What is God telling you to do?  Most of the time when I am listening to someone tell their story they claim that they do not know God’s Will for their lives.  They are generally surprised when I challenge this idea and remind them that the Bible says that everyone knows the truth that is God.  I often say that I am willing to bet that they know what the Lord wants them to do they just were holding out for another answer.  Are the voices of your own intention or the world, or perhaps even more nefarious ideas winning over through whispering alternate ideas in your ear?  Are you digging deeper into the relationship with God?  Searching the Bible for indications of his command for your life?  Are you praying and then listening for the answers from the Mouth of God?  Remember prayer is a two way line of communication, sometimes we may be guilty of throwing requests at God and never patiently waiting for His Small Quiet Voice in reply.

Okay, now that you have heard or established that the Lord has spoken to you about what He wants from you, what are you going to do about it?  Ignore the direction, reply with enthusiasm then do nothing or simply comply and take the steps forward necessary to receiving God’s provision for your ministry?  Yes, there are other options some involve begrudgingly doing what he wanted you to do. Or perhaps you are going about your own plan hoping that somehow God will overlook that fact or simply justify your unwillingness to follow directions?  Which one correctly characterizes your walk?

What then of the implications of your choice regarding God’s direction?  If you are going to demonstrate an unwillingness to follow His commands should there be consequence, even to the dissolution of two way communications with the Lord?  You know that often occurs, when you won’t hear the thing God is telling he will stop telling you.  That idea frightens me worse than anything else because then I am left to my own inadequate understanding and power within this world and the spiritual battlefield.  The Lord disciplines those whom he loves.  Do you expect that your name might be in this category for not listening to His direction?  Are you playing the victim in your own plan because God wants something else from you entirely?  The truth cleanses so it’s meant to hurt.

I pray that you continue to reach out to the Lord without doubt without limitation.  I pray that you are inclined to listen and desire that small quiet voice in your heart.  I pray that you immediately respond and demonstrate your enormous love for God by actively participating in His plan for your life by doing what He told you to do.  I pray that this brings you into a new place in your sanctified life where everything begins to take shape and converge.  I pray for you a new and fresh understanding of the authority and sovereignty of Almighty God and the potency of the free will choices He gives us.  I pray that the Lord protect your heart, mind and health this and everyday of this lifetime.  I pray that you are taking advantage to prepare for your coming life in eternity.  In Jesus’ Name.

What do you do with the idea of circumstance?  Do you ponder the statistical and mathematical probability of congruent events, laugh it off as chance occurrence or do you see God’s ordered participation in your lives?  How would it change your walk with God if each time you prayed, you consistently recognized an orderly procession of events leading up to a meeting with the right person, the exact amount of money that you needed arriving or you received confirmation of questions?  Oh, that has been happening all your life.  Has it brought you to greater faith, greater prayer time or a willingness to dig deeper into the mysteries of God’s Word?  If none of these things have occurred then have you perhaps missed the potency that “NO” coincidences has been meant to show you.

What would happen if each time you were delayed it created a circumstance where you were exactly in the right place and time to meet a person who needed your help or had some specific information to give you?  Would it alleviate your frustration at things not going fast enough, losing your keys, driving in traffic or simply waking up a bit late?  Would the panic resolve, the upset go away, would your speech and your treatment of others change significantly?  How would your behavior alter if you knew God “always” heard and not only worked on your prayers but had an orderly procession of events planned to bring you to “His” desired outcomes in this life?  Do you believe God?

I am not a victim but a willing participant in God’s Plan for my life.  I expect Him to show up, in events, in people in signs and symbols.  I have become a child awaiting Christmas morning every day of my life.  The joy of anticipation is addicting.  The people, places and mysteries that show up or unfold in my life are sometimes overwhelming to tears.  I am being used in a huge way for the Kingdom because I have asked the Lord to use me that way and I expect that He will.  The end result is these days I am “ready” for these occurrences and being in a state of wakefulness I don’t missed the Diving Opportunities within.  The Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want.  In Jesus’ Name.

