I DID IT MY WAY

Now this may seem like a crazy column, but I will explain why. Most of those our age will remember this song being sang by Elvis, others the older group it would be Frank. To those younger well if you have never heard it, it is a song that describes many people. It is not a Christian song and yet it is what many Christians do as Christians.

On Monday I will explain how it relates to Barnabas in Acts 15:35-39, and how it relates to what we have been talking about the past few days. Read the scripture and then read the song. Ponder on it and see what you come up with.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

I DID IT MY WAY

And now the end is near
So I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exception
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
Oh, and more, much more than this
I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you know
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way
I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fails, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, no not me
I did it my way
For what is a man, what has he got
If not himself, then he has not
To say the words he truly feels
And not the words he would reveal
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way

God Bless Indeed
recj/LJG

CONSECRATION THE FINAL GOAL

Now that we know what it is and how to do it, all of us are to become preachers and go into the world and preach. NO! What we are to do is serve Him. Many years ago a pastor told me that not all churches are for all people. Some churches are for painters, some are for plumbers. A painter going to a plumbing church will feel lost. In other words not all people are called for all things.

I am sure we can all name at least one person that has called themselves to preach. It is sad to see someone get full of what they think is the Spirit of God, leave from under a good pastor and go start what I call a fly by night church. They feel they are called to preach, many times the only person that has called them is themselves.

All of us are to offer ourselves to the Lord, and then we are to wait on Him. Maybe He has called you to preach, but did He tell you to go preach now?

As long as we are Christians we are to serve the Lord all our life's. But we are to serve Him in the way that He will tell us to serve. Serve does not mean we pick what we want to do, serve means to wait on the Lord to tell us what to do.

Years ago we had a funny little song that went something like this: move it to the left, move it to the right, now move it all around. Well if that is what God says then that is what you do. Obeying God is pleasing to God.

It is not now much we can give God, it is being accepted and being granted the honor of serving Him. That is the reality of consecration.

It is a joyful thing to be saved, it is far more joyful for us to have a part in service to the Lord.

Because of the death and resurrection of Christ we do not have to kill the rams and put blood on our right thumbs, big toe and ear. We do not have to sprinkle blood or do a wave offering.

There is a requirement and that is that we are saved. It is because of God's abounding grace that we can consecrate ourselves. What a tremendous thing it is that we can receive His grace and be counted worthy to serve Him.

God Bless Indeed

recj/LJG

DEAR GOD

DEAR GOD,

Today Lord we come to You with praise and worship. We thank You for all that You are doing and have done in our life's. We thank You Lord for each person that reads these articles. We thank You Lord for the growth that is encouraged in each of our readers life's.

Lord You have blessed us with favor, anointing, and a life to live for You. Today we are fresh and new in You. Though we are not perfect because of Christ Jesus we can come to you, and we do. We are to cast all our cares and worries at Your beautiful feet, and this we have done. We have done it knowing in our soul, heart and mind that you have heard and answered us.

What a mighty God we serve. Angels bow before you, heaven and earth adore You. What a mighty God we serve.

In any attack we are to stand and praise the Lord and that is what we are doing now. We ask that today you stand with us in praise that God's most perfect will be done.

We refuse to mention what the attack is as we will not give any life to it. What we will do is ask our family to stand with us that 'All is well' in my LJG's life.

God Bless All Indeed

recj/LJG

READY SET AND GO PART TWO

Let us look at Leviticus 8:14-28 it speaks of a bull, two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread. The bull was the sin offering, the first ram was for the burnt offering, the second ram and the bread were for the consecration offering.

Only one who is saved can be consecrated. This is our sin offering.

The first ram makes us acceptable to God. Jesus bore our sins on the cross, and the veil was torn from top to bottom bringing us into the Holy of Holies. The sin offering and the burnt offering start at the same place but have different destinations. Both start with the sinner, one washes of us sins, the other leads us through Christ into the Holy of Holies making us acceptable to God.

The second ram was the blood offering used to touch the right ear of Aaron, and his sons, the thumb of their right hands and upon the big toe of their right foot. Because of the redemption of Christ our ears should now hear for God, our hands should now work for God, and our feet should now walk for God.

We need to remember that the blood of Jesus is a mark of possession, it is also a symbol of love. Blood, love and possession, our being is not our own. Because of the blood that was shed for us we should acknowledge the claim that the Lord has on us. Because He gave Himself for us, we should give our entire self to Him.

After the second ram was slain and the blood put on Aaron and his family there was a wave offering. The blood was sprinkled, the fat and right shoulder taken, from the basket an unleavened cake, a cake of oiled bread, and a wafer. These signify the two aspects of Jesus. The shoulder is the strong part, the divine aspect . Fat is rich, God's glory. Bread is the vegetable of life, His highest humanity. Jesus is the perfect man, unleavened, unblemished. Full of the Holy Spirit, He is full of anointing oil. The wafer fine, tender, and fragile, being full of feeling and compassion this is our Lord.

All these were placed into Aarons hands, who took them and waved them before the Lord, he was filled with the Lord and he became consecrated. Empty hands no consecration. Full hands that can hold nothing else except the Lord, that is consecration.

To serve the Lord Aaron first had to have his sins removed, then be accepted in Christ. His hands had to be full of Christ. He had to have nothing but Christ, only then is there consecration.

Read Romans 12:1 This simply put is consecration. "I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the compassion's of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service."

So at this time let us renew that which we have already done. Lord we come to You today asking forgiveness for our sins. Lord I am Yours. I have been bought by You. In the past I have been under the table, eating of the crumbs, but from this day forward I want to serve You. Today I choose to serve You. Be merciful to me so I can have a part in Your service, use me Lord as You would. Fill up both my hands with You Lord.
　
God Bless Indeed
recj/LJG

READY SET AND GO

We don't know about you, but we are excited. Every time we do this, stop and go back to the beginning for some researching we find that it not only refresh's us but we grow and strengthen ourselves. That said with notepads, pens and high lighters ready, we are ready to go.

