HIDDEN IN CHRIST IN GOD

Colossians 3:3 says, "You have died and your life is hidden in Christ in God." What do you think God is revealing when He says that you have died and your life is hidden in Christ in God? 

Assuming that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and that you understand that your old nature in Adam has been crucified in Christ Jesus and buried with Him, I would like to ponder this thought with you.

If you were buried with Him, then you were raised in Him to a newness of life. (Romans 6) You are a new creation, made alive in His resurrection. The Father has placed you in His Son Jesus who is His great delight.

To help you to picture what happened to you when you were born again,  write on a piece of paper your full name and add in Christ Jesus.  Take the piece of paper fold it in half and place it in the middle of your bible. Close the bible, wrap your arms tightly around it and hold it close to your chest.

Your arms represent the Father's arms wrapped around His Son, (Word of God) and you are hidden in Jesus.  When the Father looks on His Son, He sees you hidden in Him.  In fact, when the Father looks on you, He sees His Son and not your sin. Do you believe that? The Father is more interested in training you up in His righteousness than in condemning your sin. The old self has died and the a new self is alive hidden in Christ.

Open your heart wider and let His love invade your heart. You are His adopted child and He sees you in the righteousness of His Son. You are free from guilt and shame and are restored to the innocence you were in Him before the Fall of Adam.   That is how God sees you in His Son. This is only the beginning.  We have all eternity to grow up in Christ. 

No matter what circumstance or situation you might find yourself in, remember you are hidden in Christ in God. If this is true, then all your circumstances or situations are in Him too. We need not fear, because Jesus has overcome the world and through Him we too overcome the world. 1John 5:4,5, 1John 4:4. 

  

INCREDIBLE LIGHTS

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The other night, when I looked into the heavens,the planet Venus was shining like a brilliant diamond in the black sky. It reminded me of the night when Jesus was born.  He was the ONLY light shinning in a dark sinful world.

 Recently, while traveling by plane, I looked out the window. As we ascended into the night sky, I noticed multitudes of lights, glistening in the cities below.  It made me think. WOW, if each light on earth below represented a born again Christian, our light would NOT be hidden under a bushel. So let His light so shine that we may glorify our Father in heaven all the days of our lives. I prayer you will enjoy the light display.



http://www.fli.flixxy.com/best-christmas-lights-display.htm

xxy.com/best-christmas-lights-display.htm

WHEN THE LORD SPEAKS

I love it when the Lord speaks to me through His Word.  Often it is a revelation or an interpretation. This doesn't happen all the time. I can read the bible for days without any revelation, but when He chooses to reveal a particular verse, it is like it is directed at me.

Over the past forty years, I don't know how many times I have read the 23rd  Psalm .When I was in the fourth grade, I even had to memorize it. It was one of my favorite t of verses.

The other day I was in a bible study and the teacher wanted the class to take a few minutes and meditate on Psalm 23.  I thought to myself, "Oh, there can't be anything else that the Lord could say to me." I was so wrong,

I didn't get beyond the second verse when the Lord spoke to me.  "My daughter, it is I who makes you to lie down in green pastures when you get so busy with your daily activities that you neglect your fellowship with Me. You need your soul restored or you are going to get physically sick."  I got it.  It was a warning--slow down . I was slowly wandering out of the green pastures.

I can't tell you how many times I am reminded of that verse during the week  I am coming to understand more and more how much the Lord loves me and cares for my soul. Sleep has become much more of a priority and I am trying to not let life push me around. Spiritual rest in the Lord is as important as physical rest. One depends on the the other. 

 Jesus walked in complete rest.  He did nothing except what His Father told Him to do. He was the living Word--prefect obedience..  If Jesus lives in me and I in Him, than one day, by the grace of God, I do believe it  will be possible to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill my own desires,  but live to glorify God., 

GOD TESTIFIES OF HIMSELF

This is a beautiful testimony of our great God.  To think that our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, was not only our creator, but humbled Himself to become a man. He was willing to identify with the human race and to take upon Himself the sin of the world. Whosoever will believe and received His finished work will be born again. How does one explain such LOVE.   I pray that this video will bless you today.  

http://www.andiesisle.com/creation/magnificent.html

LOVE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING,

I would like to share a tribute that my grandson Jeff Boettcher wrote to his wife Angie. Jeff was only one week out of the hospital after receiving a colostomy bag. They had been married for only a short seven years, when their love and commitment were severely tested. His tribute on Facebook reads as follows:
  

"Love is being able to forgive someone after you've had the 100th fight about the same issue, and said many things that you regret and hurt each other more than you thought possible.

Love is falling into bed too exhausted to do anything, but hold hands after spending many hours chasing your kids.

Love is sitting by a hospital bedside. Not once, not twice, but for more times than you can remember.

Love is holding each other and crying as another doctor comes with another bad report and another hospital visit is planned and you wonder if life will ever be full of health again.

Love is giving your spouse a sponge bath, because they can't move as they recover from yet another surgery.

Love is getting up in the middle of the night to change the bed sheets, because your spouse's colostomy bag leaked.

Love is reminding your spouse of the truth of God's promises, the reality of His faithfulness and deepness of His love as they cry tears of desperation into the dark.

Love is doing all this with joy in your heart, confidence in the goodness of God and grace beyond measure.

Love is looking at your spouse who has lost over 30 lbs and looks nothing like the person you married and telling them, "With all I know of our life now, with all we've been though and with the uncertainty of our future, I'd still choose you.  You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.  I have never loved you more or been more attracted to you than I am at this moment"

Yeah, that's love and it's a beautiful thing." 

