Compassion for the Suffering Multitudes

 

The Bible gives passages of the kingdom of God being established on earth.  Malachi 3:1 " Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me, and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.

Matthew 4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Gospel to be preached around the world: Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

There is only the one Gospel. Jesus was sent by the Father to deliver compassion to the suffering multitudes. It was the Apostle Paul who warned us about receiving any other gospel.

In Jude 3 we are to contend for the original! Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Jesus taught through Parables. He relayed His kingdom on earth. Opening up the passages of the Bible, we are no longer ignorant of God’s truth. In Mark 4: 21 Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lamp-stand? 22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.23 if anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.  24 “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you  who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Heed what you have heard. Heed the supernatural of God and yourself as a spiritual being understanding your Fathers thoughts and ways. Believe!

Why would anyone want to twist the kingdom of God?  1 Timothy 4:1 (NIV) The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

 Jesus  reached people with the kingdom that had come. The Gospel as Mark underscored in his writing, was the need for faith in the person. The message they received and the power of Jesus present to help those in need as in Mark 4:40 and Mark 5:34-36.  Jesus was One, but many others would follow with willing hearts to see God’s kingdom come to those in extreme need.

A concise history of redemption is accomplished through the atoning work of Christ. His authority emphasized as He taught and His authority over Satan and unclean spirits we could look at here as to that which involves nature, Mark 4: 35 through Mark 6:45-52. 

 We have one in recent days to leave us much to soon. He a follower of Jesus Christ was cut down in his young years. He was cut down because someone else's belief was totally in something else. What twists our thinking? We are told from 1 Timothy 4:1 of deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. This nation has certainly got off the tracks of truth. Schools and colleges are teaching their own ways which are humanistic. They teach doctrines of demons. But we must endure knowing the word of truth. We must endure to follow Jesus indeed!

Do we tell the truth of a life change in us or do we shoot someone down by the hate in one's heart? We are to be open about Jesus. We are to spread His great news to all! Charlie Kirk was one who went out and did that for decades. He spread the truth of the love of God. He gave people a voice to speak but also gave the truth of the Kingdom of God. Compassion comes in many packages of people. It is a gift from the Father when love is shown and expressed. It is not patting a wrist to speak that is okay, you can go ahead and be you! WRONG! We are created in the image of God. We are created for good and not evil. But we must choose the good in God and not the evil of this world.

Those of the world spoke the last few days. They revealed in their laughter of the dislike they had for Charlie. They gave some time of life in either video or texting in the form of some social media. But those who saw Charlie, knew of his call by God and also a sent one. Yes, he is gone. He is a martyr for God. He left others in conversation of which he started.. As the young man of God, he will always be known as the man of faith. The person created in God's image, a Patriot of this nation, a provider of truth and open to conversation.`

Deceit and Deception are examples in the Bible: 

Proverbs 12:5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

Proverbs 12: 17An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.

Proverbs 12:20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.

Romans 3:13 Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”

Romans 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

God's truth is like light, not leaven, and it must not be hidden.

Charlie was not hidden nor was Jesus Christ our Savior!  Light dispels darkness. Advice of the wicked is listed as deceitful in Proverbs 12:5. In Proverbs 12:17 we see that a false witness tells lies. And deceit is found in the heart of those who devise evil seen in Proverbs 12:20. It appears that naïve people are deceived easily from their belly. They receive that “smooth talk” and flattery that deceives. Yes, those filling their bellies with flattery find they have no footing in the truth of the Lord!

Let us stand for truth! Let us know what God reveals in His word. For we are to be lights in this dark world. Jesus was crucified  and was seated afterward with the Father. Charlie losing his life in this world gained the light of compassion in the kingdom of God.  Amen.

Revealed in the days ahead will be either light or darkness. Revealed will be hearts for flesh or for God. Surely this world is convulsing in the upheaval of sin. Those as sons of God continue in truth of God. As Jesus spoke from the cross, He revealed His heart for the man who hung with Him on that hill. He spoke to John to keep Mary as his mother. Jesus continued in compassion to speak light as He hung dying that day. And what will you do with this word?

                                 Teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

http://bit.ly/2wgu1kw

Now Posting to Rumble 

Voice of Prayer

https://rumble.com/c/c-1425534

And

Life Giving Wells

https://rumble.com/c/c-1428234

    Life Giving Wells now on Spotify Podcast!

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/xashcfy9ezb         

SATISFIED!

