Grace, Mercy, and Love for God...

God's Grace, Mercy, and Love for us is the sole purpose that any of us are alive today. Sure, it was our biological parents that, through the act of coitus and the miracle of conception, gave birth to us, but without the breathe of life that only God can provide, we'd be nothing but a pile of ooze, water, salt and a few minerals. Without the life giving touch of God, we'd be nothing at all, wether in the physics or the spiritual, we all need God to survive; however, knowing and understanding that we need God, and actually loving God is two very different things, and it's my duty to inform you that simply knowing is just not enough...

James 2:19

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble...

So as we can see, simply knowing that there is a God, simply understanding that without Him, there is no life isn't good enough for, we must act on those beliefs. As we read through the second chapters of James, we can clearly see that Faith without works is dead; in other words, we can believe God for everything; however, if we do not act on that belief according to the Word of God, what good is it? and based on the Word of God found in James chapter two, works without faith is dead as well, and the same can be said about Grace as well...

God is full of Grace, Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, and a plethora of other wonderfully beautiful attributes; however, if we have received Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness, and Love from the father, through Jesus Christ, yet we have not reciprocated that love and emotion through our lives, and through our praise, and through our worship, what truly have we done? it would appear to me that we have not done anything more than attempt to mock the One True Living God. Now, I can hear it now, those who say that God's Grace is all forgiving and His love covers everyone in and on this earth, and to them, I say yes, that is absolutely true; however, the question or concern isn't wether or not God loves us, but rather, do we love God...

John 14:15,23

If ye love me, keep my commandments... Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him...

If we Love God, we will keep His commandments, this is the key statement right here, and the key word in this statement has only two letters, I and F, they spell out the word IF. You see, the fact that God loves us has long been established, the fact that He is merciful and full of grace has also been established; therefore, we can say with all honesty that no matter who you are and what you have done, God loves you and He will also love you. There is this attitude or mantra going around that because Jesus loves me, and because He already gave His life, and because He has already risen, then we can do whatever we want to do with no regard for others, nor any expectation of punishment, we simply declare that God is graceful and plan out our next round of sin; unfortunately, this is not how salvation truly works, once again, if we love God, we will keep His commandments...

Psalm 91:14-16 

Because he (us) hath set his love upon Me, (God) therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation...

James 1:12

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him...

Those that love God will be Blessed, but how does one show that he or she truly loves God? As we read in the second chapter of James, simply saying I believe isn't enough, for even the demons know that there is only one God. Perhaps by doing good things and treating everyone nicely we can show that God that we love Him; actually, no we cannot, once again if we continue to read in the James chapter two, we can see that good works are simply not enough to, there is another requirement. The book of Hebrews, specially chapter eleven, is often called the Faith Book due to the fact that it talks mainly about the importance of faith, and what faith actually is; however, in that chapter we also find a very important piece of information,  and that is piece of information tells us exactly how to please God...

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him...

According to Hebrews chapter eleven and verse six, it is virtually impossible for us to please unless we believe that He is truly God, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, so let's take a look at what it means to diligently seek God. According to Dictionary.com, the word diligently means to put forth a constant effort, to be attentive and persistent, or to pursue with painstaking attention, diligence. Now, let's look at the word seek, again our source is Dictionary.com, and our definition is this, to go in search of or to quest, to try to find or discover, or to try to obtain. So, I'm not sure about you, but to me, it seems that to diligently seek sounds a lot like love. When we find that special someone, the one that we want to spend eternity with, do not we put forth a constant effort to obtain, and keep, their affection? When we love someone, do don't we pursue them with painstaking attention and diligence? So in order to please God, do not we need to do the things that prove we love Him? And what are those things, are not they the same things we do for our husbands and wives? Yes, absolutely it is, we do whatever pleases them, we do whatever they ask us to do, and that is exactly how we please God, we do exactly what He has asked us to do, we follow His commandments...

God's Grace, Mercy, Love, and Forgiveness is exactly why we are all alive today, let us give thanks and show love to God by keeping His commandments to the best of our ability. We all know that no one is perfect, and God knows that as well, He knows that we will make mistakes, and that is why He gave us Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Mighty example and the sacrificial lamb, He paid the cost for our mistakes with His Blood, and each time we purposely sin, we place Him back on the cross again; instead of placing Him back on the cross, let us show our love for Him by using the Grace He has given us as a reason to love Him and the strength we need to keep His commandments... God Bless... Amen... 

For more info, please read: (Romans 8:28, Hebrews 5:8-9, Hebrews Ch.6, II  Corinthians 4:15, Galatians 1:6, Ephesians Ch.5) 

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Revival Within Us...

(Originally posted on my Facebook page)

I was awaken early this morning with the thought and urge to pray for revival in Austin, Texas, but not the type of revival in which we have a special guest speaker or an extra evening church service, but the type of revival that actually revives the Spirit within us to do more. How many churches have noticed a lag in attendance, participation, or any other of the key areas? How many churches have had to cut programs or eliminate special services that where once common place? Why is this? It is because the believers, you and I, have lost that burning passion for our first love, we have replaced that joy we had after we where renewed in the Holy Ghost with a passion to enjoy the things of this world. Christmas, one of the most precious and cherished times of the year for the believer has been replaced with x-mas, instead of a time of happiness and reflection on the birth of our Lord and Savior, it has become a time of shopping sprees and gift exchanges in which the name of Jesus is rarely if ever mentioned...

Today, I have been praying for the type of revival to breakout within us that directs us, drives us, and pushes to call out to the Lord for our families, for our friends, for our neighbors, for the lost, and for those who have never felt the warm embrace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, as I have spoken or written about on many other occasions, there will be a time when the Spirit of the Lord no longer dwells among man; however, that time isn't now, right now His Grace, Mercy, and Love is here for us, right now His Spirit dwells amongst us and within us, right now His Holy Ghost Power is freely given, for all to receive, and right now is the time to revive that Holy Ghost Power within ourselves so we can give it out to others, so we can show them a better way, so that when the time come, we can all enjoy the presence of the Lord…

The time for revival is now, for one day soon, those who have been redeemed, renewed, and revived shall flow upon the mountain top to the house of the Lord, there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, and no more war. In that time, which surely comes quickly, we will all live as one, learning of the ways of God, nations will live in peace, the animals will run and play, and the weapons of war shall be no more, and it begins with you and I, today, right now, when we pray on one accord for revival…

Micah 4:1-3
But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord , and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more…

As I come to a close, tears have began to fill my eyes and reach down my face, flowing past my cheeks; however, these are not tears of pain or fear, they are tears of joy. You see, as the word teaches, our pain may endure for the night, but soon the joy will arrive, and yes, it begins within us, a revival of the Holy Spirit within us that flows out to our families, friends, neighbors, cities, states, nations, and eventually our world…

Imagine that day when mothers no longer bury children, brothers no loner mourn for their sisters, imagine if you will that day when the seventy-five year old goes running and frolicking with his grandchildren and the lions lay down together with the lamb. Revival is the key that starts it all, prayer on one accord, regardless of tradition or denomination; but, it must start here, now, with you and I. If I pray, and you pray, and we pray, and they pray... Oh what a mighty force we become, our quiet little prayers will begin to hum, and then to rumble, and then they become a roar... Oh yes, Revival…

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The Potter and The Vessel...

