Latter Rain

     The latter rain is neither soft and gentle, nor a hard downpour. Matter of fact, it isn't even what we would define as rain. It is the dew that settles gently on the ground and everything setting on the ground, whether it sets on grass or cars, flowers or houses. 

     In Scriptures, this latter rain is not a challenge, not a trial: it is the blessing that comes with having the favor of God in one's life. 

     I want this latter rain in my life.

Christmas Trivia 2015

So, how well do you know your Bible? If you are like me, you may think you are pretty smart. But we all know that God reveals Truths to us that we have glossed over in other times of study. Let's begin with the birth of Christ:

1. In the first four books of the New Testament we meet Jesus. Who in these books speaks of Jesus' birth? 
2. Who tells of the shepherds?
3. Who tells of the wise men?
4. Who doesn't even speak of His birth?

After His Birth:

5. Who greeted Jesus in the temple after His birth?
6. How many wise men came looking for Him?
7. How long had the wise men been looking for Jesus before they found Him? (The Bible doesn't say where Jesus was when they found Him, but we do know they didn't stay in the stable for that long).
8. What were the three gifts that the wise men brought to the new King of the Jews?

Before His Birth:

9. Most of us know that Isaiah prophesied of a coming King, but which other prophets spoke of this? List the verses in your reply.
10. In the Old Testament what titles are laid on the prophesied King? 

BONUS: For you study hogs: How many prophecies concerning Jesus Christ have already been fulfilled? And what are they?

A Light Like No Other

Out of millions of stars in the night skies one shone above all the others. Created to serve one purpose and one purpose only: lead the nations to the place which God had prepared for the birth of His only begotten Son. To bring the newborn King their, and our, worship and adoration. To bring the King of the Jews ourselves and lay not only the gifts in our hands at His feet, but the gifts in our hearts, as well. 

How fitting that the weather is so topsy-turvy this year. For it was not a cold winter night that welcomed the baby's birth, but a warm summer night. When the sheep could be on the surrounding hills, while their shepherds kept close watch. When the darkness of night would suddenly be illuminated by thousands, tens of thousands, of angels singing the praises of the newborn King of the Jews. A heavenly choir singing to a bunch of poor shepherds and their flocks. Calling out to them to "fear not", for this was a joyous occasion. And to Bethlehem they came. 

The supernatural star gleamed and shined forth its light over the stable where the baby lay, 'wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger'. The Bread of Life resting in a feeding trough. The Light of the world heralded with the special light which His heavenly Father had prepared for such an occasion. The Way in a manger. The Door through which all must walk through in belief that Jesus the Christ is the only begotten Son of God, who died on the cross and rose from the grave. 

In humble beginnings here on earth Jesus took His first breath, but not His last. For Christ is alive. For ever. That manger is empty and gone. That cross is empty and gone. That grave is empty, though many flock to see the tomb where it is said that He lay. I don't want to visit where He is not: I am going where He is!!

I saw that Light and I followed it to His heart. Now, I am in Him and He is in me, which is what He prayed for in the garden that night they hauled Him away like a common criminal. That Light lives in me and when I open my heart, His Light shines through. There is room for many, many more in His heart. Won't you reconsider and change your mind? And let Jesus change your heart? 

His Star, His Purpose

Sure Footed Confidence

O people of faith, wonder not why your feet hurt for God is making

your feet new, that His purpose may be fulfilled in you.

Your faith is growing because you have placed your trust in your God.

In His Word you are made new and whole and perfect.

His strength is ours for our journeys. 

His Wisdom is ours for our

understanding and undertakings.

His Love is the love wherewith we love others. 

His Peace is beyond the

scope of human understanding.

His Joy is unspeakable; 

there are no words that can adequately

describe it.

The Lord Jesus Christ alone is our Hope of Salvation, for there is no

other Name under heaven by which man can be saved.

His way is perfect and we are to walk in it by faith.

Determination: I will walk.

Perseverance; I am walking.

Overcomer: I have walked.

I Can't Hear You

Romans 10:17
So then, Faith comes by Hearing, and Hearing by
The WORD of GOD.

