Heart, Soul, and Strength

 Certainly that's far from creating life in a laboratory and you know that the amount of information contained in the nucleus of a living cell shows that it could not have evolved from non-living chemicals.  In that it must have been created.  The fossil record does not show the continuous development of one kind of creature into another and one has neither seen one kind of plant or animal changing into another of a different kind.  Dogs change into different kinds of dogs but they are always dogs and we can breed dogs to form new varieties, but they'll never change into cats or kangaroos because they remain in the boundaries that God created for them in the beginning. And you know that there are layers of assumptions used to calculate the age of the earth using radiometric dating.  The earth is not billions of years old.  The earth is not millions of years old.  Not even close.  Evolution is being taught as a matter of fact but no one can scienti...

 Evolution leaves no room for a supernatural creator.  And since there is no God, then there are no rules.  No One to whom we must give an account. So man did not create God. Freud got that wrong.  In fact, I would propose to you the very opposite.  I believe that if man got his way, he'd prefer that God did not exist.  And eliminate God. Haven't you noticed?  Whenever anything goes bad in someone's life or if there is some tragic event that occurs, people--religious or non-religious--inevitably blame God.  How could God allow this?  How could God allow that? No, if man had his way, he would rather eliminate God, not create Him.  Even comes up with the theology that God is dead and has left the building! I taught from the perspective that God is our Creator and i refused to teach what I thought were evolution lies from the textbook. You're talking about how those laboratory experiments have proven that living organisms evolve from non-li...

  But now, O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.  do not be furious, O Lord, Nor remember iniquity forever; Indeed, please look--we all are Your people  - [Isaiah 64: 8-9] Salvation is Your idea--not mine and that involves a depth that You only understand.  There's not much point in me trying to speak for You based on my own understanding.  i think that's the problem we all face today.  Too many folks thinking they can speak for You.  Folks are imposing their human understanding to divine understanding.  i shouldn't begin to preach the event of walking by the bottle, butt, and roach.  God, You get the credit for that.  Because they are juicy butts, bottles, and roaches You have me passing by.  That's quite an event You orchestrated.  i should take a photo of every butt and roach i see laying on the pavement.  Satan would just start dancing in the street to se...

 Folks don't realize that He's the same Christ now as He was back before Paul even wrote Romans.  Christ lays down His life for me now as He did back to a Roman Centurion standing, watching Him crucified on the Cross, the One who is truly the Son of God now as He was then.  And i'm no longer invited to the Wedding...i'm already part of it!  God doesn't have me believe i'm lovable.  He brings a number of people who i cannot respect around me, and yet i must exhibit my love for them, just as He loves me, unlovable me.  i must always keep in mind how He has dealt with me even when i turned my back on Him. Lord, Your voice is so gentle.  It's easy for me to ignore or not hear.  i didn't do anything to achieve my salvation, but i must do everything to exhibit it.  i must work out what is my salvation.  That's my occupation now.  May i be able to face anything You bring my way.  You haven't cut me off without a penny!  Why shoul...

 Trials and joy don't go together.  Testing of faith produces endurance.  i know You are in control of time and intensity of my trial, so it's wise to put all my trust in You.  People are too flakey these days. They're just not for real.  i wouldn't even trust me.  Joy is the inner sense of calmness and peace.  God never promised me that i can understand everything that's going wrong in my life.  What's more precious than gold is proof of my faith being genuine.  i know You are designing my trials to fit me.  Can i ever be worthy enough to be Christlike?  i'm so tired of moaning and groaning and i'm developing that fight in me again.  Like i want to take on all comers.  i don't like that feeling.  i am not feeling in control.  God, thank You for walking the whole way through with me.  Holy Spirit, You have been poured out in my heart.  i gladly receive You.  You are the one who brings the rabbits b...

 Some predetermined goal is not the purpose of a faith-based life;  wander, wander, wander -- i did that for so many years until 2007.  i began to stay in one place for a long time.  i never thought i'd be in Massachusetts for 16 years!  Usually it had been two years here, five years there.  Gracious uncertainty is the mark of a spiritual life.  Makes things more fun.  i could throw commonsense right out the door at this point in my life.  i have no idea what to expect or what's going to be just around the corner.  Except for God.  Halleluiah! i can't wait to see what God's going to do next!  Thank You, Abba, for letting me have doubts about whether or not i can handle whatever is behind Door #3. Perhaps that's by Your design so that i can only depend on the sure thing and i know that's You.  The nature of everything in which i am involved in a life with You in it is only understood clearly after i've lived through it....

