In Psalm 139:16 God tells us "before your day of birth, I wrote down all the days of your life."
God says to each of us, personally, "I know the plans I have for you...They are plans for good, to give you a future and a hope". (Jer. 29:11)
In John 17:26, Jesus is praying, and declaring unto God..."Father, I have made your name known to them (your beloved), and revealed your character, your very self" to these your beloved,...that the love which you have for me, be felt in their hearts"!!!
If I may paraphrase -- that these your beloved will feel, and experience-for-themselves, that you love them as much as you love me!!! That when you call their names...your heart is touched and thrilled and moved with divine love and joy!!!
"For it is my prayer and your desire (Jesus could not pray anything except God's perfect will) that they know you love them, each, personally!!! That you do indeed rejoice over them!!! (Isaiah 62:5)
I wrote down your every day before you were born...
I have plans for you, plans to give you a future and a hope...
I can take any loss, any hurtful thing that happens to you, -- and turn it into good,...blessing you, and bringing glory to me!!!
When I was a little boy, (a long time ago!), from birth to age six, I lived in a little white house in Toccoa, Georgia, with my father, Taft Coker, my mother Sarah, and my sister Brenda.
Across the street from our house was the "railroad track" of the Elberton Railroad.
In those days, almost every little boy wanted to grow up to be a railroad engineer!! To sit up high and drive the train!! To see that train flying up the track, whistle blowing, smoke boiling from the stack...just filled me with excitement, and wonder and mystery!
Well little boys and older men like me, and most other people like candy, and like surprises!
My uncle, Joe Taylor, worked on that railroad. He was a brakeman. And every time that railroad train went up the track in front of my house...come flying out of that train into my front yard...would be a small brown paper bag full of candy...just for me. My "Uncle Joe" would throw that out to me whenever the train went up the track in front of my house.
Little did I know at the time, but God-Our-Abba-Father had my every day written down, and he had plans for me, plans for good.
When I was 6 years old, both my father and mother died of illness. In my father's will (also God-My-Abba-Father's Will), I was given to Willard Taylor (my aunt) and Joe Taylor to be their son.
So, God, our Abba-Father, before anyone else knew my days...He was building a relationship of love, faithfulness, giving, and joy between me and the man who would be my daddy..."Uncle Joe" who always threw candy to me from the train.
("He knows the plans he has for us, and they are plans for good, to give us a future and a hope").
So, from age 6, Mama Joe and Papa Joe raised me in a good Christian home, loving me as their own son. At my age 37, God brought Mary and me together!!! In that same year, Papa Joe died, and I got to become more deeply acquainted with Mary's Dad - "Papa J."
Papa J. is one of the gentlest, most generous and giving persons that I have ever known. (He has never called me his "son-in-law). He has always introduced me to people as his "son-in-love".
Our pastor Roger Bourgeois has, since I really turned my life over to Jesus, been my spiritual father.
Roger and Beth, all those on the church staff, my friends at work, Mary, daughters Katy and Carrie, Will, and eventually Chandler, David and Michael, will all tell you...
...That I try to find out what kind of candy, or pastry, that is their favorite, and frequently I bring them some of that favorite treat -- just to bless them and tell them that I love them.
Just a year or two ago, Roger helped me to see the connection...
That because God-Our-Abba-Father, by his love through "Uncle Joe" throwing that candy to me from the train, built a relationship of love with me -- that is his same love (by His grace) through me, wanting people to know that they are loved, and that he wants to continually bless them and build his relationship with them.
Today, accept this message as a sweet gift from Him. He invites you to daily give Him the sweet gift of communing with him in prayer, praise and worship unto Him.
In those times of communion with him, begin asking Him to reveal to you how He has intimately loved you, drawn you to Him, provided and prepared for you. And offer up to Him...that the rest of your days be as He has most-lovingly planned them for you.
