"CRYING OUT TO THE LORD (Restoration)

 The year was 1980---I remember in which house I was living---

I was recently divorced, working 2 jobs, lonely, depressed, angry, and suffering many of the results of being divorced.

I remember in which room I was sitting, in which chair I sat...anxious about both the present and the future...

At that time, I had ALREADY given my heart to JESUS CHRIST...so I got down on my knees behind the chair---and I cried out ....."OH GOD, I CANNOT LIVE this Christian life: YOU will just have to live it THROUGH me!!!!!

At the time, I realized that might not be the BEST way to phrase that cry---but that was the TRUTH from my HEART!!!

As I look back now, I realize that I was indeed confessing the genuine truth.

JESUS CHRIST ["THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE". (John 14:6)] said it this way:

"Abide in ME, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in ME.

"I AM the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in ME, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without ME you can do NOTHING." (John 15:4-5).  Not very long after that time of confessing/crying out that "I can't live this Christian life, YOU will have to live it out through me".....JESUS filled me with THE HOLY SPIRIT/"THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH---as HE says just a few verses later in John: "But when the HELPER comes, whom I shall send to you from the FATHER, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WHO proceeds from the FATHER, HE will testify of ME.  And you also will bear witness because you have been with ME..." (John 15:26-27).

"HELPER" - parakletos - ("par-ak-LAY-toss"),,,[Strong's #3875.  The word signifies an intercessor, comforter, helper..."].

HOLY GOD OUR FATHER still has much to do in order to transform me into the image of JESUS (2 Corinthians 3:18); but "HE WHO has begun a good work in you WILL complete it..." (Philippians 1:6).

The word "Restoration" is in the subtitle at the top of this message...GOD is not restoring me ONLY to how I was before the divorce---INSTEAD HE is restoring me to the FULLNESS of "the life HE has planned for me" (Jeremiah 29:11).

A very IMPORTANT part of HIS restoration of me is that HE brought me together with MARY - a truly Godly woman who HE called (us) to become MAN AND WIFE.  Also, HE has restored me to the point that HE enables me to share JESUS with you through this blog and through the mail.  All of this HE is accomplishing by HIS GRACE; in NO WAY could I be restored by my own merit!!!

In (John 18:15-36) Peter DENIED JESUS three (3) times (verses 17-27).

Later on, JESUS three (3) times asked (Peter)-"Do you love ME?" Peter answered 'Yes' 3 times.

Still later, after JESUS' resurrection, Peter "LED" the disciples of JESUS (Acts 1:15-26); and Peter preached at Pentecost and >"3,000 souls were added to them"!!!

HOLY GOD is ABLE and EAGER to RESTORE ALL OF US!!!!!!!!!

May I boldly urge EACH and EVERY ONE of us to submit to GOD - asking HIM to restore us!!!!!!!!!

HE IS ABLE!!!  HE IS READY!!!  HE IS WAITING FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!   

"EYE WITNESSES OF MAJESTY"!!!!!!!!!

 (II PETER 1:13 - 19)

"...Yes...It is right, as long as I live in this (body), to stir you up by 

reminding you...For JESUS CHRIST received from GOD the FATHER honor and glory when such a voice came to HIM from

THE EXCELLENT GLORY:  'This is MY BELOVED SON,

in WHOM I AM well pleased,'

     And we heard THIS VOICE which came from heaven when we

were with HIM on the holy mountain.  ...we made known to you the power and coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST {we} were eye witnesses of HIS majesty."

     MAJESTY (meg-al-eye-OT-ace); Strong's # 3168: Sublimity, grandeur, glory, magnificence, splendor, superbness, greatness.  (Luke 9:43),

     King David (Jesus' ancestor) (Matthew 1:6-17), reigned over all Israel (2 Samuel 8:15),  JESUS THE MESSIAH shall reign FOREVER over Israel and ALL nations!!!

On an early morning in early March...I was watching the sunrise and it was SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!   The whole eastern sky was a beautiful pink color---that continued to expand---It was just TRANSPORTING me in joy and AWE of GOD---and HE gave to me understanding to put into

 words what I was SEEING and FEELING:

"O HOLY GOD!!! YOU write MAJESTY in the skies with every sunset and every sunrise.

YOU write MAJESTY in our eyes---so that we can SEE YOUR MAJESTY!!!

YOU write MAJESTY in our hearts!!!

Because of YOUR MAJESTY...we are together forever---never apart.

O Worship HIS  MAJESTY!!!

JESUS WHO DIED___NOW GLORIFIED  FOREVER MORE!!!!!!

Now, YOU join me in WORSHIP OF JESUS!!!!!!!!! 

  

HOW DO YOU SPELL THE NAME OF GOD"S SON???

 V-I C-T-O-R-Y!!!!!!!!!

(HE) Volunteered

        Initiating (Beginning)

        Conquering

         The (enemy"s) opposition

       TO

        Our

         Righteousness

In       Yahweh (GOD)>

  What was JESUS' response to GOD?

JESUS (The TRUTH) (John 14:6) said to GOD (He prayed) "FATHER, If it is YOUR will, take this cup (His death on the cross) away from ME; never the less NOT MY will, but YOUR will be done," (Luke 22:42).

