by admin | Jul 21, 2012 | Uncategorized
These random violent shootings drive me to my knees in grief and prayer. How will the families of the victims every recover? How wil those who witness this horrific mahem recover? How can we go forward without fear? How could this happen?
Those of us who read the Bible know the answers to those questions. “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth.” John 8:44
Men and women can be evil, but not so evil they can or will do this kind of killing without the help of evil demonic spirits, that entice, control and drive them to acts we see as insanity. We look at them and say, “they are mentally ill.” Mentally deranged, yes, with real supernatural help from the real ‘dark side.’
It is devilish ironic that this happened in a movie by a similar name. One critic said it had truly gone to the dark side. We as people, rational people, need to acknowledge the supernatural is reality, and stop playing with it in games, movies and opening ourselves and our children to this demonic enemy. Am I suggesting we do away with all of that? Of course not, fat chance anyway. I am saying we must overcome evil with good…. and ever so strong in the movies….the good guys should not be whimps or jerks.
We need to know what our children and young people are reading, watching and spending their time with. That will not be the whole answer to the problem, but it will help. I ask one of my sons, who is raising four great kids….”when do you tell them about demons?” His answer was, “When they start watching cartoons on TV, we tell them the bad guys have demons and the good guys have Jesus and Jesus always wins. As they get older we share more and more as they are old enough and ready about the facts from the Bible, the enemy and their authority to overcome.”
In recent years as they became teenagers they were allowed to watch some semi-dark films and then their parents discussed with them the content, asking their view on what was presented. The kids are smarter than we adults when it comes to seeing things and understanding when they have been given a basis for decent moral views–they will make good decisions.
We in the church should teach more on loving Jesus, how much He loves us, the authority of believers to overcome and be victorious over the enemy, the devil—more on his wiles and his ways. Many are afraid that they will scare people….well, that is a possibility if not handled with personal authority, and faith in God, themselves.
There is a lot of teaching in the church today that the battle is in the mind and the devil has no power except to deceive and lie to us. If that is true how did the devil show Jesus all the nations of the earth, when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness?
How did he put Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple and tell Jesus to throw Himself off? A vision? Was it physical? The Book says he did it…..how?
The Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all talk about Jesus healing and throwing demons out of people. If they didn’t have demons in them why would Jesus command them out? If the devil and his demons have no power why were people healed when they were delivered? Working in the ministry and healing area we have experienced things that cannot be explained in any other way than miraculous, and supernatural both of evil spirits, and of Angels, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and our Heavenly Father.
How did this happen to this young man who did this sadomasochistic shooting, who appeared to all as intelligent, normal, etc? Was it something he did on the Internet that was a clever game or sadistic themes of evil that desensitized him to the real world. Was it TV, movies, books or a person who had a violent influence on him? There are hundreds of scenarios that could qualify. If you listen closely to all the serial killers they will at some point say, “The voices told them to do it.”
Another question….was he loved, had he lost his ability to love and feel pain of others? Bottom line we need to love more, teach, educate young people of the pitfalls and the truth of how they can be sucked into and overtaken to commit terrible crimes. We must pray over our families and friends daily, not in fear, but in faith in the blood and Name of Jesus to protect and keep them safe. We must pray over their schools, our work places, and everywhere we go. Is that a big job….no, no definitely not….it just takes faith and about the amount of time men set a time for golf or women plan a menu for dinner.
Thank God, He is always with us and will comfort and bless those families as they struggle with the horrific pain and grief caused by a senseless act of violence from the dark side of our world.
Our prayers are with all the victims and their families; and for the shooter’s family as all are victims and need mercy and compassion. For more help and prayer click here: WWW.PrayerAgainstViolence.com
Pressing in and pressing on….
by admin | May 4, 2012 | Jesus Talk, Kingdom Comments, Personal
Early in my ‘walk with God’…..you know, after inviting Jesus into my heart and life, I set out to learn all I could about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Someone, and only God knows who, told me to always, and I mean always submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit before reading or listening to any teaching. (2 Corinthians 8:5)
In doing that the Holy Spirit will cause us to question something that is not of God. Sometimes we are taught things that have been taught and handed down from person to person, who, because they respect the speaker, teacher, accept it as truth without thinking through how it lines up with all the Bible. So important that we think not just listen.
The positive side is that the Holy Spirit will convict (convince) us of important things we need to know. God is so Good!!!
Someone else, taught me to have ‘ethical theology’……that which I believe is consistant from Gensis to Revelation of the Heart of God. Since man was under ‘law’ in the Old Testament and under ‘Grace’ (empowered by Jesus) in the New Testament we always need to examine what we believe and have faith in, by Jesus, his life and His teachings.
This has helped me immeasurably to work my way through so many ideas and ideaologies, available to all of us. I pray it will do the same for anyone reading this for the first time. It also has enabled me to love, and care about, those I don’t agree with in doctrine. We, in the Body of Christ are one in the Spirit, not in mental assent. Blessings, blessings, blessings in our Jesus!
Pressing in and pressing on….
by admin | Jan 29, 2012 | Jesus Talk, Kingdom Comments, Relationship Not Religion!
I just posted a testimony of a family that served God for most of their lives…..children, grandchildren, etc. Did they have problems, I would imagine they did, and survived and were blessed through their devotion and faith. www.5minutemiracle.com/mir/208.html
I am the first in my family, thanks to my middle son, Patrick, to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Thanks to his personal love and affect of his relationship with God, the family has been drawn into the Kingdom, and we see blessings and miracles often. Do we have struggles, you can bet we do….but the answer to 'own the blessings' is all tied up in relationship and the Grace of God.