We were both praying and asking the Lord for some more insight. To us that means study, pray seek God's face. Now that we are on the path the first thing we want to do is to Consecrate ourselves to the Lord.
　
What is it and how do we do it?
Consecration KJV Dictionary gives the following:
CONSECRATE, v.t. L., to consecrate, sacred. See Sacred.
1. To make or declare to be sacred, by certain ceremonies or rites; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the service and worship of God; as, to consecrate a church.
CONSECRATE, a. Sacred; consecrated; devoted; dedicated.
CONSECRATED, pp. Made sacred by ceremonies or solemn rites; separated from a common to a sacred use; devoted or dedicated to the service and worship of God; made venerable.
CONSECRATING, ppr. Making sacred; appropriating to a sacred use; dedicating to the service of God; devoting; rendering venerable.
CONSECRATION, n.
1. The act or ceremony of separating from a common to a sacred use, or of devoting and dedicating a person or thing to the service and worship of God, by certain rites or solemnities. Consecration does not make a person or thing really holy, but declares it to be sacred, that is, devoted to God or to divine service; as the consecration of the priests among the Israelites; the consecration of the vessels used in the temple; the consecration of a bishop.

Consecration is based on the Lord's love and on the Lord's right. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 "You are not your own...For you have been bought with a price." We are no longer our own, but belong to Christ. To love the Lord and know we belong to Him is not consecration. We have to take it to the next level. We have to be willing to receive the ministry of serving God. It is saying, "Lord today I separate myself from everything to serve You, because You have loved me."

Wait a minute we can hear you! As I write this I have been interpreted more times then I can count. And there are times I have to stop and actually walk away or wait till night when all are asleep. Yes we do understand. But no matter what comes we will continue to do that which the Lord has laid on us. Believe me there have been times I have had 5 children under the age of 7 in the house and they played so quietly I did not know they were there. If it needs to be done now, the Lord will make a way.

What we are speaking of is saying Lord I belong to You, and I want to do your will not mine in my life. God does not call all to do all things. Each is called to what the Lord has for him/her to do. And believe me if you are not called you are going to have problems doing something you were not called to do.

We do not consecrate ourselves because we chose God. No God chose us and then we in turn say "Here I am Lord, what would You have me do". Serving the Lord is not a favor we are doing for God. It is an honor to say Lord let me serve You.

Some may say or call this a rededication or a refreshing. The thing we are saying is Lord You have always ben there, and here I am wanting to get closer, to be more in line with You and Your will in our life's. Tomorrow we will look closely at what consecration lines up with the Bible and how it relates to us.

God Bless Indeed

recj/LJG

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

NATIONAL PRAYER DAY MAY 6

I think most of us have heard or read about the problems with The National Day of Prayer that has been in the news this week. The problem stems from Franklin Graham having said " he did not believe Muslims were evil because of their faith, but "as a minister ... I believe it is my responsibility to speak out against the terrible deeds that are committed as a result of Islamic teaching." "in 2009 Graham said on CNN, "True Islam cannot be practiced in this country. You can't beat your wife. You cannot murder your children if you think they've committed adultery or something like that, which they do practice in these other countries. ... I don't agree with the teachings of Islam, and I find it to be a very violent religion."

I thought we had freedom of speech in the U.S.A. It seems we do as long as we do not speak about the Muslims or Islam. I am very proud of Focus on the Family, their National Day of Prayer Task Force has pulled out of the event also. I do not understand the comment make by Mikey Weinstein, president of Military Religious Freedom Foundation "This is as bright a day for the U.S. Constitution and freedoms in this country as it is a dark day for the Islamic extremists we're fighting because their propaganda tool has been taken away,"

My problem is this, I do not care how or when you pray or for that matter to whom you pray. I am sure that you proably believe as strongly in what you believe as I believe in what I believe. But leave me along to pray as I wish. Furthermore let us join in groups to pray if that is what we choose to do. You do not have to come, in fact you can come and pray to whom you wish while we pray to whom we wish.

BUT, yes here is my butt, we have many American service people fighting overseas against a country that believes it is okay to kill anyone that does not believe as them. These same people come here and then try to tell us we cannot pray and believe as we want. The very reason you are free to practice your beliefs is what this country was founded on. You want us to stop this NO that is not right.

I am sure if I went to you and showed an interest in learning about your beliefs you would share with me. At the same time if you come to me I will share my Lord with you, I will not at any time try to make you listen to me, or threaten to kill you if you believe otherwise.

So that said if you don't want to be a part of National Prayer Day, stay home. If you do then go. Heck were I live here in Louisiana we have festivals in the name of everything and for every reason you can think of, I do not attend most. It is my choice, and I am glad I have it, oh I might get teased a little about not supporting the local band [whom I work with], or not going to the big event at the local church. But that is my right. Just to let you know the guys in the band that I work with are really nice guys, I am just not into their style of music, they know it and do not expect me to sit for hours and listen to it. As for the church it is not my church, and I will not put money or time into a religion that I do not believe in. Now if there is a Gospel Fest well you can look for me to be there.

Remember the very thing that allows you to do what you are doing in this country is the very thing you are trying to take away.

God Bless Indeed
recj/LJG

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth said:
Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.

Often, when the noise and chaos of our surroundings gets
to overwhelming proportions, I remember a book I once read
about a family whose three daughters had drowned while
playing together on an iced-over pond.

The mother, when hearing people innocently complain, would
think of how much she would give to have her home, now
painfully neat and quiet, again filled with the noise and
chaos that comes with the presence of children.

My prayer immediately becomes: "Lord, help me to deal with
our precious children not in frustration but in Godly love,
and accept that a little mess and noise always comes with
the territory!"

God Bless You!

Annie

mailto:annie@gophercentral.com
Email Annie

GLORIOUS GOD

What a glorious God we serve. In all His majesty, He is there standing before us. We are blessed beyond anything we can believe or imagine in the love that our Saviour has for us. Oh what a wonderful God we serve.

Today I want you to take a few mintues and look at yourself. Do you like everything you see in yourself? I for one can honestly say there are things in my life that I would like to change, areas that I want to grow in, and things that need to go. So today I ask you to get a new tablet, or start a fresh booklet [however you keep your notes] and start writing the things you would like to see changed in your life.

The second thing I would like you to do while you are looking at yourself, is be honest about your personility. What you might think is bad, might just be what God has planted in you to be the person He needs you to be. For myself that is being outspoken, sometimes a little to blunt in what I say. But the gift I have when used in line with the Word of God is what allows me to be bold enough to speak the truth. What I thought at one time was a fault is what God intended for me to use to glorfiy Him.

