NOT JUST A BABY

No matter what the world says--IT IS CHRISTMAS TIME--the most celebrated Christian holiday all around the world. It is OUR day and we should not back down from our celebration. We carry in our hearts the greatest TRUTH to all men everywhere--God's grace and mercy for all who will believe and receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The sinner has been forgiven and born again by the Holy Spirit.

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to CONDEMN the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is NOT condemned, but whoever DOES NOT believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment. The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But WHOEVER does what is true, comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God." (John 3:1-21)

When I was growing up, the Christmas pageant was the highlight our church's celebration. I always wanted to play Mary, but settled for being an angel.  One year my mother made me incredible angel's wings out of coat hangers and white crepe paper. I will never forget them.  They looked so real.  My father for years played the third wise man, singing the third verse of  'We Three Kings' as he came up the center aisle, to kneel before the baby Jesus.

 The pageant left such an impression on my mind, that when we had grandchildren, we started our own Christmas pageant tradition.  For fifteen years,the grand children would dress up and play their parts.  O course, the part of Mary would have to be shared. Often when there was a newborn that year, we had a REAL baby Jesus.  Pop-Pop read the Christmas story and the children acted it out.  I was the coach behind the scenes.  As each grandchild grew older, they would help me dress the younger ones and teach them their parts or lead in singing.  With thirteen grandchildren, you can see that we had plenty of actors. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FAITHFUL READERS, YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. CHRISTMAS DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN REMEMBERING THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. CHRISTIANITY IS THE ONLY  FAITH WHERE GOD SO LOVED THE THE WORLD THAT HE CAME DOWN TO DIE FOR OUR SINS AND TO BRING US BACK TO HIMSELF. MAY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE.   

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The power of the Holy Spirit is an almighty Spirit.  He can change the stony heart into a heart of flesh.  He can break up and destroy the strongest bad habits, like paper in a fire.  He can make the most difficult things seem easy, and the mightiest objections melt away like snow in spring. He can fill up every valley, and make every rough place smooth.  He has done it often, and He can do it again.

Does anyone of us desire to help the church of Christ?  Then let him pray for a great outpouring of the Spirit.  Only the Holy spirit can give edge to sermons, and point to advice, and power to rebuke, and can cast down the high walls of sinful hearts.  What is needed this day is more of the presence of the Holy Spirit.                                               

                            Taken from Herald of His Coming J.C. Ryle
                                                                                            

This article makes me think of Luke 3:16. John the baptizer  says,"I indeed baptize with water, but one is coming mightier than I , the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose:  He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with FIRE."

I never realized that the power of the Holy Ghost was like FIRE. Jesus told His disciples that He would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to replace Himself on earth and that He would baptize them with FIRE.   It would be His power in them to be His witnesses that He was resurrected.  

I believe the Holy Spirit's power burns up the 'old man of sin' and out of the ashes He raises up a new creation in the image and likeness of  Christ in the believer.  It doesn't happen over night, but the fire of the Holy Spirit will eventually burn up the old life of sin.

Fire is powerful.  It will produce ashes of anything that it burns.  There is quite a difference between the baptism of John to repentance and the baptism of Jesus with fire!  This is a whole revelation and teaching in itself. 

IS YOUR FAITH BUILT ON A SINKHOLE?

The other night, as I was watching the news, right before my eyes, I saw a family home fall into sinkhole. Perhaps you witnessed this too. A home that once sheltered a family from tornados, hurricanes and fire, all of a sudden disappeared. It was gone forever.  In this story, however, I learned that a man was in his bed and never knew what happened to him.  You might ask, why would  anyone build or buy a house built on a sinkhole? I don't think it was intentional. Perhaps the builders, knew better. However, the question still stands, did the builder seriously research information before he developed the area?

This incident made me begin to think, "Is my faith up to code, or is it built on a sinkhole?  Will it hold me through a devastating  crisis, if I lose everything I have held dear?  What if the culture has changed and I am separated from my family and placed in a concentration camp because of my faith? Is my faith built on a rock or a sinkhole?" 

In Mathew 16:13-20, Jesus shows great  concern for the faith of  His own disciples when He asks them this question, "Who do you say that I am?"  He wanted to make sure that their faith was built on Him and not an religious concept. Simon Peter responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.".  And Jesus answered him saying,"Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this ROCK I will build my church, and gates of Hell  shall not prevail against it.."  Jesus Christ is the SOLID ROCK  of our salvation. We build on Christ alone.

