The B I B L E that's the Book For Me!

I’m really enjoying the Bible today cuz the Word of God is perfect (Psalm 18:30)

"As for God, His Way is perfect: the Word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him." (kjv)

Cuz it’s so true from start to finish (Psalm 33:4)

Cuz the Word of God will last forever...litterally (Psalm 119:89)

Cuz it gives us wisdom (Psalm 119:99)

Cuz it can be fully trusted (Psalm 119:138)

Cuz it reveals the truth (Acts 18:28)

Cuz it’s holy in an impure world (Romans 1:2)

Cuz God’s Holy Spirit helps any of us to understand and apply the Bible in our daily lives (1 Corinthians 2:12–16)

Cuz it’s authoritative (Galatians 3:10)

Cuz it’s a Christian’s spiritual weapon when the battle is raging all around us (Ephesians 6:17)

Cuz it’s inspired by God Himself – yup, all of it (I even trust the maps and they weren’t inspired. That’s just my attitude towards this Love letter from God to man / people. 2 Timothy 3:16)

Cuz it judges my / our motives, attitude, heart, and life (Hebrews 4:12)

Cuz the Bible really helps me / us to grow spiritually in Jesus and also want to go share His love with others (1 Peter 2:2) 

Rather than merely goin' with some random pet-verses once in a while, go with all the counsels of God. 

"It takes a whole Bible to make a whole Christian." ~ Alistair Begg

If you lack a vision it doesn't have to be like that forever.

“And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” ~ Hab. 2:2

Who do you hangout with the most? What are they like and who is your closest friend? 

What do your close friends live for? Do they each have a good vision? What are they doing with it? 

If you lack vision so to speak, then look up first..yeah, with the right address attached..to the Father in the Name of Jesus. 

Look to the one who gives em out. 

Then look around and then inside of yourself (I know that sounds kinda New Age, but I'm primarily talking to reborn Christ-followers here. If you are not yet one, you can become one now for Jesus Christ is the greatest gift. Who or what better could you have in your vision?). 

Draw on your natural giftings, talents, and non-sinful-desires. 

Yes, look to your Lord and your calling, believer. Got one with real lucidity that addresses practical needs? Is it really crystal clear yet? 

If you don't think you have one yet, if you don’t sense a vision of your own, then please consider hooking up with the top Leader and leaders whose good vision resonates with you. Become a partner with em if you will. 

That’s what Walt Disney’s brother, Roy, did. He was a good businessman and leader who could make things happen, but Walt provided the vision. It was an earthly vision rather than a spiritual one, but it was a goal. And together, they made a team and together they made a dream come true. As a kid I always enjoyed going to their dream spot in SoCal with my family. Fun place. 

Now what if you partnered with a spiritual believer with a ministry vision that helped people better serve here and also helped people into heaven? Wouldn't that be so great? facebook.com/shareJesus

What Would You Rather Have, a Stick hut or Mansion of sorts?

Think about what the change will be like, believer. It's kinda like a rain-soggy driftwood lean-two-hippie-shack on a neglected beach next to a well-kept pristine sprawling Estate in Bel-Air...

“If you’re a Christian you’re just a shadow of your future self.” —N.T. Wright

The Apostle Paul said, "For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands." 2 Cor. 5:1

Live for Christ. His vacation plan is outta this world. Humbly come to Him with your problems right now. He knows how to fix em all.  

The Lord is more interested in what you can become than in what or where you currently are. Ya know He can change anyone. He’s more interested in your standing now and in your future, than He is in your history. Yup, God’s not interested in your power, work position or popularity, but He is interested in your person and potential – wants to give you a winsome Christ-like personality.

Your prayers of faith will bring a change right where change needs to happen.

Your life matters and has a purpose ..even when it doesn't seem like it ..so opt for faith and order instead of chaos and doubts regarding God's holy character.  

Your story of faith is W A Y important—wanna hear it! How has your relationship with God through Christ made a difference?   

Your dreams count..... unless they're from spicy hot dogs and pizza. Your walk of faith all tight with the Lord really REALLY counts. Why let your changing feelings, impressions, untested dreams, or feelings direct your life? 

