“THE PEOPLE REPLIED!”

 Joshua 24:16                 (HCSB)

“THE PEOPLE REPLIED”, “We will certainly NOT abandon the LORD to worship other gods!”

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“JESUS SAID TO HIM!”

 John 13:27                 (ESV)

“[27] Then after he (Judas) had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. “JESUS SAID TO HIM”, “What you are going to do, do quickly.””

With JESUS being GOD IN THE FLESH, HE possessed not only the knowledge of what Judas was preparing to do, but JESUS selected him knowing that he would be used to have JESUS arrested, and ultimately CRUCIFIED!  

Without getting into a theological quagmire, MY SALVATION was paid for by MY SAVIOR, but JESUS actually had to direct Judas “What you are going to do, do quickly.”!!  It wasn’t as if JESUS had a weak moment, Judas was selected BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4) to do what he did!!!

JESUS CHOSE we who BELIEVE on HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, and Judas was selected to be the betrayer of JESUS and turn him over to the Chief Priests!  

ALL of this was apart of THE PLAN to save my soul from the sinful lifestyle that I live.  JESUS CHRIST not only KNEW that Judas was going to sell HIM out, but “JESUS SAID TO HIM” to do it!!!  HE DID IT ALL FOR ME!!!

“HEALING POWER!”

 This was initially written August 23, 2012.  I share it today in humility, because I remember what happened in July/August 2007.  I am SO grateful for the HEALING POWER of GOD in my life!!!

I get ridiculed from time to time for relating seemingly everything to the brain hemorrhage I experienced in July 2007.   When something "life changing" occurs in your life, it is a BIG deal and HAS to be shared.  

Yesterday, my wife and I were reminiscing, and I remembered being in Rehab five years ago.  I remember trusting her for EVERYTHING in my life. She would go home at night and I would wait until she got back….. to do anything.  It was as if she WAS my life!  I could hear her voice in the hall and a sense of relief would come over me because the one I trusted was there for me.  

The joy and peace that JESUS brings is just like that.  HE brings a calmness over me when I hear HIS voice that is INDESCRIBABLE!  

In John 10:1-6 JESUS speaks a parable that explains what I felt.  HE says  "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

But HE who enters by the door is the SHEPHERD of the sheep.  To HIM the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear HIS VOICE, and HE calls HIS own sheep BY NAME and leads them out.  When HE has brought out all HIS own, HE goes before them, and the sheep follow HIM, for they know HIS VOICE.  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

This figure of speech JESUS used with them, but they did NOT UNDERSTAND what HE was saying to them.

Even when the CREATOR of the universe was speaking to the Pharisees, they apparently could not understand HIM.  They were not HIS sheep!  They heard HIM talking, but they didn't HEAR what HE was saying!! 

I still rely on my wife for a lot of things.  She is still my best friend!  But the voice that I listen for now is a different voice!  

Romans 2:22-24

 Romans 4:20-22                 (ESV)

“[20] No unbelief made him (Abraham) waver concerning the promise of GOD, but he grew STRONG IN HIS FAITH as he gave GLORY TO GOD, [21] fully convinced that GOD was able to do what HE had promised. [22] That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”

“BE STILL!”

 Psalms 46:10                 (KJV)

“”BE STILL”, and know that I AM GOD: I WILL BE EXALTED among the heathen, I WILL BE EXALTED in the earth.”

We like to “think” that we are in “control”, at least of our own lives.  But there are many examples of humans NOT having control, and having NO CHOICE in the outcome of their own decisions or actions, whether good decisions or bad actions.

July 09, 2007 “my plan” was to start fundraising for the FOUNDATION for RESPONSIBLE YOUTH, Inc., calling the participants FRY KIDS.  The paperwork was filed with the Secretary of State and that Monday morning I was going to get checking accounts and other things needed to run the operations for the new program.  

ON THAT PRECISE MORNING, at 5:30AM, I awoke to go to the restroom, but VERY QUICKLY discovered that I was NOT IN CONTROL…… of anything!!!  ALMIGHTY GOD was DEFINITELY the ONE IN CONTROL and for the next 52 days I HAD TO YEILD to HIM!!  NO EXCEPTIONS or EXCUSES!!!

