**** "SAFE" ****

"IN JESUS it is just as if I had never sinned". (Romans 5:1)

                              "By entering through faith into what GOD has always wanted to do for us - set us right with HIM, make us fit for HIM - we have it all together with GOD because of JESUS; and that's not all:  we throw open our doors to GOD and discover at the same moment that HE has already thrown open HIS doors to us.  We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand - out in the wide open spaces of  GOD'S grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise to HIM"!!! (Romans 5:1/The MESSAGE).

Now "PICTURE" This in your mind and heart:

In the game of baseball, when a batter/baserunner hurries to Touch the base Before the defensive player can receive the ball and touch (the baserunner)---The Umpire/Official watches this action...and if the runner is successful in reaching the base--- the Umpire holds both his  (own) hands out in front of himself---holding his hands flat - --spreading his hands and arms apart in a "sweeping" motion, and He declares the runner  "SAFE".

And as the "baserunner" (me!/us!) Submit to, and rely on GOD our Heavenly Father---we will reach home (Heaven!) "SAFE"!!!

***Please, One more time...Picture this in your mind/heart:                 ### The "sweeping motion" of the umpire's arms represents JESUS CHRIST's arms being spread apart on the cross (and being nailed there), and HIS Blood/GOD's Word Wiping away all our sins!!!!!!!!!  And so that makes us "as if we had NEVER SINNED"!! (Romans 5:1).

GOD is NOT an umpire - to call us "out", or "safe"--------HE IS            our FATHER!!!  By HIS SPIRIT within us HE is "our strength and our song", "always with us", "wisdom" (Isaiah 12:2/Matt. 28:20/Psalm 139/1 Cor. 1:30).  IN HIM we can be SAFE here on the way...in HEAVEN we will be SAFE FOREVER from thieves, sorrow. fear, death, pain, sickness etc.!!!

"The punishment necessary for us to have peace was put upon HIM."  (JESUS)!!! (Isaiah 53:5).

"The ETERNAL GOD is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting ARMS..." (Deuteronomy 33:27).

                        ****SAFE****

 

****"NURTURE LIFE!!!"****

Recently, I had a dream.....In the dream I was among a large group of people in an outside area, it was night.   Every person in the group was carrying a candle, and each person had already lit their candle.

The crowd started a game---the object of the game was to see which person could blow out/extinguish the most candles (candles which others were holding).

During the game...I blew out/extinguished the most candles.

In the days following the dream...HOLY GOD our FATHER put together the happenings of the dream with with some events from earlier times in my life:

1) On a hot summer afternoon, I was taking a walk along a paved road near our home.  As I arrived at the top of a hill, I saw a butterfly on the pavement - it was injured, it could not fly.  Very carefully, I picked up the butterfly, and carried it across the road.  I gently placed it in the grass (well away from the road), and in a place where the sun was shining brightly on that grass.

2) On yet another sunny summer afternoon, I stepped out of our garage-onto the gravel in front of our garage... Although there was ONLY  gravel there (no flowers nearby), still, there was a beautiful butterfly perched on the gravel.  It, also, was unable to fly.  So I gently picked it up and carried it over to the edge of the woods where there  

were some flowers growing in the warm sunshine.  I placed the butterfly near the flowers in the warm sunshine.

 HOLY GOD OUR FATHER began to give me the understanding that I am to be one who NURTURES LIFE.

Many of you already know that butterflies are considered to be a symbol of LIFE.

I Thessalonians 2:7 - "But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children." 

The Greek word (thalpo) (Strongs # 2282) used here in the New  Testament---means: to cherish, to warm, to tenderly care. The word means literally "keep warm".  Also, the Greek word (pneuma) is used for "spirit", "air", and "wind". (Strongs # 4151),

(John 6:63) (JESUS speaking) - "It is the Spirit Who gives life...The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."

So, what are you (and I) to do???

We are NOT to blow out/extinguish the candle in others.

We are to frequently ASK, and ALLOW, the Holy Spirit to speak JESUS' words through our thoughts, our words, our prayers, and our actions --- to nurture...nourish...tenderly care for ...keep warm---His life in others.

JESUS says "I AM the light." (John 8:12).

(JESUS speaking) "It is the Spirit WHO gives life...the words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63).

NOT SUMMIT, BUT FAR BETTER --- THROUGH!!!!!!!!!

In my life I have read books and seen movies about climbing Mount Everest -- the highest mountain on earth!

All of those who climb/"summit" Mount Everest must spend YEARS   preparing physically and mentally for the effort.  When the time comes that they arrive at the base camp --- THEN the struggle begins!!!