   

HE TOOK OUR PAIN

I would like to share a true story about my mother and  how she  experienced the Lord consuming her pain, by faith in His pain on the cross.

One Sunday afternoon my mother's nose started to bleed.  Within the next half hour, my father had to rush her to the emergency room. By the time she arrived at the hospital she was hemorrhaging from her nose. Her blood pressure was extremely high. Fortunately, the pressure came out her nose rather than having a stroke.

 Mom was a faithful believer.  By the time I got to her, she was praising the Lord the best she could.  She was very scared and white as a sheet. Cotton was being pushed up her nose through her sinuses to stop the bleeding. She was crying out to the Lord, "Help me Lord.  I love you, I love you."  

I took her right hand and held it tightly. "You are going to be okay, Mom.  We will praise Him together" 

As we started to praise the Lord for who He was, I received a word from Him, "Praise Me for Calvary.  I am letting her feel a pinch of the pain that I took for her."

"Mom, we have to praise the Lord for Calvary and for the pain He endured for us." I exclaimed to her.

She immediately started to praise the Lord. The more we thanked Him for all the pain He endured for us, the more that the bleeding began to stop and the pain to subside.  The nurses were amazed.  They had never seen anything like this, and neither had we. 

My mother later told me, "Dottie, I think I now know a little more about the fellowship of His suffering. He did consume my pain in His.  Mine was nothing compared to His. Praise His Holy name."

I have never forgotten her words or the Lord's testimony of His presence with us. We worship an amazing God. His presence is always with us.

POWER IN PRAISE

The first time that I experienced the power in praise was in 1972.  I was a very young Christian. Since then, the Lord has allowed several  opportunities for me to witness His power in praise.
  
It was a rainy night and I was on my way to a prayer meeting.  Roger was out of town on business and our fourteen year old daughter was at home baby sitting. As I turned to go up a hill, a big tractor trailer was coming down. Suddenly without any warning, a car shot out from behind the trailer.  I had no place to go. We collided head on. 

Amazingly I felt a very strong arm come across my chest and literally push me  back. It was not normal.  I should have gone forward and hit my head. After the crash, my right leg was trapped under the dashboard as I sat in the front seat. I was in pain. 

Then, I heard an almost audible voice say to me, "Praise the Lord".  I immediately started to praise Him for everything I could think of. Finally,I just repeated "Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord." As I kept praising the Lord I slowly was able to bring my foot out from under the dashboard and the pain was gone.  

The ambulance arrived and they wanted to take me to the hospital.  I told them that I was fine, but they insisted that I was in shock and needed to go.

 I was more concerned about the driver in the other car  He was a young driver (16 years) who had just obtained his license. I felt so sorry for him. One of his knees was critically crushed and needed immediate attention. We were both taken to the hospital.  I was soon released. 

The young boy  wasn't too happy to see his father. Just a few months before his father had spent some serious money repairing the same crushed knee after an ATV accident. I just continued to pray for him.

Roger came home from his business trip early to take care of all the details.  Our car was totaled. The insurance company loaned us a car until we could buy another.

Truly, God does inhabit the praises of his people.  I believe it was an angel that held me back and reminded me to praise the Lord in all circumstances and as I did the pain left. What an amazing presence of our God.  He is always with us. 1 Thessalonians 5:17. 

Jacob Prasch - Jesus in the Garden

Jacob Prasch is a Jewish believer who loves His Messiah.  I know you will be blessed.  He brings it all together from Genesis to Revelations.Take the time let the Lord speak to your heart.  He loves you

A CLEAN HEART VS A PURE HEART

It is exciting to me when the Lord reveals a new revelation of the truth. The last week I was watching a video by Jacob Prasch, a Hebrew scholar and a Messianic Jew. He is like a St. Paul and not afraid to speak the truth.  He tells it like it is.

On this particular video he explained the Hebrew interpretation between a pure heart vs a clean heart.  Jesus said in Matthew, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." In Psalm 51 King David says "create in me a clean heart".  Is there a difference?

He explained that the Kings James Bible got it wrong in Psalm 51 and why. King David was crying out for a pure heart-- a heart without mixture. David had a heart after God.  He did not want any mixture of the spirit of this world, his flesh or the devil in it. He knew that only God could create such a heart in him.  He loved the Word of God and desired nothing more then to obey His God with all his  heart, soul and might. 

A clean heart could imply a dirty heart made clean.  Even after many washing, the heart would be clean but not pure.  There was a difference and David knew it.  Only God could create such a heart--with a single minded, focus on the Lord and His glory. 

Now I have a better understanding of what Jesus meant when He said, "Blessed are the pure  in heart for they shall see God."  It is the mixture of this world, self and the devil that has kept me from seeing more of God.  I have been  double minded--in love with the world and the Lord at the same time.  The book of James says, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say I am."  he answered Him  "Thou art the Christ, son of the Living God." That is the truth without any mixture. This is the foundation we build our faith--Christ alone our cornerstone.

ALONE BUT NOT FORSAKEN

Recently I was cleaning out some files and I ran across the following word that the Lord gave to me in 1993.  Twenty years later is just as fresh and relevant as it was back then.

"My daughter, there will be times when you will walk in  dry and desert like places.  You will wonder, "Where did I go? Am I still with you?  Have I forsaken you?   You will miss Me and feel frightened because you  don't hear My voice. You will feel lonely, desperate, abandoned and rejected. I am sharing this now to prepare your heart for the days ahead.  In moments like these you will be able to identify with My sufferings.  I was rejected, lonely, forsaken and abandoned. But now, I am Your High Priest and I feel your infirmities.  There is no one in the whole world who loves you like I do. Look only to the cross and experience my death as yours.  All your pain and sorrow I have consumed into Myself at the cross. I have taken it.  Rejoice, my daughter, I am working out your salvation. You belong to me and I will protect you from evil."