God created us, and it is up to us to use the gifts He gave us in His way not ours. How many recording stars can you think of right off hand that started off in church choirs, then made the big time and left the church behind. Look at what has happened to them. They went after the money and attention, and look what it has got them.

Thankfully we have a forgiving God that we can go to at any time, no matter what we have stepped into ourselves with our freedom of choice.

God Bless You Indeed

recj/LJG

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

We have all heard the expression and seen the wrist bands and key chains. What would Jesus do sounds like a simple, innocent enough thing. Well, it depends on who you ask. I actually had a young lady tell me Jesus would give out condoms to teenagers.

We are not to add to nor delete from the Word of God. What it says is what you get. People are so busy looking to make what they do right that they change the meaning to fit their actions. Years ago God convicted me about my jewelry, and I took it off. My sin was I would flaunt my jewelry. I wore a big diamond on my finger and long dangling earrings. Was the jewelry wrong? No, it was my showing off the jewelry that was wrong. I would not leave the house without all of it. Now the jewelry is not important to me and if I put it on fine if not fine. It is not who I am.

I have never read in the Bible that I am to wear no jewelry. But I know a lot of people who taken scripture and twisted it to say they should not. Just like a woman's hair is her covering. It does not say do not cut your hair. I have seen women with hair to their ankles. One lady I know had to get three ladies to help her do her hair, it actually laid on the floor. What purpose is served?

The Bible tells us plainly we are to love the sinner and not the sin. God created man to be with woman. After marriage of course. He destroyed complete towns because of this, enough said it is wrong. I have a few friends that have choose to
live this life style, do I hate them, no. Do I judge them? No.

They know where I stand and that this behavior is not accepted in my home. One young man told me what he loved about me is I treated him no differently than I did others. It opened the door for me to talk to him about Jesus. That door will always be open for him and others. I know a couple of young ladies who have had an abortion, and my heart goes out to them. They acts were wrong. They took a human life. The awful part is they do not know yet that God will forgive them.

All around us people are taking the Word of God and changing it into the word of man. What would Jesus do, exactly what He did do, complete the Word of God from the Old Testment.

God does not change. His Son, Jesus, came to do the will of the Father, and He is not going to change. We do. But that is our own choosing. He is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

So, when you hear that expression, be honest with yourself. WHAT WOULD JESUS REALLY DO?

Let us remind you that it simply boils down to several things. It is not the outward appearance. Yes, we are to dress appropriately, speak the right words, conduct ourselves in a Godly manner. IT IS OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKTH. Ladies, let us remember that as we age long hair only makes us look older. No, we don't want that.

Look at the churches all around us. Are they run down, ugly buildings? Oh no, they are beautiful. They are constantly being painted, sometimes when they don't even need to be. We have to have the most expensive carpet, the most beautiful pews, pulpits, lighting and the choir has to have outstanding robes. The flowers have to be special ordered each week. How many of us go to churches where if we brought in a bunch of home grown flowers wouldn't be laughed out of the place? That building that we attend is not the Temple, we are the Temple of God. We were raised in an era where we had our "Sunday go to meeting clothes" and our "everyday clothes." Why? Don't we know that God sees us and loves us no matter what clothes we have on?

Why should we only love our Christian brothers and sisters? Don't we already know the love and grace of God? How many times have we rejected someone cause of the way they are dressed or the fact that they smoke and do all the things we believe that are worldly?

Because of our actions, once again we have possibly killed that person's desire to come to know and love the Lord as we do.

God's blessings to each of you,

rECj/LJG

TRIMMING AND PRUNING

Yes it is that time of the year, we both live in the south, so we never really put up the lawn mowers, but the plants they need some tending to. You can actually encourage premature death by not trimming and pruning plants properly. Just by taking some time to trim back a few lower limbs you can dramatically and quickly improve both the health and appearance of your plants.

One advantage of trimming is you can actually influence the direction your plant grows. Overgrown or struggling plants will benefit fom a little pruning, even healthy plants. Pruning makes your plant look better and feel better, it allows the palnt support system to send vital energy and nutrients and encourage new and more vigorous growth. The result a lusher, healthier and better looking plant.

Here are several reasons to prune plants: to remove dead, weak, or unsightly branches; to re-invigorate plant growth...new leaves and branches grow faster; to reshape the plant into a more desirable shape; to produce denser and bushier appearance; to thin out growth, providing more air circulation and light.
John 15:1-5 The Vine and the Branches

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Footnotes: [a] John 15:2 The Greek for prunes also means cleans.
Okay, you should have known I was going somewhere else with this. Reread verse two, good or bad you are going to get some pruning.

LJG and I both unaware that the other was doing the same, have been seeking the Lord to know Him better, to have a stronger understanding of Him and His word, and to be closer to Him and His will in our life's.

We are rarely not on the same page and today as we IM'ed each other we found that again we were seeking the same. The Lord had led me to teaching that I was under years ago, and I went to share this with LJG and she just this morning was praying Lord help me with my studying.

We have always told you that study is the key. Do not take man/woman’s word for everything. Study for yourself, whatever you are told. Do not take our word as fact read and study yourself. I bet you don't hear too many preachers tell anyone that.

I do not wish to go into false doctrine here, but that is how false doctrine got it's foot into the door and many people right now today are in buildings [I refuse to call them churches] listening to lies that are not even in the Bible to say that they are misquoted.

So LJG and I are beginning our new journey. We are going back to the basics. Now the fun part for you is you can go with us.
These blogs are our life’s, our walks, falls, and yes new journeys. We will be writing on our trimming and pruning as we desire and seek out the Lord for a closer, richer walk with Him, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

And to do that we will go back to 'How to study the Bible.'

As always your comments, questions and remarks are welcome.

God Bless Indeed
recj/LJG

NUMBERS

[For my Jonathan who loves numbers]

Many numbers in the Bible have special significance. Today we are going to look at numbers.

One signifies the one unique God.

Two signifies fellowship.

Three also signifies God as He is truine [trinity]. One refers to God's unity, and three to His completion. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Four is built on three. It is three plus one. Four is the number of creation. There are four corners of the earth, four seasons, four winds, and four rivers that flow from the Garden of Eden. Four Gospels record Christ life on earth. Adam was a four, everything that is produced from God is four in number.

