Devotional

The Spiritual movement @ Asbury

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The movement that started at Asbury is just part of what God is doing. We can all play a part and that is what this note is all about. –

What Causes God to Pour Out His Presence?
Lord, we pray that the revival fire You ignited at Asbury would not go out. Show us how to keep the fire going, God, and how to participate in what You are doing across America.
As we have watched the events unfolding at Asbury, the questions I have been asking (and hearing others ask) is: What causes revival? And how do we “host” His presence?


In our yearning for a mighty move of God, aren’t these the questions we should all be asking?


Revivals, awakenings, outpourings, renewals — these have occurred repeatedly throughout history, and they have been defined in many different ways. But I believe they all have one thing in common: an increased awareness of and desire for the presence of God. These moments in time have had different themes: the salvation of souls; the planting of churches; the release of spiritual gifts; the desire for personal holiness; and the sending out of missionaries, among other things. Sometimes those in the midst of an awakening are aware of the theme of what God is doing, and sometimes they are not.
What can we conclude? How can we participate in this current awakening? Is it possible to even encourage the continuation of spiritual outpouring?


Let’s look at four principles that are critical to fanning the flames of revival:

  1. Humility is key. – The Scriptures describe Moses’ relationship with God this way: The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend … (Exodus 33:11 NIV). No other person in all of Scripture is described this way. What could qualify him for such a special relationship? I believe the answer is in the uniqueness of Moses as described here: Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the earth (Numbers 12:3 NIV).
    The Hebrew word translated “humble” — anav — has the meaning of “bowing one’s mind.” The realization that was always at the forefront of Moses’ conscious mind was that he did not have in himself all that he needed, nor did he possess in himself what God possesses, but he did have access to the power of God’s wisdom and grace for any situation. Humility is what positions us to host God’s presence.
    The quickest way to cause the presence of God to evaporate is for individuals to begin taking credit for the start of a revival, or for them to be seeing themselves as somehow special enough to have sparked it. Those who attempt to capitalize, for personal gain or to build their own ministry, on what God is doing will quickly see His presence vaporize into thin air. So, this has been my most prevalent prayer: that the leaders who are a part of this revival would walk in humility.
  2. Expectation is always present. – There is always the faith that God can and will break through at any moment. This is the hard part of outpourings: We spend more time hoping for and expecting them than we do actually being in the midst of any. We need to relish those moments when we are in a revival, as we are right now. Thousands have participated in corporate encounters with the Lord directly, and hundreds of thousands more have done so indirectly, online.
    What a great faith-builder it is that we can watch the videos from Wilmore and witness the sincerity and innocence in the eyes of those attending. We need to relish the moments when heaven breaks through, and we must realize that the pursuit of these outpourings will be where we spend most of our lives.
  3. A community in prayerful pursuit of His presence is critical. – The first outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts came as a result of a group of the early disciples who were meeting together and praying: They all joined together constantly in prayer … (Acts 1:14 NIV). They had to be together so that they might recognize the work of the Holy Spirit. The context of their community was constant prayer. The corporate activity of looking upward, that deep desire to host His presence — this is an atmosphere God responds to.
    Certainly, leaders can encourage this, but what we really need is to pray that God would ignite a personal passion in people for fervent prayer. Such a yearning then flows naturally and becomes unstoppable.
    At a Tuesday evening prayer meeting in 1727, 14 people gathered inside a small chapel in Herrnhut, Germany, to pray all night. They had a glorious evening of prayer and were greatly impacted, so much so that the following Sunday, their pastor threw himself on the ground — which in turn resulted in a prayer meeting at the Wednesday night service that launched sessions of “hourly intercession” for the next 100 years. Yes, you heard right: a prayer meeting that lasted 100 years! God’s presence is attracted to unified intercession.
  4. Holiness is a result. – An encounter with the living God will always change you. Think of Isaiah, who, despite his calling as a prophet, had a visceral, emotional reaction to encountering God: “… I am a man of unclean lips.” The stark contrast between us and a holy God brings out in living color just how distinct He is. We don’t bump into Him to some little effect; no, our interactions with Him are a clash to the senses — in which we must grapple with our own limitations and brokenness. Being in the manifest presence of God causes us to become undone, with a deep sense of the futility of our own attempts to find satisfaction in life outside of Him. Any unholy attempts at personal fulfillment come into stark clarity as being unhealthy and sure to bring only negative results.
    Part of the lifestyle change is also the realization or release of destinies and callings. The 1806 Haystack Prayer Meeting revival moved out from just five college students — who were literally meeting under a haystack in Williamstown, Massachusetts — to the birthing of the modern-day Protestant missionary movement in America. More missionaries have been sent out to the world from America than from any other nation. All of this because a small group of 19th-century college students came to understand that God had an assignment for them.