Your voice matters—lift it up "..like a trumpet" (Isa. 58.1), and don't be tearin' people down or trash-talkin'.  

You were born to make a significant impact, so be devoted to the God of the Bible.. on His terms ..rather than on your own terms! The people of this world, who don't yet know the joy of salvation, radically need the simple Gospel that you have to offer them. 

Faith and faith-confessions from the Bible-belt area simply don't deliver miracles; God does that in response to biblical faith. We focus and live all-out for Him rather than for them..but miracles from Him ain't bad. Yes, the moment you talk to God about the needs of people around you; this could literally set His angels and bona fide miracles into motion. But remember that the greatest miracle the Lord pulls off is regenerating a dead human spirit when they turn to and trust in Jesus.

Think about those Egyptian magicians back in Mo's day. They could only mimic three of God’s miracles that came through Moses—staffs turned into serpents (Ex. 7:11), water turned to blood (7:22), and the frog plague (8:7).

Unable to mimic the remaining plagues (8:16–11:10), the magicians came up short and acknowledged that those were from “the finger of God” (8:19). The enemy still wants worship (really illegitimately craves it) and to distract people, so he still mimics God and disguises himself. He “masquerades as”, “dressing up as a beautiful angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14-15 msg)—he’s such a poser. facebook.com/shareJesus 

Life happens at you and your loved ones so fast these days, and not always as you'd like.

You and I get surprised sometimes. Think about the Word and your family. Gotta be ready in the Lord's readiness... 

So rather than have your head spin, just familiarize yourself with, memorize, muse over..deeply and diligently apply practical words of truth early... yeah, to fortify and habitually edify. That’s always good preparation for any type of unexpected onslaught.

"We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. 

"Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth."  2 Tim. 2:15 nlt Go like at facebook.com/shareJesus

Try not to stress, fret, worry, or tribulate over the shady people who keep on betraying.

I know that folks get hurt. Perhaps they’ve hurt you as well. Sorry ‘bout that! Perhaps they’ve been shady for a really long time (bad choices piled high..), and they might never change. Many sadly don’t.. though they've had multiple opportunities to. No need to look down at, talk down to, or aid them in their wrong-doin’s and shadiness. If you don't you’re actually better off, and you know at least what you’re really dealing with. 

Don’t throw down your pearls (much more valuable-precious and more personal than bags of cheap corn seed they like to walk on) before spiritual-swine ..so to speak (ya know what I mean..). They like to bite, to trample, to rend, to slice, to shred, and can be very dangerous. Have empathy, pray hard, use discernment, but I want you safe and in God's peace rather than burned out as a real enabler.  

Jesus warned, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces" (7.6matt.bible).  See photo.

Did you know that thunder and lightning happen at the exact same time but light travels faster than sound does.

True! Did ya know that when Jesus died on the cross at Calvary it was completely finished - He won the victory there. Satan, a real individual, was basically de-fanged on that hill.

He only has a third of the angels with him (fallen) and might be out on bail using lies and deceit for a short time, but his sentence has been handed down and will be carried out shortly.

“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” ~ Jesus (Jn. 17:4).

Totally accomplished for you - for God so loved the world that He gave... “Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (Jn. 19:30 nasb). And then you know the rest of the Story ..of how He arose out of the cold grave on the third day according to the Scriptures... and with gobs of eye witnesses too (over 500)! Done. 

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Rev. 12:9-12 nkjv).

“..having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:14-15). In what? In His death on the Cross. 

“They are everywhere.

Searching, groping, longing for more in life.

The bottom line is they have a spiritual thirst.

If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ you too once had that thirst, but you have also had it quenched by your relationship with God.” ~ Anon. 

  Of course I’d rather talk about and stay focused on Christ, but that Mr Lu-Cifer jerk ain’t really gunna be around long. You know that we've all sinned and are deserving of hell, but God through Christ has fixed everything for us. It's cuz He loves us. Yup, paid in full! And that’s some Good News huh.. worth sharing! facebook.com/shareJesus

Who among us will even think about bein' problematic for em if we are busy prayin' for our pastors?

Let's pray for our pastor friends and other para-church ministers that we know.

