2 Minute Lesson Plan

Now that school has resumed and we are well off to a fantastic start to the new school year, it has been brought to my attention, by the Glorious Holy Spirit, that there is a commonality between school and The Bible. I am sure there are several things they both have in common, however, I shall highlight one that I depend on when called to perform my job.As a substitute teacher, I depend on the lesson plans a teacher leaves for me to follow and teach in her absence from class that day.A lesson plan is a detailed instruction on the subjects and assignments the class is currently working on. It also includes schedules for the class, page numbers, helpful information, safety proceedures, health info, dismissal info, staff info, phone numbers, end- of- day requirements and such. All needed information a substitute teacher will need to ensure smooth sailing in a successful day of learning, in the temporary absence of a teacher. It is very time consumming and takes way longer than 2 Minutes. As the Spirit began to teach me this particular subject for this posting, I entitled it 2 Minute Lesson Plan cause that is about the amount of time Jesus took to give out His divine plan of salvation to Saul of Tarsus by way of Ananias. So as it goes, Saul was on his way to Damascus with permission slips from the high priest of the synagogues to arrest and bring back bound and gagged, those who followed Jesus (Acts 9:1-2). On the road to Damascus, wham, he was struck and blinded by a light from Heaven, and a voice asking him what's up with that? (author's paraphrase). Saul had the good sense to fall to the ground and ask who are you and what do you want me to do Lord? Jesus said to him go into the city and it shall be told to you what you must do.So in a matter of a couple of minutes, the persecutor of the followers of Christ,who is now blinded from this Glorious Light that shone all over and around and through him, had a 2- way conversation with the Creator of the Universe and his original plan was altered forever.(Acts 9) As he and those who accompanied him came in to Damascus,he couldn't function at all for 3 days. No eating, no sleeping, no seeing, nothing except praying. It is always comforting to know when our world has been turned upside down, we can pray, and God hears us and answers us,by faith (Jeremiah 33:3). At this time God spoke to a believer named Ananias in a 2- way conversation and gave Ananias the rest of the 2 Minute Lesson Plan to give to Saul.I believe God uses believers cause they walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5: 7). So Ananias followed the plan after God assured him that Saul is the one I am going to use. What was this plan you may ask? That Saul would be the one God chose to bring the message of salvation (Jesus) to the Gentile nation of people (you and me, if you are not a Jew) and to Kings and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). It took 2 minutes to spell out what would be a life altering, life changing, message to a nation of people our Loving God included in THE PLAN. You and me. I stand in awe of the way He chose to tell us and the person selected to deliver this message and more so THE PLAN. He chose a person who by all accounts believed the Word but not THE WORD MADE FLESH (John 1:1). So He came to Saul personally, preached Himself to Saul and made him an Apostle (sent )(Galatians 1:1,15,16). Jesus convinced this former persecutor with a 2 Minute Lesson that changed his heart and caused him to preach Christ and Him only for all his life forward. No matter what happened to him, he preached Christ and Christ alone(2 Corinthians 11:22-27)! He used his life's work as a persecutor of The Way, as a testimony of the life change. Only a loving Jesus can cause that kind of change. Out of the 27 Books in the New Testement this Apostle wrote 13 for sure and possibly more. Hebrews and a good part of Acts maybe. That is more than Peter a beloved disciple who walked alongside of Jesus, James and Jude (aka Judas-not Iscariot), Jesus' half brothers. I think that this is significant information since all Scripture is Holy Spirit inspired. The Holy Spirit chose who would minister to the larger segment of His people. He covered everything from love to hate and everything in between. He preached to the Gentiles that Christ is inside each and all of us and that we can believe by faith (Galatians 3:14). His message on the GRACE of God has set many believers free (John 8:36). God wanted His message brought to all of us and He chose Saul (later Paul) to bring it. Saul is not the way of salvation, He is the preacher God Almighty used to deliver the message. Thank God for Saul's obedience to this mighty call on his life. We are all called to have an impact on our world as well. We have been given a 2 Minute Lesson Plan also. It states it clearly in Mark 16:15-18: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature..." Tell someone about The Living Christ and His saving, healing power found in an intimate relationship with Him. John 3:15-17, John 6:32-50,John 14. God loves you I love you and Jesus is Lord!!

