LIVING GOD #LOVES

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Barbara Jones

#Love means different things to so many of us. Things happen in life that can scar ones perception of love. #Abuse, lies, deceit, loneliness, abandonment, tragedies, storms, illness are just a few of the things in life that block our acceptance of love. Are you missing love in your life? Do you desire true love? Today I would like to share some scriptures from God’s Holy Word speaking on love. Jesus said in John 15:9 “Just as My Father has love Me, I have also LOVED YOU, ABIDE IN MY LOVE.” John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is WHO LOVES ME: and he WHO LOVES ME SHALL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, and I WILL LOVE HIM, and will disclose Myself to him.” John 16:27 “the FATHER HIMSELF LOVES YOU, because YOU HAVE LOVED ME, and have believed that I came from the Father” John 3:16 “For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that Whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” Romans 13 tells us that we are to express love toward others, “You shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself “ Do you even like yourself? I find that only God can shine through my darkness. I desire to have His presence and love shining through my flawed demeanor.

THE LIVING GOD #RECONCILING

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Barbara Jones

Are individuals in #America ready to be #reconciled? To reconcile is to be friendly again; to be brought back to harmony; to reunite; to conciliate! #Propitiation and reconciliation have primary reference to the person offended as stated by Webster’s dictionary. Do you recognize your hardened demeanor covered by stress? Not only are these attributes defined by Webster, but the Holy Word of God is very articulate on HIS RECONCILING. How do I know? 11Corthinthians 5:17-20 tells me, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; all things are become new. All things are of GOD, WHO HAS RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF BY JESUS CHRIST, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; that GOD WAS IN CHRIST RECONCILING THE WORLD UNTO HIMSELF, not charging their trespasses unto them; but has committed unto us the word of RECONCILIATION. Now we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beg you by us: we pray that you on behalf of Christ will be RECONCILED TO GOD.” May we be citizens walking together receiving God’s grace with patience, kindness, and love by the word of truth and God’s power !

THE LIVING GOD #ACCESS

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Barbara Jones

Today we are privileged to have access to so many #privileges that were seemingly unattainable earlier in my life. When I was learning to #drive in the early 50’s in a wood-framed 40’s station wagon with a stick shift, no power steering, and a/c was rolling down the window, I could not have foreseen the advancements made in technology. At about the same time TV was becoming available for limited hours of the day, or you could observe a test pattern – (now replaced with nonsense) When racial discrimination was observed then by many schools, I chose to attend Wayland Baptist College (now University) my freshman year and was privileged to share classes with the Ojos and Bamajokos from Nigeria who later became political leaders there. I believe that the campus atmosphere and classes we attended showed us access to Bible Truth through example and teaching on our young impressional lives. While completing my B.S. degree at Hardin Simmons University the space challenge was blasting off giving us access beyond the known. I have seen many cultural changes, new inventions, and more access through computers than I could fathom in my lifetime. With a new year upon us, what new challenge/opportunity will we have? Actually you’ve heard it said, ‘What’s old is new again’ Ephesians 2:12-22 is a wonderful new beginning – “Remember when you were separated from Christ….excluded..having no hope and without GOD in the world, but now in Christ Jesus you ..have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall….to reconcile them both in one body to GOD through the Cross, by it having put to death the enmity . He came and preached Peace to YOU who were far away and Peace to those who were near for through Him we both have OUR ACCESS in ONE SPIRIT TO THE FATHER.”

THE LIVING GOD #SPEAKS

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Barbara Jones

NEWS ALERT… Can you trust the #news #feeds that you read or hear today? Has truth been seen through the eye of the beholder or just adjusted to uphold the position needed to advance his agenda? When our grandson was about four yrs. old, he would tell us his encounters with his younger sister. Then he would say, “I tell the trooth (truth)” I was sure he was telling the truth on the part he told, but what was the rest of the story as his little sister was not talking. Which reminds me of an exchange written in the Bible between Pilate and Jesus in John 19..Pilate asks if Jesus is a king and Jesus speaks, “You say that I am a king and I say I was born for this cause I came into this world so I should bear witness unto the truth and everyone that is of the truth understands my voice” Then Pilate asks, “What is truth?” Jesus speaks- “God’s Word is Truth” John 17:17 After reading the rest of the incounter, we realize that Pilate goes before the enraged crowd to say that he found no fault in Jesus..(what was the rest of the story).. he listened to the massive cries of the rioters to crucify Jesus. Pilate chose to follow the crowd’s choice by releasing Barabbas a robber instead of following the true words which Jesus spoke. Today we are bombarded with words and opinions, so how can we make correct decisions? Everyone seems to think they are experts and need no instructions; however, they want their view to be seen and heard no matter how distasteful the matter. I personally remember an old saying, “Silence is golden”; however, when only half truths are spoken = the silence can be deadly. Jesus still speaks to us through His Word today if we choose to listen. JESUS SPEAKS, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in ME you may have peace. In the world you shall have trouble: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

