THE JOURNEY TO UNDERSTAND

WHEN GOD SPEAKS!

Last week, I called out "God give me a word, I need a word". Immediately I heard "Search bird migration". Well, what kind of word is that, I don't even like birds. But God does and they have a story to tell. So I obeyed, I had to see the spiritual in the natural. But I still could not understand why God asked me to look this up or what it was suppose to mean and what it had to do with me. But here is why birds migrate:

When the environment becomes too cold their food source becomes scarce and they are seeking a place to nest so they can both birth and shelter their young.

Their greatest threat during their migration is the predators who seek to shoot them down.

Well, I saw at first look; food source as God's word, the nest a place of birthing and shelter, and predators those coming against God's people. But I still did not understand, what and why did God want me to learn. So I continued to pray, read scripture Psalm 11:1 and Psalm 124:6-8, but it wasn't there. So I kept asking "teach me Lord about birds". Like what did they have to do with anything. Help me Jesus to understand.

At 5am Sunday morning 6/28 I heard "the environment has to be conducive" conducive means: to provide the right conditions for something good to happen or exist.

This morning the word spoken at church spoke of this; there was so much to grab hold of, I knew God was showing me more about what I had been asking when I said "Teach me", yet I can't put my finger on it. 

4:14 the same afternoon I heard the environment must be ready to host My presence. The environment is about establishing a place centered on His word, in our time of trouble, to speak His word, pray His word, sing His word, hear His word. This  environment change must begin in us in our homes as well as our churches.

 It is in His word we are brought to conviction, that our hearts are made ready to humble ourselves, repentance comes, a hunger for Him comes. "It is here He says He will pour out revival on His people, but too many have failed to seek shelter and rest in Him, too many were ready to receive, conceive and birth that which God has for them; but then, they were devoured by the enemy through the tools of distractions, the world, something new was mentioned and they sought the new, while not discerning the source of the new, deception covered their eyes, wrong voices spoke into their ears, their thoughts were not guarded. And they now find themselves faltering in the darkness. But God says He is Hope, He will revive the fire that turned cold and went out, He will do a work that no man, no government, no religion can do, because He will blow life back into the wayward, He will rekindle the fire. Through His word, faith will rise up. But some have hardened their hearts and so pray fervently for God will not strive with those much longer."

2am 6/29 nightmare cried out to Jesus "wake me up". Now I forgot what I had written above, environment and conducive would not leave me, how do I pray. Then Psalm 119 came into my thinking and I began to read, I knew it was about His word. I began to read, but it's now 3am so I can sleep because I know where I will go in His word and in prayer just a little later than 3 am.

Awake again and in Psalm 119 an extremely long Psalm that I have studied before, but in this Psalm the writer speaks of the importance to adhering to God's word. To meditate on it, to believe it, to love it, to put His word into practice in our lives. Here are a few nuggets for us this morning:

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

Psalm 119:11 Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:15-16 I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word

Psalm 119:25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life

Psalm 119:89 Forever O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 119:160 the entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endure forever 

There are 176 verses in Psalm 119, in these verses it teaches us the importance of staying in God's word. My suggestion is that whoever is reading this begin your personal study (not just reading) but allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you and teach you. This will bless you and it will begin for each of us the making of an environment in our lives and homes that will usher in God's presence for His revival in our lives that will spread from our house to His house, in our communities, our towns, our cities, our nation.

There are many times God leads me on a journey to discover what He is speaking. A journey I took approximately a week ago when in prayer I asked "Give me a word"!  This time of seeking, praying, searching, keeps me in prayer and in His word and He knows I enjoy this process. This past Sunday morning my pastor reiterated the importance of the absolute truth of God's word, that revival won't happen without going back to His word, not tainted by what the world says about His word but what He says about His word. It is digging into God's word that brings such a conviction that we will tear down the idols we have placed in our lives before God and we will repent a true repentance. And as usual that is not an exact quote, but how God placed it in me.

So it was never about learning about birds, it was learning about an environment conducive to produce the revival I have been praying for. It is about seeking the Food of His word that satisfies and nourishes our soul. It's about sheltering under the wings of our Almighty God and teaching our children about loving God. It's teaching me how to go deeper in prayer. And guard myself that when I speak, when I write, when I pray it must be in agreement with His word; this right here God revealed to me I believe March or April, not sure. But this journey confirmed exactly what He was speaking then. Too many want their ears tickled by watering down God's word to fit their sin, but God's word is pure and cannot be watered down by a broken down world.