A few days later, darkness did cover my soul.   I began to struggle with  unforgiveness. A close friend totally misunderstood me and started spreading a lie about me in the church.  It hurt.  I felt betrayed, abandoned, alone, and most of all rejected.  The lie spread and I could not stop it. I confronted my friend and tried to talk with her to no avail. 

Then I remembered the word of the Lord  a few days before.  He told me that that  I was going to experience the way of the cross.  I would be misunderstood, rejected and betrayed just like Jesus.  Why should I be surprised. But, I was. I had to ask myself,  how did Jesus handle unfair accusations and misunderstandings?


The answer was simply and uncomplicated--forgiveness. It was only a matter of forgiving my friend like Jesus forgave me-- "I forgive you. Dorothy, for you do not know what you did to me. It hurt, but I chose to forgive you." For the first time I understood a 'pinch of an inch' of the sufferings that Christ endured for my forgiveness. 

By the Grace of the Holy spirit, I was able to extend God's forgiveness to my friend as my own. I chose to believe, that if she knew how much she hurt me, she would not have told that lie.  The result was amazing.  Shortly after my forgiving her, she came to me with an apology.  The Lord's ways are so marvelous and too wonderful for comprehension.

 .

" HEAR MY VOICE"

If man was created in the image of God and we know that God is three persons i.e. the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, is there a place in their fellowship for us? Can we experience an intimacy to hear God's voice again?  The intimacy that man lost in the Fall of Adam?

Jesus said,"My sheep hear My voice and they fellow me."  How can we hear God's voice? Is He speaking to us today?

I don't believe that He has ever stopped speaking. Man lost his spiritual ears and eyes, when he willfully chose to disobey God's commandment and elected to serve himself.  His once close relationship with his creator was taken from him. Adam and Eve were cast out of God's presence. Man was lost: spiritually lost.  His ability to spiritually see and to hear His God was gone. Only his conscience was left to discern good and evil. We know how that has turned out.   Now everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. 

The question is asked,"Is there hope to hear God's voice again?"
Thankfully there is. What we lost in Adam, we have gained back in Christ. Through the good news of the gospel, we can repent of Adam's sin as our own.  Our human nature is no different than Adam's. It just manifests itself differently through our personalities. 
When we repent, we  receive God's forgiveness through the precious blood of Jesus. The power of the cross justifies us as if we had never sinned. God's forgiveness is an incredible gift of love from the merciful, gracious heart of God. Our spiritual eyes and ears are opened and we can begin to hear God's voice again.

Today, the voice of God comes to us through the person of the Holy Spirit.  He will convict us of sin, righteousness and judgement. He will lead us into all truth and speak only what He hears.  He is our teacher and confirms everything He says by the Word of God.  He is the person of the Godhead who releases the grace of God to overcome the World, the Flesh (our lower nature) and the Devil. 

The Person of the Holy Spirit comes to apply the blood of Jesus to our hearts to enable us to once again, hear God's voice. His is the most gentle, thoughtful,  generous, faithful, caring voice I have ever heard and it has never changed.  Even when He corrects me, His voice is kind and I want to repent. He has captured my heart to pursue Him  and follow Him forever.

THE CALL OF THE DESTINED

 Jonathan Cahn, author of the "Harbinger" encourages a Messianic congregation and to all of us who believe in Yeshua/Jesus as our Savior/Lord., Jonathan Cahn has a good word to share about St. Paul and how his story relates to us. The Lord has called us to a purpose in His Kingdom.  It will encourage you to faith.  I pray that it will bless you today.

If you have the time you will also want to listen to the BRIDE video.  It is outstanding how it relates to the church and Jesus today.

LAST WORDS OF A MARTYR

In 1980 a young man from Rwanda was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or be killed on the spot. He was martyred.  The night before he was martyred he wrote the following commitment, which was found on the wall in his room.
                                                                                             

"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed
   I have Holy Spirit power
      the die is cast.  I have stepped over the line.
        the decision has been made.
           I'm a disciple of His

I won't look back
   let up
    slow down
        back away or be still

My past is redeemed
   my present makes sense
      my future is secure.

I'm finished with low living
   Sight walking
      small planning
         smooth knees
             colorless dreams
                 mundane talking
                      cheap living and dwarf goals

I no longer need pre-eminence
   prosperity
      position
          promotions
              popularity

I don't have to be right
   first
     tops
        recognized
            regarded
               or rewarded

My face is set
   my gait is fast
       my road is narrow
          my way rough
               my companies few
                    my guide reliable

I cannot be bought
   comprised
      detoured
         lured away
           turned back or delayed

I will not finish in the face of sacrifice
    hesitate in the presence of the adversary
       negotiate at the table of the enemy
          ponder at the pool of popularity
             or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't grow up
   shut up
      or let up, until
         I have prayed up
             paid up and preached up for the cause of Christ

I am a disciple of Jesus
   I must go till He comes
      give till I drop
         preach till all know and work till He stops me.

And when he comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me
   My banner will be clear.

(written by an anonymous African pastor                      
 For more information   Dr. Bob Moorehead " The Way of the Master")

WHERE DID FEAR COME FROM?

Have you ever wondered how "fear" entered the human heart? Fear is common to all men. It is like an octopus. There is fear of the dark, fear of heights, fear of man, fear of provision, and fear of rejection. Fear can be terrifying. If you have ever experienced a great emotional trauma as a child such as the death of a parent, living in time of war, or even a parental divorce, you probably have had fear.  Fear can truly grip our hearts and rule or paralyze our emotions. Even as a Christian, fear will emotionally prevent us from receiving and believing that God really loves us.