Pestering and seemingly permanent influences that have rooted themselves within the Mustard Tree must be eradicated.  We know that the Lord will separate the wheat from the chaff at the end of time, but currently we must find a method to filter out, when possible, those demonic or human servant influences intent on destroying our health, wealth and fellowship from within. Your greatest gift in this action is discernment.  The discernment necessary to see what would not be seen.

Have you volunteered your life to the Lord’s Purpose?  If you have and you continue to have negative influences, perhaps you have allowed some infiltration that must be bound, begging God for freedom from the chains put upon us by those evil influences.  Is long-term harassment possible, probable and predictable in families that have been especially surrounded or immersed in sinful practices.  Numbers 14:18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. 

So the Lord sees instances where we are incapable of escaping the implications of our past sin.  The lasting effects of child birth out of wedlock, imprisonment, extended poverty, damaged reputation, sexually transmitted diseases, drug use, alcoholism, these are all examples of curses that visit the children of the guilty.  What then of those continued influences brought on by infiltration of the Church or demonic influence within your family?  You mean the enemy is going to try and find a way into my family and if I am not vigilant I may see demonic foothold within my life or those of my family members?  How then to dig out this footing?

Now that we are watching we can identify these influence by their incessant nature and desired permanence.  Once identified, what do I do about it?  Next comes the easy part, turn it over to God in prayer and fasting.  Turn your heart from sin and beg God’s forgiveness, even for the sins of ancestry that we might be heard and forgiven of the Lord.  Oh, you think that was the hard part, because you believe that you have to do the work of ridding yourselves of these pestering, destructive influences?  That is not the part you must deal with, you have to deal with the real world impacts of these issues, the social pain, the shame, the damaged relationships, but those must also be brought to the Lord for redemptive healing and repair.  This relationship with God is active and LIVING.  He came so that you may have life and have it in abundance.  Does that describe your life?  If not, is their some spiritual cleansing necessary in your family?  Only you and God know, we may have our suspicions evidenced in the long-term pain we see your family suffer, but after all it is between you and the Lord.

You don’t have to suffer the sins of your forefathers or Mothers.  Take it to the Lord in prayer and fasting.  Forgiveness is available, will you ask for it today?  In Jesus Name I pray.

Present in the moment. Not some new ager in touch with reality to the point of enlightenment and manifestation of the powers of creation. This is a Christian thing, knowing what to say and intimately aware of God’s authority and direction for your life.  I don’t want to be anything more or less than I was designed to be, no power lust for me.  With great power comes all the accountability associated with the realization that all actions have intended and unintended consequences.  I have neither the wisdom, skill nor emotional security to process the fact that someone may starve so that others might eat, or one must die that others may live.  Those are things left for the Master of creation, not good for creation to be making decisions without the requisite Sovereign wisdom or authority.

What am I present for?  My education, sanctification, stripping from me the ecoutrement of a fallen world, poisons of my past pain, affect of a brutality left unrestrained.  Replaced, replaced by those healthy characteristics of a Holy and Righteous King, imbued with understanding and skills beyond previous mean.  Present is to be touched in this world by the shaping and conforming hand of God.  When he gets a hold of your heart and makes it all matter, no step left unimportant, no stone left undisturbed for purpose.  Shaped, remade, disrupted and transformed, a new human designed for heavenly reckoning and instructful intervention on behalf of an unaware and perhaps ungrateful humanity.  Crying tears for disobedient or lost sheep, that belong to my shepherd.  Oh that my watchful eyes see the one person I might encourage, leaving them enough hope to reach out and make the greatest available decision, to cry out to God for succor and relief.

John, Peter and my other Brothers have seen Christ in his glorified body, but how will they react to see Christ the King?  Righteous, on fire with His full Glory.  Brilliance.  I feel for my Brothers for they know something that we will never know, Christ as man.  We will not be confronted with the lamb of God, but the Lion of Judah.  How will I react in that presence?  Ashamed, unworthy, facing firmly the ground upon which His Glorified feet take step.  I don’t know about you folks, but I crave and fear that great day when those eyes look into mine.  With all of my being I wish to be with the Lord, but know fully what being in his presence portends, true humility and the realization of my remaining sin being stripped away.  What are your steps toward Glory?