Human faith  is a sinkhole. It is NOT enough.  If it was, we would be boastful and proud of our faith. But, it is a gift of God, by grace through faith, so we can't boast.  (Eph.2:9:10) Faith is like a muscle.  We have to use it or it will grow weak. That is why the Lord allows trials and tribulations to test our faith to see whether we are "built up" or "puffed up".  If our relationship with Jesus Christ is real and a growing living relationship, WE ARE NOT BUILDING ON A SINKHOLE!   If our faith is built upon the "rock", the person of the Lord Jesus, there is no reason to fear.  He has promised to never leave or forsake us and to bring us safely to His home in His time. 

RIDING OUT THE TIDAL WAVE

In the early nineties, I had a dream  of a huge earth quake shaking the East Coast. Buildings were falling all around me. In the midst of all this devastation, I saw coming in from the Atlantic ocean a humongous wave.  It was a tsunami.  I cried out to the Lord, " Jesus help!".  As soon as I did, I saw the front door to my house floating by.  The Lord told me to get on it.  I obeyed.  Then, I found myself standing on the door, riding the wave like a surfer.  I felt safe and secure, capable of riding out the storm. I woke up.

"Lord," I asked, "what was that all about.  What do you want me to know?"

The following thoughts quickly came to my mind.  The earth quake was the breaking up of America's morals as a nation.  The tsunami following was a sprue of filth.  Porn was rapidly spreading throughout the land, the occult was openly practiced , homosexuality was respectable, abortion was exceptable and atheism was becoming a religion. Weather patterns were changing causing much destruction. More judgement was coming to the church.  She would be shaken to the core, separating Her from the world to be a Light to the Nations. It is coming true.

 " Lord, thank you for the door to ride out this storm. You are the door." My thoughts went to Noah and the ark and how the Lord protected him from the flood. For 120 years the Lord tried to warn the people to repent, but they refused.  Only Noah and his family survived the judgment. 

"Jesus said, As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.( Matthew36-40 ) The world at that time was wicked and no one worshiped the true God except Noah.  In the days and years ahead, Jesus is our only safe place.   The Lord is the the Ark.  Jesus is the door to the Ark.

"Truly, truly, I say to you.  I am the door of the sheep.  All who come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I AM THE DOOR.  If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pastures.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly"  John 10:7-10

A desert place

Why was I so angry at God?  I loved the Lord.. He died for my sin.  I have been in the faith for forty-five year seeking to know Him and His ways. Why should I be angry?  I received the Holy Spirit and the gift of prayer (tongues) to pursue a deeper relationship with Him. It didn't make any sense. I certainly didn't want anyone to know, especially the Lord. Christians don't get mad at God.

This condition led to a spiritually dry desert place with no rain in sight. I prayed and prayed, but the clouds were empty.  My bible reading was dull, no life. I started to murmur and complain.  'Lord where are you?  I am crying out to You?  Why don't you answer?  Why are you hiding?  The body of Christ is so full of apathy and I am mad. Don't you care"

For weeks it had been a struggle to reach His heart and to hear His voice. It wasn't like Him.  I confessed my murmuring and complaining hoping to find a release, but nothing.  Prayer was hard, but I pressed in hoping to break through.   I thought to myself, "The Lord is testing me."  Will I persevere in prayer through a a dry time? That has to be it. I have been there before, but why am I so angry?

 I finally got a breakthrough when the Lord said to me, "My child why are you so angry at Me.?

"Lord, I am not angry with You.  I am angry at Your church.  Remember the five virgins asleep with no oil in their lamps. Why don't you do something?

"My child, whose Bride is it?  Why is it your concern. Am I not building my church, My way?"

"Yes, Lord,"

The scriptures were brought to my mind,. Numbers 20: 8-13  There was no water.  Moses was so angry with the people's  murmuring and complaining.  The Lord told him to speak to the rock, but instead of speaking he  struck the rock twice.   His disobedience forfeited his entering the promised land..

