Unequally Yoked

Picture by R. Twiner

2 Corinthians 6:14 -17   NKJV
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
 17 Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you. 18  I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

Now when I heard this taught, yeah decades ago....I remember the "pastor" tying it all up with the husband and wife teaching. (see Ephesians 5:25 and Colossian's 3:19)
Yet this passage has nothing to do with husband or wives, but as a believer with another believer or a believer with an unbeliever.
In closely yoking ourselves with others, we must be aware that we do not compromise integrity or our faith in God.
In verse 15, the mention of Belial has the meaning of worthlessness or lawlessness.

Understanding we are the temple of God, we are not to defile that temple in any way. Individually we are the living place for the Holy Spirit to reside.
God desires to be our Father. He desires us to know how richly He has life for us. In that abundance we have everything we need.

In those tales of the Old West, I remember visiting an old west town. It was in Arizona. I also remember that even the stage coach that was displayed for rides, was evenly hitched with the same kind of horse in size and weight. You certainly would not want a horse on one side of the team and a donkey on the other side to make a team.

To be a part of a family, one participates with the Father's way of being and doing. In idolatry, we become what we worship. Whether it be in watching zombie flicks, war movies or games, or even those that combine zombies, war and magic together. Yikes!
As a part of God's family, we must be in spirit and in harmony with His nature, which the Bible reveals. Knowing God's true nature is important because we become what we worship. 

So when we take a real look at what we spend some substantial time on: does it add up to more violence or more peace?
I have noticed of late that those which I considered "safe" to watch no longer follow the PG 13 or even PG rule anymore. ( not when nudity appears in the first 5 minutes of the show, etc.) 
Anything false and misrepresenting what they are showing is corrupt. And that false representation highlights that group desires to sneak in the wrong thing to make a buck!
Should we begin to idolize a certain show, character, and the "nudity" appears, what is your response?
If we idolize, we become the wrong thing.

So, if we spend extra time with an unbeliever, or one who exhibits ....say....a worldly attitude...do we remain with God and His peace or do we see how far we can stretch out and touch something that should never be touched.

Psalm 38:12.....They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

They also seek after my life lay snares for me. Malice in deed.

And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things. Malice in word.

And imagine deceits all the day long. Malice in thought.

In looking at what we once desired to look upon, spend time doing or just to relax in front of the TV or at the movies, would we consider Psalm 38?

Now the adversary cares not what you do as long as you stop spending time with God, being devoted to God and worshiping Him!

Ungodly behavior is not what a believer participates in. Living our lives and conducting them in the fear of the Lord honors Him and keeps us in quiet places and quiet rest. Check to see if anything in your life is that which degrades you. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide and lead you through anything which corrupts you.

Thank God, He did not choose us by our strength or ability or even good looks....but we remember His grace is for us. He is our sufficiency.

2 Corinthians 12:9   NKJV   And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

That infirmities in verse 9 has the meaning of malady, sickness, and morals. So whether in sickness or of weakness of morals, we need God to direct us.

When your character comes under fire, know that God knows. And He has given you His resource that makes "holy living" possible. He provides the way through and out of anything that the adversary may be presenting that is destructive to you.

Proverbs 13:20 ...NKJV ...He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. 

Finding those to be equally yoked as in fellowship and even ministry, we are admonished to be connect with those who will encourage us into better behavior, not take us down or lead us into lustful situations.

Amos 3:3.....Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? 

 Proverbs 13:20.......He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. 

Proverbs 22:24-25......Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul. 

This last one is even a verse that we speak over our grand-daughter as she is in grade school. We speak this over her that she will not desire to go with the angry or the furious one. Let's consider that we make the choice every time we put something before our eyes and put into our hearing. Filth will only multiply into more filth, but consider this that the more wisdom of God we put in, the more His wisdom will rule our hearts.

Don't get yoked with a donkey!

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:

Living a Full Life without Strongholds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oHfyyDl-bo



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

Pedal To the Metal

In those good 'ole days back in the mid 20th century, the vehicles were made out of metal. There was no thought of having a head-on crash with anyone, for one had some real metal guarding that 409.......yes, those were the days!
The best thing that could be said at that time, was you could put the pedal to the metal.........that was pressing down on that gas pedal and leave some rubber from those tires on the roadway. Not smart at all, yet was fun at least to do once or twice. Yes, that gas pedal could be pushed down and it would meet the metal in that floorboard of pick-up or car.
Then the era came for the test dummies and those fastened in seat belts. What seat belts? It was never really implemented as to the importance of said seat-belt, even though they could be found in some cars, trucks and pick-ups but not on school buses. Then vehicles were starting to be made out of I guess generic stuff and not that which would hold resistance to another vehicle. Today, you can see what happens to a vehicle made out of fiberglass hit by a semi-truck. Not good at all especially if you are the one riding in the fiberglass, sports job type vehicle.
I remember of the one year living in the city of Northglenn, Colorado made me want to be in the country....for good. There was a song by John Denver......and it went.......something like this, "take me home, country road". It is one our daughter's favorite songs, yes that country road with no sight of car or bus for many, many miles. A young, newly married,woman was on her way home from work on a weekday. She had got off the exit for Northglenn and was stopped at the light to turn onto the main road for the city there. But the semi coming up behind her could not brake........yes, the brakes failed and that "big" semi went through that intersection with no way to stop. She was driving in one of those MG sport cars with the top off. All they found was her wedding ring.
I cried for days. I saw the pictures on T.V. and prayed. And every April I revisit that scene in my thoughts. All though these many decades have passed, I wonder if she was saved (if she really knew Jesus)

Yes, that pedal to the metal........sounds awesome........and to get the speed up to go faster. Even the term, like "throttle Up" can excite those who want to go into space. Yeah all that rocket fuel bursting forth into energy just behind your rear parts to propel you into space and to view what? Yes, that would be exciting and scary!

But so many things can occur at once when we start moving quickly, like making decisions that probably need some prayer time over before speaking or signing anything that might be costly to us or to our children.

In the new year that is upon us, I pray that we ponder the amazing works of the Lord in our lives. I pray that we would consider all the avenues that He has opened for us to journey through watching all the while that He is with us. I also pray that we would continually be open to seeing His paths before us.

Proverbs 3:5-7
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge Him and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. Amplified

Proverbs 8:13-14
The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate. 14 I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power.

Proverbs 6:20-23
My son, keep your father's [God -given] commandments and forsake not the law of [God] your mother [taught] you. 21 Bind them continually upon your heart and tie them about your neck [Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 7:3]
22 When you go, they [the words of your parent's God] shall lead you; when you sleep, they shall keep you; and when you awaken, they shall talk with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life. [Psalm 19:8] [Psalm 119:105]

That reproof, that discipline is life and it is from the Lord. When it is time for our lives to make a difference in this world, it is when we lean not to that which was taught by man and his wisdom, but by God alone. Our parents, if they attended to hearing God's Word is to teach us in the way of wisdom. In all our ways we are to recognize, yes recognize the Lord's leading..............ACKNOWLEDGE HIS LEADING...so we see the plan before us. For in recognizing Him, we are then receiving His counsel that is wise and sound. It is not loud, boisterous, hasty or against His Word.  It is that which gives us power and might of His Spirit to move through this journey, not just by giving people the 'message' in less than 25 minutes, but that the 'message' is not bound up in agenda's like making sure the offering message is given and that the music is going to move those "young folks, like those teens". It is not by any agenda's..........!!!
No, those who know God can move through making a difference to the young as well as to the elderly. They speak in peace and justice. They do not demand their own agendas or their own rights, they speak that which brings glory back to God..........and that place is a place of peace and justice.
In our lives, that putting the pedal to the metal, is knowing God is with us, in us and leading us. Amen.  It is His Word that causes us to lie down in green pastures. It is a place we rest at night, not concerned about 75 mile an hour winds, but that God has sent His ministering spirits to minister to us who are His children, His beloved.
God's word awakens us day by day.......to hear and to obey. Still in our choosing, but oh life is so much sweeter and more peace added with justice that delights our God and looks like us possessing the land He desires us to have. It is getting in that vehicle made with whatever man devised, but knowing God has set His angels around us, to guard us, and to keep us.
In being disciplined by His Word, we obey, we are the protected, out of harm's way and living life abundantly to tell others what God has done for us...........from healings, to restored marriages, restored families, and the birth of new ministries and new businesses!
Truly God is good..........and He is love!
In that place, there is no evil, no twisted speech, no hatred, but love. Loving God is hating that which is of the evil, the pride and the arrogance.


In writing this today, I reflect on some of the games(football) played over the weekend and how they seem to be played everyday of the week nowadays. I saw the Cincinnati team being talked about.........seeing and hearing them called only "Cinci"..........wow, nicknames for a team...........!
But one thing caught my eye, and it was this. A young man runs with football into end zone. At some point the football is either thrown down or given to the official who is nearby...........the player then....because of the "touchdown"....does this gesture............of taking his "maybe the pointer fingers"  and middle fingers of both hands ...bringing together and....kissing them...... then pointing upward to the sky..........!
Of course, my thought process was........"what"........was he thanking God ....for the touchdown...!
Not sure.

And only God can tell you the truth on that one. For most of us are not of this young man's team or one of his family members.......but I am certain they could say....something about it...........but in truth God will know if the young man is a true worshiper of God or not.

In the blog: High Risk! I wrote about having that one-to-one with God and how in a very difficult life or death situation who and what we believe will determine our end!
But on writing this today, I also was made to  think on my own life. 
I think of the place I was in that eventful night of March 17.........and with low hemoglobin and no matching blood because of warm antibodies, well it was not one I had planned for other than.........in all my days with the Lord, I was believing and declaring His Word over my life. In that eventful night and time, I was till told HIGH RISK! and the Admitting Dr. thought I should change my mind on whole matter. But in that 3 am hour, with lights turned off and I alone with God and my thoughts of what had just transpired..........I confessed His Word again...........that I would face the unknown of what was before knowing God had me and that was it. In the intimacy of that faithful moment, I reconciled myself to God and His plan and not to man or any kind of sickness or disease any devil could bring. I came to the place that God was more important to me than my life..........and was willing to go on to be with Him, but I believed I had much more to give to others, to encourage others and show others the way to God and His heart!
And in reflecting on what I had seen in that "end zone"........I was saddened for my alone times with God are so important to me, I will not share them with another ever!
And I did ask myself, if there is somewhere in my life am I acting in some manner that would not be of a reverential awe of God? Am I doing something that will not bring glory to God?

In the previous blog: HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, are we just gossiping about what we have heard others say about God? And how about what we do or say, when other people's names are mentioned?
In speaking about God: are we really the ones with the close relationship to Him or we just exhibiting that we might know Him.........or are we just another who passes His name around but does not really know anything about Him? Are we the name-dropper?
ARE we those who are found with God and filled by His Spirit? Are we, those who operate in HIS power and might? Are we participating in life?  Are we those disciplined to recognize God in our lives, but also recognize Him in the lives of others? Is the total amount that is given to God..equal to all the texting and Facebook that I do? Or is there more time given to posting those pics and seeing what was texted back to me?
Do we give that comforting word that God is here, in this moment that satisfies and heals the broken? 

In that Pedal to the Metal.....it is action time.........but it comes by knowing Him!
 Of which family do we belong? Are we those who are the fortified to go......are the other....?

In closing: think on a moment when you saw a beautiful serene picture. Think of the tranquility of that scene. I think on this picture taken by a photographer over the holidays. It was of this place close to Mt. Hood and the snow was falling. And in it ........he captured..........the sound of "silence" of that snow..........of that scene. How beautiful.............how awe inspiring!
Today, think on your life in that beautiful serene picture. Think of you basking in all that beauty and all the peace. For that is what Your Father in heaven sees for you and for me. It is in that beauty of Him we behold His glory and His great love! And in that love, we find ourselves......yes, we each find our inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of a great worth in God's sight.(1 Peter 3:4)



Father, we are told in Psalm 9:9..."The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and "stronghold" in times of trouble (high cost, destitution and desperation)" Father we understand that it is about relationship .......and that is with Jesus as our Savior. We are thankful for Jesus, the Lord and King, our Deliverer, Who is our "stronghold".
In all our getting of Your wisdom, we pray and believe that we know seeking to obey Your instructions is paramount for us to live life fully in the good You planned for us. Today, we give worship in praise with our lips that God is an awesome God.
In reading even further in Psalm 9:10 Father, we find this: And they who know YOUR name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for ) You [on the authority of God's Word and the right of their necessity]. Amplified
Our desire heavenly Father is to experience You daily. to intimately know and recognize You when You speak, when You act, when You are pleased with us. For we know that honoring YOU and putting YOU first, in our lives, our enemies are turned back from causing us harm. It is YOU Who delivers us..........and we give thanks.
I cannot speak for all who pray this today, but for me........and my house......we will serve the Lord.
Jesus predicted the time of the end. It is where we find we live and exist. And Jesus said, "but as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. "(Matthew 24:37)
Despite all the serious things going on today, people are still going about those "normal routines". Without considering what is on the horizon coming toward them, they take not a moment to think or ponder on major events and those which will affect them on a personal basis. We pray to not be those easily distracted by noise, by hype, by something given on Facebook, but actually know Your words and thoughts concerning these days and how short time is right now. For we know technology is awesome. To have an outreach like Facebook certainly reaches many lives and may those who do it for life prosper in life to see that which benefits another. Today Holy Spirit help us that as we read the Holy Word, pray for those around us.......to pray for those worldwide who are our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Help us join as that "spiritual" team that will pray and see the best days for those WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS, THE LORD, MESSIAH AND OUR COMING KING! 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)