Thank you for going on this journey with me, I hope it has encouraged you to dig a little deeper, pray more, study more, and worship harder. Be blessed!

WHY GOD WHY!

AS A CHRISTIAN HOW LONG DO WE GRIEVE?

People grieve over many different things and in different ways. A loved one passing away, a rebellious child, divorce, loss of income, sickness, being aged and alone. Though most of the scriptures deal with death, it can be also seen through the eyes of the death of many things, including dreams. This post is not to say anyone is doing wrong, but merely to search out together what God says about grieving. But first so you realize I do understand let me share two portions of my testimony of grieving.

At 9 years of age, my daddy ( I still call him daddy today) died at the young age of 40 of lung cancer. I loved him so much, he had come to know Jesus and receive salvation the year before, so I have no doubt I will see him and embrace him again. But at 9 no one explained death to me, they simply announced it. No one wrapped their arms around me to comfort me, in fact during the funeral they positioned me with my cousins in an area where I could clearly see the casket. And I sat there watching and not understanding. So I went home and announced to my mother, I will never go to church again, and in her own grief, she said ok and we didn't. You see I was angry at God, and at the same time I was scared of God. It was the fear that pulled you from God not draw you near. But God even then was drawing on me but that is a different story not for today. At 12 at visited a revival service with a cousin and at the invitation to come and share a testimony I got up I walked up to the pulpit and I said "I hate God, He killed my daddy and I am afraid He is going to kill me." I dabbled in church some and in witchcraft some. But at 27 I was saved. Then at 37 my marriage began to fall apart and finally ended when I was 40. Now I had been very active in the church, but in my grief over my marriage and my sin I returned to that 9 year old child and  I ran from God, I said no more church, no more praying, instead I ran and I ran hard into the pleasures of sin and each day I was convicted of my sin. God let me run because I needed to find my way back to Him, though I ran He never forsake me. It took me 12 years to come to my senses and realize God did not cause the death of my marriage. So here I am writing this blog many years later. I really just want to write some scriptures that may help anyone who is suffering with the pain of sorrow.

In 2 Samuel chapter 12 we hear about king David and Bathsheba and their first born child. The child was dying and David fasted, prayed, wept and called out to God to spare the child's life. Then his servants came with word the child had died.

2 Samuel 12:20 So David arose from the ground, washed and anionted himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshipped. Then he went into his own house; and when he requested they set food before him, and he ate.

When his servants questioned him we find this verse:

2 Samuel 12:23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

I suggest you open God's word and read 1 Corinthians chapter 15 I will only write two verses, in this chapter the church had listened to a false teaching that said Jesus had not risen and there was no resurrection, Paul addressed the issue very well, if Jesus did not raise from the dead then our faith is futile and we have no hope. 

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written; "Death is swallowed up in victory," "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, (the grave) where is your victory?"

Well one more: 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Again it is written in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 that we can have comfort because we know that one day in the coming of our Lord Jesus and once more we will be with our loved ones again. But notice this verse:

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I do not want you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep (died), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

All of us will have times of suffering, whether it was wrongful or not we have this:

1 Peter 2:20-21 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when we do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.

Suffering for many things becomes a trial, will our suffering draw us nearer to God, or will we become angry, doubting and will we run from or run to. It is right here in this moment God will cause us to see what we are made of. Oh as my testimony speaks, it speaks of immaturity in the Lord, but it was setting me up, for the day that I would run back to Him and declaring I will never run away again. It is a testing of the refiner's fire. But we are not alone in our pain, our Kinsman Redeemer weeps with us and He comforts us, He is right here can you hear Him whisper your name. Now just a few scriptures to encourage us.

God is speaking to Jeremiah to give a word to Judah, that same promises is also for me and you.

Jeremiah 31:13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow.

Jeremiah 31:25 (God speaking) For I have satiated (fully satisfied) the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds

When you read this replace the name of Jacob and Israel with your name, make this personal speak it over your life.

Isaiah 43:1-2 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you O Jacob, and who formed you, O Israel; Fear not, for I have called you by your name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you, When you walk through the fire, you shall not the burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

In the Gospel of John chapters 14-16 Jesus speaks that it is imperative that He goes, so that His Holy Spirit can come and indwell us, He calls Him the Helper or Comforter we are never alone, for no matter our pain or suffering, The Holy Spirit is releasing comfort and grace in us to carry us through our times of great sorrow. So many scriptures I failed to include, but this is enough. Because this is the word that God is given to me to give to you right now:

"I know the pain in you, how it continues each day, but it is time to let go of the pain and grab hold of My joy. I am your Hope for a better tommorow, I am your Peace in the storm you are facing, I am your Strength when you are weak. Arise and keep walking forward, I am making the crooked paths straight in front of you. Rejoice for I know your name, and I understand your reluctance to move forward, but it is time to step one foot before the other, what was yesterday is no more, Oh, but I still have a plan and future for your life"!