 So where do i see myself in the next five years?  Getting to know God better and realizing that it's a continuous journey, just like repentance itself.  Everyday i surrender to You, Lord.  You're my blessed Savior.  You've kept me here on this earth for 67 years now until You're ready to call me home.  And i'm willing and ready to come home when You say.  It's not what You can do for me or give me.   "Do not fear, O Jacob My servant," says the Lord, "For I am with you; For I will make a complete end of all the nations To which I have driven you.  I will rightly correct you, For I will not leave you wholly unpunished." - [Jeremiah 46:28]   i guess folks are too proud to think of themselves as sheep or being afraid of anything.  i used to have that attitude, that i wasn't about to fear the Lord.  i didn't like it when somebody described me to somebody else on the phone as a "God-fearing person" and i wasn't about to fear ...

 Even screaming and writhing in pain with which they are afflicted, they will still curse Him to His face, and they will refuse to repent even in the grip of a final, fatal judgment.  i pray for the ones who say they will blaspheme the Trinity.  That he may be so terrified that He may not be forgiven.  ..."We need to take down our 'Do Not Disturb' signs...snap out of our stupor and come out of our coma and awake from our apathy." - [Vance Havner] Imagine--even with all the blessings and miracles i've seen around me these past five years, to think that my heart was still hardened--and continuing to do so--it's unthinkable.  Bless us all who are aware of Your Holy Spirit that we may receive You and let You dwell in our hearts for we all need You.  In Jesus's name.  Amen i've got to walk in the light Christ gave me.  i just can't keep living my life the same ol' way.  Things have to be different every day.  When Jesus comes again, Satan wil...

 i like the concept keep it simple.  Desiring spiritual success is even more dangerous than sin itself.  i should not seek anything beyond the approval of God. It is  by Him in Him with Him  to Him for Him But he Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentile might hear.  Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. -- [2 Timothy 4: 17]  i always wondered why the 7th Day Adventist purport that it is Paul who wrote Hebrews: Know our brother, Timothy, has been set free with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.  - [Hebrews 13:23] Who else but Paul would say that?  he has said it so many times before about Timothy unless it's Apollos or Barnabas? God will not forgive a sin that i won't confess.  At my lowest God is my hope.  At my darkness He is my light.  At my weakest God is my strength, and at my saddest God is my Comforter. My work begins ...

 The areas of my life where God has helped me to be victorious can still be open to Satan to make me fail again.  How many times have i imagined or daydreamed about lighting up a joint again while sitting in the woods by myself?  The thought--the temptation has the potential for cropping up and Satan just loves it!  Through Jesus Christ, God has given me that resurrection power to resist that temptation.  In other areas of my life where only God knows about where i could stumble yet again leads me to say to myself many times, "Just another roach, just another butt."  I can walk right on past.  Glory to the Lord! And in their mouth was found no deceit for they are without fault before the throne of God.  --[Revelation 14:5] i've been begotten to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. - [1 Peter 1:3]  i am focused on You now, Heavenly Father.  i seek not the approval of others this day.  Thos who might r...

 It's about time to inject Christianity back into public schools.  That's the way it was when i was 6 in the first grade and look at me now, Lord, seeking You and trying to live righteously.  Not perfectly.  The Pledge of Allegiance spoke about: One nation under God."  i remember one teacher correcting us for the pause--ONE NATION [PAUSE] UNDER GOD--apparently there was no comma back then, but everybody got involved with taking God out of the pledge comma or no comma.  So what threatens me?  The loss of a job?  Betrayal of a friend?  Children in danger going to school?  People willing to murder based on beliefs or having no beliefs?  The temptations that the world and i both face?  In the Book of Revelation i am seeing God in His glory.  God shows mercy and justice at once.  God putting His seal on the saints and the saints praising God.  There is a plague of moral and spiritual apostasy rampant in this world tod...

 i must make a moral decision about sin to get right with You.  i confess. Therefore, i am in agreement with You.  i receive the power of the Holy Spirit, and that involves a moral decision as well.  My transgressions are not pleasing to You, and You want to be pleased.  You deserve to be pleased and honored and the Cross is the event of time and eternity.   "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Somaria, and to the end of the earth.  - [ Acts 1:8] The Holy Spirit must be received; it is not an automatic experience.  The Holy Spirit is the power given for serving, for sharing the life and power of God's kingdom with others.  With childlike faith, i receive Your Spirit.  i will say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in me, dominates me so that i truly understand what You aught when You were here.  i must be sure i've develo...