God has been putting a passion for prayer and intercession upon the hearts of millions at an accelerating pace over the past five years. This has been a remarkable time to mobilize prayer for our nation. No coercion is needed. No slick marketing is necessary. God is moving!
Could it be that all those who have been praying passionately for this nation over these past five years had a part in this recent Asbury revival? Absolutely!


And could it be that with such a large and powerful stirring taking place already, the Asbury revival will keep growing to spread all across this nation? That is our prayer.

Source: YouVersion Devotional

My Daily Sacrifice – George Washington’s personal prayer guide

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Daily Prayers from the Journals of George Washington

Sunday morning prayer
Almighty God, and most merciful father, who didst command the children of Israel to offer a daily sacrifice to thee, that thereby they might glorify and praise thee for thy protection both night and day, receive, O Lord, my morning sacrifice which I now offer up to thee; I yield thee humble and hearty thanks that thou has preserved me from the danger of the night past, and brought me to the light of the day, and the comforts thereof, a day which is consecrated ot thine own service and for thine own honor. Let my heart, therefore, Gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do mine own works, but wait on thee, and discharge those weighty duties thou requirest of me, and since thou art a God of pure eyes, and wilt be sanctified in all who draw near unto thee, who doest not regard the sacrifice of fools, nor hear sinners who tread in thy courts, pardon, I beseech thee, my sins, remove them from thy presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept of me for the merits of thy son Jesus Christ, that when I come into thy temple, and compass thine altar, my prayers may come before thee as incense; and as thou wouldst hear me calling upon thee in my prayers, so give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it. Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God & guide this day and for ever for his sake, who ay down in the Grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Sunday Evening Prayer:
O most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ my merciful and loving father, I acknowledge and confess my guilt, in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on thee for pardon and forgiveness of sins, but so coldly and carelessly, that my prayers are become my sin and stand in need of pardon. I have heard thy holy word, but with such deadness of spirit that I have been an unprofitable and forgetful hearer, so that, O Lord, tho’ I have done thy work, yet it hath been so negligently that I may rather expect a curse than a blessing from thee. But, O God, who art rich in mercy and plenteous in redemption, mark not, I beseech thee, what I have done amiss; remember that I am but dust, and remit my transgressions, negligences & ignorances, and cover them all with the absolute obedience of thy dear Son, that those sacrifices which I have offered may be accepted by thee, in and for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered upon the cross for me; for his sake, ease me of the burden of my sins, and give me grace that by the call of the Gospel I may rise from the slumber of sin into the newness of life. Let me live according to those holy rules which thou hast this day prescribed in thy holy word; make me to know what is acceptable in thy holy word; make me to know what is acceptable in thy sight, and therein to delight, open the eyes of my understanding, and help me thoroughly to examine myself concerning my knowledge, faith and repentance, increase my faith, and direct me to the true object Jesus Christ the way, the truth and the life, bless O Lord, all the people of this land, from the highest to the lowest, particularly those whom thou has appointed to rule over us in church & state. continue thy goodness to me this night. These weak petitions I humbly implore thee to hear accept and ans. for the sake of thy Dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Monday Morning Prayer:
O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul.
Direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural corruption, that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee, the ever lasting God, in righteousness and holiness this day, and all the days of my life.
Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel. Give me repentance from dead works. Pardon my wanderings, & direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation. Teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments. Make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber. But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. Bless my family, friends & kindred unite us all in praising & glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed Saviour, who hath taught us thus to pray, our Father.