Father, help us to understand what a good good Father You are. How much You love us, desire the best for us. You watch over us and protect us, help us to keep our eyes and our hearts focused on You, at all times and through all things. In Jesus name Amen.

WHO DO WE WORSHIP

WHY REMOVING STATUES OF JESUS DOESN'T BOTHER ME

 This may be a strange statement to come from one who follows and loves Jesus the Christ. Throughout the church history from its beginning, everywhere people were trying to stop those who followed The Way. The early church suffered great persecution even torture and death, but even unto death they remained faithful to Christ. During my lifetime the world has attempted to remove God from schools, businesses, government offices, and homes. The world is ok if you just keep Jesus in a building but don't bring Him out pass the walls.

When Moses brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, they suddenly found themselves without a god they could set their eyes on for the first time in more than 400 years. So when Moses was on the mountain top having a meeting with God. The people made for themselves a statue that could look at, could see and it looked good to them, a god of their imagination. This angered God and angered Moses.

In Exodus 20:4 You shall not make for yourself a carved image----any likeness of anything that is in heaven, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

God knew that man desires to see what and who they worship. He knew that in pagan countries they make for themselves gods made by their hands, made of wood, of gold and silver, they built high places to go and worship their god and they even had household gods. Small statues of their gods.

Throughout the scriptures God deals with His people that have begun to worship a false god made as a graven image. I suggest you open God's word and read all of Psalm 115, but here are just a few verses:

Psalm 115:3-5 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak, eyes but they do not see.

Verses 6-7 continue to describe their features as verse 5 did. But lets look at verse 8.

Psalm 115:8 Those who make them are like them, so is everyone who trusts in them.

Statues of Christ Jesus, are man made statues yet they are not Jesus. He is alive they are not, He lives in us not in a form made for man to look upon. No we walk by faith not sight, I have never seen my Savior's face but I have heard His voice, I have seen the wonders of Him moving in my life, a statue can do nothing they can not hear my prayer but my Savior always hears my prayer, they cannot hold me as I cry but my Savior can, they cannot guide me to all truth but my Savior, through His Holy Spirit in me can, they can't walk with me but my Savior can. 

There is only one symbol that speaks to God's people, it is a simple, powerful wooden cross. It is the cross before us that reminds us of the One who died that we might have life. But as my pastor said a few years ago "We do not worship the cross, we worship the One who hung on the cross!" 

Rest assured of this; those statues are just stone, Oh, Oh, Oh but my God my Savior, my Jesus, took on flesh that He might be our Kinsman Redeemer!

The enemy desires to stop truth, to stop prayer, to stop worship and mostly to stop our obedience to God's word. 

But we have One who is Sovereign, Holy, Just, Worthy, who will vindicate the righteous. Though we suffer persecution, we will not be silent, though lawlessness is around us we will walk worthy, though evil is closing in we will fight on, though all seems hopeless we have Hope.

Let them take down statues, that is not who I worship. Yet, I will stand and I will pray and I will declare who Jesus is with my dying breath. 

I call out arise oh sleeper, awaken from your sleep, answer the call of salvation, hear you Christian who have become numb and weary, God is saying arise from your sleep and gain strength in Him, keep fighting the good fight, love His appearing because His reward is with Him.

When the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth? Words of Jesus the Christ.

When you have done all you can do keep standing! Amen

SOCIAL INJUSTICE

I had first thought about doing a podcast, but realized I express myself better through writing than I do speaking. So what is this post about?

Social Injustice

Social injustice in any form is wrong. Yet, it has been in this whole world since the fall of mankind, and was manifested when Cain killed his brother Abel, over jealousy. As a blood bought, born again believer and follower of Jesus the Christ, we understand that we live in a fallen world; a world whose value systems are not the same a God's value system.

