Walking with God

Not sure who you are?

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We try on many masks, put on many personalities.  Hide our true feelings, hurts, troubles.

We pretend to be someone or something stronger, better, smarter, more compassionate, giving, thoughtful, then we are.

The truth?

We are man….helpless, lost and alone.  There is nothing good within.  Our Righteousness is as filthy rags.

We seek but do not accept the truth. 

There is only one way to perfect peace.  Only one who gives joy unspeakable.

Put on Christ,  accept Him as Lord and Savior.  Follow Him, allow Him to correct, direct and protect you.

As He shines through, the masks we wear fall away.
Love overcomes all else.  Love never fails.

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Know you are loved.

Waiting:

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Waiting for the Doctor, noticed the shadow.  Only there for a short time.  Then gone.

Life, at its longest is but a moment, compared to eternity.

This shadow of things to come.   Life is meant to  give us the opportunity to serve others and Our Lord. 

What have we done with our opportunity?

Know Jesus…….know yourself. …find rest.

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blessings;
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote.
Know you are loved.

The Shadow

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Psalm 107:13-15
King James Version
“Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

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Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”

We know the shadow of His Word, Works and Ways.

We see  and understand but a shadow of His Grace.

Lord, take us beyond the fleeing shadows into Your marvelous light.

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blessings;
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Know you are loved.

Who’s in your wheelhouse?

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A quilt square at Core Sound Waterfowl Museum :

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blessings;
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Know you are loved.

The song that never ends:

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Find God, Serve God, ignore  God,  fall away, problems,  worse problems,  Call on God, Find God, Serve  God, ignore God,  fall away……

This is the song that never ends..

Sing a song of Triumph.  

Let Jesus lead you beside still waters and to paths of righteousness, you will find rest and peace for your soul.

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A Church Sign:

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If I  had a Church my sign would say:

“Come in –
      Sit down –
            Listen up – ”
– God –

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Once proud, full of promise :

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She was beautiful, sleek, quick, hardy, much loved, well used, had seen many profitable days.

Today?  Sad, broken, alone, only useful for storing  junk,  taking up space, unprofitable, forgotten….neglected.

The new baby, is all wonderfull, full of promise, hope, joy, dreams….expectations.   Then life kicks in.  Getting kicked takes away most of the joy of life.

Man becomes aware that he is not complete.  He needs more:  Money, a new love, excitement ,  (sports car, motorcycle, boat, sky diving).  Always looking outside himself for completion.

These are not bad desires:  They just are not the answer.  They will not make us complete.

Remember Joe 6 pack.  He works hard every day,  home to wife, kids and TV.  Not a bad guy, fulfills his obligations, maybe even goes to church on Sundays.    Hasn’t met the Lord, or known the Lord personally…… Lost.

How to be completed?

Whosoever will, that is what I  need to remember.   As a man that Loves the Lord, I must do my best to love all, walk in Wisdom towards them that are without. …allow Jesus to be bigger than my wants, desires, actions.

Hope that people see Jesus, that they see a man that reflects Godly virtue and truth.  A man, whose life, leads  to Righteousness.  A profitable man.  A man who will lead.

Lord, may people recognize You, through me.

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Why write?

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Shipwrecked :   Aground :

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That is why I write.  I am shipwrecked, stuck in one place, aground.   I  write hoping to touch hearts and lives for Jesus.  To bring people to a place where they can see the Lord without the vail of religion.

The only requirement is to love the Lord and each other.   How are we to do that?   I  find myself always trying to teach something and neglect to introduce the Lord.

He is not far away,  unknowable,  unapproachable.  The Kingdom of God is at hand.   The Good News of the Kingdom of God is now.  Since Jesus died and rose again.  He is knocking at the door of your heart.

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All we need do is:

Ask the Lord to forgive us.
     For what?
Selfishness, anger, hate, hurt, unbelief, doubt, pride…..ect.

Ask the Lord to help us change direction.
     Start walking towards the Lord…

Ask the Lord to Save you from your sin and be Lord of your life.

Accept His love and grace in your life.

Now you need to find a Fellowship or Church of believers.   We need to read the Word, make the Word not Church Doctrine the bottom line for our beliefs.

Talk about what you are learning,  if you don’t receive encouragement, discussion as well as correction, as needed, you are not in the right place.

Ask, Seek and Knock the Lord will help you find the place you should be.

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through them I may prove Israel, – The Fix-it Shop

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As Christians, how many times have we heard….God wouldn’t do that.  How could a loving God let that happen.   

The Lord allows and even has caused bad things to happen to good people.

