The War Inside Us

Galatians 5:16-26; Matthew 6:24-26; There is a battle happening within us. What or whom shall we listen to?

Joseph Makes A Good Decision

Matthew 1:18-25; KJV; 4th Sun Advent/Christmas Eve; Joseph listened to the words of the angel. May God help us all to listen to the Word who is Jesus the Christ!

False Prophets Abound

Mark 13:5-8 KJV; Listen not to the false prophets and fake saviors. There is only one savior and know the peace that only he can give..

Peace Like A River

Isaiah 48:17-18; KJV; Follow in the ways of the Lord and know the peace that only He can give.

Help Us To Know Your Good Will

Isaiah 53:6-9 KJV: 17th Sunday after Pentecost. Your thoughts are not our thoughts; your ways are not our ways; help us to know your way, your will for us.

The Lamb Of God

John 1:29-37 KJV: The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Would You Listen To John And Jesus Today?

Matthew 3:1-8 KJV; Would you really listen to John or Jesus if they were physically present with you today?

His Loving Kindness

Psalm 42:8 KJV We can know that the Lord loves us. His presence is with us always.

Wisdom Calls

Proverbs 8:1-4 KJV Wisdom calls. We should listen.

He Will Heal Our Land

Hear Him Transfiguration Sunday Feb 27 2022

Listen To Him

Psalm 1:1-4 KJV

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

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God's will; His way, is for the good of all who listen and follow in that way. When we decide that we would rather do our own thing than listen to him things don't always go so well for us.

According to the prophet Isaiah:

"Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."  

                                                                            (Isa 55:2-3)

And when Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus being transfigured and speaking with Moses and Elijah on the mountain they heard a voice that told them that they were to listen to him.

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matt 17:5)

This is His beloved Son. This is our beloved brother and our savior. Listen to him for all that he has done and is doing is out of love for humankind; for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Seek Counsel From God

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

                             (Isa 29:15-16 KJV)

We neglect to hear the counsel of the Lord. instead we turn to the understanding of the world. We make a very big mistake when we trust the words of those who hunger for power; who seek to lead us astray for their own benefit, instead of the one who is all powerful and all knowing and does all things for the benefit of his creation.

In Isaiah's vision he hears that there will be sorrow for those who think that they can hide the things that they do from the one who created them. 

God knows what his children; his creation think and say and do. He knows what is best for you. Listen to him!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Listen!

And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God.

And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

                                                                              (Ezekiel 2:1-5 KJV)

There have been prophets who not just relay the promises of God; but, also warning. The speak the truth. They speak what the Lord God tells them to speak. But, not everyone will listen. They hear; but, they do not listen. Those prophets first spoke to the Israelites. Since God love the world so much they now speak the Word of God to all people. The Word of God is Jesus the Christ. He is as he said "...the way, the truth, and the life..." (John 14:6) His words speak to us. They warn us even as they promise us reconciliation with our Father in heaven through him. 

Even though they may hear the truth not everyone actually desires reconciliation with the follow. They will not accept the truth that Jesus has imparted to us. They will  not follow in the way he has prepared for us. They refuse to live in his light. He said, "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46)

Jesus is the true Word of life. That Word has come into the world as a light. But, so many prefer the darkness and refuse to step into his marvelous light. They refuse to live life in the peace that comes with basking in that marvelous light.

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:19-21)

It is difficult to fathom that anyone who prefer the darkness. But, many do. 

May God open ears so that the world might both hear and listen entering into to the light of Christ that life in the presence of God for all of eternity might be experienced by all people.  

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Trust God And Know Peace

Proverbs 3:1-12 KJV

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

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There is a path that leads to peace. Our Lord has shown us the way if we would only listen to Him. I have fallen off that path more than a few times. Thanks be to God for loving me enough to lead me back to the path that He has set before us! 

I have learned over the years and after being corrected by God more times than I can count that the way to live a peaceful life is to live trusting that the Lord will provide for us and by  honoring Him for all that He is and for all that He does. 