Today, I would like to focus on those of us who are young in the faith, or maybe at a point in our lives in which we are struggling, unsure of what to do next, or perhaps do not know where to turn. Although I have been a Spirit filled believer for some time now, I must admit that I too have been in these types of situations myself, especially during my recent health scare. Because I have had many of these same feelings of confusion and doubt, I truly understand and empathize with those who have felt these same feelings. 

Over the past year and a half, for those who may not know, I had a spinal injury and bacterial infection that not only threatened to permanently remove the use of my legs, but it also threatened to end my life; however, God proved Himself faithful, and here I am writing this letter of love to you. Now, in hindsight, I know that God was with me every step of the way; however, while I was in the valley of indecision, facing such a frightening outcome, it was very hard to see God's face for the many tears and fears that were clouding my vision...

Eventually, after realizing that my anger, frustration, and self pity was only hurting my relationship with God and in no way could help me to recover during this very difficult time. During this season of tribulation, I refused to pray, read the Word, of in anyway acknowledge God. I felt that although I had been God's faithful servant, He abandoned me and left me alone and defenseless; however, I would soon learn this couldn't be further from the truth. Eventually, I came to myself after realizing that if one of the greatest men of God, not only in my life, but in the world today, Bishop Kenneth Phillips, would have fight for his life against cancer, who am I to believe that somehow I should be exempt from the diseases and plagues of this world...

In the bible, Job was described as a righteous man, he loved God and followed the ways of God without question. Job honored God in all his ways, he payed alms not only for himself, but for his family, and yet, he suffered great loss, facing horribly painful illnesses, the loss of his family, and almost everything he owned and everything he loved; yet and still, he remained faithful to God. You see, Job realized that no matter what happened, God was always in control; in all things, good or bad, God's hand were moving and molding, touching and guiding, smoothing and redirecting, creating man into the very image of God Himself...

Although God is always in control, it is important to remind ourselves that God has given us all "free-will" which means that we have the power to decide for ourselves what, when, why, where, and how things work and flow in our lives. Jesus Christ is indeed Lord of All, John chapter one tells us that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God, and without Him not anything was made that was made... Jesus is that Word. When God created the world, He spoke it into existence over a matter of days; therefore, just as in the creation of the world, there was a process and order of operation, there is a process for everything in our lives today, including the restoration of our lives, and it's up to us to initiate that process in our lives today, this leads us up to where we are now, the process of rebuilding our lives today...

Before we can rebuild our lives, before I could rebuild myself or my own life, I had to first understand one thing, God has created you and I for a purpose, after I grabbed ahold of this and I mean really believed it, my rebuilding process could begin. As we have lived our lives the way we have chosen to live them, we  have moved away from the plan God originally established for us; in affect, we have broken our lives, and now we have become broken vessels. Now, becoming a broken vessel isn't exactly a bad thing, in all honestly, it is the perfect thing, it allows God to repair us and mold us into what it is He desires us to be in the plan He had established since before the dawn of creation...

Jeremiah 18:1-6

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord . Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand...

During my health scare, I was physically broken, and I truly needed God to heal me physically, and He has done that through the hands of an excellent surgeon and other medical staff and rehab technicians; yet, more importantly, I was spiritually broken, I was a broken vessel, and only God's hands could restore my spirit. You see, when we are broken in our spirit, there is nothing that we can do to repair it ourselves, we need the help of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. Only He can place us on the spiritual potter's wheel, only Jesus can take a broken and battered soul and place it back together; however, if we do not initiate the process, and if we do not "go down to the potter's house," we cannot even begin the repair process, but how do we find our way down to the potter's house? Great question, and here is the very simple answer, we initiate the process, and find our way to the potter's house through constant prayer, fasting, and the reading His Holy Word...

Prayer is literally talking directly to God, and it is an intricate part of the believers daily life; Jeremiah 33:3 states that that if we call Him, He will answer, showing us many great things. As we read the Word and learn of God, we will find that prayer is very important to God, in the Bible, God has mentioned prayer well over three hundred times; in fact, Jesus Himself not only instructs us to pray, but also teaches us exactly how to pray in Matthew chapter six, leading us in what has become known as the Lord's Prayer, one of the most well known passages of any sort in history. As stated above, the first chapter of John has established that the Word of God is God; therefore, the best way to learn of God, and to become the type of vessel God can work with and restore is to read the Word of God found in the Holy Bible. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus not only quotes the Old Testament, but He asked those around Him, "have you not read," (Matt.19:4) this means that Jesus expects us to not only read the Word, but to have a basic understanding of what it is we are reading, and we can only do this by studying the Word of God closely...

So, here we are, the moment of truth... This is where I tell you that on Sunday I accepted Christ and by Wednesday I was all brand new... No, that's not how it goes... The renewal process is neither quick nor swift, it is a slow process that includes both ourselves and God communicating through prayer as we surrender ourselves to the hands of God... When I was in the hospital for approximately five months, and when I was on bed rest for two months following my return home from the hospital, I spent a large majority of my time in prayer… Reading, writing, and studying the word of God... As I did these things, I began to acquire an elevated understanding of God, and with this elevated understanding came increased Faith, and with this increased Faith came a higher level of power, healing, and strength... 

This my friend is what a life with Christ is all about, we push forward, living, learning, and seeking after God; all the while, we allow God to place us on the potter's wheel so that He can mold us, guide us, and recreate us into the vessel He had originally planned for us to be... BUT, we must first allow ourselves to be broken, as only a broken vessel can be reformed and rebuilt by the hands of God into that vessel which God can use...

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O Lord , thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand...

God Bless...