SHHHHHH LISTEN CAREFULLY

Well it is that time of the year again.  By now we are all back in school all over this nation and well on our way to a new year of learning and teaching. It is very exciting this new school year for many reasons. Newness always brings with it an excitement on the level of that kind of  kid- anticipation you have on Christmas day or an unexpected party  in your honor or being chosen for something from among many contenders. As a teacher (substitute) I have begun to hear myself and the slogans we educators find ourselves saying tons of times in the course of a day. One of them is  simple but effective:  Shhhhhhhh. You may say it at times as a parent or in your line of work as well.  Shhhhhhh, followed by Listen carefully are words students hear that tell them that the information next is important, so listen up. God told us in His Word something similar when He said "Be Still and Know that I AM God....."Psalm 46:10. He was saying so much more than shhhh. I think He was telling us to quiet ourselves from all the noise (white and otherwise)  and listen for His Voice.  Remember when God AlMighty was speaking to Elijah  after Jezebel threatened his life, he was in a cave and God said to him to stand on the mountain where He passed by in an earthquake, strong wind and fire. God said to Him that though these things happened ,  He was in the still,  small, voice that came after all that. 1Kings 19.   This sounds a bit like God was saying that although things come and shake things up, break things and sweep things away, He is still there so quiet yourself and listen for Him.  He's not in the noise and racket of life, He is still, quiet, peaceful.  Another thing I find myself saying in my classrooms with the students a lot is : "1,2,3 all eyes on me".(lower grades of course)  That is a way of helping students to track the teacher (speaker).  When tracking occurs, this technique allows students to focus better on what is being discussed at that time and their complete attention is on the speaker. A student can hear and process their directions better and proceed with classwork or whatever, with a clearer understanding of what is expected. Non- focused students can't process as well and repetion will have to happen. Likewise with us if we put our eyes on God and trust His Word, we too can get a clear understanding of Him and what is required of us. We can't do that if we are not focused on Him.  We have many things that snatch our attention away from God. Much of it we allow and some we freely give away. Besides having every electronic device mankind has ever made, we have every event we must attend in a weeks time, every function must be kept by us or our kids,our calendars and date books and planners are loaded down months in advance of this date. We busy ourselves a great deal and that doesn't include tracking God. Cause to track God means time spent with Him. How you ask?  Reading His word,  something called Bible reading, talking to Him,(much like you would talk to a dear friend or loved one), Listening to Him, quiet time in His Presence, praying to Him in the Spirit or in your own words, singing praises to Him,(we were created to praise God), all out Love- Making to our God. Time well spent , if I may say so. You give it a try, and see for yourself.  At times when we are in traveling position,at school, we are about to leave the classroom for another location in or out of the school. We could be going to a resource or lunch or outside, etc and during this time of movement, I tell my students that we are in the "Quiet Zone" there is no talking.  Some times there are those who "forget" and when I catch them my response is typically "shhhhhh,  we are in the hallway and it is a quiet zone, no talking".  It works most of the time. We try not to disturb other classes, learning is happening all day in every classroom, every day. Quiet Zone?   In our everyday lives our Quiet Zone is that place in your spiritman, innerself, where God is constantly speaking to us. He is speaking to each person with blood flowing in their veins. That is you and that is me. SHHHHH can you hear Him?  Go to your Quiet Zone and listen for Him.  There is noise in this world so you will have to quiet the noise to hear cause His voice is still, small. No talking in the Quiet Zone only listening. Turn off that electronic thing for a while, it will still work when you turn it back on later.  SHHHHH   Listen  SHHHHH. Also in our quiet zone there is peace. A kind of peace that is unexplainable, indescribable.  When all else is falling apart around me, This Zone, this quiet place of peace is where God tells me (and I hear Him) I am with you and I WILL not leave you alone through all this.  Others may leave (people are human) but God says I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU!!!! Sometimes He says it over and over and over again and again. That is very ironic cause in my profession I find myself repeating things a lot as well. Maybe it will sink in this time.  Listen Carefully is another thing we teachers have said frequently.  That can give the students the ability to know what they need to do, how to do so and a time frame. To Listen Carefully involves more parts of your body than just your ears.  The ears are vital but so are your hands, feet, legs, back, head, eyes, arms and hiney. All of this can be summed up with one word--- posture. Sitting up straight in your chair, feet and legs together, hiney flat in the chair, back straight hands and arms together, folded in front of you eyes on the speaker, ears tuned, head moving tracking the speakers movement.  Now we are in a good listening posture. If we are walking around while there is teaching going on there is a possibility to miss something. Listening Carefully posturing occurs during instructional time of course. Likewise with our God, we need to assume the position for Listening Carefully to Him.  All of these things (and others)  work together with eachother for a successful outcome in any given school day and they can do the same for us as we seek  time with our God. Perhaps you know all this already and if so be refreshed. Cause The Holy Spirit has charged me with writing this blog and as an obedient child of THE KING,  I accept. Maybe it is for me  to taste and see as well, I accept. Could be for a hungry soul longing for a Word from on HIGH, receive what the Spirit is saying through this mouthpiece. What ever or whichever these God,  uses the foolish things of this world to confound the things that are so called wise.1Corinthians1:27. I shall gladly be whatever He says I am and do whatever He says I can do. Philippians 4:13. When you are in Love, as I am, you gladly do whatever God says. As I FALL IN LOVE EVERYDAY, God shows me things that only He knows about me and how to deal with it all. IT IS A WONDER OF GOD the mystery that He reveals through His Word and time with HIM. So class lets review:  SHHHH and listen Carefully The KING of The UNIVERSE is speaking to you,  1,2,3, all eyes on THE WORD of GOD, it will minister to you,  Track the SPEAKER, THE CREATOR GOD ALMIGHTY IS MOVING,  NO TALKING in The Quiet Zone, Listening only, turn off the Noise   Shhhhhh and Listen. Assume the position for listening and Hearing from God.  Isaiah40:28-31.   God Loves you,  I love you and Jesus is LORD!  Genesis 1,  Psalm104.

