I Am Christian's Mind

 

1 PETER 4:7

The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.

    I am Christian's mind. I think with the mind of Christ -- 1 Corinthians 2:16 "For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ." Having surrendered my life and my body to the service of my God, my mind is also part of that package dedication. Though it will not show up on any x-ray nor be visible in any anatomy class, my mind is essential in being of service to my King and Lord. 

    The mind is the center of the soul. It controls the spirit and regulates the breath thereof. Just as in physiology the diaphragm controls the breathing and regulates the heart, so, too, does the mind control the center of its being. When I gave my heart and my life to Christ, I gave Him my thoughts, too, for they originate in the mind. 

    When I was a wretched sinner, my mind was given over to lascivious thoughts which were taking me down the road to hell. But when I gave my mind to Christ and He entered into my heart by my faith in His Name through the power of God's Holy Spirit, my mind had to align with His mind. Being stuck in this body of sin and having the mind of Christ there is a constant struggle to maintain a righteous way of thinking. But God didn't leave me there. He shows me in His Word how to get control over wayward thinking. 

    Philippians 4:8 tells me how to think with the mind of Christ. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

    My mind decides my actions. While we may think some things get done without much thought, that is decidedly untrue; for the mind is in constant motion, even while sleeping, and thoughts that we may be unaware of eventually come to pass unless we take control of our thoughts. Being Christian's mind self-control includes how I think. Though I take the reins of my thoughts, I am still Christ's and He is still guiding me and leading me throughout my day. 1 Peter 2:11 "Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. " 

    I am Christian's mind. I meditate (think on) on The Word of God. I allow it to sink into my very self, my inner being, my existence. I seek His Word that He may fill me with Himself that there may be no room for anything else. No room for ugliness only loveliness. No room for lies, only truth. No room for deceitfulness, only honesty. No room for injustice, only justice and fairness. No room for impure thoughts, only a pure heart (Matthew 5:8). No room for propaganda, only prophetic and blessed. No room for deprivation and injuriousness, only virtue. No room for self-righteousness, only praise to our God. These things I think on. 

    I am Christian's mind. I meditate on The Word of God. 

Psalm 119:15 I meditate on His precepts and consider His ways

Psalm 143:5 I meditate on all His ways and consider what His hands have made

Psalm 4:4 I meditate within my heart while I prepare for rest

Psalm 119:11 Because I meditate on His Word it is hidden deep within my heart leading me away from a life of sin to a life of holiness

    I am Christian's mind. I think before I speak. I think before I act. I consider the consequences of my possible actions before I put my thoughts into action. I rest in the knowledge that I have the mind of Christ as well as the Love of God living in me and bringing me to fulfill the purposes for which He has chosen me to serve Him. 

    My conduct, the way I behave, originates in my mind. Therefore, I must constantly be on guard, be alert, to the ways in which the enemy of my soul attacks me. He is sneaky and underhanded. I must fill my thoughts with The Word of God that I may be able to defend myself against Satan's dart throwing (Ephesians 6:10-20). I am armed with The Word of God and The Holy Spirit of God. My mind remains focused on pursuing holiness and the desire to bring you all with me on this journey. 

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD - Christ For The Nations

THINK ON THESE THINGS  - K-8 Music (children's choir) 

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER - Vineyard

    

I Am Christian's Soul - Part Two

 

    I am Christian's soul. My soul is comprised of my heart, my mind, my strength. These three things are so intertwined it is impossible to separate them. What and how I think takes place in my mind. Then my thoughts travel to my heart, where I may ponder them and consider my next action regarding my thoughts. How I put my thoughts into action comes from my attitude towards what I am thinking about. 

    My soul has a price, it has value. Because I have been purchased by the blood of The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, my soul belongs to Him. This redemptive process began when I believed on The Name of The Lord for my salvation. Now I am in the holiness stage where The Holy Spirit of God is making me holy, for without this holiness from God, I could not be with God. For He demands holiness from His people. 

