THE LIVING GOD – ENLIGHTENS

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Barbara Jones

Are your #Christmas #lights on? Do you use #candles, colored lights, spot lights, twinkling ones or all the fore mentioned? I love natural beeswax candles. In fact on my Christmas tree, I even have some beeswax angel ornaments that imminate a warm glow when the light passes through them. Candles not only shed light, but give such a warm luster to everything and everyone around them. I think food tastes better illuminated by candle light. I have had many different lighted Christmas trees in my lifetime. There have been live ones, flocked ones, artificial ones, but every tree had some lights. Some lights lasted longer, some were prettier than others, but each had a way of illuminating my hopes and dreams through the triumphs and tragedies I was facing. When painting with oils on a canvas, I have been amazed how light on dark makes a picture come to life. The Bible tells us it is His Light that gives us Life…Psalm 18:28 “FOR THOU WILL LIGHT MY CANDLE: THE LORD MY GOD WILL ENLIGHTEN MY DARKNESS” … Is His light on in your life?

THE LIVING GOD – EYES

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Barbara Jones

This morning I was awakened to the sound of a #leaf#blower. I arose, dressed, and scurried outside to confer with my yardman because it was the wrong day and hour for mowing. He informed me that his schedule was changed as he had to go out of town. As I return inside to get a cup of coffee to sip, take a seat, and then slip on my reading glasses so I can see the Word from my Bible, I start sneezing! My glasses slip off -I put them on -ah-chew – off – sneeze – I saw the lights! This goes on and on. My eyes are watering, ears are itching, my nose is running, my heart is fluttering, and the tissues are flying. I get up head to the bathroom to brush the pollen out of my hair and wash my hands and face. I then refresh my cup of coffee, return to my chair, and resume my time with God’s Word. I carefully place the reading glasses over my nose so my eyes can read the written words of the Bible. My eyes, nose, and ears are still itchy, but I will not touch them as I open the page to Psalm 33:13,18;34:15 “THE LORD LOOKS FROM HEAVEN” – “Behold, the EYE OF THE LORD IS UPON THEM THAT FEAR HIM, UPON THEM THAT HOPE IN HIS MERCY” – “THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN UNTO THEIR CRY” Have you ever felt the presence of the LIVING GOD as you sit in chaos?

THE LIVING GOD – FIRSTFRUITS

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Barbara Jones

What thoughts come to you when you think about Thanksgiving? Food just might come to mind. I know we all have a picture of that perfectly basted turkey with dressing/gravy. As a child my favorite dish was the fruit salad with all the fresh apples, bananas, pineapple, oranges which were topped with whipped cream. Way back in the 40’s, fruit was only available during it’s growing season, but on special holidays they would have limited supplies of fruits from the tropics. Today our grocery stores make fresh foods available year round that come from around the world via transport and refrigeration. I wonder if that has given many a sense of entitlement with gratitude and thankfulness being tossed aside. As you enjoy this Thanksgiving would you read with me about the Firstfruits in 1Corth. 15:20-28 “NOW IS CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD, AND BECOME THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THEM THAT DIED. For like Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive, but every man in his own order: CHRIST THE FIRSTFRUITS; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to GOD, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death…When all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him that put all things under him, that GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL.” Thank you, LORD…

THE LIVING GOD – REVEALED

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Barbara Jones

https://youtu.be/MnVpQrqX-ls

Have you ever been #shocked by a #friend who was wearing a mask and costume? At Halloween many people #disguise their #identity by altering their appearance. Behind the facade one can pretend to be a warrior, devil, beauty, star, angel until your true identity is revealed. I have observed many people over the years who behave like chameleons by changing their demeanor to blend with their current environment. Some would say, “They go along to get along!” I grew up on the Texas panhandle where the wind whips through those plains. I could see those tumble weeds being blown with every gust of wind to the north, south, east, or west. I learned that I had to lean into that wind to hold on to my course in order to get to my destination otherwise I would be tossed to and fro. Are you thrown off course by bellowing hot air spewing forth on line? Today, the news outlets give many people masks which they hold up before the world and then abruptly remove them thereby revealing their true identity. The Bible has revealed God’s identity to us. Christ is my mainstay so I don’t get swept away by every shocking deceitful actor’s unmasking! “Mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now is manifest (made known) TO WHOM GOD WOULD REVEAL WHAT IS THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF THIS MYSTERY AMONG THE GENTILES; WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY” Col.1:26,27

“WITHOUT CONTROVERSY – GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS:

GOD WAS REVEALED IN THE FLESH

WAS JUSTIFIED IN THE SPIRIT

WAS SEEN OF ANGELS

WAS PROCLAIMED AMONG NATIONS

WAS BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD

WAS RECEIVED UP INTO GLORY” 1Tim.3:16

Now is the time to Take off your mask -Lean into the LORD = Hold on to His Word.