Monday Evening Prayer:
Most Gracious Lord God, from whom proceedeth every good and perfect gift, I offer to thy divine majesty my unfeigned praise & thanksgiving for all thy mercies towards me. Thou mad’st me at first and hast ever since sustained the work of thy own hand; thou gav’st thy Son to die for me; and hast given me assurance of salvation, upon my repentance and sincerely endeavoring to conform my life to his holy precepts and example. Thou art pleased to lengthen out to me the time of repentance and to move me to it by thy spirit and by the word, by thy mercies, and by thy judgments; out of a deepness of thy mercies, and by my own unworthiness, I do appear before thee at this time; I have sinned and done very wickedly, be merciful to me, O God, and pardon me for Jesus Christ sake; instruct me in the particulars of my duty, and suffer me not to be tempted above what thou givest me strength to bear. Take care, I pray thee of my affairs and more and more direct me in thy truth, defend me from my enemies, especially my spiritual ones. Suffer me not to be drawn from thee, by the blandishments of the world, carnal desires, the cunning of the devil, or deceitfulness of sin. Work in me thy good will and pleasure, and discharge my mind from all things that are displeasing to thee, of all ill will and discontent, wrath and bitterness, pride & vain conceit of myself, and render me charitable, pure, holy, patient and heavenly minded. be with me at the hour of death; dispose me for it, and deliver me from the slavish fear of it, and make me willing and fit to die whenever thou shalt call me hence. Bless our rulers in church and state. Bless O Lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and thy son Jesus Christ. Pity the sick, the poor, the weak, the needy, the widows and fatherless, and all that morn or are borken in heart, and be merciful to them according to their several necessities. Bless my friends and grant me grace to forgive my enemies as heartily as I desire forgiveness of Thee my heavenly Father. I beseech thee to defend me this night from all evil, and do more for me than I can think or ask, for Jesus Christ sake, in whose most holy name & words, I continue to pray, Our Father.

Tuesday Morning Prayer:
O Lord our God, most mighty and merciful father, I thine unworthy creature and servant, do once more approach thy presence. Though not worthy to appear before thee, because of my natural corruptions, and the many sins and transgressions which I have committed against thy divine majesty; yet I beseech thee, for the sake of him in whom thou art well pleased, the Lord Jesus Christ, to admit me to render thee deserved thanks and praises for thy manifold mercies extended toward me, for the quiet rest & repose of the past night, for food, rainment, health, peace, liberty, and the hopes of a better life through the merits of thy dear son’s bitter passion. And O kind father continue thy mercy and favor to me this day, and ever hereafter; purpose all my lawful undertakings; let me have all my directions from thy holy spirit; and success from thy bountiful hand. Let the bright beams of thy light so shine into my heart, and enlighten my mind in understanding thy blessed word, that I may be enabled to perform thy will in all things, and effectually resist all temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. Preserve and defend our rulers in church & state. Bless the people of this land, be a father to the fatherless, a comforter to the comfortless, a deliverer to the captives, and a physician to the sick. Let thy blessings guide this day and forever through Jesus Christ in whose blessed form of prayer I conclude my weak petitions — Our Father.

Tuesday Evening Prayer:
Most gracious God and heavenly father, we cannot cease, but must cry unto thee for mercy, because my sins cry against me for justice. How shall I address myself unto thee, I must with the publican stand and admire at thy great goodness, tender mercy, and long suffering towards me, in that thou hast kept me the past day from being consumed and brought to nought. O Lord, what is man, or the son of man, that thou regardest him; the more days pass over my head, the more sins and iniquities I heap up against thee. If I should cast up the account of my good deeds done this day, how few and small would they be; but if I should reckon my miscarriages, surely they would be many and great. O, blessed father, let thy son’s blood wash me from all impurities, and cleanse me from the stains of sin that are upon me. Give me grace to lay hold upon his merits; that they may be my reconciliation and atonement unto thee, — That I may know my sins are forgiven by his death & passion. Embrace me in the arms of thy mercy; vouchsafe to receive me unto the bosom of thy love, shadow me with thy wings, that I may safely rest under thy suspicion this night; and so into thy hands I commend myself, both soul and body, in the name of thy son, Jesus Christ, beseeching Thee, when this life shall end, I may take my everlasating rest with thee in thy heavenly kingdom. Bless all in authority over us, be merciful to all those afflicted with thy cross or calamity, bless all my friends, forgive my enemies and accept my thanksgiving this evening for all the mercies and favors afforded me; hear and graciously answer these my requests, and whatever else thou see’st needful grant us, for the sake of Jesus Christ in whose blessed name and words I continue to pray, Our Father.

