Yesterday, I was on a tear. I could not believe all the closings of schools, churches, stadium events, even many workplaces. How can people be such Wussies? Afraid of a virus?

I was reminded of the NCAA Tournament, (in the ’90s), when Michel Jorden scored some 38 points while battling the Flu, throwing up in a bucket, during the game. (That was what men did, no retreat, no surrender). America is the Land of the Free, and Home of the Brave.

What happened?

I was terribly wrong. If you do not go into crowds, (for sports, church or any activity), for fear of contracting the virus, you are doing exactly the right thing. Stay in, so you are not infected or infect others.

This is ‘JUST COMMON SENSE.’ We should use the minds the Lord has given us. After all, the early Christians hid from those who would persecute them. We want to live to fight another day.

That is the Worlds Wisdom. No one can fault us for that.

I do wonder what we are doing with our Measure of Faith? We believe in Salvation, but not much beyond. Why? Because we are not fully grown, adult Christians. We are Unbelieving Believers.

We have not exercised our Faith, Grown it, Used it, Practiced it because we are not taught how to feed ourselves, we are only fed Sunday mornings, and some of us Sunday night and Wednesday.

We cannot grow strong and effective with so little nourishment and exercise.

If we do not believe the Word of God, we should not try to walk in that Word.

“Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” The evil spirit said. (You cannot rely on someone else relationship with God. We must have our own.). (Acts 19:15).

Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved

We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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All mankind is given the ‘Measure of Faith’. ( Romans 12:3) What is that measure? The amount needed to believe the Gospel and accept Christ as Savior.

He died for us all, we can all be delivered, saved, and healed. We need only ‘To Believe,’. (Mark 5:36).

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

He must be Preached. Taught. Honored and obeyed. His Power must be Demonstrated! It is up to us. How and Why have we failed?

Paul in Romans 15:19 tells us he fully Preached the Gospel. To fully Preach the Gospel, involves more than Words, it includes the Power of God.

“Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

Unfortunately, many who Preach do not Demonstrate His Power. Why? Their Measure of Faith doesn’t Measure.

Faith needs to be active in the one praying as well as the one prayed for.

The Preacher must pray the Prayer of Faith. The recipient must believe to receive. Is the Lord able to ‘See your Faith’?

Do you fight to get close so you can touch the hem of His garment? ( Luke 6:19) How often did Jesus say; ‘According to your Faith?’

Every believer has the ability to heal the sick, raise the dead, give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf. What? Do you disagree?

Are you a believer? A disciple? A Faithful Follower of the Lord? Do you long to know Him more?

John 14:12

“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.“

When He sent out the 12 in Matthew 10:7-8, He commanded them:

“And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.“

We are His disciples and apostles today. There is no expiration date on the Power of God. No, the lack of signs, wonders, and miracles, is our problem, we no longer seek His anointing, His hand working through us.

Saints, Pray, Fast, Ask, Seek, and Knock. His Mercy, Grace, and Power are available to ALL WHO BELIEVE.

What is your Measure of Faith? We must Build it! Grow in Jesus (Jude 1:20; Romans 12:1-3)

Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved

We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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Are You Blessed or Cursed? As a Christian, I have had many opportunities to ask this question, in my own life.

The Preacher tells us in Ecclesiastes 9:2:

“All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.“

I have had times of want and times of plenty. The times of plenty are desired and longed for, yet want and trouble can appear in a moment.

The secret to surviving both is our attitude and actions. We all experience trouble, how do we react? Why is it happening to us?

Deuteronomy 28: 58.

“If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; 59. Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.”

The curses are many and quite harsh. It is easy to get on the curses list. Refusing to listen to and obey the Lord.

On the other hand, it is easy to claim and live with blessings.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 World English Bible

“It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to the voice of Yahweh your God, to observe to do all his commandments which I command you this day, that Yahweh your God will set you on high above all the nations of the earth:

and all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall listen to the voice of Yahweh your God.

You shall be blessed in the city, and you shall be blessed in the field.

You shall be blessed in the fruit of your body, the fruit of your ground, the fruit of your animals, the increase of your livestock, and the young of your flock.

Your basket and your kneading trough shall be blessed.

You shall be blessed when you come in, and you shall be blessed when you go out.

Yahweh will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be struck before you. They will come out against you one way, and will flee before you seven ways.

Yahweh will command the blessing on you in your barns, and in all that you put your hand to; and he will bless you in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.

Yahweh will establish you for a holy people to himself, as he has sworn to you; if you shall keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and walk in his ways.

All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of Yahweh; and they shall be afraid of you.

Yahweh will make you plenteous for good, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers to give you.

Yahweh will open to you his good treasure in the sky, to give the rain of your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand: and you shall lend to many nations, and you shall not borrow.

Yahweh will make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if you shall listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, which I command you this day, to observe and to do [them],

and shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.”