Are you struggling like me?  Do you find it difficult to control your words, carefully choosing what may be hurtful, replaced by those encouraging utterances?  Lord, I don’t know why you have chosen someone so inept to express ideals through word.  Ideals and principles too grand for this man, the conveyances better left to Sovereignty.  I am frail, frightened, ill equipped, hungry, tired, naked and alone, but the wonder of it all is that is exactly where I am the most powerful.  That moment where my tank is empty is when my only fuel is You.

Fill me Father.  Place me in those predicaments beyond my capability, please.  For only in those moments am I, Truly Present.

How does an unclean things speak of something righteous and pure?  This thing is beyond me.  It is something left for Spirit.  Praise You that you have created a way for me to be cleansed and I am now found made anew, a thing of spirit.  So I eagerly speak that Glorious name of my saviour, my Master, my God and my King.  My spirit speaks, JESUS and I am remade, refreshed and prepared for eternity’s call.

I hope when I tell you it’s going to be alright, I hope you don’t misunderstand that I am saying you won’t have tremendous difficulty, displeasure and tough times.  I trust you know that things are never going to be easy and if they are you probably have been lulled into a stupor. Wake up, there is no cause, time or permission to sleep on this job you’ve been given for the King.  In fact, the times he tells us to be conscious, aware, ready, sober and watchful are numerous.  If you find it hard to believe, go check, the Bible is replete with these messages of vigilance warnings.

Okay, so now we have established that you are going to have problems and that you need to be diligent.  What does that naturally convey to every Christian?  That we need to be prepared for may be coming our way.  I mean it is reasonable to anticipate certain troubles; health, finances, persecution and relationship issues to be specific but what about those that are mentioned in the “end times” prophecies of the Bible?  Can we reasonably expect to prepare for what God guarantees is headed our direction?  Of course, first we need to be certain of our salvation, next we need to be found doing the work that God prepared for each of us and third make sure that no one you love is going to be left behind or worse yet sent the way of eternal flame in the lake of fire.

The Bible is a complete guide book for preparation.  It talks about thoughts, plans, changes, material goods, friends, family, the remaking of the Earth!!.  What it doesn’t say that the Earth is going to be changed does it.  Of course it does in Revelation.  How can you say that you believe if you have never read the end of the story?  What do you believe if you don’t even know who wins.  I know, God Wins, God Wins.  I’ve heard that from unbelievers who have never read the Bible.  What about you do you know how God wins, do you know where you will be when He wins?  If you don’t than you ought to discover if it’s in front of Him or behind Him, because that position makes all the difference in this and the next world.  Next World, what the heck do you mean?  You mean I have to take steps to make sure I am ready?  I do know but I wish to make sure that you get it, so please read the Book.

Since everything is dependent upon your free will choices in this life, wouldn’t it be best to have all the information in front of you before you start making those decisions?  I pray that you make the Holy Spirit your guide and that he walks with you in your education and preparation for the coming days.  It matters too much to leave it alone.  If I may ever be of assistance or point you to someone who can help, please consider me your servant, your colleague, Brother and Friend.  May you be richly blessed by God through Jesus Christ.

I am pleased to hear your opinion of our circumstance.  What are your thoughts on the status of man?  Are we advancing toward an enlightenment/evolution into which an improved version of Homo Sapient will emerge, peaceful, powerful and prepared to resolve the problems collectively before us?  Are we stagnant, firmly wedged in the mire of our current dilemma?  Could it be that we are going backward, headed toward a gray horizon from which nothing good shall transpire?  Maybe you see that we have collectively hit bottom and you see the spirit of the Phoenix rising over the desert where man will come out in a new form, refreshed, renewed, invigorated.  Are we plodding ahead at a steady pace, willful, willing to find the answers to the obstacles set before us as a specie?  Or do you see humanity choosing sides for a risky final confrontation between opposing principles?  Do you know what the Bible says is going to happen?  Perhaps are you choosing the aloof path of ignorant bliss, remaining uneducated on purpose, so that you might find that small corner of the sky and reside in it for the duration?  Don’t you think it is time to figure out in which camp you find your thinking?