One of the difficulties of the climb is the TRAFFIC! ( traffic?!!?) YES, the climbing season is very brief due to the weather conditions---that include powerful winds (some winds reach "hurricane strength"!!!); plus there is MUCH ice and snow...and the air is so "thin" that you must carry your own Oxygen in bottles as you climb    toward the summit --- and that is in the "best" climbing season!

"TRAFFIC???"  YES! If someone who is ahead of you in the struggle...if they get to a place/condition to where they cannot continue---then you must WAIT (sometimes you might have to wait    for HOURS).  And many people get part or the way up, and then have to go back down---after having spent that much training, effort...without achieving the goal of "summiting" - (and some people die on the way up!) 

For those who do make it to the summit---the most difficult part is still AHEAD of them!  They have spent all their drive and desire in     

Reaching the summit --- then they have little energy left to struggle through the most DANGEROUS part --- the descent.

Those who SURVIVE the descent ---they have to come back down to the world and struggle through the difficulties of life in this world -      (like sickness, cancer, broken families, etc.).

Even the experienced guides who lead others up and down the mountain...THEY also must come back and experience the struggles of life here on earth..(and ALL of them WILL die at some time).  Even though they have climbed to the highest place on earth --- they are no CLOSER to heaven than is a little child who can hardly walk.

*** BUT!!!** We who have accepted JESUS CHRIST as our LORD and SAVIOR ---HE leads/guides/enables us T-H-R-O-U-G-H our lives!!!  

HE (JESUS!!!) climbed the mountain that was MOST difficult to climb --- One that ONLY HE could climb ---MOUNT CALVARY- to    reach HIS CROSS---and HIS death on the cross---to SAVE US from our sins!!! ****

T-H-R-O-U-G-H

JESUS is the T-ruth---

H-e is our SAVIOR. HE is here with us.

R - His righteousness gets us into heaven!!!

O - HE (GOD!!!) is O-mnipotent (all powerful),  O-mniscient (all knowing), AND O-mnipresent ("with us always"/Matthew 28:20/Psalm 139).

U - nderstanding -  (JESUS "became for us wisdom from GOD...." (1 Corinthians 1:30);  [ Wisdom speaks: "I AM Understanding"/Proverbs 8:14].  JESUS understands us with HIS HEART--- HE suffered rejection  (even from His own family!);  HE suffered pain, and sorrow, and ALL things that we experience.                                                                        "JESUS Wept" with sympathy (John 11:32-35);                                      "JESUS Wept with sadness and frustation (Luke 19:41-44); also ***Please read (Isaiah 53:3-5).

G- HIS G-oodness is more than powerful enough so that HE defeated all the evil of all people of all time!!!

Earlier in this message I mentioned the "efforts" of those climbing Mount Everest.....As We are carried THROUGH the mountains/difficulties by JESUS --- OUR efforts are: to SUBMIT to HIM, OBEY HIM, THANK HIM, PRAISE HIM, and WORSHIP HIM!!!

H- Heaven - ENDLESS "time" in the PRESENCE of GOD --- praising, thanking, and worshiping HIM!!!!!!!!!

Oh, earlier in this message I mentioned a mountain named "Mount Everest" --- that is "mis-named" --- only in HEAVEN can we EVER REST and Rejoice in HIS PRESENCE!!!!!!!!!

JESUS declares in John 14:6 ---"I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

Daily, let us Praise HIM and Thank HIM that in His Love HE paid the highest possible price for us (each and all of us!!!) and HE will lead, guide, and enable us through ALL things to HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!

Thank YOU LORD!!!!!!!!!

   

    

HOPE!!!!!!!!!

In today's world, with Covid, increasing crime, possible war, etc.---    We need HOPE!!!!!!!!!

HOPE is a VITAL NEED for ALL of us!!!

WITHOUT   hope...we will fall into despair, depression and other        destructive difficulties.

In this world, when we have difficult times (like sickness, injuries, etc.), we have hope for  "when this is over".                                            In Hell there will NEVER be hope of it ending!!! 

WITH hope we can live lives of peace, and have victories, and joy!!!

When I was a young man...I often would put my hope on my expec-    tations...then when my expectations did not happen.....that led to        frustration, anger, and bitterness!  And that caused very negative effects to the people close to me!!

The DEFINITION of HOPE in the NEW TESTAMENT of the BIBLE is:                                                                                                              "hope, el pis ("el peece"), Strongs # 1680.                                              "Hope, NOT in the sense of an optimistic outlook or wishful thinking  without any foundation, but in the sense of Confident expectation based on SOLID CERTAINTY.  Hope rests on GOD'S Promises, particularly those pertaining to JESUS CHRIST'S RETURN!!! So      CERTAIN is the future of the REDEEMED that the New Testament sometimes speaks of future events in the past sense---as if they were already accomplished!!!