In celebration of Jesus Christ!!! He is "The Lord Most High", "the King of Glory", "Our High Priest Who Understands", our passionate Bridegroom who is returning soon!!!
(Ps. 47:2; Ps. 24:7-8; Heb. 4:15; Is. 62:5; Rev. 19:6-8)
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
The origin of the name "Galilee Breeze - The Holy Spirit Revealing Jesus Christ"
While on tour of Israel (Nov. 26 - Dec. 5, 2012), I was so richly Blessed to have several divine encounters with the Lord God, both on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and during a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee.
During these divine encounters, I could genuinely feel the Presence of the Lord.
After returning home from Israel, over a period of several months I continued to seek the Lord during worship - corporate worship at church, and individual worship wherever I was at the time. By the grace of God, I did continue to experience His Presence.
During the most intense encounter of His Presence, I was standing on the shore of a lake near Toccoa, Georgia. Except for the many beautiful stars that I could see in the sky - it was very dark that early morning. As I continued worshipping God while I gazed at the wonder and beauty of the stars, I felt a breeze blowing toward me from off the water.
After only a few minutes, I had to get into my car and drive on to my job.
As I prayed over the next few days, the Lord enabled me to understand that the breeze represented the Holy Spirit -- {in the New Testament the Greek word (pneuma) can be used to say "breath, breeze, Spirit, etc.}; and the Holy Spirit was telling me that Jesus Christ was out on the surface of the lake.
In John 16:13, Jesus states "...He (the Holy Spirit) will guide you into all truth." Thus Galilee Breeze - revealing Jesus Christ!!!
May the Holy Spirit continue revealing Jesus to us all!!!
During these divine encounters, I could genuinely feel the Presence of the Lord.
After returning home from Israel, over a period of several months I continued to seek the Lord during worship - corporate worship at church, and individual worship wherever I was at the time. By the grace of God, I did continue to experience His Presence.
During the most intense encounter of His Presence, I was standing on the shore of a lake near Toccoa, Georgia. Except for the many beautiful stars that I could see in the sky - it was very dark that early morning. As I continued worshipping God while I gazed at the wonder and beauty of the stars, I felt a breeze blowing toward me from off the water.
After only a few minutes, I had to get into my car and drive on to my job.
As I prayed over the next few days, the Lord enabled me to understand that the breeze represented the Holy Spirit -- {in the New Testament the Greek word (pneuma) can be used to say "breath, breeze, Spirit, etc.}; and the Holy Spirit was telling me that Jesus Christ was out on the surface of the lake.
In John 16:13, Jesus states "...He (the Holy Spirit) will guide you into all truth." Thus Galilee Breeze - revealing Jesus Christ!!!
May the Holy Spirit continue revealing Jesus to us all!!!
Monday, June 9, 2014
God's Perfect (and Perfecting) Love
GOD'S PERFECT (AND PERFECTING) LOVE!!!!!!!
It was after Christmas, at a time when many of us allow our thoughts to turn away from the birth, life, death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ...back to our "normal" life. It is as if we subconsciously think: "Well, Christmas is over, it's time to change my focus back to the routine" of work, school, etc.
But God our Father, Jesus Christ our Lord is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb 13:8). His all-knowing perfect love for everyone of us is the same December 31st (or any other day) as it is December 25th!
Yes, God has our every day written down; He knows our every need; He knows what He needs to do to continue changing us into the image of Jesus Christ.
So there it was, Dec. 31, 1985, and some friends who lived in another town called me, and asked me to come celebrate New Year's Eve with them.
Mary, and our daughters Katy and Carrie, were visiting relatives in Miami over the holidays, so I drove my mother's car to visit my friends.
It was a very cold night, with an "icy" wind making it feel even colder! About half-way to my friends' house, the car's headlights began to get weaker and weaker. With the weather becoming even rougher, I decided to turn around and go back home. (I did not want to be caught out in that weather with car trouble!).