Fear is an absence of God's presence.  Fear came into man's heart as a result of the fall. Adam and Eve discovered that the light that clothed them was taken from them, and that they were left naked and afraid. They even tried to hide themselves with fig leaves! God had no alternative but to send them out of the Garden and away from His presence. Fear entered man's heart and built a strong wall of doubt, rejection, and unbelief. It emotionally separated  man from His Creator. As a believer, we can be delivered from the grip of fear. 

There is only one solution, that I know of, to be released from the deep root of suppressed fear.  It is faith in the love of God.  Jesus' death, burial and resurrection  defeated Adam's sin.  Fear was confronted with the power of the love of God. 

I have been greatly encouraged with 1 John 4:18 that says,"There is no fear in love, but, perfect love casts out all fear.  For fear has torment and whoever fears has not yet been perfected in love."
There are still so many areas that I am still being perfected in His love. Satan likes to challenge God's love, but he is a liar. 

Romans 5:5 speaks the truth,"For the love of God has been shed abroad in my heart, by the Holy Spirit". Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God is love.

POSSIBLE IMPOSSIBILITIES

If God wants you to do something, He will give you the ability to do it.  Very likely it may stretch you beyond what you have done before. He wants you to grow.  In Christ we are big.  Whatever lies before us.  God put it there.  You can move mountains.  

Do not measure what you should do by your gift, measure the gift by what you should do. It will match.  God is a God specializing in the impossible, and thinks only in terms of the possible.

He wants this fact to show in the lives of those who belong to Him.  He commands the impossible, and then makes it possible, for His glory. Perhaps you wonder why God should want us to do anything at all when He has all power? It is because He loves us and likes to share His pleasures and joys with us.  That is His grand design. He  planned it that way.  

You may feel that you are a very small instrument, but each one is vital in His fully orchestrated effort. The Lord of all the earth has big things in mind, but they call for millions of helpers with varied gifts and capabilities

We are vessels made so that the' power may be of God and not of us,' as  Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:7. I have learned that 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' (Philippians 4:13)  And so can you. In the name of Jesus, be encouraged. 

This word was written by REINHARD BONNKE.  He has served the Lord in many countries and has seen miracle after miracle, especially in Africa.  You might have heard of him.

CALLED TO SERVE

Living life from day to day with all its difficulties and adversities, one has to wonder ,"Am I really a citizen of Heaven? Am I an ambassador of Christ? If  I am, why is my life so much like the world and why do I still respond like the world?" 

One day I was thinking about this subject and this analogy came to mind. What if I was sent as an ambassador to Holland representing the United States. Instead of representing the American government, I began to settle down enjoying the Dutch culture and forgetting who sent me to Holland. What kind of an effective American ambassador would I be? I think that I would be fired on the spot. 

As a Christian, I have been born again to an eternal hope.  My life has been bought by the blood of Jesus. I am not my own. Jesus has called me out of this world, separated me unto Himself, and sent me back into the world to be His ambassador.

As an ambassador for Christ here on the earth , I often feel that I am learning on the job. Every day, I realize more and more, that this world is not my home.  It is another Kingdom. I have been called to represent God's Kingdom here on earth. It is a privilege to take the message of reconciliation into this fallen world. 

A Christian is one who has Christ's resurrected life manifested in him by the person of the Holy Spirit. We are in the world but not of it. We have been born again to a living hope. Jesus Christ is Lord. We are heading home. We are free, forgiven, and seeking to  bring many citizens of this world back home with us. 

Between now and when we go home, the Lord has supplied us with all that we need in Christ Jesus.  He is in us and with us to fulfill His call in our lives. Through His body, Jesus will be lifted up and draw all men unto Himself. 

 He may not come again in my lifetime, but He is faithful to His promises.  Whatever your need is today, Jesus Himself is your greatest supply.  May the Lord bless you in all He is calling you to do to glorify Himself.

MY Will VS.HIS WILL

Have you ever wrestled with God wanting Him to bless your plans? You wonder why He hasn't moved or helped you to accomplish your great idea? You think it is His will.  You have prayed and prayed and asked the Lord to help you achieve this good thing, but deep  down in your heart you know that something is wrong.

When all of my children were married, I began to wonder what I was going to do with my life. I started praying and asked the Lord what He wanted  me to do?  In my heart, I knew that He was drawing me closer and closer to Himself. He wanted me to take this time to study His word and to intercede, but I choose to listen to another voice. 

 My best friend and I were  empty-nesters. We were sister's in the Lord and enjoyed our friendship together. She had a great idea. She believed that the Lord was calling us to start a retail company making bible book covers to sell at craft fairs.  Her vision sounded quite exciting and something that the Lord would surely bless.  She even saw young mother's sewing for us making money so that they could stay at home. All the profit would go to feed the poor in the area.  Doesn't that sound like a Godly vision?  Only one problem, it wasn't God's will for me, but for her.  I struggled for five years praying and seeking God's peace.  It never came.  It was just a good idea. 

After struggling for God's peace for five years, I finally had to confess I was not in God's will but in my own. My dear friend was very gracious.  She completely understood my anxiety and released me.  She continued to be blessed, feeding the poor. 

Looking back I honestly have to admit, I was the stumbling block to our success.  I tried and tried to have a peace with the decision.  It was fruitless. My motives were all wrong.  I wanted to prove my ability as a entrepreneur with God's help. The problem was, God had not called me to be an entrepreneur. It was my idea and I wanted Him to bless it. It was a painful revelation.  But it became a serious turning point in my relationship with the Lord. 