    My 💙 is filled with the love of God, the agape kind of love, which is unconditional. No requirements are there to this love. When God loves us, He loves all of us. That's why He sent His Son, His Word, to us: that Jesus would Redeem us through His death and give us new life through His resurrection. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

    My 💙 contains my faith. My faith has come from hearing The Word of God in all its fulness and truth and applying it to my everyday way of life. When I waken, I thank Him for a new day and I praise Him for Who He Is. As I move through my day, He is with me by His Spirit, encouraging me in His Word and the music He provides to me.

    My 💙 is the seat of my emotions. I have known joy and I have known sorrow. I love, but I cannot hate. Compassion and mercy flow through me. I have both sympathy and empathy within me. A sympathetic heart commiserates with the unknown trials a person goes through. An empathetic heart, having gone through various trials, knows the value of the words spoken or unspoken in those given situations. 

    I am Christian and this is my heart. 

My 🤔 is sound and sober. Though a million thoughts may race through me at any given moment, the only thoughts that matter are the ones that stay. Memories live here briefly. Most remain in the heart. Some fade away with time. 

    Because I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), I am clear-minded and can see with clarity. No longer do I live in a rose-colored world, nor do I bury my head in the sand. I read and I watch. I am alert and aware of the events going on around me. But I am not afraid for God The Lord is with me. I live in anticipation of the soon and coming King, for I see prophecies being fulfilled before my eyes and I hear of great and mighty things happening not just in faraway places but right here up close and personal. 

    My 🤔 is focused on the job at hand, this field work which I have been given to do. Though some days I struggle, with The Lord so close to me, I am able to perform the task given. I never work alone. The Lord has given me many tasks in His Word. There are times when I can get more than one done at a time. Some of my tasks are woven into each other and are unbreakable. 

    His Word says to "seek first the kingdom of God", which means I need to know God first before I can go looking for His kingdom or even begin to increase His kingdom, advancing His cause across the regions. Knowing God:  Acts 17:24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is The Lord of heaven and earth, and does not live in temples made by hands." Know The Lord: Hebrews 8:11 "No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, 'Know The Lord,' because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest."

    I am Christian and this is my mind.

    My strength, my attitude, is how I perceive that which is spoken to me and by me; it is how I process the things which I have heard and seen with my heart and my mind. I can live in despair and doubt or I can live in hope and faith. I choose to live in hope and faith. I choose to persevere and move forward regardless of the pain of movement or the knowledge that what lies ahead could be dangerous and life-threatening.

     My life does not belong to me, therefore nothing should stop me from pursuing the righteousness of Christ that I may obtain the crowns which He has for me; only to lay these crowns at His feet. For everything I have has been received from Him and it is only fit and due that I give it all back to Him. Attitude: Acts 20:24  "But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life]."

    My strength, my attitude is my will: it is the "I want", the "I have to have it" and "I need" of a person's desire. I am Christian and I have surrendered my will to God's will. For I have learned, and am still learning, that Father knows best. Therefore, what I want is what God wants: that all people everywhere should be saved. Having surrendered my will to His has changed my prayer life. His strength is my joy and my salvation. 

    I am Christian's soul and I am constantly being attacked by Satan and the little darts he throws in my direction. My shield of faith must always be raised to block them. So I will stand firm on The Word of God and I will be His steadfast servant. For I have armed myself with The Word of God, The Love of God and The Hope of My Salvation. I am strong in The Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10); I am fearless. Yet the enemies of my soul should live in fear of what Christ is doing through me and in me. 

    I am Christian's soul and I live in Christ Who lives in me. 

JESUS HAVE IT ALL - Jeremy Riddle
MAKE ROOM - Community Music

LIVING FOR JESUS 

A Crucified Life - - Is Humbled & Obedient

 

Philippians 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death -- even death on the cross.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5013

Humbled: to make low

From the Greek word 'tapeinoó' (pronounced tap-i-no'-o): stoops to become a servant. 

    Now, be honest with yourself. When was the last time you humbled yourself and did what God was asking you to do? 

    Jesus humbled Himself. He put aside the comforts of His home and went on a journey. A journey whose earthly journey began in a stable. A journey whose ministry of being the gospel led to the cross, the tomb and the garden.     

