This Sunday has two differing views. Some Traditions say this is the Advent of Peace, others say Love. If we put the two together we get FAITH. So today let us look at the faith of Joseph. Scripture tells us that Joseph was troubled when the angel Gabriel announced to Joseph that Mary is with child and He will be called Jesus, Yeshua, Emmanuel, God With Us, Prince of Peace. What a heavy burden to bear that his wife to whom he just was betrothed (modern engaged) to. He was working on the home where they would live which was an extension of his old home to make more room when Gabriel came to him in a dream. Joseph was not ready for this. He had to work on his faith.

Faith is Having Trust in God

Joseph’s faith was put to the test. His young bride would be nearing childbirth even before the marriage ceremony would take place. What could he do? Divorce her, hide her away, could he speed up the process of marriage since he already had a home and a business? Mary was ok with the Will of God using her but to Joseph, their reputation was on the line. Mary would be ousted from the community or possibly stoned. But God soothed the thoughts of the man who would be raising His Son.

Gabriel came to Joseph and told him not to fear and to trust God because He will take care of all things. Joseph was still worried about others in the community to include his own family. But after a while Joseph came to realize that God has a plan and he must do as God says. He changed his trust from those around him to listening and trusting solely in God.

Faith Moves Mountains

Because of the situation, Mary went to see her cousin Elizabeth who was with child. The Gospel tells us that John leapt (or moved vigorously) in the womb when Mary approached Elizabeth. How did he know? The simple answer is that since they were gifts of the Holy Spirit they recognized each other. But science could say this. The child developing in the womb feels what the mother is feeling and the eternal joy and inner peace that Elizabeth had went into overdrive and the very presence of Mary. The messenger told Elizabeth that Mary was also with child and He is the Messiah.

Joseph, in the mean-time, was still struggling with what to do. He had already sent Mary away but what happens when she returns? He still was not in full with God’s plan but his faith was moving. Judea was under Roman rule and a census was decreed where all Jewish men had to go to the towns of their forefathers. Joseph married Mary. The Baby was near due so He  took her to Bethlehem.

We trust in God that He will take care of things. As mountains actually do move slowly we must have patience and wait for God’s timing. As our faith grows, mountains are moved because God’s Will is active in our lives. Joseph put his full trust in God since the angel Gabriel came and soothed all his worries. He trusted God more than ever and did as God had told him.

Faith is Full Devotion to God   

Joseph surrendered fully to God and followed His Will. Finding a place in Bethlehem at the time was not easy and I am sure a little frustrating but God moves people in mysterious ways. We are told that the Baby was ready to be born so a place had to be found quickly. In their frustration they still trusted God and were set up in a stable. The devotion of Mary and eventually Joseph brought them to the place where it was preordained that Jesus would come into the world. The Word has come to Bethlehem. Praise Be to God.

In God’s Loving Embrace,

 Rob, Servant of God

Having Hope is a wonderful thing. To hope is to trust in, wait for, look for, to desire or expect something that is beneficial for the future. This first Sunday in Advent we are to remember the hope of the prophets and the people Israel. We also wait for the return of God’s Son, Jesus, who will renew the earth and remove sin once and for all. Let us begin this day by examining what it is to hope.

Trust and Obey

Hope is to trust in the fact that God will be, and is present in times of trouble. We trust that our hope will bring peace to the internal strife that complicates our communion with God. Trust in God means that we are reliant on Him in times of trouble that He will deliver us. We trust in God for provisions. Trust in God is giving up all things to Him so that through Him we can live a life free from the worries of this world. It is up to us to believe that God will be there. It is this belief that helps us make it through the day and all situations it may bring. When you fully rely on God wonderful things happen.  To trust in God is to have faith in Him alone.

Our trust in Him is proven through our obedience to His Word. We have the most difficult time with this because of our sinful nature. To conquer our sinfulness, God gave us rules and guidelines to follow. The Commandments He has for us are not attainable because if we break one, we break all. Knowing this, God sent His Son to us as a sacrifice who took away the penalty of death for our sinful nature.  

When we trust and obey we receive a joy and peace that is truly well beyond our human comprehension. Where do you put your trust?

Wait For God

Scripture encourages us to wait for God with Hope and an expectant heart. When we are in trouble we wait for God to turn things around to our favor. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD (Psalm 27:14). We are also told to wait patiently, I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry (Psalm 40:1). Psalm 130:5 encourages with these words, “I wait for the LORD, my whole waits, and in His Word I put my hope”. Waiting for God may seem daunting at times when you really desire something immediately but remember, we are on His time, not ours.

Look For Him

We are to seek Him with patient endurance. As we wait on God we are to persevere in everything we do for His Glory no matter the earthly consequence. By this we are to be in total obedience to His Great Commission and seek Him in the lives of others as well as our own lives. Funny thing is, we really do not have to look further than the nose on our face. If we search inside ourselves, God is there. Our problem is that we look in the mirror and see our vanity and conceit more than we see His Glorious work that is ourselves.

How simple it is to see God’s handiwork in all of creation. We just have to open our hearts and minds to literally smell, hear, see, and taste our Father’s work all around us. When seeking answers and seeking God we only need to ask Him to open our heart and turn on the light.

Desire  

The non-Christian may see that word and think we are talking either in a sensual manner or other physical means. To desire God is to need His Love and light in our lives. We have no desire for riches, fame, or any material thing that takes our mind off of communion with God. We should not desire the things that distract us, that is what Satan wants us to do. To desire God is to keep His Word in our heart and let it control our thoughts and actions.

If we turn from the Word we turn from God and risk being lost to Satan which means our lives (both physical and spiritual) are forfeit. Desiring, idolizing, wanting to be something you are not designed to be are ways that Satan keeps us from our true desire which is eternal life with God.

Our Hope Is In Christ  

God sent His Son to share the Word and correct us in our thoughts and ways. He turned many back to God who had been lost to the desires and needs of the world. The Israelites were looking for a leader who would conquer the world. What they did not know was how the Messiah would actually accomplish this. He came, corrected many, returned many, turned many, suffered ridicule, mocked, accused of blasphemy, whipped, beat, and died as the ultimate sacrifice. Because of God desiring communion with us, He gave up His most precious gift in the form of a man to die for our salvation. God saved us.

Jesus will return. The children of the Book know this. The hope is that He either comes in our life time or at least within a time frame when our children’s children have full knowledge and share our hope in Him. We wait expectantly for His return with an anticipation that is slower than Heinz Ketchup. If we speed up our anticipation we will suffer disappointment. Remember, be prepared because He Himself said that He would return as a thief in the night. We have to expect the unexpected. Have hope in God which moves with Him.

Brothers and Sisters, this holiday season is filled with tough and trying times. We really do not know which way this world will turn from one second to the next. We must turn away from the troubles of this world and place all our hope in God. In Him we can accomplish anything that He desires us to do. Without Him we fall. What will you do to share this hope with your fellow man?

Hoping in the Lord our God,

Rob, Servant of God

How often do we say thank you and not really mean it? I know some folks who just say it to get others to not bother them. In fact we are all guilty of that in one form or another. For some, thanks is just a five letter word and is used from the mouth not the truth in the heart. The mind is on something else and we just say it to say it. Kind of like saying sorry when you really don’t mean it. This is something that we really must consider and in consideration to others find a different, kinder way of expressing our thoughts rather than use words without proper intentions.

Thankfulness

Scripture tells us to be thankful to God for His Grace, Mercy, Love, Testing, and Correction. Meaning in all things be thankful to our Creator who gives us life, guides us, disciplines us, forgives us, and saves us. To be full creatures under God’s Unending, Unconditional Love should we not also be the same way with our fellow man?

Being thankful is not an easy task sometimes. The hard in heart have a difficult time with this because they really do not know what or how to say any form of gratitude. For some, within their own close family saying thank you is not easy either.

Thankfulness Starts in the Heart

We are creatures of habit but our habit must begin somewhere. Because of our good and bad natures we immediately learn the difference and meaning of “no” or not good, and “yes” or good. The innocence of not understanding is guided to doing right or wrong things to learn. How we are disciplined when we are young stays in the heart.

Thankfulness is a feeling that begins with rescue. The infant is rescued from hunger and dirty diapers and then given comfort when falling asleep. The child is exposed to gratitude when they feel nourished, clean, and protected. As the child grows, sparing the rod (simple Godly discipline) shows the child that they can get away with anything. If this continues then the child will probably grow up not understanding right from wrong and not knowing how to be grateful. Yes we have to let kids be kids but they must learn boundaries of behavior.

As the child develops so do morals and values. Children learn from observing and doing. They learn from example. The best way for the child to learn gratitude is exposure to Godly love and care through those that are part of the child’s life. This is what our Father gives to us.

Proverbs 22:6 tells us what we are supposed to do for our children so that they can be acceptable members of society in both body and spirit. Overdoing it can be just as bad as not doing it at all. The best thing to do is to be an example to them.  