I have found that it is best to listen to Him rather than my own desires. The Lord provides all things including a peace that surpasses all understanding. (Phil 4:4-8)  As a young married couple so many decades ago my husband and I often struggled trying to make ends meet. We struggled and didn't get most of the things we desired. We did not get any extra conveniences. But, we were never without our daily needs being provided for.

It is a wise move to listen to the Lord and trust Him. Follow in the way that He has shown you and live in peace.

God's peace be with you always - Pr. J.

God Knows The Way We Should Go

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. (Eccl 11:5 KJV)

There are some things we cannot know for sure. It can be difficult to plan ahead because we simply do not know what tomorrow will bring. We are after all not God. We can listen to the weather men or women to help us make plans for tomorrow or the next day. But, that they are not always very accurate.  We can listen to the news and try to decipher what is true and what is not. We can listen to the advice of friends; but, their lives' stories are not the same as ours and may not have the same end result as ours if we follow in their path. 

In the end it is best just to listen to God. Seek to know His will and follow in the ways He would have you go. Ask and He will show you the way.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Prophets

The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?

When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." 

                                                                           (Deut 18:15, 18-22 KJV)

There appear to be a lot of false prophets speaking in the Lord's name what the Lord has not told them to speak today. Most of those prophets have spoken words of doom. Many have like "Chicken Little" declared the sky is falling. Who knows? It may yet fall! But, take note; the sky did not fall and the world did not end when they said it would. 

Why would anyone prophesy falsely in the name of the Lord except to advance their own egos and agendas and maybe their pocketbooks? Do not fear them. The only one we should fear is the Lord.

"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul..." (Deut 10:12)

The word of the Lord to Moses was that we should not fear the false prophets. We should not fear their prophecies.  We should; however,  listen to the prophet that God sent to us. Listen to the words of Jesus!  

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." 

                                                                                      (Matt 7:15-17)

Listen to the words of Jesus. Do not worry about or fear the words of false prophets. Listen to the words of Jesus! According to St. John we are to test the words of those who claim to be prophets. 

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 

                                                                                       (1 John 4:1-3)

Be very careful who it is that you are listening to. Be careful who you follow and do not waste your energy fearing the false prophets or their words.

May God grant us the wisdom; the courage; and the strength; by the power or the Holy Spirit, to always listen to and follow Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Test Every Spirit

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 

                                                                               (1 John 4:1-6 KJV)

Try the spirits! Discern whether the words; the promises; the prophecies; that you hear or read of God or of the world?

Those who are not of God will refuse to hear or accept the truth. They will also  consequently refuse to proclaim it themselves. They will do everything in their power to keep others from learning the truth that whatever they do is to glorify and profit themselves. Do not follow in the way of the world and the worldly for it will only lead to destruction.

This world is not all there is. There is so much more to life than what the world offers. We can live that abundant life even here by being in relationship with God our Father. All people have the privilege of knowing him and being in that relationship by virtue of the sacrifice made for us on the cross by Jesus. That is the truth that we need to rely on and not on the lies that are being proclaimed as truth today. There is no need to listen to false promises from soothsayers when you listen to Jesus. When you listen to Jesus you have the truth.

The false prophets that we should not be giving heed to are not just some Christian prophets as some would propose. They can be of any religion or even no religion. False prophets, no matter who they are, will attempt to lead you away from the truth. They will attempt to lead you away from Jesus as they keep you focused on the world. They will lead you and the world to destruction even as they claim that they are trying to save you. They cannot save. Only the truth who is Jesus the Christ can save you. Listen to him!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Listen To Him!

 

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds... (Heb 1:1-2 KJV)

There were many prophets. There still are. Some are prophets of God. Others are false prophets. It can be difficult to tell which is which. But, there is only one begotten Son of God. Listen to him!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

He Seeks The Lost

He Seeks The Lost

For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 

                                                                                    (Ezekiel 34:11-12 KJV)

The Lord God seeks his sheep to bring them into his fold. The truth is that he know where you are and what you are doing. He knows all who have been busy trying to hide from him; trying to run from him. Just maybe it's time to quit hiding and thank the Lord God that he desires to make you his own. Maybe it is time to listen to his voice and follow him to where he would have you go.

God's Peace - Pr. J.