Archives for February 2014

Feb. 16, 2014

“I’M GONNA PUT ON MY ROBE, AND TELL THE STORY, HOW I MADE IT OVER, SOON AS I GET HOME”

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. Rev.7:9

My friends the HOME we seek, at this particular time in our lives, God’s chosen can only dream about for “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9

But today, I need you to feel the same PASSION, and EXCITEMENT that keeps me FOCUSED, because IT WON’T BE LONG MY FRIENDS BEFORE WE PUT ON OUR ROBES, AND TELL THE STORY OF HOW WE MADE IT OVER.”

And every day it gets that much closer to it becoming a reality, and the Children of God, seeing THE CLOUDS OPEN UP, AND THE ONE who gave it all so that we may live throughout the ceaseless ages of ETERNITY, coming to TAKE US HOME.

For His promise TO HIS FAITHFUL is sure “We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:15-17

ALWAYS my friends meaning INFINITE, FOREVER, WITH NO ENDING. After I see the face of my Savior, as I sit at the BANQUET TABLE of the redeemed “I then lift my hands in total admiration” as I PROCLAIM my personal JOURNEY OF HOW I MADE IT OVER.

And  as I FOCUS it won’t be hard for me to remember. “IT WAS ALWAYS DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN” but now I will forever see the light of the SON, for the VISION of hope in His Word sustained me along with my FAITH and GOD’S SPIRIT, because there were times in my life that became blurred by the god of this world who would captivate my attention.

But no greater love then my God for his promises kept reminding me “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU. Isaiah 42:16

So many times I turned my back on God as I would move away from His PRESENCE, but GOD’S LOVE ABOUND over everything and here I am. I sit among the redeemed at the banquet in each of our honor. His promises were true. His word was sure.

Now eternity awaits and at that moment “I will lift my hands in total adoration once again, for I just can’t stop praising HIS NAME, because I always knew my “REDEEMER LIVETH.” because He would “never put more on me then I could bear.” He was always my “SHELTER THROUGH the STORM.” “He would always lead me in the paths of righteousness, For His name’s sake.”

“Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous. It will be known only to those who behold it. No finite mind can comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God. In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called a country. Hebrews 11:14-16. There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters.

God’s people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. There is the New Jerusalem, the metropolis of the glorified new earth, a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of our God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” (E.G. White)

soon my friends WE WILL BE HOME, SOON AND THROUGHOUT ETERNITY WE CAN PRAISE GOD’S NAME, AND AS WE LOOK AT THE SCARES IN HIS HAND, WE WILL ALWAYS BE REMINDED OF “HOW WE MADE IT OVER.”

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Feb. 15, 2014

I AM TRANSFORMED, AND CONSUMED BY HIS SPIRIT, AND WORD

My friends “What the disciples did not accomplish spiritually in 3-1/2 years with Christ. It happen through His Spirit in one day at Pentecost” “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7

In His humanity Christ had planted the seed “All by itself the soil produces grain first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:28-29

As we allow the transforming power of God’s spirit to take control, it is when we are in His PRESENCE  that the Sanctification process begins to produce Disciples for Christ. And as soon as we are ripe, Christ Love and grace mobilizes His FAITHFUL because the harvest has come, we are NOW READY to SERVE.

For you have “…..put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the SPIRIT of your minds, and to put on the NEW SELF, created after the LIKENESS of God in true RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS.” Eph. 4:20-24

My friends have you allowed God’s Spirit to Start the renewal process in your life, if not, why do you wait. God is looking for faithful workers today. As a Child of God we have the ability of discernment, so there should be no doubt in our minds that we’re living in the prophetic days of “Daniel and the Revelations”

There are millions headed towards PERDITION who have no clue of the times and season we are living in. “So we’re faced with a challenge and a profound, multi-faceted responsibility: to acknowledge the significance of our times, to awaken others to this reality, to rightly discern true from false prophecy, and to know what to do about the things we rightly discern.”

My friends what a great Responsibility as God’s chosen generation the Good Shepherd has given us. In Luke 24:32 when the two Disciples of Christ on the road to Emmaus, realizing it was Christ they had spoken too. Said to one another

“DID NOT OUR HEART BURN WITHIN US WHILE HE TALKED WITH US ON THE ROAD, AND WHILE HE OPENED THE SCRIPTURES TO US?” That word Burn, meaning to be set, or CONSUMED on FIRE. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being TRANSFORMED into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. 3:18

This is the PASSION Christ asked of his Children, first to be TRANSFORMED and then CONSUMED with a BURNING PASSION and once this occurs everyone we talk to, or witness to, will also feel an exhilarating BURN from within their hearts, a Spiritual reaction that will move like an out of control wildfire, with the fire being the Spirit of the living God.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 But my friends God’s mandate requires a lot of STUDY and heartfelt PRAYERS and supplications as we digest the scriptures daily.