It is MIND-BOGGLING (extremely surprising and difficult to understand or imagine) to discover that we are simply tools to be USED by THE CREATOR to accomplish HIS PLAN for our lives.  Over the past nineteen plus years, this humble servant HAD to “BE STILL” and admit that I am only a tool, USED BY THE MASTER, to enunciate that HE IS LORD!!!  

We are ALL only tools used by THE CREATOR!  Some of us are CHOSEN (John 15:16; Ephesians 1:3-4) to serve HIM….. and the others are not!!!

USE me, O LORD, to let ALL PEOPLES know that YOU ARE KING and we must “BE STILL” and worship YOUR MAJESTY!!!

“ALL THE PEOPLE!”

Acts 3:11-16                 (ESV)

Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

“[11] While he (the lame man just healed) clung to Peter and John, “ALL THE PEOPLE”, UTTERLY ASTOUNDED, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. [12] And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? [13] The GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob, the GOD of our fathers, glorified HIS servant JESUS, WHO you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. [14] But you denied the HOLY and RIGHTEOUS ONE, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, [15] and you killed the AUTHOR of life, whom GOD raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. [16] And HIS NAME—by FAITH in HIS NAME—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the FAITH that is through JESUS has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”

“ALL THE PEOPLE” love to see miraculous things occur in their presence.  “ALL THE PEOPLE” apparently don’t have a clue where the MIRACLE comes from, only that they were CHOSEN to be a witness to it’s happening?

Peter and John had just been used by GOD to heal a man who had been laid “at the gate of the temple” (Acts 3:2) for years, and “ALL THE PEOPLE” witnessed it!  This man had been “lame” for 40+ years (Acts 4:22), so one would suspect that he might need to be taught how to walk and navigate on his own?  But Acts 3:8 says he went into the temple walking and leaping and PRAISING GOD!!!  

Memories of August 29, 2007 jump into my mind, as that is the day I was released from the rehabilitation hospital following the “massive brain hemorrhage”!  “ALL THE PEOPLE” gathered at the front door and celebrated my recovery.  My hospitalization was only 52 days, yet I needed “assistance” in getting back to where I was able to function on my own.   Most people who were surrounding my “story” admitted that DIVINITY had to be involved.  

The term “ALL THE PEOPLE” should not be misunderstood to mean that EVERYONE acknowledged that the man “at the gate of the temple” was DIVINE.  BUT “ALL THE PEOPLE” who were present could not deny that something MIRACULOUS had happened!  

You CANNOT DENY a MIRACLE when you SEE it!  I pray that “ALL THE PEOPLE” who are CHOSEN will have their EYES OPENED and SEE what GOD has done for them!!!

“O LORD, YOU!”

 

Psalm 139:1-2                 (ESV)

Search Me, O GOD, and Know My Heart

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

    “[1] “O LORD, YOU” have searched me and known me! 

    [2] YOU know when I sit down and when I rise up;

        YOU discern my thoughts from afar.”

David is the author of this Psalm.  He also was the man that Samuel says was “a man after GODS OWN HEART”!  David was CHOSEN by GOD ALMIGHTY through HIS prophet Samuel to be King when Saul turned away from THE LORD.  But David was FAR FROM perfect!!!

King David was home when his troops were in battle with the Ammonites, and the turmoil that ensued was something that caused him GREAT GRIEF!!  Yet he writes in this Psalm that “O LORD, YOU” have searched me and known me!” 

If GOD has a record of all of David’s life, HE must have one of my life???  On one hand, that is quite alarming!  But on the other hand, GOD REMOVES our sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalms 103:12)!!  HE CHOOSES to not REMEMBER our sins any longer BECAUSE OF the sacrifice that JESUS made on Calvary!!!

The account of David and Bathsheba serves as a profound lesson on the nature of sin, the importance of repentance, and the enduring mercy of GOD.  I’m so thankful that HE CHOOSES to do the same for me!!  

