Overcoming The Wicked One

Overcoming The Wicked One 

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b

If we are to be winners we need to know who we are fighting against. We wrestle against spiritual forces, even if we cannot see them with our eyes we are in a struggle against them. We are defeating the enemies of God!

There is an adversary who accuses our brothers and sisters in Gods family. He stands day and night in the presence of God. But one day he will be cast down.

If we are lifted up in pride we can fall under the condemnation of the Devil. He has snares set for us and wants to kill us and destroy us. But Jesus has come to give us the opposite, he gives us life. Abundant life, eternal life. He has shown us the way of life that loves and obeys Father. The devil is tempting us to disobey Gods commands.

Why did the devil come up in my thoughts this last week? There has been some teaching in our church that I have received as Rhema spoken to me. An elder in my life has shared doctrine that I am laying hold of. We need to know who we are in Christ because we are in a war. There is a battle that is going on in our mind. " The flesh is at war against the spirit, and we end up doing the things that we don't want to be doing. We are commanded to perform spiritual warfare ( Eph 6 ) and victory is our destiny. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5 says "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

What have I been feeling defeat in for the 34 years of following Jesus? My emotions, my tongue speaking evil. Bad habits, self destruction with eating to much, drinking to much coffee and many other worse things. Loving other things more than God. Loving my wife less than she deserves.

Jesus has overcome the world. We are not to fear persecution yet I stay silent when I could speak out the truth in the workplace or with friends that might reject me. My fear of man has been greater than my respect and desire to please God. When the trials and testings come, the best way to resist the Devil is to submit to God. Obey Father, is that simple enough? Jesus said that Satan wants to sift us like wheat. I do not know what all that means. A true experience that I have had over and over again is that I feel a conversion in my heart and mind. It is then that the scriptures declare my opportunities will open up to strengthen my brothers and sisters.

May there be grace to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil in some of the same ways Jesus did. What does the word of God, the word of truth say about what you are facing today? Jesus has shed his blood and we can stand on that fact that he has paid the price for our salvation. We have been set free, there is no more condemnation for us who are in Jesus. Being in Jesus means that in general as a whole we live by the the guiding and power if Holy Spirit and not our carnal nature. The flesh cannot please God. May we have a testimony of these things happening in our lives. May we be a testimony that points the attention of those around us to Jesus. We need to speak prophetically of the work that Holy Spirit is doing in us. There is a great reward for us who are called to be overcomers. G.W.

Go And Tell The People Matthew 21:5

Go And Tell The People Matthew 21:5

The Sunday before Easter is a celebration and remembrance of when Jesus entered into Jerusalem. In that day the crowd stood along the road laying down palm branches. Palm Sunday was a welcome to a king. The crowd cried out “hosanna”!. I always thought this meant Praise, or Bless the Lord, but it means: “save us now. Deliver us. Help us!” How did it happen that this crowd knew that Jesus would be entering Jerusalem as a King? Jesus told the disciples to get a donkey so he could ride it into town, this was fulfilling a prophecy that the Jewish public knew of. They expected their king to come into town like he did. There was another part of the prophecy to be fulfilled from Zechariah 9:9 It is quoted in Matthew 21:5 "Tell the people of Jerusalem, 'Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey's colt.'" NLT I noticed in my reading this week the words, “ Go tell the people” Yeah Greg, go tell some folks about Jesus!

Our church has been able print up some invitations for the congregation to use for inviting others to our Easter Sunday service. In Mexico we gave out hundreds of new testaments and bibles. These pieces of paper are merely tools that lead to the “rhema” which is a spoken personal word that God gives us. It becomes “spirit and life” for us. An announcement was made to the people of their king coming into town. We are also called to give notice of Jesus death, his rising from the dead, and his second coming again.

The crowd knew they needed a deliverer. Our relatives, friends, neighbors, and even strangers and enemies are in need of this news of a deliverer. They are spiritually kidnapped people. Some are caught in slavery while others want to be rescued from a desperate situation. Jesus, who was God in the flesh, paid the price for our ransom. Jesus took the punishment for what we deserve, that is one of the things that happened at the cross.

We share Jesus as someone who can help us with our daily problems. There are temporal earthly benefits that are also given to us. This happened when Marianne and I prayed for a neighbor who had severe pain in his arm. Instantly he was healed. Jesus healed a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for 18 years. He said that Satan had bound her up, even though she was a rightful descendant of the promises given to Abraham. There are believers who are sons and daughters of God living around us that need to be loosed from the destroyers grip. Satan has plans to steal life from them, destroy them and kill them. We can give the words of life to them in Jesus name. John 6:63

Another aspect of the gospel is a hope of Eternal life, an assurance of our life after death. How much thought have I given to what it will be like in the next life? This is one of the best questions we can ask ourselves and others. Do you know where you will go when you die? There are so many opinions on that one! What does the scripture say? How will we or others we know be living in eternity?

