This Is No Sacrifice; Here's My Life

     A few issues that have been brought to my attention for consideration lately are the following: Do I want to go to Italy with my sister-in-laws? Is global warming real? Did I know Alex Haley really didn't write the book, "Roots"? My answer to all of these are, "I don't have time for this."
     God tells us to "redeem the time," until His return, and "to occupy" until He comes. Also, He tells us to proclaim Jesus to those in our world, and seek first His Kingdom. If we, as Christ followers allow the distractions of the world to consume us, our lives would be eaten up by them and the life Christ wants for us would go by the wayside. Don't get me wrong; I love pretty places like Italy, and I love to find out the truth of things and could spend my life researching them, but what good would that do? It would only serve to occupy me, instead of me occupying what God wills for me.
     Not only does God want our life, but our life is made up of time, and He wants that too. I mean, are we really giving up our life if we want to keep our time for our self? No, one is directly connected to the other. When He involves us in ministry, it involves helping other people in one way or the other; not pursuing our own likes and interests without end. These are the things we give up for Him, as He gave His life up for us.
    

A Time to Plant and A Time to Uproot what has been Planted

     Although in Matt. 19:6 it says that what God has joined together that man shouldn't separate, was referring to marriage, I believe the principle can stand alone in reference to all relationships and to all things.
      In my experience, I've had some relationships that have dissolved without reason. I was, and remain totally stunned about these. The question
of "what did I do wrong?" or "what didn't I do?" plague me off and on concerning them. Other relationships have remained strong and firm even though there have been periods of no communication. These, I believe, are the ones God has joined together.
     For the ones that didn't last, and even ended abruptly, could these be those who God Himself never joined, and so He, by His sword brought division?
     Whenever I have wondered too long about relationships in my life that have ended, He's reminded me of the truth that He came not to bring peace, but a sword, and will even use it to divide people in our own natural families. When relationships end, I believe it is God-ordained because these relationships and the toxicity they carry interfere with what He is wanting to do in us. If we try and hang onto a relationship He is wanting to end, we are rebelling against Him.
     Conversely, when relationships last, God is somehow preserving them because the connection between the two people is providing some things He is using to get us where He wants us in our growth in Him, which we are not to be interfered with.
     It says in the KJV, "what God has joined together, let no man put asunder." There is a seriousness stated that we should heed, when put this way. He is in control and if we're submitted under His Lordship (we acknowledge His sovereignty in our lives) he will either keep safe or destroy our relationships based on His Divine wisdom and purposes, and we can rest in that.

"Fantasia Christianity" is no Christianity At All

     "If you imagine it, it will become"-sounds more like a Disneyland motto than living in His Truth, or according to the Sovereignty of God. The "imagine it" doctrine is based on what we, as carnal people, desire if only we had a magic wand, but living in the land of His Truth is based on what He wants. WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT to experience His Life in us, and for his Life to flow out of us. If we don't His Spirit remains bottled up inside, and is eventually quenched.
     Disneyland living exalts self pleasure, and real Living exalts Him when we yield our lives to what He wants or wills. This, dear friends, is our destiny; a destiny fulfilled through His purposes.
     As our lives are brought into submission to Him, they will have eternal significance, while the other kind of life goes up in smoke because it is a delusion; now you see it, now you don't.
     "Choose this day (for today is the day of salvation)
 who you will serve............................. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."-Joshua 24:15.

If Today you hear His Voice

     Where are those refugees from Babylon? The ones who have escaped the corruptions and preoccupations of this present world; the ones who are looking for a city whose Kingdom and Maker is God? These are the true heirs of Abraham.


Prophecy:


The sword of the Lord has spoken!!! He's already begun His dividing! To resist that is to choose. In the Spirit, He is gathering the refugees out of Babylon together by various means. With great trials, sorrow of heart, pain and earthly failure they have been developed. Their manifestation shall soon appear for He will cause them to recognize each other and come together as His Zerubabbel army of sons and daughters under His honored Lordship!!!

He Calms the Storm Within

     I remarked to someone the other day that when I look at myself, I get in trouble. In other words, I see lack and with that come insecurities that the enemy then takes advantage of. When we see ourselves as we are outside of Christ, those negative things are magnified as the enemy pours fuel on the fire. So, that is why God says in His Word to "look unto Jesus." As we look at Him, there is no lack, and knowing He is in us and He redefines us, brings comfort and relief. We are not what we see, but we are what He is in us and what He is making us. We walk by faith and not by sight.