If we are not taught respect and good manners in the home, how do we expect them to respect and honor those outside the family circle. There are many different cultures in this world. Some are very thankful and filled with gratitude, while others are so busy that good manners are totally out the window. Some people expect others to give and do not give back even a smile. There are some that I have unfortunately had a non-Christian moment with where I wished they would be struck with hard times so they would learn gratitude. I know that is not right for me or anyone for that matter but some do really need it.

Thankfulness in Suffering

Even though Adam and Eve disobeyed, God did not kill them and start over. He taught them to be thankful even though they suffered loss. Being thankful in times of distress is not easy but God put something into our hearts that makes it possible, His Love. Though we feel sadness and may even question God, we should be able to thank Him. Not because we survived but because it was through God that the outcome was what it was. The lesson learned is that God’s Plan is His and we are part of it. Just because we suffer does not mean someone else is not brought to God.

A Grateful Heart

The grateful heart is one that is thankful in all situations. God teaches us through His Word to be thankful for all things through, to, and in Him. This gratefulness for God that builds in the heart gives us the strength, knowledge, and courage to face the world and everything that Satan tries to pull us from God.

Having a grateful heart is not always easy but when we are grateful for even the smallest blade of grass and grain of sand, we learn to grateful for the things that are out of our control and everything that is put in our path. It is a great way to live. In fact, Scripture tells us that God desires us to live that way.

Brothers and Sisters have a great Thanksgiving and carry this gratefulness into the next and every year God gives you. May God Bless You with fullness of a Grateful heart and a better understanding of His Grace, Mercy and Love.

In His Loving Embrace,

Rob, Servant of God   

There is something wonderful that happens when we are in the condition of Praising and Worshiping our Father God. This feeling that is deep inside our hearts can express the joy that overcomes our very being as we give our whole selves over to Him. When we worship we are connecting with God in ways that are well beyond our human comprehension.

When we praise God in song and give praises of thankfulness for the situations in our lives, we are overwhelmed with a feeling of peaceful contentment which excites and calms us in order to deal with any situation in which we find ourselves. Being in this state of Worship and Praise is never ending but in this day and age where anyone can write a song we must be able to discern the heart of the writer and examine the truth of the song.

The Truth of Song  

A song is an expression of the heart and mind of the person who writes it. When it comes to Christian music there must absolutely no faltering from the Ten Commandments. There are three Commandments that specifically come to mind. 

They are:
ב 3 “You are to have no other gods before me. 4 You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline. 5 You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, Adonai your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot.
ג 7 “You are not to use lightly the name of Adonai your God, because Adonai will not leave unpunished someone who uses his name lightly. Exodus 20: 3-7 (CJB)

Simply put, song of worship and praise are from us to Him and for Him. We are not to write songs from His perspective because even though we are given a glimpse into what He can do for us, we must not express that in a way that can be misinterpreted. When one writes a song that places God in the first person, that person is putting words into God’s mouth which is in direct violation of the Third Commandment and definitely should not be sung openly. Also, do not allude to God but He is to be mentioned outright. The songs are to and for Him after all.  

Worship and Praise in song are expressions of what God does in our lives and how it has affected our faith, our trust in Him. They are to speak of God’s work in our lives and pronounce the Good News of the Gospel in ways that compel others to learn more and work towards a closer, more personal relationship with Him. Many of the hymns prior to the 1930s had evident Scripture in the words. This is something that is missing in most Contemporary Christian music.   

If you were to listen to modern music from Middle Eastern Christian and Messianic Jews, every song is taken directly from Scripture. From full Psalms to portions of Psalms and other Scriptures, the praise and worship there is filled with Scripture. God tells us to keep His Word hidden in our hearts which means to treasure the Word. In this way we remember the Word and are able to express it in every facet of our lives. If the Word is not treasured then we run the risk of sin taking over us.

Instrumentation in the Church

Some folks are still at odds with having full instrumentation in the church and prefer a single  organ, piano, acoustic guitar, or no instruments at all. That didn’t seem to bother our ancestors. Praise and worship with instruments was part of the everyday celebration. The old cathedrals were acoustically designed for the organ to be heard blasting throughout. Psalm 150 tells us to celebrate in praise with instruments and dance.

Halleluyah!
Praise God in his holy place!
Praise him in the heavenly dome of his power!
Praise him for his mighty deeds!
Praise him for his surpassing greatness!

 Praise him with a blast on the shofar!
Praise him with lute and lyre!
Praise him with tambourines and dancing!

Praise him with flutes and strings!
Praise him with clanging cymbals!
Praise him with loud crashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise Adonai!
Halleluyah!

The loud ruckus of wind, stringed, and percussion instruments is part of praising God. Granted. The instruments should not be louder than the voices but it is still part of it. We are to celebrate His Almighty Power, His Grace, His Mercy, and all He has done and does for us in the best way we know how. This is praise and worship in song and dance. When did we get so stuffy?

Leaders Of Worship

The main job of leaders in music worship is not to put themselves on a pedestal but to help others through directing the corporate praise and worship. Too many worship leaders try and put themselves in a high place when all they are doing is changing the direction of worship. The stage on which the band plays and the vocalists sing on should be considered as part of the altar where sacrifices are made to God. When we play and sing we are using the gifts God gave us to glorify Him and Him alone.

Since we are no longer required to give blood sacrifices thanks to God sacrificing His Son, Jesus, we are giving the sacrifice of praise and worship which resounds throughout the church. It should also be heard outside the church and not contained in a building. The plants, trees, rocks, and animals are also part of God’s creation so should they not also hear it so that they may join in?

Concerts?

Leaders of music worship are leaders who have been entrusted to bring others to God through song, reading of the Word, and prayer. It is not a concert, do not treat it as such. Do not take accolades and let them rule the heart but send the accolades to God. Christian artists should not be awarded for their efforts by man and material means. They are awarded in the heart and receive the best when they reach heaven because of the hearts they touch.

Capitalization and fame are two things that are not on God’s good graces list. I will admit to wearing song verses on shirts but I see them as conversation starters. When we place names and faces on things we are basically idolizing them a violation of Commandment #s 1and 2. We can enjoy without idolizing we just have to be cautious and recognize what we are doing.

We can enjoy the music and don’t get me wrong I do enjoy listening to and singing along with certain Contemporary Christian Music but I do not idolize the person(s) who sing it. I have attended some just to get the exposure of what Christians do and in some cases meet with the people who sang and played. You can definitely tell the difference between those who are in it for the Glorification of God and those who desire the recognition and money.

What Can We Do?

Brothers and Sisters, the current situation in which we find ourselves has the youth coming to Christ through contemporary song. When we see or hear of any person deciding on Christ through music worship alone we are responsible to make sure it is genuine. It is the responsibility of those closest to the person to watch and guide the growth into right Christianity and not “Jesus worship”. Teach discernment, disciple them, and follow-up, but mostly shower them with God’s Love.  

If you see a worship leader start changing for the worst, bring it up to the person in a Christian manner. Do not chide but express the Love of God and His Glory needs to be above all else. If you hear a Christian song that does not sound right, turn it off. Do not let the confusion of others become your own. If a song is sung in church that does not sound right, stop singing and start praying. If you are in a praise and worship band express your concern for songs that do not Glorify God. I care for your spirit and the spirit of those who are close to you. Keep His Word on your heart and let it give you strength.

Wrapped in His Love,

 Rob, Servant of God

Brothers and Sisters, we have a problem. We are not following the commands of God. During my daily time with the Father in His Word today I was reading Leviticus. In the 25th chapter there is a section on the poor within the community that are citizens of said community. This is an Ordinance from God that does not go away during the time of Jesus but is in fact emphasized on how we are supposed to be in our daily lives.

I know that we have Christians that are told not to worry about the Old Testament and concentrate only on the New, but that is the wrong answer. We have to know the Laws, Statutes, Histories, Stories, Proverbs, and Psalms, to really understand our Father God and what Jesus was completing, reemphasizing, teaching, and sharing with all who would hear Him. It gives the back story on why Jesus was against the Sanhedrin in their ways. The Old Testament is absolutely necessary for our faith.

Anyway, I want to discuss this problem with the homeless as mentioned above and why we have failed. First let us take a look at what God told Moses to tell the people:    

“‘If a member of your people has become poor, so that he can’t support himself among you, you are to assist him as you would a foreigner or a temporary resident, so that he can continue living with you. Do not charge him interest or otherwise profit from him, but fear your God, so that your brother can continue living with you. Do not take interest when you loan him money or take a profit when you sell him food. I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt in order to give you the land of Kena‘an and be your God. Leviticus 25:35-38 (CJB)

Each tribe was to take care of their own and the brothers people as well. I know it sounds like we are to take them in to our homes and take care of them until they are back on their feet. When we help the homeless we are to treat the homeless as if they are family. But, in today’s society there are so many it would be difficult. The problem is so bad that shelters are full meaning more and more people are living on the streets, in the parks, basically anywhere they can find.