Five is the separation of man from God. Each hand has five fingers. There were five wise and five foolish virgins. Five represents human responsibility before God. The ear is one of the five senses, the thumb is one of the five fingers, the big toe is one of the five toes. Applying the blood to the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot signifies man's separation to bear responsibility before God.

Six is the number of man, created on the sixth day. Six being less then seven means that man can never match what God does.

Seven is the number of perfection. This refers to the present temporary perfection, it is not eternal perfection. Three is the number of God, four the number of the creature. God plus creature is perfection. God plus man equals perfection, but only temporary perfection. Everything temporal in the Bible is signified by seven. Seven days in the week, seven parables in Matthew 13, seven churches in Revelation, seven lamp stands, seven, messengers, seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls, all refer to temporal perfection rather than perfection in eternity.

Eight is the number of resurrection. Seven being a cycle, eight is the first number after and Jesus was resurrected on the eighth day.

Nine is three times three, a multiplicity of God's number. God's testimony is not only God's word but God's speaking to us.

Ten is for human perfection. The human number is complete at ten, such as ten fingers, ten toes.

Eleven does not have much significance in the Bible.

Twelve is also a number of perfection, but it refers to the perfection in eternity. Seven and twelve are both numbers for perfection. Seven is for today, divine perfection. Twelve is divine but has to do with eternity.

In the new heaven and the new earth the number seven will be gone. New Jerusalem has twelve gates, twelve fountains, the names of the twelve apostles, twelve kinds of precious stones and twelve pearls. These will remain forever, meaning twelve signifies eternal perfection.

Why is seven temporal and twelve eternal perfection? Three plus four is God plus man, the Creator plus the creature. Three times four is the Creator multiplied by the creature. The two are mingled together. There is a difference between addition and multiplication. In multiplication the two are no longer separate. God and man, it is an oneness between the creating God and the created beings. That oneness is eternal, twelve is eternal perfection.

God Bless Indeed

recj/LJG
{Thank you my David}

LUCIFER

Lucifer who are you any way? Well the answer seems to be simple, but is it?

Isaiah 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascent into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
This is the only time that the name Lucifer is mentioned in the Bible. Satan is mentioned 49 times. Devil is mentioned 106 times.

Isaiah though is speaking of the King of Babylon, Lucifer was the translation incorrectly given for Day Star a name associated with the King. The Latin translation of the Hebrew term Hedel is Lucifero which means light bearer. When the King James translators rendered the Hebrew term into English, they kept the popular term "Lucifer" for the Devil. The use of the word "Lucifer" in the 1611 KJV instead of a word such as "Daystar" ensured its continued popularity among English speakers.

"David Grinspoon comments on the historical aspects of the word as follows: "The origin of the Judeo-Christian Devil as an angel fallen from heaven into the depths of hell is mirrored in the descent of Venus from shining morning star to the darkness below. This underworld demon, still feared today by people in many parts of the world, is also called Lucifer, which was originally a Latin name for Venus as a morning star." Actually, Grinspoon should just refer to the "Christian Devil" since the Jews never believed in such a creature and still don't to this day.'

'Lucifer is a Latin word (from the words lucem ferre), literally meaning "light-bearer", which in that language is used as a name for the dawn appearance of the planet Venus, heralding daylight. Use of the word in this sense is uncommon in English, in which "Day Star" or "Morning Star" are more common expressions.'

In the English language Lucifer refers to Satan, although the name is never applied to him anywhere else in the Bible. Though it is applied it is in fact not Satan that is being wrote about. In post-New Testament times the name Lucifer has often been used as a name for the devil, both in religious writings and in fiction.

The name Lucifer then has never been used in the Bible as a name for Satan. In fact the name Lucifer was only used once incorrectly.

Just something for you to think about.

God Bless Indeed
recj/LJG

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

JUSTICE AS A CHRISTIAN

Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement: thou shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shall thou judge they neighbour.

What does it mean from a Christian perspective to be fair? It is hard sometimes, the Hebrew people were told to be fair and not to prevert justice.

This though is not my problem, it is easy for me to be fair. What I have a problem with is the slow wheels of justice. It is hard for me to sit back and quitely wait while those affected by wrong doing continue to be misused, while the system takes it's time.

How long I ask myself did Moses go back and worth to Pharaoh before he let the people go? How long was Job's life affected before it was turned around. And like Moses, did Martin Luther King know it would happen after he died?

So now in the battle before me, when I ask will it end? It is easy to say you hand something over to God. But when you have to go before this one and that one repeating the misdeeds of others and then are told to wait. One part ends, but still it is not over, I am told there is another step, another process, and yet another. This effects alot of people, alot of wrong doing. And still we have no answers despite all the evidence I found.

Like Moses I am laughed at and turned away at every corner. If it was only me, yes, I would walk away. What do I gain by standing? In the end I know and believe that those that are affected will get justice. That the wrong doings of people will be brought to the light. That with God the wheels of justice will finally in His time turn to the right.

In the end I know that what I am doing is the right thing. I am standing up for the rights of others. I am standing up for what I believe in.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Ephesians 6:10-19 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,...

Being a Christian walking the Christian life is an ongoing battle between the Spirit of God and the temptations of the devil. I believe that the longer the devil has had control of something the stronger we have to stand to defeat him, and I for one will not give up the battle.

As for me and my house we shall stand till the battle is over. Whatever your battle, no matter how big or small, do not give up, do not give in. God in the end will have the victory.

God Bless Indeed
recj/LJG

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

JUST WHAT DOES HEAVEN MEAN TO YOU

Matthew 7:7-11

Let's see now. Oh yea, I've got it....harsh words, lies, beatings, making others look small so you can look tall, not being accepted, grudges, people thinking they are better than us, just all sort of meanness. Does it really? Then that is a place where we won't want to spend eternity. At least I don't. Don't we have enough of that down here on this earth? I know that I do. It gets old after a while.

When we think of heaven, it is where our Father and Jesus are. Our families are there, well at least some of them are. It is peaceful, tranquil, beautiful and to those of us who like jewelry, we will have plenty of them shining everywhere. We gonna walk on streets of pure gold. We are gonna walk up and down the golden stairs. We will be accepted. Yes, accepted by all those there. Now don't that just sound wonderful.

