I Am A Follower of Jesus Christ

I bring Grace and Peace to each one of you in the name of Jesus the Savior of the world!

I am a believer, a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. Seeing the video of George Floyd brought me to tears that another human being would treat another human being in such a way. What is unfortunate is the acts of one man is raised to the level of saying all of society is to blame. Growing up I was taught a song "Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world, red, brown, yellow, black and white they are precious in His sight Jesus loves the little children of the world."

I live in the United States and I realize I am speaking on an issue that happened here in the US. I also know this will be seen worldwide. I have seen the atrocities all over the world pertaining to human life.

Yes, I believe all lives matter! I said before I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and that hatred, division, confusion and destruction does not come from God. Today I am reminded of the passage in Romans written to the Christians.

Romans 12:2 The Message (MSG)

Place Your Life Before God

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Romans 12:2 King James Version (KJV)

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

My message today is do not get caught up in the propaganda of this world. Get caught up in the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and that he gave his life and conquered death so that all who choose to believe will not perish but have everlasting life.

Don't let the culture around you drag you down, let God bring out the best in you!

God Loves You, Grace and Peace Be!

You Are Blessed!

You are Blessed!

I bring Grace and Peace to each one of you in the name of Jesus the Savior of the world!

It has been a while but I have not forgot you.... Have you ever felt this way?  While in solitude with God today I felt these words as a two way street.  I was quickly reminded that no matter how busy , reluctant, or caught up in the demands of each day that God has been and always will be there in each moment.  God is there in your triumphs and more importantly in your struggles.  God has often reminded me to rely on "His Love"  when matters seem at their worst in any situation while also bringing me back to these words He taught me "Compared to Who?".  

All of my life there were times I would often hear people say "Be Blessed"  or "Bless You" .  There were times I would often think are these just words?  Do these people mean what they say? Do they even know what it means?  I even got into a pattern myself of saying these words.  After learning the true meaning of of Being Blessed I changed these word's to "You are Blessed! 

My question to you today is; Do you know the true meaning of these words?  "You are Blessed!"

It is my quest today that after taking this journey with me, you will know without a doubt that... You are Blessed.

In Matthew 5:3-11 (MSG) 

Jesus spoke these words; 

3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

11-12 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

In Luke 6:20-21 (MSG)

Jesus words were these:

Then he spoke: You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all. God’s kingdom is there for the finding. You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry. Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal. You’re blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning.

If you are still asking, what do these words really mean I will tell you this "You are Blessed" because of Jesus and the love of the Father. God loves you so much that he sent Jesus to to take on the sins of the world, your sins, and through your belief in this act of perfect unconditional love you are given the gift of "Living a Blessed Life" for eternity with Him!

I realize this has been a little bit longer than most and I truly believe the importance of these words.  It is just to easy to get caught up with what is happening in the moment to realize the true state you are in with God and his love for you.

In Ephesians 1:3-6 (MSG) Take ownership of these words...

[ The God of Glory ] How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

Settled on us as the focus of his love, how powerful is this?  Before the earth was made God had you on his mind. There is nothing this world has to offer that will ever compare to the Love of God.

As I come to a close I want to bring you to a scripture in Revelations 19:9 (MSG)

The Angel said to me, “Write this: ‘Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.’” He added, “These are the true words of God!”  

Have you received this Invitation? If not I extend it to you now.  All that is required is to believe in Jesus "the lamb that takes away the sins of the world".  It is a simple as praying this prayer;

Dear Daddy God, thank you for sending your Son to proclaim me innocent, Thank you for loving me so much. Thank you, Jesus for taking all my sin to the cross past, present, and future. Because of your sacrifice I am now a Child of the most High God. My heart leaps full of Joy knowing that you have sent the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort me. Most of all thank you Jesus for giving me your gift of Peace, because of you Jesus I am free from death and will enjoy life eternal ! Amen

If you prayed this prayer I rejoice with the angels in heaven and I look forward to seeing you and all believers at the Wedding Table. 

God Loves You, and live knowing ... You are Blessed!

ALL-IN-WITH GOD!

ALL-IN-WITH GOD!

I bring Grace and Peace to each one of you in the name of Jesus the Savior of the world!

Yes, it is now 2017 and a lot is being said about the coming year, some say it is the year of Jubilee, others say it is the year of the rapture.  What does God say? He sent His son Jesus to save the world and to bring us, his creation back into relationship with him. 