Jeremiah tells us in Jeremiah 15:16 “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY”. Also Romans 10:17 tells us so then “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

So this TRANSFORMATION and all CONSUMING fire of the Holy Spirit all starts with the Word of God. My friends we have a lot of work to do, so PLEASE don’t allow the things of this world to hinder you any longer. Where I need you to focus your attention, are the following words that I end my devotion with today.

“When you reach that FINAL SUNSET and you look into HIS EYES, will the tears you shed be tears of joy or would they be your last goodbye.” My friends it will be a tragedy to get to that day that you waited for all your life, and realize that all you had accumulated and accomplished on this earth “COULD NOT COMPARE TO ETERNAL LIFE” THAT YOU HAVE NOW LOST.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Feb. 14, 2014

YOU ARE “WITHIN REACH” SO WHAT DO YOU OWE THE god OF THIS WORLD, WHO ONLY OFFERS PERDITION?

Feb. 14, 2014

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16

“And now the Lord of glory was dying, a ransom for the race. In yielding up His precious life, Christ was not upheld by triumphant joy. All was oppressive gloom. It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Him.

It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity.

Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power. He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing WITHIN REACH of abundant help.”(E. G. White)

My friends, WE ARE “WITHIN REACH”. So now “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate ( ME, MY FRIENDS, AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT WILL LISTEN ) from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Romans 8:38)

My friends Satan never realized what lengths Christ would go through to demonstrate so passionately his burning belief in his own ability and love for us, for “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8)

And it was all done my friends so that we could have LIFE ETERNAL. So if Christ was so willing to fight this battle on our behalf, what should our responsibility today be to show our love for Him? And how do we repay the one who did it all for us.

Maybe we can show our gratitude by our WORKS, but salvation is free. “While the one who lives by faith is not saved by his works, his works show that he lives by faith. His faith is revealed in his works, and thus he is promised life eternal.”

Gods work here on earth can only be finished by dedicated Christians who are willing to give it all for the Master. We don’t have any time to squander it away on what this world has to offer because what this world has to offer will surely pass away but Salvation is Eternal.

ETERNAL MY FRIENDS, I now need you to close your eyes and take your imagination as far into the future as it possible can, and THEN GO BEYOND THAT, and you still will never reach ETERNITY. So why do you hesitate today to give it all to the Master.

WHAT DO YOU OWE THE god OF THIS WORLD that you would give up ETERNITY for. WHAT DOES HE OFFER YOU EXCEPT PERDITION? When Christ died so that you may have LIFE ETERNAL.

“The thief cometh not, but for to STEAL, and to KILL, and to DESTROY: I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more ABUNDANTLY.” John 10:10 LIFE, DEATH it’s a no BRAINER my friends. A NO BRAINER.

I continue to ask “If angels could pull back the curtain” and you could see that we are right on the threshold of Christ second coming, with wars and rumors of wars. Nation rising against nation, and kingdoms against kingdoms, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

False prophets have begun to rise up and deceive many. Lawlessness abounds throughout the world, as the love of many have begun to grow cold.” Matt. 24 So friends “If your PASSION IS SALVATION, AND LIFE ETERNAL, then “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” So now ask yourself I AM WITHIN REACH SO WHAT DO I OWE THE  god OF THIS WORLD, WHO ONLY OFFERS PREDICTION?

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Feb. 12, 2014

MY FRIENDS, TO DIE FOR CHRIST, OH WHAT A HONOR!!

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

 As God’s chosen, as we begin to escalate Christ in our life. We also must begin to diminish self to the point where self no longer exist, because a transformation has taken place, and we are now crucified with Christ as He lives out His life through us for all to see.

For “He bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness…..”  1 Peter 2:24 But there must be a PASSION and a DESIRE from within that will forever live for the greater goal of spreading the good news of the gospel, as we await Christ soon return.

We also must be willing to live out our FAITH even to the point of death. Many Christians have died for the GOSPEL of CHRIST. Is your FAITH today at a point if asked by the good Shepherd to lay down your life for Him, you would consider it an HONOR.

Martyr John Huss: “When he had been fastened to the stake, and all was ready for the fire to be lighted, the martyr was once more exhorted to save himself by renouncing his errors. “What errors,” said Huss, “shall I renounce? I know myself guilty of none.

I call God to witness that all that I have written and preached has been with the view of rescuing souls from sin and perdition; and, therefore, most joyfully will I confirm with my blood that truth which I have written and preached.

” When the flames kindled about him, he began to sing, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me,” and so he continued till his voice was silenced forever. Martyr Jerome of Prague: As the sentence of condemnation was passed upon him.

He was led out to the same spot upon which Huss had yielded up his life. He went singing on his way, his countenance lighted up with joy and peace. His gaze was fixed upon Christ, and to him death had lost its terror. When the executioner, about to kindle the pile, stepped behind him, the martyr exclaimed:

“Come forward boldly; apply the fire before my face. Had I been afraid, I should not be here. His last words, uttered as the flames rose about him, were a prayer. “Lord, Almighty Father,” he cried, “have pity on me, and pardon me my sins; for Thou knowest that I have always loved Thy truth.”His voice ceased, but his lips continued to move in prayer. (E.G.White)

Today my friends our eyes are to be forever “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…. (Hebrews 12:2)  Acts 20:24 states “But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”

This is where I need you to focus at today my friends, on the words of Paul that says “BUT I COUNT MY LIFE OF NO VALUE TO MYSELF, SO THAT I MAY FINISH MY COURSE, AND THE MINISTRY” As we read God’s Word, this is God’s MANDATE to His FAITHFUL, to finish His MINISTRY.

What man can do to the body is of no significance to our salvation and eternal life. “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Rev. 12:11

Today my friends we must give it all to the Master as we allow our faith to be stretched to the limit, as our focused  revolves around the timing of this journey God has each of us own. But we must accept God’s plan for us as we rest in his PRESENCE as our Character is being shaped for Eternity, because once self is dead Christ can say without any reservations my child enter into my kingdom that has been prepared for you.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Feb. 11, 2014

“BEING CONVICTED BY YOUR CONSCIENCE,” WHAT’S NEXT MY FRIENDS?

But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. THEN THOSE WHO HEARD IT, BEING CONVICTED BY THEIR CONSCIENCE, WENT OUT ONE BY ONE…. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more. Matt. 8:1-11

My friends do you ever wonder what Christ was writing with his finger on the ground. Well it could have been the sins of all the accusers of “THE WOMAN” that is the most popular scenario. But the more I FOCUS on Matt. 8:1-11 I myself think, He could have been just drawing. Maybe He was drawing a picture of  the cross that he would carry on His back to Calvary one day, for the sins of the worlds.

Or maybe he thought of his home in heaven that he had left on our behalf, and begun to draw some of the beauty of paradise, or maybe He just wrote the words, “My Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.

My friends we can’t say for sure what He wrote with those awe inspiring fingers that created the world in six days. But myself, I don’t believe he needed to take the time to write the sins on the ground of the men who surrounded him with the accusations of adultery against  “THE WOMAN” that they brought before Christ to condemn.

But my friends this is where I need you to FOCUS today, and that is when anyone comes into the PRESENCE of God and they look upon the PURITY of his life against their’s, then anyone, like each of these men, will be CONVICTED BY YOUR CONSCIENCE.

“The accusers had been defeated. Now, their robe of pretended holiness torn from them, they stood GUILTY, and CONDEMNED, in the PRESENCE of Infinite PURITY. They trembled lest the hidden iniquity of their lives should be laid open to the multitude; and one by one, with bowed heads and downcast eyes, they stole away, leaving their victim with the pitying Saviour.” (E.G. White)

My friends not like the men who walk away from the PRESENCE of Christ, I hope once you have that experience like “THE WOMAN” who was being accused and brought into THE PRESENCE OF GOD. That you will allow Christ Spirit to CONDEMN, CONVICT, and TRANSFORM Your Character into the Character of Christ as you fall down in heartfelt prayer, repentance, and supplication, and with admiration before the Master you cry out, MY GOD, MY GOD, NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE.

AND FROM THAT POINT FORWARD you will give it all to the one who gave it all for you on Calvary as you deny self “and take up your CROSS” as a DISCIPLE, while spreading the good news of the gospel to a world that seeks HOPE where there is none.

My friends once again “If angels could pull back the curtain” and you could see that we are right on the threshold of Christ second coming, with wars and rumors of wars. Nation rising against nation, and kingdoms against kingdoms, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

Many false prophets have begun to rise up and deceive many. lawlessness abounds throughout the world, as the love of many have begun to grow cold.” Matt. 24 So friends “If then you have been raised with Christ…… Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Col. 3:1-4

So My friends if you stay FOCUSED, remain FAITHFUL and ENDURE to the end one day soon you will hear Christ Himself say. “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” Matt. 25:23

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Feb. 10, 2014

TO BE LIKE CHRIST, WHAT MUST I DO?

Is it possible for man to understand by using his limited intellect the things or mind of God. So what is the key to Christ likeness or having His Character, or knowing Him to the point that we seek His PRESENCE within us each day.

Acts 4:13 says “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.?” So is it a look or a attitude or an aura about a Child of God that tells the world we have been in the PRESENCE of God.

My friends I can only tell you because of my faith, and hope your faith tells you the same. And that is to really know God, first we must ask God’s Spirit to give us understanding as we study God’s word diligently each day. And through our FAITH that in itself becomes the beginning of a firm foundation in knowing Christ, and His will for us.

Luke 6:47-49 tells us “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” Paul also says In 1 Corinthians 3:11

So my friends  no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, through God’s Word, and at the same time we must completely surrender our will to the Master, and then WE WILL BECOME LIKE HIM

“I have one deep supreme desire that I may be like Jesus to this I fervently aspire. I want my heart his throne to be so that a watching world may see His likeness shining forth in me. I want His Spirit to fill my hungering soul His power all my life control my deepest prayer my highest goal that I may Be like Jesus” (Crystal Lewis)

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18  Understanding and knowing God’s Word through His Spirit is the process by which God’s character is cultivated in us.

But it must be a daily process, and in so doing, we become aware of our own existence, sensations, thoughts, and surroundings, through Christ, and as a result, each day we begin to walk into Gods divine wisdom. A wisdom that allows us to focus and walk along the same path that Christ did when He was own this earth.

A path of a humble and loving servant to all. Phil. 2:1-2 tells us  “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

My friends of all the wonderful attributes of our Lord, as I try and understand Him and the things He wants us to know about Him. The most outstanding was his humbleness. Paul states in Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” God chose us “……to be conformed to the image of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:29) Oh what a honor, my friends. And to show my thanks and love to God for all He has done for me I will serve Him till the day He comes to take me away to live in His pure and holy kingdom.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Feb. 9, 2014

“DO YOU LOVE GOD MORE THEN ANYTHING, THEN LET THE WORLD KNOW”

My friends “DO YOU LOVE GOD MORE THEN ANYTHING, THEN LET THE WORLD KNOW” this is all God ask of you. But a PASSION TO LOVE AS CHRIST LOVES, surpasses our love for MOTHER, FATHER, HUSBAND, WIFE, CHILDREN, JOB, CAR, HOUSE, TV, IPAD, COMPUTER, and the list goes on.

Christ blood that was shed on Calvary on our behalf takes our love for Christ to another level that only a child of God could recognize.

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me……” Matt 10:37-39

Yes my friends Calvary Justifies that same love Christ has shown towards us, we can now show towards Him and a world that seeks hope where there is none.

And When our character is grounded, and rooted in the love of  God, and His Word, “then I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

To Love any less would be detrimental to our salvation, because now we have placed other gods before our Savior because they now become more important than our Love for God. “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God Ex. 34:14

My friends the only Begotten Son of God died in our place on Calvary so that we could live with Him in His pure and holy kingdom. There is no greater love. But it did not end with His death on the cross. Because He rose again so His love continues to live through us. And we must serve that same risen Savior, while allowing our faith to grow as we truly LOVE GOD MORE THAN ANYTHING, as we spread the good news of the gospel.

And through our faith in God and His love for us and our Love for Him His amazing strength and power becomes ours, and we learn to sing, praises and glorify Him no matter what situation or circumstances we may find ourselves in.

My friends Love Conquers all, and not what the god of this world deems as love, but that genuine, selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love that can only come from Christ. Yes my friends, there is no greater love. Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:17-19

“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Paul also tells us in Romans 5:3-5 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

My friends “DO YOU LOVE GOD MORE THEN ANYTHING, and if so THEN LET THE WORLD KNOW” Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY