We Cannot Bring God Down To Our Level, We Must Rise!

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:9-11 NIV)

If we have any doubt about whether God sees things the way we see them, here is the proof that He does not think the way we do, and so His ways are not our ways. Even if we wanted to, we could not begin to have thoughts greater than His. He is the Creator of all things and without Him, nothing was ever created. Now think about this. What has man ever created–from nothing? This is why we can have no confidence in man above God.

We are yet trying to figure things out and no amount of research or analysis of things that are have helped us to do anything God has done. We have not created any heavens, skies, clouds, oceans, and if we were that smart (as some think) we would not have issues with droughts and hunger. So, why do we? I can only imagine (not know) that God in His infinite Wisdom is waiting for us to totally rely upon Him and so far, we haven’t.

So, when people (those who do not know God or understand Him) quote a few scriptures out of context to try convince us that God doesn’t have a problem with people living in opposition to His Word, they demonstrate they do not know God or His Word. Here is the proof. What we need to stop doing is trying to bring God down to our level of thinking and raise our thoughts to see in His Word, how He wants us to live.

Let’s face it–when we cannot get our thoughts above our waist–to pacify fleshly desire, we certainly cannot begin to think we think on the same level as God. We have a brain and most of us have a heart that beats with a certain rhythm–do we use them the way God wants us to use them? Once we gather knowledge from others who have actually researched and analyzed things and how they work, we begin to think we know more than God. How foolish we must seem in His sight!

We do not know more than God, cannot never know more than God, but we do have His Word as a guideline for living and many are too foolish to even recognize that. Everything we need to live in peace and harmony is in His Word. Everything we need to prosper–financially and otherwise–is in His Word. Everything we need to live healthy lives, is in His Word.

If we understood Genesis, we would understand that God made provisions for us, before He created us and we have misused and abused what He created out of greed and selfishness and then we wonder why the world is in the shape it’s in. It’s time to turn back to God–the One who knows everything and will speak to the hearts of those who love Him and will obey. We can do it. We just have to realize how limited we are and how Awesome He is. We need Him far more than He needs us!

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Divine Power Results!

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4 NIV)

God’s Divine Power–within us through Holy Spirit–puts us in position to receive and benefit from His promises. What does that mean? We have the power within us to live right, talk right, and stay on the path God designed for us.

How do we do this? When we allow Holy Spirit to guide us on a daily basis, we escape giving into fleshly desires which can distract and deter us from the path God would have us take. But we have to allow Him to do what He does best–hear from the Father and speak to us.

When we get angry–Holy Spirit reminds us of the Word–be angry and sin not.

When we get vengeful–Holy Spirit reminds us of the Word–Vengeance is mine says the Lord.

When we allow flesh to get in our way–Holy Spirit reminds us of the Word–neither fornicators, adulterers, or liars, shall not have any place in heaven.

When we allow our eyes to stray–Holy Spirit reminds us of the Word–every man should sex only with his own wife and every wife, with her own husband.

When children are rebellious and disobedient (and we are sometimes)–Holy Spirit reminds us of the Word–Honor our mother and father so our days will be long on the earth.

When we are tempted to hate for any reason–Holy Spirit reminds us of the Word–Love God first and our neighbors as ourselves.

If we love God, we will obey Him and will not allow the influence of the enemy to guide us in doing anything because we allow Holy Spirit to do His job. That’s the benefit of Divine Power operating within us.

Notice–we must allow Holy Spirit to speak to us and we hear Him–He will not force us to do anything. The devil cannot force us to do anything either–we must allow him to influence us.

So our decision must hinge on whether we want to see His promises manifested in our lives or the consequences of the enemy’s influence in our lives. It is our choice. And we have the power to make the right decision because of the Divine Power, who resides within us.

True Witnesses!

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”(Isaiah 43:10 NIV)

How is it that people make things–either themselves or buy what others have made–and worship them? If the things are made by man’s hand, how do we give them more power and honor than the one who made them? If then, we are worshipping things, can we be a true witness for what God does?

A true witness does not prevaricate, does not manipulate truth, does not quibble truth (nitpicking it selectively)–they will only speak about those events they actually see or participate in with others. If we Believe The Word, then we can be true witnesses for all God has said when we have hidden the Word in our hearts and have participated in the works of spreading the Gospel.

Do we understand that The God who has no form or origin, no beginning or end is truly The God of Heaven, all Creation and without Him, nothing was ever created; He is not “a god” as others say? Have we fine-tuned our relationship with Him so we know when we hear Him and will not listen to the lies of who speak against Him or oppose Him? Do we know that everything He did for His chosen, He will continue to do until He returns to take us to be with Him?

If we are going to be true witnesses of who He is, we must learn to model our behavior after Him. We should do what He does, according to what He has said. We love, we teach, we admonish and correct, and we forgive and move on. We know not everyone will hear us and that’s their choice; our job is to share the Gospel, not make people believe since we have no authority or ability to make anyone do anything.

We are told by Jesus if others will not hear us to shake the dust off our feet and keep going. In other words–keep it moving–we don’t have time to waste on those who are determined to allow Satan to rule their lives. We pray for them that they will see a need to turn to God, but we cannot make them. We allow them their choice and leave them to their consequences!

God has always allowed people to make choices–and what we actively and consciously do is a choice. He allowed Adam and Eve to make choices and left them to their consequences. He allowed Herod, and all the leaders of Egypt to make their choices and live with their consequences. He is the same God, using the same strategy to get us to Believe Him. He used the prophets and miracles and He’s yet using prophets and miracles and most of us are–miracles--we survived situations that should have killed us, but we are yet here–to testify of His goodness–as true witnesses!

True witnesses understand and believe everything The Word has said because they hear God speaking through Holy Spirit, confirming His Word and directing us in all things. All who believe Him (not man or men), and can act on His behalf are His true witnesses that will bring others into knowledge of Him.

Turning Back to God!

“Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the LORD; Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven.” (Lamentations 3:40,41 NKJV)

When are we going to see the error of our ways? Why must we have to be threatened by anyone regarding anything to own up to the things we do? Are we so blinded with our self-importance that we cannot see how what we say or do–creates chaos and confusion, sometimes leading to hatred and certainly makes our bigotry–crystal clear?

Before we do or say anything–we must examine our motives and seek His wisdom–and then we would have no need to “retract” what we’ve said or apologize for our inability to consider the consequences of our actions.

This nation–as a whole–including all the people in it–must reach a decision and examine themselves–dare to put themselves under a microscope to see who they really are. When a person dares to “see self” as they really are, then and only then will there be any lasting change in people that helps to move everyone forward, without attempting to crush them.

After we have examined ourselves, we need to “turn back to allowing God to influence” what we do, rather than allowing emotions and personal bigotry to guide us–especially when we know–the enemy is the influence–determining to kill, steal, and destroy others through vicious attacks–by whatever venue we use.

Lord Jesus, help us to see ourselves and then create in us a desire to please You and not be seduced by public opinion to berate others. We are mindful of the state of this nation and the world, and we submit to Your guidance in all things so we will not make a mockery of who You are by the things we do. Thank You for hearing and responding to this prayer, Amen!

The Penalty for Lying!

“A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.” (Proverbs 9:5 NKJV)

I’m praying for any and everyone who lives to lie and cause harm to others–simply to gain monetary benefit or center stage with all lights on them.

The problem for liars is that God has already addressed their final outcome–they will thrown into the lake of fire–no escape route possible. There–with hell and Satan and all the other demonic forces-they shall be for all eternity.

I remember some years ago when I was teaching Bible Study at my home and a little boy asked me about hell. I asked him if he had ever burned himself on something hot and he had. So, I told him to imagine that hell–is 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x hotter than anything he had experienced. His eyes bucked and he made a decision right then–he did not want to go to hell.

Many people don’t believe hell is real because they don’t believe God is real and they certainly won’t pay any attention to anything in the Bible. That is so sad. If they understood the love God has for us and He does not desire to see anyone He loves thrown in the lake of fire, they would do better. That’s His desire–but we all make choices–to do what is right or to do what is wrong.

Remember this–Satan is the father of liars and his job is to kill, steal, and destroy–he has no problem influencing others to do his bidding so he can sit back at laugh at their folly.

Liars–all of them whether pathological or convenient or systematic–always create problems for the innocent. They gather to themselves false witnesses and those who proclaim to know a matter when they don’t, are also destined to be thrown in the lake of fire because they too–are lying.

If we only spent our time doing what is right, we’d never have to worry about doing what is wrong–for us or anyone else.

“The Truth shall make us free” from the penalty of being in the lake of fire, so let’s determine to always tell the truth, no matter how much it may hurt us, or cause us to lose that temporary monetary gain or fame. Integrity is still a valued virtue and I’d rather maintain my integrity in all things that lose it for money or fame. I belong to Jesus and I will proclaim truth as He reveals it and I will not become part of gangland mentality in destroying the lives of others. Satan is not my father and I will not give him that place of honor–by lying.

Everything we do has a consequence–we will either be rewarded or penalized–what is your choice today?

When Wisdom Speaks, We Should Listen!

“Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” (Proverbs 1:20,33)

From verse 21-thru verse 32–we see the results of what happens when we will not listen to Wisdom. Solomon–who is considered the wisest man who ever lived, by God–chooses to reference Wisdom with the pronoun–she–indicating a female gender. Perhaps, it is because of the all the females he had in his life–700 wives and 300 concubines–that he has finally seen the light and the lessons he learns from his associations with these women (out of disobedience).

We all learn lessons when we disobey–any of the rules, policies, laws established.  When we ignore posted speed limits and get a ticket–we should learn to pay attention adhere to the speed limit. When we disregard policies established on jobs and get fire–we should pay attention at the next job. When we text while driving and cause accidents–if we’re not killed–we should learn a lesson and if we are, those around us should learn a lesson and not attempt to text and drive. There are always consequences for our actions and we are the only ones who can determine what consequence we’ll face–whether positive or negative–by what we do.

When are we going to heed Wisdom’s sound advice? When are we going to pay attention to God’s Word and His messengers–who speak loudly and boldly from public venues, on social mediums, and everywhere we find a forum? The consequence for not listening is found in the verses –not listed–but important. We can move into a place where our blatant disregard of God’s Word and His messengers puts us in position to “not be heard when we cry unto The Lord” to save us from our calamities. We will seek Him and won’t find Him. We will call out to Him in pain and anguish because of all the horrible things happening around us and He will not respond. Are we there yet?

We cannot continue to scorn God’s Word or His messengers who try to remind us that we must obey Him rather than man; we must seek Him for wisdom and wise counsel, rather than man. We must determine within ourselves that we will do all He has required us do–in order for mankind to be saved. Are we ready yet?

When Wisdom speaks–those who speak God’s Word and it aligns with His Word, we should listen so He will listen to us and respond to our cries–of repentance and save us, now!

Whose Body is This?

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (I Corinthians 6:19,20 NLT)

May I have your attention, please? All the things we do to the bodies we live in do not belong to us–they belong to God!

What! You mean, I shouldn’t have clogged up my lungs with foul-smelling smoke and poisoned them with nicotine? You mean, I shouldn’t have over-eaten for the last forty years all that fried food, desserts, with no vegetables, clogging up my arteries, causing damage to my heart? You mean, I shouldn’t have drank those forty-ounces, and tequila shots, or that fifth of vodka a day, killing off brain cells with drug use and abuse and alcohol? You mean, I shouldn’t have slept with every Tom, Dick and Harry or Mary Jane, Susie, and Sally that I met, forever incorporating a piece of them with everyone I slept with? You mean, I shouldn’t have misused my body to satisfy morbid curiosity by sticking things in places they did not belong? Is that what you mean? Have you identified you, yet in this list of–“I shouldn’t haves?”