In Isaiah, the Prophet is chiding Israel for their false fasting and explains: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness.10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.11 And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. Isaiah 58:6-12

Isaiah is telling them that they have failed in conducting themselves in accordance with the Statutes set by God. “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered”(Proverbs 21:130). Here he talks about the joy that comes from helping others and the presence that God will have in their lives as He strengthens and blesses those who give of themselves and their blessings to help others; Many today have failed in this as well. Some that have helped seek human gratitude instead of waiting for the Father’s blessings which is where they fail. “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 13:13-14). We are to bring nourishment to those who cannot help themselves so that they see Jesus in us. Our reward is received on God’s time, not seeking earthly accolades.

One of the biggest problems in American society is how we treat those who are less fortunate. Proverbs 14:31 states, ”Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” I am ashamed of those who not only look down upon them but also those who give them a bad name and reputation by falsely seeking assistance which takes away from those who are truly in need.

One very important fact that needs to be remembered is that we all come from the same mold. Just because we look different, speak differently, and have different ways of looking at life we all have one Father, One Creator, God Almighty. We are responsible for each other for we are made to care for creation of which ALL people are part of.

Brothers and Sisters, I could go on and on about the many Scriptures that tell us to help those in need, less fortunate, and without but that would take about 10 to 20 pages. If we stand up and do as God asks of us then this problem can be contained and controlled. Unfortunately there will always be poor and destitute people in the world but with God all things are possible. We can put an end to people finding unhealthy ways of joy and happiness which are only temporary by showing them God’s love through our actions and sharing the Word with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Cain asked God if he was his brother’s keeper, I am here to say yes, yes we are.
Be the Person God needs you to be.

In God’s Loving Arms,
Rob, Servant of God

Worship is the matter of the heart – the attitude with which we live our lives to God.
Oh how we desire to be in the presence of God. The best way to be in His presence while on earth is through Praise and Worship. Worship (as we continue to speak of) is more than just singing and playing instruments. It is the quiet moments spent in the Word and prayer, the gathering of two or more studying together and building relationships, it is everything we do that gives Glory to God.

So why do I ask you to consider worship? Because there is a new worship culture that focuses less on God and more on things of the earth. Worship should be God focused, relationship building, and biblically based. More and more of the music is less and less centered on God's Glory. This earth bound Christian music culture needs to return to the basics of Scripture so that we do not lose the youth any more than the damage already done.

When faith is based on the music heard, and the music has little Scriptural backing, it is not for God. Some popular Christian songs as of late are written as if it is God talking to us. That is okay to a point but the message is actually misconstrued to a point where there is no rhyme or reason why He is fighting for you. In fact, God is barely even spoken of in that song.
And then we have a song that says that "You have never failed me yet". We are the ones that fail Him and the way this song is makes it sound as if the writer is thanking God but at the same time it is confusing to a new Christian who feels the increased struggle and pull of Satan. What this person may think is that God will not let him fall. This is wrong. Even though God does not want us to fall we are given free will to choose what we do. It is up to us to stand firm or trip and fall. We cry out to Jesus. and are picked up but we have to fall to understand God's grace and mercy.

Another one says that the only name we need is Jesus. Yes we cry out to Him but we must remember that God is the one who saves us. We put our trust in God and worship Him as Jesus said not to worship Him but worship the Father. Yes Jesus said that He and the Father are one which means He is a part of God but He is not the only part we should recognize and give glory to.
Jesus is the Word that became flesh so that we could understand what God meant when He said and did what He did for us. God's name is what matters it is His name we need. 

Be careful with the new music that is being churned out and produced to be played to the masses. Music can be the beginning of learning but do not base faith on human words through Music. Put your whole life in God's hands through reading and understanding the Word in Scripture and constant conversations with God. Do not let the conversations be one sided but quiet your tongue and mind, and listen. 

I speak these things out of love and compassion for your souls.
In God's Arms,
Rob, Servant of God               

Brothers and Sisters, I was studying Psalm 40 recently and I felt the desire to write on it today. The beginning of this Psalm talks of a person waiting on God to hear the suffering the writer is feeling.   
 
I waited patiently for Adonai, till he turned toward me and heard my cry.
He brought me up from the roaring pit, up from the muddy ooze,
and set my feet on a rock, making my footing firm.
 
Do you hear the cry of a person in the darkness, apart from God, until the cry is heard for release from the suffering of sin? Then when He lifts us up, He gives us the strength and courage to be held by Him in all situations.
 
God brought us out of the depths of sin and set us on the rock which is the Word that fills us and encourages us to face anything the world puts in our way.  

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many will look on in awe and put their trust in Adonai.
How blessed the man who trusts in Adonai and does not look to the arrogant
or to those who rely on things that are false.

When we turn towards God leaving the world behind we are given new eyes that see Him, a new mouth that speaks the Word from our hearts, a new purpose found only in God’s truths.   

How much you have done, Adonai my God! Your wonders and your thoughts toward us --
none can compare with you! I would proclaim them, I would speak about them;
but there’s too much to tell!

Because we see with new eyes and speak with a new heart we can know the awesome wonders that God has done in all creation the way He desires us to see it. He gives us the words to speak but no matter how much we try to tell, there are ever more words to describe His Grace, His Glory, His Mercy, His Praise. So much that not one person can speak of the entirety of God.

Sacrifices and grain offerings you don’t want; burnt offerings and sin offerings you don’t demand. Instead, you have given me open ears; so then I said, “Here I am! I’m coming!
In the scroll of a book it is written about me.

God does not desire physical offerings that are burnt with the sweet aroma raising to heaven, He desires a personal relationship with us as we should with Him. We should be running the race, following His Word and Commands while keeping our part of the covenant made with our very souls in mind. We are His inheritance and have been bought with the blood of His Son, the incarnate Word, Jesus. It is He who gave us the pure example of how God desires us to live on this earth. We are to live for God in good relationship with each other, helping each other not destroying ourselves through lies and sinfulness.

This Psalm gives me the encouragement to bring others to God through the knowledge of His character and values that we have within us. To know that His truth is the only truth we need to place our trust in. Oh to be in the protection of His loving arms, sharing His love with all people.
Keep His Word on your heart and remember the sacrifice God had made so that we can return to Him. God’s Love, Grace and Mercy be with you all of your days.

In Christ,

Rob Servant of God

Psalm 139 is a beautiful discourse on the intimate knowledge that God has of each one of us. David is known as a man made after God’s own heart and this describes the wonder, knowledge, and understanding that the heart in each of us should be aware of. God’s Love for us goes so deep that He is fully concerned with every move we make. Every motion, every thought, every ounce and atom of our very being is important to God’s plan.

Omniscience Of God

In the opening 6 verses we see God’s Knowledge in our thoughts, words and actions.
1Adonai, you have probed me, and you know me.2 You know when I sit and when I stand up,
you discern my inclinations from afar,3 you scrutinize my daily activities.
You are so familiar with all my ways4 that before I speak even a word, Adonai,
you know all about it already.5 You have hemmed me in both behind and in front and laid your hand on me.6 Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me, far too high for me to reach.

This part tells us right away that God knows our every move. Since we have the gift of free will we are given choices to make which determine how we will function throughout the day. What we are inclined to do because of human nature is not always the best choice but God has a way to put us on the right track. Verse four tells us that He already knows the choices we will make in what we say and how that will affect our lives and the lives of those around us. How one eternal and everlasting Omnipotent being can know the heart of every God breathed creation is well beyond what anyone can fathom to understand, but He does. 

How often do we think something to say and then stop ourselves from saying it? Better yet, how often do we think of doing something disregarding the possible consequences but when we begin to take action something tells us to stop. That is the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Sometimes we go through with speaking or acting out our thoughts and have to deal with the consequences of our words and actions. Only God know why He allows us to make mistakes but we do learn from them. Maybe our mistakes are there to help us recognize our need for a closer relationship with God who will forgive us when we acknowledge our mistakes, our bad choices, our sins, through repentance by asking forgiveness first from the person or persons we wronged then asking God. Thus bringing us closer to Him through His Grace and Mercy.   

He knows all things even before we speak or take action on what we think. If we understand this then it makes certain choices we make even harder. When we are tempted to do something we should remember this section and know that we cannot hide what we are considering doing.

Omnipresence Of God

This next section tells us that He is ever present and can be everywhere.
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I lie down in Sh’ol, you are there.
9 If I fly away with the wings of the dawn and land beyond the sea,
10 even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Let darkness surround me, let the light around me be night,”
12 even darkness like this is not too dark for you; rather, night is as clear as day,
darkness and light are the same.

This does not mean He inhabits everything as humans are the only creatures in creation given the breath of God. But it does mean that His presence can be felt in us, beside us, all around us. He is not creation but is all around the creation. His presence can be felt in the rustling of the leaves, the movement of the wind on the grass, the water that pours out from the heavens, the explosions from deep inside the earth that cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. He is everywhere. 

Adam and Eve found this out the hard way because the choice made due to the words that Eve spoke to the serpent. Eve’s words to the serpent adding to what the command God gave made it easy for the serpent to convince Eve to take the fruit of the tree. The consequences of this conversation were placed on all involved to include the serpent so it was not just humanity that suffered.