Psalm 63:4-5............4 Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. ..NKJV

My soul, my mind, will and emotions shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness.
David saw that being satisfied was found within a worship toward God in seeing a healthful body, fullness of all that he needed to live, and having comforts for his life. In his worship he was delighting in what God has for him and was ready to receive them all!

No desire left unfilled.........all would be met by God! All that David aspired to, and had a passion for in God, determined that his desires, those righteous ones would be met in God!

Proverbs 10:24..........24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him,
And the desire of the righteous will be granted.
NKJV

So what is the fear of the wicked...........they are far from God, but the righteous, those who will be satisfied are those close to God. Those who lift holy hands to God in worship are satisfied in their spirit, soul and body! Being satisfied, is being up close and personal with God!

Proverbs 30:15-16................15 The leech has two daughters--

Give and Give!

There are three things that are never satisfied,

Four never say, "Enough!": 

16 The grave,

The barren womb,

The earth that is not satisfied with water--

And the fire never says, "Enough!" ..NKJV

Proverbs 19:23............23 The fear of the LORD leads to life,  And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;  He will not be visited with evil. 

NKJV

Being satisfied is more than just being fed and clothed. If it were enough, then people would stop quarreling among each other. But being satisfied means a lot more than having the need of man met. One neighbor can see another's new car, and that craving for more, of not being satisfied with all that they already have now puts them into jeopardy (danger) for more, more, more!

Ever looked at a fire on the slopes of a great hill or over a land filled with dry vegetation, and it sweeps through like a train keeping its schedule to be on time. The grave receives the body, but demands more. It makes a demand that those who have lost a loved one will pay more. That open grave speaks loudly of its intent to keep the grieving person captive to its desires for more. 
I remember this elder man dying in a community of about 1,000 people. He had been a drinking person and had no friends. When he died, one family member stepped up to see he got the proper burial. We had been invited to attend with them. There were just 5 people attending this man's funeral. There was no celebration of his afterlife in God. And I remember thinking on that poor man in all that, no man came, no person sang, no one cared, but the five who came. It seemed to me even then that the grave demands more on those who place the body, that tent, now empty into the ground. I thought many years after how the grave was demanding more of people, especially of those who attended this one funeral.

People in one part of the country are inundated by floods while another part of the country is in a great famine! The earth is not satisfied with water.....

Psalm  34:11-14 .......11 Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

12 Who is the man who desires life,

And loves many days, that he may see good? 

13 Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking deceit. 

14 Depart from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it.  NKJV

Being satisfied is having everything we need to accomplish what God has for us to do in this lifetime. People can experience the never being satisfied like the grave or the barren womb. Nothing is more sad than a couple who cannot have a child together. Today we see that the earth requires more water for we see it in our yards and the spans of dry pastures and fields.

And those fires.......always speaking more........with an unique energy, will take on every car and truck on a major interstate highway like we just saw on I-15 near San Bernardino, California. Two weekends ago,  we saw a fire move like a snake up a hillside and over a major highway to engulf vehicles in flames and keep on moving up the hillside. And the most amazing thing was this: the people like the department of transportation could have stopped them long before they got to the place the fire raged, but let the traffic continue so........that a traffic jam stopped the traffic in the middle of nowhere and to be overtaken by a fire with bad attitude! In determining to stop people from driving through a firestorm, who makes the decision and are they qualified to make it?

So if we are not satisfied, then where lays the problem? Is it on God or on us? Well, it certainly has to be with us.

Psalm 37:18-24.........18 The LORD knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever. 
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 
20 But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the LORD,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away. 
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous shows mercy and gives. 
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. 

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way. 
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand. 
NKJV

The Lord knows the days of the upright. He knows those who follow Him, mention His name daily, and ask something in prayer. He keeps those who are His, and in the evil time they shall not be ashamed, they are satisfied in the days of famine. Yes, from Psalm 37, we find those who are blessed by God and those who are cut off from Him forever. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in His Way. Though a righteous man may start to fall, but GOD CATCHES HIM, BREAKS THAT FALL FROM HAPPENING AND UPHOLDS THAT RIGHTEOUS MAN WITH HIS OWN HAND. PRAISE GOD!


The Greek for "satisfaction" is to the full, suffice, have plenty of, and satiate. I like that word satiate!
Satiate: one who is completely satisfied....for oneself or in a need......to the point of being overdone, so that one could not have room for any more......!
I think of a dry sponge plunged into a sink filled with water........and when I raise the sponge it is dripping with much water. It is satiated, overfilled in the water department.



