News Flash! Before a person comes to God, he or she is poor in spirit. WHO KNEW? You knew! But perhaps you failed to connect the dots. Remember the initial sin committed by Adam and Eve as recorded in Genesis of the Holy Bible. Well, whether you believe that story or not, every person born after that couple inherited their sinful nature. What this means is that all people are wandering around in life, doing their own thing. Confused. Wasting time, money, resources, strength, and health.

Thus every person is extremely poor in spirit. BUT WAIT! Will they eventually ‘see God’?

Now, I’m no biblical graduate nor Biblical Scholar, I’m just say’n. I prayerfully read God’s Word, I study, I communicate with the Holy Spirit, I am born again and I’m a witness that God answers prayer. So, as much as I could understand about this subject, God allowed me to receive and blog about it.

In my research, I learned that it helps if you think on this subject in three parts: (1) The Israelites Exodus from slavery in Egypt led by Moses through the wilderness. (2) The Believer’s Exodus from sin led by Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection on the Cross. (3) And the Promise Land (Heaven) that flows with milk and honey.

So, I repeat…Before a person comes to God, he or she is poor in spirit. And again I ask the question…Will he or she eventually see God?

……….THE COME TO JESUS MOMENT………AND THE ANSWER IS………

YES! because in all of thy getting, (and if they live long enough by the grace of God), and through all of their setbacks, one day they will surrender. That will be their day of reckoning. That day is when they will be receptive to the Word of God. So far, they have been in the wilderness of life. Now, they are ready to come out of their wilderness or thought pattern.

But first, they must realize just who was always in the wilderness with them anonymously. God was always with that person, but God did not show himself. However, now that the person is ready (has come to himself), God will show himself. For God blesses the meek by attending his ear towards them.

Now the question is, HOW will God show himself! God will surely show himself within a Burning Bush. The burning bush represents all the troubles and riotous living and bad mistakes that person has endured. The Fire within the bush is the Mighty God. Burning brightly…but not consuming it.

God is going to require the sinner man (or woman) to approach him, but first the person must take off their shoes. Take off Satan. Get off following the path of error. WHY?

Because now they are standing before God…standing on his path called Holy Ground. God instantly changes the person’s name to Moses which means he has been drawn out of the waters of confusion. (In scripture, water represents trouble. Jesus conquered water by walking on it…putting it under His feet.

God is in that wilderness that we all go through, but we just don’s see him. We cannot see him as long as we allow ourselves to be slaves to the devil (darkness). We must come to realize that when the scales fall from our eyes and we see God, we become somebody. We can say, “I AM somebody in/with Christ Jesus!

Since God and Jesus are ONE, all God has to say to Moses (us) is ‘I AM who I AM. (I Am the Father and I Am the Son.)

So now that the sinner man is barefooted (has put off error) and standing on holy ground (God) before a bush (his troubles) that is on fire (the 3rd Person of the Trinity), but not being destroyed (the bush is not consumed because trouble will always be with us ), now the sinner man who has been brought into the Light is ready to receive his assignment and to begin to work for God/Jesus/ the Holy Spirit instead of Satan.

YOU ARE NOW HEAVEN BOUND! THAT PLACE WHERE JESUS IS PREPARING FOR YOU AND ME

AMEN AND AMEN!

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If you had to describe this picture what would be the title? Seemingly, what is the little boy’s task?

Did you know that in most instances, the word ‘yoke’ is used in a negative terminology? Yet, our Lord and Savior used it to describe His personality in the following scripture reference:

The scripture “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” is found in Matthew 11:30, where Jesus invites weary people to find rest by taking His yoke and learning from His gentle heart. In other words, God does not allow any situation to get on his last nerve. God promises spiritual refreshment, contrasting His light, well-fitting way with the heavy burdens of religious and political rule (way of life). 

I blogged on this subject a little in last week’s blog entitled “God’s Mode Of Operation — Eternal Tranquility. (Since ‘tranquil’ means only being in a serene frame of mind for a short period of time, the secret of prolonging that frame of mind is to become “YOKED” with God.)

YES! Become yoked with God. Learn of God! Walk closely with God! Wear your Yoke proudly under any and all circumstances! And especially during this Yuletide Season(*), let Mary, the pregnant virgin girl and blessed mother of the Christ Child be your example.

Did you know that many traditions see their local church or the collective Church (the People of God) as a representation or foretaste of the heavenly New Jerusalem described in Revelation, symbolizing God’s dwelling with His people, a spiritual reality that finds fulfillment in the ultimate heavenly eternal city. It’s a concept with varying interpretations, ranging from a symbolic people (the saints) to a future physical place where all redeemed people reside.  Wear your yoke proudly and walk in sync (together) with the Heavenly Father. God will not lead you astray.

(NOTES:) (*) Christmas

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Let’s contemplate on something…

Have you ever been on a vacation and wished you could remain their forever? Now, within that same frame of mind, can you continue imagining doing a lot of good for a host of other human beings?

Do you realize or understand that this state of being which you(*) have entered is called/classified as ‘the state of tranquility’. But what is more complexing is that it will not last. The very spelling of its name gives you a clue. The prefix ‘tran’ at the beginning of the word denotes ‘change’. Therefore, the meaning of the state of mind you currently find yourself in will only last for a short time. (Other words relative to this example are transient, transfer, translate…similar words denoting a change is coming.)

Now let’s return to those beautiful, dreamy vacation thoughts and your desire to remain there forever. For there you had allowed yourself to enter into a state of being calm, peaceful and free from stress, worries or disturbances of any kind. A feeling of serene contentment you get from a quiet natural setting.

I experienced that feeling of serenity once, but honestly, it did not last very long. Once I returned to everyday life, blindly, I started picking up every day ‘life’ stuff. My nerves were a wrecking ball, my stomach was disagreeable and started rejecting everything I ate. The telephone began allowing every tele-a-marketer on earth to call me and I had another milestone birthday that caused me to become eligible to receive literature from the Octave Online Therapy Clinic. Enough already!

It was about that time when the Holy Spirit decided to visit me and come to my rescue.

My child, the Holy Spirit began...What does the Bible say about finding tranquility?  Does it not talk about an inner sense of calmness that "surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7)

I heard you when you talked about allowing yourself to enter into a state of being calm, peaceful and free from stress.  But when our Lord and Savior asked you while in that state of tranquility, could you imagine yourself doing a lot of good for a host of other human beings, you did not answer Him.  In 1st Peter 3:11,  it says, "Let him (or her) turn away from evil, and do good.  Let him (or her) seek peace, and pursue it."

And another thing, you never really asked The Father why tranquility doesn't last.  If while you were bathing in the sun and dreaming instead of picking up your Bible you would have read in Proverbs 14:30-35 that "A heart of tranquility (is) life (to the) flesh, but causes bones of passion to rot.  He who oppresses the poor insults Him who made him,..."

My prayer for us all:

Dear heavenly Father, through this revealing conversation with You, You have once again reminded me of an unfinished encounter I had with the Holy Spirit.  I wish to thank You for leaving no stone unturned in my life.  The more I study Your word and receive understanding of how to trust and obey You, my life is more and more worth living. 

I rejoice in the blessings I receive from Your love and patience with me.  And in recognizing that there are so many ways I am not worthy to receive them.  Please forgive me, Heavenly Father, and try me one more time.  I sincerely pray that I will never be too far away from Your presence.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, my Strength and Redeemer,  Amen and Amen

(*) NOTE:  you(*)  includes Everyone 

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What do you know about cars? For one thing, did you know how inefficient they are? I had to laugh when I learned that cars take up a huge amount of space on this planet but get driven around mostly empty. (If you don’t believe me, just take a look to your right and left the next time you come to a stop sign or traffic light.)

Government statistics have reported that private cars driven in the U.S. carries only 1.6 people per trip! So, what we can conclude about cars is that they mostly just sit there, parked in the garage, the driveway, or the street. But, not withstanding, they demand a large portion of your hard earned operating cash!

Okay, I know what you are thinking; what does the above information have to do with having a conversation with God? (I’m so glad you asked.) Well, what I am about to share with you for this week’s blog is a belated conversation that I almost had forgotten to revisit with my Lord some 60 years later, because I had not repented nor thanked Him for His long arm of protection He provided in an area He is definitely an expert in…time perspective.

Here is how I view God travels in style and not in happenstance…

A long time ago, a young but legally of age driver drove his loaded-down car in which I was a passenger 60 years ago. The driver's wife was in the front seat with him, and I was in the back seat.  We were traveling a few miles above the speed limit, but our vision allowed us to see straight ahead as well as quick side glances of territories we were currently passing.  In other words, the driver had only a 2 dimensional view of scenery that was leading him towards his destination...what was likely to come into view and what had already come into view.

Suddenly, we approached a sharp bend in the road.  Just beyond the bend, the highway went into a deep downward slope that allowed the car to accelerate and go even faster down hill.  To everyone's horror, the hood of the car came unlatched and flew backwards covering the whole front windshield and blinding the driver's view.  We all begin screaming and yelling.  'Stop the car, slow down and stop the car!'  Fortunately, the driver managed to maneuver the car off the road and to safety.  No harm done.  We tied the hood down and continued on our way.

