"I DON'T UNDERSTAND..."!!!

 That phrase ("I don't understand") is something that I have said to our HOLY GOD and FATHER a number of times in my life...                     

And now (By GOD'S GRACE!!!) I am beginning to understand what   GOD is trying to teach me---

To save time, I will list only 1 (one) personal experience that will         illustrate what HE is teaching me:

February 8 2020 I was driving from our church (in Clermont, GA.),      to our home (in Cleveland, Ga.).  It was snowing heavily---so I was      driving VERY SLOWLY and CAREFULLY: (keeping my speed at      30 - 35 miles per hour.  

When I neared Cleveland, I drove over the top of a hill---IMMEDIATELY I saw that a car was STOPPED in my lane, with NO  BRAKE LIGHTS, NOR EMERGENCY FLASHERS showing.  Because I was driving SLOWLY...I decided to try to drive AROUND the  vehicle--- but the SNOW on the highway caused my truck to collide into the rear of the other vehicle. THANK YOU LORD!!! Neither I,  nor the people in the other vehicle, were injured!!!

{Let me now list some "numbers" here to clarify this (True!!!) story}.   The small pick up truck that I was driving...we paid only $6,000 for    it.

OK, here it comes:  I said "LORD, I don't understand - I was driving  very SLOWLY and CAREFULLY, and I was praying that I would get  home safely---"I DON'T understand WHY YOU let this happen!".

     But HOLY GOD OUR FATHER first  answered the NEED:  the         Sheriff's officer who investigated the accident---He asked me to sit     in His car...and He gave me a ride (on this snowy day!) to my mail-     box at my home driveway...I ARRIVED ---TOTALLY SAFE!!!

     Over the next 5 months, my wife and I Prayed---Shopping for our      next vehicle for me to drive.  Because I did not know WHETHER my truck

could be repaired, or was it a Total Loss...We just gave the whole sit-  uation over to our LORD GOD, and we continued praying and shopping.

     A few weeks after the accident, our insurance agent called and told me to come to her office to pick up my insurance check...the total amount of the check was a little more than $11,000!!!  (Now remember---we had paid $6,000 for the truck!!!

     My wife and I continued praying and shopping for 5 months...until

we found the truck that GOD had planned for us.  Guess what the price was for GOD'S chosen truck for us.....It was $5,000!!!

     So remember, the old (wrecked) truck we paid $6,000 for it!   The

insurance paid to us $11,000+.....$11,000 Minus $6,000...Equals $5,000 (The cost of our "Replacement Truck".

     Please read with me the BIBLE verses that GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER is using to teach me in this:  (A).  "Be anxious

about nothing...by Prayer and THANKSGIVING let your requests be

known to GOD...(Philippians 4:6).  (B) "I KNOW the plans I HAVE for you...Plans for good..." (Jeremiah 29:11).  (C) I AM ABLE to do    things for you BEYOND what you could dream..." (Ephesians 3:20).

(D) "...cast your cares upon HIM, for HE cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7).

(E) "...the PEACE of GOD...SURPASSES UNDERSTANDING"!!!      (Philippians 4:7). 

     So now I say: "LORD, I do NOT NEED to understand, I am just going to trust YOU...". 

     HE IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD AND TO HIS RIGHTEOUS

CHARACTER...For HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF." (2 Timothy

2:13/Amplified Bible).

     PRAY MUCH!!!  READ HIS WORD!!!  PRAISE, THANK, and

WORSHIP GOD FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS!!!!!!!

     S D G     Sole Deo Gloria     GLORY TO GOD ALONE!!! 

   

         

     

                             

I HAD A DREAM...

I HAD A DREAM...WHO AM I?   WHOSE AM I?

Recently, Just before I awoke,I had a dream.  At first it was an unpleasant dream...(So, I thought "that dream is not from the LORD").

Let me recount for you the dream...                                                        (In the dream) I had been sent to the hospital to undergo some medical tests.  I found myself wandering around the hospital - in and out of rooms, walking through the halls; I even walked into the main office of the hospital---I was seeking ANSWERS to my QUESTIONS:

(A) "Where (geographically) is this hospital?"                                        (B) "What were the results of the medical tests?"                                  (C) "What would be next in my life---more tests?, surgery?, death?"

