Move - Limp No More

Limp no more!

Most of the time I wander through my days with loose random thoughts rolling through my head (Oh! You too?)As long as there is no challenge to my self-security system, I am OK living in a selfish pluralistic society. I am no different than the bulk of my fellow companion aliens that flesh-out our existence on this temporal planet. Here, because of our higher desire for righteousness, we can rise to the platitudes expected of us as long as our living doesn't create conflict. BUT HEREIN LIES THE RUB. You are the conflict whether you like it or not!! {before I get too far let's qualify this statement}

First things first … a few questions to answer, and if the answer is “Yes”, then please keep reading. If the answer is “No”, the following verbs will not apply to your life and you are dismissed (only kidding and please respond if you have difficulty with the following questions).
1. Have you at some point in your life realized that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness?
2. Did you also realize that there was a awful eternal consequence for your sin – a place called Hell? 3. Did you realize that Jesus Christ died for The Payment of Sins penalty (Hell) and rose again to secure Heaven for those who would trust Him?
4. Did you realize that you could act on that need to trust, and call on Him, and He would save you and secure you?
5. SO you called on Him, trusted Him and He is your Savior and Lord?

OK – WELCOME TO THE CONFLICT!! Say what??
No tricks, but when He saved you, His Spirit began His dwelling in you to secure you as you travel through this life. Now...parallel to His general ministry to the world to convince them of their Sin, His Righteousness, and of impending Judgment … He now carries on this same ministry “personally” through you. Your very presence with Christ in you (The Hope of Glory), will cause a bridge, an ache, a longing, a resistance, and even antagonism that will be vented toward you or aimed at you. Our Living Lord will not allow our existence to be unchallenged, and people around us to be unaffected when eternity is at stake.

I Kings chapter 18 contains the story of Elijah(“My God is Jehovah”), Obadiah (“Jehovah's Servant”), Wicked King Ahab (“Father's Brother”), the prophets of Baal (“lord”) and God's people in Samaria (“watch mountain”). This is an amazing story that most remember it as the story of the Contest between Elijah and the 850 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. (This is a great story to read and study with devotional reflection.)

This is the story that brings out the well known phrase “How long halt ye between two opinions?” [Devotionally translated –Upon what grounds do you limp around between two divided opinions... thus making the Lord appear as lame and as powerless as the dead idol lords of this world]. This eternal phrase uncovers the fulcrum of the conflict that shouts within the hearts of all the players.
 
OUR GOD IS ALIVE AND LIVING IN US … and this is why there is conflict... “GOD IS NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH” … Are you? Here and now we can become active as part of the solution in the conflict or we can limp through it causing even more confusion and conflict. AWAKE – ARISE – AND TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF OUR GLORIOUS POSITION. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” Phil. 1:21 – I have nothing to lose by really living for Him!

There is always a drought and famine in the land where pluralism abounds and  where God's people see no need to be open and visible in their love for Jesus. We cry out pitifully ... “But God has to bring the rain, it is up to Him, and appears He doesn't care!”  Please, stop your limping … rise up and remember the Cross, the empty Tomb, and the promise of His Coming …then you will be able to look and see the small cloud of hope appearing on the horizon, TRUST, for the rain of revival is not far behind. Soon you will feel His healing shower!!

HLFA,

Jeff

Power Connected??

Is The Right Power Adapter Connected?  We live in an amazing day of technological craziness. Years ago to communicate in writing with as many people as we do daily, weekly or monthly ... would have cost an incredible amount of money and taken an incredible amount of time and energy. Now we copy, paste, drag and drop … then with a click of a mouse an immense amount of information can travel thousands of miles in a few seconds. To gain any type of written material ...books, magazines, and newspapers … I would have had to travel to go to a news stand, bookstore, library or drug store (and I best not have forgotten my wallet or I was heading back home to make the trip all over again). Now with the click of a mouse, tap of a finger or swipe of a hand I can pull in literature and visual media until the cows come home or until my battery needs recharging on my mobile devise. Even though there are now amazing “no wire connection” transfers of information (like “Kies Air” where via "Wi-Fi" I don't need cables to download or transfer certain information that I used to have to be tethered to do), I still have to make contact with a power source. OH THAT CRAZY POWER SOURCE, that battery must be charged or the disconnect begins. NO POWER – NO COMMUNICATION... NO COMMUNICATION … NO LIFE.