Are you having difficulty understanding The Holy Bible? Ask The Author for help. Read your Bible out loud. Doesn't matter how silly you think it sounds.. The Bible tells us that there is POWER in the Spoken WORD. And our Bibles are the Written WORD.. When we read Out Loud, we hear our voices Speaking The WORD of God in our ears and The Holy Spirit directs this WORD to our hearts! 

Take care which 'bible' you read, as well. Not all bibles are The Written WORD of GOD. While the KJV is my favorite, there are other reliable versions. The Amplified Bible applies Strong's Exhaustive Concordance right in the Bible verse, making it easier to understand the words in places. (Helps to have your own Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, too).

Some folks have their own bibles printed up with parts of the Bible removed. Ask God to direct you to the Bible He wants you to read. Like I said, KJV is my favorite. I have read the NKJV, NIV, RSV and I have a Greek-English New Testament nearby. I always come back to KJV (King James Version). And I keep Matthew Henry's Commentary near me to guide me in my studies. In fact, all of my study books are at hand to help me seek out that which is burning in my heart. 

See, this Faith verse? We cannot always get to church to hear The WORD of GOD preached by the pastor, minister, teacher, evangelist or missionary. But we can still hear The WORD of GOD spoken, if we are willing to speak IT out loud in our homes. Set down in your recliner, put your feet up, open your Bible and begin to read where God directs you to, where your heart is so inclined to go. 

We have no excuse for not hearing The WORD spoken, when we have ears that hear. But what about they who cannot hear because they are deaf? The heart hears The WORD, whether the lips move or not; the desire to hear is rewarded with the riches of heaven: The WORD gets applied. 

Some day we will see THE WORD of GOD with our eyes: face to face with JESUS we will be. Until then, we see and hear THE WORD OF GOD with our Faith.

Early Will I Seek Thee

I used to be a morning person. I loved being awake before the sun rose, sitting on the back porch and watching the sun come up over the trees, sipping my coffee.
Now, even though my eyes are open, and I can semi-function, I am not really awake until 10 A.M. And then I eat.
I try not to make any important decisions before I am fully awake, either. Regrets are for the impatient. Patience is waiting until the perfect time arrives to do the right thing, regardless of what I am contemplating doing.

But, did you know that God is a morning God? He created the mornings, when He created the daytime and the night time - Genesis 1:1-5 1. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5. And God called the light Day and the darkness he called Night And the evening and the morning were the first day."

The psalmist reminds us in Psalm 63:1 that seeking God early is beneficial to the body and the soul - "O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh longs for Thee, In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is."

Knowing this, I must begin to embrace the morning again. That God might be glorified in my life, through my words and my actions. Knowing this, I must trust that Father knows best for me. Knowing this, I must surrender daily to His perfect will for my life. For I am one of them. One of them who is called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), not my own purpose nor my own will/wants.

Knowing this, I must seek Jesus while He may be found. For some day, The Holy Spirit will take the Bride of Christ, His Church, out of this concept of time: Day and Night, and bring her to His side. You think the world is changing now? Just wait.

Or don't wait. Let Jesus into your hearts, and ask The Holy Spirit to start changing you now. Before it's too late.

Marisa - I Have Decided To Follow Jesus (w/Caleb Rexius)

Early Seek God

Bethlehem Ephratah: Flourishing Bread

"But thou, Beth'-le-hem Eph'ra-tah, though thou be little among the thousands of Ju'dah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Is'ra-el; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
Micah 5:2

Beth'-le-hem: House of Bread
Eph'ra-tah: Fruitful, Flourishing

Ju'dah: I will praise The Lord {Genesis 29:35}
Is'ra-el: Power with God {Genesis 32:28}

"Has not the Scripture said, 'That Christ comes of the seed of Da'vid, and out of the town of Beth'le-hem, where Da'vid was?" John 8:42

"And thou Beth'le-hem, in the land of Ju'da, art not the least among the princes of Ju'da: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Is'ra-el." Matthew 2:6

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jes'se, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." I-sa'iah 11:1

"Behold, the days come, saith The Lord, that I will raise unto Da'vid a righteous and Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Ju'dah shall be saved, and Is'ra-el shall dwell safely: and this is His Name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jeremiah 23:5,6

"And one of the elders said unto me, 'Weep not: behold, The Lion of the tribe of Ju'da, the Root of Da'vid, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." Revelation 5:5

"Blessed be The Lord God of Is'ra-el; for He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant Da'vid." Luke 1:68,69

"I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Ja'cob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Is'ra-el, and shall smite the corners of Mo'ab, and destroy all the children of Sheth." Numbers 24:17

Seek The Lord

Now is not the time to sit back and relax. There is no higher state of consciousness. Random acts of kindness are just that: random; inconsistent, worthless without faith in Christ to back them up. Tolerance is not love. And tolerating other religious beliefs will only get us in trouble with God.