    He chose to leave the beautifulness of heaven and come to a sinful world that He might die on the cross for us. He chose the nails. He chose to be obedient to His Father. He chose what He chose for the sake of Love. 

    John 3:16,17

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

    John 1:24

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

    Isaiah 53:5

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.

    Willingly. Obediently. By choice. Making an independent decision to do what His heavenly Father was asking Him to do. 
    Just as, when God calls each of us to do a task, we must each make that same independent decision to hear, trust and obey. The decision to choose between making a right godly choice and making the decision to do what we want to do is accomplished on a day to day basis. All day long we are tempted to sin, to turn against God and live in rebellion. But all day long, God waits for us to turn to Him for help. 

    He's not pushy and will not go where He is not wanted. Do you want God in your life? Then you need to ask Him to come into the heart of your life: the center of our being needs to be the center where He is being, living, loving. 

    Lord, I have failed You many times, please forgive me. Help me to live a humble and obedient life, as I follow You in my journey. I, too, am a wayfaring stranger. And I need You with me day and night. Not my will but Yours be done. 

In Jesus' Precious Name,

Amen.

HUMBLED & OBEDIENT

Wayfaring Stranger

He Chose The Nails

O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

The Old Rugged Cross

Lamb of God, Holy One

Wounded One & One Found Worthy

The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference

I Know Whom I Have Believed

Guard Your Hearts - - Obtaining His Peace

 

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 

Peace of God: one, quietness, rest, peace of mind, to join together as a whole, God's gift of wholeness

From the Greek word 'eiréné' (pronounced  i-ray'-nay). 

    This Peace of God is only made possible when the born again believer is IN CHRIST. We know He is in us when we exercise our faith and believe in Him as our Lord and Savior. But we are In Christ when we are in The Word, when we live The Word and The Word lives and thrives in us. Do people see Jesus in you when they look in your direction? Has a total stranger come up to you and said, "You're a Christian. I can tell," without you ever having said a word? This has happened to me a few times. I am so very thankful that Christ is in me and I am in Christ. 

    To get the full gist of this verse we need to read the verse previous and the verse after:

6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

    The psalmist wrote (Psalm 42:5), "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence." In Christ there is no reason to be downcast, to be sad, to be anxious. In Christ we have peace. The psalmist had hope as he reminded himself (and us). He had hope in God: in God's Word, in God's presence. 

FILL OUR MINDS CAREFULLY

    Be anxious for nothing, Paul writes to the church in Philippi. The church must have been suffering, going through hard times. For unknown reasons Paul was urged by the Spirit to encourage the church in Philippi to be "anxious for nothing". Don't worry, don't stress. Instead, bring your requests to God. He was reminding them to pray. And to pray diligently. 

    Paul also reminds the church to be careful of how they think; to think with intelligence and wisdom:

• Whatever is True (don't harbor lies)
• Whatever is Honorable (have integrity)
• Whatever is Right (uncorrupted)
• Whatever is Pure (no impure thoughts)
• Whatever is Lovely (no unpleasant thoughts)
• Whatever is Admirable (no shameful, despicable thoughts)
• Excellent (not ugly, not crude, not detestable thoughts)
• Praiseworthy (dishonorable, disrespectful thoughts)

    The opposite of all these positive ways to think is a distraction from how God wants us to think. How do we obtain God's peace? By reading God's Word. By praying God's Word. By living God's Word. By speaking God's Word. In other words, God's Word is essential to the church's, to the born again believer's way of life, which includes how we think. 

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

    When we pray, we are to pray expecting. Expecting God to keep His promise: His Peace will guard our hearts. In Christ. The believer is in Christ through the power of God's Holy Spirit. And Christ is most definitely in the believer through the power of God's Holy Spirit. 

    What thoughts are more wonderful than thinking on God's Holy Word? What thoughts are more powerful than thinking on God's Holy Word? None. Once the Word of God is in us, it is up to us to keep it at the forefront of our thinking. 

    Waking up with thoughts of praise and worship are wonderful ways to greet our day. Keeping those thoughts there is the challenge. It is then that we call on God to guard our tongues, as well. To keep us near Him and speak only what He wants us to speak, that our words be gentle, kind and loving. The frustrated heart should keep the tongue silent. 