There has to be a receptive connection to the power source, and you better have the matching adapter. Each electronic device needs its specific power connector or the power will not flow, and the device will not function. Jesus spoke of the only matching adapter to connect us to lasting life in John 14:7 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes unto the Father but by me.” Not having the adapter will mean your battery will die, there will be no initiating charge for usage life, and there will be no way to bring life back to your device if you kill the battery. Refusing to attach the matching power adapter is sheer stupidity, and a tragic waste of a valuable device. John 1:12 – “But as many as received Him them gave He power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

Now, we could go all day discussing the ramifications of this parallel electronic universe, but at this juncture of this HLFA I will do something dangerous – I will assume those who have continued reading have a lasting living connection with Heaven because of and through Jesus Christ; and therefore the destructive power connection of sin will never be able to have its full effect on them. (Please though, if you have never trusted and received the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin … receive Him now!)

What good is my life if I haven't figured out what it is for! Something happened to me when I was 18 years old, a few days before my 19th birthday. In the attic of our home at 169 West King Street, Chambersburg, PA; my dying power connection went from trusting Jeff to Trusting Jesus … He literally empowered me to be transformed from that energy sucking death life to an ever renewing eternal life. In so doing, He switched on “His focus” in my life. I realized, truly realized that in Christ, Heaven was my home; and without Him, a person would have to spend eternity in Hell. (Whether we like it or not … sin has to be paid for, and if we do not trust God's payment for sin then we are left to our own eternity of suffering for sins payment.) Hear this … I DID NOT DO THIS ALONE. My brother Joe took a Bible and pointed out the truths that heart needed hear in order to make that intimate lasting connection. Joe led me to Jesus and I received Him. Just as soon as I had received Jesus I wanted to get the message of the connection to my future wife, who was waiting downstairs for me … I could not bare the thought of losing her to sin's death connection and a Christ-less eternity. I wanted to share eternity with her, Heaven seemed incomplete without her. SHE DID NOT DO IT ALONE.

If you can Hear Jesus' words to his disciples (and by divine connection, His words to you), I think you will once again understand the obvious reason for your life in Christ: Acts 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” The most awesome life to be lived in this world (when we are not of this world) … is to live a life that witnesses to others so they can make that eternal connection with Jesus also. THEY CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

Did you ever notice that when the device is charged by the proper power adapter it thrives with the vital and vivid information that it was created for? You and I were not created to be lost ... but to be found, rescued and loved so that you and I could find, rescue and love others also. His Focus – Our Focus: Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He made the connection for us. Let's nurture that connection for the sake of others.

HLFA,

Jeff

Don't Drink That

The Bottom of the Cup

Isn't it just like human nature? We see God fight an amazing battle for us. He will take us from darkness into light; He will pass us from death unto life; and He will rescue us from Hell fire and secure Heaven for our eternity. To do this He will make an amazing costly sacrifice that evidenced His love to the fullest degree. Satan and his hordes have absolutely no power to change the eternal effects of this rescue. God gives us a NEW name, a NEW family, a NEW home and a NEW song. We even find ourselves joyfully singing along … and then we come to the bottom of the cup.
There on the bottom of the cup he sits … an indescribably ugly little creature, a creature with the full aptitude for robbing us of the joy of continued movement through this land. A little critter that is only happy with the full cup, the perfect day, the comforts of this life, and “my way”. This filthy imp
laughs when we hit bottom and loves to whisper the songs of discontentment in our ear.

Remember the story of the Israel's wilderness wanderings? … read the snapshot below. And I would like to make three observations to help stop the strengthening of the “bitter bug” at the bottom of the cup. Exodus 15:22-27

 “22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,”

First: Three days wandering in the Wilderness of the “Wall” (what a perfect name)– Time will always put a weight on the events of this life. It will create beginnings & endings, that will constantly challenge our living. We can either learn to make the most of this “wall” by praising Him, or we can succumb to its invisible pressure by whining & complaining. Cooperate with the delays. “They that wait upon the Lord” are those who take full opportunity of the direction and speed of His winds.

Second: Waiting for temporary needs many times will result in a bitter result. The answer to a prayer may not turn out the way you had envisioned it ...you will murmur within yourself, guaranteed. Don't stop there; it would be like drinking the “critter at the bottom of the cup”. Wash out the remains, the silt, the dirt, the dead bug ...Lift the murmuring to an upward cry, and He will bring the sweetness of the “Tree” into your bitter waters. The cruel cross brings God's sweet caress to our wounded souls.