God hears our groanings and places Himself where He needs to be when He needs to be there. Of course He needs to be with us at all times so when we are desperately searching for Him we do not have to look very hard because He is already there. It is us that blocks Him out of the eyes of our heart, not He who disappears from us.

 Omnipotence Of God

This part continues the discussion of His presence but also describes His knowledge and power.
13 For you fashioned my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I thank you because I am awesomely made, wonderfully; your works are wonders --
I know this very well.15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes could see me as an embryo,
but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped
before any of them existed.17 God, how I prize your thoughts! How many of them there are!
18 If I count them, there are more than grains of sand; if I finish the count, I am still with you.

God created. Simply enough this tells us how deep His knowledge is of each and every one of us. He created Adam from the dust and clay of the ground then blew His Spirit into him so that He is part of us and lives in us. This section brings to mind Jeremiah 29:11 where He says,” For I know what plans I have in mind for you,’ says Adonai, ‘plans for well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future.”. God’s creation did not stop after the six days but continues with each one of us. He provided us with the means of  human creation and takes what is given knitting it together to make two become one. This is one reason why He created man and woman. This is why we complete each other. This is why we are given into marriage. He designed us to continue His creative process. Sin has perverted that.

Although He uses each child born to accomplish certain things, not all are meant to be. Satan, the prince of this world, has placed his hand in creation and many that should be born are not. Some that should not be born (in our minds) are. It is a difficult thing to digest but all human life is precious because it is of God.

God’s power is seen in His creation and doubly so in us as we are to conduct ourselves in the way that God has instructed us through His Word. Keeping His Word in our hearts and minds give us the power to accomplish His work on earth.   

Requesting God to Remove Evil

19 God, if only you would kill off the wicked! Men of blood, get away from me!
20 They invoke your name for their crafty schemes; yes, your enemies misuse it.
21 Adonai, how I hate those who hate you! I feel such disgust with those who defy you!
22 I hate them with unlimited hatred! They have become my enemies too.

This part is rather difficult. God can speak things in and out of existence just by thinking about them. Throughout Scripture, God decides when to rid the world of certain people and places. When studying the words closely we see that it does not please God to order destruction but it is seen as a necessary means to an end for the plan to continue. It is a show of God’s power over Satan’s attempts to rule this world and overthrow God.

 Here, David seems to speaking of those who pretend to do things in His Name but they do it for their own gain. Then he talks of those who do not follow His ways and turn away from God. David’s hatred seems to go beyond what it should. Even in God’s benevolence, He does not destroy like He used to. He uses man as His agents who remove the evil ones from the earth.

God’s Grace and Mercy Guides Us Home

23 Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way.

This request is the penitent heart making a plea for forgiveness. We examine our hearts before entering His presence in prayer so that we can repent while praising Him. If we repent even for the smallest wrong that is in our hearts and minds, we can be forgiven. When we repent, we are recognizing our faults and confessing to God that we cannot save ourselves from the damnation that is the effect of sin. We give ourselves over to God and do our best to live the way He needs us to. Living the best Christ-like life we can will help us when the judgement comes. Since we are human we are subject to sin but if we try hard enough, pray long enough, have faith while placing our whole life in God’s hands, we have a great chance of being in God’s presence for eternity.

Brothers and Sisters, this Psalm is one that we should definitely keep on our hearts because it is the reminder that God is in charge of all things. It helps with defending our beliefs of God being the creator and benefactor of all things. It speaks of His presence; even when we do not want Him there, He is. It tells us that we are His because He created us and knows our path before we even take our first breath of air in this world. It speaks of His goodness and Grace.

This is a wonderful reminder of God and His participation in our lives. God is, was, and will always be there if you look hard enough you will feel Him. I ask that each of you do your best to stay in His presence so when the time comes you can see God.

Blessings,

In God’s Loving Embrace,

Rob, Servant of God

This week I spent more time with God. I had not spent as much time with Him as I should have so this week I made it a point to get closer to Him through the Word and prayer. I can say that I have felt better this past week than I have in a while. When we let God in, so many things happen. Some good some testing, some bad, but God is there. His guidance through the still small voice become louder when your main focus is on God. It can be life changing if you let it. Last week I was frustrated because of the rain damage but God was teaching me how to fix things. This bled into my secular job as I was able to take care of problems and other issues that had challenged me weeks before. Spending time with God is a great thing to do. It is the right thing to do. Keep His Word on and in your heart and you will succeed in His plans for your life. 

Rob, Servant of God 

According to Scripture and the teachings of Jesus, God wants a personal relationship with us just like He had with Adam and Eve before the Fall. We are told that He gave us a guide that became Law as to how to get right with God and defeat the evil of sin. At the base of everything is Faith. Our faith in God is our trust and willingness to give everything over to Him no matter the suffering and pain that we may endure because of our Love for Him who Loves us unconditionally through His Grace and Mercy . It is by His Grace and Mercy that He sent us His Word made flesh in the body of Jesus Christ. The Word was spoken to those who would hear Him and it corrected the fallacy that man had created to make their own gain.
Some of the Sanhedrin turned back to God while others did not. Some of the people turned back to God while others continued to be blind to the truth by their own choosing. This is what we have today. Many are still blind and continue to live in their sins thinking that they will be fine in the next world (some even go as far as thinking, "if there is one I will take my chances"). The poor unfortunate soul that has no faith in anything but himself and the money amassed in this world. Being popular on earth may lead to being the most unpopular is the next world. Being the richest (monetarily) on earth will lead to being the poorest in heaven.
Recently some more popular and outspoken musicians have "turned back to God" in an attempt of redemption. The problem is that they are so popular and seen by the world it is almost impossible for personal redemption because of the boasting that has occurred. Be aware that it could be a front for the devil. Remember, the Bible says that there will be what seems to be changes in hearts only to be used by Satan for his will and not God's. 
Be ready, for the prophesy of Isaiah 17 and parts of Revelation seem to be coming true. Watch as Syria is overtaken by Turkey and if Damascus falls we are in trouble. As this is happening, the Jews are beginning to set up the building of the Third Temple. Animal Sacrifices have returned so be ready. We are getting closer to the end of the age. It could be years off still but things are falling into place. President Trump has pulled out of Syria allowing for the Turks to invade. It is written in the Bible that these things would happen. According to scholars and seers of dreams the United States is Ephraim. We have a roll but it is not good for the country unless we repent.   

Keep in the Word Brothers and Sisters. Do not fear or worry unless you have yet to truly repent. Do it now while the time is right. 

Rob, Servant of God   

Jesus warned us that in these times there will be many who come in His Name yet speak lies about Him and the Father. There have been many false prophets in the last 2000 years who have made the Jesus we follow today into the person He really isn’t. We have the Joyful Jesus who loves, we have a modern Jesus that is hidden within the New Age where He is known to have lived many lives from Adam to Noah, then with a few intermixed then Jesus. There are people who only worship Jesus and forget God without realizing that Jesus was the personification of God’s Word. Then there is Jesus the prophet who will return to restore God’s Kingdom. There are many others but most of them have a misunderstood view of Christ.

God warned the Hebrews about following a false prophet back in Deuteronomy:
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. Deuteronomy 13:1-4

Israel Followed Other gods
The people Israel had a problem. While they understood all the things that God required of them they fell victim to their sinful nature and worshiped Molech, Ba’al, Marduk, and other foreign gods. They also did what they thought was right in their own eyes when their hearts turned from God. The traditions and ceremonies with these gods were directly against the Law of God because of the rituals, sacrifices, and immoralities that they did to “appease” them. It took many years for the Israelites to return to God. Now we have the Jewish nation from the tribe of Judah with some Benjamin and Levi mixed in. The good thing is many from the other tribes are returning to Israel and turning to God.

Roman Leadership Changed The Way  
There are many things that the Romans did that changed the way we see Jesus today. Constantine tried to remove the Jewishness of Jesus which was easy for some aspects and difficult for others. When Christianity became the Imperial Religion, pagan rites and celebrations, were incorporated and the date of Jesus’ birth was changed to match the time of the  winter solstice. Somewhere along the line Ishtar became Easter. The Catholics call Peter the first Pope, he never desired to be venerated like that. Then there is the Paul problem. Yes Jesus turned his heart but all too often people trust the word of Paul over the Word of God.
Roman greed and the misinterpretation of tithing changed what is given to the church. In fact, the bishops used the church to collect taxes for the town and the Vatican. They created the heresy called indulgences that were payments for getting relatives out of Purgatory. Remember, common folk did not really read so they were not even allowed to get a Bible. They depended on the reading and interpretation of the local priest.  
Idolatry ran ramped as relics of the faith became means of worship. Everything from supposed pieces of the cross and nails to actual bones, even full corpses are worshiped and seen as providing miracles. God warned us about these things so we must be very deliberate in discernment. Remember, the Adversary and demons know all about God and will find ways to deceive. Jesus and the Apostles also warned us but many believe anyway.
 