Since then I am learning more and more about the will of God for my life. Recently in prayer the Lord reminded me again, "Why do you insist on your will and ask Me to bless it? Don't you  believe that My will is really the best for you?

To hear God's voice and to know His heart has become far more important to me than anything I could do for Him. All He needs of me is my availability to be used as He so wills. It is a joy to be part of His body and to wait upon Him for His will to be done of earth as it is in Heaven. 
"Man makes his plans, but God orders His steps." Proverb 16:9
"The steps of a good man are ordered by God"  psalm 37:23

LIVING MARTYR

Have you ever heard the term a living martyr?  I have heard of a martyr, dying for his faith, but the term a living martyr is like an oxymoron.

As I was reading  Romans 12:1,2, an idea came to me like a light bulb turning  on. "I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies, as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and the perfect will of God."

The expression a living martyr was beginning to make sense. As I surrendered more and more of my life to the Lord,  I was physically alive, but spiritually dying daily to this world.

The Holy Spirit continued to open my eyes with Luke 9:23. "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." 

The expression living martyr has helped me to understand the process of taking up my cross and following Jesus--death to my old man of sin, but alive to Christ in me.

I cannot serve two Kingdoms. I will love one and hate the other. Both Kingdoms are eternal. One is eternal separation from God and the other eternal life.There is only one Kingdom that has eternal life--the Kingdom of God.  His Kingdom is worth forsaking this world and living only unto Him. He desires our whole heart. 

"I have been crucified in Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Gal.2:20

This doesn't mean that the Lord wants us out of the world, but only out of the world's system, its mind-set, morals and unrighteousness.  When Jesus walked on the earth, He said, "The god (ruler) of this world is coming but he has nothing in Me." John 14-30 

As we are transformed more and more into His image, we too will not desire the things of this world.  Our hearts will change to be more like His.  We will be in the world, but not of it. We will testify of His resurrection life in us. Jesus will be uplifted up and draw all men unto Him. 

WORLD'S TOUGHEST JOB

Are you ready to be interviewed for the world's toughest job?  Only the Lord can equip you for this job.

WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN?

Why was His burial face cloth left folded  after His resurrection?  I found this most interesting.

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.  The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of the stony coffin.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. 

 She said, "They have taken he Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!"

Peter and the other disciple went to the tomb to see.  The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.  He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

                                       why is this significant?

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and his Servant. Every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. 

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating. The servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.

The servant would then know to clear the table.  For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm finished" But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because........

                           THE FOLDED NAPKIN MEANT,
                                          
                            "I AM COMING BACK!"
                                             and so He shall


I received this from the dear sister in the Lord and loved it.  I pray it blesses you also.

EVOLUTION VS. CREATION

Recently I was asked, "Do you think the theory of evolution destroys the gospel?  If so, how?

Now, I am no biblical scholar, or some highly intellectual student of Creation, but I do love the Lord and enjoy pondering thoughts that are far greater than I. 

The question was a challenge to me. It made me seek the Lord in His Word to come to my own conclusions. 

During my school years, I was taught the theory of evolution. It made sense to me, until I became a Christian.  The bible opened my spiritual eyes to something far more serious than just believing evolution as truth.


The evolutionist tries to tell me that I evolved from the monkey. But the word of God said that I was created in His image for His glory. Who was I to believe?

 If man evolved from the monkey, in my mind, it would make God a monkey? 

I started to ponder other thoughts about evolution. For instance, what about the eye? Why hasn't it continued to evolved? 

What about the theory of entropy?  The belief that the earth is gradually becoming more and more disorganized not organized. This is witnessed when you burn a piece of wood.  It has lost its information to recreate itself-- an impossible pile of ash.


As I read and investigated more about the theory of evolution, what really began to trouble me, was this question.  If the earth was millions of years old, what about death?  

 If the dinosaurs evolved and became extinct  before the Fall of Adam than  death preceded the Fall?    This line of thinking bothered me.  It violated the gospel. 

 Death first entered into the creation as a result of Adam's sin of disobedience and rebellion. Man lost God's glory. We all have fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23.  There is nothing holy, righteous or good in man. We must be born again.

Satan would love to have mankind  believe that we all evolved from a monkey. He would love to prove that Jesus, as a man, also evolved from a monkey-- blasphemy!  Jesus created the monkey.

The  evolutionary lie continues to persuade man. Creation speaks for itself. 

My heart is at peace. Jesus is God. He rules over His complete creation. Hebrew 1:2

Mark Biltz on Tetred 4 BLOOD MOONS in 2014 and 2015

Mark Biltz is a Messianic brother in the Lord, who believes that his calling is to teach the gentile believers their Jewish roots. I personally found it very interesting.

 Please pray yourself and see what the Lord might discern. God is not finished with Israel.  The age of the Gentiles is fast coming to an end. Then the eyes of the Jewish people will be more opened  to Jesus their Jewish Messiah.

Many Jewish people have already accepted Yeshua Jesus as their Jewish Messiah, but there will be a time when the whole nation will call out to the Lord and say" Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord"  Luke 15:35 What a day that will be!

FOREVER GREEN

Amidst the cold, blustery, ice and snow, stands the majestic  'Evergreen'. In the dead of winter, she hardly notices some of her needles have fallen.  She is green the year around.

This winter has  been particularly fierce with below freezing temperatures. There has been a great amount of ice, sleet and mounds of snow. Right after a snow storm, the landscape always looks so white and clean.  There is something about softly falling snow that refreshes the air   It's sweet smell permeates the air. Too cold  for a walk outside, I just want to curl up and read a book for the day.