Third: (Out of sight of the story above  in verses 26 -27 --- Try not to relate obedience to tangible blessings, and don't stake your claim to spirituality on the existence of a temporal blessing.) In verse 26 of this same chapter, Moses challenges Israel to give their all to God who is there Ultimate Healer AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT --- (vs 27) they walk right into an oasis called Elim (“the Palm”... not much root there) … 12 wells (one for each family) 40 palm trees. They pitch there tents there like it is the promised land, trust me it was short lived.

While on this side of Heaven, temporal blessing will be either short lived whining experiences or will become part of a memory system that creates a reflex to praise when we are faced with whatever is on the bottom of the cup. Drink in life to the Glory of God. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Jesus has plenty of fresh cool water, to wash out the cup and fill it again and again with new blessings and more memories. TRUST, He is there for you.

HLFA,

Jeff

A city Called - Answers to Prayer

Story Time (Now sit up straight and pay close attention children, because the longer you listen the longer you get to stay up!!! O.K. - O.K. Settle down and quit jumping on the bed!!

There once was a man, who began speaking words because he had a Visitation. The Visitation caused him to realize the power that his words could have to extend life to others. His name was “God-Speaks-My-Appointment”; and he was the son of “God Is My Portion”, who just happened to be a member of the King-Priests who dwelt in a city called “Answers-To-Prayer” that was located in a territory known as “The Land of the Son of the Right Hand”.

This Visitation … that he had was from the “EXISTING ONE”, who he would be known to call on Him as LORD. The LORD would speak to him, and he would speak the WORDS OF THE LORD. Because of this new connection with the EXISTING ONE, he would be called away from his home in “Answers-To-Prayer” in the midst of the “Land of the Son of the Right Hand” in order to speak.

He was encouraged and empowered by the EXISTING ONE to take this SPOKEN WORD to be heard during the reign of three powerful earthly Kings (and the words would be recorded so that many Kings and peoples after could see the continuing revelation of the Visitation long after the man's last words spoken). Even though “God-Speaks- My-Appointment” felt much like a child in comparison to those he would speak to, he would have the opportunity to take the LORD'S SPOKEN WORD to “God Heals” (the son of “Master Workman”), “God Raise Up”, and “God is Righteous” … Now these three Kings ruled in a land called “Praised” and they had their palaces in this land's chief city called “The Teaching of Peace”.

Although this was an opportunity of a lifetime … the enjoyment would be short-lived because nothing in this foreign land was as it seemed … good was spoken of as evil and evil was spoken of as good. The Kings and the inhabitants of the land desperately needed the hear the voice of the LORD … they were powerless to live up to their names. Did the WORD bring them hope???

One major problem … when “God-Speaks-My-Appointment” would proclaim the LORD'S SPOKEN WORD – it would begin to uproot entrenched lies, it would pull down high and lofty rebellious looks and ideas, it would destroy the mirages of temporal pleasure and success, it would throw down abusive self destructive idols and habits; BUT for those who truly heard, the WORDS had the power to build up and establish an eternal connection to “THE EXISTING ONE”.

To the dismay of “God-Speaks-My-Appointment”, no one wanted that connection. They would not hear the WORDS of THE EXISTING ONE. It wasn't long, through tear-filled eyes, “God-Speaks-My-Appointment” watched the brutal capture of the land called “Praised” and the destruction of the city called “The Teaching of Peace”. And as the string of discouraged captives were led away to the land called “Confusion through Mixing” … he began to realize the LORD'S mercies are new every morning, and that the LORD'S faithfulness was great enough to allow him to be free among the captives, alive among the dead, and blessed to still continue to carry the message to his home... called “Answers-to-Prayer” in the “Land of the Son of the Right Hand” where his family of King-Priests were awaiting his return.

In these troubled times … more than ever we need the close intimate connection that the LORD wants to have with us … our Home is “Answers-To-Prayer” in the land of the Son of the Right Hand, Jesus. Do not get discouraged when you stand in the fury of the power of His Word's ability to shake things up. Keep Asking you will be given, Keep Seeking and you will find, Keep Knocking and the door will be opened.... you WILL FIND HIM THERE.(Story borrowed from the meaning of the names found in Jeremiah 1: 1-3 and the abbreviated story of Jeremiah and Lamentations). Great is His Faithfulness.