THE WONDERS OF GOD

You have probably heard of the seven wonders of the world, some being the Tajmahal, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (what a place for a garden), the Pyramid of Giza, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, etc. All these maybe wonders to this world and they may be magnificent to a degree. But they have one thing in common that makes them not so much of a wonder, and that is that they are man-made objects. They can not compare to THE WONDERS OF OUR GOD.  I would like to focus, for this posting, on THE WONDERS OF GOD that HIS hands and fingers and voice made, that we have and use each day of our lives, and perhaps hardly give a thought about. I am in LOVE,  so I like to talk about my LOVE and brag on His greatness, the splendid excellence of HIS majesty and the GLORY that I bathe and drench myself  in daily.  I can't help myself, this LOVE overtakes me, and I talk of HIS powerful pull on me as if I am addicted. In a sense I reckon (a back in the day word) I am addicted to LOVE. THE WONDERS OF GOD are all around us and we use them without much thought or realizing how important they are to our survival.  Consider the AIR.  First of all what is it?  I know that scientifically there is an explanation but don't the experts have answers for everything, and because we consider them tops in their areas of expertise, we take what they say as truth.(John17:17).  Well, ponder  awhile with me.  Air, it is all around us, more than enough for every living person, place and thing to have plenty, with a supply that NEVER runs low or out. Who gave that kind of abundance of life- sustaining necessity to all of us? You need not qualify to recieve  this AIR SUPPLY,  there is no income level/limit needed, skin color has nothing to do with it,  where you live and what you drive, or how you dress has no bearing on this supply,  you simply have it as God's provision for life.GOD IS GOOD TO ALL OF US!  I would venture to say that if man had created this air,  he would find ways to charge for its usage. Whoa to the person who couldn't make that monthly payment.  Consider the sky, clouds, sun, rainbows, moon, stars (Psalm8:3), water, dirt, trees, grass wind, rain, snow, seasons, the seeds inside the earth.  I could also speak of THE WONDERS OF GOD that we visit and find them breathtaking, such as mountains, the oceans, all this and much more made only from the finger of GOD (Genesis 1:6-19), (Psalm 8:3-4nlt). GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!! Water... What is it? Why is it so vitally important to life?  70% of the earth is made of water and over 60% of our body is made up of water (Psalm36:8).  GLORY TO GOD! HAIL TO THE KING OF CREATION!! God made all this possible and indeed so before HE put us in the GARDEN.  All these WONDERS God created, and they all listen to Him and obey His voice (Psalm 107:29). God  in all His wisdom and knowledge about all things,  answered Job and his friends with words that paint a word- picture of HIM and HIS greatness and majesty and attention to the details of creation,  when He said " Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundation and who laid the cornerstone?"( ...Job 38). GOD and ONLY GOD can have all the Glory. HALLELUJAH!! My mind  in all its limited capacity, looks at all this and I get to wondering about things that may or may not make sense or whatever but I wonder none the less.  When I look at trees, long tall sky touching trees (seemingly),the nest that the birds choose to build there, or the tips of the trees,who would water that if the rain didn't. All gardeners know that plants and trees need water, even the tip top.Would you go into the forest or into the desert or anywhere they grow, and water the trees?  I will be honest,  I probably wouldn't.  God provides for all His creation.(Psalm135:7) GLORY TO GOD!! Check out the ground and the grass. What on earth is that?  Dirt.  This stuff makes things grow.  How did God do that?  I bet they can't figure that out fully and make a t.v. program about it. Oh yeah I'm forgetting "the experts". This stuff can be reproduced and bought,  and all the gardeners said YEAH!!! What about grass?  Have you noticed grass grows is strange places. By strange I mean in concrete, between bricks, along sidewalks and such.  That comes from seed already in the ground placed there by GOD (Genesis 1: 11-12). Look up.  Have you thought about the SKY lately?  Ponder this: it is EVERYWHERE. There is not a place on this planet where you cannot see the SKY. In fact with the exception of wind, there is all this creation to see EVERYWHERE, perhaps all at once or some here and some there, but seen nonetheless.The SKY in all this glorious color and display of clouds, sun, the moon, the stars at night, rainbows. WOW!! What must HEAVEN be like?  