Joy. The joy of knowing that people will no longer think we are stupid or that they are better than us. Joy. Finally being at total peace. Joy. No abuse of any kind. Now tell me that don't sound good to you. Joy. Being able to spend time with all our family members and finally knowing that they love us like we have never known before. Even tho it could be said that we were the ones that never allowed others to love us. Joy. None of that will matter in any more. Thank you Jesus.

You know while writing this the thought of being in the jail house came to me. A jailhouse of our making of course. Here we are with those iron bar doors closed on us, walking around crying, "oh woe is me. How will I ever get out of here? I got to get out. I've got to get out. Oh, Lord Jesus God in Heaven please help me get out of here. "

Than we hear this sweet, peaceful, wee small voice saying, "well then my child just go open the door." All this time the door has been unlocked. We didn't have the faith or courage or whatever you may call it, to go boldly up to the door and just push it open. All these many years we have been walking around in this jail house cell feeling guilty, feeling sorry for ourselves, low rating ourselves and the really sad part is believing others words said about us. We didn't just step out on faith and open the door.

Are you in a jail house cell? Then won't you turn to God and tell Him Thank
You for opening the door. I am stepping out on faith. I'm leaving and going to hold on to You and the faith You have given me. If you don't know God ask Him. If you don't have the faith, ask Him. Matthew 7:7 states, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

God's blessing to each of you,
LJG/rECj

READ AND STUDY

2 Timothy 3:14-17

But you must continue in the things which you have learned
and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profit-
able for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Greetings Bible Enthusiast!

There are so many things written about the Bible, one could
get lost in a sea of ideas and opinions. The best resource
on the Bible is the Bible itself; it clarifies and
complements itself. That makes it the best place to start
when embarking upon the journey to discover truth.

If we do more than casually read a few verses once in a
while, if we truly study to show ourselves approved by God,
then we will become a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly understanding the word of truth!
(2 Timothy 2:15)

God Bless You!

Annie

mailto:annie@gophercentral.com
Email Annie

JOY AND PAIN

Rom. 8:37; John 16:33; Eph. 4:-32-31; Matt. 6:14-15; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 17:3

Life in itself is full of joy and pain. The things that we experience along life's paths affect us and help set our patterns or lifestyle habits.

Many times we hear of the extremely violent childhood of a murderer or that a child molester was molested as a child. How often do we hear of the children who overcame the wicked childhood and lived a normal life.

Lately television and movie personalities have come forth with tragic stories of abuse and rape. We are happy for them that they have overcome, we are also happy for the unsung heroes who have survived and accomplished living a ghost free life.

But what of those who are haunted by the ghosts of abuse and neglect. The ones who have survived but still carrying the pain with them. There is hope. There is more than hope there is an answer. There is relief and peace. We find this by taking it to the Lord.

Sounds easy, but what of the reality of being free. Well, to be honest we make it hard. The Bible tells us to take all our worries and cares to the Lord. There are steps we have to take to give it to God.

First we have to forgive. Yes, forgive and not just the person or persons, but ourselves. Ourselves, you tell me, we have no idea what was done to you. No personally we don't know your individual story. But yes we both could write lists that probably contain it or something very close. What is important is to forgive yourself for carrying all this around for however long. You did not deserve it, nor did you ask for it. It was not your fault. Do not accept responsibility for what you did not do. Let it go and go on. Speak out loud I am not responsible for this and I will go on.

Now to forgive that person. Let me ask you this question, could or would you physically carry this person on your back 24 hours a day 7 days a week for he rest of your life? Well, until you forgive them, you are doing just that.

Get the load off, drop it like a cancer that is eating you up, because this person is. And if you don't feel like forgiving them, well guess what, ask God for the forgiveness to forgive them. It is when we are weak that His strength is made evident. And He will give it to you.

Now ask God to give you peace. He is our comforter.

But what purpose has this served. Well, that is up to you. You can go on with life. Chances are that sooner or later you will be able to use what happened to you to help someone else. Someone will say no one understands what they are going through and you will be able to say oh yes I do. Let them know you do understand, and help them.

Now we told you in our intro that we would share some of our stories with you and this is one of those times. There is a caution with this story--DO NOT do this unless you know the Lord is telling you to do it.

rECj Many years ago I was beaten severely by a boyfriend, my head was the size of a basketball. The man thought he had thrown me into water but I landed on rocks. I got up and made my way to the road and he turned around and tried to run me over with his car. A car with men and children pulled over and pulled me into their vehicle and got me to the hospital. I with the grace of God came out with no lasting injuries.

AND the rest of the story.....Years later I was to meet this man again, he was down and out, I took him to my house and fed him, and then bagged up groceries for him to take home. Shortly afterwards his father died and I was there holding his hand through the services. He asked me how can you do this after what I did to you. It opened the door for me to tell him why I was able to. Now I don't know what happened to him, but I do know one thing he knows about Jesus.

God can give you peace about anything, He is our Father, our Healer, our Comforter, our Friend and He never leaves us or forsakes us. We urge you to let go of the past whatever it is and go forth in Christ.

LJG I too know what it is like to be beat by a man. Never to the extend of my sweet rECj. But in the head and back. It hurt. Oh yea it did. I can't imagine what rECj went thru but in my own way I went thru a lot of pain as well. For years I thought about this part of my life. Yes, I was out of the will of God. I am a firm believer in PRAYER. My prayers weren't getting answered and I complained to God about this many times. Then one day He spoke to me and showed me where I was wrong. I had not forgiven this man for his actions. It still took me a few more years to be able to forgive. But I did. And yes, my prayers started getting answered once again. It took me longer to forgive myself. Give it a try. It really does work.


As always we are here for you,

God bless and keep you growing
rECj/LJG

THE BREAD OF LIFE

John 6:5 Jesus then lifting up His eyes and seeing that a great crowd was coming toward Him, said to Phillip, Where shall we buy bread that these may eat?

The Passover was near at hand, the time to slay the redeeming lamb. But here we have the Lamb Himself asking Phillip where shall we buy?

Jesus came that we might know that He alone is Life and our life supply. The tree of life, brings in life, in contrast to the tree of knowledge which brings death.

The bread of life became life [verse 35]. The flesh of animal is life and is not only for feeding but for redeeming. The Lord became the Lamb. Dying for us that we might have life.