HLFA 
Jeff

This is an easy one to toss to the side but hidden in the story is a bundle to meditate on that draws a prophetic parallel to the day live in and the days we could be facing ahead. Think about it!!!

Master of My Darkness

In certain areas of my life, I have darkness down pat, or at least I think I do. (Fortunately, I am not talking about the darkness that is caused by the hypocritical coverup of habitual sin, or the darkness that is caused by loving God's blessings more than Him) Here's what I'm talking about! I can get up any time of the night and navigate through my bedroom to find my phone (which is my clock), to find the drawer with my back-scratch-er, and choose the right door knob to get to the hallway that leads to the living room, kitchen or to the bathroom. I am the master of my night time darkness.

Today though, my heart was broken as I walked into the sordid travesty of the lives of those who once had a great influence on my life for Jesus. I am not ashamed of them ... but it is hard to wrestle with the fact that my life was powerfully challenged and changed by their words, and all the while they were carrying some awful coverups of sin in their lives and the lives of their family. At first I questioned ... How could God use them so mightily? But now after a reflection that I will share with you ... The broken-heavyhearted question remains: How much more could they had done, had they allowed that same power they preached of to truly wash them from their sin, instead of catering and coddling it in the darkness of their homes.

Take a moment and read the following passages ... Remember, He is the Master of the Darkness, and He is found in that Darkness - He is there. His Darkness came between Israel and her enemies. God brings His rescue from the Darkness ... and when our darkness is surrendered to Him or we surrender to Him in the oppression of our darkness - We find treasure and riches there - because We will truly know Him. When we treasure that relationship above all else ... the Darkness holds no Limit!

Isaiah 45:3 "And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel."

Amazing promises are buried in this one but with conditions:
Isaiah 58:8-10 - "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday."

1. Take away the "yoke" - any binding or agreement that causes oppression (no secret cover ups -confess and forsake sin).
2. Take away the finger pointing - don't blame or redirect, take responsibility for you actions and reactions.
3. Take away Speaking Vanity - don't give advice to sin, to serve self, or to oppress others.

THEN - draw out your soul to hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul ... This is the key to the life of Light: If you just take care of yourself you will end up "Taking Care of just Your Self" and soon you will be involved in a cover up, an oppression and an offensive lifestyle. Oh, how much more can come from our lives as we allow Him to be master of our Darkness.

Too many are falling,

too few even care,

surrender your darkness to Him,

and you will find Him there.

HLFA,

Jeff

The Imagination of Your Love

Where does your Love take you? Does it send you on whimsical cascading moments of refreshing day dreams? Does it cause tears of anguish because of moments of "good-bye" and parting for awhile: or does it make room for even more uncontrollable tears as parting may last even longer? Does it take you to incredible bursts of protective anger that would even give of its own life to protect the object of your Love? Does it have its breath ripped away in moments where fear senses an unknown threat that may sever you from the one you long for? Does it rest as it patiently waits for the rays of the morning sun to reveal that all is well and fear was unfounded?

Where does your Love take you when your brothers and sisters falter? Does it dole out unimaginable accusations and disappointments because of the impact of the breach that has disrupted your peaceful life? Does it have you weeping as you drop your stones of judgment? Does it leave you stranded and all alone with your confusion and shame for their situation? Is your Love able to carry you to the Throne of Grace where you cry out to find help in their time of need?

Where does your Love take you? Notice the word "Love" has been capitalized and emboldened.This was not only to draw your attention to the word, but it was to personify the word. We all need Love whether we admit it or not. The first step to knowing real Love is admitting our souls are bankrupt and lost in the midst of "forming and framing" Love in our own image. WE DON'T NEED ONE MORE BREATHLESS IDOL IN OUR LIFE. This "forming and framing" - the imagination of the heart - needs to cease . If you trust in the work of your own hands your love will soon reveal itself as dead and powerless because of your lack of resources. We can't save ourselves...we need a Saviour.

"Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." I John 3:1 - WOW! An invitation to rob the world of an intimate knowledge of us, while we bask in the glory of this new found family of the Father. Focus your perceptions, your imagination, your framing and forming on learning of Him ... And you will be joyfully amazed at where your Love takes you.

Don't keep spinning your wheels while tolerating your idolatry until you are so set in it that you are an embarrassment to yourself and those around you ... look at the old men mentioned in Ezekiel and how pitiful there thinking had become:

Ezekiel 8:12 - "Then said He unto me, Son of Man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chamber of his imagery(idols)? For they say, the LORD seeth us not, the LORD hath forsaken the earth." (How shallow they look in their self made halos sporting their powerless hypocrisy). Is this where you want to be?

