LIFE CAN DEAL SOME HARD BLOWS, BUT JESUS SAID

Life can deal some hard blows, but Jesus said,"You will grieve, but your grief will turn to wonderful joy when you see Me again". You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice and no one can rob you of that joy. It will be like a woman experiencing the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives place to joy because she has brought a new person into the world. You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy." John 16:20b-22

As we journey through life on this earth we will experience times of intense pain and suffering. Jesus compared it to that of a woman in labor, but oh the joy when that baby is born. He has promised us that one day when we see Him again there will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no more good byes, but only endless joy. Until then God has promised us He would never leave nor forsake us.

These words written by my daughter Janet just before the death of my grandson seem to put life and the grief we experience in this world into perspective.

" We live in a fallen world and sickness and disease are a part of this world. But God has promised us that He would never leave nor forsake us. Ryan may be suffering now, but so much more awaits him in heaven because of his suffering here on earth. Whether that be now or 70 years from now. We waste precious prayer time with our Father by asking "why?" Yes, He allows our anger and our questions, It's okay. But remember that our life here whether it be two days or a hundred years, is very brief when you put it next to eternity, and those of us who call Jesus Lord will spend all of that eternity in bliss.

My son has a wonderful spirit that he has been blessed with. That spirit could carry him through anything. When it's all said and done, that's what's important, that our souls are walking with God. My whole heart aches for my baby, but in my heart of hearts, I know that I know that I know that he is blessed of God and that God is carrying him in His hand every step of the way, that has to be enough for me."

Written by Janet Davis Dickinson 2 weeks before her son Ryan's death.

"What we suffer now will be nothing compared to the glory He will give us later. For all creation is eagerly waiting for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are."Romans 8:18

GOD'S WORD IS SO PROFOUND!!!

God's Word is soooo profound!!! I just came across these words "The life of the flesh is in the blood". Lev 17:11 It just seemed to jump out at me! God isn't just talking about human blood or animal blood, but a much deeper meaning.

The life of our flesh is in the Blood of Jesus Christ. His Blood gives us life! It gives us not only eternal life but the life of Christ in us. Just as our physical body cannot live without blood, we cannot live spiritually without his Blood. Even in our fleshly bodies His Blood makes us alive with His Life!!! Praise The Lord!!!

THE DAY IS ALMOST HERE!!!

THE DAY IS ALMOST HERE!!!
"The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber. The night is nearly over the day is almost here." Romans 13:11-12

The dark time in which we live is almost over and "The Day" of the return of the Son is almost here.
Our Father knows us so well. He knew we would be in danger of oversleeping. Like the bride I once saw in a movie who overslept on the day of her wedding. You wouldn't think that would happen, because a bride looks forward to her wedding day most of her life. Could it be that she was so engrossed in things that were going on the night before that she overslept?

Isaiah 52: 1 "Wake up, Wake up, O Zion Clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor!"

Romans 13:12-13 Tells us "to get rid of our evil deeds, to shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourself with right living being decent and true in everything we do."

We all know that weddings take preparation. The bride needs to take time to prepare herself for her groom. She spends time making sure everything is perfect for her him. She wants to look radiant for the once she loves. So she must spend time in preparation. She wouldn't dare appear with a stained wrinkled dress to meet the one she loves on the most important day of her life.

Please be aware dear ones of the time in which we are living. Jesus said we were not to be like the Scribes and Pharisees who did not understand that it was the season for the Messiah to come. These were educated men who should have known, because there were clear indicators throughout the scriptures describing God's plan for His Son to come. But He was right there with them and they didn't recognize Him.


We are given all the signs for His return. We must realize the urgency of the hour. We must not be so engrossed in the darkness that we are deceived and keep putting off preparation for His Coming. Don be caught off guard!!!

We must WAKE UP, the night is nearly over and The DAY is almost here! The Bride must begin preparation for her Groom!

WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE!!!

When we stand before Him and realize that all those things we fretted about here on this earth were taken care of. He did it, He brought us through!!! He was faithful to bring us through all those difficult times. We dwelt in these earthly tents traveling on our way to the Promised Land. The journey was long and difficult at times, but He fed us with Manna from Heaven (His Word) to strengthen us. We were given water through His Word when we were dry and thirsty. He gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us so we would not lose our way.