We like to think God is love…..how can He allow this pain in my life, or my wife, or child.  Please realize Jesus came to save us from the law of sin and death.   He is our Salvation,  our Peace our Hope.

God is a Righteous, Holy, Perfect God.   Wherever these problems and pain came from,  they afflict all to see who will turn to the Lord.   We must seek the Eternal.  Set our faces like flint towards the Lord.

Read Judges 2….understand who the Lord is and what He desires….that has not changed.   He just gave us Jesus and the way to pleasing Him.  “To obey, is better than sacrifice. “

Love the Lord, ask for the Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge to walk in His ways.

Know this:  “You are loved. “

Accept His Grace….it is sufficient.

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Lesson revisited – The Filling Station

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Twice I’ve written about Judges 1….. both possible answers but not the right answer.  Here is my third attempt,

The Hebrews asked, ” Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?”

The Lord answered:  ” Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.”

When Judah  asked Simeon to go with them is when they showed their evil heart of unbelief.

Praise alone was the means that the Lord would use to conquer the land.  They added to the Lords plan and failed to drive out the enemies who had  chariots with iron wheels.

Once again. ..we must check out the Word ourselves,  study to show ourselves approved.    I  so want to deliver the Word of Truth. …not error. So please know what you believe.   Test the Word and see if it is true.

Lord, put a guard on my lips, that none would be led astray.  That they would be perfect and complete in all Wisdom,  Knowledge and Understanding.

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Lesson understood, (finally) – The Filling Station

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The lesson understood :

In reading and meditating on the first chapter of Judges, once again a tiny grain of truth seeps through.  

Since Abraham, the Lord had promised, “every place on which your foot shall tread, I have given it to you.”

Yet here we are hundreds of years later, Joshua has led them into the promised land, yet it is still not wholly theirs.   Joshua has died, what next?

The Lord  told them : “Judah shall lead you, I have delivered it to his hand.”

Judah said to his brother Simeon come help me and I’ll help you.   Let’s review :

Reuben the first born.  His name means, The Lord has seen .

Simeon the second born.  His name means, The Lord has heard.

Third born. Levi, whose name means the Lord will join us together.

Forth.  Judah,   now I will praise.

“Billism, brewing ”

Judah chose Simeon to go with him to defeat the enemy    They won in the mountains but lost in the valley because the enemy had chariots with wheels of iron.

Now the Lord doesn’t seem upset…yet His directive wasn’t followed.   The enemy wasn’t completely distroyed.

The Lord always provides a path or a plan for victory.  We are just terrible at following His plan.

What would the outcome have been if Judah had teamed up with Levi instead.

When you join Levi the tribe charged with protecting the Tabernacle of God, the House of God, the keeper of the Knowledge of God with the Praise of God.

I  think they could have become victorious.

I  understand that all these Christian Denominations are really just the different tribes today.  

The problem is the tribe of Judah, the people who understand Praise and Worship are out there on their own.

The tribe of Levi are few in each Denomination,  the few who reverence the Word of God over the book of rules for their sect.

We must get the Word, teamed up with Praise. “So, every place on which your foot shall tread. “

“He will give it to us”   

As we truly spread His Gospel of the Kingdom in power and might as the Lord spreads signs and wonders behind.    As He has promised.

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Why sin abounds : The Fix-it Shop

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In reading and teaching the Old Testament,  some things really cause me to scratch my head.   In Deuteronomy we find the Lord commanding the Hebrews to destroy all the nations in the promised land.

Joshua brought them in and secured a foothold but they hadn’t yet conquered all.  Which brings us to the book of Judges. The first question in Judges is:  ” Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?”

The answer was Judah,  (Praise).  “ Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.”

If my reading of chapter 1 is correct,  Judah destroyed the Canaanites in most places :   ” And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.”

Do you wonder today, why we don’t see the victory?  

I believe the Lord has chosen Praise to lead us to victory,  some of us refuse to employ it.  We won’t allow the simple Worship of singing the Word to lift their hearts and minds above the problems of the day into the promise of tomorrow.

Praise gave the victory but not totally.   Praise could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, they had chariots of iron.

What does this mean?

The chariots of iron, are those things we refuse to give up to the Lord.  Those peculiar things we love more than Him.  Our secret sin.  The parts of our past we continue to feed.

To attain total victory we must learn to Praise….quote the Word to the Word, Moses knew to remind the Lord of His promises.   Sing unto the Lord, lose yourself in Worship.   Discover the Lord inhabits the Praise of His people.