The lack of a clear vision so to speak.. with our church leadership will lead em to settling for whatever happens. Lame! Why let feelings or random impressions from who knows where.. lead you? But clearly hearing from the Lord according to His Word ..for His specific direction.. and then collectively staying true to Him and that vision ..I mean from the top of your leadership grid down; man, that will indeed allow us see God make things happen for the good and His best in our communities.

Ask that God will help them each take the time for prayer and study in the Bible (very important) so that God's truth is illuminated to em and doesn't come off as dry, dead, fruitless, or even seem mundane. God's Spirit can easily handle that.

Ask that God will continue to use them to plant, water and harvest seeds of truth from Him - you know how people still need Jesus far more than religion, local churches, and man's organizations. Ask in faith that they will enjoy God's mighty power daily, His holy passion inside, and abundant provision for the work.. no matter the circumstances they are facing.

Ask that they will hear from the Lord and have some spiritual backbone to keep living and telling the truth regardless of the opposition and outcome. 

Ask God to give them His kind of boldness in their hearts and minds..His wisdom to apply, His compassion for the last, the least and the lost... supernatural His strength, and great confidence even when they might feel uber-peopled-out around groups, chronics who refuse to apply the Word and around crowds that often pull on his sleeve and his schedule. "our adequacy is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5).  

Not too hard for Jesus. I just figure their faithful leading and Bible feeding of God's sheep sure ain't for wimps at all, and our mighty Lord can indeed give them all the courage that they need today.. yes, them and you, all that we need. Q. Do you merely say your prayers (not pickin' on anyone here..) or do you pray and connect cuz you know Jesus in a personal kinda way? You can hit like at facebook.com/shareJesus 

"Without a vision the people perish and then they simply go to a different perish." ~ Rick Warren

"Before we can pray 'Thy Kingdom come,' we must be willing to pray, 'My kingdom go..'" ~ Alan Redpath

Thinkin' 'bout Spring and some rapidly approaching days...

..days to celebrate on! The death-look of Winter all around is almost behind us and new life is almost here! Love seein' the green and blooms. Liney has already been outside planting things that will flower lately. Are you as ampted as I am? What have you been up to? 

Thinkin’ ’bout April 13 2014 and what happened with all those wavin’ palm fronds and cheers. Thinkin’ ‘bout April 17 and that last warm-hearted meal-gatherin’—a final Passover supper together with the beloved team. You remember how it played out back in the day. Why not read it again!  

“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time.” ~ Herr Martin Luther

The truly repentant sinner is kinda grabbed-hold of by their lapels if ya will. He or she is seized with the enormity of his or her sin in the light of Calvary’s Cross, and they refuse to ignore or excuse it any longer. He or she points no finger of blame at anyone else, but quickly addresses their own sin and comes to terms with it, with the help of the living God. 

Thinkin’ ‘bout April 18 and that darkened, cloudy Friday afternoon..on a lonely hill far away.   

Thinkin’ about a hurting mother’s tears on the ground, and even more with a man that didn’t do any wrong. Her son and leader who gave it all. Sure, she too had sinned and rad-needed Him..like we do. A real Savior. Weren’t (and aren’t) any others to choose from. Thinkin’ ’bout April 20th and the Cross-experience there, nailed!..followed by an emptying. Jesus Christ is alive and now you can enjoy a meaningful, close friendship with Him. Why be a good example of some bad example (too many do that..), when you can become a good example of the best example—Christ.  

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” ~ Paul, Colossians 2:13–14 nkjv

My sin—O, the bliss of this glorious tho’t—

My sin—not in part, but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! ~ Horatio Spafford

Yes and thinkin' about that hole in the rock below Calvary's hill...that was once VIP-occupied. Not there now. He left there. So echo-empty now. Hello, hello, hello! Nobody in there and 500+ eyewitness saw Him. So glad!  

But have I no grounds to celebrate on others days you might ask? No I do because of this ress-day. We all have good reason n will do..everyday! But hey, let’s do our homework, seek Him all-out, pray for our pastors and other ones, and also go find a healthy Bible teachin’ church to worship God at..to go peddle-to-the-metal celebrate in..with family..and take others with as well.