As I wandered through the hospital.....NO ONE would answer my questions...In Truth, NO ONE would even ACKNOWLEDGE my presence!!!  So when I awoke, NONE of my Questions had been answered.

As listed in the sub-title (above)---My first question was 'where am I?'

In current times (2021), we have "GPS" in our phones, our vehicles, etc.

In "Historical times"...(Before GPS), the primary point of information (for BOTH LOCATION and NAVIGATION) was the NORTH STAR.  Once a person could locate the North Star --- they could determine the direction of their travel.

Even in today's world, (for those of us on land); at about 12:00 noon -  if you face toward the sun -  you are looking toward the South.  Then to your right is West, to your left is East, and behind you is North.

When I arise in the morning, one of my first activities is to read/study the BIBLE.  As the FIRST part of my reading/studying GOD'S WORD, I declare to myself (speaking aloud) a **list* of GOD'S PROMISES for us whom have accepted JESUS CHRIST as our SAVIOR and LORD.

The Most Important of my questions is "WHO am I?  "WHOSE am I?"

(By GOD'S GRACE!!!)  I have accepted JESUS CHRIST as my SAVIOR and LORD ---Thus "THE LORD THE MOST HIGH GOD    is my FATHER!!!" (Genesis 14:22/Romans 8:15).

The "list" (mentioned above) is titled "I AM FATHER GOD'S happy/Blessed thought".  On this list, there are 9 Major answers to  ("Who am I? Whose am I?" Each one has several verses (and their location in the BIBLE):

1) "I am loved by my FATHER..."FATHER loves me with HIS everlasting Love" (Jer. 31:3/ Eph. 1:1-6).                                               2) I am pleasing in FATHER'S Eye...  "FATHER'S thoughts toward me are always good and filled with hope for me." (Jer. 29:11).             3) "I am ACCEPTED by my FATHER..."I have been adopted by FATHER GOD." (Eph. 1:5)./"I am called JESUS CHRIST'S friend."  (John 15:15).                                                                                             4)" I have Purpose in my FATHER".  I am a witness of GOD to the world," (Acts 1:8).                                                                                    5) "I am  Secure  IN my FATHER," "I am hidden with CHRIST IN       THE FATHER." (Col.3:3).                                                                       6) GOD is NOT ashamed of me". (Hebrews 11:16/Heb. 2:11).               7) "GOD has FORGIVEN me. (1 John 1:9).                                           8)"FATHER does NOT judge me". (John 5:22/John 3:16-18).               9)"I am a new creation in JESUS CHRIST." (2 Cor. 5:17).

So, we CANNOT rely on the North Star to know "WHO we are",           "WHERE we are", "WHAT is next", "WHERE  we are going...

WE CAN-WE WILL!!!!! rely on GOD MOST HIGH (Psalm 47:2)       WHO CREATED us, paid the HIGHEST POSSIBLE PRICE for           us  (John 3:16); and HE created ALL the stars...and put them in           their place. (Genesis 1:14-27).

"HE upholds, maintains, guides, and propels the UNIVERSE by           HIS Mighty Word of POWER." (Heb. 1:3/Amplified Bible).                 ***Y0U can get the ENTIRE list at Shilohplace.org/855-744-5641.

3 More Very Important TRUTHS:                                                            A) "All the promises of GOD--- in JESUS are "YES" and "AMEN",     to the Glory of GOD through us." (2 Cor. 1:20).                                     B) "HE (the HOLY SPIRIT) will guide you into all TRUTH".                (John 16:13)                                                                                           C) HOLY GOD says in (Jeremiah 29:11):       

" *****  I KNOW *** the plans that I have for YOU.....Plans               for GOOD...to give you a future and a hope".                                        

LET'S GO !!!!!!!!! 

 

                                      

A PRAYER.........A BLESSING!!!!!!!!!!!!

 May JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, GOD OUR "ABBA FATHER" (Romans 8:15), The FATHER OF MERCIES and GOD of ALL COMFORT" (2 Corinthians 1:3) hold  YOU  with HIS "Everlasting Arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27), and with HIS  nail-scarred Hands hold you up next to HIS HEART,

May HE whisper to you of HIS love for  YOU  with the same breath that declares "I have loved YOU with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3), "FATHER Forgive them..." (Luke 23:34), the same breath that says "I chose YOU...adopted YOU...and accepted YOU as MINE in JESUS CHRIST" (Ephesians 1:1-6), with the same breath that says I have called  YOU  Friend..." (John 15:15), the same voice that says "...Receive the HOLY SPIRIT... (John 20:22), the same breath that says "Come to ME... and I will give  YOU  rest." (Matthew 11:28), the same that says "...MY Beloved is MINE, and I AM His (Hers)" (Song of Solomon 2:16), the same breath that says "...You have ravished my heart with the look of your eyes..." (Song of Solomon 4:9), the same breath that says (while JESUS was on the Cross) "It is Finished!"  (John 19:30),  with the same breath that says "...you have been faithful...enter into the joy of your LORD..." (Matthew 25:23), with the same voice that says "...Surely I AM coming quickly". (Revelation 22:20).

Let it be so in YOUR heart!!!

WHERE IS JESUS? (A new edition of this message...with NEW ADDED MEANING!!!!!

 Today/May 12, 2021---It has been almost 5 months since Christmas.  It has been 5 weeks since Easter!!!

First, JESUS was in MARY'S HEART...When the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary: "Rejoice, Highly Favored One, the LORD is with you; Blessed are you among women...and behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a SON, and shall call HIS NAME JESUS."(Luke 1:26-31).

"Now Mary arose in those days...and entered the house of Zacharias...and greeted Elizabeth.  Elizabeth...spoke with a loud voice and said to Mary, Blessed are you among women, and Blessed is the Fruit of your WOMB!!! (Luke 1:39-45).

(The manger):  "And (the shepherds) came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. (Luke 2:16).

After JESUS grew up and became a man, and spent approximately 3 and 1/2 years teaching the people, healing people...even raising 2 people from the dead!!!....HE was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, then taken to trial...then sentenced to be crucified (HE Died on the cross to save us from our sins!!!).  (Matthew 27:27-31).

(On the cross) "JESUS... breathed His last." (Mark 15:37)

"Now when evening had come...Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of JESUS. Then Joseph (of Arimathea) bought fine linen, then took JESUS'S body down from the cross...and he laid JESUS in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

"Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week...the women (who had come to the tomb with Joseph), they came to the tomb when the sun had risen...but they found the stone rolled away from the tomb...and did NOT find the body of our LORD JESUS!!!

"Then two men (angels) in shining garments, said to the women, "Why do you seek the LIVING among the dead?  HE is not here, but is RISEN"!!!  (Luke 24:5-6).

SO WHERE IS JESUS   NOW???

Well, let's SUMMARIZE the "locations" that we have mentioned earlier:

1) Mary's womb - EMPTY!  (2) The manger - EMPTY!  (3) The Cross - EMPTY!   (4)  The Tomb - EMPTY!

Oh! And Mary's heart-----She is in HEAVEN WITH JESUS---so her heart is  FULL FOREVER!!!!!!!

And.........THE THRONE IS *** OCCUPIED *****!!!!!!!!!

"JESUS, GOD'S SON...When HE had by HIMSELF purged/cleansed our sins, HE sat down at the right hand of the MAJESTY ON HIGH..."  (Hebrews 1:3/Amplified BIBLE).

Again, where is JESUS   NOW???                                                           If JESUS is NOT YET living in your heart---then JESUS is knocking on the door of YOUR heart---saying 'I paid for all your sins, now let ME live and reign in YOUR heart'!!!

(Revelation 3:20-22)---"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears MY voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with ME.  To he who overcomes I will grant to sit with ME on MY throne, as I overcame and sat down with MY FATHER on HIS throne...                                                                         "He who has an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT says...".

If JESUS is ALREADY your Savior and Lord---then HE is knocking on the door of YOUR heart, saying...Let ME in---I want to give to you EVEN MORE of MYSELF...                                              

",,,that YOU may have the RICHEST MEASURE of the DIVINE PRESENCE,"  (Ephesians 3:19/Amplified Bible).

YOU open the door of YOUR heart...NOW!!!!!!!!!  Invite HIM in!!!