So on the cross, JESUS defeated death, hell, sin, and the grave!!!

HE said "IT IS FINISHED!!! And bowing HIS head, HE gave up His spirit. (John 19:30).

"IT IS FINISHED", The Greek tense indicates that the work of redemption has been COMPLETED ONCE FOR ALL and it's RESULTS ARE ABIDING CONTINUOUSLY.

And HE gave the VICTORY to US!!!

So what is to be our response?

A) Be imitators of JESUS---As Paul said in (1 CORINTHIANS 11:1) "Imitate me, just as I 

imitate CHRIST".

B) WORSHIP THE LORD!!!  THANK HIM!!!

HE IS WORTHY!!!!!!!!! (Rev. 5:12).  HIS essential priority for us is Worship!!!

"Now therefore, if you will indeed obey MY voice and keep MY covenant, then You shall be

a SPECIAL treasure to ME...a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5-6)

Let us (You and me) share HIS victory by Worshiping HIM and Loving others.

LORD JESUS, "YOU are my Shepherd, I shall not lack. YOU cause me to lie down ln green pastures, YOU lead me by still waters, You restore my soul.  You lead me in paths of righteousness for YOUR NAME'S SAKE.

Surely Your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will live with YOU in YOUR house FOREVER> (Psalm 23::1-6) {Living Bible]

                                                                                                                

      

PLANS FOR YOU, PLANS FOR ME, AND?????????

As long as I worked at my last job - (approx. 32 years) - I drove from our home in Cleveland, Ga. to my work place in Toccoa, Ga: and of course back home in Cleveland in the evening.

   Each trip took about 50 minutes.  Early in my working life, Our LORD gave me understanding that I should make good use of that

travel time by praying as I drove.  [All those years, I was blessed to travel alone. (But of course JESUS was and is) "with me always" as 

HE promises in Matthew 28:20)].

     Of course I prayed much for our family; but gradually the LORD

expanded my horizons, guiding and enabling  me to pray for the families that lived in the houses that I passed by, as well as hospital

patients and their families, and for people who worked at the various

businesses that I saw.  

     Not knowing the specific identities of the individuals, nor specific

needs---I prayed "Father, come Your kingdom, be done Your will on

earth as it is in heaven, in and through their lives and their families.

     Calculating the number of work days in that 30+ years,  the sum

is 13,000+ trips!!!

     Recently I learned that in one of the houses that I prayed for the

family---years later , one member of that family became my personal friend!!!

     Another time I learned that a man who lived in a subdivision that

I prayed for---later, he became the associate pastor of the church that I attended!!!

     So what lessons/principles can we learn from my personal ex-

periences and HIS Faithfulness??? (read 2 Timothy 2:13 in the Amplified Bible).

1)"I know the plans that I have for you, says the LORD..." (Jeremiah

29:11).

2) " Pray on every occasion..."(Ephesians 6:18).

3) "Now to HIM who is able to do infinitely beyond all that  you dare or ask, beyond what you could dream..." (Ephesians 3:20 in the

Amplified Bible).

     PRAY!!! in the NAME OF JESUS---

     "Blessed be the GOD of our LORD JESUS CHRIST the FATHER OF MERCIES AND GOD OF ALL COMFORT."

(2 Corinthians 1:3).

HE is waiting to hear from you and ready to answer!!!!!!!!!!!!           

THE GREATEST POWER!!!!!!!!!

(THE POWER OF JESUS' JOY!!!!!!!!!) "...Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the JOY that was set before HIM endured the cross..." (Hebrews 12:2). "JESUS...endured the cross...". "Endured the cross" sounds like a very SIMPLE phrase...describing maybe a person surviving a time of very difficult trials---perhaps a very serious illness, or multiple injuries suffered in a terrible accident---but they DID make it through (endured). But "SIMPLE" is not always "easy". For example - if you want to get to the summit of the highest mountain on earth (Mount Everest)...it is simple - just climb it! But the "endurance" part of it includes hour after hour, day after day, climb- ing over and throughsnow and ice, sometimes fighting through winds of "hurricane force winds...all this and more while the air is so "thin" that if you don't CARRY supplemental oxygen...you will probably die! Simple but the very OPPO- SITE of easy! Then, you may be "on top of the world"-but that will NOT get you into heaven! For a personal example of endurance-if you are going to run a marathon (26.2 miles)...it is simple - just put one foot in front of the other for approxi- mately 46,112 steps- up and down hills, thirsty,tired beyond measure steps! But JESUS - enduring the cross-"numbers" fall short of illustrating all that JESUS endured on the cross! There are almost 8 billion people on earth at this time; and ONLY our LORD knows how many more will be here before JESUS comes back for us! What JESUS endured for us was the punishment necessary to forgive put ALL the sins of Hitler, Salin, Sadaam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, ALL the sins of BARRY COKER and all your sins! How can I, how can YOU thank JESUS "enough" for enduring the cross??? Daily: Pray, Thank Him, Praise Him, obey Him, and share Him with others- with our hearts, our lips, our thoughts, forgiving others, study His Word, sub* mit to HIS transforming us into HIS image. (Philippians1:6/2 Cor. 3:18). LET'S GET TO IT!!! WORTHY IS THE LAMB!!! (Rev. 5:12)

DEATH'S DOOR, OR HEAVEN'S BLESSINGS!!!'