God says go tell. “Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:9

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"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" ~ Psalm 147:3

Are you feelin’ kinda down and wanna know the One who can comfort? “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 

Need nine more of em..uplift verses? Okay, here's some words for you for when you're feelin' kinda sad.

In a day when zero is sacred anymore or worthy of respect, choose to be different from those in the world.

Keep it simple, straightforward, considerate, and others-oriented. Most'll keep it self-oriented, but Christ empowers, and guess what.. self-control is still a fruit of the Spirit He gives. So opt to behave, to show people proper respect. Slow down, listen, get their door, let em go before you, ask if they need assistance—be very respectful even of family members that we daily rub elbows with. It's imperative! Duh. Choose to take none for granted. It's so easy to do that, and to take too many things personal or to react in the flesh. I've reacted in the flesh before, not proud of it ..like out there in rush hour traffic when someone is wavin' me half a peace-sign backwards for not going 85. Reacting doesn't help. Could escalate things real ugly..and real fast. 

It's almost Easter time, so let's think about what Jesus did when they spat upon and insulted Him etc. Did He follow the Holy Spirit's leading then, or just go-off-on people He could have snuffed out in a sec? You already know the answer. And you know that the Bible-God is a wonderful Person of great grace, mercy, agape love and full understanding. Do you remember the kinda of respect that Jesus showed to those two guys dying to the left and to the right of Him there at Calvary? Hey, those two were no choir-boys. But that's how He witnessed for the Father all through His life. He is our example today. Christ is still so full of grace and mercy, far beyond what you or I can comprehend or even fathom. In the same way, we should be and act as He did ..and does.. minus all spiritual compromise.. as we extend His kinda unearned grace on to others in need of it. Foolish-enabler or doormat like, Kurt? Naww not that way, but wisely show respect.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Gal. 5:22-25

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Eph. 5:8-11

It's simply a good witness to the world. We as believers might not agree on everything 100% of the time, that's more than understandable. But we can agree on biblical Essentials and on showin' respect to all persons that we meet. In today’s perverse fame-worshippin'-world, what does this even mean.. practically speaking? Well, to me.. just think about how you would help or treat your kind grandparents when they asked or needed you. Go do that kinda thing to others before they ask. It might surprise em.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" ~ Jesus, Matt. 5:43   

Careful how you communicate face to face. It's of course okay to share your feelings, or how certain behaviors ill-affected a spouse or another friend's feelings or life,..who you care about. It can literally bring out the worst in a rude person who only wants you to be blind to all their base selfishness and aweful hubris. Next time someone behaves really rotten, is totally rude beyond belief, and is rad-disrespectful to a friend or to you as a Christian (it happened to me just last week), simply choose not to take it personally. Sinners sin cuz they're sinners and need a new nature inside. Perhaps the person was in a big rush, or they have the wrong best (rude) friends that influence them, or were feelin' kind of convicted about their stubborn evil way. Hey, God knows and wants to win them over as well. Do you always have to remain silent before them? Nope. Christ didn't always. The Apostle Paul didn't always and God can give you the right words if you simply ask. There have been several times when I say, Stop that, you're hurting em.

So many were very rude and disrespectful to God. So many still are today.  

You might run into some of them this week. Ask the Lord to give you His love for them today. I have to, cuz there are times when I feel like punching dudes. Remember, worldlings hated Jesus in His day because they really loved their own sins more than our heavenly Father. Christ's holy presence convicted them to the bone ...of their evil deeds, and wicked hearts. The darkness still hates the light, but walk in the light as children of the light. Yeah, shine His light anyways. Love always protects and that's so important for those you are responsible for, but also seek to wisely show respect to all people in spite of how you feel, in spite of what they deserve, inspite of what they say or do. Does showing respect and forgiving em in your heart mean you're saying they were right? No. Does it mean that you auto-remove all the consequences for their bad decisions ..always? No. Often times it's wiser not to. God loften leaves em in tact as teachers. It simply means you showed respect, were graciously kind, and in your heart.. you fully forgave em because Someone on Cross back in the day.. forgave you when you didn't deserve it.  facebook.com/shareJesus