After one of our most recent snow storm, I did decide to go out for a walk. No cars were on the road and the sun was shining. It was rather warm. The silence was a touch of heaven. As I walked down the street I noticed several huge evergreen trees weighed down with snow and ice.  The tree had survived  harsh, below freezing weather.

This thought crossed my mind.  What a great picture of  a Christian's life. The Evergreen is forever green. The Christian has eternal life and is forever green. Trials and tribulations come into our lives, like the blustery winds of winter, often challenging the very foundations of our faith.  Yet, the very life of our Lord in us keeps us 'forever' green, as we continue to mature and shed our needles.

 I like to think that when our Heavenly Father  looks down on His creation and sees the Evergreen, it reminds Him of His Bride that He is preparing for His son. She is alive, forever green, and healthy,  amid the dead bare trees. Battered by trials and tribulations, amid the wintry storms of life, she stands strong and glorious. Resurrection life flows through her veins enabling Her to proclaim Her Bridegroom is alive, and coming again for Her soon.  

A GREAT DECEPTION

Have you ever felt sorry for yourself and feel that no one understands or cares how you feel?  I didn't that know these feelings were deep inside me. I soon found out that my emotions  had a mind of their own. I could think one thing and feel another. My spirit was grieved. My prayers were hindered.  What was going on?

Seeking for some answers, I took my grievances to a dear friend. While we were  having coffee, we started to discuss  growing up as kids. It didn't take long before I found myself complaining about my mother and her control over my life. 

From there it started all down-hill. My husband was on the list.  All I wanted was my friend to sympathize and to feel sorry for me, but she would not. She just  patiently listened to my complaining until she couldn't stand it any more.

 "Dottie, it hurts me to hear how you are discrediting God's character. You are full of self-pity.." 

Discrediting God's character? Self pity? I didn't know what she was talking about.  I was just expressing how I felt. It was the truth.  I was getting a little angry inside, thinking that she was a little self righteous in her judgement.  Wasn't there anyone who understood me?

The conversation wasn't  fruitful. I politely excused myself, quietly I stuffed my feelings down again for another day. My friend said that she would continue to pray for me. I felt offended and a little embarrassed baring my heart so openly.

I was miserable.  I couldn't pray.  No one understood me not my husband, not my best friend, nobody. My children were still too young to understand.  Yet, I couldn't escape the thought , "How was I discrediting God's character"  

It kept plaguing me more and more, until one morning I cried out to the Lord, "Lord Jesus, nobody cares about me.  Nobody listens or understands."  By now, I was crying buckets.  Maybe He didn't care either.   Through my tears I heard a small voice say, "Read Ezekiel 16."  I knew if God had anything to say to me it would be in His word. He often spoke personally that way. 
 This is how I interpreted Ezekiel 16 for myself.  "On the day you were born, your parents were not believers, and your cord to the world was not cut.  You were still dead in your trespasses and sin. Nobody pitied you .  You pitied yourself.  But, when I saw you squirming in your human sinful condition without hope, I alone had pity on you and in My compassion I picked you up, and said "live".  

It was like a light bulb lit up in me. It was self pity.  I was deceived, I was discrediting God's character, I was believing a lie.  Yes, I was born in Adam's sin. I was full of self: self effort, self pity, selfishness, self, self, self. It was all about me. 

Now, I understood how I was discrediting God's character.  My complaining and self justification was accusing God. I was calling God a liar, that He didn't pity me. In reality, He was the only one that truly did. He nailed my sin to the cross and raised me to a new life in Him. What more did I need?

Since that day, my whole heart has changed. The deliverance has enabled me understand other areas of sin that I have needed  to deal with. His kindness has led me continuously to repentance. Thus keeping my 'new heart" clean before my Holy God. There is no self-pity in Christ. Every day I am dying more and more to "self" and being transformed into the image and likeness of Jesus.  

THE CLOSET

Right before I wake up in the morning, I often have the most incredible dreams. Some are life changing.  Others are ridiculous and stupid. The ones I do remember are very clear and to the point.  This one particular morning was memorable.

I found myself in this huge bedroom, standing in front of two closets.  In my spirit, I  heard a voice speak to me saying, "Open the door on your left".  Slowly, I opened the door.  It was dark and a horrendous smell like dead fish permeated the air.  When I turned the closet light on, I recognized that it was full of my own clothes. Many were my favorite ones.

Again the voice spoke, "Open the door on your right?" Carefully, I opened the door. I was frightened as to what I might find.  Instead of darkness, the closet was full of brilliant glorious light. It was filled with hundreds of pieces of new colorful garments.  I didn't understand. Was the Lord  going to give to me a whole new wardrobe?  WOW!  How great is that? Like most dreams, right at the best place, I woke up." 

As I laid there thinking about it, I sensed that the Lord had something more for me.  I fell back to sleep.  It was then I started to see this vision. 

"The Lord  was standing between the two closet doors.  Both of the doors were opened. Reaching inside my closet, He took handfulls of cloths off their hangers and threw them in a piggy pile on the floor.

"What are you doing, Lord, "  I was getting upset. My closet was completely emptied and clothes piled in a heap.  It was a mess. He shut the closet door, and printed across the door "Kingdom of Self".

As I started to pick up my clothes from the floor, every article of clothing had something written on it: selfishness, self-confidence, self righteousness, self pity, resentment, self justification, self protection, unforgiveness, fear, doubt, unbelief, anger, impatience, pride, lust, coveting, jealousy, religious, bitterness, independence, etc.  I had no idea my closet was so full of dirty clothes. But what was I going to wear? I must have something good to wear?