How about this for a promise to take advantage of ? "Thou wilt keep him in perfect (shalom) peace (shalom), whose mind (framing and forming - imagination) is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee". Isaiah 26:3 - "PERFECT PEACE" - this is an amazing concept within the promise...this is an expression of true, tangible, lasting, complete, holistic, satisfaction that can be totally renewable moment by moment. This is that satisfaction that is offered to those who continually lean and rest their imaginations in the business of trusting Him. WE NEED A LIVING LOVE THAT WILL GIVE US NEW BREATH EVERY DAY ... Don't tolerate any breathless love in your life ... BREATHE!!!

BUT WAIT! - Stop your rebellion - take inventory of your misery, write off the garbage that has no place in the heart of a Jesus lover, quit coddling your sin and cast it as a deadly contagion before the Great Physician. Now trust Him for His strength to move you in agreement with your Love: Jesus. Live Openly for Him.

HLFA,

Jeff

Tolerance or Cover Up

I was pounding out a technical bulletin in my office at work earlier this week, when one of my co-workers called me and said, "Come, you've got to see this. We are not quite sure what it is!" I had to move quickly because of the tone of his voice though I wanted to hesitate because of not knowing what I was going to find. Just outside the back door of our plant, on one of the small concrete walls that separates the grassy back space of the plant from the small set of concrete stairs that lead to the back door (from the outside) ... was the strangest "creature" I had ever seen making its way from out of the grass and across the top of the wall. First glance ... a baby snake or an immensely long and flat snail ... but that was what everyone that had gathered their had surmised at first. Challenged to look more closely, we found a small snaking army of maggot-like micro worms, all different sizes moving together as a slimy slithering unified force. While not distracted they would continue forward, if their ranks were broken they would pull together and then continue on. I took a picture and returned to my office ... later when I asked what happened to the creature, I was told that once they determined it to be an army of death munching worms it was destroyed. No funeral, no burial, no remorse ... just total annihilation.

As God woke me up this morning, He started me thinking about "wickedness" due to the remembrance of this miniature army of death. Words like sin, iniquity and wickedness carried the weight of God's foreboding judgment into my nocturnal thought patterns. And even though God is not standing around ready to "tromp" on anyone who chooses sin, the penalties or consequences still remain and there will be a personal "payday". "It is appointed unto men, once to die, but after this the judgment" ... "So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God". "And the smoke of their torment rose up forever and ever". Hey folks ... WAKE UP!! "For the wages of sin is (still) death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD."

The history of Israel, during the time of "Moses" was so much like our wandering through this world, that it seems we best walk circumspectly keeping the words that God has told us about them, close to our heart. In Deuteronomy 9 ... Moses reminds the people of their rebellious choices that had God ready to destroy them at any moment, but Moses stood in the gap. Does that mean that no one died? Thousands died... a whole generation died wandering in the wilderness.

Deut. 9: 22, 23 - "And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the LORD to wrath. Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadeshbarnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice." Moses reminded them throughout this Chapter of his intercession that kept them from total annihilation. Moses stood in the Gap.

The Church is suffering today from an army of sinful choices and forbidden pleasures that similar to an Army of Maggots will attach themselves to anything rotting in our lives. We have become tolerant of way too much wickedness, and the infection is spreading deep. We come across as tolerating sin because "we love" the sinner, and don't want to make him mad (he may turn from Jesus). We even use the battle cry "Love God, Hate Sin". BUT in reality...Will we let go of the garbage we coddle for the sake of the Kingdom? Will we annihilate the death army within our hearts instead of making excuses and keeping this monster growing within our hidden, wicked foster care? Are we tolerating sin in others because we don't want to Judge our own sin sickness? We spend too much time discussing, debating, studying, justifying, and putting on pious penitent airs in our beggarly Bible gatherings, when we should be confessing and forsaking our sin; so we can truly pray with power as we move ahead with Godly brokenness over the peril of our "brethren in bondage" and "the lost without Christ".

Tolerance, How far should I go? To the Cross ... Behold what manner of love!! Hate Sin because of where it took Jesus ... for us.

HLFA,

Jeff

What is Going on Up Ahead?

John 9: 10 - 12 "Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not."