As I drove back through Clarkesville, GA, that which I feared and dreaded -- happened! The headlights failed completely, the car stopped dead still -- on a hill! The car had no electrical power, not even enough to operate the emergency flashing lights.
(Now this was before we had cell phones). There were no service stations open. There were no pay phones on that side of town. I prayed and prayed..."Lord, what am I going to do?!"
I was in a residential area. So all I could think to do was to go to the nearest house, and see if someone would allow (me), a complete stranger, into their house on New Year's Eve night, in order to use their phone.
A very elderly lady answered my knock on the door. I thought to myself: "If she is here alone, she won't let me in." I had underestimated God's grace. He gave me great favor with her! She invited me into her warm house. She told me that I could use the telephone - "as much as I needed to".
First I called the friends that I had planned to visit. I explained my situation, and they agreed to pray for me. Next I tried to call some service stations for help...no one was open. After praying some more, I decided to call my mother and tell her what had happened. As we talked, she remembered that the son of one of my father's friends owned a service station in Toccoa, a town near where my mother lived. Perhaps I could call him at home, and see if maybe he could help me.
As she prayed, Mother struggled to remember the man's name, and finally succeeded. His name is Michael Purcell. Again, I was thinking..."It is not likely that I will find him at home on New Year's Eve night." I could not remember ever having met the man, so I was also doubting that he would come that far, that late at night, in order to help me.
Again, I had underestimated Got's unmerited favor! Mr. Purcell was indeed at home. After I described the failure of the headlights, and the total failure of the car's electrical system, Mr. Purcell said that he believed it was due to a battery failure. He further stated that he would go to his station, pick up a battery, then he would meet me at my car! Glory to God!!!
After talking with Mr. Purcell, I told the lady whose phone I was using, that I would go out to the car and wait for Mr. Purcell there. She insisted that it was too cold for me to wait out there; that I must "stay in the house where it was nice and warm."
I didn't have to wait long. Mr. Purcell arrived, and quickly installed the new battery. The car started promptly, the headlights and electrical system worked "like new"! Mr. Purcell even followed me home, making sure that I arrived safely!!!
God has promised to "complete the good work (he) has begun in (us)" (Phil. 1:6).
I had had a fear of having car trouble while traveling. Because God is faithful to His word (II Tim. 2:13) -- He allowed me to go through this total car failure -- away from home -- in very bad weather.
Let's look at the names of the people He used to help me overcome. The elderly lady who allowed this total stranger into her house on New Year's Eve night, who game me access to her telephone, and a warm place to wait...Her name was Mrs. Trusty. (God saying..."Barry, trust Me."!!!). (II Chron. 20:20).
The man who came, fixed the car, and escorted me safely home...his name is Michael. God says in His word that there are "myriads" of angels; and that we each have at least two guardian angels (Psalm 91(. In all of the Bible, only two of the angels' names are listed: Gabriel and Michael. God says in Hebrews 1:14 "...the angels...are sent to serve those who will inherit salvation".
My daily commute to work was one of my most important prayer times. My route took me by Mrs. Trusty's home - and I prayed for her family daily. And of course I prayed daily also for Michael Purcell and his family.
(GOD'S "PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT ALL FEAR' (I JOHN 4:18)
GOD IS "...FAITHFUL...TO HIS WORD AND TO HIS RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER..."
(II TIMOTHY 2:13/AMPLIFIED BIBLE)
PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!!!!!
It was after Christmas, at a time when many of us allow our thoughts to turn away from the birth, life, death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ...back to our "normal" life. It is as if we subconsciously think: "Well, Christmas is over, it's time to change my focus back to the routine" of work, school, etc.
But God our Father, Jesus Christ our Lord is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb 13:8). His all-knowing perfect love for everyone of us is the same December 31st (or any other day) as it is December 25th!
Yes, God has our every day written down; He knows our every need; He knows what He needs to do to continue changing us into the image of Jesus Christ.