The Lord discerned my thought, "My daughter, there was nothing  in your closet acceptable for My Kingdom. Even all your 'good' clothes are filthy to Me."
  
"Lord, "I said, " I don't understand? I am naked!"

"You are right, my daughter. Your old clothes are dirty and ugly. They will be exchanged for Mine. Now, start picking up your old clothes one at a time and hand them to Me.  I will dress you for My Kingdom in garments of righteousness, peace and joy, love forgiveness, kindness, mercy, gentleness, dependence, long-suffering, humility and  much more."

"But Lord, my closet smells so bad! I can't put these new clothes in that closet." I explained.

"It has been completely cleansed, trust Me."

As I sat on the floor amid my old clothes, I contemplated, "Do I have to hand over all of them at once?  It wasn't going to be that easy. Maybe He thought I should wash them more often."

My thoughts were quickly interrupted, "Enough, My daughter." He lovingly spoke, yet with a firm voice, "I have been patient. You must repent. You can not wear your 'old' clothes in My Kingdom."

Then my eyes were opened.  I saw Calvary's cross.  Jesus was wearing all my 'old' clothes.

 Now, I could understood why Jesus said in Mathew 9:17. "You can't put new wine into an old wine skin." "You must be born again." John 3:3

Other scripture verses that came to mind were Colossians 3:9,10,"'Put off the OLD self with its practices and put on the NEW self, which is being renewed  in knowledge  after the image of its creator'. Romans 8:9-10, Romans 12:2., I Cor. 5:16-18.

"GREATER IS HE....."

Several year ago, I had a bible study in my home.  It was a very special group of ladies that I held dear to my heart. One evening, I received a phone call from one of the ladies.

"Dottie, I need help." Her trembling voice cried out", holding back tears. "Will you come and pray with me? I can't go on like this." 

"Jean, is this you?" I asked.  She said it was. We agreed to meet at a near-by restaurant for prayer in half  an hour.  

After settling my family for the evening, I left for the restaurant. Jean was already there and had reserved a booth. We ordered coffee, and as we started to talk,  I could see that she was extremely upset, not the cool, laid back Jean, I knew in class. 

"What is going on Jean?  Tell me about it.?  How can I pray for you?"  I  asked.

"Can we talk in your car? I think it will be more private." She responded.  It all seemed  a little strange to me. But, why not?

 We left a tip, and headed for my car.  At first, Jean was very quiet.  She didn't know where to begin.  I encouraged her to 'just begin".

"Do you know what parapsychology is?"  she confidentially asked. Her whole countenance changed. I told her that I had some idea.

"Isn't it something  like telepathy, clairvoyance, channeling,etc.? It is totally forbidden by the Lord in Deuteronomy 18. I think it is consider an occult spirit," I responded. 

She continued to explain more to me.  What a lie, a deception from the pit of hell.  I have never felt so helpless.  It is one thing to teach the Word and quite another to apply it.

By now, Jean was getting very anxious. "You've got to help me!  Ever since I became a Christian, my mind has been in torment.  I don't know what to do! Since this morning in class, when we were discussing how Jesus came to set the captive free by the authority of His Name, my mind has been so confused. I  cannot rid myself of the thoughts of parapsychology. I want to be set free." Jean was desperate.

My mind flooded with craziness.  Thoughts came from every direction. "Who do you think you are?  Your prayer don't get answered!  It was a contest between my flesh and  spirit. Who was I going to listen to?"

Finally, I had to ask myself,  " Did I believe what I taught or didn't I?" By the grace of God, FAITH rose in my heart. The presence of the Holy Spirit presence was so strong.  My sister Jean was miserable and needed Jesus, now. He was her only hope. Through prayer, I could become an instrument of His grace for her deliverance.

"Jean", I asked, "Are you sure you do not want parapsychology any more?"  She assured me, she did not, and was ready to renounce its control in her mind. She also confessed her agreement with it as sin, repented of it and received God's forgiveness.  I thought everything was going great.  I didn't expect what happened next.

I started to pray, "Lord Jesus, I thank you for the power of the cross and the cleansing power of your blood.  In the Name of Jesus, I take authority over the spirit of parapsychology and all of its influence in Jean's mind. You have no right to oppress her any more.  She is a child of the living God and belongs to Jesus Christ.  You must bow and leave her now."

 Within seconds, Jean fainted and collapsed in the front seat. The presence of the Lord was so strong.  I continued to take authority in the Name of Jesus over the spirit of parapsychology, fear and torment. I commanded it to leave this child of God. I looked over at her.  She was still unconscious.  I knew this battle was the Lord's.  I waited some more.  Just as I was getting really concerned, Jean woke up, lifted her head and said, "Wow, what happened? I feel terrific. All of the heavy fear and torment of the parapsychology has left. It's gone." Jean was thrilled.  We both hugged and rejoiced in the glorious power of the cross. 

I explained to her that Jesus had delivered her from a deeply rooted occult spirit, called parapsychology. Now,it was important that she return home,  throw out very book and anything else related to it.  She was free to renew her mind with the Word of God. 

Jean grew in grace like a weed.  She devoured the Word and never missed church or bible study. Over the years, I have lost contact with my dear sister.  We moved out of the area, but our hearts will always remain one in Christ. That night in the restaurant parking lot, Jean and I meet the power of the living God.  Together, we can confess, "Greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world." Amen 

REJECTION--IT HURTS!

You have to be an alien from another planet never to have experienced rejection. It hurts. It's painful--a human emotion. Your soul feels unwanted, alone, abandoned.

It is often emotionally experienced through an offense, divorce, unanswered prayer, friends,  husband, wife,  children, teacher, the body of Christ. Yes, even your dog and Cat are in the mix! 