In the Old Testament God's people celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles every year. They built tents or tabernacles to dwell in during these feast. This was so they would recall how God brought them through the wilderness, dwelling in tents on their way to the Promised Land. How he supplied their every need, feeding them with manna from Heaven, giving them water from a rock when they were thirsty, a cloud to guide them by day and fire by night.

I can't help but think about how we today go through our trials just as they did, on the journey of life on this earth on our way to the Promised Land. And one day we will be able to recall how on this earth He brought us through all the difficult times we had in this life. All those trials and circumstances, that at the time we couldn't see how we would make it.....He was faithful and met our every need!!!! He brought us through!!! WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE!!!!

REASSURANCETHAT GOD KNOWS EVERY SITUATION WE FACE IN LIFE

GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN US,WE JUST NEED TO REMEMBER TO CRY OUT TO HIM.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See I have your name written on My hand. Isaiah 49: 15-16 NLT

What a wonderful illustration of God's love!!!

We sometimes feel as though God has forgotten us, yet he tells us in this scripture that He could no more forget us than a mother could forget her nursing child. Our name is inscribed on the palm of His Hand. What comfort we can receive from this promise!!!

A nursing child cries out to it's mother upon whom it is dependant for food and nourishment, from which it derives it's strength. There is no way that nursing mother can forget that child when it cries out. When her child cries milk begins to pour from her breast.

God is saying, "when we cry out to Him that nourishment is there, strength is there. He supplies the needs of His children.

He goes on to say in the second part of verse 16: "Your walls are ever before Me" In other words, "I know what you are going through, I know the things that are hindering you, I know every situation you are facing in your life."

The thing is we must not forget to cry out.

The enemy is attacking like never before because he knows his time is short. All we have to do is cry out and trust our God in our personal lives and for our nation. He will bring us through. He promises us that He has not forgotten.

SARAH PALIN "ONLY DEAD FISH GO WITH THE FLOW"

THOUGHTS FROM THE EVENTS OF THIS PAST WEEK:

The response to Sarah Palin's decision to step down from her post as Gov of the State of Alaska should not come as a surprise in view of the results of the 2008 presidential election.

The negative response is only representative of the spiritual regression of our nation. In the 2008 election such crucial issues as Abortion, Stem Cell Research, and Same Sex Marriage, to mention just a few, were considered not as important as the state of our economy, even to many who call themselves evangelical Christians. Instead of looking to the Lord as their provider and depending upon Him, the majority chose to look to a man as their savior, their way out of financial distress. President Obama has been pictured with a crown of thorns and heralded as the one who will get America out of her mess. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." PS. 33:12

We cannot blame the world, for they are blind and deaf according to the scriptures. If you will remember, it was not the world that Jesus was speaking to when He was angry with the money changers in the temple .....but it was the religious people, those who should have known better. The Bible tells us "for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son." We are "the light of the world." Christians are way the world sees Jesus and yet we have become so much like the world that it is hard to differentiate between the two.

We need revival in "the Church." We talk so much of needing revival in our nation, spiritual renewal must begin with "the Church" the "Bride of Christ." You cannot revive something that has never been alive and "the world" is not spiritually alive and never has been. God said, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn (repent) from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2Chron. 7:14).

I can't understand why all those people who were friends of Michael Jackson, who professed to be Christians did not help him see Jesus. Yet in his funeral service they were so absolutely sure he was with the Lord. I don't know, I am not Michael's judge. He was a very sick and depraved human being and that is not judging, but obvious by his life. Where were all those good Christian friends when he was having to keep himself drugged all those years just to be able to cope with life?? Maybe some did witness to him and he rejected God, I don't know. Maybe he accepted the Lord Jesus in the end, I hope so.

But to say that he was definitely in the arms of Jesus ...sent a false message to the millions of people who viewed that funeral. I for one would not want to be held responsible for sending such a message. It's like saying, "live your life any way you want and in the end you will end up in the arms of Jesus. " It sounds good, but it is not the truth.

Yes, God is a God of love "He would that none should perish, but have everlasting life." But we can't expect to live a life of sin and end up in heaven. God's word says," The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolater, all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8).

Now back to Sarah Palin. As I said the response to her decision does not surprise me, because we have become so attuned to the world' s way of doing things that actually hearing from God on the path that we are to take in life is foreign to us.