Martin Luther Tried to Set Things Straight       
The Ninety-Five Theses were written as a corrective measure of the corruption that was occurring in the church regarding repentance, indulgences and purgatory. Forgiveness is only through the Grace and Mercy of God and mediated only through Jesus. It is the internal desire for repentance and removing of the sin from one’s own life that matters, not going to confession, revealing your sins to a priest and saying so many Hail Mary’s or other repentant phrase. Indulgences were a way for the church to gain money in order to release a soul from Purgatory. This took place of the Jewish tradition of praying for the dead during the period of mourning continuing through the year following the death.
Martin Luther understood that Catholicism was a controlling religion that kept people in the dark and threatened the very livelihood of those who believed. The whole sacrament of Communion is meant for all not just part of it as it was for a long time. Repentance is personal, no man can forgive sins completely in the place of God. These were things that Martin Luther wanted to debate and correct. He never was fully able to get the audience to correct these things. What happened was division and ideologies causing multiple denominations and changes in each area where Christianity was spread.    

From Luther to the Modern Age
Division did not stop with the main denominations but continues even through today with false doctrines developed from misinterpretations and “revelations” that people have had. It has gotten worse in the last 300 years. The divisions caused excommunications of whole people groups that started their own communes and branches. This is very dangerous because it will get to the point where no one can agree what is right, real, or fantasy.
We have one thing that helps and that is the Dead Sea Scrolls. This grouping of parchments and the Nag Hammadi codex’s writings help us understand the difference between what we know and what was known as truth. We must discern truth from fallacy of man, good from evil, moral from immoral, or we will not survive the coming war. Not only must we discern these things but also have true Repentance of the Heart, act upon the Great Commission, and live the best Christ like life we possibly can. It will not be our best life now because we will suffer but we will be more ready than the lukewarm Christians who think they got it.
Trust in the Father to give you guidance through the Holy Spirit of Truth. As Paul had said, “Put on the whole Armor of God daily”. Be watchful and do not stray. Love each other with the love of God not of man. Brothers and Sisters I care for your future in this world and the next. Remain strong in the arms of God.
In Christ,
Rob, Servant of the Father

 

The funny thing about being a human, just when you think you have most things working for yourself and others, life happens. Too many times we see people that believe they have it all together and the next day......crash. Murphy, Gremlins, and the ghost in the machine all arrive at once. That is a scary thing to have happen but this is mortality. Our plans are not always very successful nor does every plan fall into God's overall desire for our lives. It is something we have to deal with, sometimes daily, especially if your trust is not fully in God. 
There are people that think they control their own destinies can see failure and try to change to fit their needs and desires for success. These will never be happy because with each success comes many failures. They do not listen to anyone but their own mind.
Then you have those that think they need to meddle in business that is not theirs and recommend what they believe is the only way. Or they try to assist when it is not needed or welcome because they believe their way is best. These folks might have certain best interests at heart but cannot see when they are not needed and get upset when someone else succeeds.
As Christians, as believers in God, we place our faith, our trust, our very lives in His hands. At least that is what we are supposed to do. I know many Christians that fall into the people of the previous paragraphs and it is not pretty. When you work with someone described above, where is their heart. Are they looking for accolades and bonuses? Maybe some extra compensation? They are for themselves and not the team. And some call themselves Christian??????
Life happens to everyone because we are alive on this planet. What the differences is between people and Children of God is that we are not living for ourselves. When a change happens we have to accept it, adjust, and move forward all the while standing firm in faith. Give all praises, good things,  grievances, troubles, cares, and concerns to God and listen. That is literally all we really can do because that is what He wants us to do.
Brothers and Sisters, Do not get frustrated over the things that are out of our control because God has given that responsibility to someone else. If it is not meant for us to handle it at that time, there is always someone chosen to do it. God will have you step in if needed. Remember to ask for guidance and direction and God will provide. Of course He will do that whether we ask or not, especially if we are chosen for a task that He just drops on our plates. 
Be in prayer for us as we take on a task that will be challenging in many ways. We are possibly bringing a relative and her spouse to live with us as they try to get on their feet. 
In God's Loving Arms,
Through Christ,
Rob, Servant of God 

Sometimes when you sit and think about if your life is pleasing to God, all of the missteps come to light before the good. This is normal because our nature looks for the bad above looking at the good things in life. When that happens to me I either look or go outside and see the beauty of creation. I watch the trees move on windy days and think of His majestic power and how it helps us stand in the midst of trouble. I see the birds swooping and soaring and think of our needs being met. I see squirrels quickly moving through the trees and think of His protection. When I open the door and hear nature speaking I stand in awe of Him who gave me breath.
I watch my dog Lili and wonder what she is thinking as she runs free in the yard, rolling in the grass, and then sitting patiently observing her surroundings without bothering the birds, bunnies, squirrels, and frogs. Okay, she tries to smell the frogs then they quickly jump away. She does not chase them away but stands watch over her grounds.
What a great Father we have that provides many things that we cannot even see but appreciate when they appear. All to often we take the little things for granted but why do we do that? If strong faith can be as small as a mustard seed then how strong our faith could and should be while we go about our day.
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. AMEN.
     

Do you struggle with a particular Sin? Are you stuck in a sin you just cannot break free from even though you believe that Jesus is the Messiah and gave His life to save us from our sinfulness. Can you be sure you actually have Christ in your life if you are still living in the sin you had repented from? The answer is simple, you cannot live in your sins and be in Christ. Jesus said, “No one can be slave to two masters; for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first. You can’t be a slave to both God and money (Mat. 6:24 CJB)” . You cannot serve God and remain in your sinful life.

For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, of raging fire that will consume the enemies. Hebrews 10:26-27

Sin is Sin

There are many things that Scripture calls sin. To get this straight, sins are anything that is against God, His Word, and His Laws. There are some that He abhors and one that is unforgivable but sin is sin. Thy all lead to the same result. No matter the sin, the prescription for the cure is the same. Full repentance of all sins and turning to God. Giving up all things that keep you away from God and believing in Jesus. It is only through the sacrifice that God gave us that we are saved.

Nobody is perfect. We all sin. In this day and age the sins of man have fully taken hold of the world to the point that innocence is lost much earlier in life than ever before. People are turning away from the truth of God yet still claim to be Christian.   

I Can Be A Faithful Servant and Ignore God’s Law

The person who believes that statement is fully derailed by the Adversary and will surly die. How can you faithfully serve God while living in sin? You are only fooling yourself. If you live a life that ignores the Ten Commandments and the moral and ethical statutes that are contained in them, then you are not living for God you are living against Him.   

Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:28-29

If you give yourself over to God then you cannot continue in your sins of the flesh. You cannot continue to love the world and try to live for yourself. Even if you do help others, if you still have an ongoing sin in your heart you are fooling yourself. Once you repent of your sin and are baptized you must give up your previous life and live for God.

Jesus told the adulteress, “Go and sin no more”. Did He not do this after He saved her from death and she fell on His feet in full repentance? She gave up her life and followed Jesus from that point never to live that way again. So no, you cannot be a faithful servant and ignore God’s Law.

Jesus Is Holding You, Why Do You Let Go?

God has a plan and it includes you so why are you avoiding Him. We are given life everlasting through His free gift of Grace and Mercy but so many people just do not want to accept it. Too many people want to enjoy their current situation and do not care what happens when their bodies stop living.

The funny thing is that pretty much everybody has heard of God and Jesus and they know that there is a book called the Bible. Some have even used it to fuel their personal ambitions and have tried to ruin Jews and Christian by spitting the Word into their faces while they distort it to fit their selfish ways.

I said this recently but it fits here…The Bible has just about every answer we are looking for because everything in it points us to our creator and teaches us about life. It contains geology, biology, meteorology, astrology, math, history, physics, philosophy, health, sex ed., and more. It gives us a code of morals and ethics that are conducive to a world of peace. It even talks about certain vocations such as farming (both animal and gardens), construction, sailing, fishing, and many other facets making this world a better place to live in.    

If someone knows of God, why does that person not believe it could actually be true? Too often do people want to say that we live here because we do and there is nothing more. They do not see the miracle that is life itself.

With all this knowledge given, we can run the race and come out victorious but only if we are obedient to God’s will and plan. The Adversary will try to trick us every chance he gets but we must remain vigilant in our faith turning completely away from sin and start down the path that leads to the Kingdom. Until the day of Christ’s return there will be sin in the world. Repent and  place your faith in Him who saves us. God is with us Are you with Him?