Obedience…. So easy it is hard. Well worth the effort though.

Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved

We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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In life, we must make choices. We choose to follow the way of the Lord, (Salvation, Peace, and Love), or we follow the path of bondage.

Where we will serve the enemies of Righteousness and be in hunger and thirst, naked and in want, yoked in iron and eventually be destroyed. (Deuteronomy 28:48)

The other path promises bread from heaven to feed us and water from a rock for our thirst, and that we will possess the promised land, in freedom, Peace, Love, and Joy. (Nehemiah 9:15)

The Lord promises that ‘IF’ we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6). Jesus is the bread of life, he promises that if we come to and believe in Him, will never hunger or thirst. (John 6:35)

Does He mean this, in this world today?

Do you realize Moses spent 40 days and nights, twice with neither food not drink? Impossible right? No, he was with God, (Jesus) and was fed Spiritually and was filled.

The same thing happened with feeding the 4,000, they were there 3 days with nothing to eat till he multiplied the loaves and fishes. He had fed them Spiritually until then.

We, as Christians should learn to Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.‘ (Matthew 6:33)

Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved

We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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As babies we long to be held, and touched by Mom and Dad, it comforts us and causes us to feel safe and protected.

As we grow, a pat on the shoulder or back gives us encouragement, pushes us to do a better job, to excel.

We touch one another to convey love, (good), and sometimes lust, (not good).

We change when Salvation, gives us a New Heart, a Renewed Mind, and a set of standards that call us to Holiness, to be Set Apart, to be Witnesses of His Love and Grace.

As Christians we love the song, ‘He Touched Me’, for good reason. When we are touched by God, we can be healed, set free, delivered from bondage. It is a Powerful time and a change in our hearts.

In Touching, Miracles can be Conveyed. In Luke, we have 12 examples of touching, Jesus to man, and man to Jesus. Something wonderful occurs each time. It is Wonderful to be touched by Jesus.

The leper said to Jesus, ‘If you will, you can heal me.’. (Like 5). He realized Jesus was able to heal, just not sure He was worthy to be healed. Jesus answered, ‘I will: be thou clean.’, and he immediately was cleaned.

Jesus, raised the dead in, (Luke 7:14), and healed the ear of one who arrested Him. (Like 22:51). When children were brought to Him, He touches them all. (Like 18:15)

All-Powerful stuff, but, there is a better way. How much more Power is there when we learn to touch Him?

Luke 6:19

“And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.”

The woman with the issue of blood, she had spent all and decided if she could touch Him, she could be healed.

Luke 8:44

“Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.”

He was surrounded by a crowd, she had to work to gain access. He recognized her effort.

Luke 8:45-47

“And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.”

Lord, help us to push through the crowds and learn to touch You

In both Matthew 14:36 and Mark 6:56. We find ‘All that touched Jesus, we’re made whole’.

There is Power in our hands. Will we learn to control it?

Matthew 18:19-20

“Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.”

We must learn to touch Jesus. To do that today, we probably need to fast and pray. Push through the mass of prayers and help Him to recognize yours.

We must set ourselves apart from the world, with renewed minds, bodies that are holy and acceptable, our reasonable service. (Romans 12:1-3)

Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved

We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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When I was about 12, my Dad ended up with a Metropolitan, a junker, I think it was a convertible. My friends and I drove that car all over my Dad’s Fix-it Shop yard.

Teaching one friend to drive, he nicked the door of a customer’s car, a Corvette. That was not a pleasant time, for Dad, the customer, or us.

One other time, my brother-in-law, at that time, lived on the 3rd floor of the apartment house next door. He dropped down to us kids, a stack of older Playboy magazines.

A glimpse of heaven for horny young guys, and also a slice of Hell. (Young people do not need access to this stuff).

I also remember, (someone, me? I don’t know), running into the corner of that building.

I don’t remember what happened to that car. It was one of many I drove around the garage yard.

A few years later, a few of us were at a fast food place, in Fitchburg, I think. We had drivers licenses then, and when we walked out of the store, there was a Metropolitan.

I boldly walked up to the lady who was in it, and told her if she ever wanted to sell it? I wanted it. I gave her my number and promptly forgot it.

Some months later I received a call, and an offer to buy the car for One Dollar. I jumped on it. What a wonderful lady she was.

I really loved that little car. It was perfect for me. Unusual, strange, and silly. It was great. Bringing it home the first time, we had borrowed one of Dad’s used cars with a repair plate, and a second repair plate for the Metropolitan.

We were stopped on Rt 2, (I think?), for driving too slow, and ‘were we going to get these cars repaired?’ Thank God we answered yes.

We were told to speed up or get off the highway.

Unfortunately, when I broke this car, by turning onto a sidewalk and pulling the steering box from the frame. It was a problem that couldn’t be repaired.

I have very fond memories of that car and the special girl who rode in it with me. I believe my life would have been very different if I could have kept that car on the road.

I wish I could get another deal like that.

Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved

We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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Those who believed brought a blind man and asked the Lord to touch him. Mark 6:56 tells us that all who had touched Him were healed.

Saints, do we really believe? Do we introduce the lost to our Lord? Are we bringing our sick to the Faith and Power of our Lord? Do we know how to touch Him?

In Mark 8, we have one of the few times, a healing miracle took more than one touch. We are not told why, but I suspect the Faith was in the men that brought him, and he really didn’t believe.

Jesus honored the friends’ request, because of their faith.

Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved

We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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Mark 8:22-26

‘And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.’

A Great Multitude:

Where ever Jesus went, great multitudes found their way to Him. At the end of Mark 7, Jesus healed a deaf and dumb man, He charged them to tell no one. (This never works, people just cannot be quiet, when they witness the Power of God).

They were astonished and spread the word. ‘Jesus has done all things well.’

So there was a great multitude: Chapter 8 begins with feeding the four thousand, with 7 loaves of bread, and a few fishes. Once again a great miracle.

I submit another miracle, was that the crowd had been there for three days with no food. (They had been fed by the Word and Presence of God. Much like Moses on the mountain, 40 days with no food or drink).

The Miracles that God preforms, are done for a reason.

Why then?

Isaiah 43:10

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

That we may Know; That God IS; and He is a rewarder, of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

That we would Believe; That God IS, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

That we would Understand; That God IS, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

In Isaiah 41:20, He had planted trees, and brought water, in the desert:

“That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”

To SEE; KNOW; CONSIDER, and UNDERSTAND; That God IS, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

If the presence of the Lord is active in our midst, we should expect and See His Power and Grace. (John 14:14)

Saints, we should have multitudes flocking to our meetings. It is a shame that we no longer believe He would or could. At least the leper knew He could be healed, he wasn’t sure that He would. (Matthew 8:2)

After this He departed on a ship, for the opposite shore, there He was met by the Pharisees, questioning and seeking signs and wonders, tempting Him for a performance. The signs are for those who will believe. Not for those who would persecute.

Many think we as Christians should not seek miracles, because of this verse. We must realize, He was dealing with the Religious, not Followers.

Signs, wonders, and miracles are not done to entertain the masses, but to relieve, to comfort to convince of the Power and Love of God. We are commanded to cast out devils and heal the sick.

They sailed to yet another town. The disciples had not brought bread, He told them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.

Jesus had a Word of Knowledge, He perceived their thoughts and questioned them.

‘Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?’

He had to remind them of the miracle of feeding the 4,000. It is the same with us, we experience His mercy and grace and need to be reminded of it often.

Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved

We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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Mark 8:1-21

‘In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?’

As I was praying, (ready for sleep), last night, the Lightning Bolt of Revelation entered my heart and mind. I had to immediately put aside thoughts of sleep and check the Word to see if it, (this Revelation), was true?

I realized that the Multitudes found Jesus, wherever He went. In towns, cities, the mountains or by the sea.

Those who sought Him found Him.

When He was in the Synagogues, many of the rulers believed in Him but did not confess Him, so as not to be put out. (John 12:42)

Only in Matthew 4:23 and 9:35, does it mention Jesus healing all the people of all manner of sickness and disease, in towns where He preached in the synagogue.

We do not hear of multitudes flocking to the synagogues.

No the Multitudes where not in the Synagogues, they were about the towns and countrysides. After His death and resurrection, we find that God adds to the Church, (such as should be saved daily). (Acts 2:47)

The difference between the Synagogue and the Church? The Law versus Grace. The reason God is not adding to our Churches daily, is our Rituals and Ceremonies have become a law unto themselves.

Some preach a false love. (No need for holiness or repentance). Others preach the law. (How we are to dress, interact, and behave in our Church)

The Holy Spirit has no part, in either place. Jesus came and died on the cross, not to condemn, but to save the World. (John 3:17)

Jesus told of the people’s sin, but always gave them a way to escape the eternal consequences of that sin. We need to inform them of the truth but emphasize the Gift of God.

We need to allow the Holy Spirit to live and direct our Worship if we are to see the multitudes added to our Church daily.

Man’s wisdom says there must be order, and that is true, but we do not need the dressings of our favorite Services. The early Church sang some hymns and taught the Word.

There were no children’s churches, separate Sunday School classes, divisions of any type. A child was asleep, fell and died as Paul preached. With the Gift of Faith, Paul brought him back to life.

Our children need to see adults, pray, worship, believe and act out the Gospel. The miracles of both Testaments should be shared and expected to occur today as Christ meets the needs of His people.

These are not stories to entertain our children, but reminders from God to build our Faith, to accomplish His Work.

We should study the first-century church, and attempt to embrace their Wisdom. As we SEEK HIM, HE WILL BE FOUND.

Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved

We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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