God's personal name!!!!

God’s personal name, as we have learned over the years is YHWH, Yahweh, or Jehovah. At the burning bush, the LORD identified himself as the “I AM,” the self-existing one, the one not dependent on anyone or anything else (Exodus 3). He is not just any God. He is different and distinct from the imaginary gods of the nations. He wants those who pray to him to know him personally and individually. He is a God who identifies himself in terms of those who rely upon him. He is the “God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

When I first heard  " I Am For God's name I must admit that it did not mean much to me. Now that I have had more time to delve into his word I have a better understanding. I Am to me, means, I Am and there is no other, I Am God, and there is only one God, I Am everything and all that you need, I Am the Great I Am and there is no one else greater... So I thank the Lord because he is who he is, there is no one else in which to compare him to, therefore I love him because he loved me first. 

Christmas!!

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, so it is supposed to be. 

However, I am doubting that more and more. Ever since I read some years ago in Jeremiah 10.3&4 for the customs of the people are vain; for one cut a tree out of the forests ( which is the work of the hands of the carpenter) with the axe. 

4, and another decks it with silver and with gold: they fasten it with nails and hammers that it fall not. Some people may disagree but I stopped purchasing Christmas trees after that. I use to love the real trees compared to artificial ones. The smell of pine in the home would help in the celebration, but the more I thought about that verse the more I felt wrong about something else, the giving of Christmas presents. 

I fully understand why Jesus was given gifts at his birth. He is the light of the world, the one sent from God the take our sins away, the one who came to bare our burdens, the one sent to die for us. He is the gift to mankind. So me receiving gifts and sending gifts supposedly on his birthday just tells me that now I have made a total mockery of who Jesus is and I am also saying that I am equal to him. I only hope that one day my children will see the truth for what it really is because God said he should be celebrated in truth. There are parts of the bible where God is asking the people " when you celebrate? Is it about me or were your celebrations about yourself. It's the same as when he says" these people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me. ( there is absolutely nothing wrong in celebrating Jesus's birth I just believe the gift giving should be left out, and if we celebrated life, more people would not be so quick to take some one else's) 

Christmas turns out to be a time for businesses to recoup all their losses because more people shop at this time and we are encouraged to shop and spend money. The ones who spend takes out loans, most often bills don't get paid and some people find themselves being very unhappy at this time of year. Why ? Because they have made it about themselves. 

If Christmas is a time of giving why do we only want to be nice at Christmas, what about all through the year. As a homeless man begs for a dollar he is given $100.00 at Christmas. If we truly had Christ in our hearts there would no longer be any homeless people, because we would adopt the true teachings of Jesus Christ. Love one another as yourself, if you freely give you will freely receive. 

Jesus came and died for those who believe and like the earlier church in paul's day acts 4: 34&35 neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold. 

35, and laid them down at the apostles feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.  Merry Christmas

Trying to stay positive amidst chaos!!!

The enemy hate you because you do not belong to him, so he wrecks havoc in your life by trying to destroy you. But you must know that the enemy is satan and God loves you so much that he made a way for your escape. It is the blood of Jesus. By his blood we are able to resist the devil and his trickery.

Do not lose focus, and do not lose hope!!!

Ok, I have a tendency to read about the end times and what the establishment have planned. I suppose instead of filling my head with man made  plans I need to acquaint myself with the word of God which also offers Gods plan. 

 God has a plan for the wicked as well as the righteous. No matter how bad things look on the outside I know their is only one thing worth doing and that is to pray and staying focused on his word. I know that prayer changes situations and this chapter from Isaiah just reaffirm me to not worry but to give it all to God. 

Isaiah 29 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

29 1 A prophecy against Jerusalem. 13 The vengeance of God on them that follow the traditions of men.

1 Ah [a]altar, altar of the city that David dwelt in: add year unto year: [b]let them kill lambs.

2 But I will bring the altar into distress, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow, and it shall be unto me like [c]an altar.

3 And I will besiege thee as a circle, and fight against thee on a mount, and will cast up ramparts against thee.

4 So shalt thou be humbled, and shalt speak out of the [d]ground, and thy speech shall be as out of the dust: thy voice also shall be out of the ground like him that hath a spirit of divination, and thy talking shall whisper out of the dust.