I don't want to get in trouble with God. I want to be in God's favor. As my friend Tammy C reminded me, "I am blessed and highly favored." Not because I am labeled 'Christian', but because I am obedient in His Word and faithful according to His Word.

If I sit back and relax, how is that seeking God's kingdom? How does sitting and doing nothing increase God's kingdom? Who gets prayed for? Who prays?
There is another variation of New Age philosophy making rounds, and being condoned by 'Christians' that if you just wait for it, love will come to you and you will be overflowing with such love that you must love others with it. This is so not true.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if, from now on, you seek The Lord your God, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Matthew 6:33
First you seek the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things (vs. 24-34) shall be added unto you.

Psalm 69:32
The humble shall see this, and be glad: And your heart shall live that seek God.

Psalm 63:1
O God, You are my God; early will I seek You: my soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You, In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.

Jeremiah 29:11-14
For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says The Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon Me, and you shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken (ie: listen, hear, give heed) to you. And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with your whole heart. And I will be found of you, says The Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from al the places where I have driven you, says The Lord; and I will bring you again into the place where I caused you to be carried away captive.

Amos 5:8
Seek Him that makes the seven stars and Orion, And turns the shadow of death into the morning, And makes the day dark with night: That calls for the waters of the sea, And pours them out upon the face of the earth: THE LORD IS HIS NAME.

Isaiah 55:6,7
Seek ye The Lord while He may be found, Call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return to The Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Faith On Fire Artwork

Questions God Asks-Genesis 3

I started this study 3 1/2 years ago and I am still only half way through it. But if I don't start sharing it now, I may never get to.

I began studying Questions God Asks because I was ruminating on how many times we ask God questions, our reasons for asking and His replies to us. And I wondered, "Does God ask questions of us? And if He does, how many times has God asked us a question and what is the answer to the questions that He asks?

So, I went digging through my Bible. The best place to start any search is the beginning; to Genesis I went then. Herein is my study and prelude to study.

1. How many questions does God ask, as related in the Scriptures, and what are those questions?

2. Why are the questions asked?

3. What is the implication, if any, behind the questions being asked?

God does not ask rhetorical questions. Every question asked demands an answer. Every answer leads to a result. This three-phase conversation has an implication in life. It is as if every question God has asked then, He is asking now.

Q1. Genesis 3:9 And The LORD GOD called unto Adam, saying, 'Where are you?'
A. The question is asked because God could not see Adam, for sin was upon Adam because he disobeyed God. God is holy and as such cannot look upon sin, for sin is unholy.

Q2,3. Genesis 3:11 And He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat of the tree, whereof I commanded you not to?'
A. Adam's response was to blame the woman which God had given him.

Q4. Genesis 3:13 And The LORD GOD said to the woman, 'What have you done?'
A. Eve blamed the serpent.

Man's first response when confronted with his sin is to deny responsibility and blame others for his own errors.

But God holds us accountable for our actions and our words.

The first question God asks us, He asks because He yearns for our companionship. He longs to walk with us, speak with length with us. God desires to know us intimately. He loves us and wants to spend time with us.

And, yes, because of our inclination to yield to sin and temptation,we are covered in darkness, cloaked with deception and wickedness. It is because we are unable in and of ourselves to atone for our unrighteousness, that Christ was given as our sacrificial Lamb. It is He who covers us with Himself, that God may once again look on us.

I must ask myself, can God see me? Yes, I know He can, for the blood of His Son Jesus Christ has washed away my sins. I am forgiven for I have repented before God and acknowledged that I was a sinner. In His infinite mercy God forgave me, Christ came to live in me via The Holy Spirit and every day I grow a little bit closer to God through Jesus Christ.

