KNOWING HIS PRESENCE

KNOWING AND WALKING WITH HIM DAILY

“If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you, for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:15-17

There have been times in my life when more that anything else, I wanted to know that I abided in the Lord.

I needed to know that He was with me.

I had heard and read the testimony of mighty men and women who related how near God was to them. How He went with them to work, how He directed every decision no matter how small the matter.

He was a Friend, near and never far away unreachable and detached.

I desired that relationship also.

I began a ritual of setting aside a certain time for prayer for study for seeking Him for honest evaluation of my life and the forgiveness of things that I knew would not be Holy in His sight.

I would end by beseeching God to live in me and through me.

I needed to know for certain that He was taking complete control of my life.

Time after time I kept my appointment with the Lord.

During the day, I would find times to escape and seek His face, with a prayer in my heart and the little pocked Testament that I am rarely without, in my hand.

Always seeking His abiding presence.

Occasionally, I would be seen kneeling, praying, weeping, and seeking, and the question would always come, either sooner or later, the person or persons, who observed such strange behavior in such odd places would ask, “What were you doing when we saw you?” I knew that I could not lie about seeking the fullness of God within me.

My answer was always the same. “I am seeking the infilling of the Holy Spirit.”

They never asked the same question twice. How could they? It is quite likely that none of them had any idea at the time what I had meant.

After quite some time, frustration began to set in.

I questioned why it was that I had to work so hard to know God in His fullness, when the saints of old and those whom I had been privileged to meet over my life and the witness of their testimonies told a different story with better results.

I began to remember those testimonies. They were absolutely beautiful.

They related how God was, especially close---just right there in front of them, beside them, behind them, inside of them.

Why did I struggle so hard to realize the same closeness?

Then and there the God of the universe spoke to me within my heart, I have heard his voice before and realize there is a difference in how He says, what He intends.

The voice spoke “I was there the first time you sought me. Do you not remember? I was there watching as you knelt in the pool of blood at the foot of the cross. You knew my forgiveness and the peace that follows in very real and personal (to you) way. I have always arrived early at the place that I knew you would seek me. I have been faithful to hear your every perceived need. I have longed to live through you in more powerful ways. The urgency that you feel in your innermost being, is what I have placed in you that makes you unique among all of my people.”

It was just as He had said, there has been a splendor of His presence since the first time that I truly desired only Him.

It then occurred to me that I was seeking the experience of others, rather than allowing God to work in me and through me in a way that He deemed, something just between Himself and me.

He had never held me aloof, He had not kept His presence at a distance. He was most faithful and punctual.

From that day until today, I continually thank God for His abiding presence--heart to heart.

When others ask me, “How do I know the presence of the Lord?”

I simply tell them to earnestly ask.

Time after time they relate to me the same results. He was there all along.

He longed to deal with them individually.

God keeps His word.

He promises to abide, if we only ask.

GAY ( it is used as an acronym for I am as (Good As You)

GAY---- or I am---- as GOOD AS YOU

The following is a part of the response that I recently made to a person identified only by the name “greatest am”. Who is looking for someone to argue the point of a particular type of sin.

This person claims to be blood bought and born again into a belief in Christ, yet makes the argument that the lifestyle of the homosexuality is not sin.

My response to the person was as follows.

 

greatestiam:

The greatest defense that I or any professing Christian can have is a reverence for the words of scripture and the belief that they are the final authority of any and all aspects of life.

All guidance for life and lifestyle is given in scripture to those who believe in its authority, even so any person with depravity of mind, and pride of flesh and lust of the eye can be argumentative against its teachings.

No one wins when truth is questioned.

The Word of God as recorded in scripture is truth, and further as stated in the book of (II Timothy 3:13-17)

as this “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and host been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

That is the truth concerning scripture, it is to be used as our guide. Our hearts and our intellect will lie to us; God will not .

The Word of God consistently teaches us that homosexuality is a sin (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Romans 1:26-27 teaches specifically that homosexuality is a result of denying and obeying God. Whenever a person continues in sin and disbelief, the bible tell us that God “gives them over” to even more wicked and depraved sin in order to show them the futility and hopelessness of a life apart from God.

1 Corinthians 6:9 declares that the homosexual “offenders” will not inherit the kingdom of God.

In regards to some of your statement from the last comment issued from you to me we will address them one by one.

You said: One cannot hurt God so any infraction has to be human to human.

My response: God in the form of the Holy Spirit is grieved and hurt by our sinful decisions, (Isaiah 63:10) “ But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them.”

(Ephesians 4:30) “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Clearly God can be offended and hurt by our sinful action.

You said; God is not a bigot or homophobe but the writer of the Bible was.

My response: Please, sir or madam, be careful as scripture states that the writer of the Bible is God Himself in the form of the Spirit. (2 Timothy 3:16a) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,” (2 Peter 1:21) “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (Psalms 12:6a) “The words of the Lord are pure words,”

As for the individuals who wrote down the words, I cannot say, as I have never met one of them,….yet.

You said; “If you can justify what God is supposedly doing then do so.”

My response (Ecclesiastes 8:16-17) “ When I applied my heart to know wisdom, ad to see the business that is don upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes) Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun’ because though a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it”

You said: “No one has done so yet.”

My response is that neither can I.

You said; “No one has even offered one moral imperative except god says so.”

My response is: God does not create a person with homosexual desire. The bible tells us that a person becomes a homosexual because of sin (Romans 1:24-27), and ultimately because of their own choice. A person may be born with a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, just as people are born with a tendency to violence and other sins. That will not excuse the person of making the choice to fulfill the sinful desire. If a person is born with a greater susceptibility to anger or rage, does that make it right for them to give into those desires? Of course not! The same is true for homosexuality.

The bible does not describe homosexuality as a greater sin than any other.

All sin is offensive to God. Homosexuality is only one of the many things listed in (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) that will keep a person from entering the kingdom of God.

According to the bible, Gods, forgiveness is just as available to a homosexual as it is to an adulterer, idol worshipper, murderer, thief, etc. God also promises the strength for victory over all sin, including homosexuality, to all who will believe in Jesus Christ alone as the means of their salvation. (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

WE MUST NOT FAIL THEM

THE WAY OF THE STROLLER

Today I walked with angels.

It is only a toy stroller, it resembles exactly the larger model that I have pushed many miles in one of the greatest treats that I can imagine.

That of taking my grandchildren for what they call a “strollo.”

As they ride and I push we share the tales of the day and the innermost secrets of our hearts love for each other. Each of us yearn for the next time the stroller comes out and we start another journey of exploration and amazement.

I see in my grandchildren, all of them, boys and girls, something that I can only relate to a relationship with God the Father and God the Son as experienced through the blessed Holy Spirit.

I long to be with each of them endlessly, and they feel the same.

When granddaughter one was born, her dad brought her to me immediately and within the first precious breaths of her life I was able to speak into her ear a secret known only to the Holy Spirit, her and myself.

The same with granddaughter two. Those secrets have caused a burn in their hearts that causes them to push away from others, to ignore toys and treats, and to focus all of their attention on me.

I am not worthy of their love, their attention, and their devotion.

In that action I see how all of those who hunger and thirst for the things of God should drop all of the desires and cares of this world and focus entirely on the Holy One.

She picked up a doll that belongs to a grandchild that will no longer play with it, and placed it ever so lovingly in the toy stroller, buckling the doll in and covering its legs with a small blanket, all the while whispering to the doll that it was being prepared for something very special.

We began our stroll, only this time she was pushing her little stroller with the doll in it as I walked along beside, speaking nothing only listening and learning, about absolute truth, about life, about forgiveness, about what a child feels for another child that is no longer a playmate, about love and about a child like faith in a man named Jesus.

This Jesus she knows so well, yet she has never willingly sinned and offended Him.

Someday she will; and I pray she knows Him even more and trusts Him exclusively.

She, her sisters, and her cousins know how to pray, and they know how to pray without ceasing, for their parents, for each other, for the things that they wonder about, and surprisingly enough about other members of our family that have not yet arrived, but they have seen them and know them.

I listen to their prayers and marvel at the wisdom that is found in their words and utterances.

As we walked along she began to recall what she felt was important about every one she knows, mentioning them one by one.

She even called the name of the one to which the doll belongs, and how she knows that he wants her to stroll his doll, and in her innocence she even said a small thank you to that one for letting her take care of Ernie.

We are given children to care for, to nourish and to see grow into the fullness of a life in the Kingdom of God.

We are assigned angels from the throne room, sent as guides, as protectors in times of troubles, and as helping hands for provision.

We are told to carefully entertain strangers as they just might be angelic.

Children are not angels, they are created in the image of God, and He loves them so much that He willingly became the sacrifice for the salvation of their souls.

Yet as I walked along I could feel the presence of the angelic host, I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, and I was glad that they came along for the walk.

She began to praise Him in the way that she knows best, by giving thanks for her Mom, her Dad , her sisters, her cousins, near and far, for her grandparents, and just when I thought she was finished, she floored me with a final utterance.

Just the thought of what she said makes me tremble as I realize that perhaps in some small way I am learning more in this stage of life about loving others than I have learned in the previous fifty plus years.

She stated at last ,as she looked me fully in the face as she has so many times, that

“and I have a good Poppi.”

Jesus said that there is none good only His father God.

She thinks that I am good.

I hope that what she sees is Jesus the Christ living in me and working through me, and nothing more.

Its about relationship, its about being blind to fault, its about forgiveness, it about a desire to see Him face to face one day.

TODAY I WALKED WITH ANGELS

It is the way of the stroller.

MAKING A STRAIGHT PATH

Would you humble yourself to see HIM exalted?

There has never been a time of greater need in the New Testament church age for a heaven sent, Christ centered, Spirit given revival, renewal or manifestation of the presence of God as there is today.  September 09, 2007.

I am drawn to believe that never has the Christ who purchased the church with His own blood, desired to bring the spirit of vibrant life to those who are His.

The prophet Isaiah instructed the people of his time, and it continues forward to us, to “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God!” Isaiah 40:3

He not only call us to preperation, he also instruct us on exactly how to do this.

He describes the construction process for the road to revival in vs. 4 ‘Every valley shall be exalted….” telling us that every low spot is to be elevated.

Instructing us individually to no longer condemn or devalue ourselves because of past sin, failures, and foolishness.

Depression and hopelessness, must go!

We must remember the Christ in us, living with all of His graciousness, courage, and ability.

“We can do all things through Christ.”

We are loved and valued by our God and He desires to use us in His service.

Then “every mountain and hill shall be made low…”

Every high place that we have allowed in our lives must be lowered by excavation, or by explosion.

All of our inflated egos and attitudes must be deflated.

We should not think too highly of ourselves, but think soberly about who we really are.

No one is superior to another in the body of Christ.

All of us are dependent upon each other and at the same time are dependent upon no one but Jesus.

We lower ourselves when we voluntarily seek humility and obedience to God in all of our pre-ordained trials.

If we refuse submission to His design as His children, he will blast away with His chastisement, and punishments.

Lower us, from our self grandiose He can, and will.

A level path or an attitude of humility is required before any visitation either personally or corporately.

“And the crooked places shall be made straight…”

It can only mean that all of our crookedness must be repented of (turned from), any illegal, immoral, or unethical behavior must be straightened by an adherence to the righteousness in Christ, the biblical standard of what is right.

The straight and narrow “right-ness” is clearly revealed in Gods Word.

“And the rough places made plain.”

That is the hardness of our hearts,

It must go. We must give up all of our rights to be offended at Jesus over every “rough” experience, or perceived unfairness, loss, betrayal, or disappointment.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to dig and to unearth every hardened rock of offense that we have buried deep in our hearts, rocks of unforgiveness, anger, hate, resentment, distrust, self-pity, and by confession and rejection allow Him to assist in the removal of all of them.

Once these things are done, then the way is prepared and He can begin His desired visitation, with all of His glory exhibited, to speak, live, deliver, save, heal, baptize, sanctify and work freely among us, just as He did in every recorded move throughout history.

