Success and Failure Blog

The climb at first sight seems unattainable and risky but when you include a team of experts with your calculations than you see the end in sight. This is true with anything you do from scaling that rock wall to chartering a plane to Haiti’s; you plan using others input to make your plan come together. So, you would also need others to guide you on your journey to your heart.

My experts consist of counselors, pastors, Holy Spirit, Bible, authors, and church family they know me best. Trying to make this journey on my own would take me nowhere really fast. I tried that once and it was a disastrous to think I could accomplish what others do in a day, month, a year. Silly really…

Why did I think I could do this on my own? Let me give an example that the Holy Spirit gave me:
Looking across Lake Bountiful (my name for lake) I saw Jesus Christ on the opposite shore. I thought gazing at the water it would be a short distance I can swim this. So, I set out at an easy pace and found that there was a under current and looking up at the shore I wasn’t any closer. Getting tired I turned back and found myself back at my side of the lake. Scanning the shore I notice a boat and pulled it over and got in and set the oars to start my journey again. Again, my focus was not on Jesus Christ but my ability to pull on the oars to glide across the water. Looking behind me I wasn’t going across but going down stream. “AWWW!” Turning the boat around and focusing on the horizon and rowing at the same time was hard and tiring. I was caught in whirl pool spinning me out of control and was back on my side of the shore. “Aw!” Dropping to my knees I cried “Lord, help! I can’t do this on my own. It looked so simple. I thought I could do this. I was wrong. Please, Lord Help.” Standing up I gazed across the water and I found myself staring into my Father’s eyes the bluest of blues and I reach out and I was in His arms and He held me tight.

When you experience the arms of Christ and His forgiveness it transforms you to another place and person. All of sudden you are not alone in your plans for your future you are asking for others input. You are praying for God’s will be done in your life. The Holy Spirit pricks your heart and you begin to change and forgive. Why? The Lord forgave me of my sins for He gave up His life for me. So, I can have a life with Him. A relationship that brings tears to my eyes… When I think of all He has done for me and is still doing for me; my heart wells with love.

My Jesus is real and there is nothing I can do that will send Him away. He says in his word that He will never leave me or forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5) The Lord has a plan for me for hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) The Lord fights for me. (Deuteronomy 3:21) There is hope for a tree if it be cut down it will sprout again.(Job 14:7)

Do you know that the door is always open (John 10:9) for you. When you approach this door do it with boldness (Hebrews 4:16). Focus your eyes on the prize which is Jesus Christ. God raised us up with Jesus Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 2:6) We who are sealed with Christ have everlasting life. But, you who do not know Jesus Christ and is still playing at the gate will have fire and damnation. We do not know when are time is up on this earth we can die tonight in a car crash. Do you want to take that chance?

The Lord is waiting for you to come out of this world. I lived in this world through some horrific times do I want to repeat that time? No!!! My time now is hard with unemployment but the Lord keeps blessing me with His presence and His provisions. Life is good. My hope is in the Lord. I trust Him with my life and future. I can’t imagine life without Him. He is the hand that guides my walk I do nothing without Him. Jesus is light to my darkness.

Come to the waters of Lake Bountiful and give your life to the one whom will turn your tears into hope. In His arms you will find rest from your burdens. In His arms you will find peace that passes all understanding. In His arms you find refuge and strength in times of trouble. In His arms your heart will flourish and grow in the likeness of your Father. In His arms you will have eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Lord that I do not have to do this life alone. You have given me eyes to see and ears to hear. You have given me a church family that prays for me and we have life together.

I pray Lord, that you draw your people to yourself and impart your Holy Spirit to live in their lives. Give them wisdom and strength to walk this path. Put your angels around about them keeping them safe. Bless them, extend their boundaries, and keep them from evil in Jesus Christ name. Amen.

Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 13:34-35 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Matthew 16:21: From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

Matthew 20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Mark 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

Mark 14:28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

John 2:19-22 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Luke 24:45-46 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Acts 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Luke 24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

Matthew 28:16-17 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

1 Corinthians 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

1 Corinthians 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me(Paul) also, as of one born out of due time.

Luke 24:4-7 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Acts 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

2 Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Matthew 22:29-32 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Matthew 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Ezekiel 37:1-10 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: …

1 Peter 3:21:There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ


2 Timothy 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.


John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

If we carefully read these verses, we can clearly understand the true meaning of these verses.

Matthew 19:17 “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good?[there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Matthew 19:21 “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.”

Matthew 19:22 “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Jesus was simply questioning the young rich ruler’s motives to consider the implications of calling Him good when he said No one is good except God alone .The Rich man was measuring the goodness of Jesus Christ according to merely human standard and was not able to achieve God’s state of perfection. Rich man said “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” The young ruler “went away sad” (Mark 10:22) because he realized that although he had devoted himself in keeping the commandments but has failed to keep the first and greatest of the commandments “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Matthew 22:37-38)”. The man’s riches were of more worth to him than God, he was sad to give up his wealth. He thought he can enter eternal life by his own good works and by not completely following Jesus Christ Hence he was not considered as righteous in the eyes of God. Proverb 16:25 says , “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”. The scriptures says that it is difficult for a rich person to be saved. Matthew 19:24 “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Jesus pointed out that one cannot serve both God and money. One can follow 10 commandments but still they live spiritual defeated lives and have not OVERCOME the world still living in wicked ,greedy and hypocritical lives. Jesus declares Himself to be good “He is called the good shepherd in John 10:11. In Matt 20:15, Jesus said “ is your eye evil because I am good?’ . Scripture say that He “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin” (I Jn. 3:5). Jesus is God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1;1 John 5:20; etc.)Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14), Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4), Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16), Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1), Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24),Word (John 1:1),Word of God (Rev. 19:13).