 Thank You, Holy Spirit for making intercession for me with crises crushing in on all of us, and murders, and friends who won't admit to losing sleep over them all, You are here to comfort and to guide us.  You are the Great Counselor.  Many of us still don't have time to worship or to even acknowledge God.  Help me to get the courage to share the Good News with those who may have forgotten about You.  Prepare me to be ready to serve You when You are ready for me.  Strangely--or perhaps not so strangely at all--i am sometimes like Sarah who laughed when she overheard God telling Abraham she will have a child, although out of the range of child-bearing years. Only in an attitude of worship could i be able to minister to anyone, lest i have no interest or attraction to a person.  i would give a short prayer; maybe not even getting the name correct which has happened to me.  Am i worthy at this stage to be an intercession for the Lord?  i don't...

 Only Satan gave me the right to eat of the forbidden fruit; Christ gave me the right to change and no longer have the desire to indulge in that fruit.  Everyday with constant occurrences and problem people could become a blanket over my burning heart.  A heart of fire ablaze and given visions. The final outcome of a given emotion.  If it's something with which God would not be pleased, i can smother with my own blanket.  cancel it.  Like a blanket of my own over a destructive blaze.  The higher the emotion the deeper the level of corruption if it isn't exercised on its intended level.   May Your Spirit stir me up more and more and may i act upon it as quickly as i can so that it doesn't lose the intensity You intended.  If Your spirit has stirred me my decision should be irrevocable and let the consequences be as they may.   "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man...Ever...

 The Holy Spirit is Jesus' guarantee that there will be a home for me.  His love leaves me no choice but to live my life for Him.  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.- [2 Corinthians 6:16]  Will i ever be that faithful man able to teach others to be strong in the grace of Jesus Christ?  Should there ever be competition between Christians than we must play by the rules.   Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  - [2 Timothy 2:15]   Current, straight-on application of God's word is the result of diligent study.  The Lord knows those that are His. - [v. 20]  The motivation for living and the nature that rules me are radically changed; so, perhaps it was in my nature--"i was born that way."  It certainly ...

i still don't know completely what it means to follow Jesus Christ.  There's so much i don't know or can know.  All i know is that i've got to look and listen differently than i have in the past.  i can never claim to be properly saintly because i still carry too much resentment toward too many people and the devil is so delighted.  Yet he doesn't frighten me like the Lord does.  And that's good to be in fear of the Lord.  For a long time, i washed down the meaning of "fear" saying that i'm so in awe of Him.  i could easily be in awe of the devil and his demons. i can't believe that there is so much deceit among Christians who call themselves that in the first place because they only want to impress other people, or they are afraid of men.  The devil is once again dancing down the hallway of the seminary or Bible college in this divided nation of ours, For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overco...

 Abba, You are first in my life.  Whenever something occurs which feels like a blessing or good situation, i know You arranged it.  Just knowing You are around brings joy.  i feel closer to brothers and sisters today because You aren't far away.  Thank You for the healthy air and sunshine.  Thank You for helping me to realize that my faith and trust in You is costing others more than it's costing me.  Thank You for all Your heavenly visions.  It is without overly emotional feeling that You stir up righteousness around me.  i need to be in constant contact with You.  When i'm not it isn't anything You've done; it's what i'm not doing.  It's my fault if i lose any contact with You. Plant me in the whirlwinds of Your storms if that means i can be closer to You. i'm living in the light of the visions You provide me.  i have a feeling that i will see a new rainbow soon.   For if we had been united together in the likeness ...

"...This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent..." - [John 6:29] God gave us Jesus, the true Bread from Heaven, not the same kind of manna that Moses and his folks received.  They said to Him--they said to Him as though they were like a Greek chorus they--spoke at once!?!!  Surely not! "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  - [John 6:38] He will raise me up at the last day so i could never lose anything but have everlasting life.  i want so much to know the approximate date He said that; i don't understand why everybody says 2000  years  ago and  have been saying it the past fifty years.  When will somebody step up and say 2050 years ago?  Don't we take away our own Christian credibility by not beign more specific historically about the dates and how many years ago?  How old was Nicodemus when he met Jesus? If i eat of the bread that comes from heaven, i will n...

  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need  -[Hebrews 4:16] i've already tried and i already now have enough of me.  You, Father, have a much better plan than what i could ever come up with.   King Herod said he would go and worship the Child, while all along he intended to destroy Him. [Matt. 2:7]  Keep me going Lord.  Walking by the YWCA playground a small child yells Hiiiii!   i appreciate the rabbits, squirrels, and birds outside my patio sliding glass door.  What's really cool is they don't get spooked and run away.  Thank You, Lord, because of You i don't suffer from loneliness because the Comforter is always here.  i pray that folks like the ones i've seen on this documentary about loneliness find You for You've already found them.  And knowing You is awesome!  Thank You for Your omnipresence! From that time many of His disciples went back a...