In NAS Exhaustive Concordance the meaning of the numbers 2017 means “turning of things upside down”, with the reference being Isaiah 29-16. I am reading from the Message translation.

You have everything backward!
    You treat the potter as a lump of clay.
Does a book say to its author,
    “He didn’t write a word of me”?
Does a meal say to the woman who cooked it,    “She had nothing to do with this”?

So I ask you; Are you living with God or saying to yourself and others, “I got this, I am in control of my destiny”?

Everybody these days seem to be looking for happiness and not to sound like an old country music song they are looking in the wrong places.  I have been there and there are times I have to remind myself is this with God or just me trying to make it happen? 

In today’s glamour, technology and everything new, it is easy to get caught in the trap of the world’s meaning of what I call “short lived” happiness.  Even Drugs and alcohol can, for the moment, bring you a fake reality of happiness.   Now that is a prime example of looking in the wrong place.

Do not be that person.  God wants relationship with you; he wants you to find all that you need in him. God loves you so much that He gave his son to die for you so you could bring Him back into the recipe of life forever.

In the bible “God’s Word” the number 17 symbolizes “overcoming the enemy” and “complete victory”.  Now I know everyone wants to say yes to that!  This brings to mind one of my favorite verse, Philippians 4:12&13;

I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. 

The “One who makes me”; the potter, the author, the cook, for those of you who would recognize the King James version more I will put it here;

Philippians 4:12-13King James Version (KJV)

¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

It is because of Christ you can “overcome your enemies” and have “complete victory”.  This reminds me of a hymn while growing up and here is the chorus;

O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood. 

I am going to end with this, In the book of 1Corinthians the thirteenth chapter, the seventeenth mention of the word 'love' comes when the apostle Paul states that it is the GREATEST gift of all (1Corinthians 13:13). God's unending love (John 3:16) is truly victorious over all things.

1Corinthians 13:13; But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (MSG)

2017 is going to be one of your best years ever as long as you do not forget the most important ingredients; Father God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  Trust in God, put your Hope in Jesus, and your faith in God’s Love for You, the Holy Spirit to guide you to “Complete Victory”! 

Don’t look to the world for the answers, instead be ALL-IN-WITH GOD and make 2017 your best year ever.

ALL-IN!, Believe!, God loves You!, Grace be!

Until next time;

I love You, and God Loves You More!

RISE UP!

I bring Grace and Peace to each one of you in the name of Jesus the Savior of the world!

Today as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ I have been brought to the words in Ezekiel 37:1-6 Reading from the Message translation.

Breath of Life

^1-2 God grabbed me. God’s Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun.

³ He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Master God, only you know that.”

⁴ He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones: ‘Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!’”

^5-6 God, the Master, told the dry bones, “Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come to life. I’ll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You’ll come alive and you’ll realize that I am God!”

I know there is more to this and as it unfolds I will bring it to you but on this resurrection day here is the message in a more personal context.  This is a message for anyone who will hear the words that “God Loves You” and will grab hold of the fact that we all were born in the Image of Love.

With this I take you back for a moment to Ezekiel 37 and those Dry Bones. 

¹¹ Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.’

^12-14 “Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, ‘God, the Master, says: I’ll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I’ll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you’ll realize that I am God. I’ll breathe my life into you and you’ll live. Then I’ll lead you straight back to your land and you’ll realize that I am God. I’ve said it and I’ll do it. God’s Decree.’”

Now most of you are wondering why am I bringing up a decree that God gave to Israel?  The message is for all today.  Because of the Gift of Jesus and his resurrection each and every one of you can come out of the grave you or the society around you has built

Where are you today, do you feel hopeless? That no one cares? Do you feel there is nothing left? Are all your dreams dried up and you have accepted that this is my destiny? Do you have all that God has promised you? 

In the book of John chapter 11 we have the story of Lazarus the word of his death had come to Jesus and this is what he said:

^14-15 Then Jesus became explicit: “Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn’t there. You’re about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let’s go to him.”

This goes back to the question what do you believe?  What value you have you placed on what God has for you? Everybody’s circumstances are different but really life in itself is all based on what you believe and act on.  If the value of belief is not strong enough you will never experience the full measure of God’s inheritance. God is lifting the lid in this passage He is giving each one of us new grounds for believing.  Are you ready?