Also observe Col. 2:9 says , “For in Him [Jesus] all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.”

Col. 1:19, “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,”

Phil. 2:6-8, “…although He [Jesus] existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Heb. 1:8, “But of the Son He says, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.”

Jesus is the incarnate Word (that was God) made flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9), found in appearance as a man, and that He humbled Himself to the point of death (Phil. 2:8). What we also need to understand is that He was made under the Law (Gal. 4:4) took on the form of a servant(Php 2:7) and He was made like unto sinful flesh(Rom 8:3 ) and He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

3. Why do so many people hate Jesus? Jesus Christ “declares the FATHER” (John 1:18). And reveals the Father to whomever the Son desires (Matt. 11:27). Jesus was revealing the Father to his disciples in His whole ministry. God and Jesus are one. Jesus said, “I and [God] the Father are one!” Jesus always spoke in His own authority. He never said, “Thus saith the Lord…” as did the prophets; He always said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you…” He even asserted that “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31). The words of Jesus are the very words of God.

Jesus Christ claimed to be the ONLY way to God, claimed to live a sinless life, have shared the glory of God in Heaven who is able to forgive sins and to give everlasting life. Jesus was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), holy and undefiled (Hebrews 7:26), the only One who “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21).Scriptures testify that Jesus Christ is good and Lord of all(Acts 10:36). Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM”? (John 8:58). He was also revealing HIMSELF as the God of the Old Testament. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:1-3). And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Consider the following scriptures carefully ,its clear that Christ was the God of the Old testament .

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:2, “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds:”

Acts2:36: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Also Jesus Christ himself said he was God in Luke 6:46: As He said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” .

John 8:19 :Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

John 14:1-7 :“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

John 14:8-11:Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need.” Jesus replied: Philip, I have been with you for a long time. Don’t you know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How can you ask me to show you the Father? 10 Don’t you believe that I am one with the Father and that the Father is one with me? What I say isn’t said on my own. The Father who lives in me does these things. Have faith in me when I say that the Father is one with me and that I am one with the Father. Or else have faith in me simply because of the things I do.

John 10:22-30 :That winter, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Temple Festival. One day he was walking in that part of the temple known as Solomon’s Porch, and the people gathered all around him. They said, “How long are you going to keep us guessing? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly!” Jesus answered: I have told you, and you refused to believe me. The things I do by my Father’s authority show who I am. But since you are not my sheep, you don’t believe me. My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father gave them to me, and he is greater than all others. No one can snatch them from his hands, and I am one with the Father.

John 15:24 says : but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.

Jesus was worshiped by Thomas (John 20:28), by Angels (Hebrews 1:6). by Wise men (Matthew 2:11), by A leper (Matthew 8:2), by A ruler (Matthew 9:18), by A blind man (John 9:38), An anonymous woman (Matthew 15:25), by Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:9), by The disciples (Matthew 28:17).

4. When Jesus was worshiped, He never corrected His followers when they bowed down and worshiped Him. He never said, “Please, don’t worship me…only my Father should be worshiped.” . The words “only begotten” do not mean that Christ was created, or that He was in some way brought into existence by the Father. Rather, the Greek word for “only begotten” means “unique” or “one of a kind.” (Romans 9:5) “Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised. Amen.” (John 1:1) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Titus 2:13) “…while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…”

Some people will not come to Christ simply because they are ignorant of their need as sinners. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were classic examples of this self-ignorance. In Luke 18 Jesus boldly spoke a parable directed toward these hypocrites, who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous” (Luke 18:9). When the scribes and Pharisees murmured against Jesus for eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus observed, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32).

John 5:24 “He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The reason they hate Jesus Christ is Many love darkness of sin rather than light of truth ( Jno. 3:19-21),their Pride causes them to reject him ( Psa. 10:4) and Some are Unwilling to obey and follow him in everything thing ( Jno. 7:16-17)and to come to the knowledge of truth.

If you believe, embrace Jesus Christ as Lord, then obey Him & have everlasting life (Jno. 12:48-50) and be good soldier of Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:3)!

Do not think

We have been studying Esther she was a common Jewish woman by the name of Hadassah. It was in a time when the Jewish nation was scattered throughout the world. The Jewish people of Persia and Media had the opportunity to go back and rebuild Jerusalem but chose to stay with their captives. The Jewish people simulated into the culture of their captives. The only difference between the Persians, Medians and the Jewish people was that God was stamped on their hearts. Now, the King was looking for a new Queen because the old one refused to come to King Xerxes party. Esther (Hadassah) was chosen to be Queen. Now, Mordecai the Jew who raised his cousin Hadassah told her not to share her Jewish background with anyone. In this kingdom there is a man called Haman which means wrath. He is an enemy to Mordecai and the Jewish nation and plans on annihilating ever one. A verdict went out to all the provinces of King Xerxes lands giving the people the right to kill men, women, and children and to keep the Jewish people’s property on this date. Mordecai torn his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, sat himself down in front of the King’s gate and began to cry out in the streets. The Queen’s maids and eunuchs came rushing to see Esther to tell her of Mordecai’s distress. Esther sent Hathach her personal eunuch to Mordecai. Esther is told of the verdict that she needed to beg and plead with the King for her people.