“O LORD, YOU” are WORTHY of ALL OF our PRAISE!!!

June 8, 1783 by President George Washington

 

“THE TRUTH!”

 

Luke 1:5-25; 57-66                 (ESV)

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

“[5] In the days of Herod, king of Judea, THERE WAS A PRIEST NAMED ZECHARIAH, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. [6] And they were BOTH righteous before GOD, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the LORD. [7] But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

[8] Now while he was serving as priest before GOD when his division was on duty, [9] according to the custom of the priesthood, HE WAS CHOSEN by lot to enter the temple of the LORD and burn incense. [10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. [11] And THERE APPEARED TO HIM AN ANGEL OF THE LORD standing on the right side of the altar of incense. [12] And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth WILL BEAR YOU A SON, and you shall call his name John. [14] And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, [15] for HE WILL BE GREAT BEFORE THE  LORD. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, even from his mother’s womb. [16] And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the LORD their GOD, [17] and he will go before HIM in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the LORD a people prepared.”

[18] And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” [19] And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, and I was sent to speak to you and TO BRING YOU THIS GOOD NEWS. [20] And behold, YOU WILL BE SILENT and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” [21] And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. [22] And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. [23] And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

[24] After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, [25] “Thus the LORD has done for me in the days when HE looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

The Birth of John the Baptist

[57] Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. [58] And her neighbors and relatives heard that the LORD had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. [59] And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, [60] but his mother answered, “NO; HE SHALL BE CALLED JOHN.” [61] And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” [62] And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. [63] And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “HIS NAME IS JOHN.” And they all wondered. [64] And IMMEDIATELY HIS MOUTH WAS and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing GOD. [65] And FEAR CAME ON ALL THEIR NEIGHBORS. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, [66] and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the HAND OF THE LORD was with him.”

Commentary today will be limited because the text is SO lengthy.  But Zechariah and his wife were “…righteous before GOD, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the LORD.”  

So why did GOD not permit them to have children during their younger years?  Scripture doesn’t come right out and say, but when they FINALLY had a son, GOD have them a name and everything for JOHN!  And John was UNIQUE, to say the least!

John was beheaded by Herod, so why did GOD not prevent this?  Being a follower of CHRIST is just as dangerous as being a forerunner of HIM!  We need to LIVE like John, unafraid of leaving “this world” because we KNOW “THE TRUTH”!!!

“IN PEACE!”

 

Psalm 4:8                 (ESV)

    “[8] “IN PEACE” I will both lie down and sleep;

        for YOU ALONE, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

It is not often nowadays that I wake up early in the morning.  Since the Brain Hemorrhage over 19 years ago, I have slept about 10 hours a night most of the time, with very few exceptions. 

“The coma” was as PEACEFUL as anything I have ever experienced in my life!  Having the people who love me suffer through that tumultuous ordeal is not something that I would want for them, but LETTING GO of the cares of “this world” is something that is VERY FREEING!!!

When we are able to REST “IN PEACE” from the cares of “this world”, it is truly something that can only be achieved through THE LORD OF HOSTS!  Acknowledging that HE IS IN CONTROL is paramount to being able to sleep “IN PEACE”!!  

Being able to sleep “IN PEACE” is something that we need to TRUST in YOU ALONE, O LORD to accomplish for us!  Our lives are SO BUSY that we can’t seem to LET GO of everything and rest “IN PEACE”!!!

“THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM!”

 

Psalm 145:18-21                 (ESV)

    “[18] “THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM”,

        to all who call on HIM in truth. 

    [19] HE fulfills the desire of those who fear HIM;

        HE also hears their cry and saves them. 

    [20] The LORD preserves all who love HIM,

        but all the wicked HE will destroy.

    [21] My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,

        and let all flesh bless HIS HOLY NAME forever and ever.”

On July 09, 2007 I was operating at a pace that didn’t allow hearing from GOD, so HE ORCHESTRATED me being placed into a SEVENTEEN DAY COMA on July 12-29 to SLOW DOWN the feverish pace just a bit!  

“THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM” wasn’t talking about me, because I wasn’t taking time to listen to anything……especially GOD IN HEAVEN!!!

HE graciously brought me through the “massive brain hemorrhage” with minimal brain damage.  HE also gave me a few mementos to carry with me, similar to the following words from my doctor: “However, he has had a remarkable recovery that could ONLY be defined as a miracle from GOD”!!!  

Over nineteen years later I am now BEGGING to be a servant written about above….“THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM”!!!  PLEASE LORD, speak to YOUR humble servant!!!

“ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME!”

 

Hebrews 13:13-16                 (ESV)

“[13] Therefore let us go to HIM outside the camp and bear the reproach HE endured. [14] For here WE HAVE NO LASTING CITY, but WE SEEK THE CITY THAT IS TO COME. [15] Through HIM then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to GOD, that is, the fruit of lips that “ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME”. [16] Do not neglect to DO GOOD and to SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE, for such sacrifices are PLEASING TO GOD.”  

Formerly in my life, I was CONSUMED with the results of my favorite college football team!  Keeping up with the team and their results was paramount to me.  Friends of mine currently are going to see their favorite teams, as I’m sure most of the country is.  The amount of investment that is spent towards collegiate sports is ASTRONOMICAL, because of the love of the respective teams.  

When I saw the above listed verses, my mind went to all of the time, effort, and treasure that was invested in supporting my teams.  But then I take into consideration the amount of money that I have spent playing, watching my loved ones playing, or just watching good teams playing all kinds of sports, and it rattles my brain that I should have been investing in THE KINGDOM OF GOD as much as my own desires!!!

As I am probably in my senior citizen years, it is almost shameful that THE KINGDOM OF GOD has been in the “back seat” of my mind until now??  Sure, my sons (and now my grandchildren!) dominated my passions at the time, but THE KINGDOM OF GOD is the MOST IMPORTANT from my current point of view!!!

GOD’S WORD is instructing us to “ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME” in the passage of Scripture above!  Whether it is a sporting event, a social gathering, or whatever we try to elevate before our SAVIOR…….we MUST “ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME” and WHO HE TRULY IS……THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES!!!

“THE LORD WHO GOES BEFORE YOU!”

 

Deuteronomy 31:7-8                 (ESV)

“[7] Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. [8] It is “THE LORD WHO GOES BEFORE YOU”.  HE will be with you; HE will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Remembering “”before the Brain Hemorrhage” of July 09, 2007, “my thoughts” were that I was “in control” of my life???  But when I awoke that morning I was ANYTHING BUT in control, as I was unable to communicate, walk, hug my family, or perform any other task!  It was as if GOD was displaying to this “giant of a man” that HE IS IN CONTROL, not me!!!!

As I sat in the “waiting room” of the hospital recently while a dear friend was in surgery, it was made clear to me ONCE AGAIN that GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!!!  Even when “we think” that we are in complete control, GOD IS IN CONTROL!!  Even though my memory from my 2007 hospital stay (52 days!) is quite sketchy and very troubling for my family, in the latter days I DO REMEMBER that I UNDERSTOOD that I was NOT IN CONTROL OF ANYTHING and that GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!  

“We think” that we are “in charge” of whatever things we are doing in life, but we are MOST DEFINITELY NOT!!!  Joseph was NOT IN CONTROL when his brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 17:18-36)!  He WASN’T IN CONTROL when he was placed into prison by Potiphar’s guards (Genesis 39:19-21)!  And still Joseph WASN’T IN CONTROL when he was ELEVATED to second in command, behind only to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:37-44) supposedly!!!

Because of the PATH I have been ASSIGNED, my VISION is quite different than what others have the ability to SEE!  I was TOTALLY “out of control” while I was in the drug-induced coma in 2007, but IN REALITY, I was NEVER in control!!!  GOD WAS/IS IN CONTROL!!!

When will my EYES TRULY be OPENED to SEE that GOD IS IN CONTROL???  Regardless of who or what is “on the throne” in the eyes of man, YAHWEH IS IN CONTROL!!!