May God’s Grace and Mercy shine upon you,

Rob, Servant of God  

Today is the day Israel celebrates Rosh Hashana or the New Year. This is the day of the creation of Adam and Eve. It started at nightfall on 29 Sept, 2019 and ends at night fall on the 30th. Around the world the Shofar was sounded to designate our life and the coronation of God our King. The Shofar is blown 100 times and celebrates God in His Almighty wonder. 
It is kind of disappointing that most Christian churches do not recognize or even notice the significance of today. When looking at the lunar calendar, God began creation 5 days ago (Lunar Hebrew date of 25 Elul). Nehemiah finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem on the same day. Remember, we are a part of a much greater thing than ourselves and we should know that the occurences in Genesis do have a lot to do with us.
Have a great evening and be blessed. Spend as much time with God as you can.
Rob, Servant of God   

The Bible has just about every answer we are looking for because everything in it points us to our creator and teaches us about life. It contains science, math, history, physics, philosophy, health, and sex ed. It gives us a code of morals and ethics that are conducive to a world of peace. It even talks about certain vocations such as agriculture, metallurgy, construction, music, sailing, fishing, and many other facets making this world a better place to live in.
So tell me again why people want to continually change it??
Why do people want to mold what is already a perfect model to their own liking when they are using rotten slimy clay that cannot hold together even with the strongest adhesive? What are we doing Brothers and Sisters to stop the madness that is happening?
The Catholic Church is falling apart at the seams due to corruption of millennia finally coming to light. Denominations are splitting and breaking down due to misunderstandings and misinterpreting what is spelled out in black and white.
The Confusion of language due to the Tower of Babel has never stopped. Why do you think that people need to hear things ten different ways or times before the light turns on? This is why we cannot get along.
Have faith, Brothers and Sisters, that Jesus will soon return to shine the light in our hearts brighter than before and we will have full communion with our Father Creator as it was before the Fall.
Have patience and wait as we cannot know the time even with all the signs in the heavens.
Listen close, do not turn away from God.
In His Loving Arms,
Rob, Servant of God

This is a quick item to ponder..... If Paul were alive today would he be able to break through and get people on the right track? That is actually  very hard yet easy question. Let's look at the situation today and see if old Paul could transform lives.

Millennial Generation
The Millennial Generation would be a challenge. Paul would be dealing with many entitled and me generation individuals who would run away like the rich young ruler did with Jesus. They do not want to ruled over because they feel if it does not help me, why do it. They also would have trouble giving up what they believe they believe they are entitled to. Still, many would be enticed by the promise of a better life than they currently have because of the current suffering status they find themselves in. So this group would be both sheep and goat.
Will he be persecuted? Yes. Suffer? Yes. Redeemed? Yes.

Worldly Fantasy Group
A tough group because they are more absorbed by the thins of the world and created their own idols to worship. They see God as a super hero and not the only God but one of many. They can be won over when they see they worship like the Greeks looking towards the altar to the unknown God. Still Paul might not survive unless he convinces the ones this people type look up to to worship God alone and give their lives to Christ.

Politicians
Here is a fun group. We are separated already between political parties. One party worships Molech and abides in hate while the other has both God fearers and those who are still on the fence. One group allows debauchery while the other shuns it. One forgives while the other is so hateful that all they have accomplished is making themselves to look the fool when trying to ruin someone else's life. The current majority in the House has not done anything good for the people and are more concerned with their own political aspirations leaving the current citizenry in the bottom of the barrel. 

Paul would have a hay day with this group. Just don't let him cross paths with certain Jezebels or he may have to call on Ezekiel and Elijah.

Celebrity
Another fun group where adulterous sex and abortions are common place because to some, kids and family are career killers and would just get in the way of their greed and desires. The debauchery is worse than Corinth. God help them if Paul set foot in Hollywood, there would either be many converts or Paul would end up tarred and feathered in the modern way.

New Age Evangelists 
Remember the movie, "The Last Temptation of Christ"? The person playing Paul told the people who were following Jesus who did not die on the cross, "That is not my savior". Paul knows that Jesus had to suffer in order for all mankind to be saved. We have an infectious group that preach a Jesus of love and best life now without the suffering. Well, without the suffering servant we would have nothing and still be slaves to sin. let that sink in for a minute.

Paul would have a reopened wound due to the thorn in his side growing bigger and would need to be on the same mission as Jesus correcting man's interpretation of the Word. Remember, Jesus came to us as the Word made flesh so that we would understand the Word and have the truth written on our hearts. The early Catholic Popes ruined all things by perverting the Word just as the Sanhedrin did. They changed the Sabbath, they required money over goods and services. They sought slavery over holy servitude. They required indulgences to do something they truly had no power over. Paul would probably be constantly in the Vatican prison for doing what Martin Luther did but on a grander scale.

Can We Be Like Paul
 Yes we can but we must face the world with God in our hearts and a clean set of clothes wherever we go. Can we depend on others for support? Only if the people supporting have the renewed heart like so many places did. Remember, Paul would not accept support from a community whose heart was not truly God fearing and Jesus following. We must be the same and teach the supporters truth from falsehoods.

Life is Good with God in our hearts and the ministry of the twelve and the others to guide our ways.

God Bless you and Keep you. Keep His Word on your heart and love other as God loves us.
In Christ,
Rob, Ebed (Servant) of God

There is a question that many do not really know they are asking themselves, “Who am I”. As a Christian, the answer should be, “I am a child of God and a member of the Body of Christ”. This should be the common answer but unfortunately many youth and some young adults cannot even look into their own hearts and see this truth. Some are too easily influenced by worldly things and rely solely on social media do discover themselves instead of learning who they are through physical interactions and spending time with God.

Social media keep people constantly inundated with questionnaires through Facebook and Twitter asking what celebrity, fictional character, house or alliance (ex. HP, GOT, SW), animal, etc. do they resemble. People that are influenced easily can become confused and eventually lose themselves and their true identity that God had chosen for them. Society works to confuse the minds so that truth is distorted and the identity given by God is changed to meet the devil’s gain. This even includes the questions of sexual preference and gender identity. 

What is Your Name?

A name is something given by the parents to the child. Our Father in Heaven speaks our names into their minds so that we are called as He calls us. In other words, our name is given by God. When people decide to change their name does that mean they want to hide from God? Some would say, yes. But you cannot hide from God. Our Father is not like other gods who do not see in the dark nor will not travel places. He sees everything and is everywhere. He sees in the hearts of those who try to change physically. You cannot escape God, His name is written in our DNA. We are His.

Some of my children’s friends have trouble remembering what their own given name is because they dwell in the escape of fantasy or are enticed by other cultures so much that they will not answer to the name given by their parents even when the parent is using the real name to get their attention. Call it selective hearing and lack of obedient listening all you want but in truth it is the trick of the Adversary to cause anger and confusion resulting in separating families.

I Just Want to be Liked

Some kids change their truths just to be liked by others who will eventually leave them anyway. If you can’t be your unchanged self to fit into a group, you do not need to be in that group. Don’t go chasing Amy over the cliff if you cannot stop yourself. Check yourself before doing something against better judgement.

Gang members have this thing of having prospective members do something they would not normally do just to be a part of a group. In a town close by the retreat we recently had three young boys get arrested for attempted murder due to a gang related incident. Those lives are now forfeit and will have a stain for life just because they wanted to belong and be accepted. Now they wear orange.

People Like Me When I Act This Way 

Are you who you are or are you pleasing others by being something you are not? Putting on an act gives people the wrong impression on who a person really is. Middle and High School aged children are under so many influences. These influences can cause a child to act a certain way to be liked. This can unfortunately lead to changes that are detrimental to the person later in life.

If someone believes that being a certain way is the only way to make friends then that person loses the truth of being. Being like someone you admire is one thing but it can get out of control. If you are a girl and act like a Kardashian, you may find yourself being victimized and thrown away. If a young man acts like certain sportsmen or player of women he may find himself in deep trouble that will affect the rest of his life. Being something you are not is very unhealthy both physically and spiritually. Be who you were brought up to be, who God needs you to be, not what society wants you to be.. 

False Realities

I have an issue with 20 somethings and older trying to hang on to their youth through dressing and acting like their favorite television or movie characters. If you are in that age category, act like it. As those individuals get older, the characters become more adult oriented which can lead to unwanted and disastrous attentions.

Some conventions have had so many issues they now have classes and warnings that focus on the dangers of dressing and acting certain ways. Policies have had to be put in place so deviants and predators have less chance in playing out their fantasies. Dress appropriately, some people bring their children and they do not need to be subjected to those adult oriented costumes.

Share Everything, Everybody Does It

No, they don’t. Social media controls many facets of life but it should not completely control our lives. The less we are on it, the better. I really do not care to see or hear about every aspect of people’s lives online unless you are immediate family and you are showing pictures of a recent vacation or important life event that I may have missed for whatever reason. Some people overshare and put themselves at risk. Some will share so much of their lives and have their phone number on their site so strangers can find them and not necessarily for good reasons.

God tells us to live our lives without the intrusion of others, especially strangers. He means we should keep to ourselves to avoid gossip and wrong impressions being told and seen. There is so much about ourselves that only God and our spouses need to know.

Children, imitation is the best form of flattery but that does not mean imitating what you see on the television, movies, or internet. Imitate behaviors of the people closest to you. Parents and close family, that means be on your best so that we will have better citizens growing up instead of this generation of people who do not know who they truly are. Remember the responsibility of Proverbs 22:6.

Brothers and Sisters, it is up to us to put the reigns on the youth and reel in the adults who are misleading our children. I know we cannot stop certain things but we can get the children to understand right ways of living from wrong ways. Keep an eye on what they see and an ear on what they hear. Teach them discernment. Doing so they may discover that they are Children of the God Most High and belong to Him.