Who am I you say to ask such provocative questioning?  Why don’t I just leave you alone to your own contemplation or lack thereof, must I force you to determine your position and direction?  Leave it alone Eddy.  Okay, I get it, let’s go with that line of thinking.  Maybe we ought to just let things unfold, never meditating upon the potential future, that could give each of us a measure of comfort.  What of the concept of preparation?  Are we given minds for a reason and isn’t that reason to read the tea leaves so to say and be properly positioned to take advantage or be justifiably secure for what may be predicted?  What of us as Christians, having been given the entire story, the end from the beginning?  Ought we, can we ignore the tribulation coming around the bend?  Can we simply go into the future knowing that God commands us to “be ready”?  Be ready for what?  Well that would take some investigation, contemplation and preparedness.  Can’t be ready if I don’t ask the right questions.  Back to square one.  I guess you’ll just have to dislike me but this interrogatory must be ventured.

And what of my responsibility to man.  If I fully believe and place my faith in the facts of God’s Word, do I have accountability to warn those in my sphere of the eventualities?  I know that God says I do, but I am interested in your thoughts.  What do you say is each of our responsibilities to man?  Are there any at all?  Can I go through life, totally self focused and remain obedient to God.  Well that is easy to answer, NOPE.  So it is again a choice of our level of participation in those outcomes that are both predictable by reasoning and foretold by God’s Word.  Which camp do you choose.  Sit back and wait or get out front and be ready, or maybe just ignore the whole thing and hide in Montana.  Somehow we all know that some ideas are just hopeful, and hope unfortunately is not a solid choice for decision making, unless of course that HOPE is placed in Almighty God and His unfolding Plan for humanity.  Wherever you find yourself, I want to take the opportunity to share the love of God for each of you and assure you that he has a future for man that involves, provision, peace and prosperity.  The question remains do you want to know?

In Jesus name I walk this Earth looking for those Divine Opportunities to share His Love with You.

Don’t forget the joy and a boatload of it.  Remember as I am writing I am standing here doing my version of the knucklehead two step, always an inch away from dancing in front of the ark of the covenant.  You see service to the King is a joyful thing.  Seeing healing, hope where there was desperation, relief were there existed only exasperation, setting free the bound, the jailed, the blind, deaf, inflicted and the poor.  This is a thing of God’s Power through Spirit, a God so grand that he never leaves, never sleeps, never delays, but always holds us firmly in the palm of the hands that formed creation.  The Potter’s perfect grip gently removing us from danger and placing us firmly in the safety and shadow of His awesome Wings.

There are baby’s smiles, tears of the cured, excitement of those set free from personal prisons and rejoicing of those given freely as bond slaves.  You see, I am given by choice to the service of God, not by debt, although I am the man that owes him everything.  My works are the steps of a man relieved, filled with belief and willing, able and thankful to have the energy, time, and smiles to share with them who have none.  Turned loose upon an unexpecting humanity, to sing, to dance, to smile, wave and encourage. Oh and sometimes, God willing I am used for conviction, but that too should bring joy to the many.  For who else can say that God cared enough about their welfare that he sent his knuckleheaded whatsoever to mention a few choice issues with a great big bear hug to follow?

Get up and shout, not out of pain but from shear joy bottled up and unexpressed for decades.  Dream, prophesy, share, care and bask in the sun or lie comfortably in the green pastures of God’s intent.  Run unafraid through the shadow of the valley of death, childlike in faith, filled with the humorous expectation of God’s protection.  Rejoice in eternity for it is here, what’s that you said, God’s Kingdom is Here!!!! Sing out that new song that echoes through the cleansed annals of your heart.  Echo loudly, making fun with your friends, enjoying the aromas, senses and treasure beyond measure available in the people God has sent you.  Wipe their tears, encourage their cheers and quiet their fears, for you belong to a God who loves you most.