Forgiveness of rebellion and disobedience to God is in the message also. We are announcing that Jesus let himself be tortured and killed, on the cross, as a sacrifice for our sins. We know this, and we know that we need to share this whether a person receives it or not.

May we have a passion for sharing the news of the lamb that was slain. May he receive the reward of his sufferings. May we be able to announce Jesus 2^nd coming as king, and warn those we love and care about. There is a wrath of God, a real hell, and an outer darkness that awaits those who refuse to believe and submit to Jesus now.

Jesus is Lord. He is our Salvation. May we lift him up, that many will be drawn unto him. G.W.

A Full House

A Full House

For a while now I have been thinking of how a healthy family should have new births in it.
 Re-productivity is a new spark of life that comes when a new baby is born.   In the
Church we can see our Father adopting more sons and daughters.  He desires more children.
 How is it, that since my conversion in 1979, that I have not seen many come to Christ and be born again?   The churches that I have attended over the years seemed to have very few new born children of God.  I can honestly say that in the last 33 yrs of walking with Jesus I have not  been involved directly in discipling very many converted Christians.

There are ministries that I have heard of where great numbers are converted and  Christians gather by the hundreds and even  by thousands.  They are the churches in far away country.  Some of the   churches in America are also on fire also, but I haven't  been there.  For years I have been longing to be laboring where the harvest is ready now.  I have asked Jesus, "If I am not able to be a fisher of men, then please at least let me  at least stand at the rivers edge just to see where your spirit is moving and the fish are being caught" About ten years ago I was able to visit a House Of Prayer. It's a movement that started in Kansas City, that has increasing numbers of young adults.  This is one of the places where I believe Jesus answered  the desire of my heart.

The youth that are now at our sides will become the church of the next generation. They are the church that will carry on the faith when the older members of the body  like me are gone.  God help us to see this when we look into the eyes of these children and the young adults  that are called be "fishers of men."

In Mexico I have seen many houses that were half built or empty with wild vegetation growing up around them.  In America I hear of many houses being repossessed.  Many rentals here in our town are vacant. Since we moved away, even our own home in Mexico has been " lonely"  - Spanish interpretation.

 It is the family that makes a home. It is the people that live there that can fill the building with life.  Marianne and I  have known that  when we have our lives filled with love, it will spill over to others.  We have had a house full of our own children, and often it has been crowded with family in Christ.  A visiting groups  came to our house in Mexico. They said, " There is a presence of Jesus in this place." I replied, it is Him, and to His credit we feel him here." The church family of our Father needs to have an aroma that draws others to  know us. May they then be pointed to Jesus, and know Him.

We live in an age where houses and homes are being broken. Children are being emotionally and physically neglected and abused. There are homes with people in them, that are called "crack houses." Drugs are the influence in addicts that  result in stealing the life and health of these people. Death and destruction are the path they follow, often bringing others down with them.  Through out the centuries some various places and houses have been thought to be haunted. They are physically empty but  are supposedly filled with spirits of deceased people. They are often  just full of demons. We are called to overcome evil with good. It is not God's will that we are not growing and  defeated by the enemies of Jesus.  May his authority rule where ever we live.  Now is the time for us to overcome and be victorious.  Our Fathers house is a house of Prayer. It is filled with His Spirit and the presence of Jesus. Even if there are only two or three, he shows up.  Holy Spirit can lead each of us into the truth that sets us free. Liberty will come and many others will be turning to Jesus.  It has been said, "that without God man cannot".  It is also said that "with out the will of man, he will not". I am availing my self to Jesus.  I want a change in me. My choice, His work. Let's rise above lukewarm lifestyles and press in for revival.  We can make  the decision and say, "let it start with me."  May the fellowship that we enjoy with each other be multiplied and fill the house.   In Jesus Name. G.W.

Hearing From Jesus John 12:27

Hearing From Jesus   Psalm John 12:27

Quite often I wake up with a song in my heart.  Before all the noise and duties of the day get rolling. In my mind I can hear the voice of my spirit and Gods Spirit in me singing.  There is a song  that I have known for 25 yrs that I woke up with the other day.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. - Psalm 143:8 NIV

This is a spirit led prayer of asking God to show me the way I should go. One time he answered on a  Monday morning.  Really early Marianne popped up from a deep sleep and declared that we had missed cleaning one of our jobs over the weekend. There was just enough time for me to go down and get it finished before their business opened. God spoke to her in her thoughts and God showed me the way to go that morning. The song that I have sung over and over  from Psalm 143:8   was a prayer that God answered through my wife.

