Do you have a call you need to say yes to?

  John 1: 1-5; In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God! He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. In Him was life, that life was the light of men. That Light shines in the darkness, the darkness could not overcome It.

 Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let (Us) make man in our Image, according to our likeness.”

  During the beginning God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, three in one decided, to create man Adam & Eve He created them. Now we know that God is omniscient (meaning he knows everything as well as all the directions our decisions will take us, (with free will to choose, to go our own way or follow him) this is what Adam and Eve did they listened to the serpent, they ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.      

  God the father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, had to know this was a possible direction man would go. So, They had a plan for our salvation from the beginning, but with free will, it will always require A yes from a willing participant!            

 

Genesis 6:6 God being grieved by the way man is in total rebellion think only evil all the time, looks one that can stand in for all humanity, one to save, so his plan would continue.

  Enter Noah and his family a man who followed God, who would have to believe in the Lord to build the Ark. After Noah, here comes Abram when God told him to go to where he leads Abram says yes lord. Then Abraham when God asked him to sacrifice his own son, showed just how much Abraham believed God’s promises. For nothing is impossible for Our God.

  Then Moses, and the exodus it is however unfortunate, that Moses’s anger overwhelmed his trust in God, costing him the promised land but not heaven. Each of the prophets, over all time. With one exception said yes to the possibility of death. Jonah said no, And God still used him in the plan after he repented and said Yes Lord I will go. God forgives Jonah and uses him to further his plan. In this way God shows, his love for all humanity.

  Four thousand years after Adam & Eve, Gabriel came to a fourteen- to sixteen-year-old to tell her of God’s plan for her and the world!

 Imagine you are in the middle east in 33 B.C, and you are fourteen, maybe sixteen (a virgin) engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. In a time in which to be found pregnant would be cause for you, to be stoned to death.

 

 

 This Girl goes into her bedroom to sleep for the night. (Luke 1:26-37) Suddenly in her room an Angel appears with a strange greeting “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” She was deeply concerned with the statement wondering what in the world is this greeting. Then Gabriel tells her “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God, now listen, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; His kingdom will never end!”

  You are between fourteen and sixteen never been with a man but knowing how life is conceived would you not ask what Mary ask next. Mary asked, “how this can happen?” “I have never been with a man; I am a virgin!” Gabriel answered her; “The HOLY SPIRIT will overshadow you. Therefore, the one to be born will be holy and be Called the Son Of GOD, unblemished by Sin from birth!” The angel then gave Mary proof to his words, not because she ask for proof, but because Mary’s world says this was impossible. He said to her “see your cousin Elizabeth being Old is in her sixth month.” “Nothing is impossible for God!” then Mary a young woman says the most important yes in the history of women, “let it be to me as you have said.”

  She then gets up early in the morning and immediately heads to Elizabeth’s. right here something amazing happens, even though something amazing has already happened but the child in her cousin’s womb leaps at the first Hello heard. Leaps! Leaps! for those who have had a child to have a baby move inside your womb is difficult enough. But to have that child who has been pushing on your bladder and your internal organs Leap as if he is jumping the Jordan river wow, I bet it nearly knocked over Elizabeth.

To make this moment even more exciting, The Holy Spirit then spills over out of the mouth of Elizabeth, She yells out loudly: “blessed are you among Women, and your child will be blessed, how could this happen to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me?? Luke 1:45 “Blessed is she who has believed, that the LORD would fulfill what He has spoken to Her.”  Because Mary believed She has the great distinction of being the most remembered Woman in the history of mankind.

   Thirty Years later, will bring us to the next yes when Jesus came to the Jordon River he goes to be baptized By John for the repentance of sin even though he was already sin-less, after protest from John, we find Jesus starting his ministry with a Yes to the will of the Father. (also confirmed by God himself Saying to all who could here Him “this is my Son with whom I am well Pleased”). Off to the wilderness Jesus goes fasting and praying. Forty days later With a series of NO’s to the devil and the temptations placed before him. Jesus starts the ministerial part of the plan and the calling of the disciples 12 of them representing the twelve tribes of Israel. For three Years he teaches all who can hear him with their hearts not just their ears, the Gospel the freedom from sin and shame. Jesus even tells the disciples and even the religious leaders how all of this will be accomplished.