Jesus is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that fact.  Rejoice at that, even God’s enemies will declare Him King of Everything.  We have already won.  In Jesus’ Name.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.  Hebrews 9:27-28

Captivating.  Who could imagine three lines containing so much content that it requires a second, no at least a third reading to gather the intrinsic and implied meanings.  The Living Word is appropriate moniker.  Let us ask the Holy Spirit to venture with us so that we may grasp that which God intended.  Father, fill us with your Spirit that we read your holy word in thankfulness, prayer and spiritual understanding.  Be with us and teach us that which you would have us understand to make greater sense of this worldly test we are facing in preparation of being with you forever.

The Holy Spirit is directing me, because this passage begins with the “word” AND, to look back the preceding passage to find the purpose of the contraction.

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

A single sacrifice, successful, complete, sufficient.  Putting away sin through that action that he suffer the intolerable act of becoming all men’s sin, ONLY ONCE.  Christ gave himself on the sacrificial alter of heaven so that he entered into God’s presence on our behalf, not an effigy, an idol or a model of His glory but as himself presented to God a propitiation of our sins.  AND,

Since we all have an appointed time to die, ONLY ONCE, this life has the greatest import.  This is a one way ticket, once chance, one opportunity to accept or deny Christ.  We are not to be recycled, our spirits placed into other bodies, whether fish or fowl.  For that would makes God’s Word a lie, and we know it to be the absolute Truth of an unchanging, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Holy and Righteous God.  Do not be led astray with the belief that you have more time following your appointed meeting with death.  If I got a do over would Christ have to go back up on the Cross and die for me again?  Would I have to take seriously the importance, urgency and precious gift given by the Lord to man?  No, I have an appointment scheduled by God after which I will meet judgment.

Christ died to put away the sins of those who accept His Grace.  Since all will die, ONCE, this indicates that there are two different judgments; one for those who accepted and another for those who denied Christ.  Do you punish your obedient children? Most certainly NOT, for they have done as you’ve asked and to meet out punishment for good behavior would destroy further compliance.  Verily, those who have believed do not deserve that punishment reserved for those who have died in unbelief.  They in fact will face a judgment intended as cleansing reward for the level of their obedience, as some will give all and all will give some.  Their judgment will be one of the efficacy and commitment to the Kingdom Work.  Rewarded for their level of a life lived for the King.  And unto them who have been looking for him, he will appear without sin to the realization of their salvation.  Oh, what a Glorious Appearing that will be.

I am going to die, maybe today, maybe in decades, that is assured.  Even unbelievers need admit the fact of our coming demise for it cannot be avoided.  Even though the enemy will deceive many into believing this life may be perpetually extended through AI, false forms and enlightened technological uploading, it still remains a lie.  For the enemy preys on humanistic reason and avoidance of God’s Absolute Truth, falsely asserting that death and judgment may somehow be escaped.  Why is it then that I do not fear judgment, why is it then that I do not wish to spend eternity in this sinful life, why is it that I cannot imagine continuing this life when my “real” life awaits following that judgment?  How can a man want to die at the time of his appointing?  You must make sense of this quandary within your own lifetime, but do it today, because none of us knows our appointed time.  I pray that you too find comfort in belief and resolution of your eternal continuance.  Go to God through Jesus, find eternal life in Him and look forward to His Glorious Appearing with a unmatched joy within your heart.  In Jesus’ Name.

If I were to reverse engineer your last year, could I effectively determine your desired destination?  Are you preparing for rapture, being sanctified to spend eternity with a holy and righteous God?  Are you moving to Arkansas, buying lands, saving funds and making contacts to set up your compound?  Have you set your heart upon becoming a star, using the money and prestige to honor God through demonstration of your greatest gifts?  Have you begun to study French, Vietnamese or Tagalog in advance of a mission trip led by God?  Have you got your passport?