Later in this passage we read;

^21-22 Martha said, “Master, if you’d been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you.”

²³ Jesus said, “Your brother will be raised up.”

²⁴ Martha replied, “I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time.”

^25-26 “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?”

Jesus in is now speaking to each and every one of us, “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am right now your Resurrection and Life!” Believe this and all that I have is yours!  The dreams I have given you are yours for the taking.  Your destiny is for the love of God to permeate every part of you.  To bring flesh to your hopelessness, ‘your dry bones’, and to breathe His life into your body, ‘your nothingness’, and show you all that He has for you, is yours today!

As we read further about the story of Lazarus the story goes on to say that Martha ran to Mary letting her know that Jesus wanted to see her and as Mary who had been crying in despair with her friends consoling her went to Jesus and fell at his feet said; “Master, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  And then we are given the shortest verse in the bible verse 35 ‘Jesus wept.’  Was it the death of Lazarus, the sobs of Mary or her friends filled with hopelessness?  No, Jesus’ tears came from love and he was troubled due to unbelief!

Let’s take a minute and look back to the end of the story;

⁴⁰ Jesus looked her in the eye. “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

^41-42 Then, to the others, “Go ahead, take away the stone.”

They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, “Father, I’m grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I’ve spoken so that they might believe that you sent me.”

^43-44 Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face.

Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.”

I realize that this message will be read not just today and will reach all over the world.  It does not matter when or where you are at this promise of Love is yours today if you will grab hold of it.  Right now is the time to believe and see the Glory of God! Jesus is saying to you right now remove the “stones” whatever they may be that are holding you back. Each stone has its sub names that all lead back to “UNBELIEF” that leads to fear, hopelessness, and despair.Jesus is at the right hand of our Father shouting, "(insert your name) Come out! For three days I was in that grave so you would never have to be there.  I have conquered death and have risen and now I am telling you to; Rise Up, and believe that everything that I have told you is for You!”

Your inheritance and all that God has for you is yours today.  Unwrap and let loose the garments of the dead dry bones.  Choose today to believe in what God has for you.  I am telling you today ‘God, The Master’ is saying; Live a life full of joy and abundance that a child of a King would live, Rise Up, I am with you always!”  

Rise Up! Believe! God Loves You! Grace Be!

Have you received this Invitation? If not I extend it to you now.  All that is required is to believe in Jesus "the lamb that takes away the sins of the world".  It is a simple as praying this prayer;

Dear Daddy God, thank you for sending your Son to proclaim me innocent, Thank you for loving me so much. Thank you, Jesus for taking all my sin to the cross past, present, and future. Because of your sacrifice I am now a Child of the most High God. My heart leaps full of Joy knowing that you have sent the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort me. Most of all thank you Jesus for giving me your gift of Peace, because of you Jesus I am free from death and will enjoy life eternal ! Amen

If you prayed this prayer I rejoice with the angels in heaven and I look forward to seeing you and all believers at the Wedding Table.

Be Free From the Prison

I bring Grace and Peace to each one of you in the name of Jesus the Savior of the world! 

There has been a picture going around on the web that shows the back of a person’s head with a open window, prison bars, and a person inside grabbing hold of those bars, the caption reading… “You will never be free until you free yourself from the prison of your own false thoughts” 

This is so true for most people even Christians who have believed the untruth about them, filled with the “What Ifs” in life and who don’t know or have forgot who they truly are in Christ Jesus. 

For just a moment I want you to take a deep breath and rest in the arms of God and see what He truly has and wants for you.  I will first go to the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-27 reading from the NIV translation;

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  

As I stated in my earlier writings that God continually reminds me of this so much that I have grown to have a fascination of birds.  Today I want you to know that you are much more valuable than they!  With this I am going to hit three points to help you know and become what God has for you.  The first is Reality, the second Initiative, and the third Provision. 

First we start with Reality in 1^st John 5:13-15 - The (MSG) John the Apostle states;

[The Reality, Not the Illusion] My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours.”

It is a reality and not an illusion that Jesus sits now with the father and that God’s plan fulfilled is for each one of us to live in the inheritance of what He has for us.  God’s – Reality is for you to live above and to have all that you ever need or ask for.