May God’s loving compassion an discernment be bestowed on you with younger children in your family. May God’s Grace and Mercy shine on the older youth that they choose to live a right life. May God discipline the adults who betray our children’s and young adult’s trust that they may learn the error of their ways.

In God’s Loving Compassionate Arms, May His Grace and Mercy fill your heart,

Rob, Servant of God

When people become blinded to the truth, their judgement between right and wrong, safe and disastrous, constructive and destructive becomes even more clouded than before. The Old and New Testaments warned us of peoples viewpoints becoming so clouded that they will try and make good bad and bad good. They will look to pagan gods and false idols destroying everything people in the past worked so hard to make right. 

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. 2 Peter 3:3-4

We Are In Trouble

The United States government is in a bind because one political party has done nothing but try to override and remove the sitting president from office. No real benefits to the people have been put into action because some with influence and jealousy are putting personal agendas and vendettas above the good of the country. When a group of people have more heart for distant cousins rather than brothers, sisters, and the neighbor living on the same soil, they no longer are our leaders, they are our destroyers.

This latest batch of so called freshmen elected officials have scoffed at the Constitution, the Bible, and truth in human rights, caring less about the people in their own states while instead more about their own selfish selves. They are also attempting to legalize their sinfulness through man made laws that are placed over God’s Word and Law.

They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. Jude 1:18-19

What is bad is that many can see the lack of common sense and have made it known to the world, yet the persons still continue making fools of themselves. These people cannot see the truth, have forgotten God, so God may forget us.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Hosea 4:6

Blind Following the Blind

And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:10-15

The Adversary has sent the agents out to manipulate us. The Sheep are following the Bad Shepherd.

If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

What a Fine Mess We Are In

This mess that we call those appointed over us to make decisions for us have failed to squash those who are trying to undermine others appointed above them. Apparently most forgot whom they actually work for. I must be honest and say that I have lost faith in the government and hope that eyes are opened before it is too late.

For many years we have sacrificed our children to Molech (willing abortion). We have let the temple prostitutes (celebrity and media) guide our way of thinking instead of relying on God. We have been given to immoral desires through pornography and sexual deviants. The priests ( some religious and government officials) are filling their own coffers with goods and services which should be helping those in need. Thankfully not all of the people mentioned in parenthesis are bad but the immoral majority has given all of them a bad rap.   

What Happens Next??

The good news is that our time is drawing to a close and the Messiah is returning soon. The work of the evil doers is coming to light and more are waking up to the truth. For those that are not waking up, they are so far gone that their lives will soon be forfeit. Those who care more for the flesh will turn to dust. God will sort us out.

Be aware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing. We still have many who scoff at God by perverting His Word. We still have pastors who preach living the best life now. We still have the “feel good Jesus” Christians that do not know joy comes from suffering and not materialistic rewards. These are being exposed.

Brothers and Sisters, take heed of the warnings of the Scripture as a whole. God’s Word, Command, Laws, and Salvation are written clearly. God’s Law is written on incorruptible stone, man’s additions are on perishable parchment. God’s Word is written in and on our hearts and can save us from damnation. Man’s law can cause damnation.

What is on the heart and mind is more damaging than any man made weapon. When God is not there, evil thoughts can rule the heart and cause us to sin. When God is in the forefront and encompasses the heart and mind, evil will not prevail. Sin starts in the corrupted heart and the actions of the person are the result. We cannot let the devil win.

Love one another with the Love of God, not man’s interpretation of it. Rejoice in suffering and let God have the worries of your heart. Get right with God so you are able to remove the blinders of your family and friends. Keep and Share the Love and Word of God.

Rob, Servant of God

Jesus wants us to commit fully to The Father by committing our lives to following the Way which He taught us to live. We, as humans often do, find an excuse not to do what it is that needs to be done. Rather we do things we want to do or we do nothing at all and waste away. Luke 9:57-62 tells us about two such persons who desires to follow but makes an excuse.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62

Taking Care of Mortal Things Before Following Christ

How often do we make the excuse that before we go somewhere or do something we have to take care of something else first? Sometime the thing can wait. Sometimes it really does not need done. Sometimes it is someone else’s job and you just want to be there to see it completed. The last one is the case in this man’s excuse.

Jewish burials were a two-step process. The body first goes into a cave and lays dormant until all that is left is the bones. The bones are then put into an ossuary and reburied in a family crypt. In the case of the man burying his father, the body has already been placed in the tomb and is decomposing. He probably just finished the time of mourning and wished to see the burial all the way through. There were people whom today we would call morticians who took care of the second part.

So when Jesus says, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”, He was saying that the man’s time is done and stop delaying what is required of him. To follow Jesus, everything else that is in the world no longer matters. Turning to God in full devotion is to stop focusing on things of the world and placing the whole self in the Hands of God. 

 Don’t Look Back

Why do we look back at our past when we turn towards God? The longer we wait to put God first, the harder it is not to look back and give up our foolish ways. In the case of the man wanting to say goodbye to His family Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” One cannot keep looking back and still plow straight.

 He was not saying that the person would never see his family again. When we look back into what our lives were prior to knowing God, we have a tendency to miss our previous lives. What Jesus wanted the man to do was look ahead and focus on God so he would not stumble on the narrow path. Once ready, the man could return home to get his family and help them turn to God.

 The focus must be forward and not looking back. God does not want us to ask ourselves what might have been if I did this instead of that. If we focus on the might have been instead of where we are in God’s Hands, then we are easily influenced to falter. To proclaim the kingdom of God requires one’s full and urgent commitment. There is no place for what could be or might have in matters of the flesh when God is what matters most.

Our spiritual lives are more important in the grand scheme of thing than what we do in this life. How we are in our Spiritual life will help us maintain a healthier and more memorable physical life. If we focus on the physical, material life alone what reward is there for us in Heaven, we cannot have material things as a spiritual being. 

Brothers and Sisters, When we look back in Scripture and see the direction God desired for His people, we also see the guidance He gave. Following God’s Spiritual guidance in the mortal world is not that easy so God gave us a part of Himself which had already been on and in the earth but would now have physical form. God had a name for His Word that Saves us. He gave it to Isaiah, and to Mary and Joseph. The whole world knew of the God-man. We have Him in our hearts because that is where He needs to be. The Word is in us, all we have to do is listen and let the Holy Spirit guide us.

Turn Back to God and Give up your Foolish ways. There is no excuse not to.

Rob, Servant of God

Jesus the Hebrew is so much more than what we can comprehend. To learn more about our Savior we cannot just go by our translation but dig deeper through prayer and reading translations of the original language and discovering what was left out of our translations. For those that say the King James is their only source, you are really missing out because thy, thou and other words common to the era were not used when writing this in the original language. Replacing words with common vernacular actually remove the original meaning and intent.

Why is it important to know Hebrew? It is the language which was spoken to the people chosen by God after the separating of languages at the Tower of Babel. Was it the original language spoken by all? Of that we cannot be 100% certain. Some say that Sumerian Sanskrit is the first. It may have been the first written language from which all written comes from. That may be true as Abraham came from the land of Ur of Sumer. But Hebrew is the language that we must learn to become closer to God until He endows us with His truth.

Malach HaShem

Literally messenger of God, Malach are His angels that come with His Word (guidance and direction) meant for specific people at specific times. Scripture tells us that the Malach HaShem came to many in a form pleasing to the eyes. There were instances where God Himself came to speak.
Scripture talks about fire or smoke and voices that come out from them. These are instances of God delivering personal guidance because no human can physically look upon the true face of God and live. Another way we read of God specifically speaking was in dreams or directly into the mind and heart.

Our understanding of the Triune God is found in the God breathed Scripture and other writings from which the Old Testament is formed, but it was not stated in that way. Our understanding is that God had not yet released the Word fully into the world. Does this mean that who we would later know as Jesus was in motion during the Ancient times? Yes and no. It appears that God still desired a personal relationship but had to do so at a distance and personally unseen because of sin in the world.  

D’var HaShem

When God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments, they took the third Commandment serious enough to not even speak the name of God. To avoid taking the Lord’s Name in vain they substituted His Name with HaShem. The Hebrew for Word is D’var and is found a lot in Scripture but not where the Angel of the Lord is said to have come down. Isaiah 55:11 talks about God sending His Word:

                                               so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
                                                                   it shall not return to me empty,
                                                    but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
                                                and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

God does things on His time for the purpose of guiding us in His direction. The Book of Joshua tells us that God wants us to remember His Word in our hearts in order to do things of and for Him with our hands. The Israelites had made physical reminders for studying and memorizing the Word. These items were worn and placed on the doors. The Word may have been memorized but many did not truly have it in their hearts as the guiding factor of their lives.    

God in the Flesh

Isiah 53 speaks of God’s direct Malach and D’var coming to the world and being rejected by the people Israel. What we understand today is that it is all part of the plan. The person whom we call Jesus was rejected by the very people He was sent to bring back to God. This appears to be a part of a bigger plan for us because our sins were taken upon Him so that God would be able to reestablish the personal link between Him and us. The D’var HaShem became flesh and returned to God in the original form in which we will become.