Unfortunately most Christians do not know what a "higher Calling" means. I wonder what would have happened if Abraham, when God called him to a land he knew not of, had resisted and listened to those around him who could not see how he could possibly be making the right decision. After all how could someone just pick up and leave their home and drag their family into the unknown? I am sure there were scoffers everywhere who could not understand his reasoning in making such a decision. "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1Corn 1:20).

Jesus said, "My sheep know My voice and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27).

It takes courage to step out and do what you know God has called you do and in the way He has called you to do it. "Come out from among them and be ye separate," saith the Lord (2Corn. 6:17).

I remember a time in my own life having to step down from a position knowing there was no way if I stayed in that position that God would be glorified. God's work could not be accomplished in light of the strife and lack of unity. I too was told I would be called a quitter. But my purpose was to accomplish the work that God had called me to do and to follow His direction for my life, instead of be manipulated by those who had no understanding of my "higher calling."

"Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow."

Pray with me for revival among God's people, that we we come out and separate ourselves from the world and be "the Church", "the Bride" He's coming back for, a Bride that's passionately in love with her Groom. Lord help rid us of our apathy and lukewarmness(Rev. 3: 15-16). Help us to search our hearts and return to our "first love" (Rev. 2:4). Give us a passion for You instead of "Going Through the Motions."

Listen to the song by Matthew West "Going Through the Motions." Click on Video Bar ( at the right of the screen). What kind of a world would it be if we as Christians gave our all and stepped out to follow His leading??
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS.

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR HEART LATELY???

Have you checked your heart lately??? There is a disease that usually goes undetected and if not treated could result in death.

It is important to have physical exams and it is also important to have spiritual exams. You could be suffering from heart disease and not realize it. Things that will hinder you spiritually could be lurking in your heart without you having any realization of it being there.

Jer. 17:9 tells us, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" It is very important to have healthy spiritual lives so that God can work in and through us, so it is very important to ask the Holy Spirit to do a spiritual examination.

It happened to me. I thought I was doing great spiritually. I was doing all the right things (or so I thought), I was ministering to the poor, I was helping those in need as much as I could. I was teaching a Sunday School class and even preaching occasionally. On the outside everything appeared to be fine (just like those people Jesus was preaching to in Matt 23:27, you know the Scribes and the Phairsees).

Then God got my attention. Sometimes "through the pain in our lives God speaks the loudest" (C. S. Lewis). At first I didn't think that it could possibly be anything wrong with my heart. After all I am a minister and I knew God was using me to some extent, working in the church ministering to others etc. After all I was really trying to work hard for the Lord.

Then things began to happen in my life that I just could not understand. I know God has said that we will all have trials and tribulations, but that we are overcomers. But it was during this time that I asked God to examine my heart. That's one thing about trials and hardship, you will either become bitter or you will become better. You will either draw closer to the Lord or go father away. I wanted to draw closer.

When I asked the Holy Spirit to examine my heart, he began to show me that I had some serious heart problems. One infection called "Pride" was one that was severely crippling my walk with the Lord. I also found out that Pride was not easily recognizable. Most people deny it's existence, and it could easily go undetected, possibly causing death. Two more infections that usually go along with Pride were "Envy" and "Jealousy". These were very serious and could be very detrimental to a Christian's life. Another was called "Judgementalism." . These heart infections usually result in something called a "Bad Attitude." Bad Attitudes will crop up from time to time and can really adversely affect your witness for the Lord.

Well Praise the Lord, Jesus the great physician performed heart surgery and transformed my heart. It was painful at first when I realized how I had let my heart go and get into such a bad condition. I realized that without my knowing it, the enemy had probably turned others away from Christ because of me. I think that hurt more than anything. What a deceiver he is! All the time I thought I was the model Christian, he was working havoc in my heart.

I am telling you all of this because I want you to realize how important it is that you ask the Holy Spirit to regularly examine your heart. Your eternal life and the lives of all those close to you could be in danger of spiritual death.

Some one told me of a relative who was a very active church member. She was very much a servant except to those who were in her family. She had family member who said they would not attend church because of the bad treatment they had received from her. I am sure you are thinking, "some people just look for an excuse." But what if this is true, and because of the condition of this person's heart someone is turned away from the Lord? Could this be one of your family members? Could you be standing in the way of them having a relationship with the Lord and not even realize it?

