THE LIVING GOD #HOUSEHOLD

Posted on June 8, 2017 by Barbara Jones

The Hardin Simmons University Range Rider which is a publication for their alumni arrived at my household last week and I was enthralled. On the impressive cover is a picture of HSU’s new president with his wife and their five children which has the statement “We are family” framing the portrait. Then there are printed sub titles of articles stating ‘ CENTENARIANS of HSU’ and ‘LOVE STORIES from the FORTY ACRES’. Let me share some stories from the HSU’S household. This first one, I observed years ago when we were underclassmen. Bill ’59 & Sharon ’60 met through the BSU office where they were very active on campus. While sharing God’s love with others, they both became aware that they desired to lovingly spend their lives with each other and were married on Valentines Day. Years passed and they celebrated their 53rd anniversary Feb. 14, 2013 but on March 29, 2013 Sharon passed into Glory. I remember their preparation, dedication, and love for each other all the while wanting to serve and enrich God’s household through the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thanks Bill for sharing your love! Now another thank you to an HSU alumni whose words are an inspiration. Mrs. Preslar age 103 advice to all – choose friends wisely. “Your companions are like the buttons on an elevator: they can either take you up or take you down” Who is your life companion? Who will never leave you or forsake you? Are you in the HOUSEHOLD OF GOD? “Now in Christ Jesus you who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. He is our peace who has made both one and broken down the middle wall of partition between us…..through Him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now you are no more strangers or foreigners, but FELLOWCITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS AND OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD.” Eph.2:13-19 Now that’s GOD’S FAMILY

THE LIVING GOD #HOPE

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Barbara Jones

“Hope you have a good day!” Perhaps someone said that to you recently or you received a #moji like that. If you listen to any newscast, I believe you will disheartened. Stories of #crimes, lies, abuse, violence and pure evil seem to be placed front and center on all communications today! If we hear someone actually saying that they hope we will have a good day, some may wonders if they are in touch with reality. I have so many loved ones and acquaintances who have major health problems, financial worries, and marital discord that can seem insurmountable. Is there hope in a hopeless society? I say yes! My source comes from GODS WORD – THE BIBLE. “Thou, LORD, are my HOPE in the day of evil” Jeremiah 17:17 We certainly have evil all around us being presented day and night around the clock, but our God is more powerful. Who you gonna call? God is listening for your voice. Rom.15:6,13 “..with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Now the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in HOPE, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” My e-mail to you today …’I pray that you shall be a conduit of hope via the power of the Holy Ghost.’

THE LIVING GOD #COVENANT

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Barbara Jones

Our #President has just traveled to #Israel and signed some #agreements (covenant) with them. While their meetings were taking place, I was reading 1Chronicles 16 during my daily Bible time where the Lord our God speaks of His covenant…concerning Israel. We consider a covenant to be (1) an agreement (2)a promise with legal validity (3) law (4) contract. Please read v.14 “He is the LORD OUR GOD; His judgments are in all the earth. 15. BE MINDFUL ALWAYS OF HIS COVENANT; the WORD WHICH HE COMMANDED TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS; EVEN OF THE COVENANT WHICH HE MADE WITH ABRAHAM, AND OF HIS OATH UNTO ISAAC; AND CONFIRMED THE SAME TO JACOB FOR A LAW, AND TO ISRAEL FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT, SAYING, UNTO YOU WILL I GIVE THE LAND OF CANAAN, THE PLACE OF YOUR INHERITANCE. 27.Glory and honor are in His presence; strength and gladness are in His place.” Zechariah 8:3 “The LORD SAID, “I am returned unto Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. There shall yet be old men and women dwelling in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very aged. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing thereof, said the LORD of hosts” LORD OF HOSTS said, Behold, I will save my people from the east and west countries and will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God in truth and in righteousness” 22. “Yes, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD OF HOSTS in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.” The Living God’s Covenant is an everlasting agreement, PROMISED by the original law giver and recorded in His Holy WORD. What a day of fruition.

THE LIVING GOD #WISE

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Barbara Jones

Have the meaning of #words changed in the last few years? Good is #bad.. Hot is #cool….Truth is #fake…#Wise is rash…are just some expressions that I have heard individuals switching from antonyms to a synonyms! Could it be that some in our society have chosen to change words to meet their lifestyle? The Living God is Wise discerning and judicious concerning what is true or false, proper or improper. Our local television is promoting a special on the 6:00 news giving information on how to know if a news release is true or fake. How can you be wise? Turn to God’s Word and “FIND BIBLE TRUTH” 1Corth.1;20-30 “Where is the wise:..has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? That in the WISDOM OF GOD the world by wisdom did not know God ..so it pleased God through preaching of Christ crucified to save those that believe..both Jew and Greeks that CHRIST IS THE POWER OF GOD AND THE WISDOM OF GOD. . . Are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” Paul was writing to friends who served and followed Jesus when he wrote in Rom, 16:17-20″I urge you, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teachings which you learned and turn away from them, such men are slaves, not to our Lord Christ but of their own appetites: and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. . . I WANT YOU TO BE WISE IN WHAT IS GOOD an innocent in what is evil for the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Rom.16:26,27 “Now LORD JESUS CHRIST IS MANIFEST by scriptures according to the commandment of the EVERLASTING GOD and has been made known to all nations who leads to obedience by faith: to THE ONLY WISE GOD, BE GLORY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST FOREVER.” and Amen.