Brothers and Sisters,
I understand that some things may be a bit uncomfortable to learn but we have been told so many things through the mouths and hearts of man who departed from the will of God. We need to get back to the basics to learn the truth. Part of that is knowing that The one called Jesus has many names but the one name that is His is D’var HaShem. Above this is the Only name which we know as I Am.

Rob, Servant of God

There are many books, devotionals, studies, and sermons that cover the Jewishness of Jesus. This is all great and good but there is something that most miss. Jesus was not just a Jew from Galilee, He was the physical body that held the Word of God given to Adam and his family, then Noah on down through the ages to the Hebrews. The Hebrew Nation held on the Word of God the best they could and when God came down Himself in the form of Jesus, the Word spoken to the nation Israel was the exact words used by God to the Hebrews but made to be understood by the people of that time.               For the next few weeks we are going to just barely break the surface on Jesus in the Old Testament. Now some may already think that Jesus was the Angel of God which came down to many and delivered instruction or warnings, it was not really Jesus just yet but an embodiment of the Word still in the angelic form. At that time the flesh body was not needed so we cannot say it was Jesus.                God's angels were given tasks to move the people forward in His plan and bring people back to Him. The Word was carved in stone, written on tablets and scrolls. The problem was man's misinterpretations of God's meanings because man has always tried to make human physical sense of the Holy, Spiritual meaning and desires of God. This coming week we are going to look at the burial of the people and what Jesus means when He said, "Let the dead bury their own".                                 See you tomorrow,                                                                                                                                                                Rob, Servant of God

Have you turned your life over to Christ? Do you consider yourself reborn? How do you define that term? Like Nicodemus said, one cannot return to his/her mother’s womb and start over again. Personally I have trouble with this verse because Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin which means that he understood the Hebrew meaning of what Jesus had spoken. But then again, to understand why it is recorded that he made that statement we would have to understand the context. 
Lost in Translation The New Testament was written in Greek and Latin. The Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations misinterpreted much of the Hebrew and Aramaic which completely changed the meaning of many statements made by Christ. The most important mistranslation to me is the one we are addressing here.                                                                                                                                                                                   Hebrew 101
 
What if I told you that the original Hebrew actually translates to slightly different words which would change our understanding of being reborn. Jesus’ words, “yivvaled ish milma’ǝlah” are often translated as “born again”, however the word ma’alah in Hebrew means “above”. Jesus words were spoken in Aramaic and Hebrew. So what Jesus actually said to Nicodemus was one must be born from above.
The expression “reborn” is often found in Rabbinic literature. One of great significance is when describing Israel after receiving the Torah. They were born from above through choosing to turn back to God. When Gentiles would turn away from pagan gods to the God of Israel the final process was to go through waters cleansing known or mikveh. When he emerged out of the water, he was considered as being ‘reborn’, or ‘born from above’. The person chose to turn to God and His Word, following His ways and His Commandments.

Are You Born Again or Born From Above
The difference between being born again and born from above is actually very significant in a person’s life. To be born again in worldly terms means a change in attitude, lifestyle, and characteristics that are not of God. These can be very damaging when the choice leads to physically unhealthy and spiritually sinful ways. The choice to live in the world and be of the world is exactly what Satan wants us to do. Being born again may sound enticing to some because it means living your best life now. The problem is the inability to let go and once physical death occurs so does spiritual death.

Being born from above means that you may suffer ridicule, and pain in this world. But the up side is this… Communing with those who are part of the Body of Christ, following His ways and living by the Commandments makes it possible to have eternal life because you choose to trust and have faith in God. This means you have made the choice to live a Christ-like life giving of oneself without the need to receive material accolades and putting others above yourself.

Which sounds more appealing, dying twice or the chance to being a part of something greater than yourself? The choice is yours, as for me and my family, we choose Christ.

In the Loving Arms of God,

 Rob, His servant

What would you do if your house was on fire, your spouse and child are trapped inside and you only have enough time to go in and save one. What do you do? This is the toughest decision that some have had to make. If you were the spouse in the house what would you decide? Nine out of ten would save the child because the love of the spouse in the fire would tell the other to let him/her go.

John 15:13 states, “Greater Love hath no man than he who would give his life for his friends”. There are many ways to look at this passage. The most obvious one is the cryptic way He was letting the Disciples know that He was about to be crucified. But this has many other meanings that we should understand.

This single verse is my life verse which I will explain why shortly. There is more to this passage than just giving of one’s self. Let’s look at the passage this comes from:

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. John 15:10-17

The Lesson   

The Disciples, according to Scripture and tradition were a little confused at first. They were serving Jesus by ensuring all needs were met. To Jesus, these men were the future who would lead others to the faith and follow God’s Word, not man’s perversions of it. These men would be the ones who would live a Christ like life the best they could and be the example to others.
Jesus did not want to be served but helped the Disciples learned what it meant to serve others without the need or desire for recognition or rewards. To this manner and the fact that their relationship grew, Jesus called them friend and brother. God’s Love is at the center of all this as the greatest act of love is sacrifice.

What do we get from this? God’s Love means to be able to sacrifice of yourself in any circumstance that requires it without question or desire for award. It is because of His sacrifice that we go into the darkness of the world and share what we have gained through the Grace, Love, and Mercy of God. We were servants of the world and sin as they had the greatest hold on us, but through Christ we are redeemed.    

What is Sacrifice?

Sacrifice is defined by Merriam/Webster as: the destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else; also, the act of offering to a deity something precious. The ultimate sacrifice was God’s giving of His Son as a sacrifice for all mankind. It is the final sacrifice needed for the redemption from sin and death. We all die physically but this death is the death of the soul. Because of the sacrifice we are saved from eternal damnation.

Sacrifice in our present life does not only mean we have to physically die. When we give up something precious to us we are sacrificing the need and desire for that item because someone needs it more. Giving up things that we have in abundance is just sharing of the wealth we are provided. It is not that we have need or will miss it, it is because we have plenty. That is not sacrifice, but sharing.

Sacrifice is giving of the last dollar when we do not get paid for another week. We will do without until we can move forward. Sacrifice is giving up your favorite material thing. Sacrifice is giving of your time for someone else’s needs when you are required to be elsewhere.

Why is This My Life Verse

I am a humble servant of my Lord and Savior Jesus. My life is not my own but belongs to God. When I was in the military, my life was signed over to the defense and protection of the country. This meant that my death certificate was already made just missing the date, time and means of death. Jesus’ death certificate was already complete even before He was born. I became a willing sacrifice in the defense of the land I hold dear. I became a willing sacrifice for the safety and security of my family and friends. I became a willing sacrifice to defend my brothers and sisters in arms even at the cost of my own life.

This has become my way of life. Not desiring or needing anything but working towards the safety, security, and comfort of my family, friends, and strangers. I would give my life for any of you reading this if that is what it took for you to continue living.
  
What Does This Mean

Are you willing to sacrifice. Our lives are to be a living sacrifice to God. Giving up worldly things to serve only the will of God. Now in this day and age it is difficult to sacrifice everything because of the requirements of life and the ruling body appointed over us. It is possible to live as God desires us to through our acts of kindness, suffering for others, giving of ourselves so that others may succeed. Will you sacrifice everything for your human brother or sister? I know I would.

Blessings to You,

In GOD’S Love, Grace, and Mercy,

Rob, Servant of Father God

Brother, Sister, Husband, Wife, Son, Daughter,
​School has begun or is about to begin at all levels of education. It is a time for discernment and understanding right from wrong. It is a time where faith will be tested and temptations will be all around. The elementary schools in some states in America have done all they can to remove all vestiges of Christian thinking and are trying to destroy the country by indoctrinating rebellious thoughts,  while some states have boosted Christian thinking and patriotism. Some have boosted security and the presence of role models while others are letting dangerous individuals walk right in.

The good news is that our Christian brothers and sisters have had enough of the attempted indoctrination of our youth by sexual deviants and Islamic religious practices. The process of returning schools back to the roots of public education will take some time but it will take all of us to encourage change. Christian parents, we need to remind all people of Proverbs 22:6 and what Paul stated in Corinthians and Ephesians about raising of children and how we are to act and react around them. The children are our future but if we teach them bad habits and that wrong is right or okay then we are lost.

​College students, please do not forget your Christian roots. There will be testing of your beliefs and challenges to your character. Do not give in to the temptations, stay in your studies but most of all, Keep the Word on your heart and in your mind. Remember your words and actions are to be a reflection of God.

​Watch the roads. We do have some crazy drivers and some of them drive the school busses with our children on them. Remember, if a bus is stopped....then stop. Do not go around them we lost too many children to senseless, hurried individuals who do not care about the safety of others.

​In conclusion, be safe, remember the teachings, show our children right is right and wrong is wrong. Build them up to be examples of Christ to others.

In Christ,
​Rob, Servant of God