Wednesday Evening
Holy and eternal Lord God who art the King of heaven, and the watchman of Israel, that never slumberest or sleepest, what shall we render unto thee for all thy benefits; because thou hast inclined thine ears unto me, therefore will I call on thee as long as I live, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same let thy name be praised. among the infinite riches of thy mercy towards me, I desire to render thanks & praise for thy merciful preservation of me this day, as well as all the days of my life; and for the many other blessings & mercies spiritual & temporal which thou hast bestowed on me, contrary to my deserving. All these thy mercies call on me to be thankful and my infirmities & wants call for a continuance of thy tender mercies; cleanse my soul, O Lord, I beseech thee, from whatever is offensive to thee, and hurtful to me, and give me what is convenient for me. watch over me this night, and give me comfortable and sweet sleep to fit me for the service of the day following. Let my soul watch for the coming of the Lord Jesus; let my bed put me in mind of my grave, and my rising from there of my last resurrection; O heavenly Father, so frame this heart of mine, that I may ever delight to live according to thy will and command, in holiness and righteousness before thee all the days of my life. Let me remember, O Lord, the time will come when the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall rise and stand before the judgment seat, and give an account of whatever they have done in the body, and let me so prepare my soul, that I may do it with joy and not with grief. bless the rulers and people of this and forget not those who are under any affliction or oppression. Let thy favor be extended to all my relations friends and all others who I ought to remember in my prayer and hear me I beseech thee for the sake of my dear redeemer in whose most holy words, I farther pray, Our Father.

Thursday Prayer
Most gracious Lord God, whose dwelling is in the highest heavens, and yet beholdest the lowly and humble upon the earth, I blush and am ashamed to lift up my eyes to thy dwelling place, because I have sinned against thee; look down, I beseech thee upon me thy unworthy servant who prostrate myself at the footstool of thy mercy, confessing my own guiltiness, and begging pardon for my sins; what couldst thou have done Lord more for me, or what could I have done more against thee? Thou didst send me thy Son to take nature upon

Note: The Thursday prayer ended at the bottom of a page and it is unknown whether the next page was lost or never written.

The following are prayers taken from a prayer journal attributed to George Washington, the original president of the Unite States. Their strong theology and their petitions for God’s help and grace can be used today as our own morning or evening prayers.

God won’t take you by force

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My Pondering

God doesn’t need anyone or anything. Since He isn’t needy, He isn’t a relationship beggar or dictator. Yet, His love compels Him to give all He has.

The prodigal son is a fine example.

He doesn’t give people eternal life in Heaven by force. Jesus is relentlessly patient until the daylight runs out.

Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.”

It didn’t say, I am going to kick in the door and drag you screaming and kicking to that mansion and feast I made for you.

Yet, thankfully He often makes our oats salty. You know the old saying’that you can lead a horse to water and can’t make it drink…but you can by adding some salt makes him more thirsty’.

That is how God often uses providential circumstances and pain to get through to us. He did such for me. That I can testify to.

Time to Pray

Lord, we pray this reader hears Your knock and invites you in to his heart. Only You can complete us.

The Ultimate Transformation Promise

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The believer of Christ’s promise is a mighty transformation into a new supernatural glorified body; from metaphoric earthly Caterpillar 🐛 to a heavenly Butterfly 🦋.


Check out this awesome promise of Scripture that Paul’s wonderful inspiration was recorded and shared for us.


The Order of Resurrection

20But now [as things really are] Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, [and He became] the first fruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body, foreshadowing the resurrection] of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. 21For since [it was] by a man that death came [into the world], it is also by a Man that the resurrection of the dead has come. 22For just as [d]in Adam all die, so also [e]in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s [own will be resurrected with incorruptible, immortal bodies] at His coming. 24After that comes the end (completion), when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after He has made inoperative and abolished every ruler and every authority and power. 25For Christ must reign [as King] until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy to be abolished and put to an end is death. 27For HE (the Father) HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS (Christ’s) FEET. But when He says, “All things have been put in subjection [under Christ],” it is clear that He (the Father) who put all things in subjection to Him (Christ) is excepted [since the Father is not in subjection to His own Son]. 28However, when all things are subjected to Him (Christ), then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One (the Father) who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all [manifesting His glory without any opposition, the supreme indwelling and controlling factor of life].