We come to Chapter 4:10-16, which I would like to share with you.
Esther 4:10-16
10Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned this king has but one law: that he be put to death.
The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him to spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer:
“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
15Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Esther hasn’t seen the king for thirty days and to enter into the king’s presence was surely death for the Queen. She was also thinking of the other Queen who wouldn’t come to the party and was vanished from the king’s presence forever. How could Mordecai expect her to do this? Queen was acting very insecure because her husband the king was busy with other things and she was left alone for many, many nights without him.

We can conjure many reasons why the king hasn’t come to her. The harem for one; he doesn’t find her desirable anymore; or that He was busy with king duties.

The Queen has a hard choice to make. We have hard choices to make too. Do not think you have time to play outside the gates of the great I AM that you won’t get burned? Do not think because you are from an important family that your father and mother will save you from the wrath of God? Do not think because you give at your church and you’re in choir you will go to heaven without asking the Lord into your heart? Do not think that your sin is so great that Jesus Christ can’t save you?

The Queen changed from verse 10 to verse 15. From vulnerable to courageous Queen Esther stepped up to the destiny that God ordained her to live. We are all called to destinies that will save our race from the hand of Satan. Do not think that you will escape because you are smarter or wiser?

The reason for Esther change was that God planned the future of Esther before the foundation of the world. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11

God fights for us. We are destine for great things. Receive these promises:
Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you. ~Deuteronomy 3:22
Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. ~ Psalms 35:1

We do not need to be vulnerable before our enemies because if the Lord called you He will protect you. He will give you the boldness and courage to walk up to your enemies and He will put the words in your mouth. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ…~Ephesians 1:3-10

Who knows but that you have come to your position for such a time as this?
*David was a poor sheep herder who became King of Israel and the bloodline to Jesus.
*Jewish girl (Hadassah) to save a people who were going to be annihilated
*Murderer Moses to lead his people out of Egypt
*Ruth, widower, Moabitess (her people were enemies to Jewish nation) married Boaz great grandma to King David
*Jesus Christ son of a carpenter to save us all.
*Paul, who was Saul, was a murderer of God’s people who became a disciple for the cause of Christ.

Choose this day to be courageous for Christ. If you read the rest of Esther’s story you will find that she was victorious in her quest to save her people from annihilation.

And if I perish, I will perish. If you know Jesus Christ we died with Him on the cross, already. All I can do now is rise up from the ashes in HIM. We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ~Romans 6:4

Esther’s life was transformed when she step out in faith to her destiny in God.

Destiny is knocking on your door. Will you open it?

I pray that you will take courage for God is with you not against you. That you will look full on the Lord’s face and receive the gift of grace He has for you. Who knows for what reason God has brought you here today to read this and find your destiny. Embrace and walk there in. In Jesus Christ name I pray. Amen.

The meaning was clear enough though, I suppose.  What He is trying to tell me is that we are too greedy. Now, I know this isn’t late breaking news or anything, but He does have a point.  As our nation has grown (and this applies globally, I suppose)we have seen personal incomes soar to atmospheric heights, personal possessions worth a kings ransom, even churches seeing multi-million dollar salaries.  We have adapted a lifestyle of  ’keeping up with the Joneses’ and standing in line for hours just to buy the latest and greatest, until it is out-teched in 2 months. Perhaps our greed is the source of our current economic demise.  Greed is a sin, and right now it is keeping us from God in a bad way.

What is greed?  And where do you cross the line from basic want to greed?  Greed can disguise itself as many things.   When basic desire is compounded until it becomes your driving life force, it then transforms into a tool the enemy can use against you.

Greed will compel you to actions you never thought you would take.  Greed is also putting yourself first, causing your heart to harden to those in need.  It is allowing your desires to become god of your life, spending money on things you don’t need with money you don’t have.

Greed promotes wastefulness, slothfulness, wickedness, lying, self-sufficiency, even death.  God, being creator of all things, repeatedly tells us that He will provide for us, He will take care of us, He will give us the desires of our heart.  If we have only faith in Him and His Son.  Greed is telling God you don’t need what He has to give, you can get it on your own.

To combat greed, we must simply remember where the source of all things come from.  We must also remember that the things we have now won’t be going with us when we depart this world for the next, all things will be renewed.  Do things for others.  Donate clothes, food, time, energy, whatever.  To combat greed, you must give of yourself.  Make purchases for your next life, build up treasures in the New Kingdom.

The  massive 9.1 earthquake in Japan recently has many people fearing the worst-world end!  Combined with other world earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, famines, global warming , and extreme weather conditions there is evidence of other troubling issues across the globe.  There have been out breaks of new health threats like H1N1, and terrible diseases without known cure, pestilence problems like the recent epidemic of bed bugs, and a surge of violence and criminal activity greater than ever before.  Our economy seems to get worse by second and the crippling effects of hard financial times can be seen and felt all over the world.  Many fear these terrible things are clues that point out disaster.  Could this be a severe warning of catastrophe?  What can be done to prevent this horrible outcome, and is it too late?  What can we do as individuals and families  to ready ourselves and be prepared for the future?  Can anyone escape from this terrible threat?  With so many gripped  with fear and bracing for worst, these are the type of questions that fill the hearts and minds of people today.  The answers to these crucial questions have been discovered and the outcome is astounding and may come as quite a shock . 