Psalm 36:7-9....7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. 
8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. 
9 For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light. NKJV

Satisfied, abundantly with the fullness of God's house are we to look like to the world. As we draw our life from the fountain of life in God, we see light! Our lives are to be depicted....in detail...to be the same as His in that of righteousness (Psalm 33:5) of love (1 John 4:8), and of wisdom and truth ( Colossians 2:3)
Yes, Shelley, I know that. 

In God's rivers of delight are our pleasures. Those of God are those that are spiritual, they are clear as crystal (Revelation 22:1) It is by His Holy Spirit that we become, not only acquainted, but ready to reveal this to others. But to be able to tell others, we must first make a habit of visiting with the Lord daily through the Word, through Worship and through Prayer. Our hearts must be satiated in the things of God. Our hearts should be plunged into the Rivers of delight that is of God as in Revelation 22:1.

It is in Him that we live, and move and have our being. So each of us will have fruit in our lives. We will have more than enough food, more than enough water, more than enough love and vision for a lifetime. In His light we have a Perfection of Who God is, and we gain it in having His wisdom, His knowledge, His joy and able to give it to others in a vast amount! There is no holding back! As we freely allow His waters to flow into our lives, they will freely flow into another's life. But if we cut off ourselves and drink from the world's supply of putrid waters, all we will have for another is .....a putrid puddle! That puddle is one that is corrupted by the follower going after worldly things.

Taken from "PUDDLE JUMPERS".....A BLOG I wrote from.......February 27...2015.
 Having to get from point A to point B certainly can take some effort and work when dealing with other people.  But anyone knows that some people just create mud puddles, and are known as puddle jumpers. They like making things hard, difficult, and sometimes just hard to understand. But truly having God and His favor causes us to have a shield of favor. That when God our Father favors us, He surrounds with a shield where the mud from those puddle jumpers just rolls off us. When God our Father is for us, then all other things must bow to the name of Jesus.

SATISFIED!
For me, it looks like this! When I was a young child I remember going to a Theater to see a movie. The cartoon came on at the beginning. It was in black and white..........and looked a lot like a mouse whistling down this roadway out in a country area, but as he kept walking and kept whistling and singing, the scene started to change, and the black & white became a screen filled with color. He, the mouse, then had color, and his clothes had color. (yeah, a mouse wearing clothes, can you imagine?) 
But I think about this when I see something new that God is doing, not only in my life, but in those around me. I see that black & white become the bright color of life much like the rainbow that is over the Throne of God!


Revelation 4:2-3...... 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. NKJV

Those satisfied are the radiant.....they have a glowing face that beams with a glad heart and a voice of faith in the One Who created them! Psalm 34:4-7... 4 I sought the LORD and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to HIM and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. NKJV

Radiance is that beaming with all that God is.......and it is being given to a world in much hurt and pain!

Father, thank You for Jesus. We are not ashamed of the Gospel. For it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  For in it, the righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." (Rom. 1:16-17)
Father, You say that the steps of a good man are ordered by You. We pray that our steps are ordered by YOU and that we follow every direction You desire for us to walk out for YOUR glory. We desire to be those with a radiant face and a glowing heart that speaks truth in that darkness where some people reside. We desire to speak the LIGHT of YOUR Word and see the darkness dispelled.
We expect that no righteous desire will be left unfilled. We are those who have sought the face of God......to see Him in the sanctuary........Our heart said to YOU, "Your face, LORD, we will seek. (Psalm 27:8) Even though our father and mother make forsake us, then the LORD will take care of us." We believe YOU to strengthen our hearts, and see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
We give praise for YOUR goodness to us........now bless the works of our hands for YOUR kingdom in Jesus' name.(1 Cor 10:31.....31 Therefore, whether you (we) eat or drink, or whatever you (we) do, do all to the glory of God. NKJV)
 Amen.



You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

Responding in Faith

What is fighting the "good fight of faith"?
Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith!

Hebrews 12:1-2.....................12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV

When we read verse 12, we are to lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us to run an endurance race that is set before us! That race is a life journey, a walk of faith with the Lord entrusting our every step into His confident hands!

1 Timothy 6:11-16.................11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.    NKJV

Lay hold of a life that pursues righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith holding onto that eternal life through Jesus.

Matthew 27:11-14.....................11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. 

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge-to the great amazement of the governor. 