29Otherwise, what will those do who are being [f]baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people even baptized for them? 30[For that matter] why are we [running such risks and putting ourselves] [g]in danger [nearly] every hour [if there is no resurrection]? 31I assure you, believers, by the pride which I have in you in [your union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily [I face death and die to self]. 32What good has it done me if, [merely] from a human point of view, I [h]fought with wild animals at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised [at all], LET US EAT AND DRINK [enjoying ourselves now], FOR TOMORROW WE DIE. 33Do not be deceived: [i]“Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34Be sober-minded [be sensible, wake up from your spiritual stupor] as you ought, and stop sinning; for some [of you] have no knowledge of God [you are disgracefully ignorant of Him, and ignore His truths]. I say this to your shame.
35But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body will they come?” 36You fool! Every time you plant seed you sow something that does not come to life [germinating, springing up and growing] unless it first dies. 37The seed you sow is not the body (the plant) which it is going to become, but it is a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some other grain. 38But God gives it a body just as He planned, and to each kind of seed a body of its own [is given]. 39All flesh is not the same. There is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40There are also heavenly bodies [sun, moon and stars] and earthly bodies [humans, animals, and plants], but the glory and beauty of the heavenly is one kind, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41There is a glory and beauty of the sun, another glory of the moon, and yet another [distinctive] glory of the stars; and one star differs from another in glory and brilliance.

42So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The [human] body that is sown is perishable and mortal, it is raised imperishable and immortal. 43It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in strength; 44it is sown a natural body [mortal, suited to earth], it is raised a spiritual body [immortal, suited to heaven]. As surely as there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So it is written [in Scripture], “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL (an individual);” the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life]. 46However, the spiritual [the immortal life] is not first, but the physical [the mortal life]; then the spiritual. 47The first man [Adam] is from the earth, earthy [made of dust]; the second Man [Christ, the Lord] is from heaven. 48As is the earthly man [the man of dust], so are those who are of earth; and as is the heavenly [Man], so are those who are of heaven. 49Just as we have borne the image of the earthly [the man of dust], [j]we will also bear the image of the heavenly [the Man of heaven].


The Mystery of Resurrection

50Now I say this, believers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit nor be part of the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable (mortal) inherit the imperishable (immortal). 51Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed], 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [the sound of] the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [who believed in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed]. 53For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us that is capable of dying] must put on immortality [which is freedom from death]. 54And when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the Scripture will be fulfilled that says, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory (vanquished forever). 55O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; 57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].

1st Corinthians 15:20-59 AMP

My Pondering

I know that was was a somewhat lengthy passage but isn’t that awesome?

That is what everyone follower of Jesus has to look forward to. That is supernatural!

In the meantime, we are called to love God and love people. We love God by being faithful, trusting, obeying, abiding and glorifying Him by our thoughts, words. and deeds.

Let’s not neglect this verse:

19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?

20You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own].

So then, honor and glorify God with your body.

1st Corinthians 16:19-20 AMP

We are no doubt called to align our heads in accord with Biblical truth, passionately believe the promises of God and purpose to engage zealously with our whole bodies with our hands for His glory.

We will never be able to do that perfectly in our current flesh, our caterpillar like state prevents us from flying yet alone perfectly yet we are encouraged if not commanded zealously work, abide and rest into all of this, that and then some….until that glorious transformational day!

A world without God is… Charles Spurgeon

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My Pondering

If you are apart of modern civilization, at least in the United States, this should be abundantly visible.

God’s ways have been under heavy attack since the 1960’s, the decade I was born into.

We see it by prayers and teaching which honors the one true God of the Holy Bible being removed public schools and often shunned at public assemblies. The religion of Darwin’s devilish Evolution began being taught and rammed down students throats as supposed ‘science’.

The numbers don’t lie. Since the 60’s divorce, murder, rape, suicide, intolerance, and deviance continue to rise and remain high.

Unfortunately, the war continues until the Lord’s wrath is fully released as written. It’s going to get worse as read in the book of Revelation in the Bible.

Thankfully, we believers have a real and living HOPE, knowing that God prevails and will, in due time retake this world. His love will dominate and again have dominion as before the great fall.

ORDER will be fully restored when sin is removed, when the Lion lays peacefully with the Lamb. God’s LAW will be in our hearts not as second nature or something we strive for but will be engraved into our being. FEAR will be unnecessary as we will have perfect union with our Creator and His creation.

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit remains present keeping things from going apocalyptic until enough is enough and the clock runs out.

As for now, until that time, we have a choice to be part of the solution or part of the problem. Whose side are you on?