Years later, when I was much more mature and assessing my life with a spiritual barometer, the Holy Spirit spoke to me in the vernacular of God being a safe-stylish driver.  He brought back the memory of a frightened girl in the back seat of a car.  ME!  The Holy Spirit said to me, do you remember wiping your eyes after that situation was over.  Well, that was Me comforting you and quietly instructing the driver to use more precaution and adhere to the speed limit.  I also shut his wife's mouth so that she did not scold him afterwards.  Remember?

During that whole mysterious conversation I want you to know, I did none of the talking.  I just listened, cried softly and began to thank God for his strong arm of protection.  I also asked for forgiveness for my slothfulness in returning to give thanks.

The Holy Spirit ended His time with me by saying, My Child, I always know where I am going, the condition of the roads and the direction I want to take.  In fact, I go directly to My destination and then look at whom I will call to travel on the road; in what state they will arrive at their destination; and what effect their adventure will bear on their lives to come.  I'M THE NASCAR DRIVER OF THE UNIVERSE!  I TRAVEL IN STYLE!

Always remember the Lord will carry us in His arms where ever we want to go as long as we trust and obey him.


My Prayer For You.

My Dearest Lord, You speak to me in so many different ways -- through other people, through Your Word and through the written word.  I Thank You that I can write these things down so that they will not be lost.  It is so like the words of Jeremiah 30:1-2:  "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:  Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you."  Amen and Amen

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This blog post will conclude our time together exploring nine of the colors that dominate the creation story in the Bible.  The final three colors featured here in Part Three of “God’s Holy Word Has Something To Say About Colors” are: Purple, Green and Pink.  Needless to say, this has been one of the most fascinating adventures that the Holy Spirit has taken me on.  And for that I am truly grateful.

The Color Purple

Did you know that the KJV of the Bible refers to the color PURPLE 48 times!  Most likely what contributed to its high demand was its popularity, absorbent expense to manufacture it and exclusivity to obtain the knowledge of how to convert this color into a dye.  In ancient times, only society’s affluent, the higher echelon of the clergy, royal deity, and high government officials could afford to adorn themselves in purple attire. 

The ingredients to produce purple comes from the stinky glands of snails (scientifically known as mollusks) which emerged themselves at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.  The procedure to extract just one pound of retail dye from snails during the ancient Roman Empire days, was for sailors/fishermen to catch and extract the glands from more than four million mollusks. This procedure was because each snail gland only produced one drop of the fluid needed to make this precious dye.

I am quite sure you are all familiar with the famous bible story found in Acts 16 about a merchant seller of purple garments named Lydia.  She was a very spiritual and wealthy Philippians female entrepreneur who, as a gentile, believed in God’s morality laws. She was later converted to Christianity by the Apostle Paul. 

Purple has come to associate it self with royalty, wisdom, luxury, and to possess visionary acumen.

The Color Green

I find that GREEN is the strongest of all the colors we have been studying in this lesson.  It is also more descriptive of man’s character than the other eight colors.  Why?  Because Green denotes strength, growth, health, money, and healing…just to name a few attributes.

Listed below are scriptures that bear this out:

The Color Pink

PINK is a universal color that is recognized as feminine, immature, romantic, beautiful and sensitive. As to how the color Pink relates to Scripture, pink is believed to represent the compassionate love of God (for he gave his Only Begotten Son), and Jesus is also a friend to the friendless. And let us not forget the faithfulness of his Son who suffered, bled and died on the Cross for all mankind. (Words in italics are listed above in the color chart under the color Pink.

In the Holy Scriptures, the color‘PINK’ is believed to represent the Love of God. How? Because the color Red is Jesus’ blood and White is purity. Therefore, the combination of both colors turns out to be Pink!

(Researchers have concluded that little girls love pink. Little boys hate pink.)

My prayer for you…

Dear Sweet Jesus: You are so gracious, kind and understanding. I implore You to please forgive my slothfulness in not dedicating my new found life in You to serving you more earnestly. For truly, it is with sincere thanksgiving that I praise You for allowing me to stumble upon these truths concerning how Your assignment of various colors played an intrical part in helping mankind to understand the creation story. Who would have thought that by painting my bedroom a psychedelic red for all my teenage years could have contributed to my high blood pressure problems later in life. (If only I had known You then.)

Therefore, Heavenly Father, please continue to help me change my thoughts. Make me anew, Lord. For I not only want to be born again, but I want to be a new kind of thinker, too.

Help us, Lord…HELP!! In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior I surrender all…Amen and Amen!!!

Scripture Lesson: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.“ Colossians 3:2

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