“And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”

Isaiah 40:5

I WANT TO SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will you join me in preparing a road for His visitation in our churches and families and in our own hearts and lives.

MYSTERY FLU CONCLUSION

The Mystery Flu” pt 2

 

The order is given on Friday that all of the people on your side of town will report to the parking lot of the local hospital.

As you arrive you are met by a long line of folks and by many doctors, nurses and volunteers, dressed in hospital garb, and running to and fro.

There are stations set up where blood is being drawn from each individual, with no exceptions being made.

After you and your family have had your turn at the mandatory donation area, you are informed to go to a staging area to wait until your name is called, at which time you will in all probability be allowed to return to your home.

You wait idly, scared, uncertain of the future, and thinking that surely the world is coming to an end, and that there likely is no hope.

Suddenly a young man charges through the crowd yelling at the top of his lungs a name that sounds like it could be yours.

He approaches your staging area yelling louder and frantically waving a sheet of paper.

Your small son tugs at your pants, saying, “Daddy, that man is calling my name.”

Before you can gather your thoughts they have laid hold upon your son.

“Wait just a minute” you protest. “What is happening here?”

The medical representatives say “Its O.K., his blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make certain that he does not have the disease. We think he has the right type.”

Five minutes later the doctors and nurses come out of the building, all of them laughing and crying and hugging one another.

It is the first time you have seen anyone laugh in over a week, and an old doctor approaches you and says, “Thank you sir, Your sons blood is perfect and pure, and it will allow us to make the necessary vaccine.”

The word ripples across the parking lot slowly at first and then like a wave that is crashing upon a beach. The celebration starts with people singing, praying and giving thanks that there will be a vaccination and any who will take it will be saved from the death brought on by “the mystery flu.”

Your celebration is short lived as the same old doctor pulls you aside and states to you that “We really did not expect the donor to be a minor……and that we need you to sign a consent form.”

“No problem” you agree, until you see the amount of blood that is required.

You soon realize that it is too much.

You see the doctors smile fade as he watches you grow pale with dread.

Through a numb mind, you hear him say, “We need it all, it will cost him his life, but we are talking about the entirety of humanity, after all.”

Please agree and sign quickly, there is not a moment to waste as many perish each moment that we delay.

“Can you not just give him a transfusion?” You ask.

You are given a choice. “Would you like to be present as we take the blood?”

Could you walk back to the room where he is and answer his questions?

“Daddy, Momma, what is going on, why cant we just go home, I’m scared!”

Would you be able to take his hand and explain to him that you would never let anything happen to him that was unnecessary?

How would you feel as he cried out for you to help him escape those he realized were his captors.

Would you cringe as he yelled out “DADDY!!!!”

“WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME”

The cure is given and offered freely to all who would accept it.

Many do.

Many more do not and will suffer the consequences of refusing the blood that heals.

It is a choice that they have been allowed to make for themselves.

The next Sunday, a community wide celebration honoring your son is planned, the emphasis will be on the extreme price that he paid to keep humanity from “the mystery flu.”

Sunday comes, and the building where the celebration is to take place is almost empty.

Would you be heart sick and angered that so many who have benefited from your sons ultimate sacrifice have so quickly forgotten what happened.

Would you be glad that in their new freedom that they prefer to sleep off a hangover, or to spend time at the lake, to go shopping, or to a movie , or just to sit at home with no care at all that a seat that only they can fill is empty and the celebration is less without them.

Would you yell out “My son died, why don’t you care?’

Can you hear God yell out, “My Son died for you. Don’t you know how much I care?”

This completes the retelling of the story of “the mystery flu”

Author is currently unknown

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1 John 1:5-10 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and the word is not in us.”

 

All of us who are washed in the blood of the perfect sacrifice, should attempt to be in the house of celebration at every possible chance; what a great chance to honor our King and Savior with the saints of God.

Please read in the book for yourself; all of Revelation chapter 5, and we will see a worthy celebration that is being thrown for the One who gave Himself so that we could live, in eternity.

There is no GOD like JEHOVAH who alone would give himself as a ransom for those whom HE loves.