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The Juniper Tree

Recent times for many of us have been very difficult; in fact, I have talked to several individuals who wish that there was a fast forward button if which they could press and jump straight into the new year, ushering in the new year before this one has even been completed, while others still have often wondered is death not better than life?. Why is this, does not this year still have more to offer? Is death not actually better than life? Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, that he too felt that those who had passed on, or those who had never lived where in some way better off because they were not forced to endure the vanity and nonsense of this world. (Ecc.4:1-4) Now, is it wrong to feel this way, or is it a natural part of life? Is it fear and pain that cause us to feel this way, and if so, what should we do about it? These are indeed great questions, and for the answers, let us go into the Word of God...

 

In the book of I Kings, chapter nineteen, Elijah, a prophet of the Lord, was in fear for his life after receiving a message from Jezebel; therefore, he fled for his life, seeking refuge in the wilderness. (I King 19:1-4) After arriving in the wilderness, Elijah found solace in the shadows of a juniper tree after which he prayed unto God the Father saying "O' Lord, I am not better than my (earthly) fathers," and he God asked to take his life. Now, we can clearly see that in very tough situations, it is almost a natural impulse for us to feel that death is a viable solution, even I, during the early days of the physical ailment which had attacked my body, felt as if death would be a much better alternative than feeling the intense pain and loss of mobility that I was feeling at that time; however, God always has provision for us during these times, we must simply wait patiently, seek His face, and move when He instructs us to do so...

 

I Kings 19:5-8

And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb (Mt. Sinai) the mount of God...

 

As we can see, when the story began, Elijah was under severe pressure, threats had been made on his life, he was afraid, rushing through the wilderness, lacking physical substance and spiritual strength; however, God made a way. As the story unfolds, we can see that God did not leave his prophet and servant alone, He indeed made a way for Elijah to survive in the wilderness and He protected Him from those who sought to take His life. Just as God sent His angel to Elijah and just as He provided for the physical needs of food and water needed to survive, and just as God provided the spiritual guidance Elijah needed to recover and be strengthened in his time of weakness, God will do the same for us today, He has done it, and continues to do it, for me, and He will do it for you as well...

 

While I was in the hospital, seemingly strapped to that hospital bed for months, only arising with the assistance of others to wobble to the "facilities," or to endure the agonizing pain of physical therapy, I learned to recognize, appreciate, and invite the presence of God and His Angels. Spending five months in the hospital can be very difficult for anyone; however, it was much more agonizing for me as I had grown accustomed to my life of going, going, and gone, I was always on the move, if i was not at church, I was at a Bible study, an outreach, or some other adventure, yet now, all I had was pain and time...

 

During this season of both pain and time, I learned that the only way to to defeat the pain was with joy, but not just any joy, but the Joy of the Lord, for the Joy of the Lord is my strength. During this season, I learned that there are many plains or levels of intimacy with God, and it is only by seeking His face early, often, and with reverence will we reach the ultimate level of loosing our own identity in the identity of Christ Himself. You see, through the pain, the suffering, the cries of pain and sorrow, and the thoughts of death, I found myself in a spot in which there were no other alternatives than to wrap myself in the loving arms of the one who had created me, and so I did that, and now I truly know the love of God, and there is no better place to be, there is no better feeling, I am in  Christ, and Christ is in me, I am His and He is mine... Those thoughts of death have been replaced with a desire to live and share God's Love with everyone around me, and of course, that includes you my friend... May God Bless you all, and when you find yourself in that dark space, perhaps you should take a moment and find rest under the Juniper Tree... Amen...

 

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The Holy Spirit Within Us...

Today, I would like to talk to you about the Power of Pentecost... Now, before we get started, I wish to make it clear, we are not talking about a particular church, denomination, or orginization, we are talking about the Power that was given to the Paul and the Apostles, Mary the Blessed Mother of Jesus, and many other devout men and women as described in the Holy Bible... Now, before we can go any further, we need to understand why these men and women were in the Holy City of Jerusalem. The tradition of the day required that if it was at all possible, the followers of Judaism were required to return to Jerusalem for all major festivals, feast, and Holy Days; this was the second reason the men,women, and Apostles were there in Jerusalem, the first reason was quite simple, because Jesus told them to go there... 

 

Luke 24:49

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high...

 

So, Jesus instructed them to go to Jerusalem and wait patiently until you are filled with power, and this was the first reason they were there... the second reason they were there is for the feast of Pentecost, a Holy day for the Jewish people...

 

Pentecost is a feast that is celebrated fifty days after the Passover feast, which those who follow Christ presently know as Resurrection Sunday, or Easter; hence the name, Pentecost. Now, during the feast of Pentecost, the followers of Judasim, those who believed in the one true God, would come from miles around. The people would come from many ancient cities, not just locally, but worldwide. During the days of the major feast, it was not uncommon to see individuals from Europe, Asia, Africa, and all of the countries and areas known at that time...

 

Now that we have a little history describing the importance and significance of the Day of Pentecost in general, I'd like to share the imporatnce of Pentecost to you and I... Pentecost means that we no longer have to wait to have a high priest enter into the temple for us once a year, we no longer have to offer sacrifices of blood and meat to atone for our sin, because of Pentecost, we have a direct relationship with God our Heavenly Father...

 

Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you...

 

When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become the recipients of the gifts and promises of the Holy God, and that includes the gift of His Holy Spirit, living within us, guiding us, and providing us with strength and power we need to make through anything and everything that comes against us... These gifts are given to each and everyone, men, women, children, grandparents, everyone...

 

Acts 1:13-14

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren...

 

Acts 2:1-6

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language...

 

Praying on one accord, waiting patiently, following the instructions that Jesus Christ has left for us... These are the steps to receiving all the gifts that God has for us, including the gift of the Holy Spirit...

 

Think about it, do you remember  that moment when you realized God was real... Not when your parents told you, not when "Abuelita" told you, but when you felt it in your heart, when you looked up and you saw Him, think about that feeling when God answered a prayer, or when there seemed to be no way out at all, you knew it, your friends knew it, your family knew it, and everyone knew it, but then, inexpectible, it happened, you made it through the darkness... And you know it was God, how did you feel? That's it my friends, that's the beginning of the Holy Ghost acting on your behalf, acting within you, guiding you, and when you completely give in... That feeling will become stronger than ever, you'll feel it boiling up within you and then bursting out like a Holy explosion of faith and love...

 

Pentecost isn't about a religion or denomination, it's about the presence of God living within you... Baptist, Catholic, COGIC, Methodist, Apostolic. None of these labels we give ourselves even matter, it's the relationship that we have individually with the Living God, its about the dedication, love, and unity we show one another as children of God... It is about the Power to live as God has instructed us to live through His Holy Word...

