My Obsession:

If you read my posts, you know what it is.  

I desire to serve a God of Power and  Might, who Heals the Sick, causes the blind to see, the lame to walk.

In short, the God, Jesus of the New Testiment.  He promised in John 14:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.   If ye love me, keep my commandments.“

What works did He do?  He would Preach, Teach, heal the sick, raised the dead…  He met the needs of all who came to Him.

What works do we do?  We Preach, Teach, give food, clothes, finances, prayer and earthly comfort.  What is missing?  POWER!!!

Why, is God asleep?   Maybe He is taking a walk?   He could be watching a movie, or an exciting TV show, and He’ll hear us later?

It is up to us, whosoever will, to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

We like to think, when we pray, that is what is happening.  It is a start, but far from the finish.

This is my prayer:

“Lord, help me to loose my life so others might know You,  that I might be a vessel of Your Love and Grace, that souls could be saved.  That the sick and needy could be healed.

That You would be lifted up, and all men would be drawn to You.  You would be Glorified, Magnified, Exalted and Worshiped.

Lord, that Your will would be done, now, as it is in heaven, and that I might be a vessel of Your truth.

Amen

Saints, My Obsession?  To see the Lords work done in Power, Might and Love.  How about you?

Luke 9:28-36

“And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:”  (the story continues).

Peter, James and John were there, witnessing the impossible.  Christ, in His Glorified body, speaking face to face with Moses and Elijah.

Moses who, by the way, had been dead, lo, these many years, and no one knows where he was buried.

Then we have Elijah, last seen alive assending into heaven in a whirlwind, while a chariot of fire was flying around to confuse things.

Both these men, representing the Law and the Prophets, standing before them, in a conversation with Jesus, about His soon to come Passion.

They hear a voice from heaven saying:  “This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

Peter speaks, “not knowing what he said.”

Can you blame him?   Nope…  incredible, unbelievable, not physically possible, but happening.    

 Yes, as a beliver, I believe it happened, just as the Word states.  It is, “A God thing.”

As we study the Word there are a lot of “God things.”   

What interests me most, are the great men of God.

Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, the list is seemingly endless.

Until the Apostles, then, it seems, no more great men of God.

Oh, we have great Preachers and Teachers, Leaders and Prophets…  

Why so many of these and so few workers of miracles, men with the Gifts of Healing, men with  the Gift of Faith to move mountains.

We can learn to Teach and Preach, Lead and Prophecy, by study of the Word and the Anointing of God which comes from Prayer.

Some have a great Anointing, multitudes follow, and others not so much.  

We see vary few working in the Gifts of the Spirit.   Does God no longer care to heal the sick, raise the dead, or cause the blind to see?

Hebrews 13:8, says:
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

Our error today is thinking these great men of God were more than mere men.  They were not.

The only difference between Noah, Moses, Abraham, the Apostles, and Anybody 2016, is the fact that they believed God and acted on His Word.

I’ve heard it said, “The Apostles could do those miracles because they had known Jesus, looked at Him, eye to eye.” 

Paul, it comes to mind, knew Him as we do.  Yet, still did the miraculous.  How come?

Paul, tells us how, we just don’t follow through.

Hebrews 4:16
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Where is the “Throne of Grace?”  At the feet of Jesus.

Saints, we need to sit at His feet, learn of Him, beyond how to share the Gospel, learn how to increase in His Talents, The Gifts of the Spirit, the tools He left us to build His Church.

“Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:”  (Revelation 12),  

The voice of God on how to overcome the accuser.  (The devil, unbelief, fear of failure).  

The Lord has given us Salvation, Strength, His Kingdom is at hand, we are in it,  the Power of Christ, through the Holy Spirit.

He even told us how to use it:  “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

The BLOOD OF THE LAMB, THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY, WILLING TO GIVE UP OUR LIVES FOR HIM.

Like Moses, when the people sinned, forgive them Lord, or blot me out of Your book.

Jesus died for us.  Are you willing to give all that others might be made free?

That is the secret to working in Gods Power.  Not so easy, not for everyone,  maybe it’s you?

Lord, raise up whosoever will.  Amen

​Acts 17:11

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

I have been at this little UMC  for about six years.  I am planted where the Lord placed me. I have a lot to learn and I am learning.