When God opens a door you have to take the step and walk through it.  When opportunity arises you have to be in the mindset to take action.  This does not mean to take action on your own.  It does mean to take action with God.

“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get. Matthew 7:12 – The (MSG)

Teaming up with God’s - initiative will always produce results, way more than you could ever accomplish on your own.

The third and one of the most profound is provision.  The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of God’s provision is “God My Provider”! God’s – Provision is endless once you tap into who you really are in Christ, you can break those bars down and free yourself of all that keeps you in bondage.  Worry, strife, fear, religion, lies and deceit is the only holds that the defeated satan can use to keep you from the true blessings that God has for you!

God wants you to live and breath in the paradise that he has created here on earth for you! Take ownership of this passage in Joshua and make it yours!  

Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.” Joshua 1:9 - The (MSG)

Jesus said; A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:10 The (MSG)

Become the person God has created you to be; sons, daughters, grab hold of your inheritance and live in God's Reality, God's Initiative, and God’s Provisions!

God Loves You! Grace BE!

What is the Gift you Seek?

I bring Grace and Peace to each one of you in the name of Jesus the Savior of the world! 

It has been a while and I want each one of you to know you have been in my thoughts and prayers.  I bring to you this Christmas day a gift that was freely given so many years ago.  No matter what your situation I hope you leave this inspired and knowing a little bit more on what this gift of a Savior really has done for each one of us who believe.

God loves you!  He created each one of us in his image a reflection of who He is.  Do you really understand what this truly means?  We are godlike reflecting God’s nature.  In Genesis it is stated this way reading from the Message translation.

Genesis 1:26-28

The Message (MSG)

26-28 God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them
        reflecting our nature
    So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
        the birds in the air, the cattle,
    And, yes, Earth itself,
        and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”
    God created human beings;
        he created them godlike,
    Reflecting God’s nature.
        He created them male and female.
    God blessed them:
        “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!
    Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
        for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”

What are the characteristics of being godlike that were stated in this passage?  Responsible, Prosperous, to Reproduce, Dominate, and Take Charge!  These are all qualities that each one of us possess, each one is part of God’s nature that we were created to reflect.

I know what a lot of you are thinking well that was before the fall of man.  Here is the question I have in return; did that really make a difference when it comes to the breath of life that was breathed into each one of us?  Others of you might be saying what about after the law was given?  That answer can be found throughout the scriptures and that brings me to one of my favorite verses in the bible, it is found in Joshua…

Joshua 1:9

The Message (MSG

Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

In this passage we learn even more about God’s nature adding to be strong, courageous, and dependable.  So God is still revealing his nature in mankind after the fall and after the law was given. 

Then God after seeing a system that was not working and through redemption God became a man a human being.  God loves you so much that to make things right actually did much much more than that!  I bring to you now from the story of the season to Luke…

Luke 2:11

King James Version (KJV)

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

God’s Grace poured out on us and walked in human form.  What did this mean?  What would become of this miracle child?  To go further with this I will reflect on the same story that was told centuries before in Isaiah…

Isaiah 9:2-7

The Message (MSG)

2-7 The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
    light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
    you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
    Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
    sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
    all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
    as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
    along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
    a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
    the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
    the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
    Strong God,
Eternal Father,
    Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
    and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
    over that promised kingdom.
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
    and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
    beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
    will do all this.

This means so much more where before man wanted to be like God while not realizing that he already was, now because of Jesus there is no need to be like God because God is in us.  In the beginning man was given the breath of life and now the bread of life has been given to make us sons and daughters in the family of God!

In Hebrews 12:2

King James Version (KJV)

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus came to the world and became manlike so that we by adoption can inherit the quality of life that God had planned for each one of us from the beginning. What do you need today?  What does the Father have that He will not give His children?  Jesus came so that you might have life and have it more abundantly.  He then ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the throne of God so we can enjoy the quality of life knowing that each one of us have been equipped with all that we could ever ask for.  

So on this Christmas day did you get what you wanted?  Did you get more than you wanted?  Did you get nothing at all?  Today I charge you to be mindful of the things that God has given and placed within you.  Grab hold of the innocence that was freely given to you.  Embrace the fact that you have been adopted by God, that you are a son, a daughter, that your inheritance is yours and always know that God is with you everywhere you go.  Enjoy the Gift!

Merry Christmas!  God Loves You!