"For when GOD made a promise to Abraham, because HE could swear by none greater, HE swore by HIMSELF, saying, 'Surely Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you!!!            And so, after he (Abraham) had patiently endured, he obtained the      promise.  Thus GOD, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of Promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, confirmed it by an oath, that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for GOD to lie, we have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

This HOPE we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the PRESENCE  beyond the veil, where the Forerunner has entered for us, even JESUS, having become HIGH PRIEST Forever..." (Hebrews 6:13-20).  (From BIBLE study notes:     "An Anchor is only as secure as that to which it is attached."

So, we must put our Hope in GOD-WHO is Almighty, Unchanging, and HE loves us with His perfect love, and on His SON JESUS.

"For all the promises of GOD in HIM (JESUS) are Yes, and in HIM AMEN." (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Let it be SO in our hearts and our lives!!!

"...By the commandment of GOD OUR SAVIOR and the LORD JESUS CHRIST, our Hope." (1 Timothy 1:1)   

A SONG IN THE NIGHT

*** PLEASE READ THIS ALOUD**

The LORD will command HIS lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me---                                                     A prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:8). 

All the night the storm roared...

When the morning came...the storm was o'er.

We looked on the beach, we searched the shore...

Then in the distance we heard a man's voice sing...

As we drew closer, we saw him lying on the beach.                                As He was Singing -  He was Clinging to a rock.                                    (He was Singing) "Praise YOU LORD, JESUS MY KING."

As he endured the storm, and the night, he was Clinging to                  to the everlasting/everpresent arms of his Savior. (Deuteronomy 33:27).  {The word for "everlasting", can also be translated as              "everpresent".}

You and I---through every day and every night and every storm-           --WE can cling to HIS everlasting/everpresent arms and HE will         Love us with His 'Everlasting Love'. (Jeremiah 31:3).

Through every day and every night and every storm - HE is our Rock.   "...For they drank of that Spiritual Rock...and that Rock was   CHRIST."   (1 Corinthians 10:4).

"In YOU, O LORD, I put my trust...be my refuge" (to which I may resort continually, a place wherein I can Dwell."). (Psalm 71:1-3).

"I am the LORD, I do not change." (Malachi 3:6).

"JESUS CHRIST is the Same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8). 

[GOD is infinitely Creative, but His Character/His heart toward us never changes.]

"HE remains true (faithful to His Word and to His righteous Character), for HE cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 2:13/Amplified Bible).

"I am with you Always." (Matthew 28:20).

"Where can I go from YOUR Presence?  If I ascend into heaven, You are there...if I make my bed in sheol, behold, You are there.  If I ride  the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there  Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me.  I could ask the darkness to hide me - and the light around me to become night---but even in darkness I cannot hide from You.  To You the night shines as bright as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You." (Psalm 139:7-12/New Living Translation).

Until JESUS comes back  for you and for me---to take us to Heaven--  we Will have days, nights, and storms...

"All the night the storm roared...                                                              When the morning came, the storm                                                        was o'er...                                                                                                  We looked on the beach, we looked on the shore... then in the distance we heard a man's voice sing...as we drew closer, we saw him lying on the beach.  As He was Singing - he was Clinging to The 

Rock.  He was singing "Praise You, Lord - Jesus My King". 

Until JESUS does come to take us to heaven---                                      Let us SING Praises, Worship, and Thanksgiving to JESUS...

Let us CLING to His Everlasting/everpresent arms, Let us rest in HIM - our refuge wherein we may dwell.  

(Now, please read it again.  Thank you.) 

                                                                                                                

                                                                                 

*** LIGHTNING!!!!!!!!! ****

!!! GET THE PICTURE-----

Late on a Wednesday afternoon, in Cornelia, Ga., I was in the gym...  as I was doing my planned exercises, I could hear that it was raining very hard!!!.  I could hear the rain just "pounding" on the roof!  And  I could hear the thunder!

     After I completed my exercises, I walked to the front of the building, and I could see that it was still raining very hard!!!

I sat on a chair near the door so that I could see when the rain decreased---    planning to walk across the very large parking lot to my truck.

Indeed when the rain decreased.....I opened the door and started walking (because at age 76 I no longer run), so I walked as quickly      as I could.

