Wednesday, August 31, 2022

πŸ’₯ Jesus says: If you continue in MY word ...

 
John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on HIM, If ye continue in MY word, then are ye MY disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

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To continue in Jesus' Word, means:  To do HIS Word and to keep on doing HIS Word.

Romans 12:2   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Renew our mind:  especially to the Word of the New Testament Bible, doing that Word.
 

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Podcast: God is our shield, our protection, our light, and our strength

 
 
 
 
Psalm 21

11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

12 Therefore shalt THOU make them turn their back,

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God protects us and at the time we don't even know they intend evil against us.

I've had this happen at least twice when they intended evil against me and God turned it and turned them back and made their intention work for good in my life.

Explained on this podcast:

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Tuesday, August 30, 2022

πŸ’₯ Money

 
Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (The Word).

God will bring us a WORD and by that WORD we know what to do.  And when we follow that WORD, often our need is met by that WORD.

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Sometimes God will put an interest into our heart and we find we can't turn from that interest.

When I owned a small business in 1975, I went to buy merchandise for my shop.  (American Indian Arts)  Primarily we sold jewelry.  But on one buying trip, I saw a Navajo rug and just couldn't pass it by.  It cost $500.  I bought it and took it to a rug appraiser and she said:  "You've really lucked out.  Usually these old rugs are worthless.  But this is a good rug.  It is worth at least $1500, but you should not sell it because it will go up in value.  So price this rug at a price where no one will buy it."

I returned home and a man came the next day to look at jewelry.  That old rug was rolled up and sitting next to the wall.  The man said, "What is that?"  I told him it was an old Navajo rug which I had just brought back from the reservation.  

He said:  "Let me see it."

I rolled it out on the floor and this man walked around the rug looking at it.  Then he asked:  "How much?"  

I replied: "Five-thousand-dollars.

He began writing out a check.

I was horrified!  I always priced merchandise at a fair market price.  I even protected my customers.

I tried to convince him not to buy the rug but he couldn't be swayed.  So I told him.  "I'm not going to cash your check for a week.  Take the rug and if you decide to bring it back I will give you your check back."

I never saw this man again.  I cashed the check and paid money back to a woman who had loaned me money for the shop.  She was an unbeliever and I had been born again and did not want to be yoked to an unbeliever.  I had seen a scripture and wanted to follow this scripture:  

2 Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:

I had been asking God to help me to repay this money and to be free.  God made that possible as I followed the interest that HE had placed in my heart concerning buying that old rug.

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Pam Padgett had finished college but was unable to find a job.  She had good secretarial skills so she took a job as a secretary at a bank.  For the first two years, she enjoyed the work.  But then found she was bored.  She prayed asking God to help her to find a job that was interesting to her.

One day, her boss at the bank asked Pam if she would see how to use a computer which someone had given them for her work.  Pam said she would try but she didn't know anything about computers.  Pam then asked him if she could take a computer course at the local college.  He agreed and they looked at the list of courses and chose a class called "Basic".

Pam went to the class and found immediately this class was not teaching how to use a computer.  It was a class teaching the computer programming language called Basic.

Since Pam was already at the class, she decided to stay for the first session.  As she sat there listening to the instruction, she became very interested in computer programming and stayed for the entire class.

As she drove away after the class, she said to God:  "This is it!  This is what I want to do, computer programming."

She continued to pursue this field and in a very short time got an entry level job as a computer programmer at Fed Ex.  She loved doing the work and stayed there more than 20 years until she retired.

Pam knew it was God who enabled this to happen.

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Here is a promise of God from the Old Testament which I find to be valid for the church today.

God says:

Isaiah 45:2  I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:


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Podcast: When I think of what I was before I was born again I greatly marvel in God and thank HIM.

 

 
 
(Comments by Joan Boney)

Before I was born again, I pursued my own interest and did whatever was necessary to get my own way in life.  I would lie, cheat and do what I thought would make me succeed. 

This is the way most people are before they are born again.  Inside they are set to do what they can to benefit themselves but outwardly they try to cause us to think they are good people.

Matthew 23  (Jesus says) 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

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God kept me safe from myself even before I was born again.

I am greatly ashamed of those things I once did before I was born again.

And I am truly amazed at God's protection over me during those years.

Like the apostle Paul, I'm sure I did no good thing and there is no good thing done by me today except by the Holy Spirit WHO dwells in my body.

Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:

I lived by the ways of the flesh which are the ways of death.

I Corinthians 6

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexuals), nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

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I thought I was a Christian because I went forward at church and was baptized in water.  But I lived totally by the flesh and was out to fulfill my own desires and thought almost nothing of any other person and rarely even had God come to my mind.

Then God brought the following thoughts to my mind to show me what I was really doing all those previous years:  

God said to me:  "Joan ... you know all those 'mistakes' you've been making all these years.  Those weren't mistakes.  Those were sins."

I was changed instantly from that person I had been.  God gave me a new heart and a new Spirit causing me to be as a new person.  Now I desired to learn about God.  Scripture became important to me.  I wanted to be with people of God, the church.  I no longer wanted to be with the people I had associated with before this.  I was changed by God.

II 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.

Ezekiel 36  (This happened to me):

And I (God) will sanctify MY great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put MY spirit within you, and cause you to walk in MY statutes, and ye shall keep MY judgments, and do them.

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It didn't happen because of my own will or any good thing I was doing.

God chose me to be HIS child.  It happened because it was the will of God for me.

It is not that we love God but HE loved us and it was HIS will that we be saved and HE showed us HIS life and HIS way and gave us a new heart and a new Spirit of God and changed us from inside.

And HE changed us instantly.

Then  after we were born again by God, we read the Bible and desired to do HIS will because HE changed us and gave us that desire and removed our old fleshly desires and taught us by HIS Spirit WHO lived in us.

It is the greatest thing that has ever happen to me and by this I understand what Jesus meant in the following scripture.

Matthew 13:45-46  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
 
For no cost is too great to pay for this "pearl". Nothing can equal what it means.

Things of the world can seem important and enticing.  But their appeal has a way of disappearing in time.  And when we go after such desires often we find it isn't worth what we paid to get it.

But we never regret the cost for things of God.

The apostle Paul explains:

Philippians 3

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in HIM, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know HIM, and the power of HIS resurrection, and the fellowship of HIS sufferings, being made conformable unto HIS death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

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God chose us not because of our goodness but because it was HIS will to do so.  And now our righteousness is of God for HE did all the work in changing us into the image of Christ by HIS will.

As we go through life, after we are born again, we are recreated in the image of Christ each time a scripture is revealed to us and we do what God shows us to do.

God is the creator.  We are HIS workmanship


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Monday, August 29, 2022

πŸ’₯ The Holy Spirit testifies to us of Jesus.

 
John 15:26  Jesus says  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, HE shall testify of ME:

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The Holy Spirit brings to our minds things showing us the will of God and testifying of Jesus to us.

I Corinthians 2

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and HIM crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

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Some preachers tell clever fleshly stories which entertain the people.  We laugh and are often entertained, but they do not bring the power that is in God but only the cleverness that man devises.

Paul said he didn't bring enticing stories of man's wisdom.

Sadly, some preachers even practice their gestures to make their "audience" more attracted to themselves, much as an actor on stage does.

They speak "great swelling words."

2 Peter 2

18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

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A woman once said to me how wonderful her pastor was.  Then she went on to say, "I couldn't understand a word he was speaking last Sunday!"  (She was impressed with him.)

I've seen some pour over many books to try to prepare that which they will speak.

God taught me to read the Bible and let HIM speak to the people by reminding me of scriptures and things of God.  Speak that.  It carries the power of God.

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I Corinthians 2

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love HIM.  10 But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.


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Podcast: Psalms which encourage us and give us strength

 

 
Psalms are prayers. 

Here are excerpts from Psalms 17-18 which build us up in ways of God.

Psalms of David.

Psalm 17

4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of THY lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5 Hold up my goings in THY paths, that my footsteps slip not.

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of THY wings,

9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked.

14 From men which are THY hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life,

Psalm 18

2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

(The Lord: The Word of God)

3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

6  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: HE heard my voice out of HIS temple, and my cry came before HIM, even into HIS ears.