One time when I had really failed on an installation of a floor I cried out to God. I was sick over it and had to trust Jesus.   It was time for me to cast all my anxiety and care on him so I could sleep that Sunday night.  “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”   1 Peter 5:7 NLT  When I went to the  flooring supplier  Monday morning every thing worked out for the good.  

Another recent experience happened  while I was burning a brush pile.  The wind picked up  and the fire got out of control. It burnt about 250 acres. The day after that we were working at a cleaning job when an officer called to tell me that my pickup rolled down a hill and sheared off  a power pole.  I was asking, "why Lord?" Then I realized that no one condemned me!  Not the firemen, not even the property owners. With the pickup  there was also no accusation  against me. Not from my wife, neither the police and none of the neighborhood people that could been injured or killed. Later insurance adjusters contacted me and there were no judging that came from them either.  So I had to go figure, if none of these people  are condemned me, then is Jesus condemning me?

 “When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." John 8:10,11 NKJV

There was also some strong thoughts in my mind that Jesus wants me to be more careful.


Many times God has answered in a way that I could hear and understand him; even though I did not hear a voice.  The  goal of this "Soul Food" blog has been to merely testify of various things that the Master has spoken to me in this life.  Some times through the scriptures. Other times through people.  Many times it is through  life's experiences that I learn what he is saying to me. It is also the small still voice that Jesus Promised.  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  John 10:27 NKJV   May we have ears to hear, what the Spirit is speaking. G.W.

Who Am I To Criticize? Luke 6.37

Who Am I To Criticize? Luke 6.37

Jesus said, "Don't judge, lest you be judged." I have dis-obeyed this so much! We in America hear criticisms¹ of Politicians, preachers, and even lay our own out against those we love the most. I am learning to take the corrections that I need, and lay aside the ones that are not going to help me follow the truth. I have wrongly re-acted so much to these false and destructive voices my whole life.

Few months ago I heard and also read just now again, a bible institute teacher sharing the following text and basic truths I need to remember;

"Nobody likes to be corrected. You see, there are different kinds of correction² or criticism. There is corrective criticism and there is malicious criticism and there is constructive criticism and there is destructive criticism. So you need to figure out which type of criticism it is." In Job 5:17 he says: "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole."

"This means when God corrects you it is not going to feel very good, but there are people who do not have the same good intentions for you that God does. There are people who like to correct others and that type of correction becomes destructive correction. It comes from malicious people who are not only there to tell you your faults and blemishes, but they want to put you down. They want to put you away and castigate you and marginalize you. They want to be little you and do these evil things against you and those people are not there to build you up."³

I thank God for his gentle Holy Spirit conviction⁴ of my faults, weaknesses, and even out right disobediences. He is so wise in HIS ways of correcting me. Jesus said in Luke's Gospel, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven" Is it not my place to condemn someone. Especially my own family members. It is written, “There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” ⁵ May we each be able to see our brother, sister, neighbor in a different light. Jesus was able to look into the eyes of a sinner and say, “I don't condemn you either”. With compelling love he says, “ go and sin no more.” May we have faith to be able to say “ Father, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing”, if someone is torturing or even executing us. G.W.

1 Criticism - to consider the merits and demerits of and judge accordingly to blame, to condemn

2 Correction - to criticize sharply : reprimand #2 - something substituted in place of what is wrong

3 Quoted from BLBI.org Servant Leadership – Lesson 20 Exhortation to Maturity, Part I by Pancho Juarez

4 Conviction - the act of convincing some one of error or of compellin gthe admission of a truth

5 James 4:12 NKJV

A New Tee Shirt Luke 12:11,12

A New Tee Shirt Luke 12:11,12

This summer a friend of ours came up with a good tee shirt idea, kind of like WWJD "What Would Jesus Do?" This shirt says, "Ask me about Jesus." The point to the message on the front of the shirt is to allow someone to tell other of their faith in Jesus.

Not all of us ready to be that bold. There are very few of us that are as emphatic as the African American Preacher Dr. S.M. Lockridge. In his message, " That's my King" he describes very thoroughly his Savior, Lord. His all in all. One can appreciate good enthusiasm. This type of Charisma is displayed by many when they follow their sports team.

The truth is we are all called to take the witness stand, and it should be a sober, humbling approach that we take when we are testifying for, or against, the man Jesus, Son of Joseph, from Nazareth.

This is the one who is declared by his Disciples today to be the promised Hebrew Messiah, God in the flesh. The one whom time and Calendars still acknowledge, even when science and schools are denying who he really us. Even when popular scholars are distorting him for who is really is and even what he said he was. The references that we make to B.C. and A.D. declare him as factual and historical. Have you ever read the Jewish historian Josephus?