No matter what you do in life you will sooner or later find yourself in the intersection of "Sent" (Siloam). You might be entering the intersection as a passer-by. You may be the one pulled into the intersection to be observed. You may be the scrutinizing observer. This intersection is unavoidable, but to allow the intersection to have the greatest impact ... we must not hinder the participants from seeing that Jesus was there.

In this day and age, there seems to be a magnificent pile-up in so many cross roads of life, where God's Spirit is highly charging the scenery (I hope you are getting the sense of urgency that He is planting in the hearts of those in these Last Days). These intersections are popping up everywhere. They are a hub-bub of tension in many cases because here Faith is colliding with unbelief. The prophets of "Perhaps" flock to these events by the droves to do everything in their power to help everyone find any answer other than "Jesus". If Jesus is the answer there is a fear that there will be one endless traffic jam ahead and nobody will get to where they wanted to, and get to do what they wanted to (At least this is what the voices of the day tell us). If you are going to believe the Bible and trust this Jesus... you are old fashioned and need to get out of the way ... you are thwarting evolutionary progress.

You have got to understand the one constant truth: If Jesus is truly discovered in this intersection LIVES WILL CHANGE. And there are some lives that may be violently opposed to that change. They are threatened by the fact the God's Love demands His attention, and His attention means we will be held by His accountability. His love moves Him to be accountable and responsible for us. He does not answer to us ... he answers for us. He does not do things to us ... He does things for us. He does not keep score to curse us ... He has won the victory Himself to bless us. BUT YOU MAY STILL GET CAUGHT IN THE CROSS FIRE.

As His Kids, this Cross Fire in the intersection of "Sent" will purify and will consume the things that are truly handicapping our lives. The Cross Fire will strengthen and satisfy our need to know Him, His Love, and the power of his Resurrection.

Yes, He took the power of creation, and focused it on my specific need. He spit in the dust to form what I was missing, and told me to go to the Pool of Sent and wash ... now I see, and am seen of others. Now my life has been given to me as a gift to challenge on-lookers, "Wasn't this the beggar (I hear them say)?" It is so good to know and experience His loving me.

Truly without Him I was a pitiful mess, and with Him in the intersection I am now a conundrum? What to do with me and ultimately, what to do with Him who has changed me?

In the intersection? Don't cop a "holier than thou" attitude, don't ignore the opportunity, and don't be ashamed to openly admit that it was Jesus that put you there. Everyone needs to know "Christ in you"... the Hope of Heaven. Caught in the Cross Fire? Burn Brightly, please... Jesus Loves You.

HLFA,

Jeff

There are Aliens among Us

The sky was pretty much a dud at the end of the day. Large, threatening clouds had crowded in like a massive herd of hairy mastodon blocking out any view of the sun that was trying to share its last moments of color exchange. Night seemed to just ... turn on, and it was dark. So like any grateful earth dweller, I decided that the early darkness was a gift for the sole purpose of rest. I had no idea that right on the heals of the clouds there were Aliens smuggling in there tools of "perhaps" and "mind altering leadership". They were coming in slowly and subtly under the cloak of the night, but also in a fashion that met my need to rest from the constraints of the Ruler. How oppressive it was day by day to have to say "no" to my desires, and turn my walk away from opportunities for advancement just because "they" said "He" said so. As I lay restless in the darkness, I had little idea that the Alien intruders had already crept into my domain and were already hard at work attaching unseen probes and stimulation devises that would soon persuade me to join their cause ... which really was my cause...wasn't it?

Sounds like the beginning of a science fiction ... "something" ... doesn't it? Trust me though, it is not ... it is literally a story-like briefing on the events that can happen in our lives if we are selfishly being caught unaware. The wisest man that ever lived, Solomon, was trapped because of disobedience that crept into his life via his "love desire" to satisfy his "strange" ...or alien wives - making them comfortable with their alien self-destructive beliefs.

I Kings 11:2,3 - "Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in unto them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned his away his heart."