THE LIVING GOD – QUICKENED

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Barbara Jones

In my opinion #Miracles do happen. However, the #entertainment industry has produced films which show the #dead coming back to #life in various scenarios to dwell among us by intermingling to taunt, haunt, or advise! Stories usually portray a mad scientist with a secret formula that restores life to the deceased. All of the scripts are dark, treacherous, foreboding, which intrigue one to believe man is smarter (sound like satan?) than GOD our maker. The Bible has the true script written by GOD’s Holy Words through His chosen scribes that reveal miracles that only GOD can perform by giving life to the dead. “Up from the grave He arose!” Yes, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by GOD’S provision. But what about us? Eph.1:3,10,12 “Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.. that in the plan of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both in heaven and which are on earth even in Him…that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.” 2:1,2,5 “YOU, CHRIST HAS QUICKENED (given life) WHO WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS where in times past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (satan) the spirit that works in the children of disobedience…Even when we were dead in sins, GOD QUICKENED US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST, (by grace you are saved) Colossians 2:12-15 “Buried with Christ in baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of GOD, (great physician) who has raised Him from the dead. . . You being dead in your sins…GOD QUICKENED YOU TOGETHER WITH HIM , having forgiven you all trespasses…took it out by nailing it to His cross spoiling principalities and powers, He showed them openly, triumphing over them.” Yes, the Bible tells me so and that is a Miracle of Miracles!

THE LIVING GOD’S – BLOOD

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Barbara Jones

“There is #power in the #blood ” These words I have been singing from a hymnal at church since I was a young child. As a child, I could not understand why we were singing about blood, because when I skinned my bloody knee it was painful. I equated blood with pain not power! Then there were the scary ghostly costumes around Halloween that were freaky. Of course “way back then” there was no television to bring horror and gore to behold in ones own home. As I matured I realized that blood is life giving and that Jesus’ blood that He shed for us is what gives us eternal life! Now that is something to sing about for a lifetime. Heb.9:14 “the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleansed your conscience from dead works to serve the living God“ Eph.1:7″In Jesus Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” As many go out into the darkness of night wanting a handout, I would like you to think on the difference between Satan/darkness and God/light. Will you choose the trick of Satan or the treat of God? “if we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses us from all sin.” There is living power in the blood of Jesus!

THE LIVING GOD – MYSTERY

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Barbara Jones

Who done it? I have to admit watching #mysteries at the #museum and mysteries of the #missing. I like solving or watching the unfolding of circumstances about #people, #structures, and #events that were #unknown until new information or technology came to light. DNA has solved many crimes enabling us to close the door on doubt. The satellites flying throughout our universe open our eyes to so much of GOD’S unknown creation. His Word reveals in 1Timothy 3:16 “without controversy GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: GOD WAS REVEALED IN THE FLESH, JUSTIFIED IN THE SPIRIT, SEEN OF ANGELS, PREACHED UNTO THE GENTILES, BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD, RECEIVED UP INTO GLORY..4:1Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils speaking lies in false pretense.” Sound familiar? Paul wrote in Ephesians 3 “by the grace of God He made known unto me the mystery so you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ….to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in GOD, Who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which He planned in Christ Jesus our Lord...19. To know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge that you might be filled with all the fulness of GOD.” Has there been a hidden mystery? Paul says in Colossians 2:26, “Even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generation, but now is known to His saints: to whom GOD made known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.” 2:2,3“hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD, AND OF THE FATHER, AND OF CHRIST; IN WHOM ARE HID ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE” Mystery solved!

THE LIVING GOD’S – #COMPLAINT

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Barbara Jones

As a young girl in grade school, I was a #Brownie and then a #Girl Scout for five years. After all the passing years, I still have all the pins, scarves, knife, pictures, and memories of friends and leaders at meetings and camp that taught me life lessons on survival, caring, and sharing all the while upholding God and country. I remember sore fingers from poking whole cloves into an orange to make a scented gift to share with a loved one for Christmas. Then the year at summer camp when we hiked into the prairie to cook an egg on top of a tin can sitting on the fire we started from rubbing sticks together ( it didn’t work) So our leader sent me back to camp to get some matches! That’s what a girl scout does(so I thought)so our troupe could eat. We did have singing and a huge bon fire that night. I certainly did not want to be a boy scout …I was a girl scout.! I have contention with waring factions against God’s creation of male and female! I want eyes, ears, and hearts open to God’s Words. Micah 6 “Hear now what the LORD SAYS…CONTEND before the mountains, ..HEAR THE LORD’S COMPLAINT….for the LORD HAS A CONTROVERSY WITH HIS PEOPLE. 9. The LORD’S voice cried unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear you the rod, and who has appointed it. Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the lawless that is abominable. 7. Woe is me..The good man is perished …: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net (I think internet today) that they may do evil with both hands. Trust not in a friend, put no confidence in a guide: for the son dishonors the father the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. (sound familiar to internet connections) Where do you turn? 7:6″Shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high GOD?” 7″I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the GOD OF MY SALVATION: MY GOD WILL HEAR ME.” My complaint is that people are COLD. Just as I went back to camp for matches as a girl scout, now I would like to carry the book of God’s Word to ignite a fire within you which will illuminate His love to all in your circle of life.