16 HE sent from above, HE took me, HE drew me out of many waters.

17 HE delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

19 HE brought me forth also into a large place; HE delivered me, because HE delighted in me.


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Sunday, August 28, 2022

πŸ’₯ Hearing people speak about Jesus and hearing Jesus HIMSELF speak to you.

 
Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman at the well.  She went and told her friends she had met the Messiah who told her all that she had done.  Later they heard directly from Jesus.

John 4

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on HIM for the saying of the woman, which testified, HE told me all that ever I did.

40 So when the Samaritans were come unto HIM, they besought HIM that he would tarry with them: and HE abode there two days.

41 And many more believed because of HIS own word;

42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard HIM ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

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Today, Jesus speaks directly to HIS chosen by HIS Holy Spirit who lives in each one who believes HIS word.

Ephesians 1:13 In WHOM ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in WHOM also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

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Hebrews 1

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS Son, whom HE hath appointed heir of all things, by WHOM also HE made the worlds;

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I Corinthians 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  

I Corinthians 6:19-20  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

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The work of the Holy Spirit that is in us:

John 14:26  Jesus said:  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you, MY peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  

We see the things of this world and that which they do, but our kingdom is not of this world just as Jesus' kingdom is not of this world.  We have HIS peace as we wait for Jesus.  Therefore: Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  

John 16:13   Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever HE shall hear (from God), that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

14 HE shall glorify ME: for HE shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus for HE is the Spirit of Jesus and speaks to us things of Jesus.

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The people of the world speak of this world but we, who are of God. speak the things of God.

I John 4

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God: HE that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

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I John 2

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.


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Podcast: Does it disturb you when there is lawlessness and no judgment? Do you hate seeing churches turn from scripture and set up doctrines opposite from scripture?

 
 
 
 
Paul described the following concerning the last days:

2 Timothy 3

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

(This happens in the world and in the church groups.)

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection (homosexuals & lesbians:  Romans 1:26-28), trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness (church goers)but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

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We can feel depressed and hopeless when we realize there is no judgment thus permitting the evil to reign without penalty.

We see them investigate and gather evidence but nothing happens to the evil doer.

When we see this we must hold our selves up with scripture such as these.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is MINE; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Though man often refuses to deal with lawlessness, God will repay and will judge.  We can be assured of that.  

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The Bible tells us what to do when lawlessness reigns:  "from such turn away".  (2 Tim. 3:5)

Turn away and pray, committing the matter to God, know God will judge each evil act of man even now or later at the judgment seat of Christ.

I was born again in 1975.  The first church I attended was a group where the pastors were from Dallas Theological Seminary, Bible University scholars.  They were teaching tongues to be from the devil.

One day, I read the following in the Bible:  

I Corinthians 14:39  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Am I going to attend a church group where the pastor teaches something opposite to the Holy Bible?

I quickly made the decision I would not attend any church group where pastor taught against Bible.  I would just leave that church.  ("From such turn away.")  

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Today 2022, our government established a commission to investigate the January 6, 2021 attack on the capitol building.

Even though I am not a political person, voting for neither political party, I was very shocked in that attack.  I saw immediately it was an attempt to overthrow democracy. 

So when they formed this committee to investigate this attack, I watched their presentation.

Several times I had seen Donald Trump's speech to the group that gathered that day at the White House.  I heard him tell them to go to the capitol and "he" would be with them. I saw them break the windows at the capitol and enter the capitol building.  It was obviously unlawful entry. The police stood against the rioters and caught some of them and put them in jail as you would expect police to do. But no one arrested the man who instigated the riot, the man who called the rioters to come to the capitol that specific day and ordered them to go to take over the capitol and stop the legal government from certifying the 2020 election.

I was shocked!  A man incited a riot and the government did nothing but "investigate."

I just turned away from watching such on TV.  Commit the matter to God for HIM to judge.  HE will judge.

We cannot watch such things and live in peace when there is no justice or attention to lawfulness.  It will bring us down with them if we try to do this.  We will end up depressed and some will be completely swept away from "goodness" when evil reigns.

