ordination to get the insides of the calling.

But again, for this, we MUST set some time apart from anything, and anyone, in a place where no distractions will take away our senses. We can have an instrumental music in the background is you do not want to “hear” the silent or the air flow “noise” … then start by giving THE LORD thanks. Thanks for the moment, for the air you’re breathing in, the eye sight, and for the revelation HE will give you while you’re seeking HIS face, and for everything else that comes to your mind including a repentant heart, that says “I’m sorry Lord for ….” And then confess HIM your sins. This is essential because, would you be willing to give me something that I ask you, after I’ve been mean and disrespectful to you? NO! Well, just to make sure The Lord is willing to answer our prayers, we better clean our hearts, before we ask HIM to give us something. 

With a clean heart, we come to ask, and we shall receive an answer (Matthew 7:7). It’s very helpful if you be ready with paper and pen at hand, so you can record what HE will speak to you; the ideas, names of people, places or things, because HE will bring these, and you really do not want to forget what HE says to. And I know some of you believe your mind is so sharp that you do not need to write it, but I can tell you, that depending on my own understanding which is what proverbs 3:5-6 says NOT TO, I had forgotten important details of revealed things, and at the end, remembering those, had brought me nothing for a reason to repent for trusting on my own instead of using the resources HE had given me…. 

End with a short or long prayer, worshiping HIM for what HE had given you in this “Private Time” with HIM. Times like this one, is not only good to have once in a blue moon, or when you have questions, but often, VERY often. In fact, shorter sessions of this “Private Time” MUST BE incorporated to our DAILY life, then, and only then the lifestyle we live will be pleasing HIM who created us.  And who cares, if so and so don’t like us to have times like this? You still make it because that ONE who you’re having the time with is the ONE WHO GIVES YOU THE BREATH you’re having right now. And when you leave so and so, for HIM who gives you breath, that means you are placing HIM above anything or anyone, and my friend, this is an act of WORSHIP! By the way, THE LORD LOVES us to worship HIM!!! So, GO FOR IT!!! 

I'm praying for us to be obedient to our Heavenly Father's call, in JESUS name, AMEN!

Drowning Feelings?

For some of us, the lyrics of the Casting Crowns song, East to West, may speaks as if our life would have been exposed to the world.  Because sometimes we have felt, those drowning feelings, perhaps you're going thru them, right now.  Can I tell you, that sometime these feelings are due to the chains of some of our past life’s sins, we tend to yearn for peace and rest, because we don’t want to end up where we were. As the day starts our war begins, God’s truth is drowned out by the storm we're in, and our emotions at times, may even keep us awake thru the night…

Today I want to remind you that in THE LORD’s arms you will find mercy and find rest. Because when you call upon THE LORD, and ask HIM to clean your heart, and you surrender your life to HIM, HE becomes your SHEPHERD! And when ^“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows; HE leads me beside peaceful streams. ³ He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you (GOD) are close beside me. Your(GOD's) rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” Psalm 23

And I know that sometimes even after HE has already become our Shepherd, you’ve might feel that you have to asked HIM for forgiveness again, and again. The heaviness of the chains we were carrying had left our hearts heavily bruised, and that is OK, to go back again, and ask HIM to clean you, again! There’s no sin in coming back to ask HIM forgiveness, in fact, I believe that’s good, because the more we come back to HIM for help, the more HE will deal with us, and the closer our walk with HIM will become.   

But the important thing is that after you go back to the Father, and repent, to overcome the temptation to go back to your old life, you MUST DEVELOP your relationship with HIM.  By STUDYING THE word of GOD - THE BIBLE, daily, you will be able to see, realize, and claim what THE WORD of God says about you. HIS promise of Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of the GREAT plans HE has for you. And when you get reminded that GOD LOVES you, that HIS promises are for you, that HE is for you, and NOT against you, that HE REALLY is your guide because you have surrendered; because you’ve accepted HIM as the new Master in charge of your heart and life, that HE renews your strength, will guide you and you will bring honor to HIM, eventually the truth of GOD will override those drowning feelings. By then you’ll have developed a testimony than when its gets told, will help many, all to the glory of God who saved you (and me).

Dare to BELIEVE, start TODAY!!!
Feel free to comment, and PM any questions, or prayer request.

Until next time... God bless you!

Who would you spend the day with if you know it’s your last day on earth?

 How or What would you do? 

Matthew 26 recorded what JESUS answered, when He was asked where was HE going to celebrate the Passover; nobody but HIM knew that it would be His last. 

“¹⁷ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” ¹⁸ “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” ¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.”

It doesn’t say HE wanted to spend his last day with His earthly parents and siblings; or in Joseph’s workshop carving a chair or a table that maybe “mom” needed it. It doesn’t say He wanted to go on partying or any other farewell activity. First we’ll see how Matthew recounts it, and then we’ll review what he really saying to us.

Matthew 26: 20-46

²⁰ When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” ²² Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?” ²³ He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴ For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” ²⁵ Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.” ²⁶ As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”²⁷ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, ²⁸ for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. ²⁹ Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” ³⁰ Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

³¹ On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ³² But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” ³³ Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” ³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” ³⁵ “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

³⁶ Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. ³⁸ He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ³⁹ He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” ⁴⁰ Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? ⁴¹ Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

⁴² Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away^[f] unless I drink it, your will be done.” ⁴³ When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. ⁴⁴ So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” 

In other words…

·        JESUS was having a “quiet” evening

·        Having supper with His disciples

·        Teaching them about the future

o   That though GOD will allow HIM to suffer

o   Once He’s betrayed and no longer among them,

o   The sheep He has been feeding will go away

o    HE will raise and will meet all of them in Galilee

·        Detailing how even when they love Him, they will deny and even betray Him

·        Channeling their fears

·        Reassuring about what has been written and was about to happen

·        Creating awareness of disciplinary actions

·        Explaining details of what it was being celebrate

·        Creating memories

·        Giving new meaning to “old” traditions

·        Teaching about communion

·        Singing hymns

·        Demonstrating how weak the flesh is

o   And not even the disciples who walked with Him couldn’t stay awake for long

·        How anguished and stress is dealt with

o   He brought a prayer partner

o   HE remained in prayer despite His anguish  

·        Showing that prayer is the answer

o   And that even when we use a prayer partner their support isn’t guaranteed

o   We MUST stay focus in GOD.

·        It’s ok to repeat yourself in prayer

·        Reminding them to watch out, for HIS words will remain!

My friend, we MUST be recognized that our skin and bones suit is weak, though we might exercise it and take care of it, we CANNOT forget that our inner person must be strengthen too. Our spirit need to be fed, daily, with spiritual food; by praying we tell it all to God, and as we do we calmed down a bit. THEN, we must read His Word, so our spirit would settle down, bringing forth that hope and peace that we can’t get in any department store. The more we use this patter to lead our lives, the more we will be transformed as our mind gets renewed in The Lord.

Try it for yourself, and afterwards, share with us what God has done for you. Your personal testimony, speaks volumes, do not be afraid and share it!

Until next time, God bless you!