(This might seem "strange", but I always pray---asking the LORD ("in which specific place I should park?").  As I reached the point where I was about half-way to my truck - - - I saw a very BRIGHT FLASH of  LIGHTNING only a few feet in front me!!!!!                                              I am sure that most everyone has seen lightning before.  The Flash is so quick and brief that it is very difficult to actually measure the duration- - - probably only 1 (one) or 2 seconds.                                          Lightning is both very quick and very powerful!!!  One lightning    strike can break a large tree; or..."knock out" the electricity for a whole town, etc.                                                                                             When that "Thunderbolt" struck in front of me, I paused for a second or two, then walked on to my truck and drove home.                      I KNOW that I did not just imagine that!  Because when I returned  to the gym 2 days later- - -2 employees of the gym told me that they    SAW the lightning!!!                                                                                      By GOD'S GRACE, I am reading through the complete BIBLE      this calendar year.  So I have a reading plan that guides me to which chapters that I am to read each day.  So as I drove home, THE LORD  brought to my remembrance---                                                                (Job 28:23-26)  "GOD understands its way, and HE knows its place.    For HE looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heavens, to establish a weight for the wind, and apportion the waters by measure.  When HE made a law for the rain, And A PATH FOR THE THUNDERBOLT."  (I read that passage only 6 days before!!! the LIGHTNING/THUNDERBOLT!!!).   And also (Psalm 139:16)---"HE WROTE DOWN OUR EVERY DAY BEFORE THE DAY OF OUR BIRTH."                                                                                                         Also as I drove toward home - I remembered that (even though the  Lightning bolt was very near to me) - - - I felt neither heat nor electrical  charge!                                                                                         I can conclude only that:                                                                     1) In TRUTH - HE did "...write down our every day before the day of our birth (Psalm 139:16); so HE knew EXACTLY where I would be at that time.                                                                                      2) HE "made a path for the Lightning bolt/Thunderbolt AROUND me  (Job 28:23-26).                                                                         3)"As for GOD, HIS way is perfect;  The WORD of THE LORD is proven; HE is a shield to all who trust in HIM".  (2 Samuel 22:31).      4) HE still has work for me to do.  "...HE WHO has begun a good work in you will complete it until the Day of JESUS CHRIST...".        (Philippians 1:6).

JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF SAYS in (John 16:13):  "HE (THE HOLY  SPIRIT) will guide you into all truth."

Let us frequently ask (and submit to) the HOLY SPIRIT to "guide me into all TRUTH".               

        

     

CRADLE----- HOLD----- COMFORT----- HAVE MERCY!!!!!

 In recent days, I have been meditating on the term "Cradle".

Of course, as a NOUN, "Cradle" is a small bed in which small babies  can sleep.                                                                                                  But what is really on my mind and in my heart is the VERB "To Cradle".

I was asking GOD to "Cradle" Military men and women who suffer    Severe Struggles with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).            PTSD is caused by experiencing the PAIN, TERROR, and HORROR  of WAR.

Also, I was asking GOD to Cradle/Comfort our Christian Brothers and Sisters who are Persecuted for their faith in JESUS CHRIST.  [Persecution can range from not allowing Christian children to attend school --- to Torture and Murder].

FIRST, I started  my search in the Holy Treasure of GOD'S WORD/    the BIBLE.

I could not find the word "Cradle" in the BIBLE.--- But far better I did find (the Verb) "COMFORT".

"Listen" to GOD'S definition "COMFORT:                                            COMFORT... (Psalm 23:4), nacham, "nah-cham", Strongs # 5162:        to console, extend compassion.  In its sense of comfort, nacham does  NOT describe casual sympathy, but with Deep EMPATHY - identification with, and understanding of another person's feelings.

EVEN BETTER, as I searched the TREASURY of GOD'S WORD---  I discovered ---"HAVE MERCY".                                                            "HAVE MERCY", racham, ("rah-chahm"), Strongs # 7355, to feel,      show compassion, tenderly love.  (*** Racham is the origin of the        Hebrew word for  "WOMB"**!!!

Let's Seal it with GOD'S WORD:                                                            "Behold, I will extend peace to her/him like a river...As one whom his/her Mother comforts,...so I will comfort you...". (Isaiah 66:12-13).

Let's Pray for wounded Warriors and Persecuted Christians...Pray that  GOD our Heavenly Father will hold them with His "Ever-lasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27), Pray that HE will COMFORT them, and HAVE MERCY on them.  (Write your own prayer if you wish!!!).

LET'S REMEMBER!!!  We can plant 1 (one) grain of corn...we can get one corn stalk --- with several "Ears" of corn...each ear of corn will have several Hundreds of grains !!! (Just Picture---"Corn on the    cob". (What we give out...it will come back to us multiplied!!!).

HAVE MERCY!!!!!!!!!

IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST---

"Blessed be the GOD and Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the     FATHER of MERCIES and GOD of all COMFORT." (2 Corinthians   1:3).

AMEN!!! (Let it BE SO IN and THROUGH our lives!!!!!!!!!).