From now - and INTO ETERNITY--- YOU WILL REJOICE!!!!!!!!!

THE CROSS (PLUS) RUTH > TRUTH!!!

FIRST, I MUST (and STRONGLY DESIRE TO) give GLORY to HOLY GOD "MOST HIGH"!!! (Psalm 47:2).  As you probably read earlier in this blog...HOLY GOD "wrote down our every day before we were born". (Psalm 139:16).

 By GOD'S GRACE I am again this year reading all the way through the BIBLE.  So each day I read a passage from the Old Testament, then a passage in the New Testament.  I have a guide/plan that lists the passages for each day's reading.

I have learned to NOT look ahead and see what I will be reading/studying in future days...Because reading ahead of time/anticipating...can cause me to miss something special that GOD wants for me to see for a particular day!!!

This morning (4-5-21) I had to take a short trip BEFORE I read today's assigned Scripture...and as I was sitting in my truck...Our most Gracious GOD gave to me a "MENTAL PICTURE" of the cross of JESUS CHRIST (Before He was put on the cross).

As you know, the Cross looks similar to the letter "+" ("tee");  and beside the Cross was the Name "RUTH"!!!  So...THE Cross (+) PLUS "RUTH"=  + ruth (TRUTH)!!!

In John (14:6) JESUS HIMSELF declares  "I AM the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life".  Remember now, the "Mental Picture" that I saw was the cross plus the name Ruth.

So, soon after I returned home... I got my BIBLE and opened it to read today's assigned passage in the BIBLE...and today's assigned portion is chapters 1-4 of the book of Ruth!!!!!!!

Ruth literally means "Friendship" or "Female Friend".  Ruth's primary virtue was "tenacity of purpose": She was a woman who was steadfast. The result of this constancy led to her marriage to Boaz and the birth of Obed, who became the father of JESSE; Jesse's son was DAVID the King (Ruth 4:17).

JESUS was born of the "seed" of David/David was an ancestor of JESUS, the MESSIAH - THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD" (Luke 3:31-32)

So WHAT Lessons should we learn from this passage of GOD'S WORD?

Ruth was not a citizen of Israel...She was from the nation of Moab!!!

No matter WHAT our beginning was...No matter WHERE our beginning was--- ("FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD" (John 3:!6); when we accept JESUS CHRIST as our SAVIOR and LORD---then GOD will cause "HIS Kingdom to come, HIS will be done,,," IN and THROUGH our hearts!!! 

HE is both infinitely creative, and intimately loving of each and every one of us.

HE has "Plans for EVERY one of us to "give you a future and a Hope..." (Jeremiah 29:11).

"HE, rhe Spirit of Truth, (The HOLY SPIRIT) will guide you into all truth..." (JESUS speaks this in (John 16:13).

We should frequently submit to GOD our Heavenly Father, asking HIM to work out HIS plan for us, and to give us wisdom  

"RAIN AT SUNSHINE.........JOY AT THE GRAVESIDE!!!!!!!!!

 Before I relate this story which I personally experienced...I will lay the foundation with some background information:

HOLY GOD---Our HEAVENLY FATHER has richly and intimately blessed me in and through my family!!!  I have had two (2) Godly Mothers, two (2) Godly Fathers, two Godly daughters, and two (2) marriages.  (The first marriage I messed up by failing to be the man that GOD had called me to be).

But in GOD'S ABOUNDING GRACE - HOLY GOD gave me a second chance at marriage, and in this second marriage GOD has enabled me to submit myself unto HIM, and in HIS GRACE HE continues to Bless me.

Let me clarify these family relationships by giving the names of some of these family members:

My birth Mother (SARAH) died of cancer in the year of my 6th birthday.  Her sister (my Aunt Willard), adopted me---and became my "Mother who raised me".  My Mother who raised me has always been called "MAMA JOE" by her grandchildren.

Approximately 10---12 years ago, (MAMA JOE went home to Heaven!!! ) OH!!! we all miss her So Much!!!!!

Both of my Mothers are buried in the cemetery at Sunshine Methodist Church several miles south of Toccoa, Georgia.

About 8---9 years ago, my youngest daughter ("CARRIE") drove up to visit me in Toccoa, Ga. where I was employed.