We must put our faith in God.  And we must know God will judge and will reward the lawful and punish the evil doer.  Be assured of this.  

2 Corinthians 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

God is just and HE will judge wickedness.

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What do we do when there is evil in the church?

The apostle Paul tells us what to do:

I Corinthians 5:11;13   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 ... Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

2 Timothy 3:5   Having a form of godliness (church goers)but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

This is what I do when I see evil that is reigning in a church group without correction.

This is what I do when I see an item in this world that is unjust but they will not judge.  I just turn away and refuse to watch.

We cannot participate in evil and live in peace.  If we are godly, we will be tormented by the evil.

We are seeing perilous times for lawlessness is all around.  Just turn away.  Pray.  Trust God to judge and stop participating in the lawlessness by continuing to watch the lawlessness.  Just turn away ... and follow after those things that make for peace and things whereby we can edify one another through God.

We must walk away.

(The NASB calls antichrist:  "The man of lawlessness."  2 Thessalonians 2 )


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Saturday, August 27, 2022

πŸ’₯ The apostle Paul says in the last days men will grow worse and worse. (2 Tim. 3:13)


Some people think man will learn and get better.

That is not what the apostle Paul tells us in the Bible.

Paul says:

2 Timothy 3

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection (homosexuals & lesbians: Romans 1:26-28)

trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness (attending church), but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  

We will think them to be good when they are evil.  And when we see their evil doings, we will be very discouraged until God restores us in HIM.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
 

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Podcast: Matthew 12

 
 
 
 
Jesus says:

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.


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That which we allow to come into our heart will at some point come out of our mouth.

Proverbs 4:23   Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

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Psalm 51

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from THY presence; and take not THY HOLY SPIRIT from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of THY salvation; and uphold me with THY free spirit.


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Friday, August 26, 2022

πŸ’₯ God led me into a better way of life.

 
People of this world are troubled today over many things.  They live by the way of this world and they try to hold onto their way of life.

Jesus says:  My sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow ME:  (John 10:27)

HE leads us into green pastures where there is an abundance when we follow HIM.

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Through the years, I've had many ideas come to me which were from God to lead me in the way to go on this earth.  I've followed HIM and my life has ended up being more abundant and there is no "want" for me today.

John 10:10  Jesus says: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.


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We cannot have an abundant life and live in debt to get things of this world.  We will have things but hardships of the world if we choose to go the way of this world.  When troubles come upon this world, as they will come, we will be troubled with this world if we choose to live by the way of this world.

Instead we choose to live the way of God which is shown us by the scriptures.

Let us examine our way of life by this following scripture:

1 Timothy 6

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

15 Which in HIS times HE shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

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In 2018, I fell in my house in Texas where I lived alone.

Several month before this, my heart had begun to change.  I knew the time was coming when I would no longer be able to live alone.  I didn't fight the change.  I just waited.

I had a big house at that time and my heart changed on this also.  I began to want to live in one bedroom with all my things consolidated into that one room instead of having to go from room to room.

Psalms 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD (the Word); and HE shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

God will put the desire into your heart.

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Several years ago, God showed me the time was coming when people would no longer be able to keep separate households but they would need to consolidate their housing.

So when my life changed, God had already put into my heart the way to go and my heart changed concerning what I wanted and how I wanted to live.

πŸ’₯  I no longer wanted to live alone.

πŸ’₯  I no longer wanted to be burdened by property.

All that I had begun to desire was going to come to pass after I fell at my house in Texas in December, 2018.

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Some people fight change.  I found I had begun to want change.

I am now almost 85 years old and I have never had any time in my life as good as things are now.

Like Job, God has made my life better in the end than it was in the beginning.

Job 42:12  So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:

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In 2018, as the ambulance workers rolled me past the front door of my house in Texas I heard these words which I knew were from the Holy Spirit:  "You'll never see this house again."

I had no concern at all over this change that was coming.  I knew it was of God.  I had changed.  I no longer wanted this big house.  God had changed my heart.

I didn't want to live alone. God had changed my heart.