 

As a minister, I have the opportunity to witness this feeling in others at the altar call after Sunday and Wednesday services, I can witness the change in the lives of others during the prayers services, and in the Bible studies, wherever there are Children of God, wherever there is love, there resides the presence of the Holy Ghost... And wherever the Holy Ghost is, there is Power... And where there is Power... Lives are Changed... Chains are shattered... Addictions are Broken... And the People of God receive Freedom! This is the Power of Pentecost... The Day God unleashed His Power unto us...

 

And it all began at Pentecost, fifty days after the Resurrection, the faithful few, gathered in prayer in the upper room... The Power of the Holy Ghost was revealed and given unto  men... Now, that very same Power is available to you and I today... The Power of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, poured out unto each and everyone of us who are willing to receive... Call on the Lord, He will answer, and you will receive the Greatest Gift of all... God's Holy Spirit living within us... God's Holy Spirit living within you... God Bless... Amen...

 

Have you had an upper room experience? if so, tell others about it in the comments section...

If you have not, would you like to find out more? contact me by clicking the link below:

 

Fred Blackman II

 

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Flip Flop

Today's weather is a complete "flip flop" from what we are used to this time of year in Austin TX, as a matter of fact, it's a complete change from just this time last week, but as always, we adjust and keep moving...

In life, our situations can sometimes flip flop on us as well, from one moment to the next, our lives can go from full speed ahead to straight reverse and backwards in what seems like a split second; quick, fast, and in a hurry. Last year about this time, I noticed a pain in my back, it started off as just a nuisance, yet it would grow into something that nearly took my life, the ultimate "flip flop" was about to take place in my life.

From what began as a minor back pain would cause me to temporarily lose the use of my legs. From that minor back pain, I would go on to have five surgeries, from that minor back pain, I would eventually be forced to enter the fight of my life. Bacterial infections, resulting from the surgery performed to repair a bulging and herniated disc, had taken hold and infected what seemed to be every part of my body. My blood, my muscle tissue, my bone, and even my spinal fluid were infected which eventually lead to a bout of Meningitis which could have taken my life, but God stepped in and changed everything...

Psalm 18:30-33
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the Lord ? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet , and setteth me upon my high places...

Now, I must admit that at the time, I was not happy at all, I was afraid, I was angry, I was frustrated, and because of this, I questioned God. Bewildered, I simply could not understand why this had to happen to me, after all, what had I done to deserve this? I followed God's direction as closely as possible and yet, the I lay. While I layed there there in that hospital bed, wondering what was going on, and what would happen next, I began to pray and was immediately drawn to the verses listed above, and I just began to give God Glory...

You see, I'd forgotten that God is the one and only Sovereign God, He sits on the throne of Grace, His ways are perfect, and He is in complete control; basically, God can do what He wants to do, when He wants to do it. Now, as the one and only Sovereign God, He has all power in the palm of His hands. With All power, God can do as He pleases, when He pleases, He sets the sun high up in the sky, He tells the stars when to shine, He hears our prayers and He heals the abused, the battered and the broken... And so, He healed me...

You see, I had learned to place all of my trust in God, I fell in love with the Holy scriptures, I learned to be truly humble before the Lord, and finally, I learned to declare to God His own Promises as presented in the Bible...

God is not a man that He should lie; therefore, by declaring His Word and His Promises to Him, God being faithful honored them just as He has done since the beginning of time...

God is Forever Faithful, He is the Rock of our Salvation, He is the giver of life and all good things, and He always delivers on His Promises... Today, place your trust in God, and He'll never let you down... God Bless... Amen...

Pray For Peace

Although I strive to remain neutral when it comes to politics and other controversial issues, there is one issue that is steaming hot and boiling over right now, and this issue is the conflict in Israel. The current Israeli-Palestinian conflict has caused many arguments to erupt between both believers and non believers alike, there are those who believe the Israelis are over reacting and bullying the Palestinians, and there are also those who view the Palestinians as nothing more than terrorist and murderers. This issue has become extremely controversial and divisive; therefore, it is an issue that must be addressed before irreparable harm is done to the unity of the Body of Christ. As a Bible believing Christian who reads and studies the word daily, it just seems natural to me to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Israel as a whole; however, there are many Christians and others who do not feel as I do, and so I will attempt to explain my position here. It is my opinion that the reason some Christians choose not to pray for Jerusalem, Israel, or her inhabitants is they simply do not understand why we should pray for Israel, nor do they understand what it means to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Israel; therefore, I will attempt to explain the Biblical basis and mandate requiring all Bible believing Christians to pray for the peace of Israel.

Psalm 122:1-4
 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord . Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of The Lord...

The first reason is simple, Jerusalem is the earthly home of God, the place where the Holy Temple was built, and a place that is Holy to all the Abrahamic monotheistic (One God) religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Now, I know there are those who will wonder, "why did he include Islam?" The answer is simple, those who practice Islam, are also the children of Abraham; therefore, they too play a role in God's plan, and we are to pray for them as well. (Gen 16:11-12, 17:20)


Genesis 12:1-3
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed...

Psalm 122:6-7
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces...

The second reason is also very simple, just as Abraham followed the directions and mandates of God when directed to leave the land of his father, we are to follow the directions that God has left for us, and that is to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. God tells us that those who pray for Jerusalem will be blessed; however, God also stated in His Holy word that those who curse Jerusalem will be cursed, and I do not know about you, but I'd rather not be cursed by God. Although we can clearly see that God has mandated that we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Israel, and that is a mandate that we should follow, as we know, obedience is better than sacrifice, (I Sam 15:22, Acts 17:11) there's also an added bonus; when we pray for Jerusalem, we too shall receive a Blessing from our Heavenly Father. God is not a man that He should lie; therefore, we can take Him at His word, knowing that as a result of our prayers for Israel, we too shall be Blessed...

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God...

Finally, whether you agree with the actions being taken by the Israelis and Palestinians at this time, Jesus stated in His sermon on the mount that the peacemakers shall be called the children of God, and a child of God is who I am striving to be... I pray that you too shall find it in your heart to pray for Jerusalem, Israel, and all those who live within her borders, the Jews, the Christians, and the Followers of Islam, they all deserve our prayers and respect; just as Christ has taught us, if we only love those who love us, we are no better than those in the world, (Matt 5:43-48) but to love all as we love ourselves, (Matt 22:37-40) this is the true measure of who we are, and the completion of all the Law and the prophets... God Bless... Amen...

Happy 4th Of July! Notes From Independence Day Weekend...