I remember a few years ago working with two people who loved to talk about the church that they both attended. At the same time they were constantly fighting. One day one of them expressed, "she hated the other one and wanted to pinch her head off when she saw her singing in the choir." There were several of their co workers who were not saved, and the remark was made "if that is Christianity I want no part of it." The sad thing was they oblivious to fact that they were a bad reflection on the Lord. They were unaware of the condition of their hearts.

As I said my friend, when we neglect to have our heart examined spiritually, it could result in spiritual death, not only ours, but family members and others close to us. For your sake and the sake of others, please have a regular examination.

Psalm 145:17 tells us that, "the Lord is near to all who call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desires of those who fear Him: He will also hear their cry and save them."

That is a promise that He gives us. When we truthfully ask him to examine our hearts as the Psalmist said, "Search me O' God, and know my heart; try me, know my thoughts and see if there is any wicked way in me"Psalm 139: 23-24. I thank God that His mercies are new every morning. I thank Him that He forgives even my unintentional sin. He forgives me even when I sinned and didn't realize it.

This is what Chapter 4 in Leviticus is all about, God's provision for unintentional sin. As you study this with me, you will realize again how God left nothing out. These sacrifices would represent what His precious Son would do for us one day at Calvary. He loved us so much He made sure that nothing would stand in the way of His children's fellowship with Him, not even unintentional sin.

How important it is that we ask him to examine our hearts and confess any unintentional sin. We are the only way the world is going to see Jesus.

As I have said in previous blogs posts, God is calling us to a walk of holiness. "Without holiness no one will see the Lord," Heb. 12:14

Again my favorite scripture, that I believe is prophetic for the time in which we are living:

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord arises upon you and His glory appears over you." Isaiah 60:1-3

We must continually ask him to search our hearts. We are that light, the only way this dark world will see Jesus. He said, "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto Me." John 12:32

LEVITICUS CHAPTER 4

In this chapter we will talk about the "Sin Offering." It was a required offering, remember some offerings were voluntary and some were required.



One of the purposes of this command was to make the Israelites aware of their unintentional sins. It was for those who committed a sin without realizing it. It was a sin committed out of weakness or negligence as opposed to outright rebellion against God.


If you broke the law out of ignorance, you sinned and didn't realize it, this offering would restore fellowship with God.


This reveals an underlying truth, "we are sinners by nature." We are prone to sin even when we don't know it.



Something had to die, blood had to be shed for even unintentional sin.


Isn't it wonderful to know that God took care of everything even when we sin out of ignorance? He loved us so much that he was to let nothing stand in the way of our fellowship with Him. Remember these offerings and sacrifices were a picture of what His precious Son, the Lamb of God would do for us.



I think one of the greatest spiritual awakenings I have had, next to my salvation experience, was when God revealed that I had sinned unintentionally and out of ignorance.


When we truly ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the things offend Him and keep us from looking like our Savior, He will. I began a few years ago asking Him to reveal to me anything in my life that was keeping me from having that intimate relationship with Him that I had longed to have.


He began to show to me my life through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. I saw that over the years I had let sins such as pride, arrogance, envy and jealousy creep in. I was unaware of the fact that I was not truly glorifying Him in my life.


Sometimes we can go along in life thinking we're okay if we just do all the right things such as going to church, praying, witnessing, giving, doing good deeds. What looks good on the outside is not always good on the inside. This is one of Satan's biggest deceptions. As long as we are not aware of the sins that have crept into our hearts, he has it made. He is working through us and we don't even know it.

We can become religious if we are not careful, just like the people Jesus was speaking to in Matt. 23:27. They were religious people, He called "hypocrites." "For you are like white washed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness."



God knows when our hearts are not right even when we don't. So what should we do to make sure that we are aware of any sin that might creep into our hearts?


We must continually ask God to search our hearts. This is a must dear friend.


Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me O' God, and know my heart; try me, know my thoughts and see if there is any wicked way in me."


The Psalmist is saying "I am naturally a sinner and there could be some sin there that I don't know or realize."


We must ask God to search us, test us, know our thoughts, because we still have that old sin nature that wants to take over and run things. Unfortunately He will be there till the day we die, so we must continually ask God to search our hearts.


Verse3 discusses the sin of the priest or spiritual leader. God had separated them for leadership and He knew that if the priest went wrong the people would follow. He had to offer the most valuable animal, a young bull with no defects. He is more accountable than the people, therefore more is expected of him.


If you desire to be in any kind of leadership, you must count the cost, because more is expected of those who answer the call to leadership.