Then I can turn to you and ask the same question: Can God see you?

Catching Up and East From West

I know it's been awhile since last I posted. One of the main reasons? My browser was infected with some kind of advertisement bug and it wouldn't let me access my pages without a ton of interference.

There is coming a day, however, when I will no longer be able to share my studies with you. Until that day occurs, these studies will keep coming.

Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

As Rudyard Kipling stated in his epic poem 'The Ballad of East and West',

 "East is east and west is west and never the twain shall meet."

He knew his Scripture when he used that statement. And it's true: no matter how you shape it or imagine it, east will never meet west. When God forgives us for our sins, after we repent of our sins, the penalty for those sins committed, is forever paid by another: JESUS CHRIST, God's only begotten Son. Thus those sins will never be judged, for they have been forgiven and forgotten by God. 

It is by God's mercy that we are forgiven-Psalm 103:17-18  "But the mercy of The LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear (hold in awe and wonder) Him, and His righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them."

What is God's covenant with us? His Son, The LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

Hebrews 13:20,21 "Now The GOD of Peace, that brought again from the dead our LORD JESUS, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through JESUS CHRIST; to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Jeremiah 31:33,34  "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith THE LORD, I will put My Law in their hearts; and will be their GOD, and they shall be My people. 

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know THE LORD': for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them,' saith THE LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Hebrews 8:6 "But now has He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." Hebrews 8:10 "For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith THE LORD; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a GOD, and they shall be to Me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying Know THE LORD: for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."

I love that God's mercy endures for ever. I love that God's mercy is not just for me and you, but for our children and their children, as well. The prayers we pray now are impacting not only us, but they who will come after us: children's children's children. Someone prayed for us before we were ever born. Let's keep this legacy of remaining in prayer with our God going.

Sweeter Than Honey

Isaiah 7:15 
Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 

Psalm 19:10
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb

Hebrews 1:4
God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholds all things by The Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 
Being made so much better than the angels, á He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent NAME than they. 

1 John 3:23
And this is His commandment, That we should believe on The NAME of His Son JESUS CHRIST, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 

1 John 4:15
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is The Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.

I Am - I Have - I Can

There is power in the spoken Word.

Best line in a song I heard recently? “Excuse me a minute while I give the devil a black eye.” (Lady Tramaine Hawkins, I Never Lost My Praise)

And then, while I was channel surfing the other night, televangelist Joel Osteen popped up on the screen, reminding us to speak positive words instead of negative words into our lives. Stop saying how bad it is, how sick we are, what's bringing us down and keeping us there. It's never too late to start saying how good it is and what we have and are according to God.

        So, I thought it would be a good idea to write down who the Scriptures         say I am, what I have and what I can do.

I Am

I am an Ambassador for Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:20

I am fearfully and wonderfully made – Psalm 139:14

I am healed and saved for The LORD is my Praise –

Jeremiah 17:4

I am saved through faith – Ephesians 2:8

I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that I should walk in -

Ephesians 2:10

I am one of the saints in the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and of The Chief Cornerstone Jesus Christ; framed together with other saints in the building of the holy temple which grows together in The Lord; becoming a habitation (dwelling place, living) of God through The Spirit. - Ephesians 2:19-22

My eyes are open; I am turned from darkness to light, from Satan's power to God's power. I have received from God forgiveness for my sins and have an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith – Acts 26:18

I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me –

Galatians 2:20

I am healed with His stripes – Isaiah 53:5

I Have

I have a strong heart for I hope in The LORD – Psalm 31:24

I have beautiful feet – Isaiah 52:7 & Romans 10:15

I have a sound mind – 2 Timothy 1:7

I have a renewed mind through the transformation process of faith in God – Romans 12:2

I have hands that build and defend – Nehemiah 4:17

I have shoulders strong, to bear burdens – Nehemiah 4:17

I have the peace of God ruling in my heart – Colossians 3:15

I have renewed strength because I wait on The Lord; wings as eagles – Isaiah 40:31

I have Christ living in me, for I am rooted and grounded in love – Ephesians 3:17

I have sweet thoughts of The Lord – Psalm 104:34

I have honest, pure, lovely, just, of good report thoughts – Philippians 4:8

I have lips that utter praise when He has taught me His statutes – Psalm 119:171

My tongue speaks of His Word: for all His commandments are Righteousness – Psalm 119:172