The scriptures declare that we will all bow our knees one day, and confess that He ( Jesus of Nazareth) is Lord.

Right now, while it is called "today" we can call upon him to be our savior, but also choose to confess and obey him as our Lord.

In doing that we have a position to maintain, daily, and that is to take up our cross and follow him. It sounds like a lot of work and sacrifice, but HE is worthy of such an effort. It's kind of like me being able to pay $100 for the average NFL ticket. Would it be foolish to just let it sit on the dresser, or maybe even post it on the wall and not attend the game? Paying for a plane ticket, or spending the time and $ for gas and the drive to see our local team, "The Seahawks", or my current fav. "The Broncos" would be part of the commitment that I should follow through on, true?

Its my choice, even if the ticket was given to me free. Free, just like Christ's' redemption on the cross, given to "whosoever" will believe, so they will not perish. I can just leave that ticket laying there and look at it, toss it, or idolize it on the wall, like a WWJD icon. Should I try to placate my broken relationship with the Almighty by plagiarizing redemption, salvation, and restoration of relationship as a son with a Father, with mere religious jargon? It would be better hitch hike to Seattle a few days ahead of date on it, doing "what ever it takes" to get there and use my "free ticket" for what it was intended for.

Another part of the response that we can make to Jesus is to confess him before others. Jesus said it plain and clear:

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. - Matthew 10:32-33 KJV

I heard of a woman who was able to make use of an opportunity to be a witness in her community. During the time period that she lived, it would have been unthinkable for a woman to accomplish what she did with a public impact like this:

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. - John 11:45 KJV

Apparently, according to this reference, Jesus did not stick around after raising Lazarus from the dead, therefore the Jews came to Mary for the report of what Jesus had done. She conveyed what had happened or more importantly she confessed who Jesus was, and they went their way and told the Pharisees what she had testified of.

The new tee shirt that Marianne bought me has made me think of the strategy Jesus gives us as disciples when we are called to the witness stand, whether it be in our home, out on the street, or in a real court.

"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." Luke 12: 11,12 NIV

Martha, like Mary had taken to heart what Jesus had told her about that one needful thing. She got the point of "religion" It is not only about service, and accomplishments. It is about relationship, and that starts with acknowledging who the other person really is.

John 11:27b records what Mary and Lazarus' sister, Martha, declared in public:

"Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."

She faced excommunication¹ from her religion in making a public statement like that. We think, well it's a no brainier, that any one seeing Jesus face to face like that would be able to know him rightly and boldly declare him to others. But how many of us have denied him at work to keep our position? How many times have avoided the questionable subject of my personal faith with relatives? There is help to be able to say the right words at the right time, if we will approach the throne of grace² and ask for it in our hearts.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always ready to a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;" 1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

May we be ready for those divine appointments like Phillip had. May we be able to hear that still small voice, even if it just says to take a certain road or approach a stranger like he did. Jesus will give is the words to say! Especially if we are bold enough to wear a shirt, "just asking for it" G.W.

1 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. - John 9:22 KJV

2 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrew 4:16

The One Thing Luke 10:42

More than a few years back, I was able to attend an IHOP with one of my dearest brothers in Christ. We were able to worship and pray in a really healthly setting out east in the state of PA.

The movement that started out in Kansas City has spread all over and we both were able to meet up again and attend a gathering in Salem Oregon that was like the first, a very monumental time of growth and exercise of prayer for me.

SO, I have been asking "what is this "one thing" banner all about. I heard in its context this week in Luke 10:42. Not just a good choice, or some thing that we decide between good and evil. The best choice, is relationship over what we can "do for God".

This is not just being spoken by the Spirit to one group of believers, but to many who are drawing closer to our Master. The teaching that I heard from Pastor Joe reaffirmed to me a great need that I have as a "under the law" type of guy.

He states,

"the Lord is saying: “Look there is one thing that is necessary.” One thing is needful and that one thing cannot be taken away and that is to be with Jesus. The thing that Mary did is she was with him. And the thing that will never be taken from us is being with him. Our homes can be taken, our careers can be taken, and our kids can be taken. Anything in life can be taken, our service can be taken, all of these things; but one thing that will never be taken away from a believer is to be with him."

I thank God he has allowed me to see where he is leading the next generation of his people. To his feet, at his side, and even to the ends of the earth. To know him, and make him known! G.W.