This is a beautiful thing this SKY.  Have you ever seen a sunset? What about the Dawning of the new day? Have you paid attention to the day- moon? Can you count the differring amount of colors the SKY shows?  Blue is not all there is, look for the purples and the oranges and the various whites, just to mention a few.GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY!!  The rainbows are AWESOME!!! Look for them through the Sun, dark sunglasses bring out this greatness powerfully.  Prepare your neck muscles, because when you catch these sights, you will find yourself looking upward quite a bit.  Shall I say your head will be in clouds. You will probably say what I find myself saying so often, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!! HAIL TO THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE, OF CREATION, OF ALL THINGS!! LET ALL PRAISE ARISE TO THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH!!!. I can't help it, I am sooo in LOVE that I forget myself and get to praising GOD so much that I have to type and praise at the same time and I just can't type that fast. GLORY TO GOD!!  Let the WIND blow on your face and through your soul, it will refresh your spirit. Allow the RAIN to wash the LOVE of GOD beyond your skin and into the HEART where HE is. Request the BRIGHT MORNING STAR  to reside in you and as the SEASONS OF LIFE change, you will discover that you are NEVER ALONE (Hebrews13:5-6).God is LEADING if you allow it,(Deuteronomy 30:19), so do so. You won't go wrong with the CREATOR OF THE WORLD always with you.(Psalm 139:13-18). I love you,  God loves you, and Jesus is Lord!! Be Blessed in This CREATION. Job 38, 39, Psalm 136:4-9

THE MEN

  Men!!I absolutely love this created human species God Almighty made.  When God created this creature, He placed inside him His  Spirit connected to Him in His image, like Him.  That is enough right there to fall in love with a man, because of what he's made of and by who,  but there is more to this wonderful specimen.  God implanted in man His characteristics such as creators, providers leaders, head of the family, strength, tender,mechanical, fierce, task - oriented, warriors,committment keepers,survivors, mighty men of God are a few descriptors that come to mind when I think about them.When I think of their physical characteristics, strong, handsome, muscular are those that jump out right away.God in all His wisdom and knowledge of all things, made this creation to fit perfectly with a woman: all parts fit together as if putting together a puzzle, and I think it is marvelous!!  Let all the women shout AMEN!!!  God has granted me the priviledge to write about THE MEN. I chose 4 of my favorites.  I have many favorites, but these 4 are second to HIMSELF only.  THE MEN...Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon. God spoke directly to each ONE of these MEN.  He had a relationship with them where 2- way conversation took place. He gave each MAN directions as to what He wanted them to accomplish for Him. Directions about how to lead His people. Each MAN  had a few things in common:  They HAD FAITH IN THEIR FATHER, and THEY FELL IN LOVE EVERYDAY with God  and were devoted to Him even while falling down. That is too awesome for words but I am going to try to word this. Help me Holy Spirit!   Moses saw a bush burning but not being consumed and upon further inspection, he realized God was calling him onto the Holy ground and into service (Exodus 3:1-17).  He was called to deliver the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and into freedom (Exodus 12:31-33). His obedience to God caused favor to be on him because he was a wanted murderer in Egypt, but God said go.  Moses is referred to as a MAN God knew face to face(Deuteronomy34:10), but even at that there was a severe consequence for him due to his disobedience to God when he struck the rock after God specifically told him to speak to the rock for the water to be released. As a result Moses wasn't allowed to take this great people into the promised land (Numbers 20:1-13) (Deuteronomy 32:48-52) .  He lead them out triumphantly, but his anger and frustration at God's stubborn, stiffneck people in the wilderness caused him to miss out on the land of milk and honey. He was 120 years old when he died strong as ever (Deuteronomy 34:7). Right here I will speculate that he went to a far greater place and heard the wonderful words "well done my good and faithful servant". Joshua   is by far my MAN. He was called by God upon the death of Moses, his hero,  to lead this people across the Jordan and into the promised land.  