I got it. Once again the Holy Spirit brought to light the voice of the Lord through scripture.  I heard it loud and clear. The Rock was Jesus.  He has told me to speak to him concerning His body, not to strike it with my anger. My heart was grieved. I thought I was so justified.  I repented of my anger and confessed my sin to the Lord. Again my pride had revealed.  How many times has He told me that my pride steals His glory. Truly, in my flesh dwells no good thing.  I am so grateful for the Lord's forgiveness and especially the Holy Spirit's conviction that leads me to repentance.

I am very grateful that I am not Moses. Moses wasn't able to go into the promised land.   Jesus is my promised land. I am in Him and He is in me.  By faith my anger is on calvary. Jesus is the Rock that was struck at calvary for me.  Now I am to only speak to Him, obey Him and not get angry. I am no longer in the dry , desert place.  I have been restored until the next time.  On to  glory.

SIX LITTLE STORIES

                                 SIX LITTLE STORIES


 I would like to share six little stories with you today. They are short and easy to remember.


1.  Once all the people in a village decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella  "THAT'S FAITH."

2.  When you throw babies in the air, they laugh because they know you will catch them.  THAT'S  TRUST"

3.  Overnight we go to bed without any assurance of being alive  the next morning, but we still set the alarms to wake up.  "THAT'S HOPE"

4.  We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.  "THAT'S CONFIDENCE "

5.  We see the world suffering, but still we get married and have children.  "THAT'S LOVE"

6.  On an old man's shirt was written a sentence "I am not 81 years old"  I am sweet 16 with 65 years of experience.  THAT'S ATTITUDE."

MORE HARBINGERS HAVE TAKEN PLACE

I happened to tune in on this discussion with Rabbi Cahn, the author of the Harbinger .  I thought you might be interested.  We don't know the future, but we know who holds the future. Without repentance, there will be no lasting revival.  I believe the Lord is reaching out to His people, now, to repent and be ready for an outpouring of Holy Spirit in an unprecedented way.  Our God is holy, righteous and good.  He is patience and long suffering not desiring for any to perish.  God's judgment is upon us, but by the grace of God, He is staying His hand and showing us great mercy that we don't deserve.

Please listen, pray and repent for yourself.  And remember, we can stand in the gap for those who do not yet know the Lord. Be blessed today my brothers and sisters.

THE GIFT OF PAIN

The flower garden was starving for attention. Every time I looked out my kitchen window there were,  I was looking at ugly weeds and dry mulch.  I had to get out there.  It was a beautiful spring day at 72 degrees.  

Many times I have been told do my stretches before gardening to prevent my back from going out, but did I obey?  No!  I thought I could get away with it.  I felt fine for three hours.  Then a back pain began to hit me. Just a little at first.  Even that didn't stop me.  I kept digging and pulling up weeds. I could do this!  At 77 years old you would think that I would have learned.  But I haven't.  It was four hours before I stopped,.  Stepping back to admired my work , it  happened.  My back was gone.  The muscles were pulled in all directions.  I came into the house and put ice on my back and rested for the afternoon.  By the next morning I could barely walk without pain. My husband and some close friends prayed for me. "Confess your sin to one another, so that you may be healed."

"Forgive me Lord, I have no one but myself to blame.  I didn't obey your instruction to stretch. But if you have something that you want to share with me through this pain, I am ready to hear."  This was Friday afternoon.  By Saturday, nothing.  Sunday nothing. Monday still pain.

I started to praise the Lord for the pain trusting that He was delaying healing for a greater glory. I closed my eyes to seek the Lord.  In my spirit I heard these words, "Thank you for sharing in My pain."' 

  "Lord,"  I cried, "My pain is nothing compared to what You endured. "  Tears filled my eyes meditating on the cross.  He felt my pain. Jesus knows human pain.  Then I heard Him say,"Thank you for suffering with me, my child, but remember what I have shared with you before."  I asked the Lord to remind me.

"Pain, suffering, sickness and disease are the consequences of sin in a fallen world.  Every human being inherited these consequences because of the Fall.  But, look at the cross.  My Father put all sin, pain, suffering, sicknesses and diseases on my body, so I could give you my healthy body.  I am alive, my child.  I have no pain in my body.  I will take yours and consume it in mine."  Tears fell again.

"Lord, You are too good.  I am thank you for this pain, because it reminds me again and again of your suffering for me.  I  have a short memory and I am grateful for you keeping close to Your heart.  By your stripes I am healed and I receive Your healing in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, "Rise and walk." No pain.