NIV

Life can seem unfair! But as we see with Jesus, we must choose how to deal with people in fairness, patience, truth, gentleness, righteousness and godliness seasoned with much love!
What if Jesus chose to speak against those bringing accusations? What if He wanted His say at that moment in time? What if He just let "loose" and told them it was about Him? No, because Jesus was led by love to forgive and to continue obeying His Father who directed Him to the Cross!

If there is something going on in the workplace or at home, do we look at the circumstance instead of looking into the face of Jesus?

Do we throw all caution to the wind, so to speak and dwell on the circumstance or situation or will we keep the faith and keep a good confession in the presence of many witnesses?

Will we confess:

Ephesians 5:1…..I am Your follower.

Ephesians 5:2……. I walk in love.

Ephesians 5:8….. I am light in You.

Ephesians 5:15…. I walk circumspectly.

Ephesians 5:18…...I am filled with the Spirit.

Revelation 12:11…..I am an overcomer.

1 Peter 2:24…..I am healed.

John 8:36….I am free.

Matthew 5:13…...I am salt.

1 Corinthians 6:11 amp……..I am consecrated.

1 Corinthians 6:11…...I am sanctified.

1 John 5:4….. I am victorious.

Everything You say about me is true, Lord. In Your name I pray. amen

Or will we let it "all hang out"? Will our words, sound like God our Father or the world?

It is important to fight with the faith in God's Word. To do anything else is like committing a spiritual suicide. We should always be determined to respond by holding onto joy in Jesus.

So what if it looks like things will never change? NOW would not be the time to stop believing! Only meditating on the world's view of things can lead people into bitterness and conjure a false view of God. God is good and He is good all the time, every day and in every circumstance. We must align ourselves with His truth and thoughts by confessing what He says about us. Bitterness about a situation will only cause one to lose direction in life and that moves one into the "enemy's camp".

Psalm 68:1-3......Let God arise,

Let His enemies be scattered;

Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. 

2 As smoke is driven away,

So drive them away;

As wax melts before the fire,

So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 

3 But let the righteous be glad;

Let them rejoice before God;

Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. 

NKJV

Bitterness about a situation will cause one to be a wanderer with no certain path on which to walk.

Isaiah 38:15-19............15 "What shall I say?

He has both spoken to me,

And He Himself has done it.

I shall walk carefully all my years 

In the bitterness of my soul. 

16 O LORD, by these things men live;

And in all these things is the life of my spirit;

So You will restore me and make me live. 

17 Indeed it was for my own peace 

That I had great bitterness;

But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption,

For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. 

18 For Sheol cannot thank You,

Death cannot praise You;

Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth. 

19 The living, the living man, he shall praise You,

As I do this day;

The father shall make known Your truth to the children.   NKJV

In verse 17, the writer tells of us choosing his peace but his peace had great bitterness. But he goes on to tell that the Lord delivered his soul from that corruption, that sin which ensnares one.

Here we find that the Lord restores us day by day not to wander in bitterness of the soul but to live. He wants us alive to Him and give thanks for His goodness in delivering us from the things of the world.

We must understand that "bitterness" is a self-inflected venom that will kill.  Staying in bitterness will only lead one into more troubles and forget how to forgive others.

How does our faith measure up today? Is our trust in God alone? Do I think God needs my help to get things moving in this situation or circumstance at home or in the workplace? Do I think I need it done "my way"? Am I declaring it is "all about me"? Yikes! That would be a bad place to be in the journey of life. Are we putting on the confession to many witnesses of those listed above like being one who walks in love, is filled with the Spirit, am an overcomer or does something else spew out of our mouths? Am I thinking I deserve something that was given to someone else? Do I think I need to speak every thought I think out loud?

When we choose to say that we walk circumspectly, we walk as in the way of the Lord being mindful of others. It is bringing others to His word as well. To be an example of what a "Christian" looks like in living life, and not as a distraction, or something that belongs of this world.
Ephesians 5:15...."see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as the wise."
"Circumspectly"...... Greek word..."Akribos"....means diligently, perfectly, circumspectly......
"see then"..........Greek words "Blepo oun" .......take heed, take action or make sure
"walk" ....Greek word..."peripateo" ....to live, or to be occupied with"

TAKE HEED TO BE OCCUPIED WITH DILIGENT, PERFECT (INSTRUCTION)


Confessing God's Word, His power, His goodness and faithfulness to us is a choice even when it appears that bullets are flying in our direction. The Word of God is the same yesterday, today and forever. It will always remain the same in the face of any cultural disintegration, and moral upheaval. It is following Jesus daily and keeping that faith which brings victory to us in any circumstance or situation.