 The bible warns of these same concerns and very issues.  It is written clearly for all to read.  These hardships and major world issues should not come as a surprise to the discerning person. All of the events that are taking place have been foretold in the bible and if you have not yet read these scriptures, you may be surprised to see how accurate and detailed these prophetic messages actually are.

Matthew 24:5-8 (Amplified Bible) ⁵For many will come in (on the strength of) My name [^[b]appropriating the name which belongs to Me], saying, I am the Christ (the Messiah), and they will lead many astray.   ⁶And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place; ⁸All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the ^[c]birth pangs [of the ^[d]intolerable anguish].

 It is amazing how these prophecies, written so long ago, so accurately depict the picture of our world condition today.  This world is definitely spiraling towards a great tribulation.  As seen in the previous scripture of Matthew 24:8 all of these things are just the beginning of a time of  the intolerable anguish that lie ahead.  As terrible as things are today, they appear to be just a taste of the great tribulation to come.  These words and promises are not meant as a source of fear and dismay.  On the contrary, these prophecies are words of hope and offer peace in a world of a turmoil.  There is another scripture that reveals salvation from the aweful terrors that are to come.   You see if we can identify the truth in these prophecies we should also not be oblivious to the hope that is available.  There is hope and there is a way of escape from the terrible times that are most certainly and rapidly approaching.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18   ¹³ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died^[f] so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.  ¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.^{[g] 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died^[h] will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words. 

Clearly the ultimate source of hope for humanity is found in Christ Jesus.  He lived here on this planet amongst us and performed many great miracles.  He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, restored hearing to the deaf, cast out unclean spirits and raised the dead and still His greatest miracle was His greatest sorrow and greatest joy. 

He gave up His life for us.  He was brutally beaten and mocked and hung on the cross for death.  He died there in a place called Calvary.  Despite the fact that He had never sinned and remained clean His whole life, He took all of our sins upon Himself.    He  was buried in a tomb. Then just as it had been pre foretold, on the third  day He rose from the dead.  Jesus was resurrected from the dead!   Jesus is alive!  He later ascended to heaven and can now be found at the right hand of the Father.  He is our mediator, and friend.  He represents us earnestly with love and compassion.  That is the true message of Easter and by far the greatest news of this day and age. 

The events that are taking place right now in our world herald a great tribulation to come.  These events are the direct result of sin and evil.  No one on earth is perfect or without sin but according to bible there is a way to be saved from sin and the terrible events that are now unfolding right before our very eyes. 

Hebrews 9:28 (New Living Translation)²⁸ so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

1 Peter 1:5 (New Living Translation)⁵ And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

Receiving the salvation and assurance of eternal life is as simple in believing in Jesus Christ and accepting the fact that you are in need of saving.  All one must do to be saved is ask Jesus to come into their heart and forgive   them of all their sins. Then God will make you a brand new creation and if you truly believe it, God will transform you and lead you and guide you during these uncertain times that we face.  Although we are not promised that we will not have to endure trials and tribulations, we are promised ultimate salvation through Jesus. 

Now is the time to pray and Jesus come into your heart.  He understands what you are going through and He will not be hard on you.  Jesus wants to save you.  But there is no guarantee how long we have before Jesus returns to get His people.  According to Matthew 24:36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
  All those wait, thinking that time is on their side live in jeopardy and face the dangers of judgement and punishment for all eternity. 

Please take time right now, while there is still a chance and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.  Tell others about the ,hope and love you have found.   Want to learn more?  Read the bible and begin attending church and studying God’s word daily.  Read more articles like this on the Success and Failure website. You too will learn that no matter what terrible fate this earth may face that there is truly great hope and complete assurance in God.   

 Yours in Christ Jesus,

Pam Shekailo

Please write to me if you more questions or concerns.  I would be happy to hear from you.

We know that Jesus Christ is God and man. Jesus Christ is God in human flesh (II Corinthians 5:19). Isaiah said, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).” Immanuel meaning “God IS WITH us. John tells us in John 1:1-4, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus is repeatedly called “the Son of God” and also “the Son of Man”. Mary was used of God as the host to bring forth the body of Jesus’ humanity. Jesus had no human father. When the angel told Mary that she would conceive and have a son, she replied, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man (Luke 1:31-34)?” The angel responded by saying, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).” the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). The Annunciation begins “the fullness of time” (Gal 4:4). Mary conceived Jesus the eternal Son of the Father in a humanity drawn from her own in whom the “whole fullness of deity” dwells “bodily.” (Col 2:9).

Jesus as a man had a human mother, but God was His father, hence he was called “Jesus the Son of God”. Although Jesus was a fully human person, he also was and is fully God. Philippians 2:6 makes it clear that he is God, and that he set aside the use of some of his attributes to take on the form of the human, and die for the sins of the world. Titus 2:13 equates Jesus with God. Romans 9:6 describes him as God, who is blessed forever. And in Revelation 5:13 and 14 portray Christ as deity.

The Father is God (John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2). The Son is God (John 1:1, 14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20). The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

All men are sons of God because we are His offspring (Acts 17:28), descendants from Adam (Luke 3:38). God’s people are adopted “sons of God,” Jesus is the only Son of God by nature (Rom. 8: 14-16). The spiritual relationship of Christ to the Father is not like the physical relationship men have with their sons (Isaiah 55:8, 9).

Only accept by faith through His word that Jesus is both God and with God; He is both God and the Son of God. As God, He is worthy of our worship and adoration. The Father is designated as Lord(Mt 11.25)and also as God(1 Cor 8.6).The Son is designated as Lord(Rom 15.6 )as well as as God (Titus 2.13, Heb 1:8). The Holy Spirit is designated as Lord (2 Cor 3.17) as well as The Holy Spirit is designated as God(Acts 5.3-4). There is only one God in the Old Testament and Jesus is God in the flesh in the New Testament (John 1:1,14). God, The Spirit of God and Jesus Christ are the One and Only True God. THE HOLY Spirit is seen as GOD in the old testament (Ezekiel 36:27, Ezekiel 37:14). God gives the Spirit of God into the hearts of man and leads, guides and helps them to obey the commandments of God (2 Co 3:17). It is clear that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each God. Jesus, who not only is eternally in God, but is himself eternally God. Word ‘begotten’ is used of Jesus, who is the Son of God. Jesus, being in God and himself God, has no beginning and has no end. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in him all things consist” (Col.1:15-17).

Conclusion: God is infinite and we are finite and our abilities and intellects are limited.For anyone who perverts the word of God here there is warning “For ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God” (Jeremiah 23:36).”

Jesus Christ is GOD the Father,Son of God, Son of Man, Messaiah, prophet, HE is everything because He is GOD.

1. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus never changes (Hebrews 13:8), for we know that God doesn’t change in (Malachi 3:6).

 2. If Jesus is not God, then why is Jesus called as the only Saviour (II Peter 3:18, Titus 1:4, Luke 2:11), for we know that God is the only Saviour (Isaiah 43:11, Titus 2:10, I Timothy 4:10).

 3. If Jesus is not God, then why did Jesus Christ created the universe and the earth (Hebrews 1:10, Colossians 1:16, John 1:3), for we know that God created the universe and earth by Himself (Isaiah 44:24, Genesis 1:1)

 4. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is called the Word, and the Word was God (John 1:14), for we know that God is the Word (John 1:1).

 5. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is called the first and the last (Revelation 1:17), for we know that God is the first and the last. (Isaiah 41:4).

6. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus did forgive sins (Mark 2:5); for we know that God forgives sins. (Psalm 103:2-3, Mark 2:7)

 7. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus did redeemed us (Titus 2:13-14), for we know that God is our redeemer (Isaiah 63:16).

 8. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus and God are one (John 10:30, John 1:1, 3, 10, 14), for we know that God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4)

9. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is called the Holy One (Acts 2:27, Acts3:13-14, Acts 13:34-35), for we know that God is the Holy One (Isaiah 10:20, Psalms 71:22, Psalms 16:10)

 10. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is worshipped (Matthew 9:18, Hebrews 1:6), for we know that Only God is worshipped (Matthew 4:10).

 11. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is called Messiah (John 4:25-26), for we know that only God is Messiah (Isaiah 9:6).

12. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is from everlasting(Micah 5:2), for we know that God is from everlasting(Psalms 93:1-2)

13. If Jesus is not God, then why God glorified Jesus (John 5:23, Hebrews 1:8), for we know that Only God is glorified (Isaiah 42:8)

 14. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is ‘I am’(John 8:58), for we know that only God is ‘I am’(Exodus 3:14).

 15. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus heals all diseases (Matthew 8:16), for we know that God heals all diseases (Psalms 103:2).

 16. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is the Judge of the whole earth.( Rom. 14:10, Ps. 96:13)  , for we know that God is the Judge of the whole earth.( Ps. 9:8, Psalms 94:1-2, Eccl. 3:17)

 17. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus has life in Himself (John 1:4, John 11:25 , for we know that God has life in Himself (Deuteronomy 30:20, John 5:26).

 18. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus raises the dead (John 11:1-44), for we know that God raises the dead (John 5:21)

 19. If Jesus is not God, then why God was manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16) and Jesus is called God (2 Corinthians 5:19, Isa. 9:6).

 20. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus said that He would send the comforter to us (John 16:7), for we know that Father would send the comforter (John 14:26).

 21. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus Christ is our sanctifier (Ephesians 5:26), for we know that Father sanctifies us (Jude 1).

 22. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus said He would draw all men (John 12:32), for we know that Father alone can draw men to God (John 6:44).

 23. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is called “Everlasting Father, Mighty God, Eternal Father (Isaiah 9:6), for we know that God is the Eternal Father, Mighty God, Everlasting father (Job 36:5, Deuteronomy 10:17, Ephesians 4:6)

 24. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus said “I and the Father are one and “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? “(John 10:30, John 14:9-11, John 17:10, John 14:20, John 9:37), for we know that There is only One God None beside Him. (Isaiah 43:10, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, Ephesians 4:4-6, John 8:42, Deuteronomy 4:35, Isaiah 44:6)

 25. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus name is Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14, John 14:8–9, Colossians 2:9)for we know that LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king and the Word was God (Jeremiah 10:10, John 1:1)

 26. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus said us to witness for him (John 15:27, Acts 1:8, John 8:18, John 12:17), for we know that God wants us to be witness before him (Isaiah 43:10, Revelation 1:5).

 27. If Jesus is not God, then how would Jesus search the hearts of the people (Revelation 2:23, Matthew 9:4, Mark 2:8), for we know that God knows our heart and minds (Proverbs 21:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:4).