When I was seven years old, Louise was my only playmate , until Julie moved in across the street.  My world quickly changed. Now, I was often the third wheel.

One morning, I packed up my dolls -- wheeled my doll carriage over to Louise's house. But, she wasn't there.  Her mother told me that she was playing with Julie  She was sure I would be wanted. Encouraged to go, I left to find them.

I knocked on Julie's door. Her mother answered. "Good morning, my dear, " she said cheerfully. "Are  you looking for the girls? 

Sheepishly, I said "Yes, are they here?" 

She responded "I am so sorry, I haven't seen the girls today."

Needing to use the bathroom, I went inside. There behind the open door sat Louise and Julie eating raisins--giggling with their hands over their mouths.  They were there. Julie's mother lied. Neither one wanted to play with me. The mother encouraged me to go home.

Pushing my doll carriage as fast as I could, I cried all the way home--too afraid to tell my mother.  I thought I had done something wrong.  My heart was dreadfully hurt.

 I ran to my bedroom, closed the door, tears streaming down my face. Fortunately, my mother wasn't in the house. She was out picking apples with my father in the orchard.

 I never told my mother. I was too embarrassed. Rejection had pierced my heart like an arrow.  It's deadly venom laid dormant in my soul for years.  Deeply wounded and fearful of  being rejected again, I protected myself by becoming a people pleaser.

For years, fear of rejection continued to wrap itself around my soul like an ugly snake. It wasn't until I started to understand the gospel and its implications.  The power of God's forgiveness began to heal my soul.

I was in a bible study learning about the Fall of man in the Garden of Eden.  The teacher explained to me  that in the beginning man was perfect-- totally acceptable. Adam's disobedience grievously caused God to expel the couple from the Garden. Man was rejected-- fellowship with God broken. He became detached from the loving heart of the his Heavenly Father. 

Until, one day on Calvary's Hill, the blood sacrifice of God's Son, delivered man from the original imputation of sin. The emotional pain and suffering, caused by God's rejection, Jesus endured  on His body for my healing. His death, burial and resurrection overcame the consequences of Adam's sin in me.

Acquainted with grief and sorrow my Lord was the only one who could to reach into my heart and heal a deep wound.

I had a new identity.  I was born again, restored, and accepted in Jesus, (Ephesians 1:6.) But, one question still remained.

After thirty years, why did I still tear-up just thinking about "the girls eating raisins behind the door?"   Compared to other believer's who had suffered more than I, my wound felt  ridiculous.  

Honestly, I had tried and tried to forgive the girls--nothing.  The pain, the tears, were still there.  Then one day, I had this thought, "Dorothy, you don't have a clue how much you have offended God.  All sin is against God.  Only God forgives sin."

That was my answer. ONLY GOD FORGIVES SIN.  I had been striving in my flesh to forgive Louise and Julie with  HUMAN (my) forgiveness.  It was empty. 

I knew I was forgiven of Adam's sin, but,truthfully I had not received by FAITH God's forgiveness for my own sin.  It made all the difference in the world. 

Now, I was able to extend GOD"S forgiveness to my two friends .I chose to believe that they did not know how much I was offended or they never would have rejected me.  

Forgiving the girls was easier than Julie's mother.  She was an adult. Adults shouldn't lie to children.  Again, the Holy Spirit took me to the cross--forgive as I have forgiven you. Once again, extending God's forgiveness felt good.

 A miracle happened.  For years now, I have been able to share this story and not tear up. The Lord has healed my heart.  No more hurt.  No more pain.  Jesus loves me.  His acceptance crushed the need to be a people pleaser. My only desire, now is to please my Lord, and to forgive others as I have been forgiven.

A DIFFERENT TWIST

This interview I found very thought provoking.  No one knows the day or the hour  that Christ will come, nor who the antichrist really.will be. There are many speculations. View this video, and let the Lord discern it for you. It is something to ponder from a middle East perspective. If you have a problem receiving the video, please go directly to the blog:  dottieinhim.blogspot.com.  It should come up.

ARE YOU HANGING IN THERE?

How often have you used the expression, "I am hanging-in- there" 
I know I have used it many times, when a friend was honestly inquiring. To me, it seemed like an easy answer. Life was too complicated at the moment, and I didn't want to talk. Why couldn't I just be honest and say something like "It's rough. I am not doing well. I would appreciate your prayers.  Thank you for asking. The Lord is good.  He will see me through"

I began to think about this expression and what actually I was conveying. I have to confess, it made me sad. One morning in prayer, I asked the Lord, why do I always seem to use this expression? To my surprise, He answered me with this thought, "My daughter, that expression is an insult to me."  WHAT?? How could it be insulting to the Lord saying "I am hanging- in- there."  I pursued Him some more, "Lord, what do you mean 'I'm insulting you.?" His answer was  humbling. "My daughter, it is just another way of saying, 'you are not giving up. You are strong enough to deal with the circumstances yourself. You are questioning my love and care for you. Am I not enough?  Self-pity is sitting on your shoulder and stealing your joy in Me."

God was right.  He always is, you know.  I have dealt with self-pity many times in my Christian walk.  This was just in another form. I have now come to realize that the only  pity I need, I have already received--God's pity. He saw me in my sin and had pity on me.  He came and died, was buried and raised again to give me His life. I have nothing to feel sorry about.  Jesus is alive and more than enough to answer any unresolved  situation that I might find myself in. I don't have to "hang-in-there" any more.  If you ever hear me expressing this again, please remind me, 'JESUS HUNG FOR YOU.  Enjoy your salvation."