I have strong hands: I hear the words of the prophets – Zechariah 8:9

I have hinds' feet: God makes my feet like hinds' feet and sets me upon my high places – 2 Samuel 22:34 & Psalm 18:33

I Can

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me –

Philippians 4:13

I can run and not grow weary, I can walk and not faint –

Isaiah 40:31

I can rejoice evermore – 1 Thessalonians 5:16

         I can pray without ceasing – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

I can do nothing without Him – John 15:5

The Prayer Meeting

The best place for us to attack our enemy, Satan, is where He is not and cannot go: Prayer Meeting. 
When we come together in prayer, we are praying in Jesus' Name. 
When we come together in prayer, we are praying with each other through The Holy Spirit of God. 
When we come together in prayer, we are coming together in war, for we battle the forces of evil.
When we come together in prayer, we pray with one voice, one heart, one mind and one spirit.
When we come together in prayer, we are strong in battle.
When we come together in prayer, we raise our voices in praise and worship of our Lord God, our Deliverer and Savior. 
When we come together in prayer, we stay together in prayer, even if we are apart. Mere distance cannot separate us; for God is with us and He can be everywhere at the same time.
When we come together in prayer, we win our battles with worship and praise; God does the fighting and He never loses.
When we come together in prayer, the devil gets more than a black eye. 
When we come together in prayer, our family members not only get saved, they are filled with The Holy Spirit and a joyful desire to serve The Living God. 
When we come together in prayer, disease, sickness and illness are healed.
When we come together in prayer, sorrow dissipates, grief is comforted.
When we come together in prayer, minds are set at peace; frustration, discouragement, depression flee.
When we come together in prayer, chains of addictions are broken.
When we come together in prayer, rebellious hearts are broken, repentant hearts are renewed.
When we come together in prayer, we come together in love.

So, now, at this time, let us pray together in unity for God to have His way in our lives. Allow Him to be in control and to follow wherever  He may lead us. Let us pray for one another, not knowing the need but asking that God would intercede on each request, for He is faithful to answer when we pray according to His Word.

Greater Love

It is not an Easter message, it is an Everyday message.

Many folks who are in heaven now heard this message from 

at least one person who shared the Good News of Christ's 

death on the cross and resurrection from the grave when 

they were not even in a church building.

Each one who knows the life-changing relationship with 

Christ is responsible for reaching other people and sharing 

the Good News that changed their hearts and their lives. Just like me.

My job as a Christian is to preach The Gospel of Jesus Christ. The same command He gave His disciples in The New Testament is still a valid command even today. For the end of The New Testament has yet to pas and we are still living in New Testament times.

The Bible is not a has-been book. The Bible is a current events book. If you read it and don't understand what you are reading, ask The Author, God, to reveal Hímself in His Word, that you might know Him better, not just know about Him.

You have heard but you have not seen.

You have seen but you have not believed.

While it is my joy to share Jesus with you, it is your choice whether or not to believe, to accept.

This is the day which The Lord has made. What did you do with it? And if tomorrow comes, what will you do with Him then?

In Your Tabernacle

Revelation 21:3 states that at a future and permanent time "the Tabernacle of God is with men". 
This Tabernacle is Christ Jesus, God's Son. 





The Tabernacle of God stated as such in Revelation 21:3 is that same Tabernacle to which David referred in Psalm 61:4. 

I will abide in Your Tabernacle for ever: 

I will trust in the covert of your wings.

At both times, the word 'tabernacle' refers to a dwelling, a tent which can be seen from afar. These are not the only two verses, however, which mean tent or dwelling. 

In The Old Testament of The Bible the word 'tabernacle' with this meaning is referred to 182 times; in The New Testament, 15 times. Of these references, here are two more to think on:

>Psalm 27:5-6 "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion, in the secret of His Tabernacle shall He hide me: He shall set me upon a Rock. And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His Tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises unto The Lord."

>Hebrews 9:1-12 "But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of the building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

And while the word 'covert' may trip some up, it simply means 'hiding place, secret place, protection'. 

Se'lah is a musical pause, a suspension of music in between verses.