Do you need #help? Where do you turn for #direction? – #Siri? #Alexa? When someone wants to know ‘how to’ achieve a #goal today, I have observed everyone clicking onto the internet for the #knowledge needed to complete the task at hand. Computers have made information and resources readily available at our fingertips. With this empowerment of knowledge are we better or bitter? I see our world raging with entitlement from self superiority! “No one tells me what to do or how to do it” is coming through loud and clear in my ear from a society rebelling against the all knowing God’s directions. If you want to be a know it all then go to the One Who Knows It All. “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD IS A GOD OF KNOWLEDGE, and BY HIM ACTIONS ARE WEIGHED.” 1Sam2:3 If a computer can tract your actions, how about GOD’S surveillance? “GOD KNOWS THE SECRETS OF THE HEART”Ps.44:21 “THE LORD KNOWS THE DAYS OF THE UPRIGHT” Ps.37:18 As a child about eight years in age, I thought my father knew everything. So after he answered a question which stumped me, I was feeling my oats and said, “I guess when I graduate from college you will still be smarter than me.” He didn’t correct my grammar from me to I, but just gave me a big smile! I wonder if our heavenly Father just smiles at us when we think we can surpass His Knowledge? My prayer is that I will listen and follow God’s instruction through His Word for Jesus said, “MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, and I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME.” John 10:27
Author: Barbara Jones
THE LIVING GOD – POWER
#Power is appreciated by all whether the source is through #electricity, #water, #wind, #sun, #machines, or #man. I see ads for products to promote powerful bodies or to get you to buy their power drink. Switch the channel and the commercial is showing you that car with the most horsepower. I can remember when scientists split the atom enabling the atomic bomb; however, we didn’t stop there! Later America was sending men into space (without the internet) and they had to splash down in the ocean upon re-entry! Today we have computers that are pushing the envelope in all avenues of life, but have we overlooked the true power source? Open your eyes to happenings around you…Acts 1:7″It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in His own power” Power is in God’s control. Do you rely on the power company constantly? How about GOD? “Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the POWER OF GOD” ICorth.2:5 For us personally and eternally, God’s power is demonstrated through Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection. “preaching of the CROSS is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved IT IS THE POWER OF GOD” 1Corth.1:18 Paul instructs us of God’s might in Eph.1:19 “WHAT IS THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TO US-WARD WHO BELIEVE, ACCORDING TO THE WORKING OF HIS MIGHTY POWER, WHICH HE WROUGHT IN CHRIST WHEN HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, AND SET HIM AT HIS OWN RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY, AND POWER, AND MIGHT, AND DOMINION AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED NOT ONLY IN THIS WORLD, BUT ALSO IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME.” “Christ was crucified through weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. We also are weak like him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you” 11Corth.13:4 It is written in Matthew 28:18 “JESUS CAME AND SAID, ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH” I trust in His Everlasting Arms!
THE LIVING GOD #SEND
As a #teenager that just received your #driver’s license, did your parents send you to the #grocery store for a forgotten item needed for dinner – or was it for that Dairy Queen treat? That was the scenario in our family. As a loving parent, I was trying to demonstrate that privileges and maturity come with responsibilities. My children and grandchildren are all adults now and I can see how God our Father has sent them all on various paths in their lives. When I was 15, God touched my heart to follow His directions for my life’s path one sunset evening at Glorietta Assembly just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Several outstanding Christian speakers were expressing the need to have a purposeful direction for one’s life. As I was focused on my life’s direction and choices before me, there was a magnificent presentation of Jesus words in John 20:21. I knew I wanted God to send me in His path and use me wherever He placed me to share His love . Through the years I have been in many places – physically and mentally – My God has never forsaken me! I answered His call to follow, to tell and to show God’s abiding love wherever . So far it has been in my home, church, school, work, community, hospitals, shut-ins, jails, resorts, cities from coast to coast, on buses, trains, planes and cars, by personal speaking on TV, film, video, & now this internet site has reached people in over 140 countries. “Jesus said, Peace be unto you: as MY FATHER HAS SENT ME, EVEN SO SEND I YOU” When I was that young lady with a desire to follow wherever God sent me, now I am a 80 yr. old woman by God’s grace who still wants to be where God leads. Ps.92 “The righteous shall flourish…they shall still bring forth fruit in old age..to show that the LORD is upright.”
