Thursday, December 25, 2025

💥 Podcast: Keeping ourselves ready for the return of Jesus

 
 
 
(This podcast was previously published on February 2, 2021)
 
No one knows the exact day or hour that Jesus will return.  But Peter tells us we must be ready continually for Jesus' return.

2 Peter 3:10-14   But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Throughout each day of our lives on this present earth we must live in peace, without spot and blameless.

How we can do that?  

(Discussed on this Podcast.)

*****

The first thing we should do is meditate on 2 Peter 3:14 until it becomes real in our daily lives that it causes us to conform our actions on this earth to living this scripture and allowing it to rule over that which we do throughout each day.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.

***

We must come to understand that this world and the things of this world are "temporary".  And we must learn that our kingdom is not of this world.  

Everything that we can see with our natural eye will be destroyed by God at the end of this world.

The only way we can live continually, daily in peace is by doing the following scripture:

Philippians 4:6-7   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (The Word).

This means when trouble comes, call on God for help.

When there is any concern at all, turn to God in prayer and let your request be made unto God.

If we have any dread about tomorrow, stop and pray to God.

***

Jesus says:

Luke 21

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but MY words shall not pass away.

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (over indulgence), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Watch:

Be careful about how you are living each day.  If you become angry with someone, turn to God immediately.  Ask God to help you.  Let God settle you quickly.  Let not the sun go down on your wrath.

Do not follow thoughts of devils.  For he comes to steal, to kill, to destroy.  Be sure the ideas you follow are from God.

James 3:17   But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

***

Recently I stumbled into someone's sins.  It wasn't until I finished talking by phone with this person that I realized what I had done.  I also opened the door myself for trouble by sending him a "friendly" email.  He called me and began discussing his adult aged children with me.  

After I finished the phone call, I felt a little strange.  All through the phone call I kept holding back from wishing the son and daughter well.  It was like the Spirit of God was stopping me.  Then after the phone call I realized this man's son has been committing fornication for at least 3 years with a girlfriend.  These people identify themselves as Catholic.  I did not warn them about fornication.  The Holy Spirit did not bring the subject of fornication into my mind so I think the door on that subject must be closed by God.  

(About 20 years ago, I spoke to this man concerning the sin of fornication which he was committing with his girlfriend when his two children were approximately 9 and 13 years old.  His life is a tragedy.  His wife was a lesbian and it is my understanding that she left with her "lover" and he raised his two children.)

I did repent and ask God to forgive me two days later when I realized what had happened.  I was very sorry for opening the door by sending that friendly email.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

***

We can lose reward in heaven by being friendly or by wishing evil doers well.

II John

8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

***

One good thing that did come forth as I spoke to this man:

He inquired about Pam Padgett and he said how glad he was I was living with Pam.  

I replied:  "It's wonderful because Pam is a very godly person and she doesn't trouble me.  When there is a problem Pam prays, and when she hears from God, she does what God says and that problem is taken care of through what God tells her to do.  Then after God has shown her what to do, she might tell me so I can also delight in what God has said to her."

It is possible that this information pricked this man's heart for he had just been telling me his problems,

We must be diligent to "watch ourselves", what we are doing.  The people are often doing things that are unthinkable to godly people, even when they are attending a church.

***

A few months ago, God gave me a dream.  Some very dirty cats kept getting in my house.  I would get them out of my house only to find they were back in my house.  God showed me I was opening the door to them by being friendly.  

We "invite" people into our lives by our friendly emails or phone calls.  Then we wish evil doers well in their fornication with their "girl friends" and in their denial of God as they cast aside scripture.  (Often they attend some church while doing these sins.)

Then we wish them well as we make "friendly" inquiries about their godless children who are doing godless things.  And as we make inquiries, we open doors for the stories of their filthy way of life and the filthy way of life of their children.  Then we are troubled.  Often we have brought their trouble on ourselves.

We must stop doing this if we desire to serve God and hope for a full reward from God.

We can repent and be forgiven and be careful in future concerning opening doors for evil doers in churches to tell us their sins and to tell us of the sins of their own children, making us a part of the sin. 