HOW BIG IS YOUR OCEAN?

Once a man had a dream. He was standing on a sandy beach looking out over the ocean.  He was holding an empty bottle of water in his hand, when he heard a voice say to him, "My son, what do you see?".  

He responded, "I see the ocean".

"You are right, my son. Now throw that empty bottle out into the ocean."  

So he threw the empty bottle of water out into the ocean . Then the voice said to him, "Now what do you see?"

" I see the ocean with an empty bottle of water bouncing on the top of the waves.  But wait, the bottle is disappearing.  I can't see it any more."

"You are right, my son.  The bottle is full of water and has sunk to the bottom. Now what do you see.?'

"All I see is the ocean."

Then the man woke up.  We wondered what that was all about.  After some thought and prayer,  this is what came to his mind, 

"The ocean is God, the Holy Spirit.  I am like that empty bottle bobbing around in God thinking that I am a Christian.  But when I saw myself disappearing into the ocean I then realized how important it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  People would see Jesus  instead of me.  My whole life becomes more and more a desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit to glorify God and not myself. "

What a great dream..   To be filled with the Holy Spirit is a Pentecostal experience.  It is available for all believers.   When Jesus came out of the water of baptism of John, He was filled with the Holy Spirit. and then led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tested.  After passing the test He was ready to start His greatest works revealing the Kingdom of God.

 Without the filling of the Holy Spirit, we too as believers have no power to witness the resurrection of our Lord or to overcome this world, our flesh or the evil. one.  Thank you Jesus for showing us the way, the truth, the life and sending us the Holy Spirit. 

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CROSS,

Today, I believe God is calling His people out of the world. Out of , our soulish desires (our flesh) to be a witness once again that Jesus is alive, resurrected, and living His life through His body, the true church.

Over the centuries our intellects have been educated about God. Thousands of books have been written.  Doctrines have been preached that have split churches. Our minds have become so full of the knowledge about God, but, who is He? 

It is so easy to be caught up in religion and even the thrill of the charismatic movement. But here too, Satan can counterfeit spiritual gifts, signs and wonders. But He can not counterfeit the love of our Savior living His life through His body the true church.

 St. Paul understood the two sides of the cross: death and resurrection. "I have been crucified in Christ, it is no longer I that lives but Christ that lives with in me. And the life I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and died for me." Gal 2:20. 


"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.  For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?"  

You ask, how can I live in His resurrection life when I still sin? Repent and turn to God.  He will take your sin to the cross and release His forgiveness. You will actually experience the great exchange: your life for His.


Because He lives, we can face tomorrow knowing that His great love and forgiveness is always available in every circumstance to transform us into His image.  His resurrection power is continuously being released into the earth through the Holy Spirit and into His body, the true church.  If He is lifted up in us He will draw all men unto Himself.

Let us forsake this world and only unto Him be true.

Who Am I - Casting Crowns (w/ lyrics)

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I pray that you will be blessed and encourage by this song.  It is good to know that the Lord is understanding and will always listen to you.  He doesn't always agree, but will listen.  I love that about Him.  It is important to listen to one another and to know that you are heard.  it doesn't mean you have to agree with that person, but at least respect them enough to listen.

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

I would like to introduce you to a dear brother in the Lord, David Pawson.  He has been in the faith for 60 years and still teaching. He is English and his great grandfather knew John Wesley and his grandfather knew Charles Spurgeon.  He is a great man of faith and has been a blessing to my growth in knowing the person of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Our God is relational and we can know Him intimately by the Holy Spirit and through His Word. His teaching on the book of Revelation is amazing.  For the first time I can say, "I am blessed to read this book".  I have heard many teachings and interruptions, but I believe David Pawson has had a revelation of the Words of Jesus to warn His Bride of the days to come and that He would protect and keep her in His love through all Her trials and tribulations in this life.  Revelation is this only letter that Jesus wrote personally to His Bride.  His teaching has brought a peace to my soul and a hunger to know Him more.

Receiving the Holy Spirit into our spirit is so important.  He is the revealer of all truth.  He alone lifts up Jesus in us and through us. He is the third person of the God head and we must not neglect Him or we will never know our Lord or His Word.  It will be all in the head and not in our hearts.