 Even though they would not understand the Plan until it was completed. Oh how sad to be able to touch, The Lord and Not see The prophecies being fulfilled before their eyes.

  As many of you Know with all your hearts Jesus Died for your sins, and many of you have given your hearts over to Jesus.

  One of stories in the bible is a true sign of leadership: I want to set the scene: thirteen men come into the room. Jesus being one of them, they realize there is no one there to wash their feet when entering the room. This was a custom that I agree with when you realize not one of them wore closed toe shoes or socks. Can you imagine how dirty their feet were?    

  Now Imagine your boss getting down on his knees taking your foot and washing the dirty disgusting feet of people who would walk all day in dust and garbage on the streets. But that is what Jesus the Lord does. He gets down on his knees, wraps his tunic around his waist then begins with washing the disciple’s feet, even though they protested he did it anyway. Jesus states again if you want to be first you must be the servant of all. Then they take seats around the table as far as we know Jesus at the head of the table. John at his left but Judas at his right, Jesus begins the Passover dinner. Afterwards they go for a walk to the garden of gethsemane which was customary for Jesus. Jesus tells the eleven stays over here for a moment and pray for me. Then Jesus overwhelmed, with the weight of what is coming he gets down on the ground and prays with so much intensity his sweat is like drops of blood. Father in heaven if it is possible for this cup to be removed from me? But your will be done.

Yes father I will do this for them, yes I will endure this pain torture and death, I will ask you to forgive them for they really don’t understand what they are actually doing.

 The power of being open to Gods plan!

  (Luke 1:9-18) When Zacharias went into the holy place to burn incense for God as was the custom for his priestly line, he encountered something Scary and fear came over him. But the angel that visited him said to fear not, what you have prayed for is going to happen for you, your wife will have a child that will be filled with the Holy Spirit from conception to make straight the path of the Lord. Then Zacharias says, “How can I know this? This is a moment when Zacharias should have just said OK, but He questioned the Angels statement with HOW CAN I KNOW this. Gabriel an archangel says, “I stand in the presence of GOD, I was sent to give you Great news, but you Questioned the Plan!” Therefore You, will be unable to speak a single word until this part of the plan is complete.

 (Luke 1:26-35) Then six months later Gabriel Comes to another person a person who will, never be, forgotten, Mary a teenager, a Virgin never been with a man. Song Mary did you know, Mary says How can this be because I have never been with a man? Gabriel Answer was completely different because of Mary’s response not being an how can I vs. how can this be? Gabriel explains the plan and She responds with let the plan begin.

 Notice the difference in how Mary asked and Zacharias asked the angel. Zacharias says how can I know this, saying She and I are old, show me proof!

(Luke 1:39-45) Mary then heads to her cousin Elisabeth to celebrate her news to find Elisabeth confirming her appointment as the mother of Gods Son Jesus.

(Matthew 1:19-21) Then Joseph, her fiancé, finds out his future wife is with Child? But being A good, just man of God, did not want to publicly humiliate Mary, he thought end the relationship in private, but God’s Plan was in motion. So, God sent his angel in to Joseph’s dream telling him do not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, because she is going bear the son of God. And the plan continues because Mary said Yes. (Luke 2:8-20) Shepherds sitting outside on the third watch of the night suddenly an angel appears to them scaring them half to death. The Angel say fear not for I come with the greatest news, on this day the Savior, Christ the lord is born. Do you realize these Shepherds were the lowest of the lowest? What a statement telling the world through Shepherds that Jesus the Christ is born. And to put an exclamation, point on the plan a company of Angels appear praising God. These Men run to see what GOD has done, then they run all over town exclaiming the birth of Jesus. The plan continues.

  (Matthew 2:7-12) The three wise men, saw a new star in the sky they were men who knew of the prophecies of God looking for the birth of the real King of the Jews, then seeing it got together the Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. These Items would serve Gods plan, well. The Wise men went to the King and asked where he is that is born the King of the Jews, King Herod who was an evil man, told them find out and report back to me. The Wise men warned in a dream not to go back to Herod because he is evil. They snuck out of the city and, Joseph also warned in a dream gathered up his family and headed to Egypt. Fulfilling a new part of the plan.

 Look at how one Yes to God’s plan gives power to the whole Plan. Think to yourself how much that plan was to save all of us. When we celebrate this time of year, we celebrate the beginning of the plan that continues today, “save all who believe.” All because of one Yes.

Duck, Duck, Goose! Goose! Goose! A huge Goose

 When I was five my family took a trip to the Mohawk Park Zoo. Little did I know that this fun outing would become a terrifying experience for me.  The reason I remember this trip to the Zoo, is also the reason geese and I will never be friends. Traumatic childhood experiences plant themselves solidly in the mind. Take my word on this. For all the fun we had that day all I remember is one gigantic goose.  We were all just having fun feeding the ducks and geese when suddenly, we ran out of food. My brother, sister and cousins all split the scene.  Why I lingered I will never know.  Perhaps it was because I made eye contact. For whatever Reason One LARGE White Goose zeroed in on me, chased me, bit me, and eventually tackled me. My dad had to physically remove this Goose who was attacking his five-year-old son. This caused a serious fear bordering on hatred of geese for me, so much so even to this day when I see geese, I want to run them over. I wont because the damage to my vehicle would be costly, but the thought still reverberates in my head.

  My children Josh and Gabbs decided to have some fun by putting a program on my computer that causes a Goose to appear every time I turn on my computer. This Goose inspired program causes the goose to attack my curser, trample mud across my screen, and bring gifts on to the screen that often interrupt what I am doing. I am just happy it does not leave non sanitary items on the screen. The first time it came on the screen I remembered my experience of being chased by that goose. I did laugh about it but deep inside I wanted to kill the goose.

Grief is like that big white goose.  It chases you, bites and tackles you when you least expect it. There is only one cure for the gigantic white goose Grief, it is a loving father that will help you in your time of distress. His name is Jehovah-Rohi—The lord our shepherd as all shepherds do, He protects his flock he guides you to safety from your enemies. This is represented through King David in the old testament when he was just a shepherd, he protected his flock even the ones who wander off. Therefore, call out to God the father and he will guide you through your grief. I know all of this because I am in griefs sights and when it attacks, I call out to my Lord and he rescues me.

Loved

A man walks in to the wilderness (desert) with no food, only water, with him. He walks and prays to GOD for thirty nine days with only water with him. On the fortieth day he encounters a demonic creature (Lucifer) who challenges his faith in GOD. He says to him if you truly trust GOD ask him for this rock to become Bread and he will do it!

The Man replies that man does not live on Bread alone but on the very word of GOD my Father creator of all. Then the creature shows the Man all the Kingdoms on earth, then he says see these kingdoms they are all mine to rule, bow down and worship me and I will give you all of them!

The Man replies “it is written Worship the LORD your GOD in HIM only shall you bow down to”.

Then Lucifer takes the Man to the highest building on earth and at the pinnacle of that building he says “ if you are who God says you are? Then throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ””

The Man says to Lucifer, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

Lucifer defeated by the word of GOD, which he twisted thinking he could defeat a Man of faith. Slithered off to find another way to destroy this Man. Even Kill him if he can?

The Man treated by the angels of God returned from the wilderness and began to speak the Gospel to all who would listen.

Who are you to God

Please repeat after me, (I am who GOD say’s I am; I can do what GOD say’s I can do!

We started with the statement I am who GOD say’s I am; I can do what GOD say’s I can do. Now, I wish to go just a little farther with this, turn to your neighbors and say, you are who GOD say’s you are; you can do what GOD say’s you can do! GOD loves you!

So, who are you to GOD?

Genises 1:26-27 says we are created in the Image Of GOD Therefore We/you are the very image of GOD! Look around and see Gods Face or an image of it anyway.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made Psalms 139: 13-18

How? Do we know this to be true? It says that GOD formed Adam out of the clay carefully in his own image. [GOD knowing all that would happen being that he is all knowing.]

GOD worked hard to make Adam and Eve, he even said it was very good. We also know that Adam and Eve were the only creation formed out of the dust by the LORD Himself!

This is how we know how much care GOD took to create Adam and Eve. From this we find in Psalms 139:13-14 For you formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mothers womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well. This is where the writer explains GOD’s careful construction of us.

 Known before we were formed [before]: in Jeremiah 1:5 we are known before we were formed in our mother’s womb and it also say’s in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you (this is GOD’s declaration) Plans for your wellbeing, not for disaster’ to give you a future and hope”.

 We now know that we were created, carefully made, and that we were known by GOD before we were conceived.

 How then can we use this for our lives today? Parents and those who hope to be parents through natural birth or adoption. All of us have parents ! and parents you had or have plans for your children.

Your desire is They grow up healthy, that they make it through school, you also hope they can get scholarships to pay for college.

All parents hope their children will have it better than when they grew up. If this is true for you how much more does GOD, our father in Heaven have planned for you?

Each one of us is a masterpiece in the making, Isaiah 64:8 as many of us have heard “You oh LORD are the potter, we are the clay” he has given us the instruction book the map to salvation each of us specially made by GOD.

 Now that we know that we are carefully made, we need to know that we are also chosen.

We should also know that GOD has redeemed us! From the punishment all sinners deserve, as it is written in revelations 21:8 but the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murders, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire.

But our GOD gave all of us a way to freedom from this punishment.  But, only if we accept that we are sinners, repent from those sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Gods only begotten son who died on the cross, crucified for our sins, even before we were born.

So, we can see our GOD, made a way for us to become free from sin, holy and able to be in the presence of our father GOD.

Through Jesus who was born of a virgin sinless from birth which I would love to get into the particulars. [But that is a bible study subject] then He grew up sinless being baptized for the remission of sins even though he was already sinless. (more bible study). Jesus then being tested in the wilderness by the devil himself after forty days of fasting (more of that bible study), being able to rebuff the devil and not sin. He began His ministry and for three years speak and teach those who could hear and understand the good news of the forgiveness of sins through his death and resurrection. GOD redeemed all who would believe. Praise God and Jesus!

 Now we have a purpose, each one of us who believe have a special talent some are apostles, some are prophets, some are teachers, some do miracles, some are healers, some are servants to needs of others, some are leaders, some speak in other tongues. It is possible for people to have more than one gift.

But each and everyone has a greater purpose in the Family of GOD. Through faith in Jesus, we have been adopted by God. With all the rights given the children of God, but only if we believe.

THROUGH THE DARKNESS

I was really lost in the way I loved, because I was no longer able to see the one whom I loved, for she was no longer there to love, death had overtaken her body leaving a hole in my heart.

  So many times, the loss powered through, so powerful the pain, I wanted to be through, believing I would never love again. It is this thought that permeates my soul, how can I love again.

 Through the night when the shadows come, the heart sinks, the demons whisper, “you will never love again”! I Cry out to Jesus, help me Lord I want to live again, Jesus answers me: “you are alive, I am with you”. Jesus continues: “The thief of the night has no power over you, he is defeated, love will come again when the pain disappears, trust in me, I will be your guide”.

 I call upon the lord again, and praise the Lord, for his comfort in the night, I praise you O Lord for all that you do, for showing up when I’m down, showing your love for me so I can love again.

  Rain falls upon the rich and poor alike, the righteous and sinner the same, and you reach out when they call you, praise you oh God for your faithfulness, your Son Jesus, your Holy Spirit.

   It lifts my heart, from the depths of despair, from the valley of death you carry me, so that my tired soul may rest in your arms, by the living waters in heaven above. I praise you, O Lord, for the things you do, may my heart always hear your voice. Amen!!

THE FORTH WATCH

At the fourth watch of the night, God speaks! In Roman history during the time when Jesus walked on the earth, the fourth watch of the night was, and to this day is, 3 AM to sunrise. It is at this time that I regularly wake up and must pray before I can sleep again.

This time of prayer can last an hour, or it can last fifteen minutes. I do not know what I am praying for, but I do know God is there. During these prayer times, God is protecting and supporting someone somewhere during their time of need. This does not mean that at that specific time someone is in need; it means someone will need extra protection from God at some point throughout the day.

Does God need my prayers to act? NO, NO, AND NO. I am not special; I am a child of God, appointed to be a prayer warrior. This has been one of the jobs I have had in the Family of God. There are prayer warriors all over the world, and if we are praying, the evil one and his schemes he is working on are disrupted or destroyed. How do I know this? Because when I am awakened, my heart aches for someone, and until I pray, that person is in deep need of support. Do I have proof? You ask. No, I do not, but when I pray, I soon find the peace to sleep again, and if I do not pray, I spend the rest of the night tossing and turning, and sleep eludes me.

There is a reason for the time of night I am awoken from my sleep. When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, he got up and went to Peter and the rest of the disciples with him, saying, “Peter, Peter, can you not even pray with me for an hour?” For they had fallen asleep. Oh, how my heart breaks knowing if I do not pray when I am awoken, someone may have the worst day of their life, or they may give themselves over to the devil’s schemes. This is when I also hear the still, small voice of God, telling me all will be taken care of, for the kingdom of God is near.

I say to you, if you are stirred from your sleep, it will have purpose, and you should take the time to pray.

God Still Speaks are You Listening

Mathew 23: 16

Woe to you blind guides which say they are prostitutes, hooked on drugs, greed filled, crazy, and some of you say poor. Woe to you who hides behind your vestiges, you who believe you are better than them or you believe they are better than anyone else, and you must curry favor from them.

Who do you think you are? You are so far gone into merciless hearts you do not see your own shame. You hide behind your pronunciations of believing in Jesus, but deep inside you know you have not made the transition to true faith.

I do not care who you think you are, I desire mercy for all grace for those you think hurt you. I the Holy Spirit want you to open your heart cast all your sins on Jesus for he has already Paid for you!

There is no sin I have not seen, there is no sin I have not forgiven, save one and that is denying God, Jesus, and I the Holy Spirit for when you deny US you blaspheme Us.

You who are here today, God has called you, He has called you here so you can become his child, God does not make mistakes he is calling you by name.

God does not care about the sin you committed in the past, He does not even care about the sin you committed this morning Just ask for his forgiveness and We will forgive you. Stand up come to the altar show that you genuinely believe. Say it aloud not just in your heart, aloud for all to hear your faith!

For if you cannot stand before all, Jesus cannot stand before the Father for you.

GRIEF IS LIKE A SCAR TO YOUR SOUL!

I have been dealing with Grief for almost six years now, I have been leading a GriefShare group for four years, it has Helped me as much as the people I lead through their grief journey.

How many scars do you have on your body? When you look at these scars, do you remember the moment you received them, How, these injuries felt at the time? What caused them?

I can tell you every scar and how I received them the pain associated with them and how long they took to heal. For me, the scars I remember the most are the ones that hurt the most.

When you cut yourself, depending on the depth of the cut you might have to get stitches to close the skin at the top of the cut. But the underlying cut still has to heal, and you have to take care not to reopen the scar. Spiritual scars may heal on the top but the pain you associated with the scar remains. The worst type of scar can be the loss of someone or something you love very much. Grief is a soul scar that even though it looks healed could open at any time. Grief can ambush you from any area of your life that reminds you of the loss. Then the scar reopens, and salt poured in the wound.

 This is the true nature of the grief journey; it is like climbing mount Everest, making it to the top then falling back down to the bottom. Repeatedly only each time you fall down the mountain, you fall a little less further from the top. For me I only fall a couple of inches from the top now, this has given me a unique position and understanding of those who are currently at the beginning of their journey.

 I will say if you are looking at this and you live in Oklahoma City, we will begin a new GriefShare group in September at Capitol Assembly of God. Look on the GriefShare.com For dates and times.

Joy is the faith in the Lord

What purpose did it serve God to send His Son to endure the same temptations as we do? The purpose of fulfilling His Law Sent to us through the Israelites for us. The chosen People of God could not with all their laws around the actual Law, Fulfill the Law. So he had to come and fulfill it so we through his sacrifice could be Saved from the punishment we are due. For who among us can say I have not committed a sin, Not one of us deserves Heaven But God wants us there with him. So God sent His Son to live with us then endure the consequences of all the Sin ever committed So that through Believing in Him and doing what he did we Can be Saved.

Strength in bad times

Jesus is like a marine, no man or woman left behind, he will be with you to lift you up, hold you up, he will give you the necessary when necessary. For when you truly believe, you become his brother and sister, in Jesus we stand in all circumstances strong even when beaten down. God our father gives us the strength to endure our pain. As a witness, to the truth of Gods loving sacrifice for anyone who confesses and believes in his heart Jesus is lord. Count the cost, to live forever in paradise, or forever in suffering you get to chose your direction. God, wants you in heaven with him when your time here on earth ends. But He will never force you to him.

Father In heaven, praise to your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Give is this day the strength to go through all that comes against us. The food that is necessary to sustain us. Forgive us our transgressions as we forgive those who commit transgressions against us. Lead us beside calm waters, and protect us against our persecutors as well as all evil. For You are the creator of all things big and microscopic. We Love you and We believe Your Son sacrificed himself for all of us. Amen and Amen

The Child, the Gift

The gift, the plan fulfilled, a child is the savior of us and becomes Lord of all. But wait God went further he allowed Jesus to sacrifice his earthly life for us all of us. He allowed men to torture his Son, Pontus Pilot found no fault in him. The Jews could not bring themselves to kill him. So they found a way through politics and deception to make some one else do it for them. But it was all part of the plan. God and the word of God to redeem all of us. You and me free from the gates of hell, free from shame, so do not doubt Gods Love for us. For Gods love is beyond our comprehension, it greater than the universe and more powerful than our own love. God does not want one person to go to hell but still there are those who turn their backs on God don’t let them turn you. Pray for them that God will help them turn back to Him before it is to late.

THE WORD OF GOD IS.

bible.com/bible/107/heb.4.12.NET

This is one of my favorite scriptures and I have proof that it is true. When I first chose to read the Bible all the way through without fail I found myself sharing that word with my coworker at the time. Every day I would point out what I had learned, not knowing that it was cutting into his soul. The word was moving through his mind so much that he would go home and complain about it to his wife. One Day he took those thoughts to a pastor, who realized that God was working through the word, my coworker became a True Believer and follower of Jesus because of the word. It was the word of God that changed his prospective and his life. I praise God for the words he gave to us to Help us see his truth. Love you God amen!!!

Thank the lord

bible.com/bible/107/psa.42.11.NET

In this psalm It is as if David, were looking at his reflection in a mirror asking himself why are you worried you have God on your side? Then saying to himself I will wait for God and I will give God glory for what he will do. For I believe in God.

Do this today look in the mirror tell yourself that you will trust in God and Jesus, tell your soul to stand up and to stop looking down for the Lord your God is worthy to be praised. So let it be written on your heart so let it be done. Which by the way is what Amen means of course I added on your heart but I believe it works better this way.