The man of God speaks to your hearts; yet, you ignore him and despise him... Little do you know that the Lord desires to gather you as His own, He desires to Love you, Guide you, and Protect you... To give you a second chance at life, He died upon the cross... As a mother hen gathers her young under the safety of her wings... So does The Lord wish to rap you in His loving arms of protection...

Matthew 23:37

 

On this Independence Day, let us Celebrate the Freedom that we have been given by the Grace of God and the sacrifice of men; however, let us not forget our fellow Christians forbidden to practice their faith freely around the world, let us not forget our brothers and sisters imprisoned in China, Sudan, Iran and around the world, and let us not forget the Muslims in China who have been forbidden to... practice Ramadan this year, they are literally being forced to eat... Why the Muslims you ask? First, an attack on religious freedom anywhere is an attack on religious freedom everywhere, and secondly, the Islamic people's are also the children of Abraham, and as such, they should be in our prayers as well. One day, Christ shall return, and He will ask of us all, what did we do with our freedom, and after I provide my answer, I pray that His answer will be "well done, my good and faithful servant" may God Bless you all... Happy Independence Day!

Galatians 5:13-14 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself...

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness... (excerpt from the Declaration of Independence)

Our Nation was established and founded on the Principles of God; however, we have turned away from God in search of our own immoral desires...... The time has come for us to return to those Godly principles on which our nation was founded or else we will face the consequences just as those nations that have come before us...

II Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land...

 

I Timothy 4:1-2,6,9-12,14-16

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, after every storm appears the rainbow, all men are born and eventually all men die, and just as every promise found in God's Holy Word speaks Truth, we have reached the time when many people have turned away from the Faith; instead, seeking their own pleasures. In this present period of time, there are signs all around ...us, not of impending doom, but of the Joyous return of The Lord... Why, in such a time as this would an individual choose to leave the church of truth in search of false doctrines that are only pleasing to the ear yet hurtful to the soul?

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron...

The Minister of The Lord Jesus Christ has been charged with delivering the truth of this hour. The truth of this hour is simple, there is indeed an evil one, he is indeed a strong man, and his only desire is to steal, kill, and destroy the children of the Most High God; therefore, forcing them to face his fate, an eternity separated from our Holy God. Children please remember test all things against the Word of God, read it for yourself, pray and ask God to give you clarity, and if what is being spoken or presented to you doesn't align itself with the Word of God, flee from it quickly so as to prevent yourself from falling...

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained...

Our Christian organizations are being listed amongst the ranks of the terrorist, our children are being instructed that they cannot pray for one another at school or before meals, our ministers and clergy members have been told not to use the name of Jesus during their services and prayers, never before has the men and women of God experienced such reproach and resentment. The Word of God prophesied that this day would come; however, it is more important that ever that we, the men and women of God, be shining examples for our children to see. As adults and parents, we should allow our children to see us worship God, they should hear us pray aloud, and we should show them how to stand firm on God's word, not with anger or frustration, but with purity, love, and a good and thankful spirit, by doing this, we can encourage them to stay true to the Word even in this age of peer pressure and immorality...

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity (love), in spirit, in faith, in purity...

Finally ladies and gentleman, I would like to encourage you to use the gifts God has given you, whether they be physical gifts, such as athleticism, strength, singing, dancing, etc, or spiritual gifts, such as healing, tongues and interpretation, miracles, or any others. By using the gifts God has given us, we become examples for those around us to see, and when they see us, they begin to see Christ Jesus Himself, and when they begin to see Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit will begin to move on them and in them, and as we know, where the Spirit of God is, there is Liberty, Freedom, and Salvation!

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee...

As we continue to celebrate this Independence Day weekend, let us continue to celebrate Jesus, let us continue to celebrate Liberty, and let us be a shining example for all to see, so that when they see us, they see the Goodness of God and the Salvation Power that can only be found within the children of God... Amen... God Bless...

As this Independence Day weekend comes to a close, let us that believe continue to use the freedoms that we have here in America to be as the city on top of the hill, a beacon of Hope to those around us. Let us choose to do what's right instead if what is easy or popular, let us greet everyone with a smile, let us go two miles instead if one, and let our good deeds be the source of discussion rath...er than our faults and failures, by doing this, others around us might be lifted up and encouraged to keep fighting the good fight, and finally, let us love our neighbor as we love ourselves, by doing so, it will be impossible to do them harm or despise them, and by showing true love to them, we might introduce them to the author and finisher of our faith, The Lord Jesus Christ... God Bless... Amen...

1 Peter 2:11-12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation...

Hair & Modesty?

(Holy Bible)

The Holy Bible is full of examples of Modesty and Moderation within its pages; from the Old Testament to the New Testament, God has instructed us to live with a certain level of modesty and self-respect. Now, just as the Word of God instructs us to be modest in our appearance while again respecting ourselves, we must be careful not to judge others because they do not meet our own perceived “standards” or expectations. God has also instructed mankind not to look at the outward appearance of an individual in an attempt to discern or judge who they are, there level of intelligence, or the extent of their character (I Sam 16:7, John 7:24). Moving forward, those of you who know me on a personal level also know that I am a father of four daughters and four sons, those of you who do not know me on a personal level, now know that as well. As a father, I am very particular in how my children dress, how they take care of themselves, and how they present themselves to the world, some would even say I am strict, overly protective, or a helicopter parent; however, I would say that I am trying to be a good father and steward of the wonderful gifts God has given me. The bible teaches us that our Heavenly Father is the giver of all good things, the creator of life itself, and the best example of a father we could ever have; therefore, it only makes sense that following the instruction He has left for us, would allow me to be the best father to my children and steward of God's great gifts. The first step in in becoming a good father and steward of God’s gifts are to follow one very important Proverb, “Train up a child in the way he/she should go: and when he/she is old, he/she will not depart from it,” what an awesomely true statement, and one that I have attempted to live up to by teaching my children the importance of not only the Word of God, and the Grace of God, but by teaching them to Honor God by following His instructions left for us by way of Christ Jesus, the Prophets, and the Apostles.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God...

Another of the more important lessons that I've tried to teach my children is that it's ok to be different. Children can be both rude and just plain mean at times, as we all know due to the many stories concerning bullying found on the evening news and other media sources, and so I will often tell my kids "you don't have to be like everyone else, you don't have to look like them, talk like them or act like them, just keep God first, and be yourself. You see, oftentimes, even we adults will give in to peer pressure or the desire to fit in, but God says to not conform to the world, but to be transformed by His Holy Power, and by doing this, we will be perfect and acceptable in His sight...

1 Corinthians 11:5-6,15

(The Glory of the Woman)

But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering...