When our visit was concluded, and it was time for CARRIE to return to her family---she asked me to give to her directions to Sunshine Methodist Church - because she wanted to visit "MAMA JOE'S grave.  So very tenderly-HOLY GOD our ABBA FATHER guided me to say "It would be better if I just drive down there---and you just follow me".

When we arrived at Sunshine Cemetery, it was RAINING ("Rain at Sunshine"); (neither of us had an umbrella), but I joined CARRIE beside MAMA JOE'S grave.....we were Blessed with a very intimate time together---sharing how sweetly MAMA JOE loved us, how we loved and TREASURED Her; and how MUCH WE MISS HER!!!!!!!!!  (We both cried "tears of joy" at the Grave side; and I cried "tears of joy" as I drove back to work!!!)

BUT!!! The story DOES NOT end there...

Because MAMA JOE had given her heart to JESUS CHRIST-accepting HIM as her SAVIOR AND LORD, and because I (Barry) accepted JESUS as my SAVIOR and LORD...and CARRIE has accepted JESUS as her SAVIOR and LORD-----We will (in the LORD'S timing!!!)----- we will be in HEAVEN TOGETHER FOREVER!!!!!!!!!

Now. YOU who are reading this message---JOIN us in THANKING, PRAISING, and WORSHIPING GOD for HIS PERFECT LOVE, HIS ABOUNDING GRACE, and HIS RICH MERCY!!!!!!!!!  (Read 1 John 4:18/Romans 6:1/Ephesians 2:4 !!!!!!!!!). 

AND YOU MUST JOIN US in ACKNOWLEDGING JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR AND LORD_____SO THAT YOU CAN JOIN US ALL IN HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT DELAY!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Too soon.....the time 

WHEN SOMEONE'S NAME OR FACE COME'S TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE.....

The BEST thing to do in that situation is to PRAY FOR THEM!!!

According to Psalm 139:1-4 (Living Bible), GOD knows our thoughts before we think them and our words before we speak them.  And HE certainly is ready to answer our Prayers!!!

Of course, when that face or name comes to our mind---We might think that we don't know HOW best to pray for them...so we should just simply PRAY: "LORD, come YOUR kingdom, be done YOUR will" ---That is the BEST thing to pray!!!

Let me share with you a personal experience that illustrates that principle:

When I was a young man (Years ago!) I was working a full-time "day-job, AND also working at a convenience store on the "night-shift".  As the night shift person, one of my duties was to sweep and mop the entire floor each night.

Late on a particular evening, as I was mopping the floor, there was a customer in the store - he was playing a game on the "pinball machine".  (For you "younger people" that is similar to today's video games).

In order to mop the entire floor, I had to (kindly) ask the young man to move...so I could mop where he was standing.  The young man was not pleased...but he did move for a moment.

A while later, the young man left the store.

Another while later, I heard a car drive into the parking area, then I heard a loud noise and commotion at the door---Then, quickly two (2) policemen came in the door---and they explained to me the "commotion" that I had heard at the door---

The SAME YOUNG MAN that I had asked to move so I could mop---had driven into the parking area, got out of his car,,,and was walking toward the door with a KNIFE in his hand!!!

The policemen had been parked across the street - watching the store, then saw the young with the knife, stopped him, and took him away!!!

SOMEBODY WAS PRAYING FOR ME!!!!!!!!!

If the policemen had not been watching the store --- I would probably have been seriously injured, possibly killed!!!

And thus I would have missed seeing my two daughters grow up, I would have missed meeting and marrying my "wife-from GOD-MARY...AND our five wonderful grandsons, And our twin Great-Grandchildren that we have!!!

"Hear my prayer, O LORD: Answer my plea.  Let me see YOUR kindness to me in the Morning, for I am trusting YOU.  Show me where to walk, for I my prayer is sincere.  Help me to do YOUR will, for YOU are my GOD.  Lead me in good paths, for YOUR SPIRIT is GOOD." (Psalm 143: 1-10/THE LIVING BIBLE)

REMEMBER!!!  When that name, or that face comes to your mind---PRAY!!!!!!!!!  Someone will be HELPED!!!!!!!!

AMEN!!!!!!!!!