It IS a spiritual battle

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We must recognize we are in a war. It’s a spiritual battle. Don’t you hear the battle cry?

In our culture we see this happening before our very eyes each day as we see the war on children, the family, and the gospel. It’s a war on God’s Word and ultimately a war against God.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”

Ephesians 6:12

In this ultimate battle, nobody is neutral.

The one not being with Me is against Me,
and the one not gathering with Me scatters.

Matthew 12:20 BSV

Rest assured, God’s going to win. That’s a done deal.

The question is why and who?

Why, I believe it is because in His sovereignty and ultimate awesomeness, He created us in His image with many unconditional qualities including free will. These characteristics allow us to have incredible talents and abilities like love, imagination, creativity and so forth but there is also a steep downside. God obviously thought the upside is worth it.

Ultimately, God wants ready and willing followers NOT to take people by force. By faith not by force is the way salvation works. Be thankful that He is long suffering and relentlessly patient. Yet, He will not be mocked or put up with treason or the non-committed. His human infantryman consist of invited volunteers. It’s a divine militia not a bunch of mercenaries nor by forced draft. He demands and deserve allegiance and obedience to the chain of command. Jesus is the rightful King, not you nor anyone else.

19 Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

Revelation 3:19-20 BSV

Isn’t it awesome that King Jesus eats and partakes with His soldiers?

I light of the aforementioned, who is for Him and who is against? He knows, do you?

Our victory is His, our victory is in, by and through Jesus Christ alone.

Again, if you are not with Him, you are against Him. Of course those are His words, not mine. It’s not my opinion, it’s the King of kings!

Whose are you? After all, the saying is correct, ‘Its not just what you know but who you know’.

If you aren’t in His army then by default you are on the other side’s. If you are not on active duty already, does it make sense for you to enlist on team Jesus today?

The bottom line is the greatest act of love is to give one’s life up for another. As we all know, Jesus did that up on that old rugged cross. Since you are alive, read John 3:16. If that resonates, read the whole book of John, then start at the beginning of the New Testament and read it, then the Old then keep on keeping on. Here is a link to a nice free Bible online.

Why does God allow suffering in the world?

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My Pondering

That’s a great question. It’s a toughy.

I believe it stems from the consequences of free will as we live in a sin laden world. This inevitably causes us pain which prompts us to seek a higher power. Our suffering prevents our being too complacent in our puffed-up prideful ego of self.

As we humble ourself, God is endeared and prompts us to respond to His love, thus we believers are grateful. He is then glorified all the more, as He should.

God Himself experienced the ultimate suffering on the cross. He suffered physically a terrible painful death. But immeasurably worse was the spiritual suffering as the sin of all mankind was laid upon Jesus as the Father removed His divine presence and tore apart the unity of the trinity between the Godhead for a moment. That’s incredible. Incredible love. Imagine that. Watch out the Passion of the Christ movie.

That’s what my God did for me and you. That’s why Jesus deserves praise forever more.

The trinity of God

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Some say the word ‘trinity’ isn’t used but the concept certainly is such as in Gen 3 when God says, ‘Let Us make man in our image’. Who is ‘Us’?

  • Father, Son, Spirit

It’s like a human family in one sense. For ex. my family is the Booher’s. Made up me, the father, me 👨 then Jill, my wife 👧 and my youngest daughter, Audrey, 👧 still living at home. When one of our neighbors sees us, they might say, ‘there is one of the Booher’s’ or ‘Hi, Mrs. Booher’. That’s like saying, ‘I pray to God’ for ex.

Or my neighbor may say, ‘I saw Kirk 👨 shoveling snow yesterday, then Jill 👧 brought us some cookies over and I saw the daughter 👧 park her car’ which is like saying, ‘Pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

It’s 3 in 1.
It’s also 1 of 3.

Like H20. Water 💦 can be liquid 💧
it can also take the form of ice 🧊
or can be fog 🌫️, that is in how God manifests Himself as the Trinity.

It’s like time ⏰ , energy 💥 and matter 🚪
those are the 3 essential of human life as we know. As Einstein formulated E=MC2
Remove one, and we no longer have our existence. Similar to the Godhead.

Of course, the trinitarian analogy of God is imperfect, as God is so awesome, mysterious and vast, I think it helps understanding.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel… Psalms 16:7-8 (Mindset)

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“I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me;because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

Psalms 16:7-8

My Pondering

Wow, here is some terrific insight from David.