 28. If Jesus is not God, then how is Jesus everywhere (Omnipresent) (Matthew 28:20, Matthew 18:20), for we know that God is omnipresent (Matthew 18:20, Psalm 139:7-12).

 29. If Jesus is not God, then how Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Heb. 1:3, John 6:46, John 10:30, John 9:37, Colossians 2:9, Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:3, John 14:8–9)

 30. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is called as good shepherd (John 10:14, Hebrews 13:20) for we know that God is referred to as the Shepherd of His flock (Ezekiel 34:31, Psalms 23:1).

 31. If Jesus is not God, then why John Baptist crying in the wilderness making a way of the Lord (Matthew 3:3, John 1:29-31, John 1:23, Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1), for we know that God was manifested in flesh (John 1:1, Revelation 1:17–18, Titus 2:13, 1 Timothy 3:16 )

 32. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus did allowed  Thomas, to call him as Lord and my Lord and peter before partaking of the Last Supper, Peter called Jesus as Lord , Martha called him as Lord (John 20:28, John 13:13-14, John 13.9, John 11:21) and  Jesus soon affirmed this by saying “ I am”.

 33. If Jesus is not God, then why Apostle Paul wrote, “no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit ((1 Corinthians 12.3).

 34. If Jesus is not God, then why Jesus is worshiped by angels and in heaven ( Heb 1:6, Luke 24:52, Philippians 2:10-11), for we know that Only God deserves to receive spiritual worship from men(Revelation 22:9, Matthew 4:10, Exodus 34:14, Revelation 7:11)

35. If Jesus is not God, then why did Jews want to stone Jesus, for claiming to be God. (John 10:33).

36. If Jesus is not God, then why they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Acts 7:59).

37. If Jesus is not God, then why scriptures say feed the church of GOD, which he hath purchased with his OWN BLOOD?( Acts 20:28, John 19:34)

  38. If Jesus is not God then why, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are called one (1 John 5:7, Revelation 21:3).

 39. If Jesus is not God then why scripture says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands (Hebrews 1:10).

 40. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude1:4)

 41. If Jesus is not God then why did Jesus said I am the light of the world (John 9:5, 1 Tim 6:15-16, Rev 21:23), for we know that God is the light of the world (Eph 5:8-9, 1 John 1:5).

 42. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say “in order that they may know the  Mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ (Col 2:2-3, Revelation 10:7, Ephesians 3:2-6 ,Mark 4:11, 1 Cor 2:7-8), for we know that God is Mysterious( Isaiah 55:8-9).

 43. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.( Revelation 21:3) for we know that Lords table is of God(Ezekiel 37:27)

 44. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39)

45. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say” Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, (Philippians 2:5-8)

46. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say “unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

47. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.( Revelation 4:8)

48. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus Christ provides a well of living water (John 7:37-38, John 4:14), for we know that God as the fountain of Living Waters (Jeremiah 17:13).

 49. If Jesus is not GOD then why did the Father say, “Thy throne, Oh God is forever and ever!” (Heb. 1:8, 1 Timothy 2:5)

50. If Jesus is not God, why did Isaiah write that God, the King of Israel is Jehovah (Isaiah 44:6)

51. If Jesus is not God, why did Ezekiel prophesy that Jehovah would enter the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem and that Gate would remain shut( Ezekiel 44:1-2, John 12:12–13).

52. If Jesus is not God then, why the Words of Jesus shall not pass away (Matt. 24:35), for we know that the Word of God shall stand forever (Isaiah 40:8).

53. If Jesus is not God then, why Jesus commands us not to add or take away from His word (Rev. 22:18-19), for we know that Lord God commands that we not add or take away from His word(Deut. 4:2; Deut12:32).

54. If Jesus is not God then, why Jesus is called as the horn of salvation (Luke 1:68-69), for we know that God is the horn of salvation (2 Sam. 22:3).

55. If Jesus is not God then, why Jesus is the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8), for we know that the Lord is the King of glory (Psalm 24:10).

56. If Jesus is not God then, why Jesus renders to each according to his work (Matt. 16:27; Rev. 22:12), for we know that the Lord God renders to each according to his work (Psalm 62:12).

57. If Jesus is not God then, why the Lord Jesus Christ who is our hope (1 Tim. 1:1), for we know that the Lord God is our hope (Psalm 71:5).

58. If Jesus is not God then, why Jesus is above all (John 3:31), for we know that the Lord God is above all (Psalm 97:9).

59. If Jesus is not God then, WHO Jesus loves He corrects (Rev. 3:19), for we know that WHO the Lord loves He corrects (Prov. 3:12).

60. If Jesus is not God then how Jesus abolishes death and brings life and immortality (2 Tim. 1:10), for we know that God swallows up death in victory (Isaiah 25:8).

61. If Jesus is not God then how Jesus is the redeemer (Titus 2:14), for we know that the Lord God is redeemer (Isaiah 43:14).

62. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus is the first and the last (Rev. 1:17; Rev2:8; Rev 22:13), for we know that Lord God is the first and the last (Isaiah 44:6).

63. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus said “I have said nothing secretly (John 18:20), for we know that the Lord God, did not speak in secret (Isaiah 45:19).

64. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus’ voice was like the sound of many waters (Rev. 1:15), for we know that God’s voice was like a noise of many waters (Ezek. 43:2).

65. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus has glorious appearance (Rev. 1:13-16), for we know that God has glorious appearance (Daniel 7:9, Ezek. 1:26-28).

66. If Jesus is not God then why at Jesus’ name every knee should bow and tongue confess (Phil. 2:10-11), for we know that to God, every knee shall bow and every tongue swear (Isaiah 45:23).

67. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus seeks to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10), for we know that God seeks to save which was lost (Ezek. 34:16)

68. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus sends angels (Rev. 22:16), for we know that Lord God sends angels (Rev. 22:6).

69. If Jesus is not God then why God calls the Son “God and Lord (Heb. 1:8, Heb. 1:9, Heb. 1:10).

70. If Jesus is not God then why through the grace of Jesus we have salvation (Acts 15:11), for we know that the grace of God that has appeared to save all men (Titus 2:11).

71. If Jesus is not God then why coming of Jesus Christ is with all His saints (1 Thess. 3:13), for we know that God has his saints (Col. 1:26).

72. If Jesus is not God then why Christ is all and in all (Colossians 3:11), for we know that God is all in all (1 Cor. 15:28).

73. If Jesus is not God then why Paul preached the Gospel of Christ (Rom. 15:19), for we know that Paul is an apostle of the Gospel of God (Rom. 1:1).

74. If Jesus is not God then why Peter said the men of Israel “killed the Author of Life (Acts 3:15), for we know that God made all things and he is the author of life (Acts 14:15).

75. If Jesus is not God then why scripture say Sovereign Lord who made heaven and earth (Acts 4:24, Acts 2:36).

76. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus tells Satan, “you shall not tempt the Lord your God” in reference to Himself (Matt. 4:7; Luke 4:12) ,for we know that God can not be tempted (James1:13)

77. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus said that He is “Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5).

78. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus said Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you, but the man declared how much Jesus did. (Luke 8:39).

79. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst. (Luke 17-21).

80. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus calls himself “Lord.” “The Lord has need of them (Matt. 21:3; Luke 19:31- 34).

81. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus said “ And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them” (Luke 6:46-47).

82. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say “when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations’ (Romans 1:21).

83. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24).

84. If Jesus is not God then why did Jesus said my house will be a house of prayer; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers (Luke 19:46), for we know that God himself has declared like this in Jeremiah 7:11.

85. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say that the true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:9-13).

86. If Jesus is not God then why scriptures say Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9).

87. If Jesus is not God then why Jesus said I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death(Rev.1:18),for we know that God has the keys of hell(Isaiah 22:22, Psalms 16:10).

Conclusion: “From there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29) .

People who try to come to God without accepting Jesus Christ as the way to God are deceiving themselves and they often try to deceive others also. Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, (1st Timothy 4:1-2)

Thank you Jesus for all the souls you have saved throughout the generations. Please continue to open the hearts and eyes of your children to seek your truth with all their heart and soul! Amen. (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

During the 1975 Boston Marathon, Bill Rodgers was the leader of the race at the 17 mile mark.

In fact, Bill was leading by over 200 yards to the next competitor.

And the news at this point gets even better.

He is 38 seconds ahead of the pace to break the race record.

 So, it becomes incomprehensible that Bill Rodgers would decide to stop at 17.6 miles to get a drink. And it would not be the last stop that he would make throughout the race. Every time that his body would require water, he would stop and drink it.

 “I know that everyone thinks that I am crazy to stop, but it helps me. If I don’t stop, I can’t drink- it just splashes. I can only get down a couple of gulps each time, so I stop because I need it.”

 That was not the only thing Bill Rodgers stopped for. He stopped at the twenty mile marker to take off the gloves that he wore from the start of the race. Oh, and decided to very calmly re-tie his shoes. In terms of competitive marathon running, Bill Rodgers was doing everything possible to lose the race.

 By the end, Bill Rodgers had set a Boston Marathon record, ran the fifth fastest marathon of all-time, and beaten the second place finisher by 2 minutes.

 What a great story. So, what can we learn from it?

 Bill Rodgers stopped. Right smack dab in the middle of one of the biggest races in the world to get refreshment. Can you imagine what people were thinking?

 Jesus didn’t wonder what people were thinking when He stopped for some refreshment. In Mark 6:31, Then Jesus said, “ Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. They could not keep up the pace without stopping.

 The saying, “If the devil can’t make you bad, he will make you busy”, is very true. But, sometimes our “ life racing” causes us to become distant from God; because we are not getting the proper refreshment we need. The prayer, meditation, and study that keeps us hydrated, fed, and focused on running a winning race in this life.

 Bill Rodgers was stopping and refreshing to win a race. Jesus Christ was stopping and refreshing to win lives. May we learn from Jesus and Bill to stop splashing and dashing. Take the time to get refreshed, and live to win!

 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Jeremiah 31:25 NIV

If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins,

and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 NIV

Have you ever heard the story about the king that visited his nation’s prisons? The king went from prisoner to prisoner and interviewed each of them. He asked them if the punishment fit the crime they had committed. Much to his surprise, he found that everyone single one was claiming innocence. Until he arrived at the last cell.

 In this encounter, the prisoner expressed remorse for his crime and admitted his guilt. The king immediately commanded the guards to let the man go. “ Release this man at once! I do not want him infecting all of these “innocent” prisoners.

In our lives,the King of Kings is offering the same. Jesus Christ has arranged for our final release.