THE LIVING GOD #VICTORY
Are you a #winner? Do you like to be on the winning side? I know I do! Tommy used to say, “If there is a contest on TV – even battlebots -my wife will watch it.” That is true as I like to see the overcomer. Victory is sweet.. Today, victories take a back seat to all the tragedies constantly bombarding our airways as the headlines seem to dwell on losers..murder…tragedy…drugs…depression. Newsflash…..You can be victorious. Yes-You can have victory even in this downcast world in which we live. How ? Let me share God’s Word. 1Corth.15:53-57 “When corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting: O grave, where is thy victory: The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. but thanks be to God, who gives us the VICTORY through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.“ At the age of four, my favorite book was ‘The Little Engine That Could’; however, as I matured God enlightened me to the fact that He was my internal power source and there is no victory without Jesus Christ. 1John5:4,5 “Whosoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the VICTORY that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
THE LIVING GOD’S – WORLD
What kind of a #world #view do you have? Has it changed over the years? I know my opinions fluctuated with #wars, #terrorists, #dictators, and threats of mass #destruction. I remember a Coke commercial, “I’d love to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony!” (that was many years ago) Long before that jingle, I was singing, “Jesus loves all the children of the world – – they are precious in His sight” You see I still hold to the same truth I have found in the Word of God – let’s start at the very beginning (a very good place to start) Gen. 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” Ps.24:1 “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; THE WORLD AND THEY THAT DWELL THEREIN.” Is.54:5 “THE GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH SHALL HE BE CALLED” Col.1:16 “by Him all things were created, both in heaven and earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created by Him and for Him“ Our world was created and is sustained by the Word of God; yet He gives us insight to our present situation. Want to know? 1John 4:1,2 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false teachers have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God: for every spirit that does not confess Jesus…is an antichrist. 2:2″Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins and not ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” We may be perplexed daily with all the wars and rumors of wars and turmoil in our personal lives. How do we respond? We can overcome…”Whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world –our faith and who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1John 5:4,5
THE LIVING GOD – LIBERTY
What does #liberty mean to you? #Freedom? #Rights? #Immunity? As a child of four, I remember my father and my mothers’ three brothers were all in the armed forces fighting for me in WWll. (that’s what mother said) I would hear FDR talking over the radio and feel afraid for my loved ones surrounded with bullets and bombs. So many lives were lost; however, all of my family came home – even Uncle Gerald received a silver star at the age of 23. In 1940’s, I felt our entire country was working together to stop the Nazi takeover. Then a shift came from the rebellious 1960s forward with free love, peaceniks, riots, marches, drugs, and hate speech which were all done under the banner of rights! Confusing? Let’s turn to God’s Word – the Bible for Truth and clarity. “When you turn to the Lord the veil shall be taken away . Now the Lord is that Spirit: and WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS LIBERTY.” llCor.3:16,17 Now that is the first Truth we need to acknowledge – liberty is with the Spirit of the Lord! “We are troubled on every side yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”llCor.4:6,7 “Stand fast in the LIBERTY wherewith CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE. YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED UNTO LIBERTY (FREEDOM); ONLY DO NOT USE FREEDOM (RIGHTS) INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FLESH, BUT THROUGH LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER” Gal.5:1,13 Are you seeing God’s Liberty – we are free to serve and love others! You say, “What’s in it for me?” Let me tell you …James1:25 “One who LOOKS INTENTLY AT THE PERFECT LAW, THE LAW OF LIBERTY and ABIDES BY IT, not having become a forgetful hearer, but an effectual doer this MAN SHALL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES.”
THE LIVING GOD #HERE
Who? What? Where? #News Flash…#GOD IS HERE! You say, “Take a look around…#violence abounds prompted by hate, rage, and terror!” What do you watch? Where do you go? Who is your friend? Do you think that all the time we spend watching, reading, and listening to worldly opinions are making us more enlightened to follow their philosophy? I believe we all have a choice to make everyday as to how we spend our time… what we do…where we go…who accompany’s us. Have you made time for the Lord? Before I hear the news or talk to others, I start my day reading God’s Word the Bible. You see, I want to go to the true source, My Creator, Sustainer for the Living God is here in my life. I just read Isaiah 58 and 59. May I share with you, 58:2 “they seek me daily and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching God.” 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.” Does that sound familiar? Be informed GOD IS HERE to all who will turn from the evil and call upon Him..58:9 “Then you shall call, and the LORD shall answer; cry out, and He shall say, HERE I AM….14 then you will delight yourself in the LORD” Each of us have daily decisions to make, my prayers is that you will KNOW THE GREAT I AM IS HERE.
THE LIVING GOD PURGES (CLEANS)
Time to make a #clean sweep of things? I will admit it is hard for me to let things go whether it is people or objects. You see I have painfully been removing stored materials from a top shelf in a closet today. It is not easy for me to #purge/clean/remove things. (might have some Monk tendencies) Maybe you are one of the now generation who seems to think everything is disposable so you have no problem tossing and replacing. Infomercials are continually showing me the latest gadget to clean or remove the dirt and germs that plague all of us. Today healthy supplements are promoted to cleanse/purge our body from toxins that accumulate from bad dietary choices. We know that our physical body has to be washed and cared for properly to sustain our functioning capabilities but what about our spiritual self? Do you need to clean/purge your mouth from some of the things going in & out? Where are you going and staying? With whom are you keeping company? What spot in your life needs to be removed? Heb.9:14″…. the BLOOD OF CHRIST, who through the ETERNAL SPIRIT offered HIMSELF WITHOUT SPOT TO GOD, PURGES YOUR CONSCIENCE FROM DEAD WORKS TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD… 28..So CHRIST was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation..10:10 WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH THE OFFERING OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST ONCE FOR ALL.”