Now, I know this will be a point of contention for some; however, I feel it is an area of importance that must be addressed as a Father and believer, it is of the utmost importance that I address this with my children, especially my daughters. Now, as far as my daughters go, I am always concerned about their hair; knowing  to some it may seem odd that I as their father would be so interested in the hair of my daughters, but as a man who believes 100 percent of the Bible is truth, it is an area that must be covered, literally. I believe that a woman's hair is a crown of Glory as described in the verses listed above; therefore, I always make sure that my daughter’s hair is always as neat and presentable as possible; after all, it was given to them by God to be a Glorious covering and crown.

1 Timothy 2:9-10

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works...

1 Peter 3:3-5

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves...

The preceding sets of Bible verses are just two examples of the Bible's position on modesty, and as mentioned previously, I believe that the Bible is the Truth by which we should live our lives; therefore, I am always attempt to have my children, especially my daughters, present themselves in a way that is not heavily adorned nor immodestly revealing in any way. All too many times, our young people, in an attempt to grow up too fast, become victims to this wild and ungodly world we are living in, rape, molestation, child abuse, and drug addiction are just a few examples of what may happen if we as parents do not raise our kids in a way that is pleasing to God while also teaching them to both Honor God and respect themselves. Although I am clearly a Bible-believing Christian who obviously has Biblical reasons for requiring my children to dress modestly and appropriately for all situations, there is an even greater reason, and that is simply because I love them more than life itself.

(Google Results 02-01-20)

Watch the local news, read the daily newspaper, or visit any of the several news-related websites, and you will see countless stories of sexual abuse, kidnapping, and inappropriate behavior amongst our young people, and even now, as this post is being read, countless numbers of our young people are being mistreated and abused. If being classified or referred to as strict or overprotective helps me to protect my children from becoming a statistic or just another number to be reported on the evening news, I will gladly accept that label, but I will not allow my children to fall short of the goal or become a number while they are in my care, I simply cannot allow it. Ultimately, God is in control; and as always, time and chance continue to  play a role in how our lives are played out, because of this, I can only do my part as a parent to care for and protect my children, and until the day I die, that is what I will do... God Bless... Amen...

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The Power of the Holy Ghost (Pentecost Sunday)

Acts 1:7-8 And he (Jesus) said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth...

God is not a man that He should lie; therefore, when we read about the promises of God in the Holy Scriptures, we should take Him at His word, regardless of just how impossible that promise may seem to us. Years ago, a minister told me that he had a message from God for me; obviously, just as any other sane person would do, I thought he was crazy, for the message he had for me was that I would live for God, that I would preach the Word of God... In my mind, I simply decided that this guy was nuts, didn't he know I was a "gangsta" we don't serve God... Or so I thought...

Acts 1:13-14 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren...

You see, God had a plan for me, a plan for my life that He wanted me to know, and although I hadn't agreed to His plan, the price for my services had already been payed for in blood and the seeds of what would become my ministry sewed in prayer. Prayer is indeed a powerful thing; while I terrified the streets with madness, my parents tarried, waiting, praying that my mess would some day become a message for all to see... You see, my parents tarried, they waited for the promise, and they prayed in one accord, with unity, and God delivered on that promise... This is the message of Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, the promise was fulfilled, and just as God fulfilled the promises of old, and just as He fulfilled the promises to my parents, He will fulfill His promises to you... But you will have to tarry and wait, you will have to pray in unity and Faith, and we will have to all be on one accord... God Bless... Amen...

What are we missing today? Why is the world in the condition it's in now? Why are we not seeing the mighty examples of God's Power like they did in the days of old? Well, quite simply, I believe it is because we are missing unity in prayer, fasting, and as one unified Body of Christ, and without unity, we simply cannot stand. Almost everything good that happened in the New Testament after the Gospels was centered around prayer. Wether the Apostles were headed to a prayer meeting, leaving a prayer meeting or participating in a prayer meeting, this is when the majority of miracles, and other mighty things happened. There are many examples of this throughout the book of Acts and other New Testament books; however, one of the most important examples of this can be found in Acts chapter two.

Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance...

Now, it's important to realize that the importance of this event is not simply regulated to one set of denominations, or one branch of Christianity; in fact, there were no Catholics, Baptist, Pentecostals, or Methodist in the upper room when this occurred, there were only followers of Jesus Christ, they were all just Christians. Mary, the mother of Jesus, Peter, the foundation, Matthew, Andrew, and Phillip, and so many other Apostles and Disciples, all followers of Christ. So, what is the importance of this upper room event anyway? Well, this is the day that was prophesied by the prophet Joel, this was the Holy Ghost baptism described by John, and this was the activation of the promise given to the Apostles by Jesus Christ in Acts 1:8, you shall receive Power! That promise that Jesus made to His Disciples all those years ago, is still in affect today! When you tarry and wait on The Lord, your reward shall be Holy Ghost Power! The same Power that rose Christ from the dead, the same Power that opened blinded eyes, un-clogged plugged ears, and the same Power that is the Source of Living Water is available to us today because Jesus died, rose again, and ascended up into Heaven! Holy Ghost Power, released by the Prayers of a Unified Body, has the Power to heal, the Power to restore, the Power to break chains, and the Power to Save! That's the Power of the Holy Ghost... And it's available to all who Believe! It's Freely Given, just ask Him, and He will give it... God Bless... Amen...

What is this Holy Spirit of which you speak? And why are those who proclaim to have it always seem so happy? Why do they seem so joyous? Are they drunk? Well, these are great questions, and instead of giving you some long drawn out explanation, I will defer to Peter's explanation... His answer says it all...

Acts 2:14-21 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved...

The Power of the Holy Ghost is so Amazing, and yet there are those who deny it's power, there are those who say they don't want it nor do they need it; however, there are many more who want it but simply do not know who to attain it, it's simple, we just ask...

Acts 2:37-39 Now when they heard this , they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call...

The Power of the Holy Ghost, the Power that Heals, the Power that Saves, and the Power that Restores is available to All who Believe. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter given to us by the Father , the Comforter is the Spirit of Truth, (John 14:16-17) the Holy Spirit is the Promise that God will never leave us alone... The Holy Ghost is He who will teach us all things, He who gives us Peace, (John 14:26-27) and the Holy Ghost He who will Testify to us and through us of God's Greatness! (John 15:26, 16:7) The Holy Ghost is a freely given Gift, available to those who Believe, to those who turn away from sin and evil, and to those who are Baptized in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

I've seen the Power of the Holy Ghost; ask, and you shall receive... God Bless... Amen...

One Prayer Away

How do you even know that the Bible is real?