The choices we make today toward holding onto the Author and the Finisher of our FAITH will instill in us a strength and courage to know that we are walking the way Jesus walked. This walk involves not only us but in also involves all our future generations!

1 John 5:4….. I am victorious.

Father, today in Jesus' name, I pray for those who are bowed down. May their hearts take courage to know that You are their strength. Your thoughts and ways are the way to life with joy and peace. Father thank You for all who read and pray this out today. May they know You have not given them a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. I pray Father they would hold onto Your thoughts, feelings and purposes for them from Your heart. I pray they will be renewed with the fresh mental and spiritual attitude as they run to Your Word of safety.
Father, thank You that Your children are set free from every evil work. We praise You that the joy of the Lord is our strength and stronghold!
The things of this world are put to death today. Our fellowship, we pray is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Today we are alive from the dead and we walk circumspectly with others understanding there are witnesses to our faith walk. We move away from that which is past and move forward into the future, to that which lies ahead. Yes we strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which You are calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us! Our hope is in You. That hope which never disappoints or deludes or shames us for YOUR love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. Whatever the circumstance we face today, Lord we roll that work upon You, commit and trust it wholly to You; and believe that You will cause our thoughts to be come agreeable to Your will and so our plans will be established and succeed. Amen.


You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

What has Captured our Attention?

Where do we set our focus? What captures our attention to take us from what we should actually be doing?

Our culture is one that is devoted to sports. The whole year is set for all kinds of sports and many of them over lap one another. I always thought basketball was done by the end of March, but now seems to go into the summer months or what I call the "dog days of summer". Of course, football started in the fall of the year. But today, it seems football starts in August!

I grew up a Baptist and attended a southern Baptist church till I entered Jr. High School. The reverend always talked of the sin and the importance of salvation. He would have me so frightened by what he spoke of the hell-fire thing and how it would be on those who rejected Jesus, that in every main service I was in, I would go forward to receive JESUS again! Those services were an entire hour, no more and no less, it was an hour long service in the word of God!

Today, we see the pastors wanting to keep a service at or about 30-minutes, for we are told that people get distracted after that amount of time. They figure a 30- minute service will suffice and people will want to come back to the service and it is certain that a 30-minute service would be about making the people happy, right? But in all of that thought process, is it all productive to seeing people move forward in the plan God has for their lives? 

My question is this: if we have found some time with the Lord during the week, should we not be glad to be with other Believers for church time,to spend time together in the Word, in worship and in prayer? Should we not be glad to spend the time, no matter how long it takes in worship, in the word of God......... to come and bow down, to give glory to the Lord? Would not the Lord would be happy to see us all together with one heart in worship to Him? Should we not be excited to enjoy other believer's company, have opportunity to pray for them, worship together with them in praise to our Father God? Should we not want to glorify Jesus in all that He did for us.....on the Cross.....and not be concerned about the time?

I see people drawn into the sports thing! They gear up for the season ahead, you know, by purchasing the new team jacket or t-shirt with the team's logo on it and yes a certain number of their favorite player! They do not mind the price of the tickets, or the cost of the new T-shirt or the weather thing going on at the time of the scheduled game time. They set the schedule for the games they really want to watch.If they have it in their home, they set a time for people to be over, of course at game time, and serve some special snack foods which usually have salsa, chips and guacamole as the center theme for their food activity before, during and after the game. The amount of fat and salt comes into play at that time and what should be avoided, if any sandwich is served, like the foot-long hot dog or the foot-long sub? And then, what is served for a refreshment, soda pop or..........some other drink of choice?

No doubt food is truly important to our diets of retaining our healthful vigor!

In scripture, we see Jesus teaching on the hillside and then asking the disciples where they should get something to eat....in all of the teaching, they had no concern for the money, it was of no issue, the issue was there was no place to buy the food! He saw the people come to hear Him teach that day............................AND JESUS already knew what He was going to do! HE WANTED the disciples to get active and participate in the plan of God for the lives of those people WHO CAME TO HEAR AND RECEIVE THE WORD.

What and where we set our focus though will determine our outcome......whether it be for victory or defeat! Will we be active and participate in the lives of those God sends our way?

Again, looking at the game, and the time it is on, and you know those overtimes can be lengthy as well. So, if we figure just for game time, with the half-time activity, you can figure over 3 hours. So if it goes into over-time, look out!