Then giving up that which hinders our walk will be easier.   Still a trial but total surrender will bring total victory.   At least for today.  Unfortunately tomorrow will have its own battles.

Lord, help us to understand and walk in Your victory.

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The Eyes of the Lord – The Filling Station

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”

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“And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Yes Lord,  please help me to follow You.

 

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Drawn to or Driven from – The Fix-it Shop

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Are people Drawn to or Driven from:

         – The Church
         – The Gospel
         – The Godhead
         – The Faith
         – Jesus

Why is my church not growing?  Where is everyone?  Why is the church up the street growing?  What is wrong with my church?   Why are we driving people from our midst?

Are they offended by  the Joy of the Lord?
    I don’t think so, there is too little Joy.
Are they afraid of the Power of the God?
    I don’t think so, there is so little Power.
Is the problem the Love of the Lord?
    I don’t think so, we do not practice His Love.
It must be Gods Mercy and Grace?
    You think?   Are we Merciful?   Do we display Grace?

Are we as Preachers, really teaching or do we just preach?

” Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Even with this blog, I find myself preaching more than teaching.   We need to admonish in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs…..singing and memorizing the Word of God.

We can find and share the Love of the Lord as we sing of His Glory.

The steps of a good man. …
He that dwelleth in the secret place…
Give ear to my words, oh Lord…
The Lord God is a sun and shield. …
I will sing unto the Lord. …
We are a chosen generation. …
I love You Lord, and I lift my voice….

Singing the Word of God has helped me memorize scriptures, find my way out of depression,  understand the Promise of God.

It is hard to condemn when singing of Gods love and grace.   We need to learn how to share His Love in song.

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How long are ye slack – The Fix-it Shop

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“How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?”

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The body of Christ, Christians, believers. …Listen up….I believe He is talking to us today.   We have gladly accepted Salvation,  Mercy and Grace.  We practice giving, ministry and prayer.

The Church, (for the most part), lacks real power.  Most churches are not being added to daily,  we aren’t in one accord, in thanksgiving, praise or Prayer.

If the Word states one thing and the Doctrine of our sect dosn’t agree, we follow our Doctrine instead of the Word. 

God gave us the Word,  man has interpreted the meaning….we need to know it individually, ourselves, study, so you can readily recognize error.   We are responsible for our own walk. 

It is not the Pastors job to make you eat, he only leads you to green pastures,  still waters, the place to restore your soul.

I  firmly believe the Gifts of the Spirit are the Talents the Master left and instead of investing in the use of same, most of the body has buried them.

Pray that the Lord reveals the gift He would have you exercise.   Make sure it lines up with the Word, step out in faith, stand fast and see the Salvation of God.

He promises to give us anything we ask….are we asking for the right things…we need to look to the Spiritual instead of the earthly.  Pray the prayers of Paul for your Pastor, leaders, your Church. 

Expect the Lord to answer your prayers.   This is the will of God,  that you would be perfect and complete in Him, that your wisdom and understanding of Him would be opened. That you would share His Gospel with success.

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Love

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1 Corinthians: 13. 4-8a  “Charity (love), suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  Charity never faileth:”

Love never fails:

I wholly followed the Lord my God. – The Fix-it Shop

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I shall drive them out.

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Caleb’s faith…one of the two spies that encouraged the Hebrews to take the promised land.  Forty-five years later, at 85 finally is promised his inheritance in the promised land.

” I am this day fourscore and five years old.

As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

This is faith:  At 85 going to do the Lords bidding. “I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

Still strong, able to fight, willing to fight.

Why?

” I wholly followed the Lord my God.”

If we would learn to wholly follow the Lord,  we could be doing great exploits, seeing the miracles, signs and wonders following us.

What is it that holds you back?   There must be something hindering us in only believing.  Something that gets in the way of simple child like faith.

” Except ye be converted, and become as little children, “

We need to trust like our children trust….just relie on the Father.

Lord, help me to trust in You.

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” Lord, my heart is not haughty,” – The Fix-it Shop

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Psalm 131
King James Version (KJV)
” Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.  Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.  Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever.”

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Lord, I do rest in You.  You tell me :  “Take no thought what you eat, drink or wear.”  Lord I am trying to do that but I  feel I must remind you, some bills were due the 20th,  others come due the 1st of next month.

You may not ever be late….but I am.  I know the trying of my faith worketh patience.   I  am waiting and walking in You,  I  trust You will not leave me wanting.  You are my Shepherd,  I shall not want.

So I  thank You for Your Mercy, Love and Provision in Jesus name.  Thank you for the work we need. Amen

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