It is not that I consciously thought about these changes, they just began to happen, and I delighted in each change, because God had changed my heart.

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Proverbs 4:11  I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness (that which is right in the sight of God); and all these things shall be added unto you.

Put your trust in God step by step for HE will do far better for you than you can think or even imagine!

πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯ 

Now I am almost 85 years old.  I live in the home of another believer who has demonstrated that she has the Holy Spirit and follows God as I do.  I have a bedroom with my sound equipment and all my things.  I no longer have a big house and the concern that comes with making decisions concerning property.  I no longer drive a car.

My life is better now than ever before and I know God worked all this out.

Proverbs 3

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge HIM (pray), and HE shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

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Learn to say, and really mean:  "THY will be done."  


πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

Podcast: Paths of life and paths of death:

 
 
 
 
Psalm 16:11  

THOU wilt shew me the path of life: in THY presence is fulness of joy; at THY right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

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Paths of life:

Psalm 16:8-9    I have set the LORD always before me: because HE is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

(The Lord: The Word of God)


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Paths of death:

* Achievements of men which last only a short time but seems so important.

* Trying to make oneself happy.

* Seeking praise from men.

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Proverbs 18:21   Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.


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Thursday, August 25, 2022

πŸ’₯ The way of this world is a deadly way if we try to follow that way.

 
In 1960, I moved to Dallas, Texas.

That same year The Dallas Morning News announced that the time was coming that money was going to be replaced by a plastic card,  None of us had any idea what this would mean.

Within weeks, something called "a credit card" surfaced.

This became a normal way of life to this world.

People began to go into debt.

The apostle Paul said:

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Do you have debt today?  If so, you live as the world lives and it is indeed an hard yoke.

It seemed like a way of a better life for it enabled the person to have things immediately.  But it often turns into a very hard yoke and it keeps that person servicing the debt and keeps the person as a slave.  Then trouble comes upon the world and things get much worse because of that debt.  And many people can hardly survive from month to month and suffer greatly because of the way of living that they have chosen for themselves.  

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As a new Christian in 1975, one of the first thing God led me to do was to get out of debt and stay out of debt.

I set about immediately to do that.  I prayed for God to help me and HE did help me.

Romans 13:8   Owe no man any thing, but to love one another:

πŸ’₯  I did use a credit card for personal needs, but I paid the card off at the end of each month, and paid no interest to the credit card company.  At one point Master Card insisted that I transfer all my debt to them.  They wanted the interest on the debt.  But I had no debt because I never let purchases run over to the next month but I paid in full at the end of the month.  I switched to VISA because Master Card did not want to continue to carry me as a customer because I had no debt.  (This was in the 70's)

πŸ’₯  After becoming a Christian, I saw a scripture which I began to try to live by:  

II Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:

I owned a small business at that time and had allowed a woman to loan me $6000 to buy merchandise for my business.  I did not pay interest on her loan, but for her loan I allowed her to buy merchandise at my cost.  (American Indian Arts)

I set about to free myself from that yoke for I believed her to be "an unbeliever".

I started with prayer, asking God to help me.

In the business we mostly sold jewelry. But on a buying trip my attention was drawn to a Navajo rug.  I found I couldn't walk away from that rug although we didn't sell rugs at that time.  The rug cost $500.

I took the rug to an appraiser of Indian rugs, for I knew nothing about rugs.  She said to me, "Joan .... you've really lucked out on this rug.  Most of these old rugs are worthless but this rug is worth at least $1500 now and it will go up in value.  So you need to price this so it will not sell."

I returned to Dallas where I lived and a man came in to look at jewelry and noticed that rug rolled up and lying at the side of one wall.  He said, "What's that?"  I told him it was a rug I'd just bought but I didn't think he would be interested in that.  He said, "Well let me see it."  

I rolled it onto the floor and he asked, "How much."

I replied, "Five-thousand-dollars."

He said, "I'll take it," And began writing out a check.

I tried to talk him out of buying the rug because I knew I had overpriced the rug.  But he just continued to write out the check.  So I said, "I'm not going to cash your check for a week and if you decide you don't want the rug, bring it back and I will give you your check back."