I Timothy 5:22  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. 

Thus Jesus says "Watch yourselves, what you do."  (Luke 21:36)

And if we do choose to hear of their evil, usually the Holy Spirit will have us correct them, speaking to them the way of life.

In this case, the Holy Spirit did not have me bring correction to this man but after the phone call, the Holy Spirit showed me that I had opened the door for evil to come into my own life and I repented and asked for God to forgive me.

Hopefully I will be more alert as to what I am doing as I go forward.  (I usually am alert and avoid the evil that can come from people through my questions about their lives.  But this time I slipped.)

Proverbs 10:19   In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

***

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Let God be our Lord by turning to HIM rather than to other people.

***

James 3

14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

***

Matthew 11  Jesus says:

29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Pray:

Be connected throughout the day with God through prayer.

Prayer is the only way we connect with God, for as we take each concern to God in prayer and hear from God and do what God says, making ourselves worthy to escape that which is coming upon this present world.

Jesus says the following to the church:

Revelation 3:5   He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

We "overcome" as we seek the will of God in the midst of the problem and hear from God and follow what God says to do.  By this, we connect ourselves to God.


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💥 Scriptures:

 
Psalm 22:22-23   I will declare THY name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise THEE.

23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise HIM; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify HIM; and fear HIM, all ye the seed of Israel.
 
*** 
 
Psalm 90:12   So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
 
 ***
 
Psalm 128:1-2   Blessed is every one that feareth The Lord (the Word); that walketh in HIS ways. 
 
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

*** 

Proverbs 28:23  He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

rebuke: correct; express sharp disapproval because of behavior or actions:
 
 ***
 
Job 5:17-18  Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

18 For HE maketh sore, and bindeth up: HE woundeth, and HIS hands make whole.
 
*** 
 
2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
 
 
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💥 Mark 9 (Reading through the Bible)


1 And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

(The kingdom of God came when God resurrected Jesus from the dead after the crucifixion ... from then on it was the NT church with Jesus seated on right hand of God interceding for us.)


2 And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and HE was transfigured before them. 3 And HIS raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

 6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is MY beloved Son: hear HIM. (The Word)

 8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

 9 And as they came down from the mountain, HE charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

 11 And they asked HIM, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

 12 And HE answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that HE must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

 13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

 14 And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

 15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld HIM, were greatly amazed, and running to HIM saluted HIM.

 16 And HE asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

 17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to THY disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

 19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

 20 And they brought him unto Him: and when He saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

 21 And HE asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?

And he said, Of a child.

 22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if THOU canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

 (The goal of devils is to destroy us.  They bring thoughts to our minds and if we follow thoughts of devils, we will go in evil ways or in destructive ways for devils want to destroy.)
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

 (Devils might depart for a season only to return with greater vengeance and greater destruction.)

 26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

 28 And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

 29 And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

 30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and HE would not that any man should know it. 

31 For HE taught HIS disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill HIM; and after that HE is killed, HE shall rise the third day.

 32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask HIM.

 33 And HE came to Capernaum: and being in the house HE asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

 35 And HE sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

 36 And HE took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when HE had taken him in HIS arms, HE said unto them,
37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in MY name, receiveth ME: and whosoever shall receive ME, receiveth not ME, but HIM that sent ME.

 38 And John answered HIM, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in THY name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in MY name, that can lightly speak evil of ME.
40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in MY name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

 42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in ME, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

 49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it?

Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

 (Salt brings out the flavor of the food.  Words in ourselves from the Holy Spirit can bring out the flavor of the situation. I cannot have peace with those in the church when they are disobedient to the wisdom from God.  I put them away from me and no longer try to "eat" with them.  I can have great peace with those in the church who follow God continually.)

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Wednesday, December 24, 2025

💥 Podcast: Be not overcome by the cares of this world

 

 
(This podcast was previously published on February 4, 2021)
 
Jesus says, concerning the end times:

Luke 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (over indulgence), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

On January 6, 2021, we watched a crowd of people storm the USA Capitol building in an attempt to overthrow the 2020 USA presidential elections.