GOD IS JUDGE

    The church is living an age when all the forces of evil are again coming against it. The only secure refuge is in God. Psalm 37:7 "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass." And again, in Psalm 37:1, 8 1. "Do not fret over doers of evil; do not envy those who do wrong." 8. Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret--it can only bring harm."

    In other words, let God handle the wrong that is being done to the church and in the church. Be aware now that God will accomplish His purpose in the church first before He moves onto they who come against her. So we need to be "strong in the LORD and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). His strength and His power is, after all, part of our uniform, so to speak, part of our soldiers of Christ gear. 

    Acts 17:31 "For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” 

     Christ will judge the thoughts of mankind, too. Which is why The Word warns us against thinking bad thoughts, unkind thoughts, unloving thoughts. When we love like Christ ("love one another as I have loved you" [John 13:34]), it is impossible to have ugly thoughts roaming our mind. 

    When we live In Christ, we live in the Love of Christ. We are His temple, His residence. Our bodies are in His body, His service. It is our job to keep the temple clean. 

    We sweep away the cobwebs of thoughtlessness and think with purpose, a higher purpose. We wash the floors of dirt and grime (impurities) and walk in The Word that is in us. We scrub the walls of our minds and brush off the years of thinking outside The Word, that thinking on The Word of God will be etched and embedded within us. We make room for The Word of God when we, first, ask Him into our hearts, and second, read and study His Word faithfully. 

KNOW GOD, KNOW PEACE

    God's Word must be in us in order for us to think wonderful thoughts that His Peace would be able to guard our hearts and our minds. Let us come into His presence with humble hearts, ask and receive His forgiveness for our arrogance in thinking we can do it all by ourselves. We can't do anything on our own. We need to be faithful in our prayer times, even as His Word says, "Pray without ceasing." 

    If we are in constant communication with our God, then we know that we have this Peace. Why wait until you're at the end of your rope to reach out to God, to cry out to God, when you can talk to God before you ever touch the rope? Ephesians 2:12 "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."

LET US PRAY by Steven Curtis Chapman

PERSON IN CHRIST  by Tenielle Neda

PERFECT PEACE by Bec Armour

YET NOT I BUT THROUGH CHRIST IN ME by CityAlight

HERO by Seph Schlueter

    

Intelligent Worship -- Seek God -- Part 2

 Now that we recognize the Authority of the One True God, we earnestly desire to know Him better, so we Seek Him out, craving with all our hearts to hear His voice more clearly, that we may understand His Word more readily.

Isaiah 55:6

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 11:9-10

So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 

In Isaiah 55 it is the Lord God Who is speaking. From verse one all the way through, we read and hear the Lord God speaking to us: from the promise to the warning to the reward. 

The Lord God will not always be found for one day He will not only pull His church from the face of the earth, but His Holy Spirit will leave, too. He will be sought by many who waited to long to surrender their hearts and their decision to believe in Him will be at the cost of their lives. 

Revelation 14:14-20

They who do not take the mark of the beast will be made to suffer and be killed for their decision. Many will refuse to take it and not still not believe the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. But those people who do believe will be added to the growing list of martyrs whose names are written in the Book of Life (Revelation 17:6). 

You know, once you start reading Revelation it's really hard to stop. Seeking the Lord is fulfilling to the heart and the spirit of me, as it surely and hopefully is to you, too. 

David wrote in Psalm 34:8 "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" To 'taste' here means 'to perceive, to know, to examine by tasting' in small quantities at a time to the goodness of the Lord. 

Synonyms for 'taste': Perceive, Discern, Savor (upon the {spiritual} tongue); Understanding, Desire, Heart; Appreciate, Have Knowledge Of. 

When I seek God, I want to know more than I already know. I started studying deeply before I became a minister of the Word. Just reading my Bible every day wasn't enough: I had to know, I craved the meat of the Word because I was growing up in Him exponentially. I still am. Some days I run, some days I walk, but every day I am in the Word. It is as much a part of me as breathing is. 