Wow! The things we do to our bodies when we don’t understand they are just “on loan” to us while we are here on earth!

Had we known sooner than we discovered, would we have done anything differently? I’d like to think we would. In fact, had I been introduced to The Word and understood that it is the gateway to my relationship with God, sooner–there are a number of things I would not have done when I was younger.

I wouldn’t have started smoking cigarettes and kept up the horrible habit for eighteen years–I’m dealing with the consequences, now.

I wouldn’t have been so insecure about who I was because of things that happened to me that were totally out of my control that I did things I should not have done to my body.

I wouldn’t have been involved with some of the men in past relationships because they did nothing to provoke thoughts of Godly behavior.

This list could go on, but I think the point has been made. When we know better, we should do better. Now, that I know my body doesn’t belong to me–I try harder to take care of it because I realize that it deteriorates naturally with the aging process and it doesn’t need my help to destroy what God is doing in my life.

This is the body I need to house the spirit that God has given to guide me and I will not desecrate the temple in which Holy Spirit lives. After all, this is not my body, it belongs to God!

Thank God for second chances! I now know and do all those things that will hopefully prolong God using me in this body!

Walking to Crawling!

“Then the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live.” (Genesis 3:14 NLT)

The curses that fell upon the serpent for manipulating the woman–Eve!

The chain reaction to obedience can be devastating for a number of people–people who often experience the effects of what others have done. This is what happened to the “snake” who dared to interfere with God’s plan for mankind.

Back-tracking a bit–Adam did nothing to help his own case in the disobedience by blaming God for giving him the woman in the first place. And then Eve–who shouldn’t have listened to the serpent in the first place, blamed the serpent rather than accepting responsibility for her role in the fiasco. The serpent “Satan” in disguise had absolutely nothing to say because he knew what he was doing and had succeeded. Now, he had to deal with the consequences of his behavior–this is something he had not considered–what happens to him when he’s found guilty!

Because of what God said to the serpent, we can infer that before the curse–he (the serpent) was walking upright–standing tall among all the other animals. In this state–walking, standing tall–he probably felt superior to some of the other animals as well. Again, this is inference on my part based upon what was said, “more cursed than all the animals, domestic and wild.”

Imagine that! Feelings of superiority and hatred for God has created leading to a fall–from being on top of the world to crawling on one’s belly, trying to avoid being wiped out by those who now stand over you.

We have seen examples of Satan’s influence in the lives of many that are a matter of public record–those who thought they were superior to others and acted out of hatred and that feeling of superior–most of them are no longer with us–having receive their just reward for their actions. The first person who comes to mind is Hitler, and now we can see what is happening to others in their quest to reign over all mankind. “The wages of sin is death.”

There are others–who because of their feelings of superiority–who will find themselves crawling on their bellies, trying to avoid being wiped out by those they attempted to destroy. God is–the same today as He was yesterday, and will be tomorrow-intolerant of disobedience to Him when people try to destroy His plans for mankind.

But just like He did not destroy the serpent (and He could have), He chose to leave the serpent to suffer the consequences of his actions for all generations. God’s Word is true–mankind (men and women) who might fear snakes, have no fear in killing them.

Amazing! When God could have destroyed His creation (the serpent), He didn’t and would have been justified in doing so. Now, if God didn’t destroy the serpent who caused all the uproar in the Garden of Eden, why are people so willing to think that God destroys people? People make choices and their choices will either bring about a positive consequence or a negative one. It is our choice.

Listen to The Lord and obey always and don’t worry about going from walking to crawling for all the world to see!