First, he extols God for what He has done and shall do for him and his people. Earlier in the passage, he audibly speaks praise to his LORD! Second, David shares how God instructs him at night. When we sleep our conscious mind takes a break but our subconscious never sleeps. Our heart is linked to the Infinite one and can connect to our conscious mind. No doubt the subconscious is a wonderful aid and so often under utilized and ignored.

I believe the subconscious is an intangible space that we connect our mind’s inner working gears with the infinite Source’s workings. As we read, David wisely ‘sets’ the LORD before him always. This is the ultimate’mindset’ one can possess. He counts on with an expectation for God to do the heavy lifting as his strong right hand. By ‘setting’ the LORD before him, He is aligning his being, will, whole mind and heart (conscious and subconscious), & personhood to get in tune with God’s principles (ways), character (being) and good pleasure (will).

God, unlike the animals programmed wonderfully to run on instinct, has created us in His image as stated in Genesis 3, more like His being with some of micro abilities than physical image, as I imagine. Regardless, our words, thoughts, emotions, relationships and programming matter; not in physical sense since they are invisible but in essense. Think about it!

No doubt God can choose to exercise His power to influence us and our circumstance however He sees fit (like He does with the Pharoah of Egypt) yet I see plenty of free will in operation for good and/or bad. So let us ‘set’ ourselves up for making the most of the precious time, talent and treasure bequeathed, as made (past and present) and making (present and future) available by the Creator to each of us.

My prayer: LORD, You are truly wonderful in all Your ways. Help me to mine your Scripture to better understand and implement them in my life and leave this place for the better.

P.S. Some folks, especially those a bit on the legalistic or detailed side, might get tripped up on how we can possibly, ‘bless the Lord’. They would have a point in the sense that God is perfect in His being and needs nothing. Yet, that doesn’t mean He doesn’t want nothing. If you are parent, been a coach, or a teacher or something like that, aren’t you happy when your son, daughter, player, or sincerely says, ‘thank you’ or gives her best, or hits a home run – doesn’t that bless you?

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We ought to obey God… Acts 5:29b

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My Pondering

Yes indeed. Obedience, good works, is the opposite side of the coin of faith. It’s critical not just a mild suggestion as Jesus emphatically stated, ‘If you love me you will obey my commandments.’ This obedience isn’t some natural thing we add to our routing rather is much more and better than that; it’s supernatural!

Not only are we believers to put God before men, we are also to put God foremost before self (the old man, the corrupt flesh) and certainly the devil, who duped Eve & Adam. He is quite deceptive and often disguised as something attractive and lusty to aforementioned flesh trapping us with an intimate personal weakness with one or more of the following:

  • Lust of our eyes (sex outside of marriage & other inappropriate sexual behaviors)
  • Pride of our ego
  • Lure of ill-gotten money
  • Addiction to power & control over others
  • Escapement of realty (often recreational drugs)
  • Other defiant, deviant sinful acts

As we followers of Jesus fully commit our new self, our will, disciplining unto Christ we ought to specifically and intentional practice these 6 spiritual disciplines:

  • Prayer – unto the Father, in Spirit, by the name of Jesus (A.C.T.S.)
  • Bible – study & memorizing His Word
  • Meditation – of God in His wide & deep world
  • Worship – unto God corporately & privately in both spirit & truth
  • Service – giving sacrificial & graciously of our time, talent & treasure to other people
  • Fasting – from food & pleasures

Those are essential components of a healthy religion for they should be performed ‘religiously’. Yes, I used the ‘R’ word. The word religion gets a bad wrap from plenty of people. It’s simply our interpretation and implementation of these principles into our life. Maybe that’s why people are so down on it?

With that said, let’s not neglect the relationship element of our Christian life which stems from responding to God in loving faith. We should love because God loved us and still does love us first. In that love, we abide, have faith and trust. In this foremost love, we have access to God 24/7 and that’s the relationship component. It’s a godly mindset, attitude and state of being to and from our core essence.

The bottom line is we need BOTH a loving dynamic Relationship with Jesus Christ and fervently engage in Religious spiritual disciplines to excel as a Christian.

If these words I wrote mean something, you have a helpful thought or you are interested in seeking a relationship with Jesus, I would love to hear from you so don’t hesitate to leave me a comment or message here. – Kirk