Philippians 1:20-21

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. or to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Lithos -- Stumblingstone

 

LITHOS

(pronounced lee'-thos)

STUMBLINGSTONE

Romans 9:33

As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Sion a Stumblingstone and Rock of Offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

 Isaiah 8:14

And He will be a sanctuary--but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.

Isaiah 28:16

So this is what the Lord GOD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken."

Matthew 21:42

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

Psalm 118:22

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

1 Peter 2:6

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

     As born again believers we have nothing to be ashamed of, nor confounded (confused) over. We are able to believe because the Holy Spirit of God has stirred within us a desire to believe. And we choose to listen to Him, believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and give our hearts, our lives and everything about us to Him; following Him in our everyday life, choosing to submit to His will in every decision, big or small. 

     We are not to hide our faith in Jesus Christ, nor are we to flaunt it with a 'holier than thou' stance. We are overjoyed to be included in God's family and serve Him in His kingdom. And we strive to share this joy we have in Him with others which usually, if we are following the Spirit's leading, leads us into both joy (that another person has accepted Christ) and suffering (because we are coming under attack (mocking, persecution) for sharing our faith). 

     It is Jesus Christ and Him crucified and resurrected that throws some folks off, making it harder for them to believe. We must remember that at one time we, too, were not believers. And remember what it took to get us to turn our hearts to God. Never stop praying for someone else, no matter how long it takes for them to turn their hearts to God. Never speak against another person, nor gossip about them. For this not only taints your testimony, but negates your relationship with God and people. Why would anyone want to be a Christian like that when the world system behaves in much the same way?

     Remember that the Cornerstone of our faith is Jesus Christ. The Word says to lay no other foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11 "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."). And that everything built on that Foundation will be judged by God. Therefore, we must build with wisdom and use only the building materials which the Spirit has given us to build with. 

Philippians 4:4-9

4) Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

5) Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.

6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

9) And what you have learned and have received and have heard and have seen in me, practice these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

Today's Word -- Sufficient

 2 Corinthians 12:9

And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

SUFFICIENT: adequate for the purpose; enough 

(synonyms for 'sufficient': acceptable, plentiful, ample, proportionate, satisfactory)

YOUR GRACE IS ENOUGH by Chris Tomlin

Ephesians 3:16-19

I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Romans 8:35-37

Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Philippians 1:20

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

THIS IS AMAZING GRACE by Phil Wickham

GRACE THAT IS GREATER THAN ALL OUR SIN by Sovereign Grace Music

Regardless of the trials, the tests, the afflictions we suffer, God's GRACE is SUFFICIENT for us, His children, for the GRACE of CHRIST rests on us, on we who are born again into His Kingdom by the blood of Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. His Grace is truly enough, His Strength is our strength, His Peace is our peace. 

As the verse reminds us, in Acts 17:28 "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring." 

The Lord Is -- April

 

TSUR YISRAEL

ROCK OF ISRAEL

Isaiah 30:29

You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. 

YHVH ELOHIM QADOSH

THE LORD OUR GOD IS HOLY

Psalm 99:9

Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

BACHIR

CHOSEN ONE

Isaiah 42:1

“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations."

Matthew 12:17-21

This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.

He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets.

A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.

In His name the nations will put their hope.” 

Matthew 1:21

"She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus (The LORD is salvation), for He will save His people from their sins.”

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

LEON IOUDAS

LION OF JUDAH

Revelation 5:5

But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

Hebrews 7:14-15

He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, a tribe as to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

Micah 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be Ruler over Israel--One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

I Speak Jesus

     Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world*. For He that is in me is the Light of the world and the Light shines in the darkness which comprehends Him not*. This Light lives in me and shines through me into the darkness of the world around me*.

*1 John 4:4

*John 8:12; John 3:19; John 1:4; John 9:5; John 12:35-36, 46

*Matthew 5:14-16; Proverbs 4:18; Philippians 2:15

This Light is Jesus Christ. I speak Light. This Light is Love. I speak Love. This Light is Hope. I speak Hope. This Light is Mercy. I speak Mercy. This Light is Peace. I speak Peace. This Light is Healing. I speak Healing.