To separate blood and flesh means death. Christ gave His body and shed His blood so we may have eternal life. To eat His flesh is to receive by faith all that He did in giving His body for us. To drink of His blood is to receive by faith all that He accomplished in shedding His blood for us.

Verse 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him.

To eat and drink the Lord is to receive Him into us that He may be assimilated by the regenerated new man in the way of life.

It is as the life giving Spirit that He can be life and the life supply to us. When we receive Him as the crucified and resurrected Savior, the Spirit who gives life comes into us to impart eternal life into us. We receive the Lord Jesus, but we get His Spirit who gives us life.[Verse 63]

God Bless Indeed

recj/ljg

GENEALOGY

We enjoy reading the generations of the Bible from both the Old and New Testaments. Both Matthew and Luke have a record of the genealogy of Christ. Matthew proves that he is the King, God. Whereas Luke does not mention the title Christ. If I have your attention, good now I want to show you that Christ was not a pure Jew.

My grandfather was an Italian born and bred, with his wife he came to the U.S. during the Ellis Island days. His children born here in the states are also Italian, and then one of his daughters saw a man and fell in love. The rest is a small part of history, but stopped that pure blood line.

If we go back to the genealogy of Adam we see that no woman is recorded, but in the genealogy of Christ there are five women named.

We have five women married, remarried, prostitute, incest, adultery and lets not forget Gentiles, and we also have the pure.

Tamar committed incest. She was the daughter-in-law of Judah and gave birth to Pharez and Zarah. [Genesis 38:6-30]

Rehab was a prostitute in Jericho. She was also a Canaanites, a Gentile of low case.

Ruth came from incest as she belonged to the tribe of Moab, the result of Lot's incestuous union with his daughters. Gentile and low case.

Bathsheba wife of a heathen, she remarried as a result of murder and adultery.

Mary a chaste virgin, a descendant of the chosen race.

Both Mary and Joseph can be traced back in the blood line of David.

What is important to us here is that Jesus came not only from the Jews but from the Gentiles. He is a God for the Jews as well as for the Gentiles, even in His bloodline.

God Bless Indeed

recj/LJG

PEACEFUL TIMES

Genesis 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
For what purpose did you create the 3rd and 4th day?

The two most peaceful times in my life were both outside in the summer. One was at a camp by a lake in Florida. The second was in the Catskill Mountains in New York.
In Florida I was on a hill under a covered area over looking the lake. There was a soft but cool breeze blowing. To look out at the work of my Lord and know that He alone had created such beauty moved me to such peacefulness. Nothing in the world could ever touch me to bring harm to me. I was surrounded by love.

The second time in the mountains was different. I was with family members totaling two adults and seven children. One of the few times all my mother's offspring were together. On this one mountain we came across a tiny but very well maintained church. It had been burnt but reconstructed. Even with all those people there was a peace felt that went beyond any words I could have expressed. Again I knew that nothing in the world could ever touch me to bring harm to me.

Is this only the thoughts of a child, such peacefulness? No, it was the Lord showing a child what I could have in this world of so much violence. I should be able to have that much peace always. Alas I am human and this flesh with these eyes and ears, sees and hears things it would love to erase forever not only from my mind, but from all those who also see and hear the violence around us.
Peacefulness that can only now be felt by being in the present of the Lord God Almighty.

Oh Thank You Lord that as a child I felt the touch of Your Hand so I would know it when I grew older. To know within that no matter what harshness I see and hear in this world, Lord I can go into the Shelter of the Most High and seek refuge. Peacefulness as a child can return and comfort me. You who never leave us nor forsake us, even when we might turn away from you, or take the wrong path. You, Lord who waits for us with all the peacefulness we desire and need. Thank You Jesus I love You, not enough, no never!

God Bless Indeed
recj/LJG

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

AM I BEING TO PICKY

I do not fully understand what children did back in Bible times when they went to temple, with their parents. But in this day and age why is it so hard to find a church with a children's Sunday school class, and children's church. Mind you I do live in a small town.

I know I am old as butter milk, but I remember Sunday school class with lots of love. It was fun, and we had other activities for us children, GA's and RA's. Southern Baptist yes very much. The thing is there is not a Baptist church around me that is anything like the church I grew up in. Even the Seventh Day Adventist had lots of things for the children.

Where I live they have the Altar's Society for the young, the old, the middle aged. They have the Usher's Board, the young, the single, the married. They have the Missionary Society which looks like a branch of the Red Hat Social Club except they all wear white, white hat, white shoes, white hose, white gloves, white purse, and if they have flowers, which they usually do, yes they to are white, no color but white. If you visit my area do not attend a Sunday service where they are in attendance. Not that I am mean or do not like missions, but the service starts at 10:30 and ends usually after 3p.m., this is before the preaching starts.

But what I ask do you have for the children. Yes I am looking at the negative aren't I. Why can't I do like Momma said and get what I can, out of any service I attend. Well Momma did not take me with her when she went to see Billy Graham, she knew it would be long, she knew I probably would not understand, and she knew I could not, would not go that long without having to go to the bathroom at least 3 times. Smart lady my Momma. Besides at Momma's church I was not in the church, children only went in for praise and worship and then we went to our own classes.

Thank You God again for Momma.

But back to the children. I do not like children eating food because it is past their meal time or falling asleep under the pews because it is nap time. Nor to I like to watch them coloring Spiderman or the little mermaid, and trying to show me how wonderful they color in the lines. I will not mention crying, it is to much to go into.

As I said I do not know what they did with children in Bible times at temple, but in this day and age couldn't we find Bible things for these children to do during Big people church time. I want to hear the Word, not the children.

God Bless Indeed

recj/ljg

UNEXPLAINABLE JOY AND OVERWHELMING PEACE

I Love Psalm 16:11 "Lord, In Your Presence is complete Joy!" , Have You felt His complete Joy in His Presence. It's nothing like anything else. I find complete Peace in His presence also. His Peace that surpases all human understanding. I can't number the mornings I have prayed and Asked the Lord to let me sit at His Feet, to surround me with His Love, Fill me with His Joy and Consume me with His Peace! He always comes through. It's Real! I have witnessed His Unexplainable Joy and Overwhelming Peace in the Presence of the Lord. And to tell you the Truth I long to be there more and more.