No less than 3 times did God command Joshua to be strong and courageous. He knew that it would take the strength and courage of a warrior to accomplish what needed to be done in this new land. I think about the strength and bravery of the mighty MEN (and women)  fighting this battle on foreign soil around this world  to keep and maintain the peace. God told Joshua what would be necessary to be successful: study this Book Of Instruction and Meditate on it day and night (Joshua 1:1-9). Keeping God's Word in our eyes and in our Heart will guarantee success and longevity for all who will believe by faith. So he did as God told him to do and carrying the ARK before them, they crossed the Jordan and into their future. Joshua had much success becaused he fixed his heart and mind to follow God's directions.Jericho's march caused them to utterly destroy an entire nation without breaking much of a sweat (Joshua 6). As well there was disobedience in the camp and it brought  a consequence onto the people of Israel, although it was not Joshua who disobeyed God.  This sin caused a broken covenant with God that was soon renewed when the sin was revealed and who caused it (Joshua 7:11-12,24-26). Joshua settled the issue and fixed his heart when he stated "..as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15). Let all  the 21st century heads of households say AMEN!!! Joshua was 110 years old @death (Joshua 24:29).  David excites me beyond all reason. He was the youngest of Jesse's son and the shepherd of the bunch. Watching his father's sheep out in the wilderness, what else could he do but sing love songs to God. So he did. Many of the Psalms were written while out in the wilderness tending the sheep, fighting off the bear and the lion. Protector.  The Bible describes him as handsome , dark (tanned perhaps) with beautiful eyes (1Samuel 16:11-13 nlt).  He was anointed King as a boy, but his love and reverential fear and devotion to God was developed in the wilderness, under the stars tending sheep, FALLING IN LOVE EVERYDAY, playing that harp, singing LOVE to God, talking bout the LORD is my shepherd (Psalm23), taking delight and meditating day and night (Psalm1), extoling the Heavens and the works of God's  fingers creating all things, the moon, the stars, and such (Psalm8:3), just to highlight a few. Sounds like he had intimacy with God as a youth and God responded to him sending Samuel to find him, anoint him. Read some or all of the Psalms David wrote and you can tell he wanted it known God was all and all.GLORY!!!  He had wisdom to kill Goliath (1Samuel 17: 45-51), not strength this time. He became King of all Israel @ the age of 30  ruling 40 years.(2Samuel 5:1-5). His disobedience and sin had severe consequences as well with the death of his child he concieved with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife(2Samuel 11:1-27) and  his own household rebeling against him (2Samuel 12: 1-23). He confessed his sin and repented revealing a repentant heart in Psalm 51.  God is so forgiving and merciful, and He stayed the angels hand and kept Jerusalem from being utterly destroyed after David committed a later sin, which he repented of and God's mercy endured, sparing this nation yet again (2Samuel 24:10-16). He was a great King and he died and was buried in the city of David, named for him to this day.  He wasn't perfect, by far, but devoted to God he was.  Solomon was his son by Bathsheba and he became the next king.  He was honest in that he declared himself to be but a child , chosen to lead this nation and that he needed wisdom and guidance to do so. He asked God for this wisdom to lead and knowledge of right and wrong.  God heard this prayer and answered him granting him his request and God added wealth and riches to him (1Kings 3:3-15).  He was selected to build the TEMPLE 480 years after this nation left slavery in Egypt (1Kings 6:1).  Constructed with the finest of materials , it was a glorious place and after the ARK was brought in it was dedicated and all PRAISED God in this Holy place. HALLELUJAH!!!  God was well pleased and set it apart, vowing to watch over it and dwell in it.  He promised Solomon one of his descendants would always sit on the throne (1Kings 9:1-7). God instructed Solomon on what to do if the Heavens were shut up with no rain falling,or a FAMINE CAME UPON THE LAND or plagues were among the people (2Chronicles 7:12-18). Disobedience could bring these consequences (Deuteronomy 28: 15-68).  His mercy lasts forever.  These MEN demonstrated through obedience and devotion to God the call and assignment God gave them  THE POWER OF ONE. Their Love and committment to God carried them through a long satisfied life and reign (Psalm 91:16) as leaders, warriors, kings, mighty men of God.  Allow your love and devotion for God AlMighty to shine!!   THE MEN!!   THE MEN!!!(I had to say it twice). What an awesome creation!!!   Thank you God!!  You have blessed us to be able to share the planet with them.  I love you, God loves you and Jesus is LORD!! ! Proverbs 2.