THE LIVING GOD #WISDOM

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Barbara Jones

https://youtu.be/SzOgA2RV6Hs

With the new year upon us, are you in need of wisdom to make right decisions? I know I am. You maybe trying to solve a dilemma over #money, a #mate, #clothing, #food, #protection, #education, or better #health? Where do the leaders turn for advice? With all the choices that are made daily, where do you turn for advice? You may ask your mate, a friend, a financial advisor, a teacher, a doctor or watch instructors on TV/internet. These advisors may give you even more choices for you to ruminate. I personally have found and trust the best advice which is GOD’s WORD. ” We speak wisdom among them that are mature: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the WISDOM OF GOD in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which GOD ordained before the world unto our glory: but as it is written Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD has prepared for them that love Him.” 1Corth2:5-9 “GOD has chosen the foolish things of the world to confuse the wise; and GOD has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; but unto all that are called are in CHRIST JESUS who of GOD is made unto us WISDOM, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”1Corth1:27,30 May this new year be a time for us to fulfill what is recorded in vs. 31 “according as it is written, He that glories (boasts) let him glory in the LORD.” A deceased friend used to say, “He must toot his own horn or it will not be tooted” Which words will you put into action — Wisdom of God or Sayings of Man?

THE LIVING GOD #LAMB

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Barbara Jones

‘Away in a manager’ was the Christmas song my precious two yr. old would sing as she lay on the floor looking under our lighted tree at baby Jesus on the hay surrounded by Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. She always wondered why the shepherds were there. We would say the Bible tells us in Luke 2 that the angel of the Lord came and His glory shone all around the shepherds in the field while watching their sheep. The Angels told them to fear not but have great joy, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. . . As the angels were gone back into heaven, the shepherds said, Let’s go into Bethlehem and see what the Lord has made known to us.. With haste they came and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. After seeing Him they returned, glorifying and praising God and told abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child.” Many years have passed since our child asked us about those shepherds and what were they doing there in the manager next to baby Jesus. Today after years of reading and digesting God’s Word, I have learned more about the shepherd/lamb connection. When a lamb is born who is there to attend to the birth? The shepherd is the overseer! Did you know there was only one field (and it was located in Bethlehem) where the sacrificial lambs were raised, kept, and prepared for the Jerusalem Temple to be sacrificed for the sins of the people. In John 1:29 he says, “Behold the LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.” Rev.7:17 “the LAMB in the center of the throne shall be their SHEPHERD, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and GOD shall wipe every tear from their eyes.”

THE LIVING GOD #GIFT

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Barbara Jones

Have you completed your #gift #giving for this #Christmas? We had an early #family time of #renewal, #celebration, #food, #tree trimming, and #sharing of our love for one another with a thoughtful personalized gift exchange at the finale for all of us between 18 months and 80 yrs. I think that was a moving picture of the joy that we could share when we all get to be with our Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Heaven who has made it possible because of the most precious, valuable, sacrificial gift which the great I AM has given to us. This year I watched as everyone opened their gifts, and were politely saying, “Thank you” Then there was Gabe at the realm of his adventurous 18 months, who would open a present and toss it aside (unless it had wheels). Sound familiar? Some of the best gifts we receive are very understated. Yet, I see people rejecting and throwing aside a gift which holds the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven all because they want “Hoopalah” and want it right now! Yes, many adults even at 80 can still cast aside GOD’s GIFT. “GOD who is rich…..in mercy, with His great love with which HE LOVED US, even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ (by grace we are saved) and has made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: so that in ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us though Christ Jesus. For by grace are we saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD” Have you accepted His Gift this year?

THE LIVING GOD #LIGHTS

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Barbara Jones

Do you put up #lights for #Christmas? I am amazed by the million lights on #homes that #families engineer to enter in the Festive Lighting Contest on TV. The people have computerized their lights with special effects timed to perfection. This is quite a phenomenon! We are all drawn to the light.. Sometimes we just want out of the dark and need light to find our path. What did Jesus say about light in John 8:12 “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the LIGHT OF LIFE !” CHRIST LIGHTS THE WHOLE WORLD.… Now the light of GOD is not limited to forms of dancing, strobing, pulsing, twinkling, or a lazier beam! YESHUA, JESUS CHRIST, MESSIAH IS LIGHT. GODS’ LIGHT cannot be quenched, covered, turned off for HE IS EVERLASTING. GOD does not change, but we do. By His Light we can walk His path or choose to walk alone in the dark. I have seen many landscapes with various terrains while walking through a lifetime of trials through sickness, accidents, storms, deaths, political and financial challenges. From the valleys of sorrow to the exhilarating heights of joy, I have observed and felt the ever present LIGHT OF THE LORD. Some of the shadows that were cast have brought me to my knees. Some daybreaks brought singing in my soul. Some high noons were scorching with the heat but destroyed the mold. Some sunsets were so gloriously ablaze with majesty across the horizon that it stopped me in my tracts. I know the light is ever present and unchanging, but all my life and circumstances are ever changing. GOD’s LIGHT IS EVER PRESENT, UNCHANGING, the SUN. My husband, Tommy used to close every written communication with, “KEEP the SON IN YOUR EYES” I can truly say, “THE LIVING GOD – LIGHTS UP MY LIFE”