We all face difficult moments, trials and storms in our lives. Where do we seek refuge? The Lord invites us into His Safe Dwelling, the hymnist wrote to hide in the cleft of the Rock. Jesus being our Rock! The Psalmnist wrote that we are able to dwell in the Shadow of the Almighty! I love the scriptures that describes us dwelling beneathe the Shadow of His Wings. I read those scriptures and immediately God's peace Rushes through me and settles my anxiety or weariness. Needless,to say to answser the question where do we seek Refuge. Simple. JESUS. IN Him we find our Unexplainable Joy, Overwhelming Peace and the warmth of His Love that fills our souls and consumes our minds. Taking a deep breathe in those times when we need JESUS, and meditating on His Word, The Scriptures that bring us TRUE Peace and Promise of Hope and by simply asking Christ to fill us with His Love and Joy.

Jesus Said I give you my Peace! Not as the World gives You.

Seek His Peace and find it His Hope and Joy to be fulling and ever consuming.

From our Sister Angel site: http://heartfireforjesus.blogspot.com/

SEEKING

Seeking God And HIS Heart, keeps my focus on whats most important in life. Don't look to the left nor to the right, Look to Christ. Look beyond what the natural eye is able to see and know that GOD is doing a GREAT work around you and beyond what you are able to See. Trusting In God is stating that You Believe With God All Things Are possible! Knowing that keeps you in His perfect Peace!

Romans 8:28 He is Working All things out for Good, for those Who Love God and are Called According to His purpose!

From our Sis Angel site: http://heartfireforjesus.blogspot.com/

TO KNOW ME IS TO LOVE ME

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”- Galatians 2:20

The past few days I have asked you to search yourself, and if found lacking, seek the Lord and get yourself right.

Please do not think that I want you to be perfect. The only example of this would be Jesus, He was, is and shall ever be.
Let us look at some that have been chosen by God which we know is the Jesus by which we are saved.

Moses did everything he was told to do, except, well the guy make some mistakes. The one most of us think of first is striking that rock. And what did it cost him, he did not go into the promised land. And the rest of the story.....He along with Elijah are recorded meeting with Jesus in Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9.
David, handsome, smart, musical and a writer. Also an adulterer, and murderer, what a man. Proud enough to dance at the head of his men for the Lord.
Peter is always mentioned first when reading about the disciples. We can tell that him and Jesus were very close. He trusted, believed and then faltered, when walking on water and again when he denied Christ. Rash yes but quick to admit failure and repent.

And to know me is to love me. Just as they had their failures, they picked themselves up and recovered. Do not think that you can not pick yourself up and the Lord will not turn your ashes into beauty. You call and He will do the rest.
Call Him today, He knows you and loves you.

God Bless Indeed
recj/LJG

DOUBLEDARE

If yesterday moved you to stop and look at yourself then please take the time to read the following out loud to the Lord. And yes, I do mean the entire Psalm. Give it a try and see if it doesn't move your heart. I have shortened it here. Enough for you to see that picking up your Bible and reading the entire Psalm, I pray, will move your heart to the Lord.

Psalm 119
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. 38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. 39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. 73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. 75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. 125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. 145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. 146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee. 169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word. 171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. 173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. 174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

God Bless Indeed
recj/LJG

LUKE WARM

Revelation 3:16 So then thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Spue-spit Lukewarm-indecision

I do not think there is a one of us reading this that has not at one time put something into our mouth and after one taste not SPIT it out. Have you ever reached for a cold soda to taste it and find it was warm? How about that cup of coffee that has cooled off? Now some of us because we are so thirsty just go ahead and drink. It is not though what you expected nor wanted. It is not the right feeling.

God says He will spit the lukewarm out of His mouth. When you are on fire for the Lord and go to Him, you know that you know He will answer. When someone has slipped away from the Christian lifestyle and turns and calls on the Lord believing in our heart He will answer, He will.

If you are just sitting there going through the motions, acting the act, but not living the act, that is lukewarm. People there are many such as these right now.

Look around! Just turning on the internet, the television, reading the newspaper, what are you reading? Earth quakes, famine, floods, it is all around us. In my own neighborhood there were 3 stabbings a few days ago. A few days before that we had about a hundred people in the streets, and when those stabbings took place it looked like a war zone. This is a nicer neighborhood. People killing people. Does anyone read Revelation? Does anyone understand it? If this is not the end days, I do not see how it can get much worst. But it can and it will.

As for me I do not want to be here for it. I do not want to be wondering as many will what happened to so many people. People are missing, people you thought should be gone are here, and some you thought would never make it are gone.

Lukewarm, well you will not be in the chosen that make it out of here. There are many young Christians out there are still drink, smoke, and that includes weed, who love the Lord with all their heart and soul, and yes I do believe they will go when the Lord comes. There are many older Christians that still have not kicked some habit or habits in their life’s, but because of their love for the Lord , I believe they will go.

Not because they are sinless, but because they are hot for the Lord. They have not been delivered yet. It is their heartfelt desire to live for the Lord that will remove them from this earth.

So today look at yourself, are you lukewarm, do you feel the Lord in your life? If you don't feel the Lord then please search yourself, and pray and seek until you do.

You Luke warmers know the truth, reach out desperately to return to what you know. Charles Wesley said 'Awake, thou that sleepest.' Have revival in your heart and soul. Return and do not be left behind.

God Bless Indeed
recj/ljg

WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN?

Do you know why? This is just beautiful.

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I
never noticed this....

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed
over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave
clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly
folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to
the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the
entrance.

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus
loved.. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and
I don't know where they have put him!'

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple
out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the
linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen
wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was
folded up and lying to the side.

Was that important? Absolutely!
Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have
to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.

The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every

Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that
it was exactly the way the master wanted it.

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just
out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant
would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished...

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe
his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that
napkin and toss it onto the table.

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the
wadded napkin meant, "I'm finished..."

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid
it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table,
because..........

The folded napkin meant,

"I'm coming back!"

AND SO HE SHALL.............

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Today many are celebrating Easter, others the Passover, some Resurrection Day. I am confused!

As I usually do when I have a question I talk to the Lord, and since many people include Him by saying it is the day they celebrate His Resurrection I of course decide to do my research.