Abiding In Jesus John 15:1-10

This summer I was able to grow some corn. Not in our garden area, but in a new place that came by divine provision. In 2008 we moved into our little house with a partial lot, and that being steep in parts. Out by the street corner it is beyond our property line. It belongs to the city or the state, but we get to maintain it. In my heart I had really wanted to level that piece of ground and hoped that one day I could request some company or the city dump some kind of free fill there. In May my hearts desire was fulfilled when a contractor friend called wanting to know where he could dump a few load of top soil.

We had been parking our motor home and my pickup in this area, but now it seemed appropriate to make use of this ideal soil and sunny area, to grow some corn. The year before a friend of our had given us a bunch of corn seed and we grew a little in the garden patch below, but now it was time to get serious.

Two 40 ft rows planted by hand started growing as June and July went by. I was learning some important lessons about farming, but also about how Jesus is the Vine and how I need to abide in Him. What does this mean? It means we draw our life from him. When we bear fruit he prunes us back to bear even more fruit. It means that what I do or who I am is because of Him, my life source.

With the Corn, I learned to side dress it with some 16-16-16. Whew! That made it sprout up fast and be bright and shiny green. How much fertilizer is applied and how and when is very important. With Tomatoes one can have a huge plant with lots of growth, but little or no fruit. We as disciples of Christ can be tempted to be "religious" and as Ecclesiastes 7:16 says, "overly righteous." ¹ The Lord spoke this word many times to me in Mexico, to balance out missions and ministry with family time and values. He has also been impressing me lately that just like the corn or most anything else we grow in our garden, to much water is not good.

Can we get to much of Gods word? If we are only taking it in and our heads are gettting bigger and bigger with knowledge and we are not practicing what we preach, we need to take heed.

"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: - Matthew 7:22-24 NKJV

What happens when crops or veggie gardens get to much water? Fungus, bugs, and all kinds of things can hinder good fruit. So I learned that watering in cycles helps good root growth. What may seem to be a dry time spiritually, is intended by the husbandman, or the vine dresser to be a strengthening or what is called in sports, "physical conditioning."

There is also another important aspect to consider:

When we live as branches abiding in the Vine, we will suffer.²

We get pruned or disciplined so that we can bear even more fruit. I experienced a little of this 9.13.2008 when I fell 25 ft out of a tree. No broken bones but months of pain and lots of sleep less nights. In 2010 on the exact same date, I fell playing basket ball and injured a different part of my back even worse. 3 days immobilized and 2 weeks of recovery gave me time to re-think, "what is it that I am not learning here?"

First, I tend to cram to many things into my life and try to accomplish more than is feasible. If I would have planted all the corn 2-3" apart and left it all in that way, there would have been little or no fruit come September. As it grew, I kept thinning it out to recommended spacing of 15" to 24". Each day I set out to check of lists of things to do. Trying to keep the most important at the top. Usually half gets done, but a lot of little distractions pop up every day. Climbing trees and trimming them is still something I do, but with a lot more caution. Basketball at 6 a.m. is history now. Just jogging and swimming will meet my need for exercise. Even though they are boring, they increase my need for self discipline to get up and get out.

Spiritually speaking in 2008 the opportunity came to make marriage and family a larger priority in my life. This included not returning to live and serve in Mexico another season. We were still able to be involved in sending a couple shipping containers of wheat to NK and both Marianne and I have been able to take long trips back to our village and the Christian School in Mexico. Personally, dealing with pain management has been a point of trust in the Lord like never before in my life. New temptations have come, but nothing that is not ordinary³ or that cannot be overcome.

Has there been a relationship or a circumstance that you have taken as evil but it was really for the good that God allowed it in your life? I found what I thought was a serious blight on the corn. I rushed off to wikipedia to find that it is a common fungus or a mushroom. It is edible and Huitlacoche is a delicacy in Mexico. I fried some up with onions and other garden veggies, and it was just like mushrooms. I would not have been full of joy if this would have taken over the whole patch, but I am for the few that appeared this year. Through this I learned that the difficult relationships in my life are allowed by God so that I can bear more patience, understanding, or choose to separate from evil, even if I loose a friend. What ever it take to serve the Lord, I want to be willing to be rid of it. Watching football this season was one a few things that I sensed needed to go. By faith, we can encounter the good that the husbandman wants to replace the pruned back area with. Receiving an encouraging call from a life time friend yesterday was my answer to a specific prayer. I asked for any kind of a blessing that I trusted Jesus for in place of self- pity and indulging in unneeded food. I needed something unseen, a fulfillment of hope that Jesus would bless me if I obeyed. That is faith.

What is it that you are wanting to do or be for the Lord? None of us, who have come to believe in Christ should refrain from being disciplined or pruned. It helps us to abide even more. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. - John 15:3-4 NKJV

I am tired of the Chritian -ease and I am hungry for the deep waters of the Spirit. I long for good accountablity, but also hearts knit together in real love and care.