This Light is Jesus Christ. I speak Jesus.

Peace & Contentment

 In all things I am content: through every trial, in every situation I have the peace that passes understanding, the Prince of Peace reigns in my heart. It may look like apathy to you, but it's truly peace. The peace that only a relationship with Jesus Christ can bring. By applying the Word of God to my life on a daily basis, I remain in the will of God.

Philippians 4:6-9, 11-13

6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

9. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

11. I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

12. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.

13. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 

10. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW

 

 As The Father Commands

John 14:31

"But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here."

John 12:49

"I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it."

Everything Jesus did or said was in obedience to His Father's commands. Everything.

Seek God's Will

John 4:34

"Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work."

John 5:30

"I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."

Obedient Unto Death

Philippian 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

He Became Sin

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 

A Different Peace

 

 

John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid."

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Even now this world calls for peace. But beware. One will come who will declare peace and delude people into thinking he has created peace. But it will be a false peace. 

There is only one peace that will last for ever and that Peace is the Peace of God. Him who declares that the Prince of Peace is Jesus Christ has sent us His Peace to save our souls. Not only that but He has sent us His Holy Spirit to sanctify us and make us holy that we may for ever live in the presence of God. That's peace.

That's a peace that passes understanding and can only be obtained by faith in the name of the Son of God: Jesus Christ. 

Stand your guard, discipline yourself, watch and pray that we may be alert, ready. aware. 

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

KEY HOLDER

 

Revelation 1:17-18
  When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God], and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead)."

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies."

Romans 6:9 
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.

  

Romans 14:9

For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.

Several keys are mentioned in the Bible. For instance, Isaiah writes about the Key to the House of David, a key of Authority and Power, which was taken from the one wearing it and given to another. Now, Christ has this key: Revelation 3:7 "These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He who has the key [to the house] of David, He who opens and no one will [be able to] shut, and He who shuts and no one opens."

There are the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven: Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.", which Jesus gives to His followers. (TBD at a later date)

There is the Key of Knowledge in Luke 11:52.

The Key to the Abyss, the bottomless pit in Revelation 9:1.

All of these keys are keys of authority and power. The one who holds them wields in justice and truth, because they are God-given keys; God is Truth and Love, He holds ALL Power and ALL Authority. He determines which doors open or shut and when. Daniel 2:21-God determines the seasons and years; God sets up kings and takes kings down; God gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Romans 13:1 and James 5.

Now we know that the only begotten Son of God holds ALL these keys, as well. He has been given by God the Father ALL Authority to rule His kingdom as He Will. 

John 5:21

"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes."

Not only is He the Key Holder, He is also the Way & the Door: John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 10:9 "I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security)."

Let me tell you, you who doubt and do not believe: the day is coming when you will no longer doubt, nor will you hold to unbelief. Whether on this side of eternity or the other you will acknowledge that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. For God has said in Isaiah 45:23 "By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance." and again in Philippians 2:9-11 "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 

Again, in Romans 14:11 "It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” 

We who confess on this side of eternity also bow and acknowledge that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. But we are not forced to do so. We do confess and acknowledge His Authority because we love Him who first loved us: 1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us." 

We are not afraid to die for His name's sake. Matthew 10:28 "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Just a reminder that JESUS CHRIST holds the Keys to death and hell. Which side of the Door do you want to be on? 

I Am Able To Spring Clean

"I am able to do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

• I am able to walk -- Mark 1:34
• I am able to talk -- Matthew 12:44
• I am able to see -- Mark 10:51

And because I am able to do ALL THINGS through Christ Who strengthens me with Himself, I can

• Clean my closets
• Wash the dishes
• Sweep the floors
• Help my husband keep our house
• Help my husband organize and toss out things (yes, we are spring cleaning in the summer!)

If the items in our house have no viable use or purpose, then out they go. Some things must stay, besides the furniture, linens, clothes and dishware. So, through Christ, I am able to discern what is important and what is not. My desk will finally be organized so I can see it again. And our closets will be empty.

Keep photos

Keep important documents

Keep books

Keep files

Keep jewelry