THE LIVING GOD #COMFORT

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Barbara Jones

Are you in a comfort zone? With each passing year, I find I need comfortable surroundings. How about you? How’s your mattress working for you? I have observed many mattress stores allow people to sleep on their product for several days to test the comfort and be satisfied with their purchase. Then there is that lounge chair. Is it relaxing your body by taking the weight off your feet? Speaking of feet, do you buy a shoe that seems the perfect fit to only find out after walking in it a few hours that those shoes just do not fit or cause blisters! You may have noticed all the things I mentioned for comfort take the weight and pressure off our aching body. I have chosen merchandise over the years that did not meet my needs, but I made one choice which gives lasting comfort. You see I cast my burden on the Lord who is able to envelop it all and in return has given me comfort and hope. Paul had many adversities but through it all wrote in Romans 15:4-6 “whatever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the GOD OF PATIENCE AND COMFORT grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify GOD, even the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” Choose Jesus’ Comfort.

THE LIVING GOD #DAYSPRING

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Barbara Jones

You might say, “What is dayspring?” Dictionary definition of the word Dayspring as the beginning of day or the dawn! You asked, “What does that have to do with the Living God?” Glad you asked. I just came back from a trip to the gulf in Florida where you can truly see the dawn of a new day across the emerald sea with all its magnificent splendor. Now there were a few days that storms clouded my view, but that reminded me of my pathway following my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You asked, “How does that relate to Jesus Christ?” I find it in the scriptures starting with Gen. 1:3 “GOD said, ‘Let there be light: and there was light” 11Corth.4:6 “GOD who commanded the LIGHT to shine out of darkness has shined in our hearts to give the LIGHT of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of JESUS CHRIST.” Luke 1:78,79 “Through the tender mercy of our GOD; whereby the DAYSPRING from on HIGH HAS VISITED US, TO GIVE LIGHT TO THEM THAT SIT IN DARKNESS AND IN IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH, TO GUIDE OUR FEET INTO THE WAY OF PEACE.” You might ask, “But will the light of the Lord last or will it expire?” Again I go to the Bible where we find words about last days in Rev.21:23 “the city had no need of the sun, nor the moon to shine in it: for the GLORY OF GOD DID SHINE IN IT: FOR THE GLORY OF GOD DID LIGHTEN IT, AND THE LAMB IS THE LIGHT THEREOF.” Now I’ve seen beautiful dawnings here on earth, but I cannot even image the awe I shall have when beholding JESUS’ LIGHT in HIS GLORIOUS TEMPLE one day!

THE LIVING GOD #SHEPHERD

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Barbara Jones

When you hear the word shepherd, do you immediately think of the Christmas story recorded in the Bible of the shepherds’ watching over the sheep when the angels appeared in sky announcing Christ our Savior’s birth? As a child that was my first understanding of a shepherd! I knew about cowboys caring and herding cattle, but at that time in the Texas Panhandle I saw no sheep or shepherds so my knowledge came from books. The dictionary defines a shepherd as one who herds sheep, gathers, guards, leads, and drives i.e, pastors. That sounds like a full time job to me especially as we are the sheep and Christ is the shepherd as God’s Holy Word depicts us. When sheep are frightened they hunker down just as many of us do when faced with fearful circumstances. Matt.10:16 “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” Did you know Hitler’s first name Adolf means wolf in Hebrew! John10:11 “Jesus said, ‘I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD; THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVES HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP. He that is a hireling , not the shepherd…sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep so the wolf catches them and scatters them because the hireling does not care for the sheep. I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND KNOW MY SHEEP AND AM KNOWN OF MINE. I as the Father knows me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” May we follow the true Shepherd, “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name?s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and staff comfort me. Thou prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will live in the house of the LORD FOREVER.” Psalms 23

THE LIVING GOD #DIED

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Barbara Jones

Have you had a loved one who died? Notice I said “had”, because #death is the absence of life. None of us want to talk about dying, but we know that our mortal bodies cannot last forever. As I age, I realize how swiftly time goes bye as I watch my speed just fly away! When death comes to the young or those in the prime of their lives, we are mortified. Everyday I am thankful for all the young men and women who have given their lives voluntarily serving and protecting our freedom. I am brought to my knees in humble adoration before our Savior, Jesus Christ who shouldered my sin by dying at the prime of His earthly life on that heinous cross while suffering His sacrificial death so that I can now choose to live eternally with Him. His earthly death has given me everlasting life. He is the way, the truth, and the life. This is our choice – life with Christ our Redeemer or /my way day by day! Rom.5:6-10 “For we were without strength, in due time CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY. Perhaps for a righteous man will one die: or for a good man some would even dare to die. But GOD commends His love toward us while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. When we were enemies, we were reconciled to GOD by the death of His Son, even more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Through His death He brings forth our new eternal life. “For CHRIST DIED FOR ALL that we should no longer live unto ourselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 11Corth.5:15