Amos 6:1 gives a warning to those that are "at ease in Zion." To me, the "Fear of the Lord " needs to be impacting me enough so that I won't be like a goat⁴ on the last day. Or as Luke 12:45 delares, living for my own pleasure and feasting when my brothers and sisters are not cared for.

" I just want a rescue shop, next to the gates of hell." John Marr

Jesus, " I want to be your disciple and make disciples. Not just chalk up "decisions for Christ."

May we grow in our faith or trust by obeying in areas that have not been bearing much fruit. May we be bold in asking for the desire of our heart to our loving and caring Father. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ... "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. - John 15:5, 7 NKJV

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. - John 15:8-10 NKJV

Obedience leads us under the covering of Gods love. May we all find more grace for it.

G.W.

1 Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? Ecclesiastes 7:16 NKJV

2 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. - John 15:1-2 NKJV For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, - Philippians 1:29 NKJV

3 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

4 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." - Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV

Thoughts On Missions

Thoughts On Missions Matthew 28:19-20

It's been almost a week since I just returned from a 10 day mission trip. Lots of Folks are asking how it went. The short answer is, " it went really, really well." Team members grew in faith, and I even matured some more. People that we served were uplifted, emotionally, spiritually, and with practical physical help. No radical conversions were seen, but I believe that God was glorified in most everything that happened. A few of the highlights will have to settle into me before I can write them in detail. The rest of this blog entry was written just before the trip.

In 2002 one of my sons presented me with a bi-lingual bible. a couple weeks ago I was cleaning out the office and finally threw the tattered torn book away. I usually try to transfer any notes I can from one bible to the new one, and review what God has spoken to me during the seasons that I have had that last copy. Not this time. For three days I had been cleaning my office and getting rid of any thing that could possibly go. This time there was not time to even take a look at the "best highlights." The words are holy, not the pages or the book. One of the quotes written in the pages did get saved. I tore it out just before I tossed the book along with a huge pile of papers in my cluttered office.

" Preaching the gospel is like attending a birth. With most of our 9 children, I have been just as exhausted as Marianne by the time the birthing process is over. Only the Holy Spirit can give birth to some one. Only the convicted person experiences the birth. We, as attendants, labor also, and experience the energy and exhilaration and exhaustion after."

In obedience to go, make disciples,baptize, and teaching others to obey Jesus, we find a promise. Jesus knew we would need his comfort and assurance when times of adverse circumstances tempt us to be doubting him. When we are facing persecution and suffering for doing the right things, Jesus proclaimed that he is with us.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. - Mat 28:19-20 NKJV

Learning to have the right priorities first is so important in our daily walk, and as we seek to serve others in the kingdom. Here is another note that I kept back from the "burn pile". John Piper once wrote,

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. When this age is over, countless millions of the redeemed will fall on their faces before the throne of God, and missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. Worship, therefore is the fuel and the goal of missions. Worship is the goal in missions. Because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white hot enjoyment of Gods glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God."

Thirdly, I would like to quote from a devotional that had been a real help to me in learning how to serve. "My Utmost For His Highest" March 11th, Oswald Chambers, Acts 26:19

"If we lose the vision, we alone are responsible, and the way we lose the vision is by spiritual leakage. If we do not run our belief about God into practical issues, it is all up with the vision God has given. The only way to be obedient to the heavenly vision is to give our utmost for God's highest, and this can be done by continually and resolutely recalling the vision. The test is 60 seconds of every minute, and the sixty minutes of every hour, not our times of prayer and devotional meetings."

What is the vision that you have received? If you have not received a vision of what God has called you to, or you've struggled keeping the most vision your main priority, like I have been struggling with the last couple years, you are in grave danger. Where there is no vision, the people perish: prov 29:18

My vision is to run the race of following Jesus as his disciple. To continue in the right direction to obtain the completeness that I have been called to; Philippians 3:12.13 If new births occur and disciples are made along the way, then all glory be to Our Father. He is the only one that can open the eyes of our heart and draw us to Jesus. See Matthew 16:17 and John 6:44 May Holy Spirit be using us more than ever in this rescuing and caring for His sheep. G.W.

Grace Is Not A Mystery Titus 2.11

Grace Is Not A Mystery Titus 2.11

It was a warm summer morning back in 1979. At 18 yrs of age I had already lost my license. As I was hitchhiking into town and noticed a car coming back and turning around to pick me up. It was Randy, a friend I had known in high school. Was he coming back to give me a ride because he knew me, or what had prompted him to turn around after passing a hitchhiker by? Well, first of all, who hitch hikes into town? I had studied the fine art of traveling across country by thumb for a couple years now, and no one gets a ride into town. The best place to catch a ride is just on the edge of town going out. Secondly, Randy had not seen me in three years.