So there it was, Dec. 31, 1985, and some friends who lived in another town called me, and asked me to come celebrate New Year's Eve with them.
Mary, and our daughters Katy and Carrie, were visiting relatives in Miami over the holidays, so I drove my mother's car to visit my friends.
It was a very cold night, with an "icy" wind making it feel even colder! About half-way to my friends' house, the car's headlights began to get weaker and weaker. With the weather becoming even rougher, I decided to turn around and go back home. (I did not want to be caught out in that weather with car trouble!).
As I drove back through Clarkesville, GA, that which I feared and dreaded -- happened! The headlights failed completely, the car stopped dead still -- on a hill! The car had no electrical power, not even enough to operate the emergency flashing lights.
(Now this was before we had cell phones). There were no service stations open. There were no pay phones on that side of town. I prayed and prayed..."Lord, what am I going to do?!"
I was in a residential area. So all I could think to do was to go to the nearest house, and see if someone would allow (me), a complete stranger, into their house on New Year's Eve night, in order to use their phone.
A very elderly lady answered my knock on the door. I thought to myself: "If she is here alone, she won't let me in." I had underestimated God's grace. He gave me great favor with her! She invited me into her warm house. She told me that I could use the telephone - "as much as I needed to".
First I called the friends that I had planned to visit. I explained my situation, and they agreed to pray for me. Next I tried to call some service stations for help...no one was open. After praying some more, I decided to call my mother and tell her what had happened. As we talked, she remembered that the son of one of my father's friends owned a service station in Toccoa, a town near where my mother lived. Perhaps I could call him at home, and see if maybe he could help me.
As she prayed, Mother struggled to remember the man's name, and finally succeeded. His name is Michael Purcell. Again, I was thinking..."It is not likely that I will find him at home on New Year's Eve night." I could not remember ever having met the man, so I was also doubting that he would come that far, that late at night, in order to help me.
Again, I had underestimated Got's unmerited favor! Mr. Purcell was indeed at home. After I described the failure of the headlights, and the total failure of the car's electrical system, Mr. Purcell said that he believed it was due to a battery failure. He further stated that he would go to his station, pick up a battery, then he would meet me at my car! Glory to God!!!
After talking with Mr. Purcell, I told the lady whose phone I was using, that I would go out to the car and wait for Mr. Purcell there. She insisted that it was too cold for me to wait out there; that I must "stay in the house where it was nice and warm."
I didn't have to wait long. Mr. Purcell arrived, and quickly installed the new battery. The car started promptly, the headlights and electrical system worked "like new"! Mr. Purcell even followed me home, making sure that I arrived safely!!!
God has promised to "complete the good work (he) has begun in (us)" (Phil. 1:6).
I had had a fear of having car trouble while traveling. Because God is faithful to His word (II Tim. 2:13) -- He allowed me to go through this total car failure -- away from home -- in very bad weather.
Let's look at the names of the people He used to help me overcome. The elderly lady who allowed this total stranger into her house on New Year's Eve night, who game me access to her telephone, and a warm place to wait...Her name was Mrs. Trusty. (God saying..."Barry, trust Me."!!!). (II Chron. 20:20).
The man who came, fixed the car, and escorted me safely home...his name is Michael. God says in His word that there are "myriads" of angels; and that we each have at least two guardian angels (Psalm 91(. In all of the Bible, only two of the angels' names are listed: Gabriel and Michael. God says in Hebrews 1:14 "...the angels...are sent to serve those who will inherit salvation".
My daily commute to work was one of my most important prayer times. My route took me by Mrs. Trusty's home - and I prayed for her family daily. And of course I prayed daily also for Michael Purcell and his family.
(GOD'S "PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT ALL FEAR' (I JOHN 4:18)
GOD IS "...FAITHFUL...TO HIS WORD AND TO HIS RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER..."
(II TIMOTHY 2:13/AMPLIFIED BIBLE)
PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!!!!!
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