To live is Christ !

                         
Many christians lives are a turn-style of up and down experiences.One day they are on a spiritual mountaintop and the next they are in the valley of the shadow of death. The reason for this is that they mistakenly believe that it is their responsibility to do what only God can do.
As Charles Trumbull says in his book* Victory in Christ*, Jesus offers to set us free not only from the penalty of sin but, also from it's power. We accept and are victorious only by letting Him do it all as an outright gift.
We have all heard the saying *Let go and let God*, in essence what that is saying is that we need to surrender striving to fix everything in our lives and let God do the fixing. We need to surrender ALL areas of our lives, our concerns, our needs, etc. totally to Him.
In Galatians 2:20 it says " I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me." And in 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says " For if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."
What we need to understand  and let sink into our very lives and thoughts is that - to live is Christ. NOT, to live is to be Christ-like, NOT, to live is to serve Christ, BUT, to live is Christ. Christ Jesus is not an external savior who does a saving work for us, He is not walking along beside us ready to help us out should we have the need, providing the power, strength and rescuing. He is actually and literally within us. While we retain our own identity, free will, and full moral responsibility, He is our very life.
Let us walk in victory knowing and believing that " TO LIVE IS CHRIST!"

Heaven or Hell, your choice!

 Heaven or Hell, your choice!

Do you know where you would go if you died today? What if the world suddenly came to an end (and it soon will)?Time is so short,you  can not afford to take the chance of waiting
If you have the thought that   since you are a good person and haven't done anything illegal and haven't got a bad attitude or that you help the homeless or needy children that you are going to heaven. If you think because you go to church once in a while when it fits your schedule or every week for that matter , that you are going to heaven. If you think because your mom or dad is or was a christian that automatically makes you one. Then you have bought into the world's most dangerous lie and you need to change that before time runs out. And believe me we never know how much time we really have.
The Bible says the ONLY way into heaven is through Jesus Christ. You must believe He is the Son of God and that He alone died to take away the sins of the world, (your sins)  and you need to ask Him to come into your heart and become your Savior.
You may say but, I haven't sinned, I haven't done anything bad, but, the Bible says the we have all sinned and fallen short . We are born into sin and without Jesus we will die in that sin and the only place without Jesus in our hearts is Hell.
Then there are those who have made the choice to follow Satan (Lucifer the fallen angel) thinking that he promised them riches and fame and whatever else but, before it's to late let me just tell you that Satan does not love you, Satan does not care about you, and most certainly Satan would not give his life to save you. All you are to him is an instrument. He feels that since his time is short and his end is coming that the more people that he can keep out of the kingdom of heaven the more pain He can cause God the Father and Jesus our savior.
But, here is good news for you who have chosen his way. It is not to late, you haven't gone to far; Jesus is waiting with His hand out to you , waiting to pull you up out of that mire and set you free from Satan's kingdom. Jesus shed His blood that you may be saved. Make that choice now before it is to late. Jesus loves you and wants you with Him for all eternity.
So which will you choose today? Will it be heaven or will it be hell?I pray that it will be the right choice.

Grace and Mercy

 Grace and Mercy

They are almost always found together but are not of the same meaning.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary:
Grace: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification; the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful.
Mercy: a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion;compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power;lenient or compassionate treatment.
Mercy is God withholding the punishment that we rightly deeserve. Grace is God not only withholding that punishment but, offering the most precious of gifts instead.
Examples:
Mercy withholds the knife from the heart of Isacc.
Grace provides a ram in the thicket.
Mercy runs to forgive the prodigal son.
Grace throws a party with every extravagance.
Mercy bandages the wounds of the man beaten by robbers.
Grace covers the cost of his full recovery.
Mercy hears the cry of the thief on the cross.
Grace promises paradise that very day.
Mercy pays the penalty for our sins at the cross.
Grace substitutes the righteousness of Christ for our wickedness.
Mercy converts Paul on the road to Damascus.
Grace calls him to be an apostle.
Mercy closes the door to hell.
Grace opens the door to heaven.
Mercy withholds what we have earned.
Grace provides blessings we have not earned.
There should always be one with the other. It is possible for both grace and mercy to stand on their own but, it is heavenly when they work simultaneously together.
Are you in need of grace and mercy today.... Our Heavenly Father is waiting to give these free gifts to you just as soon as you ask.
Do you know someone who needs grace and mercy from you today? If God our Father has not withheld these things from us, isn't it about time we start following His lead and freely giving these gifts to others in need of them?