FALL IN LOVE EVERYDAY

Do you remember the first time you fell in LOVE? It may have been a while ago or the other day,  remember?   Remember the feelings and the emotions that came with it. How you thought about the person all the time. Wanted to see them all the time, be with them night and day. Couldn't eat or sleep until they were there or you heard their voice again. Remember?  You always wanted to talk to them on the phone (mainly breathing not much talking). You thought they  were the most beautiful/handsome person you ever saw. You would demonstrate your love by doing things such as holding hands,opening doors(gentlemen), sitting close,  k-i-s-s-i-n-g, carrying books, sharing lockers, passing notes, (students), doing things together such as homework, going to sporting events, recreational stuff, picnics,  love- ins (my favorite). Remember?  Doing nice things  that say "I love you" for eachother. Remember? I can remember my former spouse doing laundry for me at a particular time when I wasn't up to it and I thought that was so special. This was in the 1980's a much different time than now. How about the times you enjoyed your favorite movie, or song(s), or even singer(s). I remember  one of our favorite songs back in the day was  FIRE AND DESIRE by the late great Rick James and Teena Marie. Remember that one ? It would 'send' me.  Also songs called REUNITED, ALL  OUT OF LOVE (Air Supply), LOST IN LOVE. Singers that brought the house down were artist like The Ojays, The Bee Gees, L.T.D., The Spinners, Earth Wind and Fire, Billy Ocean. Remember?  How bout the movies, I love First Knight.  Endless Love . Just to name a few.  All these bring back memories of falling in LOVE for the first time. I have been praying about LOVE and the Glorious Holy Spirit dropped in my heart that we should fall in LOVE everyday!! With a LOVE like the LOVER that LOVES us why not? He is so  GOOD to us as Psalm 107:1-2 states His  mercy endureth forever and we have been redeemed  or bought us with a price that no other could pay. That sounds a lot like He LOVES us  and is GOOD to us. Verses 31-33 says that "Oh that men would praise The LORD for HIS goodness, exalt HIM in the congregations of people', HE turns dry places into watersprings and is ours, from the LOVER HIMSELF. His presence is always with us no matter where we are , how we got there, whatever. (Psalm 139 :7-13)  Fix your heart on the ONE who does GOOD things for us (Psalm 107: 20-21,41),(Psalm 91:11,4:7, 16: 11). That is what the ONE who LOVES you does for you. Your first emotional LOVE from back then did nice things for you, and so we now have a LOVER that is forever and eternal and we can expect GOOD things from HIM more so. When we cry out to HIM, call to HIM, HE hears us (Psalm 107: 13-14, 26-30, 91:15). Try it!! Call to HIM in your distress or any area: sickness,desperation, whatever it may be call to HIM in FAITH and watch HIM perform HIS WORD!!  HE'S in LOVE with us  and nothing can stop that or cause it to be uprooted. It is firm as a foundation that can not be destroyed.  (Psalm 107: 43,) (Romans 8:35-39), (1John 4:8-11). The LOVE BOOK says that Christ may dwell in our hearts by FAITH and that we being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may be able to comprehend how wide, long, deep, and high, HIS LOVE is towards us. (Ephesians2:16-19). Hallelujah!!! This is so much more profound than any first LOVE. It takes my breath away when I think about this AWESOME LOVE all for me !!! BLESSED BE THE NAME OF GOD!! UNTO HIM BE ALL THE GLORY!!! I can feel my praise coming on and it is uncontainable.  When I think about the LOVE GOD has for me and the things HE has done for me, I can't help it I shout GLORY, GLORY,!!!!! He satisfies me with such good things in HIM,(Psalm 107:9, 91: 16). It feels like Easter everyday in my heart. Shouting Praises to My LORD!!  GLORY TO GOD!!! Fall in LOVE everyday. It's wonderful!!  He said to LOVE as I  have LOVED you (John 13:34) and HE has LOVED me tremendously. Let me suggest to you my FAITHFUL friend, FALL  IN LOVE EVERYDAY. You will experience OVERFLOW JOY.  That is JESUS JOY that is amped up at all times. Try it!!! BE BLESSED OF GOD!!! I LOVE YOU, GOD LOVES YOU and HE IS LORD!!! Ephesians 2 (4-13)...