Well like a wise man once said, "I know that I know that I know that I know I know, and I thank God that I know!" You see, as a child, I was raised in church, as a teen I began to turn away from God, and I became preoccupied with my own agenda. Although I had my own agenda, consisting of causing trouble and scaring my parents, I was always reminded of the presence of God in my life; unfortunately it was usually when something negative occurred. Living the "street life" there are certain events that come natural, friends get assaulted, gun violence, and I myself had been stabbed. Through the years, I have lost friends to gun violence, drunk driving events, and oddly enough, cancer. Although we knew that we were not exactly living the "God Life" in each of these situations, we would gather as a group and pray; unfortunately, it was only during these times that we called on God, looking back now, I have realized just how important my biblical raising was to the rest of our group.

So, how do I know the Bible is real? How do I know there is a God? Because I know He has answered many prayers time and time again...

Only a few years ago, my older sister was diagnosed with cancer, I can still hear the trembling of my father's voice when he informed me, he said, "son, she's not doing to well, you need to go see her." At that time, I was saddened by the news, and I was very afraid of what might happen, and so I delayed going to see her. Later, my younger brother informed me that my dear sister was not getting any better, and I should go see her soon. Finally, I did go see my sister, and a few days thereafter, she passed away, and I was distraught and heartbroken; unfortunately, there was more bad news, another of my sisters had been diagnosed with cancer. Again, I avoided seeing my sister, I was saddened, horrified, and angry about the situation but one day while at work, I would get the call that would change it all.

On Tuesday morning, while at work, I received a most disturbing phone call, it was my brother, and he said that I needed to come quickly, my sister didn't have much time. Frantically, I sped home, the entire family was there, and hurried into the room as the paramedics were leaving, I heard them say "there's nothing we can do, just make her comfortable, and call us back and we'll pick her up" but I was not ready to accept that, and so I went into a dark room by myself, and prayed. This prayer was not your ordinary morning or evening prayer, it was probably the firs time I've actually prayed with any real emotion, it was an agonizing prayer, a prayer full of tears, it was a prayer of depth and determination, and it was a prayer that God answered. My dear sister did not die that day in December, she lived past Christmas, she lived past her birthday, she lived past New Years Eve and Day, and she Lives past Valentines day, a few days later, she went home to be with The Lord in paradise, and as I look back on that prayer, my Faith in God increases more and more. In order to understand why I believe so strongly, you have to understand what my prayer was that day, and here it is... I prayed that she would live to see all the days that I had mentioned earlier, I prayed that I would have more time to spend with her, and I prayed that I would be able to get to know her in new ways like I had never done before, I did not want her to pass away like my sister Cheryl, without having the time to spend with her, I wanted to be there, and that's exactly what I got.

After returning to work a few days after receiving the phone call early Tuesday morning, I was terminated from the place I had worked for ten years, after filing a complaint with TWC, there was a hearing, and the company was found to have violated my civil rights, and they were instructed to pay my health insurance as well as my wages for the next six months, what this meant, was that I would have time to spend with my sister, and I did not have to worry about any financial issues; therefore, I had time to not only spend with my sister, I took care of her, and I learned so much about her... Answered prayers... That my friend was nothing short of a Miracle, that is why I believe, that is how I know there is a God, that is how I know the Bible is real, a real and true experience with The Lord, and this is only one of the examples of His Faithfulness, there have been so many situations in my life, I could write a book about it, or maybe I will one day, but I know God is real just as much as you know that after the rains come the Rainbow... Listen to me brothers and sisters, God is real, seek Him and you will find Him, call Him and He will answer, lean in Him, and He will hold you up... He is only one Prayer away... God Bless... Amen...

The Anticipation/Who is This Jesus (Part II)

Who is this Jesus? Who is this Messiah that would Die for you and me? That is the question that I've been trying to answer... Perhaps by sharing with you, the readers, the "Holy Ghost Downloads" and my own personal feelings from throughout this past Holy Week, you may begin to see just who this Jesus is...

 Spent the night crying... Tears rolling down my cheeks as I dreamed about blood infused sweat, agony, and pain on the face of my Lord and Savior... It won't be long before He's taken from the Garden and given over to the Pharisees and Pilate... There He would pay the Price for our souls in His Beautiful Sinless Blood... The ultimate sacrifice... The Lamb without Blemish... The Savior of the World...

 Here in Austin, there's a light rain, perhaps the skies have begun to cry as well, knowing that the Apostles, those closest to our Lord, could not even wait an hour for Him who is destined to die on their behalf... Perhaps, tonight would be a good time for us to pray an hour... Thanking Him for the chance we have now... A chance to not just live, but to live more abundantly... After the anguish of the Garden... After the Blood Sweat, and Tears... Shed for us... The betrayer arrives... He is Placed in shackles... And He is taken away... Questioned as a criminal, and beaten till the very edge of death... My Lord... My Savior... Jesus Christ... Another night filled with tears... God Bless... Good Night...

 Today, the people who were yelling and cheering "Hallelujah, Make way for the King" just days before, spit upon Him and follow Him as He struggles up the Via DeLa Rosa... Falling to His Knees... Crawling... Agonizing... Yet not saying a Word, for He knows my life is at stake... Your life is on the line... He thinks to Himself... Not my will, but Yours... Soon thereafter... He is nailed to a Cross... To finish what sin has started... He will trade His Life for ours...

 As the evening approaches... Mary Magdalene &Mary sit watching in front of the tomb... The Pharisees approach Pilate, insisting that he seals the tomb and place guards in front... Fearing that the followers of Christ would steal the body of our Messiah... I can only imagine how the two Mary's felt... The pain, the agony, the confusion... Watching as the Roman soldiers seal the tomb and stand watching... And all of creation mourns, not knowing what lies ahead... They walk away in tears... My Lord lies in the tomb...

 Saturday morning, imagine the grief of the Apostles... Mary... And even the Roman Guards who at the very end... Realized that He was indeed the Son of God... The Messiah, the One who was and is and is to come... They were waiting in agony... Wondering what was next? Will He rise again? Was He really who He said He was... Doubting Thomas? But shortly, all of their questions would soon be answered... And so we wait patiently... Tear stained cheeks... The stresses of the moment... Soon to be gone... He will Rise Again... And the tears shall soon be cheers... Patiently...