Acts 12:4
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Good the word Easter is in the Bible. But, don't you love those buts. Easter is a mistranslation of the word Passover. And it is only used this one time in the Bible. So after apprehending him, and putting him in prison, he intended to bring him before the people, after Passover. Oh, and I almost forgot the he here is not the HE, it is in fact Peter.

Passover then is the correct name for the holiday. What then is Passover? Passover is a Jewish holiday, or rather one of their most important festivals. It begins on either the 14th or 15th day of Nisan, which is the first month of the religious calendar. Passover lasts either 7 or 8 days again depending again on if you are Diaspora or Reformed.

Passover is the observance of the deliverance from Egypt. To celebrate this event correctly Jewish people start preparing a month ahead of time. We actually get our spring cleaning ritual from this as the cleaning of the house is an enormous task. Your house must be cleaned completely, in fact the instructions I found mentioned a toothpick and Q-tips, so nothing is missed. When they say clean they mean clean.

Now that the house is clean, a few days before Passover you will begin making your kitchen "Kosher for Passover." First all utensils that have been used year round must be locked or sealed up in cabinets. [See below about chamtez.] All food must be put away, again under lock or seal. If you have finished early before Passover starts you may buy ready-prepared food and eat it outside your house. All non-Passover food has to go, as in you can sell it, give it away, but you cannot keep it.

Now here is one that will sound familiar. Make sure your holiday clothes and shoes are ready, ironed, and polished. Treat yourself to something new--an outfit, shoes, maybe a tie.

Now with a candle, a spoon, and a feather search the house for any remaining or forgotten chametz. Chametz is anything made from the five major grains [wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt]. Jews may not eat chamtez during Passover, they cannot even own it, all chamtez including utensils used to cook it must either be disposed of or sold to a non-Jew. If you find any during this search you must burn it. Then you will recite the 'nullification statement' renouncing all ownership of any chamtez that may remain that you did not find [with the toothpick in the corner of the cabinet] or anywhere else in your possession.

Now it is time to start Passover. Wait, did I hear you say something? You are not a Jew. Oh I am sorry, but if you are going to celebrate something from the Bible you don't get to change the rules. Only God makes the rules. God never changes, right?

The Passover is included in the Law passed down from Moses, and didn't Jesus say He came to fulfill the law not do away with it.
Luke 24: 44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Matthew 5: 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Did you just read that? Jesus came to fulfill the law, it does not say 'He came to fulfill the law not do away with it. And in Matthew 5:18 'one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.’
We are not under the law, Jesus fulfilled the law, there is no reason to celebrate the Passover.

But recj/LJG, we are celebrating His Resurrection. Well if that is what you are doing the Bible doesn't say do or not do. Praise Him and lift up His Name and all He is and has been, and shall be forever. I do not think God minds our families getting together and lifting up His name. I don't believe He minds us having a big special meal with all kinds of sweets and chocolate, and candies and cookies and cakes and pies and sweets---sorry got carried away.

God wants us to remember the wonderful things that He has done for us. The Jewish people celebrate for 7 or 8 days with prayer and sacrifice for a Saviour that has already came. I am sure you will spend this one day celebrating Jesus.

God Bless Indeed
recj/ljg

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

http://gramisheart.blogspot.com/

TO FORGIVE AND FORGET

Jesus came to die for us so that we might be saved. He took all the sin that was or ever will be around His body. He also is a just and righteous God who not only forgives but forgets. We do harm to ourselves when we don't forgive ourselves, it is the same as in the testament days when if you killed someone you had the dead person tied to your body and you carried this rotting body around until it in turned killed you because of the rotting flesh.

What would it be like if God forgave but didn't forget? He knows the harm that comes from carrying it around it would make Jesus' death if not useless, halfway and God completes what He starts. So to forgive He has to forget. And the same is true of us, if we do not forgive and forget we are saying God did not do a complete act with Jesus which we know is an untruth. Without the act of forgetting Jesus would be unable to go before God since sin cannot go before God.

God's blessings to each of you,

rECj/LJG

I MIGHT BECOME HAUGHTY

MATTHEW 13:7, MATTHEW 13:22, GENESIS 3:18, ISAIAH 35:13, JOHN 19:2, ISAIAH 33:113-115, HOSEA 2:6, PROVERBS 24:30-34,PROVERBS 26:9, MATTHEW 7:15-20, 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10

I was led to look these scriptures, not for me alone but for you as well. Usually when one is learning or growing in an area so are others that are close. So where are we and what are we thinking?

HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR ME 2 COR. We are weak but He is strong. We might become haughty if not for our thorns. The thorns are what keep us in the Word and searching after His grace. He has already forgiven me, so I don't have to worry about that. So, we have thorns, can we remove them? Can we undo what we already done?

Not in this life time or any life time. We don't have the POWER. God says we are to live in peace with all men as much as possible. Is it possible with all men? Not hardly. There are a lot of fools out there. Are all men going to accept us for what we are, who we are, and for whom we believe in? Not ever.

We are to throw the seeds out there and then walk away. Does that mean we shouldn't have our say? Personally we don't think so. How do we plant the seed if we don't plant the Word of God? Yes, the Words, in our case, would be from God. But these Words/Seeds will not be accepted with a lot of people. We are called freaks, hypocrites and many other unkind words. In truth they are the freaks and hypocrites. We are out there planting the seeds that they are mocking, laughing at and cussing us, for doing so. Who knows there may be some good ground for one seed to fall into and grow and take over.

We also have to remember that God's Spirit doesn't always dwell with people and it may be to late for the one person, but who knows who was listening when we were planting the seed. That could be the good ground that the seed was indeed intended to fall on.

In Philippians 4:11 Paul sys, 'Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.' Again in 1 Timothy 6:6 he states: 'But Godliness with contentment is great gain.' Are we content? No, of course not. Should we be? Yes, according to God's Word. Then why are we not content? Do we want to be where we are? Nope. We want to go on to bigger and better things. Is it our time to go on? No. Then when will it be time?

In God's time. His time and our time are not the same thing. One day for Him is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. Then we not being content is because we won't take His Word on the subject into our hearts and be content where we are right now. So right now the thorn in our flesh is our un-contentment.

THE BIBLE'S MEANING FOR THE WORD CONTENT: SATISFIED AND WILLING. THE MEANING FOR CONTENTMENT: AN UNCOMPLAINING ACCEPTANCE OF ONE'S LOT.

WE LOVE YOU LJG/rECj