The last time we talked he had come to my mothers home to see why I had dropped out of the Christian youth group where we had met. He smelled smoke and kept saying it looks like it was coming up from under the couch. I said, " no, there is nothing there," until it became visible and he looked under to discover my smoldering cigarette. That terminated our visit, as he left feeling very uncomfortable.

It had been three years of sex, and drugs, and rock and roll partying for me and now one of those Christians I knew from School days is picking me up. "This must some kind of sign," I thought to myself. "Did you pick me up because you knew me?" I asked as I got in the car. For a couple weeks I had been clean from using drugs and drinking. I had gone deeper into T.M. and Soul travel. For several days I had been seeking "truth" at an abandoned non-functioning commune farm a friend of mine knew about. What had gotten me to stop the drugs was a three day LSD trip that yielded nothing for me, and only destruction and pain for others that I was partying with. I was hungering for some thing that would last. Some thing real. What had really happened is I saw a young man, some one with a future, stick his hand right into a bon fire. Because of the drugs we were all on he did not perceive the pain to follow, but I will never forget his screaming. It was time for me to to find some thing better than all the trouble I kept getting into with the law. At that point I was able to quit going out and looking for the high, but was not able to quit smoking tobacco. As I stepped off that curb on July 13th 1979 I was about to experience grace, like never before. I had a variety philosophies and knew I needed some thing out side of my own powers, but up to that moment I had not given thought of going to Jesus for the help I knew I needed.

As a child, who Jesus had been was clearly taught to me. My parents would pray with me at bedtime, say a prayer at mealtimes, and read to me from a devotional book called "little visits with God." Through the traditions of the protestant church and at Sunday school I learned the basic bible stories of Christs' birth, life, death, and resurrection. Then one day, when I was about eight, I was playing in the back yard when a phenomena occurred. The sky was over cast, but out in the middle of the neighbors large field a light beam shone down though the dark grey clouds. I ran in to the kitchen and said, "mommy look, what is it?" My mother said, " Maybe its the coming of the Lord." I listened but did not understand, and then I went on back out to play. I never gave that experience any more thought until I was converted.

A couple of other experiences I had were with the Sunday school teacher at the local community church. My Dad would take me there on the Sundays that my Mom had to work. This lady was known for sharing the "good news" with every one. Even my foster brother who had returned from Viet Nam told of how had been cornered in her back yard for what seemed like hours as she compelled him to "accept Jesus in his heart." My invitation came to go into the closet at the end of a Sunday school class. I did so, by my own choice. On a following Sunday I chose to go into the same closet and pray again, trying to get what ever it was she was offering.

Once again, at 14 I had more encounters that were invitations to give my life to God. When an African American Evangelist held a meeting at the fairgrounds in our Nebraska town, another foster brother and I went into a side room after the service for counseling and prayer. The next morning I remember looking at the booklets that I was given and they were like a tech manual for equipment that I knew nothing about. About a year later I got invited by a fellow shop class student to a picnic. I did not know it at the time, but he had mustered all the courage he could to be able to ask me if I wanted to go. No one knew how tore up I was about our family life at home being broken and about to end in divorce. When the an invitation was given at the end of the outdoor meeting I fled forward and cried with pain for the Savior that I was hearing about. For that summer I hung out with a lot of the kids that revolved around a Saturday night bible study for youth. It was only a message that I retained as long as I was looking at it. It reached my mind but not my heart. The one relationship that I needed the most was not there. Eventually, when school started up and I tried and failed at sports, I started working part time and hanging with the wrong crowd. The summer friends slipped into the past and my search for a new identity began.

One night we were partying and I felt like I was going to overdose. I cried out to God and pled with him that if he would save me I would serve him. I did not forget my promise the next morning but neither did I seek him out. As I went on my way in life, chasing girls, wrecking cars, and landing in jail 3 times, my misery deepened. Finally, late one night I called a pastor that my Mom knew. This man had taken me to lunch once while I was in high school. He was trying in a very nice way to challenge me to commit my life 100% to God. Now here I was calling him out of the blue, and telling him I was ready to sign a contract with God. He said, "Greg, sleep on it and call me again tomorrow." Well, tomorrow never came. I spaced out his open invitation once again. He was testing me, and I was still was not ready. In the moment of crisis I was crying out for help to get relief from my troubles, but I had not been sincerely ready to submit to Jesus' authority.