 All of Creation groans in anticipation... Knowing that the prophecy states that He will Rise again... Three days... One left... Will it Happen? Or will all be Lost... The Apostles... The Mary's... The followers of Christ Jesus, they all wonder... What will happen on the third day? Will the Temple be Lost, or will it be Rebuilt... The emotional tides rise high and fall low... The anticipation of what is to come... Sadness leads to tears.. Tears lead to fears... The fears are relieved after the reciting of the Prophets... But is it true? If He doesn't rise, then all is Lost! If He doesn't Rise... Then there is no god and our lives no longer have meaning... We are just dust in the winds of time... C'mon Sunday Morning! Let Your Glory Shine Through... Let it All be true... A gentle breeze, followed by the sweet aromatic smell of the Rose... And then we wait patiently until the morning...

 With heightened anticipation, we rush towards the stones... The Son peaks over the horizon... His raiment brightens the sky... As we approach and see the centurions Lie... The door has been opened... The Stone has been moved, and inside we rush! O' my we dare not touch! The Body is Gone! What have you done with Him! And then the most peaceful voice... What are you doing here? The one whom you seek is gone, for He has Risen! Hurry! Run! Go tell the others! The Joy of the morning! Yes, we wept, but the Joy of the Moment has come! Jesus Christ has Risen! Go quickly to Galilee, there you shall see me! "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth"... "lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" these are the Words of the Chosen One! Joy! Happiness! Hope! And Life! These are the gifts which we receive today!...

Hallelujah! Our tears have been turned to dancing! Jesus is Alive! I met Him on the on the Road to Emmaus... Yes, He is Risen... On this day, we celebrate the King who died, but now Lives Forevermore! May your day be full of the Blessings of The Lord... I pray that our Journey together has Blessed you as much as it has Blessed me... The Holy Spirit was our Guide while I was Blessed to be the Penman and Although it would appear that we have reached the end of the story.... The truth is, it has only just begun... Acts 1:8 KJV But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth... God Bless... Amen... It Is Finished... Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to read my blog... I Pray that it has Blessed you in some way... May God Bless you All... Amen...

Signs Of The Times

The coming Blood Moons have caused a stir amongst the people of God as well as the people of the world... The people have inquired, what is the meaning of this Blood Moon, and where does it lie in prophecy... As I answered the questions of the people, I began to read the Word, knowing that we are to study the Word and be prepared at all times... As I read Matthew chapter 24 and the Daniel chapters 10-12, the Holy Spirit began to prompt me and push me forward... My intentions were to read Ezekiel 38-39 and then head over to Revelations chapter 19, but the Spirit sent me to Hosea... Now, to be completely open and honest, I have not spent much time reading or studying the book of Hosea; however, today, the book of Hosea just leapt from the pages and into my heart. It is important for us as individuals to read, study, understand, and be prepared to share the Word with others, if not, we will not only defraud ourselves of the knowledge that God wants to share with us, we may cause ourselves and others to suffer... (Hosea 4:6-7) Hosea 2:18-23 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord . And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord , I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God... Hosea 14:4-8 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say , What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him , and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found... The signs of the times are all around us, the upcoming Blood Moons are just another, sign to reinforce and validate the Word and the prophecies that have existed since the days of old... However, in Hosea, we see that there shall be an ending to the end times... This will be a time of peace and love, a time when the weapons of destruction are no more, a time when we shall clearly see God's Faithfulness, His Mercy, and His Love... A time when the world is at peace, and safety is all around... A time when we shall be His people, and He will be our God, a time when all of our sins have been permanently cast away, and we shall rest under the shadow of The King... Christ Jesus...

Who Is This Jesus?

Who is this Jesus? Before we can define who Jesus is, we must first establish who God is; He is the creator of the universe, the giver of life, the keeper of the peace and the King of kings… Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth… Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords… Now, without turning this brief description of Jesus into an all-out Bible study, we will establish just who this Jesus is by first discussing who the Bible said He would be… In the Book of Micah chapter two, the Bible stated that He would be born in Bethlehem, which He was according to Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4-6. In the Book of Isaiah 7:14 the Bible states that Jesus would be born of a virgin mother, this was confirmed in the Books of Matthew and Luke as well… Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel…

 Matthew 1:22,23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us… The Bible also states that Jesus would be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David which was confirmed in Matthew chapter one and verse one which reads “Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” There are many prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Jesus, and once again in an effort to prevent this simple description of Jesus from becoming an all-out Bible study, we will mention only one more very important prophecy before establishing who Jesus is…

Isaiah 61:1,2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn… Jesus declared these verses almost word for word in Luke chapter four, verses 18-19; thus, confirming once again that He is the one of whom the prophecies spoke. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin in a small town called Bethlehem, He was born for a purpose, and that purpose is to set the captives free, to heal the broken hearted, and to give us life more abundantly.

Now that we have established who Jesus is Biblically, I want to tell you who He is to me. This Jesus is the man who set me free from a life of bondage, not physical bondage, but of mental and emotional bondage that forced me to believe that I had no future, it forced me to believe that there was no way out of the lifestyle that I was living, and that I would be forced to die in my sin and burn in hell, that is who this Jesus is to me. Jesus Christ quite simply stated was God in the flesh, both man and God, He has experienced every single emotion, pain, and discomfort known to man, and so much more.

Who is this Jesus, He was a man who did not sin, but was ridiculed (Luke 23:35) His clothing was tattered and torn and yet again and again, He sought to pray for His enemies… Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots… He was pierced and hung on the cross amongst common criminals and thieves (Mark 15:27-28, John 19:34 & 20:25-27) and in His deepest anguish, He was forsaken by God Himself in Matthew chapter 27 verse 46, and He did It all for you and I, that is who Jesus is; yet, the story doesn’t end here, in all actuality, this is only the beginning... Matthew 28:1-7 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you… In simple terms, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead He was resurrected on the third day, and ascended into Heaven where He sits at the Right Hand of God… Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God…

Jesus Christ the Savior gave Himself up as a ransom, to cover our sins, He paid in blood, His own Blood (Romans 5:6-8) So, how do you answer the question, who is this Jesus, that is really up to you, but to me, He is the best thing that ever happened to me, He changed my life, He is my Best Friend… His Grace is Sufficient, and He is the Giver of my Peace, who is this Jesus, He is the Living Word, the Bread of Life, and the Author and Finisher of our Faith… The truth is, I can go on and on, describing to you who Jesus is to me, but the best thing to do is to find out for yourself. How do I do that? Great question, the easiest way to do that is to ask God to come into your life, to reveal Himself to you, and to make your life brand new; however, if you’re not ready to do that just yet, go ahead and look these verses up yourself, there are many free Bible apps available as well on the internet, and if you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me Fred Blackman Jr, and I will be more than happy to assist you on your quest to find out just who this Jesus is…

Feel free to reach me via email: fredblackmanjr@gmail.com