 The question is will we continue to claim innocence, and remain jailed?

 Or confess and be freed?

My child is driving me to madness, as another small premature baby clings to life and the family pleads with the Lord for healing and understanding.

 We just don’t have the money to eat out, as another deserted orphan cries in the night, not knowing a parent or the time of arrival for the next meal.

 I can’t work for this company one more day, as another man of the house swigs the next drink of alcohol to numb the pain of explaining the job layoff to his already broken family.

 There is never anything new to wear in this closet, as another smiling third world child is draped in a new T-shirt and that is his or her complete wardrobe.

 My life is not as I want it, as a doctor delivers the news of a disease that is incurable and another soon to be widow begins to plan a life without the only earth partner she knows.

 The car is not the latest, as another second chance recovering addict rides his BMX bicycle in the rain to another job interview that will fall away because of his past.

 My marriage is stale, as another battered female lies quivering in a locked bathroom, doing the best she can to self nurse the physical wounds he has inflicted once again.

 A child reluctantly rises for school, as another the same age rises to retrieve dirty water that will be delivered to his or her AIDS stricken mother, too weak to do it herself.

 Our home is not large enough, as another scarred United States Veteran pulls his quilted roof upon himself and trembles with visions of explosions and gunfire.

 My parents just don’t understand me, as another child is delivered by the state to the third family she will know in two years and will prepare to meet a fourth.

 I am stressed about this family gathering, as another lonely widow turns another page in the picture album and stares out the window waiting for company that will never come.

When God’s people are in need,

be ready to help the them..

Romans 12:13 NLT

 Jesus looked at them intently and said,

“ Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God.

Everything is possible with God.”

Mark 10:27 NLT

 I wrote a few months ago about a commercial that I heard, and it went like this…

 “ Remember when you were 5 and anything was possible?”

 What has happened to us? How have we lived so much life, gained so much knowledge, seen babies born, observed miracles, become completely breathless in His masterpieces of nature; but decided to build fences around our hearts and minds anyway?

 Now, we make decisions based on what everyone around us decides is reasonable, safe, and popular. And everyday, our world shrinks into something we can manage in our own mind. It’s time to make all things possible again, and that begins by starting demolition on our man made barriers.

What is possible for us today in Christ?

I’M POSSIBLE!

 Restoration:

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Everyday, on my drive to the office; I pass a salvage yard. Acres upon acres of broken, wrecked, battered and seemingly useless vehicles.

 If you were going shopping for a clean, reliable, and durable form of transportation; it certainly would be the last place you would visit.

 But, that is not true for a gifted mechanic. He will look past the weeds growing all around the car. He does not object to broken headlights. He has little concern for a wrinkled fender. He doesn’t blink an eye, when the motor smokes. He could care less about a flat tire.

 He sees a classic. Something that with time and effort, might just be the next trophy winner at the big car show.

 GOD never designed us to be a clunker. He created us to be in show condition. But, over time; we wrecked. We blew up our motors. We got hammered by hail. We got so damaged that we ended up sitting; with weeds growing all around us.

 I know that there was a time in my life, that I felt I was beyond repair. My “vehicle” was a total loss. And without the Master mechanic of hearts (Jesus Christ); I was destined for the crusher. He polished me, straightened me, tuned me; and filled my heart with His Spirit.

 So GOD can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness towards us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7 NLT

We are never too wrecked to be restored.

What’s

your

thief?

    A woman that I had just met told me an incredible story. She was 74 years of age and her husband had passed away recently. One of the things that she did to keep active was clean the church. I am sure it was also a way to fill in the time; a void that her late husband had left. She had an amazing peace that her husband was now with Jesus and she rejoiced in the fact that he would never feel pain again.

 She described that the church paid her $25.00 per visit to clean the church. But, that she would not be getting paid any longer. She cleaned twice per week so, that came out to around $200.00 per month. In the short amount of time that we talked, she made it a point to let me know the incredible part of this story. The church had not decided to quit paying her. She did!

 Getting paid to serve was robbing her, of all her joy, working for the Lord. And she would either do it for free, or not clean. She was finding the work, as a way to say thank you to God for His Grace, and for taking care of her late husband. $25.00 was a thief to her expression of gratitude.

What’s your thief?

 Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness

grows up to trouble you,

corrupting many.

Hebrews 12:15 NLT

Remember watching the old poison tea trick in the movies. The angry person of the two, decides to sit down and have a friendly cup of tea with his enemy. The angry and bitter subject poisons the cup of tea that his enemy is supposed to drink. But, somehow; the wrong cup of tea is ingested. The bitter person drinks the poison and waits for the other to die. Surprise!

The same thing happened to the Coyote and The Road Runner. He would appear to be nice and put some bird seed out for the bird. The Road Runner would eat it and move on down the road. The Coyote, already in several disputes with ACME, gives the bird seed a nibble. He is instantly reduced to a cloud of smoke and an accordion body.

Who are we killing with bitterness? We spend all of our day dreaming up ways to spike the next tea, spread the next rumor, or go way (and I mean WAY!) out of ordinary routine to let someone know we are displeased with them. It does not seem that stupid while it’s going on. Until we realize that the investment in ACME has also wiped out our peace and joy account.

What do you say today we pick up the exploding bird seed and make things right? Does that mean the other person is going to change today? Nope! Does it mean we will? Yep! And at the end of the day, the only control we have over our neighbors is the example they see.