James 3:1 " Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged by God with greater strictness."


Verses 5, 6, and 7 talks about the blood that was applied. The blood that was shed restored the fellowship and worship of the priest.


Blood had to be shed, because sin was serious to God. Our sins do not go unnoticed. Our relationship with God is based on the fact that blood was spilled. The blood of His precious Son.

We need to keep saying "Search me and try me O' Lord.


Verses 8-12 God wanted the fat, the fat that covered the inner parts. The fat was considered the best. Here we see again God desires our best. The best that is inside us. He desires "truth in the inward parts." Psalm 51:6


He desired the fat on the inward parts not the hide, the head, the organs that we would consider valuable.


We want to look holy or appear holy on the outside, but it is not the outward, but the inward best that He desired.


The rest would be burned on a wood fire in an ash heap.


Isn't it funny how we concentrate more on the outward (our good deeds and all), and He is more concerned with the inward.


One day the outward will be ashes and dust.


Verses 13-21, talks about when a community or a nation sins. We see here again where sin is important to God. If a nation sins unintentionally, a high price was to be paid. The most valuable animal had to be offered, a young bull. It was the same offering as the priest who had sinned unintentionally.


This shows that just as there is an individual responsibility, there is a corporate responsibility. God judges individuals, but He also judges nations. And when He judges the whole nation we are in it.


This is a scary time for our nation, especially as I heard just yesterday that our President declared that, "we are not a Christian Nation."


The scripture for the repentance of a whole nation is 2Chron. 7:14-15, "If My people, who are called by My name (Christians), will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways( repent), then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be opened and My ears attentive to their prayers in this place.


Note that the scripture says, "If My people." I have often thought it odd that we talk so much about needing revival in this nation. You can't revive something that has never lived. Christians have to be revived, but those who are not Christians have never been born spiritually. They are spiritually dead. We need revival among God's people.


We must pray for our nation and our leaders, but first we must pray for God's people to be revived. The condition of our nation is a reflection of the Church. This is why I believe God is calling His people to walk "holy" before Him. And as I said in earlier posts, "those who are hearing from Him are answering this callto holiness."


We tend to get angry when we see all that is going on in our nation. We are not to get angry at the sinner. In fact Jesus said, "forgive them for they know not what they do." They are blinded to the truth. If you will remember Jesus didn't get angry at the sinner, He was angry at the money changers in the temple(the religious people) He said, "My house will be called a house of prayer."


There is little praying going on in Today's churches. If you do have a "prayer night" usually very few show up. I like what Jim Cymballa said in his book, "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire," "You can tell how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is by who comes on Sunday night. But you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to the prayer meeting."


We have to, as God's people, humble ourselves and pray and seek his face (ask him to search our hearts as we said earlier) and turn or repent from our wicked ways.


That is what is wrong with the world, they haven't seen Jesus in the Church. What was the scripture I quoted earlier, Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." When we, as Christians, lift him up for the world to see, we will start seeing people drawn and souls won.


Verses 22- 26 These scriptures speak of the unintentional sins of leadership, not spiritual leadership just leadership. Verses 27-35 speak of the unintentional sins of a member of the community sins. The sin offering for these unintentional sins are less (a male goat and a female goat), but a price had to be paid. Blood had to be shed. Sin causes death.


That is something to think about because sin causes death today. When there is sin in our lives, even what we refer to as little sins or unintentional sin, it causes death. It could be the spiritual death of those close to you. It causes the death of happiness peace and joy and the abundant life God promised us.


Jesus paid the price our sin once and for all on the cross at Calvary. As we are seeing in the sacrifices, God did not leave one thing out, even sin that we do unintentionally. These sacrifices would be a picture His Son the Lamb of God.


Just as the Israelites would lay their hand on the head of the young lamb or bull and slaughter it in payment for their sins, our sin was was laid on the Son of God. He was the "slaughtered Lamb," slaughtered for our sins.


We can have fellowship with our Father because the price has been paid. God loved us so much that He made sure everything was covered in those sacrifices, even unintentional sin. We saw in the sacrifices that everything was exposed as the sacrifice was cut into pieces. Just as our Savior was hanged naked on a cross and every part of Him exposed to the world.


We represent Him to the world. What an awesome responsibility!!! Let us strive to lift Him up and glorify Him in all that we say and do. Let our lives be a "living sacrifice," a sweet smelling savor" to our Lord.