The wedding you don't want to miss!

When we think of weddings it's all about the bride, showcases the bride, makes the bride the one to watch and be near. But, the wedding I am writing about is all about the bridegroom. His name is Jesus. He is the one to watch for , he is the most important, he is the one to be married to. He has paid the bride price and is coming back for His bride.  We the church are His bride (Ephesians 5:27) and we are to be pure and holy, without spot or wrinkle. (Ephesians 5:27)
 As in the parable of the 10 virgins ; Jesus told that parable not to the multitudes but, to the disciples why? Because the message is for the church. Out of the 10 only 5 were ready and waiting for the bridegrooms return. Many of us call ourselves christians but, are not waiting and ready for His return. When the bridegroom returns it will be to late for those who are not prepared (saved).
 I found this comparison between a Jewish wedding and the marriage of Jesus to His church. I would like to show you the amazing way this opens your eyes to the clarity of the message.

A Jewish man's relationship with his Bride to be	Christ Jesus' relationship with His Bride to Be
A Jewish man would approach the girl of his choice with a legally binding contract/covenant.  If accepted it was a fully binding agreement on both parties.	Jesus approaches us and if we accept He makes a  covenant with us
The contract would include the price that that man was willing to pay for his bride.  The more he would pay, the more it would show his love for his bride.	Jesus paid the highest price for us, sacrificing His life for us, shedding His blood. (1Cor. 6:19-20)
The contract was sealed when the man and woman would drink a cup of wine together.	Jesus had His disciples drink of His  blood and eat of his flesh and asks all of us to do the same. (communion)
Some form of benediction would be given symbolizing that the covenant relationship between the two had been  established.  At this time they were considered married.	Jesus said do this (communion) in remembrance of His, until He returns.    (Mat. 26:28-29)
The man/groom would then leave the girl at her home and would depart to go to his home, usually his father’s house.   There he would prepare a bridal chamber for them to honeymoon in.	Jesus left to return to His fathers house to prepare a place for us. (Jn. 14:2-4)
The length of time before the groom returned to get his bride was usually a year. The actual timing of his return was up to his father. When the father said it was time, the groom would return for his bride.	Jesus says only the Father knows when He will return. (Mat. 24:36)
While the groom was away, the bride prepared herself for their marriage.  She would keep herself veiled in public, a symbol that she belonged to another and was set apart and bought with a price.	We, the church, as His bride are to prepare ourselves for His return. We are to keep ourselves pure and unadulterated. (2Cor. 11:2)(Eph. 5:25-27)
Custom was the she was to have an oil lamp ready for her departure, as the groom was to come for her at night.	We are to always be ready for Jesus’ return for us. (Mat. 25)
When the time came, the groom, along with his best man and other attendants, would leave his father's house in a torchlite procession (as it was done at night) and go to fetch his bride.	Jesus will come back down from heaven and we will meet Him in the air. (1Thes. 4:16-17)
Since the bride did not know the exact timing of the groom's coming (she had an idea when it was to happen, but did not know the exact timing of his coming), the groom's arrival was preceded by a loud shout or shouts to give her a few moments to arise, trim her lamp, gather her things and then the groom would get her and bring her back (veiled) to his father's house and the place he has prepared for her.	Jesus will return for us with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God announcing Him. (1Thes.4:16-18)
The groom and his bride would return to his father's house, where the wedding party and guests would escort them to the chamber. There the groom and his bride would consummate the marriage for the first time (be intimate).	We return to heaven (Father’s house) with Jesus to be made fully clean (2Cor. 5:10) and then begin the wedding party.  (Jn. 3:29)
After consummation, the groom's best man would announce the consummation to the wedding party waiting outside. The wedding party and the wedding guests would then celebrate the wedding feast for the next seven days and the groom and his bride would honeymoon in their bridal chamber for the next seven days.	We remain with Jesus in heaven for 7 yrs.- during the time of the Great Tribulation on earth.
When the marriage week was over, the bride and the groom would emerge, the bride would be unveiled so all could see her face.	We emerge with Jesus fully clean and righteous for all to see. and the great wedding supper would be celebrated.  (Eph. 25-27)
After the marriage supper, the bride and groom would depart for their own dwelling place to live.	Jesus (now with us His bride) return to earth, His rightful home, to rule forever.   (Col. 3:4)     (Rev. 19:13-14)         (2Tim 2:12) (1Cor. 6:1-3)

    Now suppose the young girl, suddenly appears at her window, only to say, "I am not ready yet; go away and come back later". How would the bridegroom feel in that situation? His friends have all made the long trip with him, only to see him embarrassed by a bride who isn't even keeping watch for him!   Everything to this point has been done explicitly for her benefit. Might her lack of exuberance at the sight of her bridegroom’s sudden appearance indicate she has another lover. Folks, this scene breaks my heart! It makes me downright angry too! To think that Jesus has paid the ultimate price for us, for us to have everything; granted many gifts to us; and then for the Church to not be eagerly yearning for his sudden appearance is an insult to the Father!

So here is my question. Are you ready and eager for the return of your bridegroom Jesus? Or do you have another lover (the world) and need to get ready (saved and set apart for the bridegroom only). Will you be taken to the bridegrooms bosom or will it be to late for you? Please my friend , I beg of you, forsake all and give your all to Jesus this very day, this very hour, this very minute, for we know not when the bridegroom cometh.

Shekhinah Glory come!

Some of us have sung this song, some have even prayed this song or worshiped to it, others have heard of it and thought it to be a good song, and still others have never even heard of it. But, what is it and why are we praying for it to come?

While studying up on this subject, I came across a lot of very interesting information on this subject so I am going to share some of that with you(if i shared it all it would take a book for sure).

The word shekhinah is not actually found in the bible but, the meanings for it are, and the Hebrew translation tells us where it came from and what it means. It is actually derived from the word shakan or originally (shkn). Jewish scholars actually coined the word shekhinah from the word shakan to mean the same " to dwell, inhabit, or abide" In the Encyclopedia Judaica the word shekhinah is defined as "the Divine Presence, the numinous immanence of God in the world, a revelation of the Holy in the midst of the profane" (volume 14 pp1349-1351).
So the essential meaning of this word in every day terms is , the Glory of God dwelling amongst His people on the earth, or in a particular place. We see that quite often throughout the old testament and occasionally in the new testament we see it but, not as it was in the old testament. 
We begin at the beginning of the bible in Genesis; God walked in the garden with Adam and Eve before they sinned, and He spoke audibly to them. Now in 1 Kings 8:27 we see that King Solomon states that even the heavens can't contain His presence.In Exodus 33:20 it says no man may see my face and live,  so therefore we know that it was God's presence that walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden. From the time they were cast out of the garden until God lead the Isrealites through the wilderness with Moses it was only His voice that was heard.
Then God's presence appeared to Moses in the burning bush and spoke to him. And from then on through the Wilderness His Glory was with them and Moses in a cloud or in a pillar of fire. When Moses asked to see more of God so God answered him by allowing His goodness to pass before him, but, because of the power of His presence he hid him in a rock so that all he was able to see wouldn't destroy him.
 When the Isrealites built a tabernacle for God His Glory filled it and even Moses could not enter  in. So when the Isrealities finally built a permanent temple for the Lord the place called the Holy of Holies was where the Lord's presence dwelt, between the cherubim on the ark of covenant and when the priest entered to do their duties they tied a rope around their ankles with bells on it so that if the entered with any sin  they died instantly and the other priest were able to pull them out. So in this we see that God's glory can not look upon any sin. Which I believe is an example of why God turned His face from Jesus His son when he was upon the cross, because he took on the sin of the world.
And we see that when Israel's sins were so great that God removed His Presence from the temple.

In the New testament we see where God spoke to John the baptist and when Jesus was baptized in water The voice of God was heard by everyone there. But, during the time of Jesus we see no mention of God's presence on earth except when in John14:9, Jesus states that "if you have seen me you have seen the Father."So in this we see that God dwelt among them through Jesus. After the crucifixion of Jesus, we again see the Glory of God come when the disciples were in the upper room praying, a sound like a mighty rushing wind filled the temple and tongues of fire rested on each one of them and THEN they were filled with the Holy Spirit.When Stephen was accused of blasphemy and address the high priests the Glory of God came on Him and his face shined like that of an angel. When Paul was persecuting the christians , the voice of God spoke to him from a great light and he was blinded.
 So in the New Testament we see that a few times The Glory of God was seen or heard but, mostly it was in Jesus or upon the Christians. But, in Revelations we see that once again the Glory of God will inhabit the earth and dwell in His temple.

So what is it we are crying out for , the voice of God to speak to us in an audible way? The Glory of God to dwell among us or  in us ? 

Die to self that you may live in Christ!

                                           John 12:24; Romans 6-(KJV)

John 12:24 says, "Verily, Verily, I say unto you; Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone but, if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
Romans 6:8, " Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him."

We are told in the scriptures that we are to die to self but, what does that mean? It means that as you invite Christ into your life , you no longer live but, Christ with in you lives. How you are to act, respond, live, spread the gospel, love others, etc. is through Christ ; not of your own accord. lest it be with a worldly or fleshly attitude. We are to no longer walk in the way we did before we came to Christ. We are to walk out our salvation through Christ.

When satan tempted Adam and Eve he brought sin into the world and with that sin is a desire to please self only. And we are called to please God not self. If we were meant to be self pleasing then we would not be made to bring glory to our King.

When you are saved you become a different person because now you have Christ living in you.  Look at your life and think back to before you were saved. Did you care about others before, or did making yourself happy matter the most to you.? In your job were you ok with stepping on others to get ahead ? In your personal life did you have friends that weren't there to help you in some way or were you a friend to the helpless and homeless? Did you lie, steal, cheat to get anything you wanted ? Now look at your life with Christ. Are you that same person today? Or have you turned over your life to the one who lives through you for the glory of God?

Look around you, are there people in your life, in your church,  that you would never be seen with or never have made part of your life before Christ?

To know how to live as Christ follow his example. Jesus never did things for his own personal gain. He lived his life entirely for the glory of God. He was not to good to be seen with or help the poor and the downtrodden. He had no problem hanging out with the unlikeable such as the tax collector , he even helped a roman soldier. He gave his life for everyone even those who didn't yet know him. He was always fair , honest, loving and kind.

What better example could we get of dyeing to self than that of Christ Jesus that lives within us!

Ephesian 4:22-24 tells us :to put off your old self,which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,  and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Are you a chicken or an eagle?

Isaiah 40:31 says "BUT, THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD WILL FIND NEW STRENGTH, THEY WILL SOAR HIGH ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES.THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY, THEY WILL WALK AND NOT FAINT."

Matthew Henry's commentary says that, " If we go forth in our own strength we will faint and utterly fall. But, having our hearts and our hope in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus."

Most times chickens hang out in packs. they follow along blindly behind all of the others. generally it is the rooster they are allowing to lead them. They don't choose where they go and they don't say hey this doesn't feel safe I'm not going there. So in essence they follow along even unto their deaths. If you cut the head of  a chicken off it will still run around aimlessly for quite a while. As if in a state of confusion.

When a person hangs out with the crowd and goes wherever it goes and does whatever it does with no conscience and not choosing a better way they are in essence the same as a chicken. And when you separate them from the pack (symbolistically cutting their heads) off they run around in a state of confusion until they die.

Eagles fly solo and seek out the best of everything, food, nesting place. etc. They depend on no one except the great creator.  They soar majestically higher than any other bird. and if you watch them you get the feeling of extreme peace. Like the eagle people who don't follow they pack , and keep themselves pure before God, and they put their complete hope and trust in the God above , they soar like eagles in a peaceful and tranquil life know that in their death they will be in the arms of Jesus.

Is your life like a dieing chicken; in a state of confusion and fear? Or are you soaring high and peaceful connected to the almighty God?

Chickens are not fliers and never get more than a few inches from the ground. They are gullible and easily under attack on a consistent basis.An eagle rarely fly but, does jump from perches depending on the air condition and they grace of God to keep it soaring. leaving itself totally in the hands of God.

Are you stuck in the danger zone , completely open and available for an attack from the enemy? Or are you placing your life and trust completely in the Hands of God; depending on Him to keep you soaring above all the dangers and garbage of this life?

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, " Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all that you do, and He will show you which path to take. " NASB