If God asked you today to go and testify to Nineveh, present day Mosul, would you be ready to leave or would you have to give bundle of excuses, deny the calling or maybe jump a ship, tell God No and head off to Spain?  What do your actions indicate?  I am not going to create general fear in your brain housing group and ask you about the evidence of your salvation, but I am asking straight up for proof that you are living your life in God’s Will and not pursuing your own destination, outcomes or glory.  After all your testimony is one of your most powerful tools for discipleship, how would it be diminished if an unbeliever were to inquire of your commitment to the Lord’s Will?  Because they will ask and if they haven’t asked you yet, I am willing to bet that you are not out there evangelizing for fear of them asking just that question.

I am not perfect, nor do I need to be.  I am not smart nor is that a requirement for someone who has access to the mind of Christ.  I am not rich, in fact I found this a potential barrier to my effective dissemination of the Word.  I am not young and full of energy, but I am filled with a source of power way beyond that of my youth.  I have no worldly credentials but I am anointed by the Lord Jesus Christ to be the cup bearer of His Everlasting Gift of Life.  I am not handsome, though I do possess the loving charms that are inescapable to them who need unconditional care and a great big hug. I do not possess great chunks of land or material goods, but my Father owns this world and every other world making me the heir to creation.  What I have is free will, free will to choose a short life spent chasing my own ideals, desires or plans or the glorious gift of having Christ live this one so that I may spend eternity in my true form, fulfilled, powerful and sanctified to God’s liking.  It is truly a logical and transparent decision, but most will do everything in their power to silence it, avoid it, excuse it away or dismiss the clarity that we all say we seek.  God has been calling, have you been listening and more yet, responding through committed action?

I pray that since we all agree the time and the season is upon us, that you hear and obey, immediately, to that which God has called you into action.  Glory to God in the highest and may you be found, READY for his return for the Church.  Look forward to sharing a meal with you at the marriage supper of the Lamb.  Be awake, filled with His Powerful Spirit and committed to faithfully stand and let him complete the work he once began in you.  In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

When did I inquire of the Lord regarding my current expedition or exposition?  Is my embark according to God’s direction and timing or have I set out on a self-determined venture?  I am fearful of shore’s lost sight?  Do I wake in frightful dreams of night?  What is my destination or expectation?  Is it fed by open ended desire of wealth, health and splendor or is it’s success entirely dependent upon Kingdom growth or the exultation of His Mighty Name?  Do I want things to work out and am I taking the ordered and numbered steps to achieve my objectives or have I turned it over to God to his subsequent leading, provision and outcome?

How many Bible heroes suffered from the same frail preparation?  My ideas are golden, the shiny bright trophies of a prideful, lust expectant mind.  How then would I ever depart footing firmly upon the Rock of Ages to venture onto a path of ill determined footing?  How then may I fulfill my own plans and God’s in tandem?  Is that possible, improbable or absolutely fool hardy?  I will leave that to your inquiring mind, for I know that I may believe myself the keeper of all understanding but know the truth of my own foolish heart.  Yes, I will certainly be pleased and surprised that an idea of my own making came to fruition and matched the desires of God for my life, but seeing my history, I really am not confident of holding my breath that long.

Christ lives in me.  How then is it possible to make decisions based upon my own fleshly understanding inconsistent with obedience to that indwelling Spirit?  It is easy.  It is called disobedience or lack of wisdom and personally I don’t do it as much as I used to but my willingness to depart from God’s Will still confounds me and repeatedly produces disastrous result.  Temptation calls, that is its nature.  To walk among the weeds and be unconscious of the insects and animals within is idiocy.  Why then would I go into this world, itself replete with every measure of enticement, siren and sabotage without consideration for my welfare?  Again it is conscious disobedience and service to the idol of Self to pursue my own plans without the consultation, advice and consent of Almighty God.  He is my surety, safety and provision.  Would I or I should I ever consider taking one step without that discussion.  Emphatically, NOT.

Lord God, keep me humble and aware of my surroundings.  Never let me venture outside of your will, direction or plan.  Keep me within me and take from me this desirous flesh.  In Jesus Name I pray for all of you this very moment.