Grace is unmerited favor; Grace is the empowering presence of God; Grace is the bridge between the wrath (God's settled opposition to sin) and the love of God!
The first step is to ask Jesus and the Holy Spirit to come into your life and be Lord (owner) of all you do…..Owners are responsible for those things they own. This does not take away our 'free will' it just gives us access to our Heavenly Father (Creator of the Universe) and undeserved blessings, favor and joy!
And as you get to know Jesus both intellectually and spiritually and most of all experientially you and those you invite into this Kingdom on Earth, will begin and continue to 'own the blessings' of God outlined in the Bible.
Eternal security with Jesus is the most important, but why would we not want to help Jesus with others, our family and regain the earth for Jesus with our faith and devotion now, so that we will have rewards in Heaven as He is promised? "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Heb 11:6
That was a rhetorical question! If I could break the bonds of my past, you can do it too…..start today….if you already have what we have discussed, increase and multiply with your example of Grace, Mercy and Favor, in and through our Jesus!
by admin | Jan 7, 2012 | Personal, Relationship Not Religion!
One of the things I learned a couple of years ago, about marriage, I find very insightful about life. In the movie SHALL WE DANCE, with Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and Susan Sarandon, a question was 'asked' that went right into my spirit. We just never know how the Holy Spirit will teach us or who or what He will use…..that sure is exciting!
Susan is Richard's wife (in the movie) and Jennifer is a dance instructor. When Richard comes home late, on a regular basis, Susan hires a Detective to follow Richard. When she finds he is taking dancing lessons, she tells the Detective she no longer needs him……however, in their final conversation she asks him why he thinks people get married. He answers because of love and attraction to that person. Her reply is that we marry so we will have a 'witness' to our life.
There may have been more, but that went into my spirit, thinking how God said it was not good for man to be alone; I am sure for many reasons. And, I realized, one of the reasons, I liked being married so much was that I had another person to think about, consider and love. I was a witness to his life….his joys, his pains, his routine, etc. and it was fulfilling to be a part of that. I also like the idea that the same was true for my husband–he knew and understood me in so much and was kind and patient in the bad times, loving, fun and appreciative in the good times.
Now, that I am a widow and alone there is no witness to my daily life. No one knows when I get up, what I eat or what I do…..there is a vacancy there. My small 5 pound dog, Sparkey, is great company, but it certainly is not the same. I have family and friends who call or see me, but their schedules do not allow for a daily visit….nor should it…..they are very busy and very loving to me. Of course the Lord is always with me, and I am so grateful for that–and feel His presence often–but we do live in a physical world, and association with each other is super important.
I am writing this because if you are married, I how you will take another look at your partner and appreciate even one more gift God has given us in having each other. And, we who are alone appreciate the friends and family no matter how much time we have with them. Having a witness to your life is another reason to bond to that person for the mere sake of down-to-earth well-being. Being alone is definitely not an excuse to feel sorry for ourselves (I tried that and it is no fun) but to recognize the benefil of others and work on being a better mate, friend or family member.
Well, this was fun, and I pray we all have witness to our lives, and we live our lives with gratitude, joy and blessings, a witness to who ever is watching!
Pressing in and pressing on…..
by admin | Nov 30, 2011 | Uncategorized
In the past weeks the news–yes, I did say news–has been full of pictures and information about two celebrities who had a lavish, expensive wedding and then split in 72 days. Publicity stunt or lack to judgment???????
Thanksgiving day, a discussion arose on marriage. One couple said they married at 22 and that was much too young. Other comment came forth about age,circumstance, etc. I added I have a couple of friends who dated for years. They are attractive, intelligent and social and yet they have never found the right person. in dating each person has unique qualities and after awhile one can want all those qualities in one person and that person does not exist.
When I went home that night and began to thank God for a great day, wonderful family and friends, my mind went back to the marriage question. The Holy Spirit responded, "The person one marries should be someone whose character and nature they honor and respect."
A word picture fell into my mind. When we look past the outer core of a person, into the inner-most being, do we find love, kindness, life coming forth. Or is that person nice when it is convenient and self-absorbed most of the time. In a day and age of electronics and internet it is not unseemly to 'check someone out.'
What does their family and friends say about them? How to they treat their family, friends and oh yes, strangers? How do they treat their employees or Boss? what is their attitude toward God, life and the future? When we can honor and respect a person for 'who they are , in their heart' and love them for that, we can weather the storms of life together–especially the little annoyances that come every day.
Three of the reasons people get married are:
Passion–lust, physical attraction.
Convenience–liking the same foods, activities, sports–having things in common.
Social–long time relationship, family association, mutual friends, fitting into a social climate well.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD AS LONG AS THE CHARACTER AND NATURE OF THE TWO PEOPLE OVERRIDE THOSE CONSIDERATIONS!
Then of course there are negative reasons for getting married, such as, passion without reason, rebellion against parents or just life itself , a need to be needed without boundaries, a social or career move, etc. Even these marriages can make it if the Lord is brought in, to resolve the issues (All things are possible with God) but sure is tough to start on 'shaky ground'….the odds of success and happiness are slim.
THE POINT IS, WHEN WE SEARCH OUT WHO A PERSON IS, NOT JUST WHAT THEY DO, WE WILL HAVE A GREAT PLATFORM FOR SUCCESS IN MARRIAGE AND IN LIFE!
There are no guarantees in life or marriage. But, a super important point from the Bible In the book of John, Chapter 2, speaks of Jesus and His disciples attended a wedding….clear indication, it is a good idea to have Jesus and friends of Jesus at every wedding. Jesus needs to be part of all we do, Holy Spirit leading, guiding and Father God part of our heart, so that we are able to truly love and be loved!
Pressing in and pressing on…..