Now I am riding in the car with Randy, who had been in and out of the air force, gotten married, and was living a "normal' life. He bought me a cup of coffee. He did not say much, I did most of the talking. I realized this was my day to be a disciple of Jesus, he was just marveling. I was asking him to take me back to the park where I had once prayed for a Savior in my life. Now I was praying for a Savior to keep me from the wrath that I deserved for my sins, not just save me from the troubles and hurts that had offended me. Now I wanted to know what it meant to let Jesus be Lord and have complete control of my life. Jesus was revealed to me in a new way. Has this grace been made known to you? Here is what it taught me. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age," Titus 2:11,12

I did not become instantly perfect. But I was delivered from smoking. I was never tempted to use drugs again. A grace came over me in the area of morality. A significant sign of a converted person is their choice to change friends. I brought some friends with me over from the dark side and we started walking in the light together. Others that I tried to help, or old friends that I went to see just did not feel right to be around. Another old friend just showed up at my house one day, and said," what do I need to do, I want to be saved, and I heard that you have changed, Greg." The next Sunday a few of us "long hairs" we went into the little country church to listen to that preacher friend my mom knew. It was not about "going to church" for me. The desire to hear God's word and be able to converse with him was so strong. I was learning new songs and loved to sing to God. Reading the bible and attending bible studies was a big help in getting to know who God is, and how I should be living.

It took almost a year to pay my debts and restitution's. When I was released from probation, I took to the road again, heading out west. There was something about the adventure of hitching. It was not just about getting to the destination, it was about the places your find and people you meet along the way. The next year, while hitching a ride, I met my wife to be. Her and her cousin picked me up. Like many other Christians I met in the early days of my walk, there was a common joy we shared. The joy of our salvation.

30 yrs later Marianne and I are on the same road together. It is a narrow path following Jesus. She has been raising 9 children and taken in a few extras from time to time. After 32 years of following Jesus I have learned that there is a ditch on each side that I can easily fall into. One side is called religion where one can be stuck in pride and play acting, which the bible calls hypocrisy. A ditch on the other side is something I can fall back into if I let the cares of this life, or the pleasures of sin tempt me back into old ways again. There is grace freely flowing from the throne of God and I need it like never before. May we each learn to humble ourselves and receive it abundantly. G.W.

The Dead End Road Luke 12:46

The Dead End Road Luke 12:46

The other day I was jogging. I went past a city street that has a cable across it. A proposed sub division that has not been able to get off the ground. 2 yrs ago I ran up that same road and saw how deteriorated it has become, from non use. A house can be that way. We have a house and another lot in a separate town in Mexico that we purchased with the intent of using to minister to the students from the surrounding area that come to school there. We hoping praying that God will be glorified and that there are good things ahead for anyone that comes onto both properties.

I don't want to be on a dead end road. In my walk with the Lord, or with any projects and activities. What we build upon the foundation needs to stand the test on the last day, and we are called to bear good fruit to our God.

My life with my wife and family is an area that has great need. It may be looking good in the eyes of some, but I know where I am and where I have been. The question one must ask, is where will this road lead to.

Luke 12:46 says "The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers."

This verse and other parables describe a "dead end road" for Gods servants who are not awake spiritually when Jesus returns.

A man about my age fell into the river here this last year and drowned. He got off the path, which is plenty wide, even paved, and lighted in most areas. We could say it was the cold, or that it was his slick tennis shoes. But the truth is, he did not stay on the path. This is what I am trying to apply to my own life in remembering this neighbor who died at a young age. I need to stay on narrow path of life.

Jesus said in Luke 12 "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? "

The command for me above, is to provide spiritually, emotionally, and physically for my own house. This is what I been thinking on ever since I shared "part a" in my last blog. The dilemma I faced with loving and training our children was this; My times of anger, bad judgment, and selfishness has been sin in my life that has not totally gone away. Some things are still hurting our children and young adult descendants to this day. May healing come, in Jesus name.

I have had a hope for years to bounce grandkids on my knee. Now Marianne and I am able to enjoy two of them. We have grown closer together, and if the nest empties out we are able to enjoy each other a lot more than ever. If we are apart, we have matured and are able to use the time apart to seek the Lord. And yes, we really look forward to being with each other after long trips.

Jesus said if I loose the healthy hope of his return - thus the day of Judgment when all things will be brought into the light and each of will account for every deed we have done; If I loose that vision or focus then two things can happen:

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; Luke 12:45

For myself, getting drunk or high is not the temptation, its just coasting, and not being whole hearted. Loving pleasure more than loving God. 2 Tim 3:4 If Jesus said hating someone is the same as murdering them, then beating up my brothers and sisters in the Lord, or my wife, or my children, is to criticize them, or curse them in any way with my mouth. May there be mercy surrounding all who trust in the Lord. Jesus is my Lord, and his eternal forgiveness is precious and valued. Until the End - G.W.

Hosanna - led by Brooke Ligertwood