I believe I have a lot to give…  They are not receiving.   

There is no readiness of mind.

➢ We have never heard that, it can not be true…

They refuse to search the scriptures to see whether Thoses things are true,  

➢ They do search trying to disprove the truth.

I believe my time here is done… Lord, help me to be an obedient, trustworthy vessel of Your will.    Amen

Beaten, Strangled, Stabbed and Dismembered: 

 That is how a local  woman, was reportedly murdered, recently.  (So sad).

We do not have many murders in small town, NC.  This really rocked our town.

I understand they arrested the murderer in Oregon, USA… about 3,000 miles from here, a few days later.

I guess, it is true, you cannot, out run, a radio.

(Wisdom, from the 1930’s gangster movies).   

I have been upset with, and at times, mad enough to plan murder, but… never seriously considered following through.

So how upset must you be to: Beat, Strangle, Stab and Dismember someone.   (I cannot imagine).

This is demonic behavior.

We see more and more insane, demonic acts, sniper fire killing 5 policemen, 7 more wounded. 

Police blamed for black deaths, when if the black folks had done as requested, they would be fine.  (In jail, but alive).

We blame the guns, the Police, or racism, when the problem is the lack of God in our lives.

We have rejected the Lord in our public and then private lives.   No God in our courts, schools or government.

Then we wonder why there is no justice,  sin is embraced and morality is rebuked.

We need to repent as a country, a nation, a people.

2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, which are called by myname, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Sanity isn’t that far away.  As far as our knees from the floor.  Is it possible for us to return to a sane, God fearing, God  serving  Nation?

YES, WHEN WE LEARN TO PRAY… WHEN WE LEARN TO HUMBLE OURSELVES, WHEN WE SEEK GOD, TURN FROM OUR SIN, WHEN WE REPENT.

Lord, help us to obey and love You.   Amen

By the time I was a self-centered teenager, my Mom was being tormented by arthritus, both osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritus.

I wasn’t paying attention, but she could hardly walk, (Dad carried her up the stairs), and her hands got all deformed.

She was also on massive amounts of pain pills, which just happened to coincide with my new love, getting wasted.  (Pot or booze).

So we were ships passing, polite, uncaring, leave us alone, stoned.  Dad, cared for Mom, worked as usual and as long as things were calm, everything was fine.

Then it wasn’t.  I went off the rails.

I caused so much pain, in my uncaring rebellion, to my family and others.  

I wish I could relive my young and stupid years, with a whole lot less stupid.   (Afraid not)

It is what it is, I have repented, turned my life around, moved on, but I cannot undo the hurt I have caused.   I am so sorry.  

A few years after that, my Dad had a massive heart attack, while fixing a customers tire, 6am one morning, at work.

Thank God, that Jimmy DeCarolis,who was Police Chief in town,happened to stop by to say hi, found my Dad and rushed him to the hospital.

He never worked again, (he was able to use his  printing press, eventually).  My folks moved to Florida.

I followed a few years later, in my search for a God of Power and love.  They continued to love and accept me…  

I never realized, till I had Celeste, what the love of the Father was.   

God Has Not Left You, He is Only Hiding. — Graham Cooke – http://wp.me/p2b2uk-1EF

If we only understood…

It grieves my spirit, to hear Christians,  people,  I know, that love the Lord, say:  “I don’t believe that…”

When they should be asking:  What does the Bible say?”

Too  often, our Belief System, even our Church Doctrines, have nothing to do with Biblical teachings.  

Someone, older and wiser, told us A,B & C  is truth and that’s the way it will always be.  

When Sadly,… if a,b & c, are in the Word, they would probably be an incidental point, yet we treat them as ultimate truth

It is truly a sad day, when we are sure we have the corner on Biblical Truth.  

When a Biblical Teaching, a Bible Truth, is rejected because we were never taught that.

When we pray: “If it be Your will Oh Lord.” 

What of His will do we not know and understand?  

Are we praying for lost souls?    The Lord would have all men come to the truth of  Salvation.

Are we praying for healing?    The Lord healed all that were afflicted.

Are we praying for financial assistence?    My God shall supply all my needs, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.    The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

If our prayer is about avoiding the consequences of our actions.  Good luck with that, we reap what we sow.

I cringe when I hear, If he’s not healed here on earth, he will be healed in heaven.    Where do you find that in the Word?

There are many more:  Cleanliness is next to Godliness.  ….  The rich will never enter heaven.     … Money is the root of all evil.

Not everyone needs the Gifts of the Spirit.  … If He wanted me to speak in tongues, He would have given me that Gift. …  Tongues just bring confusion. …
Saints, we need to take off our Denominational  glasses, look at the Word anew.  Ask the Holy Spirit to lead us to the truth.   

We are not a Powerful, Living, example of Gods love and grace, a mighty, growing Church.  

We would rather deny Biblical truth, than accept the possibility, there is more then what we currently know and believe.

Matthew 22:29

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”

2 Peter 3:15-17

King James Version (KJV)

“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”

John 14:11-13

King James Version (KJV)

“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.   Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.   And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.“

 The Word is clear:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

King James Version (KJV)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:    (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)     Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

We must believe and walk in the Spirit.  To be in that place of truth and power.

Lord, help us please.

I found this on Facebook. .. from My Blogs

Error In The Church – All Sins Are Equal
JULY 5, 2016 / LEAVE A COMMENT / EDIT

There are  many errors floating around today amongst Christians and  in churches. One of the most common is the one I will dismantle today, that being that all sins are equal.

I first heard of this doctrine  some years ago when I was doing some ministry in Nashville, and it was always quoted in support of homosexuals and lesbians. In fact, the GLBGT, people quickly embraced this doctrine, supported it, and propagated it.

This biblical error goes something like this:

“No sin is worse than any other sin. Sodomy is not any more egregious than overeating, smoking, flying off the handle in anger, being rude, or being an adulterer or fornicator. Therefore sodomy, if it is a sin at all, is not any worse  than a Christian pigging out at a buffet.”

Sounds nice doesn’t it? If I were a homosexual or lesbian, transvestite, pedophile, etc., I would embrace this line of thinking too. It would certainly lessen my guilt and sense of shame. I can go around with my head held high, believing that what I’m doing is no worse than being in a bad mood and snapping at someone with a sharp word.

Even preachers, whole churches, and denominations have embraced this delusion.

Here is why it is NOT true.

First let me lay out the premise. Some sins are worse than others. All sin is not equal. All  sin is bad; but not all sins are equal.

Matthew 5:19 (KJV)
19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus is speaking here and He talks about the LEAST commandments. Least means of lessor importance. And, if there are commandments that are least, then there are commandments that are greater.

This alone should end the argument that all sins are equal!

Secondly, I believe that the, “all sins are equal,” error came from a misreading of

James 2:10 (KJV)
10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

This Scripture does NOT say that all sin is equal. It says that all sin is a breaking of the law, and that the breaking of the law means that all people need a Savior.

Thirdly, look at the Ten Commandments. God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. God Himself put these commandments in a definite  order, from one to ten. Why did He put, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” ahead of “You shall not desire your neighbors house?” Because while all are sin; and doing any of these things breaks the law; having gods and idols is more serious to Him than you wanting your neighbor’s car.

Fourthly, Jesus taught that there are varying degrees of damnation, based on what one has done.

Mark 12:40 (KJV)
40  Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

If there is greater damnation, there is lessor damnation. But based on what? The following verses tell us.

Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV)
11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Degrees of damnation are based on one’s works or deeds.

What about homosexuality?

Romans 1:24-28 (AMP)
24  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin],
25  Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it).
26  For this reason God gave them over and abandoned them to vile affections and degrading passions. For their women exchanged their natural function for an unnatural and abnormal one,
27  And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for one another—men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong-doing and going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution.
28  And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome…

Homosexuality can be a sign that God has given a person up; that He has given them over and abandoned them to degrading passions. Their consciences are seared. This is not said about most other sins.

Does God love homosexuals? Absolutely! But love is not approval, for homosexuals, or for the rest of us.

Repent and believe the gospel! Repent means to have a change of mind and heart. It is a  change in opinion and  viewpoint. It leads to changed behavior.

We can and must love gays but we cannot stand in solidarity with them. We must not hate. (Truth is love) We must not be violent. We must not be rude or disrespectful. But we cannot approve.