back to the garden 22

  Psalm 33:20–22 (NLT) 20 We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. Father God, show me how to put my hope in You totally. Forgive me for putting my hope in that I have done things correctly; I have said the right words in my prayer; I have believed in faith; I have prayed enough. I pray I will take the "I" out of my prayers. Be the Lord of all of my needs and show me how to hope in You as You reveal Your Word to me daily in Your Holy Bible. Draw me to Jesus each day, in every way. Please draw my family to You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

    Revelation 2:24-25 “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. In the NLT works of Satan are called "deeper truths". Wow! This makes me think of all that is false in the church today passed off as a deeper truth. We have to be careful what we read on the internet, or watch or listen to in the way of Christian entertainment. If these things are in any way contrary to God's Holy Word we are to be like the Christians in Thyatira, one of the seven churches Jesus addressed in Revelation. Jesus would say to the church today, "Hold tightly to the truth You have in my Holy Word until I come." Father God, heal ...

  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.... But we have the mind of Christ.   I Corinthians 2:16   Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 2:5 A week or so ago, the words, "You have the mind of Christ" came to my thoughts. It was taken from a verse contrasting spiritual discernment with the natural man. Because we have asked Jesus to forgive our sins and invited His Holy Spirit into our hearts, we have the mind of Christ. However, the verse I have thought of lately in Philippians advises us to "Let the mind of Christ be in us." The word let is defined as meaning "not prevent or forbid; allow." We have to make a conscious effort to allow the mind of Chri...

  Colossians 4:16 By the way, after you have read this letter, will you pass it on to the church at Laodicea? And read the letter I wrote to them. NLT I was reading in Colossians last week and came upon the above verse I had never noticed before. Laodicea was the last of the seven churches in Revelation. It is an interesting thought that the Lord was giving them a head's up to change their behavior. Perhaps this is a wake up call to the church today. Father God, Open our eyes to Your truth today. Cause us to come out from among this last day's church. In Jesus' name. Amen.  2 Corinthians 6:17  Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. NLT Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” NKJV     So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good," says God. "Don'...

Psalm 147:10-11   He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.   The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy. NKJV Recently someone told me that The Chosen has a scene where Jesus is shown not playing ball very well.    Supposedly, the game was one played during the time of Jesus.  No matter. My point is that my Lord Jesus was treated in such a disrespectful and misleading way.   Unlike our modern culture where grown men play children's games, I do not believe the disciples, many fishermen, all now fishers of men, had or took time to play games.     The apostle Paul admonished the early church to put away childish things.  Maybe some adults took time for such games, but I do not believe Jesus and the disciples did. Look at my posted verse. Jesus' disciples were concerned with learning from Him about God's hope and mercy.  It is clear that Dallas Jenk...

   Philippians 3:13  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do , forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus , the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

    Proverbs 4:25-27 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. NKJV Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust. MSG Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Father God, how hard it is to keep our eyes straight. Like the horse who needs blinders to plow a straight row as he avoids distractions, let us put on our Lord Jesus Christ looking toward Him as we avoid the world's distractions with blinders made from Your Holy Word and power in Your Holy...

 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. This song was on my mind this morning. "It was all because of God's amazing grace! Because on Calvary's Mountain he took my place! And someday, some glorious morning, I shall see him face to face, All because of God's amazing grace."

 "I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Jesus said this as recorded in Matthew 28:20. NIV  In the devotional book, Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham for January 18, a day early, I read and was encouraged. Following is a quote taken from this book. "What we need is to cultivate the sense of His presence, every day, every hour, every moment. This happens as we speak to Him in worship and prayer, and listen to Him speak to us through His Word, the Bible." Father God, may we all come back to the garden with You today and be blessed more than words can tell as we walk and talk with You all day. In the name of Jesus who brought me back to You to walk and talk with You. May I recognize Your presence every hour and every moment today. Draw me back to Jesus when my mind strays away in stress and circumstances. Amen!

   He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 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.  Isaiah 40:29-31  The above verse was posted on my Bible study app.    The following verse, one on the image, was in my mind this morning in the kitchen. It goes along to help my faith on this hard day.  I will post it too. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23 Father God, Even people younger than I have struggles, including my son and daughter. Help us all to trust in You and find new strength so that we soar, and run, and not grow weary. We are barely walking now it seems, but You promise that we will ...

    Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2 The important part of this scripture is that God sent men from far away to worship Jesus. The important part of Revelation is in 5:13. “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” In Matthew 4:10 we read " Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Jesus did not tell anyone in the Bible not to worship Him. The Gospels record a number of times when various people worshiped Him and He did not stop them. I t...

  This event is the Rapture of the church.  The following scripture is the event when Jesus returns with His church and every eye will see Him. Only the true believers will know when the Rapture takes place.  The world will be shocked that so many people are missing, and they will have an answer which will be far from the truth, as is many things which are being taught about Jesus now are far from the truth.     Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11  who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11 NKJV "The two men referred to Christ as, this same Jesus . This reminds us that the Jesus who ascended to hea...

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 CSB Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. NKJV   This verse was in my mind this morning before I read Michael's post about the wide gate and the narrow gate. Paul instructed believers who had chosen the narrow gate to dwell on what is on the narrow road. As Christians with the wide gate beckoning to our flesh, we have difficulty focusing for wha...

      The other morning while cooking a pot of beans, the following song came to me. I looked up a verse for sanctuary and found the following in Corinthians. "Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary , pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you." 1 Corinthians 3:9-17 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building . 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, ...

  One of my verses this week was Psalm 19:14. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Father God, Here the word "heart" is again. May my mouth be in rhythm with the meditation of my heart which is a constant beat of Your Holy Words. Cause me to come to You and listen to Your Holy Spirit every day so that I have a healthy heart, spiritually first of all, and flowing into my physical heart so that I may receive Your promise that You will prosper me in my old age and cause me to be fruitful. And also in these end times not to be afraid of the terror by night or the arrow that flies by day. Give me a peaceful and grateful heart free from fear. In the Mighty Name of Jesus My Lord and Savior Amen!

  As I prayed one night recently, I began to pray part of a verse in Psalm 51, "Create in me a clean heart, O God," This morning I was reading a devotional which had the following verses I had made note of about 5 years ago. Matthew 12:34-37 34 "Brood of vipers! (Jesus speaking to the Pharisees) How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Colossians 3:15-16 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one ...

        I thought of both these verses last night. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face. Psalm 5:8 Father God, help me to walk in the righteousness of Christ Jesus. Thank You that I am not condemned and You make my way clear as I come before You through Your Holy Spirit. I pray I will not walk after the flesh because there is condemnation there, because I have not allowed You to lead me. It is so easy, Lord God, to let the flesh lead because my sinful nature is in conflict with Your Holy Spirit's leading. Help me hold on to You today so that my way is straight and I do not grieve Your Holy Spirit in going after what feels good and seems right in my flesh. In the name of Jesus who made it possible to see the straight way before my face. Amen!

Song by Dottie Rambo and Jessy Dixon   There's a light in the window The table's spread in splendor Someone's standing by the open door I can see a crystal river I must be near forever See, I've never been this homesick before   I see the bright light shine It's just about home time I can see my Father standing at the door   This world has been a wilderness I'm ready for deliverance Lord, I've never been this homesick before   I can see the family gather Sweet faces, all familiar And no one's old or feeble anymore And my lonesome heart is cryin' Think I'll spread my wings for flyin' See I've never felt this homesick before   See the bright light shine It's just about home time I can see my Father standing at the door This world has been a wilderness I'm ready for deliverance Lord, I've never been this homesick before   See the bright light shine It's just about home time I can see my Father standing at the door This world ...

I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness.... (my verse for 2023) John 1:23 He ( John the Baptist) said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Around midnight December 31, 2022 the words, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness" came in my mind. So I am taking this verse the Holy Spirit brought to mind and making it my verse for the year. I have already applied it to my life this morning! Praise You Lord Jesus! Father God, in the midst of the wilderness of my life and the world around me, I want to be reminded of this verse every day in 2023. I pray that I am aware each day of Your Holy Spirit's presence, hearing and responding to Your voice so that Your voice is my voice. Help me to do Your will in preparing the way for Your blessed appearing. I pray we all will be ready and not ashamed at Your coming. In Jesus' name. Amen.    This world has been a wilderness ...