In Genesis 3:1-24 we can see the serpent [representing Satan (see Rev.12:9)] introduce DOUBT as one of His weapons against us (God's people) In verse one (1) the serpent asks Eve a question: Has GOD (INDEED(?) said, " you shall not eat of every(?) tree of the garden("?")

(verse 2) Eve answers: "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; BUT of the fruit of the tree which is in the MIDST of the garden---GOD has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.

*** Pause now to PICTURE this in your mind- you probably know that when a serpent bites someone/something---it injects  venom/poison into the person/animal to begin the killing process.

(verse 4) Next, the serpent  his second question/takes his second bite...His teeth are just DRIPPING with the venom of doubt --- ----

'You will NOT surely die.' For GOD knows that in the day that you

eat of it your eyes will be opened...and you will be like GOD."---there Satan is tempting Eve to think: "I could have more/better than GOD

wants me to have!!  ( What a HUGE, "kingdom-sized" LIE!!)

Genesis 3:16-19 lists some of the deadly results of ...Eve's giving in to that temptation.  Thus doubt was used by Satan to open the door of Eve's heart.........and all the other works of Satan came through while the 

door was open-----and became part of the trials that we go through

in life.

BUT, lets not all blame EVE for all this-----ALL of us have.....at times, doubted GOD in our lives!!!!!  I have...haven't you???

Now, let's look at another (VICTORIOUS!!!) "Garden Situation".....

It was in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18-1:39) that JESUS allowed HIMSELF to be arrested and taken to trial-----leading to

HIS death on the cross to save US from OUR SINS ("the punishment necessary for us to have peace and healing... was put upon HIM....". 

(Isaiah 53:5).

".....looking unto JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith,

WHO for the joy that was before HIM endured the cross...

JESUS ON THE CROSS **PAID*** for EVERY SIN ever committed  by EVERY  PERSON who ever lived!!!

"For the joy that was before HIM, JESUS endured that!!!!!!!

So "THE JOY that was before HIM"  was EXCEEDINGLY POWERFUL!!!  JESUS on the cross was NOT a VICTIM-----

HE  was a VOLUNTEER--- AND the VICTORY for ALL of us!!!

"...be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and perfect will of GOD." (Romans 12:2)

So HOW can WE walk/live in victory now, and into the future???

Become more and more intimately familiar with JESUS OUR SAVIOR/GOD our HEAVENLY FATHER by reading HIS HOLY WORD/THE BIBLE.

If we will give an average of 15-20 minutes per day---we can read

all through the Bible in one year!!!

Go to  logostradingpost.com and you can get a reading plan.

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!!!!!!!!

"THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH."

(John 16:13"        

     

Safe Passage Through Storms!!!

Monarch butterflies. One of Holy God's most beautiful and delicate creatures --- Early each fall, across North America, Monarch butterflies begin to gather in order to migrat,,e south. Yes, from all over the USA and even from parts of Canada...they gather to make their trip!!! As some of you probably know, butterlfies are considered a symbol of new life!!! Ok. Now let's put that thought "on hold" for a few moments...but don't let that thought "slip away". The "planned destination" for the Monarch butterflies is the mountains of Mexico where they gather to spend the winter. Now put that thought "on hold" also. Since the destination for the monarch butterflies is the mountains of Mexico...we don't have to wonder about the route they take to arrive at those mountains... Many of us who live in the south of the US have had the dreadful experiences of powerful, destructive hurricanes: high winds, flooding, rains - destroying homes as well as massive concrete-and-steel buildings. Most of those hurricanes come up through the Gulf of Mexico, gather strength from the warmer waters there - before they hit landfall. So here are the beautiful, FRAGILE, delicate Monarch butterflies poised near the beach areas of the Gulf of Mexico -- the very "storm track" of the hurricanes... How in the world do these butterflies get through all THAT...to get to the mountains of Mexico??? Well, their way is not "of the world". Rather, they are guided, enabled and carried by our Creator. As we are!!! To our mere human eyes --- butterflies are far more beautiful than we are -- Jesus is "the way" (NOT-directions to a location), But he is the Person who will take us there - to eternity in his radiance. (John 17:24) He does this not because of who we are, nor what we have done... But because of Who He Is. Because of What He Has Done, What He Is Doing, Which He Will Complete (Phil 1:6/2 Cor 3:18) How do we "get there"? Day by day, come to him humbly, submit to him, to him carrying us through the day and night, thanking him, praising him, and blessing him. Bringing our "thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus" (2 Cor 10:5). Oh Lord, You are my shepherd. "You cause me to lie down in green pastures, you lead me beside still waters. You restore my soul. You lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me...your rod and your staff they comfort me...You annoint my head with oil...my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Pssalm 23:1-6) Praise Jesus Forever!!!