I never again saw this man, so after a week I deposited the check and paid the woman the $6,000 that I had allowed her to put into my business.

I was free ... and I knew it was God who had led me and freed me.

I never again went into debt for anything after that.

πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

On today's newscasts in USA the primary story is the high cost of food, gasoline, and housing.  People often tell of the hardships they are encountering and they don't know what they are going to do.

They do not realize that their way of life is the real problem.

Matthew 11:28-30   Jesus says:  Come unto ME , all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  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.  For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light.

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If you want to be free from the burden of debt, go to God in prayer and ask HIM to help you to get free.

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

6-9  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.


πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

Podcast: Psalm 9


 
 
2 I will be glad and rejoice in THEE: I will sing praise to THY name (The Word), O thou most High.

10 And they that know THY name
(The Word) will put their trust in THEE: for THOU, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek THEE.

20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men.

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Jesus says:  

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in ME (The Word) ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

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Amos 5:15   Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate:
 

πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

πŸ’₯ Jesus says:

 
John 5:34  ... These things I say, that ye might be saved,


πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

All scripture is inspired by God.

When we follow a scripture, "we are saved" from our own desires and from ways of devils.

John 8:31-32 ... If ye continue in MY word, then are ye MY disciples indeedAnd ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

(Continue means:  go on to a specified course of action ... do that instruction and keep doing that instruction)

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Podcast: Danger in watching evils on TV and in slipping into delighting into that which is evil in the sight of God

 
 
 
 
Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

(exhort:  to urge earnestly by advice and warning)

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Jesus says:

Matthew 12

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

(If we delight in that which is evil, we will put evil into our hearts by that which we watch on TV and by the people with whom we associate. And that which goes into our hearts comes out our mouth.)

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

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I don't like to see adultery on TV.  I don't even like to see the hint of adultery for I know it is evil.  If evil is in our heart, we will seek out evil on TV and store up evil things by that which we choose to watch on TV.

Evil is defined for us by the works of the flesh:

I Corinthians 6

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexuals), nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
 
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers (to criticize or abuse in an angry or insulting manner), nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

But if we have been cleansed by God from these sins and we turn back to these sins and delight again in such, we place ourselves in danger.

I find movies and TV shows that I once enjoyed before God showed me sins, I cannot watch today.  I have no desire to live in sins of this world nor to watch this world commit sins.

And Peter warns us:  

2 Peter 2

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

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Amos 5:15   Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate:

And pray for God to restore you if you find yourself slipping.

Psalm 51

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from THY presence; and take not THY holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of THY salvation; and uphold me with THY free spirit.


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Tuesday, August 23, 2022

πŸ’₯ John 3:6

 
Jesus says:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

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At the time of our life, when we are born of our natural parents, we are born of the flesh of man.  As such, we do the works of the flesh as we grow into men and women.

Galatians 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

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When God reveals HIMSELF to us, we are born of God ... of the Spirit.

At that time God puts HIS own Spirit, the Holy Spirit, into us so we can do the works of God.

And by the Spirit of God, going in the way shown us by the Spirit, we then produce the fruits of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-26

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

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Galatians 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

The flesh brings us a thought of what to do and feel.  The Spirit brings us thoughts which are opposite to the thoughts of our flesh.

We choose to go in the way of the Spirit, thus overcoming our own flesh and keeping our flesh under the control of the Spirit.

Revelation 3:5  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.

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When we are born of God, we have the Holy Spirit of God living in us.

I Corinthians 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

We recognize those who have the Spirit of God for we have the same Spirit when we are born of God.

Ephesians 4

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

When we have the same Spirit of God, we are one in God.

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I John 4

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

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Many attend churches and say the are Christians.  But few have the Spirit of God.  We know them by that Spirit that is in them.  And they recognize us by that Spirit that is in us.

Once God gave me this dream:  A war was going on.  The problem was we couldn't tell which were our army because we were all dressed alike.  So God gave us a password, then we knew which were in our army.

Today, so many say they are Christians, but we are all dressed alike.  Those who have the Spirit of God are the Christians and belong to God.

We know each other by the Spirit.


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