I'm sure none of us in USA have ever experienced anything like this before in our lifetimes.

After the event, 10 USA republican congress members voted to impeach President Trump for inciting the riot which we all watched on television.

This really caught my attention for everyone heard the words spoken by President Trump before the riot and we heard him send the crowd to the capitol and Mr. Trump even told the crowd to go, and "he would be there with them,"  but he wasn't.

A few days later, CNN reported that the republicans were trying to cause those 10 who voted against Trump to suffer loss for the way they voted.

I was sad and grieved over their suffering.

I took on a care of this world.

Jesus warned us not to be "overcharged" with cares of this life.  (Luke 21:34)

When I read this scripture, I repented for allowing myself to become so involved in this world, and I prayed, asking God to please help those 10 men and women who were being hurt by their own political party for doing that which they believed to be right and reasonable.

I even began to feel democracy itself was in danger.

But then I realized this entire heaven and earth will be destroyed, and governments of men along with the heavens and earth.  And I began to get a grip on myself and on Biblical reality.

II Peter 3

10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.

***

I've always considered myself to be non-political, I am not registered in either political party in USA, and I do not vote for governments of men.

But for one very brief time, I knew what it was to care.  And it could have destroyed me except I turned to God for HIM to restore me.

This is what the truly godly people were like in the Bible:

Hebrews 11

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

(mindful:  having a mind filled with that)

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for HE hath prepared for them a city.

The apostle Peter in the Bible tells us to be diligent to be found by Jesus when HE returns, living in peace, without spot and without blame.  (II Peter 3:14)

Keeping ourselves in a state of peace even in the midst of that which is being done around us is the way we are to live and we can do that only through prayer.

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

***

I Timothy 2:1-2   I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.


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💥 Scriptures:

 
2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 
 
*** 
 
Ephesians 4:31-32  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. 
 
 ***
 
Hebrews 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 
 
*** 
 
Proverbs 27:18  Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.  
 
 ***

Psalms 20:6  Now know I that the LORD saveth HIS anointed; HE will hear him from HIS holy heaven with the saving strength of HIS right hand.
 
*** 
 
Philippians 2:1-4  (the Apostle Paul said)  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 
 
 ***
 
1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon HIM; for HE careth for you.
  
 
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💥 Mark 8 (Reading through the Bible)


1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples unto Him, and saith unto them,

2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with Me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

 4 And His disciples answered Him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

 (God satisfied the children of Israel in the wilderness when HE brought them out of Egypt.  When HIS disciples said above statement, they had not yet been given the Holy Spirit.  They spoke with natural minds of thinking of men.) 

 5 And He asked them, How many loaves have ye?

And they said, Seven.

 6 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.

 7 And they had a few small fishes: and He blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

 8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and He sent them away.

 10 And straightway He entered into a ship with His disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

 11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with Him, seeking of Him a sign from heaven, tempting Him.

 12 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.

 13 And He left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

 15 And He charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

 17 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?

 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 

19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?

They say unto Him, Twelve.

 20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?

And they said, Seven.

 21 And He said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

 22 And He cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto Him, and besought Him to touch him. 

23 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.

 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

 25 After that He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

 26 And He sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

 27 And Jesus went out, and His disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way He asked His disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

 28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

 29 And He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Peter answereth and saith unto Him, Thou art the Christ.

 30 And He charged them that they should tell no man of Him.

 31 And He began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

 32 And He spake that saying openly.

And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him.

 33 But when He had turned about and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind Me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

 34 And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

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Tuesday, December 23, 2025

💥 Podcast: Overcoming and obtaining victory through God

 

 
(This podcast was previously published on January 29, 2021)
 
From the time I was born again in 1975, God taught me to come to HIM in prayer over each problem of this life and to depend on HIM to give me the Word to deal with the problem.  Then I could stand on that Word or use that Word to give me information to know what to do in the situation of this present life.  This never fails!  