But the average person cannot sit for over 30-minutes to hear the Word of God! I stand in amazement of how this can be in this day and age! Of all that is going on in the world today, are we so set to entertain ourselves with the worldly things and miss what God has for us to do and especially for today in the lives of others?

I can understand a child being distracted, as they are young, have come into a world they are just learning about, and they are in awe of what they view on T. V.   But I also stand in awe, and wonder how do grown-up people get to the place they have to be entertained. I understand the amount of work a football player must do while he is in training which includes the exercise, the right foods and restful sleep that all play a part. I am in awe those who can run and still hold onto the football even in the rain and never lose control. Again, I think of the conflicts that arise through these games and some of it turns ugly. Some games turn into a free for all, the "have your way and speak the filth to others" who are made in the image of God! Yet those who keep their tongues and truly want to be in the game and play as a team see the greater advantage. These look out for others and not just for themselves or what they can get away with at the time. These people just love the game and want to participate in the game with team members.

God wants us to have fun, and truly God does want us to enjoy our life here and be team members on His team! Our lives are for but a moment, just like opening that soda pop can, and the mist of vapor is gone in an instant. So is our lives....for in one moment we are here and in another moment we are gone...........AND did we do anything for the kingdom of God? Will we make a difference while here in this world and would anyone know that we had been here or that we were followers of Jesus?  Should I redirect my focus to the Lord and see how the Holy Spirit will direct my day? Does He really desire us to spend hours in front of a T.V or sitting in a stadium in twenty degree weather to see grown men pass the pigskin.............and is it really made of pigskin?

We see and hear of the testimonies of those who play the game and give glory to God, and do we actually see their lives mirror that God is a part of their lives and see His hand on them in some way? I ask myself, "Will our lives mirror God's way of being and doing?"" Will people see Jesus in us?"

Yes, our attention and what we spend time with will determine our outcome. Will people know whether we devote our time to worship, to prayer, to see others set free to serve the living God or will they know us to be that family that served the best foot-long subs in the city during the big game?  If I truly have that intense and unfailing love for others, will I seek to speak on the goodness of God and of His unfailing love? If I am to attend a game party, will people know me to be a follower of Jesus, one who knows Him intimately or will they know me as the follower of some football team?

Our granddaughter was a part of surprise party back in the spring for a neighbor across the street from them in the Camas area. When the surprise party had started, all the people gathered, they cheered the teenager who turned a year older, and when the guests were satisfied with cake and beverage, they mingled with others. Now some of those attending were from the young lady's and her parents exercise group and some were from her school. Of course, our granddaughter was there, having fun, but she was worshiping Jesus with songs in her heart( meant she was singing out loud) and she was praying for other people there at the party. This older gentleman came to find our daughter and son-in-law..............close to the end of the party.......he wanted to meet the parents of this young girl of the age of four who had a song in her heart toward Jesus,and who wanted to pray for others. He wanted to know who raised such a fired-up young lady for God! Will we be the fire starter for others to see and be a part of or will we be the other guy? I pray others will see us as they see our granddaughter, the one who kept moving through the crowd and talked of Jesus.  I BELIEVE JESUS WAS IN AWE THAT DAY OUR GRANDDAUGHTER DID WHAT SHE DID FOR HIS GLORY. AMEN! It was a birthday party, but for her it was a day of worship towards the Lord!

Our granddaughter practices praise and worship with her parents daily. She hears the Word of God and they have books to read to her about the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. She is accustomed to praying as we prepare to eat a meal or drive to church. We have seen her take up to five minutes or so just to worship and then pray for people at church. (the children, her friends, Bella, Abbey and David, the pastors, her mom and dad and of course Grammy and Grandpa)

Her life is effervescent with the life of God! She tells others of who He is. Her focus is a lifestyle. Will people know what has captured our ATTENTION? WILL THEY KNOW US TO BE ONE OF HIS FOLLOWERS, ONE WHO SPEAKS TRUTH, DECLARES HIS GLORY AND SEEKS THOSE TIME OF ONENESS IN PRAYER TOWARD OUR CREATOR? WILL THEY KNOW US TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD? WILL PEOPLE KNOW US TO HAVE BEEN WITH JESUS?  TRULY IT IS TIME TO FOCUS ON THE ONE WHO SAVES, HEALS AND DELIVERS......AMEN........will we get involved in God's plan...?

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV)