There is ROOM for You!

A child always reminds us.....that love is forever!

John 14:1- 4  NKJV " Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you; I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know."

Jesus spoke for His disciples' hearts to not be troubled. In believing in God and His Son is paramount to our receiving salvation by faith.
In sending His only Son, we have salvation, a family (the children of God) and a forever home with God!

And in that work of the Cross, Jesus set us free to live in the presence of the Father!

In the past few days, we had our grand-daughter over and what a delight to laugh with her. We enjoy her company so much. She is a ray of light to us as well as to many others. In our time together, we would ready ourselves with shoes on feet and march outside to be visited by a rain drop or two and a breeze of wind possibly, but the sun was shining and nothing was keeping us indoors. We stepped out the back door, and she took my hand, and I took hers, and we made our way to the tree swing of course. Now the swing she swings on looks nothing like the one in the picture above, but thought of our holding hands. Yes, children hold our hands for awhile and our hearts forever. AND our clutching hands flooded my mind of the memories of those former years. It brought memories of our daughter when she was this very age and how she wanted to hold hands.

As children are welcomed to a couple expecting the child, so God is also expecting His family. He sent His Son that many would believe in Him and for those who do, Jesus said He would prepare a place for us. The way is found in Jesus and it is by faith we see with spiritual eyes the heaven that awaits our arrival!

But there will be many who choose not to go. They choose not to obey the Father of Heaven, they choose not to receive the Son and have the Helper who guides our way through this life to the next. We are to expect Jesus' return. We are to look up and pray.
God has greater for us in His kingdom of heaven. It is a place prepared. When we take each other's hand we go into our future and understand that it has arrived.
If we, my husband and I chose to retire, we would not really know the full life that God has for us. If we chose to "be alone" ....we would certainly miss out of the greatest gift we have since the birth of our own daughter, her marriage and that wonderful birth of our grand-daughter.

We experience rich lives when we can hold each life in our hands and speak God's truth into their hearing. We can experience that richness each time we desire to spend with family here now in this lifetime. Oh, but the greatness of the life to spend an eternity with our family with Jesus in the presence of the Father is a grand thing to think on.

The future has arrived and we are come to the Father through Jesus. He is that life for which we longed for and have seen come to pass in our lives. May we, my husband and I encourage you that taking the hand of that grand-child is worthwhile. We focus on giving all that the Holy Spirit is given to us as we walk this daily life into eternity. Our acts are those that are Christ-centered, and the pursuit of the family is foremost in the mind of God the Father. As kingdom people we are child-like not childish. And within our grand-daughter we find someone who loves us, and her trust is knowing that we will care for her all of her life. Our interactions with her keep us remembering that our Father in heaven desires for us to reproduce the qualities of that character we see from Jesus that will build and sustain those wonderful relationships.

We have learned when we make room for others, we always have other's in our lives. We made room for many, although some refused, but we still seek to speak truth in the light of God's word to others we meet, and pray for those that God sends our way. And we pray also that others will know Jesus as we have learned as the child to the Father.


Yes, we enjoyed so many wonderful moments the past few days, and they are forever etched in our memory files where life is filled with joy, laughter and a song or two from the heart. Our grand-daughter is precious to us. And Jesus is precious to us too! Our commitment in this moment is that we love by choice, prefer God's will to our own, and that we boldly confess Jesus with all our family and those we come in contact with. We choose not to be wrapped in religion, and we guard against it. We pray the Holy Spirit to have His way in our lives and in our home.

In these past few days, we encouraged faith in our grand-daughter, reminded her of the Lord's Supper and to pray. Her zeal was evident, her speech was declaring glory for Jesus and her heart was set on keeping that conversation going all through out the day and evening.

I pray our motives are clear, that our hearts are set for the eternity with the Father, walking with Jesus and ready for His soon return.
Father has a place for you if you have chosen Him. If you have not, choose Him, Jesus, today. Choose life everlasting in the bosom of the Father. Choose to Worship Jesus and give Him all your devotion and much love. It is He WHO rescued us from evil and from repeatedly falling into sin. He has made us His own. And may He hold your hand and cause you to enjoy that life of the child that you so deserved to enjoy but did not get too. Enjoy those kids, and those grand-kids and understand God gives us many examples of devoted and trusting love and when we choose to do the same we find our lives rich with love and peace in the presence of the loving Father. Amen.

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:

Not How We Rule but How We Serve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnmzuR8hljU&t=20s

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

GREAT POSSESSIONS BUT YOU LACK ONE THING

Matthew 19:16-22..........16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,'  19'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " 20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.   NKJV


Okay, did you ever go up to your school teacher and say, "Good teacher,.........?" I do not remember telling that to any of my teachers. If you did, that usually meant you had a motive for speaking it..........and most likely when you wanted something or you desired greatly to get out of doing something!
In verse 20, the young man is still asking, "what do I still lack?"

Interesting that Jesus told the young man, "if you want to be perfect, go sell what you have........give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven."
This "perfect" is the same perfect found in Matthew 5:48.....48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.  NKJV      This is perfect is found also  in 1 John 4:18......18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  NIV     That perfection is in the perfect love that we find in looking into 1 John 4:18. The more we look into that perfect law of liberty, we grow more in Christ Jesus........we become those with the unrelenting pursuit as we saw in Jesus and what He accomplished on the Cross. We certainly do not have to go the way Jesus did in most respects, for He gave His life for us. But we do have to take up our Cross and carry it, remembering why we should have grateful hearts because of His love and of the Father's great love to us that we should not perish but have everlasting life!



"Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
With this young man's wealth and probable talents, he was certainly anxious about his future for an eternal life.  I thought on this today...........and I have had no one come up to me and ask about eternal life. I have certainly taught on it and given Bible studies on this subject, but have not had one person come and ask me about eternal life. I have taught on the importance of the Salvation message and how Jesus died on the cross for us all!  Could I or would I have done this 25 years ago. NO! But the Lord certainly works on our hearts and the more we hear His words and obey them, we find a zeal to move out on what He speaks and teaches us about!
In Luke 18:18....it was noted that he was a ruler and a person of eminence and value!

Mark 10:17-22..............17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" 18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' " 20 And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.   NKJV

In the book of Mark and chapter 10 we read on the same story. But here it states that the man came running, knelt before Him and asked the question.  So this man came with some intent to find out something he evidently was thinking about and really desired an answer. 

This zeal for AN answer to eternal life was not a zeal for KNOWING Jesus. He might have been running but it was going to turn quickly to disappointment. We are told in verse 21 of Mark 10 that Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him......"YOU LACK ONE THING"................Yikes!

Jesus told him, you lack one thing........this man of probable wealth......was given these commandments........"Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal." "Do not bear false witness", "Do not defraud", "Honor your father and your mother.".........and then MENTIONED...... "ONE THING YOU LACK........go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.; and COME TAKE UP THE CROSS AND FOLLOW ME."

And the other thing that has interested me in this passage, is the truth that Jesus did not give the commandments of the order we see them when given from God to Moses to man.
It was interesting that adultery was listed first. Then murder......1 John 3:11-12......11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.  NIV   Murder listed second, made me think of this scripture on Cain who murdered his brother because his own actions were evil and the brother's were righteous!
Could the businessman, the ruler have had some dealings where he had some kind of evil action towards others?
Next, was do not steal, do not defraud, or bear false witness...........Romans 13:6-10
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.  NIV

Jesus saw potential for the young man. He already had treasures on the earth, but what of those of the spiritual in Jesus. The young ruler went away sorrowful. He said he had kept the commandments, but yet he still lacked one thing. Again we see a heart issue with the young man. He had wealth and he had position. But he evidently lacked love for his fellow human being!

He evidently liked having the glory of that of the rich and of being young! But what happens when the wealth is gone and the youth is spent of that which does not bring life?

Leviticus 19:18............18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. 

NKJV

Yes, the young ruler would have had this before his eyes, if he were telling truth that he confessed and professed them. And we certainly, know many people had to have been present when he ran and kneeling at Jesus' feet. Some of those he was leader over were probably present at this moment and heard all that he had spoken about following the Commandments!

What must we part with to gain eternal life? Remember the young man had the 10 Commandments and professed to have followed them.

John 3:35-36.......... 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."    NKJV

John 17:2-5......... 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.     NKJV

John 4:13-14.........."Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."  NKJV

Romans 6:23................ 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.   NKJV

Eternal life, is a total surrender to God.  We are deny self and leave the carnal behind. This young man thought it important enough to come ask, "Good Teacher." Are we going to the Teacher daily and losing our life to gain His life? Have we surrendered all to live for Jesus and to the plan God set for us to live? But consider this! Have we gone the step further and discovered what else it takes for that walk for an eternity..........?


Matthew 5:38-48...............38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'  39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. 

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.    NKJV

Yes, that one thing he lacked was love...........we are to go love our enemies, bless those who curse us and do good to those who hate us......Yikes! really?.............We are to pray for those who spitefully use us or persecute us. Love is perfected in doing good to those who hate or revile us. 
Well, THAT WOULD BE A LOVE WALK, WOULD IT NOT?

It is all too common that someone dies suddenly.........and I wonder, were they saved or lost forever? If our life can go in an instant, are we prepared to meet eternity with God? I have no fear of death. I have been close.........but God has always prevailed on my behalf.

This young man had observed the 10 Commandments..........The world itself cannot add anything to us. It can only bring death! But Jesus came to bring us life.......and that in abundance! LOVE WAS EXPRESSED ON THE CROSS!

Our lives are those which have been touched by God Himself. Our lives are those who have Christ seated on the thrones of our hearts. Our lives are those that will reach into eternity with a God Who is Faithful and True.

1 John 5:12........12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  NKJV

IS HE THE "GOOD TEACHER" OR IS HE THE GOOD TEACHER WHO IS FIRST AND LAST (Rev.1:17), BREAD OF LIFE (John 6:32), CHIEF SHEPHERD (1 Peter 5:4), DAYSPRING (LUKE 1:78), HOLY ONE OF GOD, "I AM" (John 8:58), MESSIAH (John 1:41), REDEEMER (Job 19:25), RESURRECTION AND LIFE (John 11:25),ROOT OF DAVID (Revelation 22:16), TRUE VINE (John 15:1), WITNESS (Isaiah 55:4),  LIGHT OF THE WORLD (John 8:12), SAVIOR (Luke 2:11), and the WORD (John 1:1)

When we have Jesus, we have all we need! He is our Healer, our Provider, ..................."Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice ........From that time forward, even forever.

Amen!

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