JOHN --- THE DISCIPLE JESUS LOVED

The men Jesus called to follow Him were such a diverse group of individuals each with their strengths and weaknesses and such. Jesus simply said to each "follow Me" and they left whatever they were doing at that moment and followed Him. Their Destiny began the amazing journey that would forever mark a New Testement into what Life is really all for. Somehow these men knew that when Jesus (whom they didn't know about yet) called for them to "follow Him" without thought, question(where we going? comes to mind here) or hesitation they responded. Right here I am sensing in my spirit - man that The Holy Spirit had to have pricked their hearts, causing them to act, although this 3rd member of The Trinity had not yet come. Glory to God!! So they each decided to leave and go where no man has gone before. Walking along side God Himself in the form of man among us( Matthew 1:23).Glory!! How else could they know?  Extraordinary---for lack....  But for this posting, I am called to write about one Disciple in particular and that is John. The son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21), brother to James (not Jesus' brother by mother Mary.)and the Disciple Jesus Loved. That is were ministry is and I shall endeavor to take this message The Spirit of The Lord put inside my heart and write about it. The Disciple Jesus loved?  Of course He loved them all, but this Disciple is repeatedly referred to as The ONE Jesus loved.  Jesus himself said so when up on the cross He gave His precious mother to this Disciple (John 19:26-27nlt). As I studied John, I have discovered some things about him that stand out and display his love and devotion to the Savior. John and his brother James asked Jesus for the priviledge to sit with Him at his right and left hand in Glory (Mark 10:35-40). This sounds like they were saying wherever you are Jesus we want to be there as well, even in this place of Glory You speak of.  Hallelujah!! I believe that when Jesus prayed His High Priestly prayer (John 17) shortly before the betrayal,perhaps in the Garden of Gesemane(?) John was the Disciple who heard it word for word and that each Disciple couldn't keep their eyes open, but John couldn't close his. He couldn't take his eyes off of Jesus at any time, the love he had for Jesus was all too powerful and consuming. The prayer starts out by saying " After saying these things, Jesus lifted up His eyes to Heaven and said"....(John 17:1 kjv). This statement is so telling, because John would have to have his eyes on Jesus' eyes to know that He lifted them up to Heaven. The others couldn't keep theirs open but again John couldn't close his. Glory!!! Love does strange things at times.  He heard this Prayer that The Savior of the world prayed for us at a time when He knew what was to come momentarily. Right here I can say that My Lord and Savior had me and you on His mind when He prayed this powerful prayer. He interceded to The FATHER for us as his betrayal was soon approaching. He prayed for us!! Not Himself, us!! Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!! Glory to our God !!! What a Lover this Is !! Read and meditate the prayer and ask God to open your spiritual eyes and allow you to see the Love oozing from such an act of GRACE. John was a witness and his cup overflowed. I can say that it is overwhelming, this Love God has for us, imagine the disciples walking with LOVE in the FLESH. John was overcome so much so that he laid on Jesus' bosom at The Passover Supper.(John 13:23,25 kjv).  Not content with a close encounter, he wanted total body touching as he asked who the betrayer would be. Just imagine yourself laying on Jesus chest, not wanting to move ever again. Hallelujah!! John had this experience. How awesome could this have been for Him?   When the Disciples were again fishing after Jesus' resurrection it was the Disciple Jesus loved who recognized Him when He said to them to throw their nets on the right hand side of the boat (John 21:7). Jesus indicated that the Disciple He loved would live longer than the others ( John 21:20-23) . Perhaps that is why John is the Disciple that writes a good bit of the book of Revelation.  He out ran Peter  when Mary Magdalene found the tomb empty and she thought that they had stolen the body of Jesus, she came and told them and John's heart propelled him to reach the scene first.(John 20:1-10).  He didn't go in first although he outran Peter and reached the tomb first. Speculation right here tells me that he was overwhelmed or protocol dictated that the lead Disciple go first. Or he needed to catch his breath and perhaps prepare his heart for what was to come next. He was in love afterall. What ever or whichever these this is speculation and the Bible doesn't say. God chose John to write Revelation and speak to the 7 churches directly from Jesus (THE FAITHFUL WITNESS) by way of an angel He sent to John.( Revelation1:4-5). He  was allowed to see the New Heaven and The New Earth, The Holy City, New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven, a beautiful Bride ready for her Husband ( Revelation 21:1-2).  GLORY TO GOD!!  Holy! Holy! Holy!! I can't say any thing but Holy!  John. What a testement to the Love of God. Jesus saw something in John that caused him to respond to him differently than the others. He loved each one,  Peter was the rock He would build the Church upon (Matthew 16:17-19). He spoke blessings over each ONE.  But ONE stood out and above the rest and as a result, he revealed the Plan  Jesus spoke to Him about in Revelation. I choose to believe it is a heart issue. Jesus looks upon the heart and what He saw in John's heart cause Him to move in Him powerfully, Glory! Remember my friend, God looks upon the HEART of man and sees much. What does your Heart speak? It is talking to THE CREATOR that created it whether you know it or not. Be Blessed  of God !!  I love you,  Jesus loves you and He is Lord!! John21:24-25.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - LOVE, JOY, PEACE.

Most of the time I have found it an easy thing to walk in the Spirit. Here lately with all the situations, circumstances, events,occurrances, and such, that have come up in my everyday life, I found it necessary to do a check. I lovingly refer to it as a fruit - bowl check. To see if all the fruit are there bearing witness that I am a reborn spirit. Not that I am questioning the FACTS but as I said recent events have made me suspicious. I will admit that I have said more 4 - letter words in the month of May than I have in quite some time.( I know what you are probably thinking, )but I am honest if nothing else. The words "I'm sorry Lord", or "Forgiver me God", became a part of my daily vocabulary,much more than normal. So as I type I stand before you reader, a perpetual repentant spirit ever seeking to walk in the Spirit.  So I went to The Love Letter and into the Fruit of The Spirit chapter in Galatians 5:22-23kjv (although 24-26 I will also check). Love, joy, peace longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: the Bible says these are the evidence that your spirit man has been reborn, and there is no law to govern these. I am so much like Paul in the Bible that it is amazing.When he talks about sin in Romans 7, I can certainly relate to verses 14 - 25nlt. Sounds like the sinful nature comes out at times,  and inspite of WANTING to walk in the Spirit at all times,  there will be those times when I will stumble,  what about you? Thank God for His amazing GRACE and the new MERCY He gives everyday,  cause I for one KNOW I have used up yesterday's mercy, probably before noon. The Fruit Of The Spirit is what I want to focus on , particularily the first 3: love, joy, peace.  The Bible talks about Love's attributes and in 1 Corinthians 13(the love book)   it states that love is patient(one of the fruit) and kind and how we are commanded to love others especially the ones I refer to as unloveable. You may know the type, they are also refered to as enemies, we have to love them as well. I can feel the 4 - letter words come to mind when I think of mine.(Help me Holy Spirit). I am a work in progress. But we are to love them as well. I will need help with this one, but it is do - able. God is Faithful. Love is easy when it is returned and given to those who love us, but it becomes an olympic size challenge when given to an enemy.  I have discovered that I have to step outside myself to accomplish this. I would like to claim responsibility for that statement, but I heard my daughter say it when she was asked to do something she thought was unpleasant, but necessary. I give it to God and then allow Him to walk me through the mine-field step by step, and it works, Glory!!! Joy is my favorite fruit because it can be so deep. By that, I mean, for me through all that occurs, Nehemiah 8: 10 is still true: ....the joy of the Lord is my strength. I need strength every day and it comes as I spend time in praise and worship (Psalm 35:27) (Philemon 1:20kjv). The Love Book says I can obtain gladness and Joy and sorrow and sighing(frustration) shall flee away ( Isaiah 35:10kjv). That sounds wonderful to me and I shall stand on this WORD.  Joy must be a powerful fruit cause Jesus,  my Lord and Savior,  endured the cross,because of the Joy that was set before Him.(Hebrews 12: 2). GLORY TO GOD!!!  He knew what was awaiting Him on the other side, Praise God!!  Peace is a fruit that we shouldn't want to live without.  Peace in relation to this war torn world we reside in yes, but it can and is deeper, more firmly established than that. The Bible says that The Lord will fight for us (those who claim Christ as Savior) we can hold our peace( Exodus 14:14). I have recently experienced this myself having gone into a battle that God fought for me and WON, Praises!!!! I stand in awe of my Heavenly Father and His Fierceness on this girls behalf. He is my JEHOVAH NISSI  and SABAOTH  my victory and my deliverer, PRAISE GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!!! Jesus said in John 14: 27nlt  that He is leaving us a Gift and it is His peace, much different than the world's peace (thank God)  it is peace of mind and peace  in heart. When all else around is in turmoil, Jesus peace rules in your heart if you accept Him. Glory!! He said we can have peace IN HIM( John16: 33nlt) while here on earth there will be many trials and sorrows. I know about that. Thank you Jesus for Peace, Your Peace.  The Bible talks about our feet being shod with the preperation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians6 ;15kjv). Sounds abit like walking in peace at all cost. Paul talked about preaching peace to those who were near and far away, perhaps believers and unbelievers (Ephesians2:17kjv). I love the Peace of God that passeth all understanding Paul talked about in Philippians 4:7kjv.It shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Isn't that Good News?  I am typing and rejoicing in my heart for this amazing gift of Peace that keeps me. I have experienced this as well and more so in light of recent occurances in my life. I would have lost it if it had not been for God and His MERCY for His girl.(Luke 7:50, Luke 8:48kjv).  I can say that as I walk this walk down here,God 's promise to never leave me alone  is solid ground for me. He has shown time and again even in all the fall down,stumbling around I do daily, He has shown me that He still loves me and forgives me each and every time, I ask. He is not mad at me or holding a grudge against me. What kind of Love is that? I love that each time Jesus greeted the discilpes after his Passion, He said to them "Peace Be unto You", John 20: 19, 21, 26. He had that purpose in mind for them and for us as we live for Him.  Love, Joy, Peace all seem to intermingle with each other and are each needed to support or substantiate the others.  Glory to God!! The rest of Galatians 5:24-26 we  can't leave that out.Since I belong to Christ I must nail the sinful desires to the cross and trust God to help me when I miss it or fall down. I do rely on God for that cause I am dirt - bound daily. Falling happens. I shall get back up again and again. It is imposssible with out Christ at the helm, but He is in charge , so all things are possible with Him. So I shall close saying walk in  the Love of God my friend, Allow the Joy of the Lord to strengthen you, and Peace unto you. I love you! God loves you!!! Job 42.