Know this ... and hear this right now: if you just had an Ah-ha moment that blames someone else for your troubled life, you have already been infected by the two most subtle alien doctrines. You may think that you have found yourself in an impossible situation that no one else ever came out of unscathed ... and you are right. But to say that you cannot commit to doing right; and/or that something that appears "sinful" to others may be right for you ... PROVES that you have been listening to the teachings that are alienating you from the truth of God's Word. The probes and stimulation devises are already affecting you deep in your soul. Let's briefly but prayerfully look at two doctrines that keep trying to creep into our lives (We need to wholeheartedly cling to Jesus and overcome):

The Doctrine of "Perhaps" - this opens up the thought that we have the right in some cases to partake in the fruits and fellowship of idolatry, and that fornication is just fulfilling our created desires. We would not openly announce that we get comfort from idolatrous and adulterous situations but this is the end result of believing a teaching that allows us to think that "perhaps" God has another plan for us although it may appear sinful, perhaps it isn't sinful for me? CAREFUL THIS ALIEN THINKING IS TURNING OUR HEART AWAY.

The Doctrine of "My Way must be Accepted" - This is powerful because we actually think that if enough people agree with our "alien" position ... that it is right, OR that if enough people don't agree with our "alien" position then they just don't understand. (Please read the last statement carefully and to understand that pride has set in, and that "controlling the situation" is now the dominant attribute in charge ... we are no longer listening but for the need to gather information to prove that we are right.)

Listen Carefully - God's Word is final, Covenants should be honored, Commitment to Truth is the first step ... Jesus said " I am the Way ... the Truth ... and the Life, no man comes to the Father but by Me."

Why do you feel that His Word, as absolute truth, is oppressive? Remember He said "You shall know the truth and the Truth, shall set you free." Careful there are Aliens among us ... confess you alienation thinking and trust Him for the future.

HLFA,

Jeff

Revelation 2: 17 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Choose Life - Don't be Sorry!

I can see it still in their eyes ... A mentally challenged young man still being raised like a child, a cancer ridden husband toting his I-V and oxygen into other hospital patient's rooms, an elderly widow on her last breath wanting to encourage still, a brokenhearted husband trying desperately to keep his marriage together, a small child patting the hand of a parent in a hospital bed ... "What would you say to Jesus, if He was here, right now?"

"IF" ... the word seemed to fuel an energy that could not not be reckoned with ... and there seemed to be a powder-keg of that energy now rushing to the senses of each of these individuals. What would come from their lips would anger and baffle the skeptics, but would knock the socks off of a tenderhearted believer. There were no requests for their personal healing? There were no complaints about their current fragile situation? "What would I say ... to Jesus ... right now?"

"I LOVE YOU."

If your callous heart, right now, ... even remotely begins to chill away and your dull senses are already asleep at this HLFA ... there is something you need from Him, something that you are crying out for, but afraid to totally commit the results to Him. You are afraid you will be disappointed. You are afraid that you will be introduced to more pain and more disillusionment. In your perception, the introduction to the people above is a daunting fairy tail and even a cruel scandalous make believe story that is only meant to drive you further into depression over your situation ... because God doesn't even know you exist. (contrariwise - He is holding you close but you are afraid to admit it ... just like the pain that shouts "don't touch me, get away!").

Take a quick walk with me into God's Word ... Nehemiah 8:10 - Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Israel had been in captivity for 70 years in Babylon, and a remnant was back in their land. Though their land was now torn to pieces, they were attempting to put back up the walls and rebuild the temple. Enemies were threatening them all around and would continue that threatening even until today. No wall is stronger than the one we allow the Lord to build inside us ... no temple is more joyful than the body occupied with the written and spoken Word of God flowing through its corridors.

The quote above came to the people after hours of standing and hearing the Word of God for first time in the lives of most of them. These were the spiritually maimed, lame, halt and blind... these were those found in the hedges, and alone the side of the highways and the by-ways. These were the abandoned and forgotten ... BUT GOD DOES NOT FORGET HIS PEOPLE, NOR DIOES HE FORSAKE THEM.

Let's break down the Word into bite size pieces and really hear it.

"Go your way" - go into the life He has given to you ... take ownership and stewardship of your life.
"Eat the fat" - receive the rich things prepared for you, take them gratefully into your life.
"And drink the sweet" - drink in the good and pleasant things via gratitude also. Remember.
"And send portions unto them whom nothing is prepared " - go into the world and share the good news;
"For this day" ... this day ... today ... "is Holy" (set apart as specially His) "unto the Lord."
"NEITHER BE SORRY"
"for the JOY" (gladness) "of the Lord" (the All sufficient lover of our souls) "is your strength" (stronghold, safety, protection and base station for victory)."

HLFA,

Jeff

Joy in the Lord is an intelligent and worthy choice that not only changes your attitude, but heals the hurting around you ... Be Glad!

He came unto His own and His own received Him not, but as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. And we beheld His Glory.