Jesus says:  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before MY Father, and before HIS angels. (Revelation 3:5)

I attended a Faith Movement church, Word of Faith, from 1977-1982, and they taught people to hunt a scripture and to stand on that scripture.  

(I never heard anyone at Word of Faith say we should turn to God and ask God "HIS will" in the matter at hand.)

But I was taught by God to turn to HIM when I had a problem.  Then God would bring to me a scripture or a concept and I "stood" on that which God brought to me.

If we hunt a scripture and stand on that scripture we are trying to "be God".  That is antichrist.

There is a subtle difference between hunting a scripture and turning to God for help.

In one case you are doing everything without actually turning to God, thus being your own God by trying to find a scripture which fits your problem.

In the other case you are turning to God for help and depending on God.

In hunting a scripture you depend on yourself.  

In the other case you depend on God and your faith is in God.

I didn't see the difference between what I was doing and what they were teaching at Word of Faith until I left Word of Faith and God showed me the difference. 

In 1982, God brought me out of Word of Faith church by giving me a dream.  Then God showed me the difference between overcoming through God and trying to have faith apart from God.

Jesus says:  (Ye) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of ME.   And ye will not come to ME, that ye might have life.  (John 5:39-40)

Romans 10:17   So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

(Examples in this Podcast)

*****

After God showed me the difference between the doctrine of finding a scripture without turning to God, and turning to God for HIS help, I saw they, at Word of Faith, were doing something very different from that which God had taught me to do.

I said to my Bible teacher at Word of Faith, "I didn't know I was different from those people at Word of Faith."

Our Bible teacher said to me:  "Joan, you were never like anyone at Word of Faith.  They talk about faith, but you live faith."

Our teacher said this to me in 1982.  In 2021, I still live by turning to God and letting HIM show me what to do when there is a problem.

No other way is safe.  But when we trust God by turning to God in prayer and by waiting on HIM to reveal to us what to do, it is always safe.  God knows future and HE will take you in a way that works as events come upon this earth.

We build our faith on that Word which is revealed to us by God by HIS Spirit.

Romans 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
 
 
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💥 Scriptures:

 
Psalms 92:4-8  For THOU, LORD, hast made me glad through THY work: I will triumph in the works of THY hands.

5 O LORD, how great are THY works! and THY thoughts are very deep.

6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:

8 But THOU, LORD, art most high for evermore.
 
*** 
 
John 5:30  (Jesus said)  I can of MINE own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and MY judgment is just; because I seek not MINE own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent ME.
 
*** 
 
Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus says) Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take MY yoke upon you, and learn of ME; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light.
 
 ***
 
James 1:5-6  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. 
 
 ***
 
James 1:17   Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
 
 
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💥 Mark 7 (Reading through the Bible)

  
1 Then came together unto HIM the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
 
2 And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

 6 HE  answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

 9 And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

 14 And when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

 17 And when He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.
18 And He saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

 20 And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

 24 And from thence He arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but He could not be hid.

 25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet:
26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought Him that He would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

 27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

 28 And she answered and said unto Him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

 29 And He said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

 30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

 31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, He came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
32 And they bring unto Him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech Him to put His hand upon him.

 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers into his ears, and He spit, and touched his tongue;
34 And looking up to heaven, He sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

 36 And He charged them that they should tell no man: but the more He charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.


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Monday, December 22, 2025

💥 Do all things without murmurings and disputings

 
Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ
 
Recently I was complaining about something. I don't remember what it was but, as I was doing this, I heard the following scripture...

Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  Philippians 2:14

Murmur - to complain or grumble

Hearing this immediately stopped me. I had no idea I was doing this! But since hearing this scripture and thinking about it on a daily basis, I find that I am much more aware of the times I start complaining or am about to start.

Because I want to please God, having this brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit, has been so helpful in pulling me back from this particular sin, turning me to God for help with the situation, instead of complaining, and often simply reminding me that complaining is a sin.

And it is like this for every person who has been given the Holy Spirit, making us the children of God. We belong to HIM and HE guides us and teaches us, in the ways that please HIM, for the remainder of our days on this earth.

Philippians 2:14-15  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
 
 
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💥 Podcast: Child abuse in religious settings

 

 
(This podcast was previously published on January 28, 2021) 
 
At no place in the Bible does God mention the sin of child abuse.  Why?  I believe this is because all humans know this is evil.  I believe the Holy Spirit put it in all humans that child abuse is a great evil.  Thus if we resist the Holy Spirit it would be an unpardonable sin, a sin against the Holy Spirit.  I believe this is what we see in child abuse in the Catholic church, an unpardonable sin among those men they call "priests".

Matthew 12:31  Jesus says:  Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

One thing I do know, we must judge the church (not the world).  I Corinthians 5:11

The people in the churches often want to judge the world but the apostle Paul explains this to us in I Corinthians 5 that we must judge the church.

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without (without the church)? do not ye judge them that are within? (You are to judge within, within the church) But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
 
Are there different levels of sin?  Yes.  Look at the following scriptures:

I Corinthians 6:18   Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Matthew 23:14  Jesus says  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

How can any group calling itself a church try to cover up child abuse?

And why is child abuse so rampant in the Catholic church?

They set up a rule forbidding their "priests" to marry, but that rule is opposite from the rules concerning ministers as spoken by the apostle Paul in the Bible.  By doing this the Catholics set up a natural haven for perverts. 

If our foundation is anything but the Bible, we set ourselves up for a great fall.

*****

Matthew 7  Jesus says:

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

***

The example we have in the New Testament Bible is the following:  The apostle Peter was married and had children.

Matthew 8:14-15   And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, HE saw his (Peter's) wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.  And HE (Jesus) touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

So we know the apostle Peter had a wife.

Peter also had multiple children for in the Bible Peter tells us he is an elder (also called bishop).

Here is a requirement for an elder (bishop) in the church.

Titus 1:6-9   If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.  For a bishop (elder) must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Whoever set up the Catholic church, said their ministers could not marry.

By doing this they violated the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament for the church and by doing this set up a type of haven for perverts among their ministers.

For many decades Catholic priests have abused children and other Catholic hierarchy have covered up for these child abusers in their church, often transferring these abominable child abusers to another city and another Catholic church. 

And there is no such thing as a "priest" as a minister in the New Testament church.  Jesus set up ministers as follows:

Ephesians 4:11-12   And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

If you change any part of the New Testament Bible, you bring upon yourselves damnation.


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💥 Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 15:55, 57   O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
 

John 14:18-19  I (Jesus the Word) will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
 
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth ME no more; but ye see ME: because I live, ye shall live also.
 
 ***
 
John 17:13  (Jesus said)  And now come I to THEE (the Father); and these things I speak in the world, that they might have MY joy fulfilled in themselves.
 
 ***
 
Psalm 62:8  Trust in HIM at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before HIM: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
 
*** 
 
Micah 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
 
*** 
 
Ephesians 6:13-18  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
 
***
 
Hebrews 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
 
 
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💥 Mark 6 (Reading through the Bible)

 
1 And HE went out from thence, and came into HIS own country; and HIS disciples follow HIM.

2 And when the sabbath day was come, HE began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands?  3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him.

 4 But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

 5 And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
6 And He marvelled because of their unbelief.

And He went round about the villages, teaching.

 7 And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

 10 And He said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

 12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

 13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

 14 And king Herod heard of Him; (for His name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

 15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

 16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

 30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

 31 And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

 32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

 33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew Him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto Him.

 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things.

 35 And when the day was now far spent, His disciples came unto Him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

 37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat.

And they say unto Him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

 38 HE saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see.

And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

 39 And HE commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

 41 And when HE had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, HE looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided He among them all.

 42 And they did all eat, and were filled.

 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

 44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

 45 And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while He sent away the people.

 46 And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray.

 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone on the land.

 48 And He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night He cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

 49 But when they saw Him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

 50 For they all saw Him, and were troubled.

And immediately He talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

 51 And He went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

 53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew Him,  55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard HE was.

 56 And whithersoever HE entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought HIM that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment: and as many as touched Him were made whole.

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