In the days of Moses there was social injustice against the nation of Israel. And throughout the scriptures and even into our lifetime, our parents lifetime, our grand and great grandparents lifetimes there has been social injustice. The prophet Amos wrote concerning social injustice and the prophet Isaiah wrote a whole chapter about fasting in relation to social injustice, about how God would want a fast not from food, but rather a fast that would treat others rightly, with love, care and kindness. Here is only two verse:

Isaiah 58:6-7 Is this the fast that I have chosen; To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Yet, we have continued to show injustice, prejudice toward others, because of how they look, the color of their skin, how they dress, what part of town they live in, what kind of job they have, their age, whether they are male or female. We will find ourselves judging others based on a stereotype, that has been embedded into our thinking for generations. By the way these are strongholds set up in our minds that are an argument against God's values and we are told to take these thoughts captive and transform our thinking by renewing our minds daily in His word 

The word Injustice means: 1. Absence of justice, violation of right or of the rights of others, Unfairness. 2. An unjust act: Wrong

In the book of James a letter is written about faith and works, that our faith is evident in our good works. That we should, if we have the ability, to help one in need. And it addresses having favoritism or partiality with others, even within the church, imagine that! I suggest if it has been awhile open up and read the book of James.

James 2:2-4 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to one wearing fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man "You stand here" or "Sit here at my footstool," have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts.

In the book of Acts, Peter says "God is not a respecter of persons". Simply put; we can not impress God with our performance, with our bank account, with our clothes, with the color of our skin, with our car, our home, how we talk, and pastors cannot impress God with their sermons. God is Sovereign God a position of authority and is on His throne in heaven, He is not sleeping nor uncaring, He both sees and hears, He knows our thoughts and He knows our heart intents. He is all powerful, He moves on behalf of His people and He vindicates those righteous who have suffered wrongly. He is a holy God, perfect in all His ways and when He acts He acts justly.

All of the above is the backdrop for what I am about to say.

I do not know George Floyd personally, what I have heard is that at some point in his life he came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Whether he was guilty of what the store owner said, I do not know, because a policeman decided to show his superiority and by murder and stopped George Floyd right to due process. What happened to him was injustice, no doubt. People are hurt and angry and want to protest against racism, I agree and stand with you, I grew up in the 50's, 60's, where I saw injustice because of the color of ones skin. Though we have come along way from the times of separate water fountains, riding in the back of buses, not allowed to eat in certain restaurants, segregated schools. By now it should be annihilated, and yet, it's ugliness is still here.

In Ephesians we are told we do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers of the air. These are demonic forces that are sent by their leader, Satan, to bring discord, division, destruction. His desire is to kill, steal and destroy, he is a liar and the father of lies. He uses people as his pawns for destruction. As racism was a tool used to kill George Floyd, he also uses people to riot, loot, destroy and burn down businesses, destroy cars, homes and people. This action is also injustice, it destroys innocent people's livelihood, harms whole communities and cities. People are being beaten, shot, hurt, is this not also injustice? 

Remember the same people shouting Hallelujah when Jesus entered Jerusalem, 6 days later were screaming "Crucify Him, Crucify Him". We call this and the rioting of today mob mentality. It begins with one inciting another and it spreads from one to another.

Those in authority whether mayors, governors or higher up, are in a place where hard decisions must be made, violence is never to be tolerated even if those who think it is justified feels it is. People are stressed not just over the death of a man but years of racial tension releases itself in outburst of rage, this isn't the first time, it even happened 5 years ago, 2015 and throughout the years before. But today, we are also in a pandemic situation, where people have been locked down, and people are sick, people have died and fear has penetrated the atmosphere all across the world. Stress building like a pot of water boiling on the stove, must release itself. This event triggered an explosion. But knowing that peaceful protest are good, violence in the dark are criminals that prey on destruction, must be met with action, a show of force, a presence that says, "this is not the way, go home, let justice have it's appearance"! Justice cannot be served by more injustice.

So how can the church of today respond, well individually we show kindness to all we meet, we refuse to show partiality because of the color of ones skin. 

FOOTNOTE: In fact I am tired of distinguishing color of skin, are we not Americans, human beings, we all breath, and bleed, hurt, cry, laugh, love. It would be good if when we see a person we don't see skin color, we see a person.

Next we pray, we pray in our homes privately, we pray corporately, churches need to be praying churches,

FOOTNOTE:

 Why are churches called black and white churches, the church that God founded is not based on skin tones light, medium, dark, it is built on the foundation that Christ Jesus died and rose from the dead for all not some.

I personally believe that churches all across the world should be calling for a special time of a corporate time of prayer. To pray for peace, healing, justice, God's grace and God's mercy. We need to come together in one accord and call out to God. I also think our President should once more call for a day of prayer and add to that fasting.

Many mock God and prayer, but they don't have to pray. America and this world is in a grave situation and prayers need to be happening.

This is where God has had me the last few days. And so much more but I will stop. 

WATCH AND PRAY ALWAYS!