MY FRIENDS “THANK GOD FOR THE THORN IN OUR FLESH, SO THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY DWELL IN US”

“And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10(NASB)

Paul most likely was a proud man, with a little bit of arrogance, so it is with most of God’s children, sometimes God allows us to suffer that we may develop humility. “A thorn in our flesh,” and it may not always be health issues, but the constant storms in our life are thorns in our flesh, because they are a “messenger of Satan to buffet God’s faithful to keep us from exalting ourselves to where God is trying to take us, so that we may exalt Christ in all we do.

In addition, we must keep our eyes focus on our Savior and the straight path He has laid out for us Because we are His Children and He loves us so much, that He gave His life for our Salvation. “Who [are we], that the Lord of all the earth Would care to know [our] name, Would care to feel [our] hurt?

Who [are we], that the Bright and Morning Star Would choose to light the way For [our] ever wandering heart? [We are] a flower quickly fading, Here today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean. A vapor in the wind. Who [are we], that the eyes that see my sin Would look on me with love and watch me rise again?

Who [are we], that the voice that calmed the sea, Would call out through the rain And calm the storm [for you, and for] me? Still You hear [us when we call]. Lord, You catch [us] when we are falling. And You have told [your chosen who we are, we are yours.] (Casting Crowns, Who Am I) And that my friends, is why we must endure, because we are His.

Consistent with this, Christ is seeking those who are steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord” 1 Cor. 15:58 (NKJV) Paul is not saying, only when the sun is shining or when we can see the rainbow after the storm, but “always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

Remember my friends “Our God “gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV)

My friends, Christ is calling as He looks for the faithful and the strong who can take a punch and still stand firm for what is right “though the heavens may fall and the earth may pass away,” we must persevere, Remembering at times we may not always recognize the night from the day, but we must keep our eyes upon that distant shore, the promise land, as we “keep our soul anchored in the Lord.”

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

May 23, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WE ARE ALL ON LEVEL GROUND, AT THE CROSS, WHERE HIS BLOOD FLOWS!!

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28 (NKJV) My friends, “There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins; And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.” And today if you are a child of God we can say with no reservation that the same Savior that died for you and I, died for Adolf Hitler, the dope pusher, the pimp and prostitute, the rich and the poor, the sane and the insane.

If we were shapen in iniquity; and in sin did [our] mother’s conceive [us] Ps 511:5 (KJV) then we are all on level ground at the cross where His blood flows. “There are at least 43 references to the blood of Christ in the New Testament, all testifying to its great importance in the salvation and daily life of the believer.

Judas the betrayer spoke of it as “innocent blood Matthew 27:4 (KJV) and Peter called it “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” I Peter l:9 (KJV) It is the cleansing blood in I John l:7 (KJV) and the washing blood in Rev. l:5, (KJV)

My friends whatever situation or circumstances, no matter what economic or social class, the blood of Christ cleanses all of our sins away if we believe and allow a transformation to take place through the Spirit of God. We can never become so complacent, lackadaisical, and self-indulgent, that we forget it starts at the cross and the shedding of Christ blood that will make us a candidates for God’s pure and holy kingdom.

As the Master takes full control of our Character, as He eliminates the dirt and mire that has accumulated throughout the years, it is only the blood of Christ that purifies, only his blood that saves and redeems us from the penalty of sin. “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,” Rom 5:20 (ASV)

My friends, we cannot out sin the grace of God, so no matter how far the god of this world has taken us, that stream of blood flows just that far and once it saves, it places us on a straight course to life eternal. “And they overcame Him [or Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Rev. 12:11 (NKJV)

In this text, the blood is the overcoming blood, enabling believers to withstand the deceptions and accusations of Satan even if it means death. Christ death at Calvary summarizes Christ infinite love for everyone. And once we as His Children  have been washed in His blood, the believer then “dies to self and lives a new life through Christ” while asking Christ “what must I do to be saved” and not my will but thou will be done”

And each day, as we allow the Spirit to purify our lives by the standard of Christ, we will stay focus on what Jesus is trying to do in our lives, as we recognize that to be able to stand before our Savior one day with a pure white robe that was washed in His blood, we must have the faith, endurance and passion to maintain a close and personal relationship with Him daily, while understanding that the blood of Jesus, it will never lose its power to save.

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

May 21, 2015

OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, CONTINUE TO BRAG, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GIVEN UP!!

“The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”  You’re in a “middle of a wonderful dream. You’re riding the ocean waves with your family when BAM! along comes a giant sea creature poised for attack.

You begin to thrash away in bed, trying to fight off the monster. When you call out, your mother comes in to see what’s wrong. “It’s all right,” she says, “You had a bad dream,” and now you’re awake. safe in your mother’s arms” (KidsHealth)

My friends, it is probably safe to say throughout our childhood, we have all had our share of nightmares or bad dreams, they usually occurred in our lives between “5 to 8 year-olds, because this is at the point in our lives when we begin having rapidly expanding grasp of real-life perils” that just don’t make a whole lot of since at that age.

But one day, we didn’t have our mothers calming voice there to tell us “It’s all right,” you are only having a nightmare. One day life in itself became a never ending nightmare. And then, we found the comfort of a loving savior saying,  “its all right”  I’m here, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at [life], for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Deu. 31:6 (NASB)

Then we gave it all to Christ “All to Jesus we surrendered All to Him we freely give we will ever love and trust Him In His presence daily live All to Jesus we surrender Humbly at His feet we bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now.” And it is at that point, when it seems the nightmares resumed, only this time they came back with a vengeance, an ever ending cycle; a child on drugs.

An unhappy marriage, unemployment, the mortgage due with no finances coming in. Evan the dog dies. We as children of the king can go through a thousand scenarios. But my friends, did it ever occur to you, God is standing back like a proud parent, knowing His Children are unique? For there is no one like them on the earth, blameless and upright men and women, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

While Satan continues His attacks on us with a vengeance. But this my friends is why God’s word must be hid within our heart, [that we will] not sin against” the one who gave His all for our salvation. In addition, we cannot become complacent about our salvation and the time we spend with God.

There can never be a time when what the god of this world places before us in the form of entertainment each evening on our TV’s, becomes more important than spending quality time with God and seeking His presence with a passion right here before the close of history as we know it. My friends, there must be a passion from within, if our goal is life eternal.

Consistent with this, without that passion that builds faith,we will never know that trials and “tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” which allows us to stay strong as God brags, because He knows we want give up, until we can cross over into the promise land.

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

May 20, 2015

MY FRIENDS, GOD’S LIGHT WILL LEAD ALL WHO BELIEVE!!!

Our life is laid out before God, He sees every valley created by unwise choices that we have made throughout our life. But as long as our focus stays on the Journey Christ tells us “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (KJV)

Light has always been a symbol of the presence of God since He said “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good;….” Gen 1:3-5 (NKJV) And throughout God’s word there are Patriarch’s and Prophets who’s course veers at times in an unknown direction, even if they are a “man after God’s own heart”

But oh the grace of God whose light will forever remain in one’s presence if we continue to “look to the lord and his strength; and seek his face always” Ps. 105:4 (KJV) My friends, today let’s focus on the children of Israel who were in slavery for 400 years because they had gotten off course and lost sight of the light of God’s presence.

God remembered his covenant with Abraham and lead the children of Israel out of slavery to the promise land, which tells each of us, who has allowed the god of this world to enslave them to the things of this world, God will not only deliver us, but through our faith will also lead us to the promise land.

The “lord went before the Israelites by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.” Oh the mercy and grace of God, no matter what situation or circumstances that we may encounter or the length of time we may stay off course even after 400 years God’s promises are sure, they never change “for It is the Lord who goes before you.

He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deu. 31:8 And as we die daily, while allowing the light of God’s Spirit to transforms us into His image, our only desire should be to serve God, which then transforms all who are “sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.”

And now, we are safe in the arms of a risen Savior who has made us His personal light bearers as His presence allows us to be a light that shines in the darkness of a world that is also sinking deep in sin with no hope of rescue, because they have never known the light of the love, grace and mercy of God, the source of all true light.

One day soon my friends, eternal life will be our reward And “the redeemed will be sharers in His joy, as they behold, among the blessed, those who have been won to Christ through their prayers, their labors, and their loving sacrifice.

As they gather about the great white throne, gladness unspeakable will fill their hearts, when they behold those whom they have won for Christ, and see that one has gained others, and these still others, all brought into the haven of rest, there to lay their crowns at Jesus’ feet and praise Him through the endless cycles of eternity.” (E.G. White The Great Controversy)

So my friends stay the course because the light of the world Jesus Christ tells us “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

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

May 19, 2015

MY FRIENDS, MOVING TOWARDS THE SOUND OF CHAOS, IS IT WISE?

The Marine Corps have a new commercial title towards the sound of Chaos “Where chaos looms, the Few emerge. Marines move toward the sounds of tyranny, injustice and despair with the courage and resolve to silence them. Marines face down the threats of our time.” “Anyone can follow a path but few make their own”

My friends, if you are a child of God  who is willing to give it all to the Master, we must make a path for Christ to enter into our hearts as we take that same path towards the sound of chaos, if our intentions are to make it across the finish line into the promise land. God has given each of us a mandate and that mandate is to move towards that sound.

In addition, His faithful few must emerge as warriors for Christ as we put on the whole armor of God and move towards the sound of the tyranny that comes from the god of this world that has taken the world by storm as he leads those with no hope to perdition.

But we must also maintain the courage and resolve to stand up for Christ though the heavens may fall and the earth may pass away, as we continue to move as we cling to our faith with a passion and a crucified and risen Savior who will return one day to take his children back home to a place “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 (NKJV)

My friends, all the paths of time, history and prophecy converge at Calvary and Christ second coming. Satan is a clever strategist who knows, if He can keep you and I focus on the things of this world, the sound of chaos and what we as God’s chosen must do for those in despair who live with no hope will become secondary.

Christ has ask His people to watch for evidence of His approaching return “Now learn a parable of the fig tree: When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors Matthew 24:32-33 (KJV)

The world is in Chaos, we hear the sound but it must become personal, we have to see the Chaos of mankind as Christ saw it  “And when he drew near and saw the city, He wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19:41 (NKJV)

Today Christ is telling us to go! Like Paul said to King Agrippa when the King  told him he was mad “I know about these matters, and I speak to each of you with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape your notice since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”Acts 26:26-27 (NKJV)

God’s love grace and mercy allows us to continue to hear the sound of Chaos, it has not been “done in a corner” the prophets and  prophecy in God’s word has given us a detail account of the sound from in the beginning, to Christ second coming. But soon my friends, the sound will end, but today Christ is saying to His children “Feed my sheep.”

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