Love With Us!

“But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.” (Psalm 103:17,18 NIV)

With those who keep His covenant–the relationship firmly established out of obedience and reciprocal love and respect, we can count on His love always being with us and our children for generations to come. This is a promise we can expect to hold true, when we do what we must do.

When we won’t do what we must do, then we can count on the opposite occurring–for generations to come–His love won’t be with those who break the relationship with Him out of disobedience.

For all of those who can only say, “Jesus is all about love–not judgment,” you might want to read and seek understanding of all The Word, not just one segment. Yes, Jesus did remind us to love one another and He also said, if we love God, we would obey Him. If we are truly His children, then we can expect Him to be the model of parenting for which we all should aspire.

When children are obedient, they reap rewards from loving parents.

When children are disobedient, they reap punishment from loving parents.

The only type of parents who do not discipline their children are those parents who do not care about what happens to their children and they let their children run wild, doing everything they think they want to do.

This is not so with God, our loving Father. He wants the very best for us, so He has established rules for our safety, and to make sure we can benefit from all of His promises. When we obey Him, we have no need to fear negative consequences, but to expect all the rewards He has in store for us. That’s love.

We do not teach children respect, love, or discipline when we allow them to do whatever they want. They grow up thinking they can do whatever they want and then we are left with a society full of self-serving, rotten kids who never mature–in their adolescent behavior. We must teach them respect for authority by disciplining them in such a way that we provide deterrents for negative behavior so they can navigate the transition from adolescent to adulthood, successfully.

Children who throw tantrums have not been disciplined and go through life thinking that’s all they have to do to have their way about everything. When parents give into the tantrums, they are not showing their children they love them, rather they show them how to manipulate others. Perhaps the real problem is that some parents manipulated their parents and so they know no other way to parent.

When parents know their child has committed atrocities with animals, playing with fire, breaking windows of property, and bullying other people and don’t do anything about it–we end up with serial killers who think they have a right to kill. There’s no love from parents in this situation–just apathy and nonchalance.

When misbehavior is stopped–from the beginning–and the deterrent memorable enough–the behavior is curved and love wins for all.

Let’s be obedient to our Father and reap the rewards, knowing He will never withdraw His love from us, when we obey!

Watching Us!

“indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4 NIV). [Read entire Psalm for context.]

When we who believe God and have a relationship with Him, finally reach a place where we understand just how great He is and how much He loves us, we will never be fearful or concerned about anything because we know–He never sleeps and He always watches over those He loves. Hallelujah!

However, there are those who would attempt to refute this by arguing about–hungry children and nations, droughts, child sex slaves, molested children, enslaved women, etc. They–the naysayers would say–how could anyone possibly believe God watches over us when people are starving and dying of hideous diseases and kidnapped or are the victims of disasters?

Listen closely!  The Word says, He watches over us; it does not say, He makes us hear and obey Him. He sees the tragedies and His heart hurts every time He watches one of His children get caught up in things that will be detrimental, but He gives us–all of us–freewill to choose!

When we choose not to listen and obey Him, we generally run into problems. But what about the babies and children they would continue to argue? Do the children have parents or other adults in their lives who make poor decisions? Are they not aware of that the decisions they make have long term effects that impact their lives and the lives of their families?

Those who sin against God and man have the same ability to choose as anyone else. They choose to do what is wrong and God allows it because He does not make people do anything–any more than the devil does. God influences and when we listen, we benefit. Satan influences and when we listen, we lose! No matter what happens, God is watching us!

While He’s watching us, today–what will He see us doing? Are we encouraging one another? Are sharing His love with others? Are we feeding the hungry and caring for the poor–naturally and spiritually? Are lifting up the name of Jesus everywhere we go? Are we seeking His direction before we make decisions? If we cannot be truthful to ourselves, He will reveal truth to us–by allowing us to receive the consequences of our actions. He’s watching!