5 Moreover, multitude of thy [e]strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of strong men shall be as chaff that passeth away: and it shall be in a moment, even suddenly.

6 Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and shaking, and a great noise, a whirlwind, and a tempest, and a flame of a devouring fire.

7 And the [f]multitude of all the nations that fight against the altar, shall be as a dream or vision by night: even all they that make the war against it, and strongholds against it, and lay siege unto it.

8 And it shall be like as an hungry man dreameth, and behold, [g]he eateth: and when he awaketh, his soul is empty: or like as a thirsty man dreameth, and lo, he is drinking, and when he awaketh, behold, he is faint, and his soul longeth: so shall the multitude of all nations be that fight against mount Zion.

9 [h]Stay yourselves and wonder: they are blind, and make you blind: they are drunken, but not with wine: they stagger, but not by strong drink.

10 For the Lord hath covered you with a spirit of slumber, and hath shut up your eyes: the Prophet, and your chief Seers hath he covered.

11 And the vision of them all is become unto you, as the words of a book that is sealed up, which they deliver to one that can read, saying, Read this, I pray thee. Then shall he say, I [i]cannot; for it is sealed.

12 And the book is given unto him that cannot read, saying, Read this, I pray thee. And he shall say, I cannot read.

13 Therefore the Lord said, Because this people [j]come near unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but have removed their heart far from me, and their [k]fear toward me was taught by the precept of men,

14 Therefore behold, I will again do a marvelous work in this people, even a marvelous work, and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall [l]perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

15 Woe unto them that [m]seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord: for their works are in darkness, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

16 Your turning of devices shall it not be esteemed [n]as the potter’s clay? for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or the thing formed, say of him that fashioned it, He had none understanding?

17 Is it not yet but a little while, and Lebanon shall be [o]turned into Carmel? and Carmel shall be counted as a forest?

18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

19 The meek in the Lord shall receive joy again, and the poor men shall rejoice in the Holy one of Israel.

20 For the cruel man shall cease, and the scornful shall be consumed: and all that hasted to iniquity, shall be cut off:

21 Which made a man to sin in the [p]word, and took him in a snare: which reproved them in the gate, and made the just to fall without cause.

22 Therefore thus saith the Lord unto the house of Jacob, even he that redeemed Abraham: Jacob shall not now be confounded, neither now shall his face be pale.

23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my Name, and sanctify the Holy one of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

24 Then they that erred in spirit, [q]shall have understanding, and they that murmured, shall learn doctrine

Isaiah 29:1 The Hebrew word Ariel signifieth the Lion of God, and signifieth the Altar, because the altar seemed to devour the sacrifice that was offered to God, as Ezek. 43:16.

The Greatest Gift!!

What is the saddest story ever told mankind? the death of Jesus Christ. 

What is the greatest story ever told to mankind. The resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

The greatest Gift to us all is Jesus, the gift of Everlasting  Life. 

As we celebrate Christmas lets not forget the reason for the season!! I do not have much of my own to say but these words are taken out of the NIV translation bible book called Believe by Randy Frazee.

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord almighty will accomplish this. 

 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. 

 He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 

 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. 

 Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God,stricken by him, and afflicted. 

 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was in him, and by his wounds we are healed. 

 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a Lamb to the slaughter, and as sheep before its sharers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 

 By oppression and judgement he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? 

 For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 

 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death. Though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 

 Yet it was the Lords will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life and offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 

 After he has suffered he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant  will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 

 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. 

 For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.  Isaiah 53: 1-12

Psalm 31 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

Psalm 31  

31 1 David delivered from some great danger, first rehearseth what meditation he had by the power of faith, when death was before his eyes, his enemy being ready to take him. 15 Then he affirmeth that the favor of God is always ready to those that fear him. 20 Finally he exhorteth all the faithful to trust in God and to love him, because he preserveth and strengtheneth them, as they may see by his example.

To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.

1 In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust: let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy [a]righteousness.

2 Bow down thine ear to me: make haste to deliver me: be unto me a strong rock, and an house of defense to save me.

3 For thou art my rock and my fortress: therefore for thy Name’s sake direct me and guide me.

4 Draw me out of the [b]net, that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

5 Into thine [c]hand I commend my spirit: for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

6 I have hated them that give themselves to deceitful vanities: for I [d]trust in the Lord.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast seen my trouble: thou hast known my soul in adversities,

8 And thou hast not shut me up in the hand of the enemy, but hast set my feet at [e]large.

9 Have mercy upon me, O Lord: for I am in trouble: mine [f]eye, my soul and my belly are consumed with grief.

10 For my life is wasted with heaviness, and my years with mourning: my strength faileth for my pain, and my bones are consumed.

11 I was a [g]reproach among all mine enemies, but specially among my neighbors: and a fear to mine acquaintance, [h]who seeing me in the street, fled from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

13 For I have heard the railing of [i]great men: fear was on every side, while they conspired together against me, and consulted to take my life.

14 But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, [j]Thou art my God.

15 My [k]times are in thine hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and save me through thy mercy.

17 Let me not be confounded, O Lord: for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be put to confusion, and to [l]silence in the grave.

18 Let the lying lips be made dumb, which cruelly, proudly, and spitefully speak against the righteous.

19 How great is thy goodness, which thou [m]hast laid up for them that fear thee! and done to them that trust in thee, even before the sons of men!

20 Thou dost hide them [n][o]privily in thy presence from the pride of men: thou keepest them secretly in thy Tabernacle from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath showed his marvelous kindness toward me in a [p]strong city.

22 Though I said in mine [q]haste, I am cast out of thy sight, yet thou heardest the voice of my prayer, when I cried unto thee.

23 Love ye the Lord all his [r]Saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and rewardeth abundantly the proud doer.

24 All ye that trust in the Lord, be [s]strong, and he shall establish your heart.

Footnotes:

Psalm 31:1 For then God declareth himself just, when he preserveth his according as he hath promised.

Psalm 31:4 Preserve me from the crafty counsels and subtle practice of mine enemies.

Psalm 31:5 He desireth God not only to take care for him in this life, but that his soul may be saved after this life.

Psalm 31:6 This affection ought to be in all God’s children, to hate whatsoever thing is not grounded upon a sure trust in God, as deceitful and vain.

Psalm 31:8 Largeness signifieth comfort, as straightness, sorrow and peril.

Psalm 31:9 Meaning, that his sorrow and torment had continued a great while.

Psalm 31:11 Mine enemies had drawn all men to their part against me, even my chief friends.

Psalm 31:11 They were afraid to show me any token of friendship.

Psalm 31:13 They that were in authority, condemned me as a wicked doer.

Psalm 31:14 I had this testimony of conscience, that thou wouldest defend mine innocence.

Psalm 31:15 Whatsoever changes come, thou governest them by thy providence.

Psalm 31:17 Let death destroy them to the intent that they may hurt no more.

Psalm 31:19 The treasures of God’s mercy are always laid up in store for his children, albeit at all times they do not enjoy them.

Psalm 31:20 Hebrew, in the secret of thy face.

Psalm 31:20 That is, in a place where they shall have thy comfort, and be hid safely from the enemies’ pride.

Psalm 31:21 Meaning, there was no city so strong to preserve him, as the defense of God’s favor.

Psalm 31:22 And so by my rashness and infidelity deserved to have been forsaken.

Psalm 31:23 Or, ye that feel his mercies.

Psalm 31:24 Be constant in your vocation, and God will confirm you with heavenly strength.

1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. 

Believer vs non believer!!!

John 1:1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God,  and the word was God. 

As I look around this world in which I live I see a lot of evil. I see nations fighting against each other, neighbors fighting, people being killed, robbed raped, molested, drugged out, many lies being told, relationships coming apart, television evangelist seeking glory, fame and fortune at the expense of those who don't have and are blinded by their deception.  Few people really seeking the truth. I suppose with all of the turmoil that goes on in the world it can lead some people to be non believers. But whatever excuse we use to not believe, his word still stands, and as sure as there is evil in this world there is a God. I have heard many people say " why does God allow all of this evil to happen? What kind of a God allow all of this to go on and if that is your God then I am not interested. I suppose that is there reason for not believing. For starters, mankind seems to forget that we are the ones who disobeyed him. Before the fall of mankind there was no sin in the world. There was no death, no hunger, no pain, no evil, no hate, no quarrels, no disease.  Animals  and mankind were all at peace with one another and we communed with God face to face.  We have never experienced that peace. Only Adam and Eve knew that peace. At the second coming of Christ believers will live as it were from the beginning.  Can you imagine being able to see a lion and not be afraid, or being able to hold a snake and not have it hiss or strike you. That is how it was in the beginning and that is how it will be again. As sin entered everything changed. The earths atmosphere changed. God even said " thistles and thorns the earth will give you, the earth will no longer yield its strength. Maybe we believe that the only thing bad that happened was us being kicked out of the garden. But it entailed much more than that,  Which is what the devil did not divulge to Eve. We must understand that he uses deception to entice people. Matthew  10:16 states" I am sending you out as sheep among wolves, therefore be wise as snakes and be gentle as a dove. So now I ask the question, is it God who bestows faith on us or is it our circumstance that creates a believer or a non believer. A person who has never been told about God may have no reason to believe. There are others who are financially wealthy and do not believe that they have a need for God. Still there are others who are financially poor but rich in spirit and therefore believe in God. In every culture on earth we as people believe in something.

Romans 12:3 says" for by the grace given me to everyone of you; do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. " God has given each of us a measure of faith. We cannot allow ourselves to become non believers. Malachi 2:7 says" for the priest lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth, for he is a messenger for the Lord of host. But ye are parted out of the way, Ye have cause many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of host. 9, therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. 10, have ye not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers.

Psalm 8:3-9

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Lamentations 5:16-22

The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us for we have sinned! Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it. You Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old, unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us forever.

There is only one God, one bible, but many religions and I suppose that religion itself will cause one to not believe but, that is why we should never leave it up to the church to teach us. We must read and pray for understanding. As the good book says" test the spirit 1 John 4:1 beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

A quick fix or patience!!!

Should God be a quick fix to what's wrong in our lives. We need someone to blame so blame God. I will seek God today because I need him but as soon as things go well I will denounce him. We cannot pick God up and lay him down as we please. Worship is forever not just on Sunday's.  Is 

 this where our selfish mentality comes from?  Psalm 27: 14 states" Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, i say, on the Lord" . We want things done When we want it done, fast food, fast delivery, fast healing, quick solutions to problems, too many problems either drink it away , drug it away or commit suicide. No waiting on God even thou we all know patience is a virtue. But who has time to wait? God's timing is quite different from ours. We are made in his image yet we want to deny him , we think everything should be handed to us on a silver platter. Brainwashed into thinking working hard for what you want is a crime but let me rob you because it is fast money. Not considering the consequence of early death or jail time. Not even caring about your eternity. Believing we only live once and then we die. The bible says there will be 2 resurrections .one for the just and the second resurrection for the unjust. Those who take part in the first resurrection will not be judged in the second resurrection.  It is full time to awake. The bible states that Satan saw that Eve had a weakness so he tempted her into disobeying God, let's be strong and vigilant in our faith because the end is near. No more being deceived.

The Battle!!!

Throughout the ages countries have fought each other for whatever reasons.  To prepare for battle we need an army and we need protection against the enemy.  There are countries like Costa Rica who does not have a standing army.  

We as individuals sometimes find ourselves in a battle for survival. Be it a fight against cancer, a fight against smoking, and drugs, a fight for our sanity, a fight for our freedom and will to live.  Most importantly a fight for our soul.

There are many battles but as the saying goes" we must fight the one worth fighting for. Some people are cantankerous and loves a good fight. Gods' children knows that in order to win the battle placed before them they must put on their armor. Their protection is the word of God. It is a shield and guide. Able to break down strongholds. Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. 6:14 stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace 6:16 above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to Quench all the fiery darts of the devil or wicked one. 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. 

So never get weary about the battle and believing that we cannot win because Jesus Christ won on the cross. God does not lose battles. We as people get intimidated by the enemy and we may lose hope but as David said in psalm 91, 7:16 

Ten thousand may fall at my right side and ten thousand at my right hand but it shall not come near me. Verse 9 because you have made the Lord who is my  refuge, even the most high your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. Verse 15 he shall call upon me and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him, with long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. 

There are many more passages in the bible where God tells us that he will fight for us. So before I become disillusioned with life I will remember that God has me. He is my battle axe.  1 chronicles 20:15 states: The battle is not mines but it is the Lords.